This is it! By the end of the night, a new dancer will be crowned "America's Favorite Dancer." And the cool $250,000 won't hurt, either. (I feel bound to point out to the winner that $250,000 isn't what it used to be, especially after half is taken for federal and state taxes! ;>)
We're joined again by Nigel, Mary and Adam Shankman and previous guest judges Lil C, Mia, Tice and Debbie Allen as well as Ms. Cat looking lovely in a draped-style white dress.
They start off with the group number performed to "Brand New Day" from earlier in the season. It was one of my favorites and I was glad to see it again. I also loved catching glimpses of all the eliminated dancers from the season.
Because this is the finale, we're treated to some of our favorite routines of the season. I won't rehash them because I've reviewed them already, but I'll say some were better the second time around and some weren't. But it's always good to see some of our favorites again. I wish the show would put out a DVD of the past five seasons. Nigel, get on that.
An hour into the show, the first of the final four is eliminated: Kayla. I don't think it was a surprise. The judges loved her dancing, but she wasn't always a fan favorite. She will have no problems from this point on.
Fifteen minutes later, we say goodbye to Evan. It looks like the voters listened to what the judges were saying last night.
And finally, we learned who won: Jeanine! Congratulations.
I'd said before that this final four didn't excite me, but if I had to pick a winner, it was Jeanine. I'm glad others agreed with me.
And so ends another season of So You Think You Can Dance. The good news is that we don't have to wait until next summer for new shows. I'll see you here next month.
TNP
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
SYTYCD- The Finale, Part 1
Well, it's the finale. It's down to the final four. Blogging this show has been a lot work and I need a break. But I've learned a lot about what to do in the future. Especially when Idol starts.
A moment, for the dearly departed Paula Abdul. Gone from American Idol.
... Okay. Moving on.
Where are they? The place is huge and full of people. Is it the Kodak theatre? Pressure, much?
And so we're introduced to our Top 4: Jeanine, Evan, Kayla & Brandon. And our judges for the finale? Nigel, Mary and Adam Shankman. I like him, so I'm fine with that selection.
We start with a Wade & Amanda Robson group routine. Cute. High school football players and cheerleaders. High energy and perky and totally different from his usual finale numbers.
Evan & Jeanine: A Sonja Tayeh routine. It was okay. But the finale numbers have ROCKED in the past, so this one didn't rise to the level I was expecting.
Brandon's solo: It was all power and strength and I may have enjoyed it more if it wasn't for that godawful music. It made my ears bleed. But there's no doubt he's a powerful dancer.
Kayla & Brandon: Tice for Broadway. There was one moment I liked, when Kayla went into a high kick and Brandon grabbed her and flipped her over. Other than that, it wasn't for me.
Jeanine's solo: Another great solo. There weren't flashy flips, just beautiful control.
Brandon & Evan: LauriAnne Gibson. The routine was awesome, but I had been dreading watching the two guys dance together, because I knew Evan wouldn't stand a chance. And he didn't. Brandon totally controlled that dance. He was hard where Evan was soft. Brandon stomped, Evan toe-shoed.
Kayla & Jeanine: Mia Michaels. It wasn't the best Mama Mia routine, but there were things I really liked about it. I like the shedding of the clothes and I liked the part where they shielded their eyes, showing their focus getting to the finish line. Unlike the B & E routine, I was looking forward to the two ladies dancing. And watching them together, I was finally able to distinguish them. Kayla is perfection technically while Jeanine exudes passion. It was a wonderful routine to watch.
Evan's solo: Charming, as usual. He made me smile. :>
Kayla & Evan: A Jive by Tony & Melanie. It was extremely enjoyable, although Kayla seemed to retract a little vigorously. Also, Evan is smaller than she is and he didn't seem able to handle her full throttle. He did the lifts well, but there were a few times where he appeared to stumble when she twirled around.
Kayla's solo: It was good, but she chose a song from Season 3's finale, the dance with Sabra & Neil. All I could picture was that wonderful Mandy Moore piece. But she is an exquisite dancer and has been all season.
Jeanine & Brandon: Louis Van Amstel. Absolutely ELECTRIC. Now THAT'S what I've been waiting for all night. That was HOT!
