Yak Can Cook: Seasoned Baked Potatoes!

The Yak was at it again! This time, he decided on Seasoned Baked Potatoes. Forget that old way with tin foil in the oven! Season the skin, make the whole potato WONDERFUL! Now go wash up some russets and get going! Friends and family alike will more than appreciate and it’s SO easy!

So, what are you waiting for? Gonna go make potatoes? Yum! Any recipes or crafts you would like to see the Yak attempt next? Leave us a comment below, and don’t forget to subscribe to us on YouTube!

Netflix for TV Gets a Makeover

Netflix logoJust in time to watch the doors shut for good on Blockbuster, Netflix is beginning it’s roll out on a brand new look for Netflix on your Television. The new look, that Netflix says is “The biggest update in Netflix history to our TV experience” will begin it’s debut today on some devices.

This update, which Netflix says has been in the works for over a year in a half, will work on Roku, newer gaming consoles and other devices such as Smart TV and Blu-Ray players. “Our members collectively watch more than a billion hours of Netflix a month, most of that is on a TV,” Netflix’s chief product officer Neil Hunt said in a statement. Netflix aims to make that content easier to find.

The new update, using Javascript, will allow more devices to use the new interface and allows Netflix to roll out updates easier in the future. Most devices will see the update on their device within a couple of weeks, however older devices make take a few months to get updated.

What do you think? Did you find it hard to find content you wanted to watch on Netflix? Looking forward to the new update? Let us know in the comments below!

Survivor: The Yak Chats With John Cody and Laura Boneham, Latest Eliminated Castaways

SURVIVOR: BLOOD VS. WATEROn this week’s episode of Survivor Blood vs. Water two castaways were eliminated from the game.

John Cody (spouse Candice) the 30 year old WestPoint Graduate and Physician from Washington DC and Laura Boneham (spouse Rupert) the 44 year old merchandiser from Indianapolis, Indiana were both eliminated after 19 days.

John spent 12 of those 19 days battling it out on Redemption. Laura defied the odds after being voted out day one. Rupert took her spot on Redemption Island and Laura was sent to the returning player’s tribe to compete.

Prior to the tribes merging all three players on Redemption Island John, Laura B. and Laura M. were given one last challenge. The winner returned to the game and the other two were sent packing. Despite proving themselves to be tough competitors John and Laura B. were bested by Laura M. and were eliminated.
We were able to speak with John and Laura today to get their thoughts on their Survivor experience.

