Ox Notes: June 12, 2008

I confess: I was planning on skipping this season of So You Think You Can Dance. I'm still a little burnt out from the unbearably long episodes of Dancing with the Stars 6, and I thought summer would be a nice time to do some reading. But I flipped through the channels last night and fell victim to SYTYCD's secret weapon: Mary Murphy. I'd forgotten how hilarious she is, and now I'm doomed.

In case you missed the show, here are links to videos of the performances: Susie & Marquis, Kourtni & Matt, Comfort & Chris, Chelsea & Thayne, Chelsie & Mark, Rayven & Jamie, Katee & Joshua, Jessica & Will, Courtney & Gev, and Kherington & Twitch.

I'm very happy with the results of the Top Chef: Chicago finale. BravoTV.com has a blog post about the finale by judge Ted Allen, as well as an interview with the winner.

Don't forget, you can chat with Stephanie today at 1 p.m. CT, courtesy of the Chicago Tribune.

Even though he didn't make it to the finale, Top Chef: Chicago's Spike is still a winner. His restaurant, Good Stuff Eatery, is scheduled to open in Washington D.C. by June 24.

Hoping to capitalize on the success of Top Chef, Bravo has two new food shows in the works, including Top Chef Junior and an untitled project starring celebrity chef Jean-Christophe Novelli.

The matchups for NBC's Celebrity Family Feud have been announced, eliminating any desire I had to watch the show. Kathie Lee Gifford and family vs. Duane "Dog the Bounty Hunter" Chapman and family? That's the best you could do, NBC?

Marlee Matlin is writing a book, set to be released some time in 2009.

The A.V. Club has an interview with the always hilarious host of The Soup, Joel McHale.

SAG president Alan Rosenberg told Variety that he doesn't think the union will have a new contract in place before the current one expires on June 30.

Yahoo! has a well-considered Summer Viewing List of TV shows on DVD, including suggestions for further viewing: "If you like Arrested Development, also check out Curb Your Enthusiasm." The list is full of great shows, although I recommend skipping Wonderfalls, one of the "also check out" suggestions under the entry for the excellent Freaks & Geeks.

This isn't TV news, but People has a video featuring the new lead singer of Journey -- a guy from the Philippines that the band found on YouTube. The singer, Arnel Pineda, sounds exactly like Steve Perry.

I'm taking tomorrow off. Have a great weekend!