What are you thoughts after the first night? Did your favorite perform well? What do you think about the judges' comments? Hit me with your comments. And don't forget to vote!
TNP
A moment, for the dearly departed Paula Abdul. Gone from American Idol.
... Okay. Moving on.
Where are they? The place is huge and full of people. Is it the Kodak theatre? Pressure, much?
And so we're introduced to our Top 4: Jeanine, Evan, Kayla & Brandon. And our judges for the finale? Nigel, Mary and Adam Shankman. I like him, so I'm fine with that selection.
We start with a Wade & Amanda Robson group routine. Cute. High school football players and cheerleaders. High energy and perky and totally different from his usual finale numbers.
Evan & Jeanine: A Sonja Tayeh routine. It was okay. But the finale numbers have ROCKED in the past, so this one didn't rise to the level I was expecting.
Brandon's solo: It was all power and strength and I may have enjoyed it more if it wasn't for that godawful music. It made my ears bleed. But there's no doubt he's a powerful dancer.
Kayla & Brandon: Tice for Broadway. There was one moment I liked, when Kayla went into a high kick and Brandon grabbed her and flipped her over. Other than that, it wasn't for me.
Jeanine's solo: Another great solo. There weren't flashy flips, just beautiful control.
Brandon & Evan: LauriAnne Gibson. The routine was awesome, but I had been dreading watching the two guys dance together, because I knew Evan wouldn't stand a chance. And he didn't. Brandon totally controlled that dance. He was hard where Evan was soft. Brandon stomped, Evan toe-shoed.
Kayla & Jeanine: Mia Michaels. It wasn't the best Mama Mia routine, but there were things I really liked about it. I like the shedding of the clothes and I liked the part where they shielded their eyes, showing their focus getting to the finish line. Unlike the B & E routine, I was looking forward to the two ladies dancing. And watching them together, I was finally able to distinguish them. Kayla is perfection technically while Jeanine exudes passion. It was a wonderful routine to watch.
Evan's solo: Charming, as usual. He made me smile. :>
Kayla & Evan: A Jive by Tony & Melanie. It was extremely enjoyable, although Kayla seemed to retract a little vigorously. Also, Evan is smaller than she is and he didn't seem able to handle her full throttle. He did the lifts well, but there were a few times where he appeared to stumble when she twirled around.
Kayla's solo: It was good, but she chose a song from Season 3's finale, the dance with Sabra & Neil. All I could picture was that wonderful Mandy Moore piece. But she is an exquisite dancer and has been all season.
Jeanine & Brandon: Louis Van Amstel. Absolutely ELECTRIC. Now THAT'S what I've been waiting for all night. That was HOT!
What are you thoughts after the first night? Did your favorite perform well? What do you think about the judges' comments? Hit me with your comments. And don't forget to vote!
TNP
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
SYTYCD- Week 8
We're down to the Top 6! I don't know about you, but I'm ready to dive in. Let's get to it.
This is an important week, as we'll find out who will make it to the final four and next week's finale. Our guest judge this week was Lil C and I can think of lots of people I'd rather have return as guest judge. He needs to edit his comments; the soliloquies are getting a bit tiresome.
Ms. Cat impressed this week with a violet sheath on Wednesday and an emerald green Oz dress on Thursday. Can't wait to see what she breaks out for the finale next week.
As if learning two dances isn't enough, they also have the group dance. The boys performed a number choreographed by Sonya. She warned them and us that it was frenetic and "Willy Wonk-ish." That may be true, but it was really good! I liked it much better than her routine next week.
Jeanine & Ade: A Louis Van Amstel Samba; I think they looked good together, but the judges gave mixed reviews. It may not have been technically correct, but it was very entertaining. Their second dance was a Nappy Tab Hip Hop; This duo has not lived up to their routines from last season. This was okay, but not my favorite.
Kayla's solo: She's beautiful and the judges love her lines, but after the first couple of weeks, she's left me cold.
Brandon's solo: He came out in the booty shorts. Dude is not afraid to show his body!
Melissa & Evan: Tice & Broadway; it would have been good, but Evan is no where near the caliber of Melissa. Their second dance was a Louis Quick Step. Not the dance to pick this close to the finals. The judges agreed.