YAK: Congratulations you two on surviving 19 days!
Laura: Thank you! Thanks for having us.
John: Not long enough but it’s a long time (Laughs)
YAK: From speaking with your respective spouses did you think that you had a grasp on what actually being on Survivor was like? Was it what you expected?Laura-Boneham-300
Laura: My experience was that the physical side of the game was not as hard as I thought it would be because we had not much rain and the challenges, I really enjoyed. The social game however, I don’t think you can really prepare yourself for the dimension of this game especially Blood vs. Water.
John: It wasn’t that difficult of a season. There was no rain. There was plenty of food at the tribe camp. It was a little different on Redemption Island. The physical aspect surprised me that it wasn’t as hard as I thought it was going to be, but definitely the betrayal you feel from people that you’ve hung out with for 7 or 8 days, that’s tough, it’s tough to get voted off your tribe.
YAK: Is it easier or harder being on Redemption Island physically? What about the difference between camp life and life at Redemption?
John: (laughs) In my mind it was definitely harder to be there physically. I mean the weight really started coming off when I went to Redemption. There’s no fruit, there’s very little reprieve from the sun. Everything that needs to be done you need to do yourself. So you’re getting all the water and boiling it. You’re doing your laundry. If you want to fish or gather coconuts and firewood you have to do it yourself, while tending the fire. All those things that you have help with in a tribe, you’re doing yourself. Doing that for 12 days was a long time! But, it was fine. Your body adapts. Yes, I was hungry and I was dreaming about food but you know you make do with what you have. It’s definitely harder to be on Redemption physically, but also mentally too. You have to struggle to keep your mind sharp and try to stay as connected as possible to the game. It’s mind numbing out there, you’re just sitting there waiting all day, sometimes 2 or 3 days for someone else to show up you have a duel which is exciting just to go back to waiting. Mentally Redemption Island is really difficult as well.
YAK: I imagine you also would be wondering what’s going on with everyone else?
John: Yeah, it was kind of funny Laura M.’s comment about being a kid who missed school for two weeks because of chicken pox and now no one wants to play with you. What I said many times out there is that when you’re on the tribe and at the tribe camp you get a lot of information and very little time to think about it. When you’re on Redemption you only get a little information and a ton of time to think about it. It’s a very different scenario. People come, people who get voted out usually don’t know as much as they think they know, but you just pepper them with questions and try to get as much information as possible about what’s going on, so that you have some kind of foothold in the game when you go back.
laura-boneham-survivor-CBSYAK: Laura, do you regret switching with Rupert or are you satisfied that you were able to have your own Survivor experience?
Laura: I am extremely satisfied that I got a chance to play the game. I was on my way out the first day unless I was like John and stayed on Redemption and tried to win my way back into the game. I am very grateful that Rupert was giving and gave up his game for me. It could have gone differently. He could have stayed in and maybe earned a little money for the family but that’s not what we’re about and he wanted me to have the opportunity to play the game like he had and wanted me to know what the experience was like.
YAK: You both are just a handful of people who together with your spouses are Survivor alumnae. That’s pretty exciting.
Laura: It’s really cool actually. We didn’t get to play together but technically we were in the game together.
John: It’s cool.
YAK: John, we didn’t get to see much about you and your immunity clues. Did you actually spend time looking or did you feel complacent in your position with your guys alliance?
John: It’s funny the reason I didn’t look for it as much as possible was because I didn’t feel complacent about my position in the tribe and I didn’t want my tribe to see me looking for it all the time. The one time I did go out and look for it was the night I got sent home. I casually went out and looked for it with Brad and was looking around camp. But the one time I really spent time looking for it about 20 or 30 minute was the night I left. It was a rookie mistake on my part. You don’t leave without it for tribal council. There really wasn’t much time to look for it. The only time we had over those two days, we had immunity challenge, tribal council, and Redemption island challenge. There was no break in the cycle to go and do that. I didn’t think it was going to be me going home that night but it’s funny my next play after receiving the clue to the idol that day was to share it with my alliance and say I think it’s important that we find this together and keep it for our alliance. You see how well that turned out for everybody. It certainly didn’t turn out well for Brad. Now immunity is not turning out well for Vytas because now he has a big target on his back. He’s done well getting around and avoiding that target the last couple weeks but I think that target may be getting a little too big for him now, we’ll see. (laughs) he’s worked some magic before maybe he’ll be able to save himself again.
YAK: This question is for both of you. Who was your favorite person to meet?
Laura: I would probably have to say getting to know Tina more. I had met her at events but getting to know her. We shared a lot together out there. I shared a lot of personal life and she shared hers and we had a lot of heart to hearts. She was part of my demise out of the game but I really enjoyed getting to know her.
Skin of My TeethJohn: It’s hard for me to say one person from my tribe because we really got along very well which is one of the reasons it was so devastating to go to tribal over and over again. Even the people we voted out early, Merissa and Rachel, we really liked them. We all got along very well. It kind of sucked that we had to keep doing that. But I’m glad I got the opportunity to meet Vytas, he has a good story and has overcome a lot in his life. That’s a refreshing story to hear. We are from two very different backgrounds and we got along really well. I have to say my favorite person was meeting Jeff Probst. I had met him before but it was different out on the island. (ed interjects: that would be mine! I have a thing for Jeff!) Laura and John both laugh. He’s a cool guy!!
YAK: How exciting was it to see your spouse’s after you left Redemption Island?
John: At Ponderosa? It was bittersweet for me. I fought tooth and nail for as long as possible to stay in the game.
YAK: Would you do it again?
Laura: I would definitely do it again. My daughter says Mom, you’re crazy! I’ve got the bug and I would definitely do it again, it was an amazing adventure and to be competitive, I’m so competitive and to be out there again and prove myself again and be one step closer to a million bucks, it would be great!
John: There’s no doubt in my mind. It was such an incredible experience. You feel like you leave so much on the table when you don’t get to the end. So I want to ante up again!
YAK: Thanks for talking with us today. You were both strong competitors. Good luck and come visit us at Yakkityaks.com!

Bye Bye Blockbuster: Closing All Stores by Early 2014

blockbusterDish Network, who operates around 300 of the Blockbuster stores announced today that it will close all of the video rental chain’s remaining U.S. stores, as well as it’s DVD by mail business by early 2014 attributing the move to more consumers switching to streaming and other digital alternatives.

“This is not an easy decision, yet consumer demand is clearly moving to digital distribution of video entertainment,” said Joseph P. Clayton, Dish president and CEO. “Despite our closing of the physical distribution elements of the business, we continue to see value in the Blockbuster brand, and we expect to leverage that brand as we continue to expand our digital offerings.”

