I started my So You Think You Can Dance watching this season feeling great. Having never sat through the audition rounds before, I was surprised at first by how superior they seemed to the audition episodes on that other Fox reality show produced by Nigel Lythgoe. The talented competitors to self-deluded-freak-shows ratio was much more favorable. Although equally annoying, Mary Murphy is nowhere near as useless a judge as Paula Abdul. And the purposely bad dancers just wanting to get on TV actually got their comeuppance from the judges, instead of just being giggled at. It was so refreshing to see the judges and contestants on a national TV talent search actually seem to take their craft seriously. It was everything I'd always said I'd wanted from Idol, just with dancing.

And I was bored out of my mind with it about fifteen minutes into Wednesday's show. Seriously, is this all the drama we're going to get from SYTYCD this season? I miss my Idol already (and I mean the entire show, not just the fabulous young man who won it).

Anyway, I'm sure my enthusiasm for SYTYCD will return once we make it out of these endless audition episodes and start getting to know the dancers better as they advance towards becoming America's Favorite Dancer. Before long, I'll be watching them all jump and twirl and spin in complete awe, kicking myself for quitting my ballet and tap classes at the end of third grade.

But for now, here are the dancers we saw audition in Salt Lake City, Dallas, Charleston, and Washington D.C. that I think are the most likely to inspire that awe this season:

1.) Kelli Baker
I was prepared to hate her after hearing her so-called sob story about how hard it is to be the daughter of a famous, Emmy-winning choreographer who got you cast as a dancer in High School Musical 2. But her exciting contemporary routine proved she deserved to be there on her own merits. She could be this season's Lacey -- a fantastic dancer who works extra hard to step out of the shadows of a dancing family member.

2.) Gev Manoukian
The break-dancing figure skater was one of the most unique and fun dancers to watch in the Salt Lake auditions. I let out a huge sigh of relief along with Mary and guest judge Mandy Moore (no, not that Mandy Moore) after Nigel tried to fake him out in the choreography round.

3.) Arielle Coker
She has one of those extra-perky personalities that would be extremely off-putting if she wasn't so talented. I also loved her choice of music (does anyone know that song?). Too bad her devoted partner won't be joining her in Vegas.

4.) Matt Dorame
I actually found the juxtaposition of his awful gym shorts with his graceful ballet routine to be endearing. But I can't wait to see what he can do when properly attired.

5.) Sheila Kaiser
You gotta love that auditioning against her parents' wishes story. Lucky for her she has enough talent to prove them wrong.

See you again next week for two more audition extravaganzas.

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