Ade's solo: Typical Ade. Hope to see him in the finals.
Jeanine's solo: Good, a little sassy. Some of the moves reminded me of Donielle, from Season 2. And that's a good thing.
Brandon & Kayla: Stacey Tookey Contemporary; Beautifully danced, but I didn't find it passionate. It was very technical. The judges loved it; thought it was intense. Their second dance was a Doriana Sanchez disco routine. She says the routine will be challenging. Aren't they all? Brandon had disco with Janette earlier in the season. Will it live up to that one? No. No sparks.
Melissa's solo: Beautiful and delicate, but the audience seemed to find it boring. Not a good sign.
Evan's solo: The Evan we first met, but I'm really tired of the hands-in-pocket, Charlie Chaplin look. Still, it was charming.
The women's group dance was also choreographed by Sonya. It was about superheroes and it was AWESOME!! Boy, Jeanine has come out of nowhere to become my favorite girl. My eyes were drawn to her during the routine. I hope she makes it to the finale.
On Thursday, things were tense as we realized we'd have the final four by the end of the night. We were treated to live performances of the Emmy-nominated dances from last season. "Bleeding Love" is the prime example of the best of Nappy Tab. "Mercy," another Mia masterpiece.
In the end, we said good-bye to Melissa & Ade. My heart is breaking. They have been my favorite couple of the season and they came so close. I can't believe Evan is still here. I said in my first SYTYCD post that it's not about the best dancer, it's America's favorite dancer. Nigel stressed it last week when Janette was sent home. This is the first season where one of my favorites wasn't in the final four.
Do you guys agree? Did your favorite make it to the final four. Hit me with your comments.
TNP
This is an important week, as we'll find out who will make it to the final four and next week's finale. Our guest judge this week was Lil C and I can think of lots of people I'd rather have return as guest judge. He needs to edit his comments; the soliloquies are getting a bit tiresome.
Ms. Cat impressed this week with a violet sheath on Wednesday and an emerald green Oz dress on Thursday. Can't wait to see what she breaks out for the finale next week.
As if learning two dances isn't enough, they also have the group dance. The boys performed a number choreographed by Sonya. She warned them and us that it was frenetic and "Willy Wonk-ish." That may be true, but it was really good! I liked it much better than her routine next week.
Jeanine & Ade: A Louis Van Amstel Samba; I think they looked good together, but the judges gave mixed reviews. It may not have been technically correct, but it was very entertaining. Their second dance was a Nappy Tab Hip Hop; This duo has not lived up to their routines from last season. This was okay, but not my favorite.
Kayla's solo: She's beautiful and the judges love her lines, but after the first couple of weeks, she's left me cold.
Brandon's solo: He came out in the booty shorts. Dude is not afraid to show his body!
Melissa & Evan: Tice & Broadway; it would have been good, but Evan is no where near the caliber of Melissa. Their second dance was a Louis Quick Step. Not the dance to pick this close to the finals. The judges agreed.
Ade's solo: Typical Ade. Hope to see him in the finals.
Jeanine's solo: Good, a little sassy. Some of the moves reminded me of Donielle, from Season 2. And that's a good thing.
Brandon & Kayla: Stacey Tookey Contemporary; Beautifully danced, but I didn't find it passionate. It was very technical. The judges loved it; thought it was intense. Their second dance was a Doriana Sanchez disco routine. She says the routine will be challenging. Aren't they all? Brandon had disco with Janette earlier in the season. Will it live up to that one? No. No sparks.
Melissa's solo: Beautiful and delicate, but the audience seemed to find it boring. Not a good sign.
Evan's solo: The Evan we first met, but I'm really tired of the hands-in-pocket, Charlie Chaplin look. Still, it was charming.
The women's group dance was also choreographed by Sonya. It was about superheroes and it was AWESOME!! Boy, Jeanine has come out of nowhere to become my favorite girl. My eyes were drawn to her during the routine. I hope she makes it to the finale.
On Thursday, things were tense as we realized we'd have the final four by the end of the night. We were treated to live performances of the Emmy-nominated dances from last season. "Bleeding Love" is the prime example of the best of Nappy Tab. "Mercy," another Mia masterpiece.