However, stores that operate as licensed franchises will be able to remain open and operate under the Blockbuster name. Blockbuster by mail will end in December.

This move probably makes Netflix, Amazon and Redbox very happy, and we suppose they will be offering specials soon to gather up as much of the old Blockbuster customers as they can. Were you a Blockbuster Subscriber, in store or by mail? Will you switch to another provider? If so, which one? Let us know in the comments below!

Yak TV Does Pork Chops!

yak_google_logoThat’s right, just in time for those cold nights, the Yak has decided to teach you, in a little over 2 minutes, how to make some delicious Pork Chops with Potatoes and Mushroom Gravy REALLY easy! Yum!

So, go watch the video, gather up your ingredients, and get to cookin’ before your favorite show comes on. Even picky eaters can’t resist smothered Pork Chops!

Any suggestions for a recipe The Yak can attempt? Leave a comment below! We have already written down Pecan Pie. (Thanks for the suggestion!) The Yak has never made that from scratch, but hey, we can try!

Don’t forget to go subscribe to YakTv on YouTube!

The Yak Productions: Roasted Pumpkin Seeds!

yak_google_logo“Yak Productions” is just getting started! We plan on a wide variety of entertainment but ultimately decided first on a very quick tutorial on how to make your own perfect ‘Roasted Pumpkin Seeds” in The “Yak Can Cook” series. Watch our first video below, and be sure to subscribe to us (Yak TV) on YouTube! We have plenty more to come!

Any requests for a recipe on Yak Can Cook? Leave a comment below!

“Survivor:” The Yak Chats With Kat Edorsson, Latest Eliminated Castaway

SURVIVOR: BLOOD VS. WATERKat Edorsson the 24 year old spunky contestant from Survivor One World was eliminated from Survivor on Thursday nights’ episode of Survivor Blood vs. Water when she lost the “flame puzzle” challenge to John and Laura in the Redemption Island duel. Kat had joined the cast with her boyfriend Hayden Moss, the 27 year old winner of “Big Brother 12.”

We spoke with Kat today to find out how she’s doing now and her thoughts on her most recent foray into the Survivor arena.

