Greatest American Dog Recap
Spoiler Alert…West Coasters stop reading until you see the show.
How does it feel American dog lovers? You know what I’m talking about. That’s right, I’m typing about this week’s Greatest American Dog show and the outcome.
After last week’s travesty, the judges did themselves proud this week. I don’t mean to be, uhmm, mean but everybody’s favorite boo hoo girl was asked to take the last lap. But more on that later.
The show started off with a little competition where the contestants were asked to walk across a thin platform. Unfortunately it wasn’t the human contestants. At first glance it appeared this could be a dangerous event, but after going back to the videotape I decided the distance from platform to mud was pretty small, plus the beam was carpeted. It was a blue berber if you really need to know.
Surprisingly only two teams made it across; Teresa and Leroy in 5 seconds and Bill and Star in 16 seconds. In a very sweet move, Teresa gave Bill the Dog Bone Suite even though she won the event. She realized Bill missed his family, and one of the perks of getting the suite is getting to have pictures of your family surround you. It was very nice and touching.
The main contest was for each of the teams to choreograph a dance routine. There were some really cute routines most notably Lori and Andrew’s and Bill and Star’s. On the down side there were some truly embarrassing routines as well. Brandy and Beacon were a train wreck as were Laura and Preston. I thought Beth Joy grabbing Bella Starlet’s paws and walking around with her during the competition should have put them in the bottom three. Is it me or do others think this dancing thing probably goes on in their house every Saturday night?
In the end it was a no brainer because nothing was going to pry the last lap leash out of Brandy’s hand this week.
As far as controversy goes, there really wasn’t anything of note from the judging.
I’m still looking for more interaction with the dogs. Which reminds me…if you haven’t seen the video of the doggie dance routine shown at the bottom of this page, then you’re in for a treat!
Until next week…Stay!
If you don’t see the video, please click here.
I LOVE your show its so awesome. I have a chocolate Doberman Pintcher hes so clumsy… i’ve tryed to train him before and that did not work out!! But I guess dobermans are just made for being watch dogs: [ . Anyway when I get older my dog is going to be a winner!!!!
We love Bill and Star on America’s Greatest Dog.
All of Texas is pulling for them to win.
Hey Linda Griffin, all of Tennessee is pulling for Bill and Star as well. They are the best!
I’m a Texas Fox Hound pulling for Bill and Star, too!!!!
Theresa did a good thing, and this week, she treated Leroy better and didn’t yell at him, so that’s progress.
As for Brandy and Beacon….well, you could see the poor thing locking up. Brandy is an emotional roller coaster. And the clothes! For crying out loud, you know the dog doesn’t like it. Good elimination choice.
I am on a Yahoo group for Welsh Terriers and everyone who watches GAD roots for Bill & Star, too!
I was very proud of Teresa, it meant alot to
Bill and his orange baby STARR
I am rooting for them
I happy the judges did the right thing this week and got rid of Brandy and Beacon.
I love Bill and Star dancing
I used dog dance with old dog but got old basset now not much can do with her
[...] If you don’t see the video, please click here. [...]
How do you get to try out for the show next season?
Mandi is an extremely smart 9 year old Bischon/poodle.
She has taken 3 classes: Obedience, Agility, Advanced Agility. Mandi does a ton of tricks and loves to do them!
I love Bill and Star. I have Brits too and Star is the prime example of the breed, sweet, smart, willing to learn and to please. I am pulling for them to win. They have the team spirit, the intelligence and the love of each other to pull it off. There chemistry is awesome. Go Bill and Star!!!
“Yea” for the judges this week! The ‘boo-hoo’ girl was not only out of “sync” with her dog; she made him miserable with her continuous upset. I thought her last words were memorable, though. She said that she was walking out with her “head held high.” Way to go!
(I miss Tillman!)
I love your blog, Horst.. You do an amusing & excellent job of summing up America’s Greatest Dog each week…thanks!
Thank goodness Beacon is a GONER!!
I cannot believe they chose Presley as a bottom three dog team! He always does his best…dancing with your dog is NOT for everyone! At least he put in effort!
That being said, if only people knew more about doggie dancing. It is actually fairly easy to make a show out of it, just add some freestyle moves to your obedience routine, add a bit of personal flair to the RIGHT music, and it turns out well.