In the end, we said good-bye to Melissa & Ade. My heart is breaking. They have been my favorite couple of the season and they came so close. I can't believe Evan is still here. I said in my first SYTYCD post that it's not about the best dancer, it's America's favorite dancer. Nigel stressed it last week when Janette was sent home. This is the first season where one of my favorites wasn't in the final four.
Do you guys agree? Did your favorite make it to the final four. Hit me with your comments.
TNP
SYTYCD- Week 7
This is a special week, as we celebrate 100 shows! Let the Top 8 dance!
Cat looked gorgeous in a Grecian gown on Wednesday and a black and gold tunic on Thursday. As this was a special week, we were treated to a special guest judge in addition to Mia Michaels: Ellen DeGeneres?!?! I like Ellen and I think she's funny. But why is she a guest judge? Sure she busts a move on her show, but does that qualify her? I guess it does. But it's clear from her first critique that she's just going to be comic relief. This week, each couple dances twice, so let's begin.
Evan & Janette: Their first routine was a weird jazz routine by Sonya Tayeh . I usually like her routines but I thought it was boring. The judges gave it positive remarks and Mia said Janette was her favorite this season. Their second routine, the Rumba, was much better, but I credit Janette with that. Evan did his best, but he didn't channel the Latino machismo needed.
Kayla's solo: It was perfectly adequate, but it wouldn't make me vote for her.
Jeanine & Brandon: They performed a waltz that started out a little slow to me, but drew me in by the end. Or maybe it just lulled me into a trance. Either way, Brandon didn't annoy me as he usually does. The judges did not like it. Their second time out they performed a pop-jazz number by LaurieAnn Gibson. Miss Laurie. Love. Her. Fierce. Boom. Kak- Kak. (Inside joke from Making the Band). So glad she's on SYTYCD. I'm excited to see what she will do. Loved the choreography, didn't like how they performed it. There were some synchronization issues. The judges and the audience liked it, but I think they were so disappointed in the other performances that they overpraised this one.
Jason's solo: Boring; I've seen it before. He hasn't impressed me this season.
Melissa & Ade: Reunited and it feels so good!! They drew a Melanie and Tony Cha-Cha. I'm so excited only... what's with this music?!?! I don't like it at all. It's too frenetic for the dance. For the first time M & A can't keep my attention. They pulled mixed reviews from the judges. For their second outing they performed a contemporary by Tice. It was beautiful and what I expect from M & A. The story of a woman struggling with breast cancer mixed with Maxwell's haunting vocals... exceptional.
Janette's solo: She pulled out old school Celine, which I love, but that dance didn't tell me anything about her. She performed a contemporary routine instead of sticking with her strength which is salsa.
Kayla & Jason: Broadway. Tice. Should be great, right? Yawn. Maybe it's just me but the routines so far have been sub-par. The judges loved it, and it was that type of routine that I knew they would love, but it didn't translate to the audience. Their second routine was a Shane Sparks special. It was actually pretty good and they did a good job.
Ade's solo: He's always a joy to watch. Such a mix of power, precision, sensuality and fun.
Melissa's solo: I'm sure everything she did was technically difficult... but I still like her.
Evan's solo: I've seen this schtick for 6 weeks now, and it's getting old.
Jeanine's solo: I love her solos. They are techincal and entertaining. She didn't start out as a favorite, but she's slowly moving up the list.
Brandon's solo: He's done better solos, but it was very athletic.
For the actual 100th show, they pulled out all the stops. It started with a great Chorus Line group number. While still tingly, we were treated to a highlight reel from the past five seasons. There have been so many talented dancers and moments. This show introduced me to new dances and new artists, (Hello, Ne-Yo), and renewed my appreciation for dance. We were also treated to some of our favorite routines from previous seasons. The growth and maturity of the dancers were evident. The dancing was crisper, more textured. Bravo to those dancers who went on from the show and continued doing what they loved.
Katie Holmes tribute to Judy Garland. I thought she looked and sounded great. However, this performance got a lot of buzz and while it was good, I would have paid money to see her doing a Shane Sparks booty-shake routine. I'm just sayin'... that's something that would have killed.