The Yak: Hi Kat, thanks for spending the time to talk with us today here at Yakkity Yaks TV and Reality News.
Kat Edorsson: Happy Halloween!! Thanks for talking with me!
The Yak: Do you think that Laura cheated when she continued to look at John’s puzzle?
Kat: Do I think that John should have pushed his puzzle down, yeah you could say that. Do I think that Laura kind of cheated, yeah you could say that. But when you think about it…for a million dollars? I would have done it I have to say. I just couldn’t see and I wasn’t in the position to see. The more time I spent trying to look at John’s puzzle the less time I was able to spend putting puzzle pieces on my own puzzle. It wasn’t relevant to me because I wasn’t in a position to see it.
The Yak: The Yak has a very large Big Brother fan base so I know our readers want to know about the relationship between you and Hayden and where it stands.
Kat: We are fantastic! He’s snoozing right now. We are going to be bumble bees this Halloween. We’ve been together ever since and always will be and don’t see our lives going anywhere else than just being with each other. He’s my best friend. He’s amazing!
Swoop In For The KillThe Yak: Congratulations to you both. Do you have regret that you and Hayden didn’t switch at Redemption Island?
Kat: That’s a great question. At the time I wanted to switch. I’m not going to take that back. When I saw that puzzle I’m like “Babe get your butt down here and switch with me because there’s no way I’m making it out of here alive!” That’s when those kind two words come to me he comes and says “but long-term?” When I heard that I’m like I’m out of here. For a girl, what does that mean? Does it mean long-term for our relationship? Does it mean long-term in life? Does it mean long-term in the game? When I heard him say that, that’s just something I knew. For a long time when I found out I was going to be playing with Hayden I always wanted to prepare myself to be playing against him. So in my dreams I would dream about having a final 4 scenario with Hayden and myself. I would have to come up with all these reasons as to why I’d have to write Hayden’s name down if we go to final 4. Ideally if I was going to sit down in a final three situation with my boyfriend, I was never going to win. I knew that in the bottom of my heart. So when he said to me (I have to explain it to you guys because I want you to know how deep it was when he said this), “long-term, who do you think has a better chance of winning this game?” In my heart I’ve always known it was Hayden. I always knew he was going to beat me. Not only do I have to come into a game where I should be getting my own redemption because I got blindsided the season before, I’m coming in to this game. Here I am and he says those things to me and I’m like “dang it!” That’s why I was so emotional. I’ve always known that he was going to beat me. I was coming up with reasons to write his name down because I wanted to beat him. Not because I don’t love him and not because he doesn’t love me just because I wanted a chance at something! It was really hard.
The Yak: It appeared that you and Tina were really close. How surprised or hurt were you that she just turned on you immediately?
Kat: I mean she pulled a sniper on me didn’t she?
The Yak: She did, and I was surprised. I would have thought she’d have been a bigger target being a previous winner.
Kat: You know what? Go ahead and preach girl! Make sure you let everyone know that because I’m still trying to figure out what she was doing. I still can’t believe that happened. I spent the majority of the time making sure that Tina and Monica weren’t biting each others’ heads off! They were always at each others’ throats. You have no idea. Here I am trying to be the middle man and then I get stuck in the crossfire. Now I’m eliminated? For what?… because I’m accommodating Tina’s conversation about Monica? What else is new? Everyone talked about each other all the time. That’s why there was no true alliance in our season, from when I was there. Everyone was always against each other and talking about each other. Tina was constantly saying something bad so where does your allegiance really lie?
The Yak: If you had made it to the merge what were your plans besides you and Hayden?
Kat: I was so determined to stay with Tina that if I didn’t get eliminated I probably would have stayed with Tina but honestly I would have had to go with the flow. You never know I could have aligned with Caleb for all I know. I would have gone with Tina and maybe Tyson, I’m not sure. At the time my alliance was Tyson, Aras and Gervase but if I had gone to the merge I would have strategized with Hayden and we would have discussed who we felt more comfortable with. Who did I trust the most in the game at that point? It was Tyson and I really enjoyed Laura M.
Swoop In For The KillThe Yak: What are your thoughts on Laura B? Everyone’s interviews indicated that they found her annoying.
Kat: She’s out of her element. When you are lost in your own head you are great for Survivor lol. You don’t worry too much about where everything is in the game when you are the last person to know something and you are the first person to be going every single tribal council but you never go because there’s a bigger target somewhere. That’s the nature of the game. Did she annoy me? No, because I understand her and I’ve spent a lot of time with the Bonham’s; both of them before.
The Yak: Was it easier on Survivor the second time?
Kat: Absolutely! There was nothing I was afraid of. I’ll sleep when I’m dead. You know what I mean? I don’t need to sleep. You don’t need to feed me, I’ll starve. I was just thankful that I was in the same area code as my boyfriend for more than 3 days. I’ve never spent more time with Hayden in my life. To this day I haven’t spent that long with Hayden. I saw him for 17 days straight but hardly got to speak to him. The atmosphere couldn’t have done anything to me I was just blessed that I got to see him for 17 days in a row and you would be saying the same thing if you were dating him too.
The Yak: What would you have done differently?
Kat: If you are caught in a lie own up to it. I would have apologized to Monica and admitted it. Basically don’t lie to a Culpepper if you are caught. Lol
The Yak: Any chance we will see you and Hayden on the Amazing Race?
Kat: Hey you keep watching girlfriend! We will see! We want to see that and we will let CBS know that that is something we are really interested in!
The Yak: Any parting words for our readers at the YAK?
Kat: Just know that Hayden and I are very thankful that we’ve had all the support and love from last night. It was really, really hard. It was probably the biggest decision that Hayden had to make (not trading places with Kat on Redemption Island). It was the best experience of our lives and hopefully we will see you guys soon and if you guys want to give us any shoutouts our hashtag is #HAT it’s for Kat and Hayden. We are enjoying it. Everyone’s been giving us some love and we love you guys back so we appreciate it!!
The Yak: Thanks Kat have a Happy Halloween and make sure to come to Yakkity Yaks TV and Reality News and say hey!
Kat: Thanks so much, Happy Halloween to everyone!

Kat was very candid in our interview. She’s full of energy and fun. It was a pleasure speaking with her. Kat intimated that it may have been a good thing for Hayden’s game for her to leave when she did. She encourages us all to watch and see.

Stay tuned for more Survivor Blood vs Water to see what happens!!!!

Kelly Clarkson Books TV Christmas Special

kelly-clarkson-wrapped-in-redThe presents are already coming to Kelly Clarkson this holiday season. In addition to eloping with her fiance any day now, Clarkson just announced via social media that she will have her very own TV Christmas special this season! Given the allusions to a special in the past few weeks, the announcement doesn’t come as a major surprise. What does come as a surprise, however, is that it will be padded with NBC’s The Voice.