I just love Bill and Star and I hope they win it all. That team deserves it all.
I love this show! The only thing is where did they find the FEMALE DOGS who judge it?! The male judge is alright but the other females are just awful. The third one always looks bored and snobby like she’s to good to even be there and they are so harsh on these people! It’s not easy to train your dog to do some of this stuff. They need to back off! Otherwise I think this show is great and Bill had me bawling tonight! There are some great people on this show and that is why I want the judges to be a little nicer and treat these people better. Go Bill and Star!
Miss Dasha (Liver-spotted Dalmatian) and I are rooting for Star and her Daddy! Star is so devoted to her Daddy, reflecting his moods, trying to cheer him up, usually trying to do whatever her Daddy asks. Star’s a very expressive dog just like Miss Dasha. We’re both amazed with Bill and Star’s relationship! You go girl!
I wish I could watch the show! Even the videos on the internet are not available in Australia.
Awww,we were sad,to see a cutie fellow schnauzie go home!!! Mom said that Beacon’s behavior,was A1 typical schnauzie behavior! We can be lil stubborn things!! We still think Beacon and Kenji,were super cuties!! As far as talent goes…probably Bill and Star!
Just think, we could’ve had the experience of seeing Tillman in a little pink tutu if he’d made it to this week. Ah, the missed opportunities!
I think that it was so sweet last night that Teresa gave Bill the dog bone suite even though she won. Also. Bill happy that he gave it to him because he got to see pictures off his family including a touching letter from his wife that brought him ot tears. Also that made Bill and Star an overall good performance at the best in show challenge. I love Bill and Star. They are both so sweet and I can’t wait to so them win at the finale. Good work Bill and Star and keep up doing good and make sure your stay close to Teresa because she is somebody you can really trust.
I thought Lori and Andrew were cute, but I really thought JD and Galaxy were the best — their routine was much more difficult, and Galaxy was every bit as engaged as Andrew. I think the judges felt pressure not to let the same pair win Best in Show twice. Bill and Star also did a great job.
As for the Dog Bone challenge, Leroy was great, but he had a hereditary advantage, as collies naturally place their feet in a single line when they walk (as do wolves). Still, it was awesome that Theresa gave up the suite for Bill.
We Texas pups are rooting for Bill and Star! We do live near Oklahoma,so we’re kinda rooting for Travis and Presley also.
I was thining the same thing about the collie being able to balnce better because it’s in their genes-I think most of the dogs just wanted to play in the mud or were scared and didn’t really ‘fall off’ except for maybe a few.
I am still missing Elvis and Tillman. Tillman doing the Cha-Cha would have been memorable. Where were the first contestants found? I hope the show will continue. I would like to see a spin off of a show using only shelter dogs. Also would like to see a follow through with a trainer telling viewers how to correct problems seen on the show. The judges come off so stern. Voting by audience would be a personality contest. Probably would not work well.
Tyler(pom mix) and I are rooting for Bill and Star. They are such a cute pair. Bill shows such love for Star. It is so touching. I was sorry to see Tillman go.
Wow! What can I say? This was my favorite episode. It showed the true compassion of dog lovers. What Teresa did was so noble. I am a true believer in my humans. The more they love me, the more they love humans.
I am glad Beacon is gone. She was suffering so much from her mom’s anxiety. Heck, we can’t help but mirror their feelings. That is how God made us.
Now, for my favorite - Bill and Star. I am just amazed each week at the bond between Bill and Star plus, the personal growth Bill is having. He me get sad, but, he sure loves the new experiences. I love to see him smile and hold Star. Mom holds me, too - even though I am bigger than her.
Well, for me, it is paws up for Bill and Star. Keep it coming you wonderful team.
Shady Lady Sadie Mae
I agree with Teddy Bear’s Family. I would love to see training tips from the judges. I love the format that Super Nanny uses for parenting tips and something like that would be totally awesome for Greatest American Dog! I love the show and am hooked; not sure who I want to win yet.
Nobody really barks about J.D. and Galaxy on here. Even thought they are really strong contendors, J.D comes across as too smug to be likeable. A good attitude for the X-Games, but not for this show. That breakdancing routine last night was tight. But I feel like I haven’t seen much of his dog’s personality. Not enough for me to be rooting for them anyway. Instead, I like Bill and Star because of how likeable they both are and you see the love between them. J.D. does not seem like a warm doggy daddy. He has a well-behaved dog, but I don’t see the love between them, just respect.