But even though we spent a night celebrating, two dancers had to go home and in the end it was Jason and Janette. The audience was shocked when Janette's name was called and Nigel admitted that America got it wrong. I really thought Janette would make it to the finals, but you guys are never boring. So a big contender was knocked out. What did you guys think? Were you surprised? Hit me with your comments.
TNP
Cat looked gorgeous in a Grecian gown on Wednesday and a black and gold tunic on Thursday. As this was a special week, we were treated to a special guest judge in addition to Mia Michaels: Ellen DeGeneres?!?! I like Ellen and I think she's funny. But why is she a guest judge? Sure she busts a move on her show, but does that qualify her? I guess it does. But it's clear from her first critique that she's just going to be comic relief. This week, each couple dances twice, so let's begin.
Evan & Janette: Their first routine was a weird jazz routine by Sonya Tayeh . I usually like her routines but I thought it was boring. The judges gave it positive remarks and Mia said Janette was her favorite this season. Their second routine, the Rumba, was much better, but I credit Janette with that. Evan did his best, but he didn't channel the Latino machismo needed.
Kayla's solo: It was perfectly adequate, but it wouldn't make me vote for her.
Jeanine & Brandon: They performed a waltz that started out a little slow to me, but drew me in by the end. Or maybe it just lulled me into a trance. Either way, Brandon didn't annoy me as he usually does. The judges did not like it. Their second time out they performed a pop-jazz number by LaurieAnn Gibson. Miss Laurie. Love. Her. Fierce. Boom. Kak- Kak. (Inside joke from Making the Band). So glad she's on SYTYCD. I'm excited to see what she will do. Loved the choreography, didn't like how they performed it. There were some synchronization issues. The judges and the audience liked it, but I think they were so disappointed in the other performances that they overpraised this one.
Jason's solo: Boring; I've seen it before. He hasn't impressed me this season.
Melissa & Ade: Reunited and it feels so good!! They drew a Melanie and Tony Cha-Cha. I'm so excited only... what's with this music?!?! I don't like it at all. It's too frenetic for the dance. For the first time M & A can't keep my attention. They pulled mixed reviews from the judges. For their second outing they performed a contemporary by Tice. It was beautiful and what I expect from M & A. The story of a woman struggling with breast cancer mixed with Maxwell's haunting vocals... exceptional.
Janette's solo: She pulled out old school Celine, which I love, but that dance didn't tell me anything about her. She performed a contemporary routine instead of sticking with her strength which is salsa.
Kayla & Jason: Broadway. Tice. Should be great, right? Yawn. Maybe it's just me but the routines so far have been sub-par. The judges loved it, and it was that type of routine that I knew they would love, but it didn't translate to the audience. Their second routine was a Shane Sparks special. It was actually pretty good and they did a good job.
Ade's solo: He's always a joy to watch. Such a mix of power, precision, sensuality and fun.
Melissa's solo: I'm sure everything she did was technically difficult... but I still like her.
Evan's solo: I've seen this schtick for 6 weeks now, and it's getting old.
Jeanine's solo: I love her solos. They are techincal and entertaining. She didn't start out as a favorite, but she's slowly moving up the list.
Brandon's solo: He's done better solos, but it was very athletic.
For the actual 100th show, they pulled out all the stops. It started with a great Chorus Line group number. While still tingly, we were treated to a highlight reel from the past five seasons. There have been so many talented dancers and moments. This show introduced me to new dances and new artists, (Hello, Ne-Yo), and renewed my appreciation for dance. We were also treated to some of our favorite routines from previous seasons. The growth and maturity of the dancers were evident. The dancing was crisper, more textured. Bravo to those dancers who went on from the show and continued doing what they loved.
Katie Holmes tribute to Judy Garland. I thought she looked and sounded great. However, this performance got a lot of buzz and while it was good, I would have paid money to see her doing a Shane Sparks booty-shake routine. I'm just sayin'... that's something that would have killed.
But even though we spent a night celebrating, two dancers had to go home and in the end it was Jason and Janette. The audience was shocked when Janette's name was called and Nigel admitted that America got it wrong. I really thought Janette would make it to the finals, but you guys are never boring. So a big contender was knocked out. What did you guys think? Were you surprised? Hit me with your comments.