On December 10, NBC will air Kelly Clarkson’s (Cautionary) Christmas Tale immediately following The Voice! Being friends with Blake Shelton sure has its perks. This special will help promote Kelly’s first Christmas album, Wrapped in Red, which is set to be released October 25!

Kelly isn’t the first American Idol champ to have their own Christmas special. Carrie Underwood hosted her own special on Fox shortly after being crowned the season 4 champ and featured special guests from Dolly Parton to Kristen Chenoweth to Christina Applegate and more.

The special will tape at the Venetian in Las Vegas on Oct 30. Tickets are on sale now!

Report: Bruno Mars To Headline Super Bowl Halftime Show

BrunoMarsThe NFL season has barely gotten underway as the Denver Broncos hosted the reigning champions Baltimore Ravens, but the NFL is already planning the next Super Bowl. While the 32 NFL teams will fight it out over the next several weeks, the NFL is working on the half time entertainer that will follow Beyonce and last season’s Destiny’s Child reunion. A source close to the NFL told the Associated Press that eyes are on Bruno Mars. The official announcement is expected to come Sunday, September 8 at an event in Times Square with the official kick off of the NFL season’s first full Sunday.

The upcoming championship game will be February 2 from East Rutherford, NJ at MetLife Stadium. The 27 year old, Mars, is one of music’s biggest stars today. His second album, released last year, includes hits “Locked Out of Heaven,” “When I Was Your Man,” and his latest single, “Treasure.”

SYTYCD – Interview with Hayley and Paul, last 2 to be eliminated before the finale!

With the Season 10 of So You Think You Can Dance winding down, with the finale next week… this weeks episode was a great one. There were no bottom 2 guys & bottom 2 girls… they all danced a solo in addition to dancing one routine with an all-star & one being pared up with one of the top 6.

Top 6

 

Jessie Tyler Ferguson was the guest judge this week & he was not disappointed… especially after we learned he has had a crush on dancer Aaron!! After all the contestants danced their hearts out, Cat Deeley delivered the news of who had made it into next weeks finale… Aaron Turner, Amy Yakima (how can you NOT root for her, she has Yak in her name!!), Fik-Shun & Jasmine Harper made up the top 4… Leaving Paul Karmiryan & Hayley Erbert to say their goodbyes, just short of the finish line.

Paul & Hayley

Going this whole process and getting so close to the finale, what are the emotions like now?  Is it joy because you made it so darn far in the competition and you had so much praise, or is it just frustration that you were one step away from the finale?

Hayley: It’s a really bittersweet moment at this point, because we were so close to the finale.  But I am so proud of Aaron, Fik-Shun, Jasmine, and Amy for making it, because they’re just amazing, obviously at dance, and they’re just like incredible human beings too, because I got so close with them over the week.  But, yes, I’m really upset that I didn’t get to show America my last bit, but I’m still so happy that I even made it this far because I had never expected that I would make it this far to begin with so I’m just so blessed to have even gotten this opportunity at all.

Paul: It’s practically the same thing.  Of course it’s everyone’s goal to make it to the finale and to make it all the way.  But just thinking back to, for me the L.A. auditions and just the journey I made from L.A. to now, it’s amazing even thinking that I’ve come this far.  And I have no regrets, and I think that’s the most important thing, and it’s just been such a great journey and such a great experience and I’ve learned so much and grown as a person.  Of course it is bittersweet, like Hayley said, where you would want to go all the way to the end of the experience and actually have the full potential of dancing each possible dance that you could have on the show, but then again everything happens for a reason and Fik-Shun, Aaron, Amy, and Jasmine, they all deserve to be there, and it really was a hard decision for America, I think.  This season has been so strong, and I wish them the best.  Yes, no regrets.  No regrets.

 

What are your plans for the future now that you have this experience under your belt?

Hayley: Well, I’m planning on moving out to L.A. to start my dance career and whatnot, and I’m going to try to sign with an agency and just kind of figure out my dancing career in that way.  And also I’ve always wanted to try to get into the acting field and be in movies, or even commercial work or anything, so I would love to go into acting.  But I would also love to be a backup dancer for Justin Bieber or someone, just really anything right now.  The show has opened a ton of doors, but I’m just kind of excited to see what my future is going to be like now after this.

Paul: I would definitely want to continue dancing.  It is something that I love to do.  And I would love to be on Dancing with the Stars or any of the ballroom shows that are going on right now.  And definitely, like Hayley said, I’ve always wanted to act, and I would love to get into acting and just be out in the entertainment industry and just take any opportunity that comes from this.  It’s such a great opportunity to start off your career.  And it’s really not the end, it’s only the beginning.