Well, since no on else is doind it, I’ll bark for JD and Galaxy. I disagree that JD is smug — I think he is just competitive, in a fair and honest way. He has yet to put down any of the other contenders, which is something that a few of the other owners have already done. Laurie is just as competitive as JD, but no one ever puts her down for it — heck, she even called the other owners “idiots” in this last show — but no one seemed to notice. Besides, no one said a warm, fuzzy attitude counted for anything in this competition. Galaxy is a combination of two working breeds, not a doe-eyed lap dog — her personality comes through, but she’s of a more serious demeanor. She seems to have a blast doing anything with JD. And, just to remind everyone, Galaxy did win Best in Show for the Personality event!
I agree that JD & Galaxy are great contenders. I also don’t think JD is too smug. Galaxy is very smart and trained very well and you can tell she wants to please her owner. And always jumping into his arms. You can see the love they share for each other. I really like Bill & Starr too. That dog loves him more than anything. That’s the greatest thing about dogs. When you can see that strong desire to please it’s just so touching. I love it! Makes me cry every time. And of course Travis and Presley are favorites too. Presley just has so much fun being there. And even though he’s still a young pup you can tell he has that desire to please just like Starr and Galaxy have. Preston can be fun to watch too. He’s a pretty smart little guy himself. And even though it probably was time for Beacon and Brandy to go I think I’m gonna miss her…..both of them. Our dogs don’t always do what we want them to and sometimes you could relate to the pair. Can’t wait to see next week.
Bill and Starr have a one in a million bond!!! I believe Teresa and Leroy showed a lot of class. In the end, the judges got it right with Lori and Andrew. JD views Galaxy as a commodity… not a partner.
I agree with JP about JD and Galaxy. I don’t think he is smug, just competitive, and he has a great bond with Galaxy. They work together well and they both love each other. He’s done a great job with her. When you get a mix, you never know. He let’s Galaxy show her personality and her traits. He is not trying to re-formulate her into something he wants. He lets her be natural. But, not as much as Bill and Star. So, I am an advocate both teams.
i have a brittany mix and have been pulling for bill and star since the get-go. i don’t know if anyone read their bios on the gad website but bill’s wife is diabetic and star can always tell if something is wrong with her sugar. as far as the contestants - teresa bowled me over. that was the sweetest, noblest gesture giving bill the suite. and i am not at all sad to see brandy and beacon go. that girl is a mess. apparently she never had any dolls when she was growing up and she’s taking it out on poor beacon making the dog a nut case too. since when is a schnauzer of any size a dress-up doll?! also, last week when it came to the two photos, i thought beacon’s was the worst but ron has been around with tillman. i also can’t stand seeing dogs shaved unnaturally. isn’t preston a pom? what is this itty, bitty lion look all about? anyway, i’m rooting for bill and star - they have a heart-to-heart relationship. she’s always looking to try and figure out what he’s thinking. my guy does that too. second choice is teresa and leroy, they can be great and she made me cry because she gave from her heart.
would love to know if the video above is rookie. this past week on a “pet star” repeat rookie and owner (whose name i can’t think of) did a somewhat shorter similar routine.
What Teresa did for Bill was so wonderful. You rarely see that kind of thing in a reality show on TV. I had a feeling she was going to do that; but even still, when she did, it made tears come to my eyes. I like Bill and Star to win the whole thing.
I think they should have stood up and let Teresa also have a whats it called leg up or paw up. You know what i mean. Since she was so nice to let Bill and Star have first place. There is not many people out there that would jeopardize their chance and do what she did. Im so glad they did not vote her and her doggie off. I think they are all great. But i am rooting for the boxer, Presley. I think hes great!!! I think he does good and he has a nice owner that seems to care about people . He was so nice to Brandy. He encouraged her to not give up. Although, she got voted off i have to say she loved her doggie. Beacon was so cute! I think Bill is a very nice guy saying he misses his wife. You can certainly tell he loves her. The show is great. I cant wait till the next episode.