TNP
Friday, July 24, 2009
SYTYCD- Week 6
We're now in the Top 10! From this point on, the judges don't have a say in who stays or who goes home. It's all in the hands of America. Which is a good and bad thing. It's good, because American Idol has proved that audience participation helps invests viewers in your show and that helps with ratings. It's bad because the America that votes on these shows doesn't always do the right thing. That's why the judges do their best to remind people that the eventual winner of the show isn't always the BEST dancer, but America's FAVORITE dancer.
We've also moved on from our couples. That's right, after weeks of investing in a couple, you now vote for individual dancers. Each week dancers will pick new partners from a hat. For those of us who've watched SYTYCD from Season 1, we remember that this is how they used to do it. But in Season 2, they switched to the semi-permanent partners, which I think has helped the dancers because it gives the audience time to get to know them before musical-partnering begins.
On Wednesday, Cat wore a lovely green strapless dress that had this wonderful black piping at the bottom. Brilliant dress. I want one. I think I can wear it to playgroup. :> Thursday, she rocked a short, silver sparkly number. This look wasn't one of my favorites for her, but she still looked better than the average woman.
Our guest judge this week is Debbie Allen. I love when she is on the show because she is such an expert on dance. I love the way she talks about it and she makes sure you know the difficulty and the technique behind the routines. She has such love for dance and that always comes through.
Our top ten dancers are: Janette, Ade, Melissa, Brandon, Jeanine, Kayla, Evan, Jason, Randi & Kupono. Before we learn who will be paired up this week, we are treated to a group Bollywood number featuring all of the women. It was very good. I've enjoyed the new addition of Bollywood dancing to the show. It's exciting to watch.
Now that we're down to the top 10, I will report on each dancer instead of just my favorites.
Kayla & Evan: They performed a Viennese waltz. It was frothy and pretty, but I didn't find it extremely romantic. I still remember Season 2's waltz between Benjy & Donielle. This was better danced, but they didn't have as much chemistry. Kayla looked wonderful, but the judges were mixed in their reviews.
Brandon's solo: Looked like a bunch of turns to me. But I did love hearing "In Your Eyes." Who can hear that song and not picture Jon Cusack holding up his boom box in the rain?
Janette & Ade: They killed a hip-hop routine by Nap & Tab. It was hot and the judges loved it, too. I won't mention the inappropriate Nigel remarks. We've come to expect them but sometimes even I'm shocked by what comes out of his mouth.
Randi's solo: Pretty, but not memorable.
Kupono's solo: Freaky and interesting, like Kupono himself.
Jason & Jeanine: They danced a routine choreographed by Season 2 runner-up Travis Wall. It was wonderful. I love when previous contestants come back and choreograph routines or help out during Vegas week. It's good to see them doing well. The routine was passionate, emotional and technical and just everything you want to see in a SYTYCD routine. The judges agreed and gave the dancers, and Travis, a standing ovation.
Melissa's solo: It was beautiful and technical, but not very sexy. She makes ballet look easy, and it takes exceptional technique to do that, but audiences usually vote for "WOW", and I don't think her solo had enough "WOW" in it.
Evan's solo: Reminds us why we fell in love with him. He was like a broadway Cary Grant: smooth, debonair, and totally engaging. This is a man who should be performing on Broadway after this show.
Kayla's solo: Lots of technique, and she will be remembered, but I didn't go "WOW!"
Randi & Kupono: They picked paso doble. They got the character right, but it wasn't their best work. I liked Randi's wig, though. She looked good as a brunette.
Ade's solo: WOW! That's what I'm talking about. And not just because he was shirtless!
Jeanine's solo: Wonderful. Loved the music and her choreography.
Jason's solo: He definitely worked on his routine, because there was a story to it. But as cute as he is, he just doesn't do it for me. Sorry.
Melissa & Brandon: They performed a hippie, trippy, flower-power routine from Hair. They were so wonderful and took you there. Cue shot of her husband in the audience with a sign. It was a great performance, and my favorite of the night.