 

You guys already discussed the emotions you’re feeling right now, but going back to that night, are you both surprised that you got eliminated?  Paul, the judges mentioned many times this season they could picture you winning the whole thing, and Hayley, they always raved about you.  So what are your thoughts on that?

Paul: For me it wasn’t really a surprise, because going into the top six yesterday, we all just got together and we just discussed that, like everyone just deserved to be there and everyone was such an amazing dancer and such an amazing person.  And I guess going in we just thought of it not as something that was very competitive and that it was the end to something, it was more like we had gone through this journey and we had to think of it as more of a celebration that we had come to the top six.  So it wasn’t a shock.  Definitely Fik-Shun and Aaron deserved to be in the finale and the top six, and so did Jasmine and Amy, but the idea was that everyone did deserve to, and anything that would happen, it happens for a reason, I believe, and it wasn’t a shock to me.  I would love to be in the finale, of course, but they also deserve to be there, so I’m not disappointed.  And especially from the guys, everyone, they’re so talented and I’m just happy for them.

Hayley: Yes, basically exactly what Paul said.  It really wasn’t that much of a shock to me.  I think it was more of a shock to me that I even made it that far to begin with, and so I was not disappointed at all.  I was a little disappointed, because of course everyone wants to make it to the finale and the main goal is to win the show, but it was just so great to be just a part of the show because of the camaraderie that we had.  We were just like a huge family and we were all just so supportive of each other.  So we didn’t really consider it a competition very much.  It was not that big of a surprise at all that I was going home.  And I’m just so, so proud of Jasmine and Amy because they’re just amazing and they deserve it so much I’m just blessed to have made it this far, for sure.

 

When you both danced the contemporary routine together, Mary Murphy and Nigel cracked a couple of jokes that you’d make a great looking couple and should date in real life.  What was going through your minds at that moment?   And is there any hope of that actually happening down the road?

Paul: That’s so funny.  Throughout the season there have been so many accusations and just relationships that people would want to see.  A lot of people would constantly tell me and Makenzie to get married.  I love Makenzie and I love Hayley, but I don’t know if I love them in that way.  Do you know what I mean?  Really, behind the scenes everyone has their own personality, everyone has their own thing towards who they like and whatever it is, so it could go anyway.  I don’t know.  Relationships just don’t happen because they look right.  There have to be other things that are going on personally.

Hayley: Yes, Paul basically nailed it.  I have a boyfriend right now, so it wouldn’t have happened any time soon if it were to happen.  But yes, like he said we’ve all been trying to get to know each other over these past few weeks and it could be a complete possibility, like anybody in the top 20 could end up being in a relationship.  We’ve just been getting to know each other and so we don’t know everyone’s full personality or anything to go into a serious relationship or any of that.  Paul is a gorgeous person, so that would be great.

Paul: Thank you.

Hayley: …So I guess you never know, but as of right now I don’t really see anything because I have a boyfriend …

 

Hayley, you had several different partners throughout the competition, Curtis, Nico, last night Paul, not to mention the All Stars, what does working with all these different partners bring to your experience?

Hayley: Dancing with different partners definitely was amazing, because everybody has their own strengths.  And so it was great to experience because there was never once that I was like feeling the same way with a partner.  And in dance you have to connect with a partner really fast, so I think that was kind of to my advantage, because I was just given the opportunity to connect with so many different partners so quickly that I feel like that’s really going to help me out in the future.  Every partner that I worked with was amazing and I had such a great time with all of them, so I think it really just added to my experience throughout the entire thing.  And I wish I could have made it into the finale and gotten to dance with literally all of them, but we’ll all be together for a tour and so you never know what dancers they’ll put in or add in, so I’m really excited for it.

 

Paul, do you have a favorite moment or a favorite dance routine that you did while you were on the show? 

Paul: That’s a very hard question, because I feel like every week was its own highlight and it was its own moment, really thinking about how each genre literally brought a different aspect to the table and I enjoyed every single genre differently.  And there wasn’t one routine where I was like, “Oh my God, I hate this routine.  I don’t want to do it.”  And I feel like that’s very rare because sometimes there are moments where people just are not content with their genres.  And in my case I really enjoyed all of my genres.
I was thinking about it today, that if I could think about one genre that I like the most which one would it be, I really can’t.  Not even my own genre I can isolate from the other ones.  And in a sense if you want me to give an answer, I would totally say the Edge of Glory dance by Mandy Moore, the contemporary that we did, me and Makenzie, it was our last dance together and it was just one of those, the moment that we shared together on the stage was very genuine and it just meant a lot to us.  But then again, the week after I worked with Witney and we did a cha cha, and then I worked with Comfort and we did a hip hop, and then Kathryn this week, and Hayley, every week was just its own great moment.  And the thing is I had no regrets with any of them, so the whole experience was great as a whole.