I absolutely love Bill and Star! Maybe it is his kindness and gentleness he has with Star. I hope they go all the way. Also, have totally changed my mind about Teresa and LeRoy, although LeRoy barks too much I think Bill will be able to help her. That was the best act of kindness that Teresa did and I think she will benefit in the end for it! So Teresa Kudos to you! (you had me in tears when you gave Bill and Star the suite).
As far as JD and Galaxy, I have said this to my daughter who watches the show with me, he is an amazing trainer and has a great relationship with Galaxy, but I just can’t relate to him, maybe it is some of his actions he does.
We also like Travis and Presley and Laura and Preston, but really hope that Bill and Star take it to the end!!! (I have an “orange” dog too just like Star! - maybe that is why I am partial to them too).
We just love this show! We hope you continue for many seasons!!!
We’re organizing a rescue mission to dognap Beacon, anybody want to help?
We kind of like Laurie and Andrew’s routine but Bill and Star are our favorites.
Desert Pups
HOW DO YOU GET ON THIS SHOW??????????
to “desert pups”
if only we could! i think they only lasted as long as they did because gad needed some whiny, obnoxious owner to distract everyone. poor beacon - you little dress-up doll!!!!
Here’s the thing about JD and Galaxy: they shouldn’t even be on the show. JD and Galaxy are a professional performance team. They actually go around performing for events, and JD has a bunch of other dogs in addition to Galaxy who do the same thing with him. It is grossly unfair to pit him against what is essentially a bunch of pet owners. They are, admittedly, very talented and some of them have great relationships with their dogs, but they are not professionals like JD. I wonder why the show’s producers did that? It’s weird, and not fair. That said, I do like Galaxy, and I do find JD rather overconfident. But then, he has a right to be, doesn’t he?
Although Travis and Presley weren’t the best couple on the dance floor last night, anyone who knows boxers knows how difficult that routine was for Presley. For an adolescent boxer, I think he’s doing fantastic. You can’t deny their mutual love and respect. I also like Bill and Starr . They did great with their dance and they are another duo with love and respect!
Bill & Star all the way!!!!!! number two spot should go to Teresa & leRoy …. “bastks & all!”
oops …. Keyboard Kant Spel …. was spose to be BARKS & all! sorry guys
Besides the snooty judge with her white dog, I thought the judges summed up each act pretty well. Except, I didn’t think Travis deserved to be in the bottom 3.
Did anyone see the sneer on Galaxy’s owner’s face when Lori and Andrew were singled out? Unless it was edited in, he looked astonished that he wasn’t praised to the heavens. They are talented a talented duo, but the owner seems a little too smug for my taste. Really turns me off.
Please let Bella Starr’s owner go home next week. I fail to see what’s so special about her or her dog. I appreciate the fact the she loves her dog, but methinks she loves Bella a little too much, imho. She seems a little nutty. Poor dog.
Though I’m still getting over the loss of Tillman (a travesty!!!)….have to say I love Bill and Star. Their bond is undeniable and genuine. Theresa’s self sacrafice, brought me to tears. High kudo’s to her!…this was truly a memorable moment in the program. I also like Travis and Presley. I just think Presley is adorable and wants to please Travis sooo much…they have a great bond. JD and Galaxy are extremely talented together, however, JD leaves me a little cold. He expects Galaxy to win everything and when he doesn’t he seems annoyed. Brandy could be over the top, but she went out with her head held high and her love for Beacon was undeniable. Looking forward to next week….
I thought JD and Galaxy were AWESOME and I don’t even like breakdancing. They coordinated well and looked amazing. Galaxy is a great dog. JD is a great trainer but he is a bit too competitive for my taste. But if they won the whole show I think it would be well deserved. That said I am rooting for Bill and Star and Travis and Presley. I also like Theresa and Leroy. I thought she got a bad rap last week for the snarl bands so I am glad she is back in favor.
Finally Beacon and Brandy are gone. They should have been gone weeks ago. Poor Beacon. Yes Brandy was an absolute mess and that probably affected Beacon but why didn’t anyone tell her to take the darn BOOTIES off! LOL. That was probably the biggest reason Beacon wouldn’t do anything. My dog hates booties and I only bought some because we were going on a hike in the snow. We never did that again. She hated them so much she wouldn’t even walk correctly. Poor Beacon. He obviously does not like to be dressed up (not sure that I know a dog that does). I hope she gets a clue but I kind of doubt she will….