Janette's solo: She was a little firecracker dancing to "This is Miami" in her Miami Hurricane colors. And why is Cat a great host? When she comes out she asks Janette, "Where are you from again?" And Janette came back with "New Zealand!" :>
Wednesday show ended with a group african dance with all the guys. It was a pretty good routine and used all of the guys' strength. Loved Evan's comedic flair and what he did with the routine.
On Thursday, the group performed a Japanese-Samurai warrior number choreographed by Wade & Amanda Robeson. Cat came out and announced that SYTYCD had been nominated for four Emmy nominations. The routines nominated were Mia Michaels' Mercy, danced by Twitch & Katie, Tab & Nap's Bleeding Love, danced by Mark & Chelsie, Tyce Diorio's Silence, danced by Will & Jessica and Dmitry Chaplin's A Los Amigos, danced by Joshua & Chelsie. Good job, guys!
After congratulations and speeches we find out that the bottom four dancers are Randi, Melissa, Kupono & Ade. Again, Melissa & Ade in the bottom four! This does not bode well for them and they are my favorites. But before I can be put out of my misery, I am treated to a new misery that is the Black Eyed Peas. Is it me, or are the two new songs from their new album a bit lazy? I loved the last couple of albums, but the songs they have released seem to be full of driving beats and repeated choruses. There used to be stories with words in some of their older stuff.
Go back and listen. It's true.
Whew, we dodged another one. We said goodbye to Randi & Kupono. I will miss Kupono's quirky style and Randi's unitards. Both performed in some of my favorite routines of the season and I hope they go on to do wonderful things.
So, my readers, did you agree with America's decision? What will you miss about Randi & Kupono? Are you nervous for Melissa & Ade? Sound out below.
TNP
We've also moved on from our couples. That's right, after weeks of investing in a couple, you now vote for individual dancers. Each week dancers will pick new partners from a hat. For those of us who've watched SYTYCD from Season 1, we remember that this is how they used to do it. But in Season 2, they switched to the semi-permanent partners, which I think has helped the dancers because it gives the audience time to get to know them before musical-partnering begins.
On Wednesday, Cat wore a lovely green strapless dress that had this wonderful black piping at the bottom. Brilliant dress. I want one. I think I can wear it to playgroup. :> Thursday, she rocked a short, silver sparkly number. This look wasn't one of my favorites for her, but she still looked better than the average woman.
Our guest judge this week is Debbie Allen. I love when she is on the show because she is such an expert on dance. I love the way she talks about it and she makes sure you know the difficulty and the technique behind the routines. She has such love for dance and that always comes through.
Our top ten dancers are: Janette, Ade, Melissa, Brandon, Jeanine, Kayla, Evan, Jason, Randi & Kupono. Before we learn who will be paired up this week, we are treated to a group Bollywood number featuring all of the women. It was very good. I've enjoyed the new addition of Bollywood dancing to the show. It's exciting to watch.
Now that we're down to the top 10, I will report on each dancer instead of just my favorites.
Kayla & Evan: They performed a Viennese waltz. It was frothy and pretty, but I didn't find it extremely romantic. I still remember Season 2's waltz between Benjy & Donielle. This was better danced, but they didn't have as much chemistry. Kayla looked wonderful, but the judges were mixed in their reviews.
Brandon's solo: Looked like a bunch of turns to me. But I did love hearing "In Your Eyes." Who can hear that song and not picture Jon Cusack holding up his boom box in the rain?
Janette & Ade: They killed a hip-hop routine by Nap & Tab. It was hot and the judges loved it, too. I won't mention the inappropriate Nigel remarks. We've come to expect them but sometimes even I'm shocked by what comes out of his mouth.
Randi's solo: Pretty, but not memorable.
Kupono's solo: Freaky and interesting, like Kupono himself.
Jason & Jeanine: They danced a routine choreographed by Season 2 runner-up Travis Wall. It was wonderful. I love when previous contestants come back and choreograph routines or help out during Vegas week. It's good to see them doing well. The routine was passionate, emotional and technical and just everything you want to see in a SYTYCD routine. The judges agreed and gave the dancers, and Travis, a standing ovation.
Melissa's solo: It was beautiful and technical, but not very sexy. She makes ballet look easy, and it takes exceptional technique to do that, but audiences usually vote for "WOW", and I don't think her solo had enough "WOW" in it.