 

You were on So You Think You Can Dance Armenia, and I was wondering how the two experiences compared to each other.

Paul: Armenia’s So You Think You Can Dance brought so many great moments for me, and it was just a life changing experience for me.   It made me grow as a dancer.  I think, because I’ve only been dancing four and a half years, it really made me mature very quickly, and through that experience I strived to participate in So You Think You Can Dance America because I knew that I would grow even more.  Because there’s no doubt that when comparing Armenia and America the level is different, because Armenia’s population is less than Los Angeles’ population and there are different choreographers there and there’s different contestants and competition there, and here it’s on a different level also.  We have choreographers that are known worldwide, although both of these experiences I would never take back and never regret any moment of.  So, yes, there are many differences between Armenia and America.  They were the same show but both of them were completely different in my life as a whole.

 

Now that the tour will be coming up soon, which dances, whether it’s ones you’ve done or ones that other contestants, other dancers have done, would you like to see featured on the tour?

Paul: I would love to see Mark and Janelle dance the, what is it called, the K-pop or jazz funk.  It was such a unique genre that it was like, I can’t even say what genre, but that’s totally one.  I would love to see Tucker and Robert’s, the medicine dance that they did.  Hayley, anything that you’d want to see?

Hayley: There are so many dances to choose from that were amazing this season.  It’s so hard to say.

Paul: It really is, because it’s like whenever you’re behind the scenes and you just see the growth of the dancers and you see what they become and how amazing each individual, like from the choreographer to the dancers, puts into the dance to create this masterpiece, every one just grows on you because that’s what creates the season, all the different dances.  And there were so many that were so impossible.  Even if the audience didn’t like it, it was very impactful to us.

Hayley: Yes.

Paul: Because you saw the difference of the dance, like, for example, there were so many people that did dances that were out of their genre and it was just very amazing to see them do so great in that genre.  And it made that dance great for me.

Hayley: I think my ideal show would probably be just like to combine every single piece – the entire season, keep like rotating them through, that way it’s not too long.  That would be my ideal show.

 

Of the dancers that were partnered with the All Stars, is there one dance you would love to dance, is there one routine that either of you would want to dance in place of the All Star?

Hayley: Oh, that’s so hard.

Paul: In place of the All Star, oh my God, this is a hard one.

Hayley: I know.  I honestly cannot pick a dance.  Really any of them would be amazing, because I think this is definitely one of the best seasons.  There hasn’t been a single dance with an All Star that looks weak.  They’re all so strong, and I think that’s just amazing for us.   So I don’t even think I can pick one of those, I feel so indecisive, but this season has been amazing.

Hayley, when you left Topeka in May to go audition in Texas, what you thought you’d be doing right about now is settling into a dorm and starting your freshman year of college instead of preparing for a 42 city tour.  Has it really settled in for you yet how much life has changed for you in just a few months?

Hayley: It is actually so strange.  I auditioned in Austin in January, so I knew that I was going to Vegas for quite a few months until Vegas actually happened, but I never imagined that I was even going to make it through to Vegas, and then when I made it through Vegas I didn’t think I’d make South Pawnee, and then when I made South Pawnee I never thought I’d make it this far.  So it’s just been crazy.
Yes, I was planning on going to Chapman University this fall, and as I just kept going further and further in the show, I was like, okay, I guess I’m not going anymore.  But it’s just kind of crazy to even think about that, because right before I left for the show I was graduating high school and then I was planning on going to college, and now I’m here.  And now I get to go on tour and it’s just completely mind blowing to me because my life has just changed in so many ways, and I think it was for the best.  Like Paul’s been saying, everything happens for a reason, and I truly do believe that so maybe going to college now wasn’t what was meant to be for my life, but we’ll just kind of play it by ear and everything really will happen for a reason.  We’ll just see what God throws at me, I guess.

 

With the success both you and Fik-Shun have had on Season 10, what’s that say about Kansas being a pretty good breeding ground for topnotch dancers?

Hayley: Yes, I don’t think people think of Kansas as being very, I don’t really know, like very resourceful or anything, so it really proved to people that just because you’re from a small state or a small town that doesn’t mean anything, as long as you put the work and effort into it.  And all of the studios in Kansas are amazing, and I don’t think people really realize that, so it just really does prove to people that you can get training anywhere, as long as you have good training and you have the work ethics that you need to be successful, you’ll be totally fine.