I have to say, I love this show and it goes way too fast. I agree with everyone that Brandy should have been sent home. I am not including Beacons name in that sentence, since he didn’t do anything wrong, he just got the short end of the stick when it comes to owners. But, in her defense, she does love him and that is all that matters to Beacon.
So many of the attitudes that are showing lately are really getting on my nerves. It seems these people are forgetting to have fun. I wish they would all just chill and let the dogs enjoy what they are doing, instead of getting so tense and aggravated. That is the key to Bill and Star, he loves that dog so much, and he realizes this is just a game. He also realizes it is about the dog and not him. So many of the contestants almost try and take the spotlight away from their own dogs. Dancing with your dog is not easy. To teach a dog a routine in 2 days is nearly impossible unless the dog had seen you dance before. To them, you are running around looking like a crazy person and you expect them to participate? Those judges need to take a walk. None of them have enough expertise to be on that show as a judge. I have seen Victoria’s show, just plain rediculous. She walks around in black boots like some form of dog dominatrix. I want to see the other female dance with her little dog. The poor thing sits there like a statue each week…why is that dog there? Oh and you publish a dog magazine so that makes you an expert? Since when? I am sorry, but all three are rediculous and they take themselves too seriously, besides being rude and obnoxious. I was so disappointed when I saw the judges, hopefully next season they can get different ones.
Other than that, it is a great show, I love the interaction in the house between the humans and the dogs. It is interesting to see how each pair grows for the good or the bad. I do hope this show stays around for awhile.
Thanks for allowing us to comment…see ya next week!
Like everyone, we Looove Bill and Star. Wasn’t that impressed w/ Lori’s routine, Andrew basically just followed her around. Huge Kudo’s to Theresa to giving up the Bone Room, and Travis for giving good advice to his fellow competitors. Pressly is amazing, considering how young he is. Please take the drama queen and her cross dressing dog off next week. That woman needs serious help and a good therapist! I agree that they should show training tips that coincide w/what the dogs do or don’t do. Go Texas! We’re rooting for you!!!!
AGREE WITH DAKOTA…
Not only did they have 2 days to put together a routine, but imagine having to choreagraph a dance yourself, train your dog, go through wardrobe fittings (I don’t imagine Laura would’ve thought to ask her friends at Dancing with the Stars about borrowing the sexy but completely scary to Preston dress just for the hell of it) and then get your dog comfortable to performing with you in costume on a lit stage with dozens of cameras and crew surrounding you? Most dogs would shut down in those conditions, it’s absurd that whoever scheduled GAD would expect the dogs to perform under such stressful circumstances. That is MUCH MORE INHUMANE than a snarl band, in my opionion. You have to feel bad for ALL of the dogs… and the only reason Laurie and Andrew won is because that is ALL they do… OBEDIENCE, RALLY, etc… of course Andrew would follow Laurie around, how impressive is that, really? At least Galaxy and JD were entertaining… but JD makes a living doing live stage shows! That comes second nature, like Tillman skateboarding… I feel bad for all the dogs, even Beaon and Bella, who shut down. Presley must have been confused as anything, and really, what boxer loves dancing? Then little sweet Preston… the smartest little dog I’ve seen… who can blame him for sniffing around looking for the treats the other dogs missed… wouldn’t you if you were a dog? I feel bad for Laura, after reading her bios online, I seriously doubt she asked to wear something like that… the girl is a flip flop beach hippie! Expecting a 9 pound dog to dance around his mom in high heels and a sparkly feathery dress would be any dogs worst nightmare. Kudos to Preston for being smart enough to know how ridiculous that challenge was! And I commend Laura for laughing about it, instead of stressing out and being disappointed in him. I love watching those two… as well as Bill and Star, of course. And who doesn’t love Travis!!!!! I hope Preston, Presley & Star go all the way…
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Dancing with your dog is not easy. To teach a dog a routine in 2 days is nearly impossible unless the dog had seen you dance before. To them, you are running around looking like a crazy person and you expect them to participate? Those judges need to take a walk. None of them have enough expertise to be on that show as a judge. I have seen Victoria’s show, just plain rediculous. She walks around in black boots like some form of dog dominatrix. I want to see the other female dance with her little dog. The poor thing sits there like a statue each week…why is that dog there? Oh and you publish a dog magazine so that makes you an expert? Since when? I am sorry, but all three are rediculous and they take themselves too seriously, besides being rude and obnoxious. I was so disappointed when I saw the judges, hopefully next season they can get different ones.
