[PeppyGPhiB]

My thoughts on the whole shebang:

- For once, I LOVED Miss Washington and all the attention she got. Our state never sends Barbie to these pageants, so our girls never make it through the first cut usually. I really thought she had a chance at winning, and even though she didn't, I'm happy she at least got third place.

- I didn't care for Michigan that much, but I thought she had a GREAT answer to her interview question. I do think her question was EASY (can you imagine anyone saying "No, I don't think someone with AIDS has an obligation to tell his/her spouse"?), but she gave a confident, positive, concise answer.

- I thought it was BAD that Lindsey Lohan was actually called out twice in the same question/answer for her alcoholism and recent troubles. Yes, she's a public figure, but I thought it was classless to call out someone as a specific example of who not to look up to.

- Regarding the girls doing ballet, I actually thought North Carolina had by far the best technique. Ballet isn't really about "kicks," as much as it is about control and beautiful lines. Virginia's legs appeared a little weak during her performance, and texas' jazz on pointe really didn't demonstrate ballet skill at all, although you can tell she's probably a good dancer. North Carolina was most reminiscent of a pro dancer - slow, but very controlled, graceful movements and she was more confident on her feet (surprised her shoes weren't more worked-in, though).

- I loved the intros they had all the contestants do in the opener. It showed that some of the women had great senses of humor.

- I found the whole telecast to be HORRIBLE. It was completely disorganized. The host missed cues and kept misspeaking, the teleprompter was obviously not moving fast enough, the cameras weren't doing close-ups on the contestants when they should've been (the cameras didn't seem to be in the right place at the right time), the contestants were caught prior to the talent portion beginning doing things like stretching and adjusting their costumes ON STAGE. I think TLC was way out of its league.

- I also thought it was dreadful that they kicked off girls throughout rather than announcing who would be moving on. Why turn it into something negative and give the audience reason to say, "Awwwwwwwww" or "Booooooooooooooooo" instead of applauding the ladies that were moving one step closer to the crown. They clearly wanted to copy reality shows of today with that "rub the salt in the wound" move, which is tacky and classless. This is Miss America, not Survivor!