 

It’s been established that you have a boyfriend and that Curtis took you on a date earlier in the season just to work on your chemistry onstage as partners, and Kat Deeley kind of focused in on that during one episode and made it seem like you two were really dating.  So taking into account that situation and the one about you maybe potentially dating Paul down the road and how you guys would make a cute couple, was that a little frustrating for you at all, or make you a little bit uncomfortable? 

Hayley: I know what’s going down and I know that they’re just pretty much kidding about me and Paul dating.  The Curtis thing was kind of taken out of proportion, but it doesn’t really bother me as much as I think it kind of bothers my boyfriend.  But I’ve told him it’s for the show and he knows that I’m just friends with all of these guys, so I mean, it really hasn’t caused any problems or anything.  I think it’s fine.

 

Reflecting on both of your performances last week, Paul, you did an awesome job with the hip hop routine and you really surprised the judges – Hayley, you performed that great rumba.  Do you guys have any insight as to why maybe your votes weren’t coming in? 

Paul: Well, the thing with the show is it’s so unpredictable.  I hadn’t fallen to the bottom at all and I had a great run with the hip hop.  And the thing is it’s not always what we’ve come to understand.  It’s not always about America’s best dancers.  It just depends on what America thinks.  It has to do with being a favorite dancer also.  And I guess, like we just … it’s not tragic because Aaron and Fik-shun and Amy and Jasmine, they’re all great people and they’re all great dancers, so it could have gone either way.  And it’s just everything happens for a reason.  So it’s just how America saw it this week and it happened the way it did.

Hayley: I was basically going to say the same thing.  It is all based off of America’s votes, so you never know what’s going to happen.  A lot of times people don’t connect with a ballroom dance because America doesn’t know how cool ballroom truly is, and that could have been a part of it.  But also America obviously loves Amy and Jasmine, and they totally deserve it, so I’m completely content with leaving the finale to them.

 

Paul, You spent much of the competition dancing alongside Makenzie, and you were an absolutely beautiful couple to watch. She had said that she was so lucky to have you as a partner because you were the reason behind the two of you doing so well.  What is your reaction to that?

Paul: Makenzie is just – I was so shocked that Makenzie got cut so early, not early but she didn’t go all the way, I thought that she definitely deserved to be in the finale at least.  She’s just such an amazing person.  And really working with her was just so different because we connected on a different level.  And we became so close and we became such great friends, and she’s just been so supportive of me through this journey, even after she got cut.  And you know the fact that she is such a great person and such a great dancer, I respect her so much for that.  And I know that it’s not the end, we’re going to be dancing together in the finale and on tour, and I just love working with her and I know that she has such a bright future ahead of her and I know that she will be successful in what she does.
And I just wish that America saw what a great personality she had, because backstage she was so goofy and she was just so fun to be around and not only beautiful in terms of her looks, but beautiful on the inside too.  And I just wish her the best and I thank her for being such a great partner, because the time that I spent with her, we never got our genre, my genre, sorry, we never got Latin ballroom, and we always got contemporary or jazz and it was mainly her genre, and she just helped me so much throughout those genres and made it such a great work process and it was great working with her, and her work ethic is amazing.  And I wish her the best.

 

Is there anything that either of you have learned, or that you take away from the experience that has either changed you as a person or changed your perspective about dance?

Paul: Well, every single day changed my perspective about dance and changed me as a person, because every single day it was literally this obstacle that we had to succumb and pass and just going through practices that were literally draining of your not only physical self, but also your mental self.  And being able to overcome those challenges and being able to conquer routines that you’ve never really danced before, and being able to just do the best that you can every single day, even though you know that you have no energy in your body, especially this last performance that we had, everyone was really drained, even if we wanted to continue and we had the fight to continue and do our best, our bodies were literally not complying with us.
There were moments where it was like we would fight to finish the routine until the end, but your muscles just give up. We’re still human after all, and the fact that we had to overcome these challenges, it really made us grow and mature as people.  And it’s a great experience, so … an amazing experience, and I truly wish that everyone could experience it, because it makes you grow so much as a person.  And of course it makes you grow as a dancer, but dance, I will be dancing for many years continuing after the show, but I know that what I will take with me even more is how much I grew as a person and the experiences I gained, and the knowledge and maturity I gained throughout the show.  So that’s really one of the biggest things that I know I will remember from the show.