To Dakota,
Just curious - what qualifies you to judge anything including the judges? Please tell what books you have written or what dog magazines you edit or what channel your dog expert program is on. As far as the dance competition, it was no different than any of the other competitions. The point is how well you have trained your dog, how obedient it is and how it follows commands. Walking the plank was a far greater test than the dance competition. Only 2 dogs actually went across. All the others were either intimidated by the plank or thought the mud looked really cool, wanted to go play and DIDN’T listen to their masters. As far as the greatest american dog - there are hundreds of them out there - k-9’s, rescue dogs, guiding eyes dogs, drug sniffers, but the best - pet therapy dogs. My dog and I are working on this now and I hope to get him certified to visit nursing homes and children’s hospitals.
I have to agree with emmie at least somewhat. The judges are trying to determine how well you and your dog will do under stressful or out of the norm situations. I do not feel that a couple of days is too short of a time to teach these dogs a dance routine . Dogs are very intelligent creatures and they catch on very quickly. If you stay unstressed and make it a fun experience for them I believe anyone could excel in the competetion and it seems that is what the judges are looking for. And on the subject of the judges, Victoria Stilwel I at least believe seems very qualified to be there. I don’t see what her boots have to do with her ability to train dogs or to judge how owners interact with their dogs. She could do it in a trash bag for all I care as long as she knew what she was talking about, in fact she seems very knowledgable about positive reinforcement and sound aversion, which I believe in wholeheartedly when it comes to canine obedience.
Sorry to be so wordy but… I don’t have any of the qualifications that the judges have but I have to work for a living too. I have a Brittany mix, live in Westchester County and work in midtown Manhattan. My dog was about 2-1/2 to 3 months old when i got him mid January 2006 and am lucky enough to be able to bring him to work. He rides Metro North everyday in and out of Grand Central Station with thousands of other passengers and is probably the best known commuter on the rails. People know his name and not mine whether they are other commuters, MTA employees, NYPD, National Guard, etc., etc. I work for the CEO of a very upscale retail store on Madison Avenue and I think my dog thinks he really works there. The staff love him, customers are always drawn to him and if they have children with them, he becomes quite entertaining with the little tricks he knows. When i mentioned pet therapy, our elderly next door neighbor lost her husband last year and the adult daughter that still lives at home is physically handicapped. My dog has become very sensitive and devoted to them and we visit at least every weekend. Yes, i am bragging to an extent but he is still not the best behaved or well trained dog on the planet. He can still get really rambunctious and totally embarrassing. As a cat lady for 35 years, is my dog the greatest american dog? I think so but in the wide variety of “games” these people and their pets face, would mine handle it? I’m not sure. It really takes a lot to reach that level. I also read somewhere in these posts that jd and galaxy are ringers and as far as ron and tillman are concerned, I know I have seen them on the Animal Planet so I consider them ringers also. I don’t think that is fair. Hopefully, Dakota will respond with her qualifications. In the meantime, we’ll watch tonight’s episode and wait for the neighbor’s great grandchildren to visit so they can all play soccer. The boys fight over whose team he will play on since he scores the goals. GO BILL AND STAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
thank you Bekah!!
I am writing in response to tonight’s episode of “Greatest American Dog”. My family has been watching this show since the beginning and has loved it, up until tonight…..I was so disappointed at how the judges attempted to be “art critics”. I am an art teacher and was so angered at how the judges responded to some of the artworks created. What did they expect….Masterpieces! And for the one judge to come out and just say that an artwork “sucks” is highly inappropriate and sounded quite unintelligent. What was also inappropriate was watching Bella Starlet “cry” when her owner, Beth Joy was so insensitive to be taping things to her feet. Who is she kidding she wasn’t working through any problem, she was doing whatever she could to get ahead. I think the wrong couple went home tonight and I also think those judeges better remember what they are there to judge….dogs not art that is for sure. I actually thought Travis and Presley had a great painting from a content point of view. Pretty creative! Beth Joy and Bella Starlet need to go home…..before she hurts her dog more on national T.V. Shame on the judges for not seeing that.
-Amy