Positive

I'm still mad about last night's elimination. Come on!

The episode opens as the girls get a shock to see Autumn return to the loft by her lonesome. They all hug her, hug each other and realize it is the final six girls. The competition is going to heat up! Meanwhile, Emma is still battling her bronchitis as the girls get a call sheet.

The girls go to a dance studio where they meet the associate and assistant choreographers, who teach them some dance moves. We learn that Autumn really isn't a dancer while Natalie excels at it. And Emma has to keep taking breaks because of her coughing and running nose. The guys give the girls these pink, stiletto go-go boots and then take them to Brooklyn to dance on a cobblestone street in the middle of winter. The girls rise to the challenge but not without some pain and frozen extremities. Natalie excels at the challenge and is thus chosen as the winner. She brings Rhiannon along with her as they have a yoga lesson with Kate Shindle who plays "Vivienne" in the show. (FYI: Shindle was also a Miss America and can be heard as "Lucy" on the Jekyll and Hyde Resurrection CD). She gives the girls some advice about playing Elle as she sees the character, saying Elle has her own perspective on life that she doesn't compromise. The girls seem impressed and Kate is impressed she was able to come up with something like that. I know the feeling, where you say something and then realize how profound it actually is. And then you don't want to give yourself a pat on the back, but if you can pull it off in such a way that both parties are laughing, it's not bad.

The Elle Wannabes learn that they will be performing the dance break in the song "Positive" where Elle tries to show Warner she is more fun than boring Vivienne. However, it is a very high energy dance heavily influenced by hip-hop. The girls learn it but are shocked when the rehearsal is cut short, part of their challenge. They have to go home to practice, practice and practice the routine to nail it. But they find another casting call sheet with a questionnaire attached. They ask the girls to come together to answer the questions with one unanimous answer--things like the "Worst Dancer," "Worst Singer," etc. The girls haven't even started debating when they are already crying. The girls on Top Model would eat these girls alive--even the nice ones! Lauren cries that it is specifically against her as she would be the answer for all these questions. My, I can't tell if she's suffering from low self-esteem or is a bit egotistical. Maybe both. After the commercial break, Autumn takes control and declares the questionnaire "not in the spirit of Elle Woods." She and the girls rewrite the questions to be more "positive" and then cry more as they vote for each other. We should invest in tissue stocks.

Afterwards, they continue to practice the dance moves. They report to the audition and perform. Most of the girls fall flat. Emma tries to use the "I'm sick" excuse, which flies as far as Autumn's "I had a bad day" last week. Autumn works herself sick, runs off the stage and promptly throws up. Which the sound guy left the microphone on for as the camera focuses on the stall she's in. We're not stupid. If you show her running into the woman's room, clutching a stomach or her mouth, we'd get the message. She returns, fortunately having completed her audition, and watches the other girls. Natalie nails the routine again and is praised by the judges, who immediately tell her she is on the list and is safe for next week. At the end, Haylie Duff reads those who are safe. Joining Natalie are Bailey, Lauren and Rhiannon. Autumn and Emma are sent to the casting room.

Both girls were there because they weren't the best dancers as well as sick. The judges use this to highlight that they will be working 8 nights a week and can't blame being sick for a lousy show. Emma admits that today would've been a day she would've called in her understudy and the judges get on her case. Once again, I would like to point out that many of Broadway's legends say that the stars today don't have the same work ethic as them and reflect Emma's mindset. In the end, she is the one who is sent home. And I'm still mad.

I was so mad, I can't even remember what the preview was. Oh well--I like surprises, except when they involve my favorites being axed.