Evan's solo: Reminds us why we fell in love with him. He was like a broadway Cary Grant: smooth, debonair, and totally engaging. This is a man who should be performing on Broadway after this show.
Kayla's solo: Lots of technique, and she will be remembered, but I didn't go "WOW!"
Randi & Kupono: They picked paso doble. They got the character right, but it wasn't their best work. I liked Randi's wig, though. She looked good as a brunette.
Ade's solo: WOW! That's what I'm talking about. And not just because he was shirtless!
Jeanine's solo: Wonderful. Loved the music and her choreography.
Jason's solo: He definitely worked on his routine, because there was a story to it. But as cute as he is, he just doesn't do it for me. Sorry.
Melissa & Brandon: They performed a hippie, trippy, flower-power routine from Hair. They were so wonderful and took you there. Cue shot of her husband in the audience with a sign. It was a great performance, and my favorite of the night.
Janette's solo: She was a little firecracker dancing to "This is Miami" in her Miami Hurricane colors. And why is Cat a great host? When she comes out she asks Janette, "Where are you from again?" And Janette came back with "New Zealand!" :>
Wednesday show ended with a group african dance with all the guys. It was a pretty good routine and used all of the guys' strength. Loved Evan's comedic flair and what he did with the routine.
On Thursday, the group performed a Japanese-Samurai warrior number choreographed by Wade & Amanda Robeson. Cat came out and announced that SYTYCD had been nominated for four Emmy nominations. The routines nominated were Mia Michaels' Mercy, danced by Twitch & Katie, Tab & Nap's Bleeding Love, danced by Mark & Chelsie, Tyce Diorio's Silence, danced by Will & Jessica and Dmitry Chaplin's A Los Amigos, danced by Joshua & Chelsie. Good job, guys!
After congratulations and speeches we find out that the bottom four dancers are Randi, Melissa, Kupono & Ade. Again, Melissa & Ade in the bottom four! This does not bode well for them and they are my favorites. But before I can be put out of my misery, I am treated to a new misery that is the Black Eyed Peas. Is it me, or are the two new songs from their new album a bit lazy? I loved the last couple of albums, but the songs they have released seem to be full of driving beats and repeated choruses. There used to be stories with words in some of their older stuff.
Go back and listen. It's true.
Whew, we dodged another one. We said goodbye to Randi & Kupono. I will miss Kupono's quirky style and Randi's unitards. Both performed in some of my favorite routines of the season and I hope they go on to do wonderful things.
So, my readers, did you agree with America's decision? What will you miss about Randi & Kupono? Are you nervous for Melissa & Ade? Sound out below.
TNP
Thursday, July 23, 2009
SYTYCD- Week 5
I know I'm way behind in my posts. Life gets in the way sometimes. But I promise I'll make up for it. There will be several new posts over the next few days so watch out for them and prepare to comment. Now, on to the show.
The top 12 dancers performed. By the end of this week, we'll know who will be going on the national tour. (Bear with me, I know this has already happened, but I'll report in real time :>) Cat, as usual, looked lovely on Wednesday in a simple black sheath. On Thursday, she wore a turquoise and gold tunic, that showed miles of leg. She would be so easy to hate, if she wasn't such a wonderful host.
The guest judge this week was Tyce Diorio. I love his choreography, but he can be a bit catty and harsh sometimes. Each couple will dance two routines. Gotta fill up two hours :>
Notable dances:
Melissa & Ade (#1): A broken record, I know, but they are my favorite. They had a disco routine by Doriana Sanchez that was fast and energetic and full of lifts, which were gorgeous. Melissa did an incredible save at the end, where she fell and made a dance move out of it. So cute. As a side note, I wonder if Melissa's husband paid producers to show him every time she's on stage? The camera focuses on him after every routine and any time the judges mention Melissa's body. We get it, she's married to him, not Ade. Her husband gets more screen time than some of the dancers!
Kupono & Kayla (#1): Any time you hear Mia Michaels has choreographed a routine, you know it's going to be good. I had to hold back tears as Kupono explained how this would be a hard routine for him. It's about a person and their addiction and Kupono shared that he almost lost a good friend of his to an addiction. The routine grabs you from the moment the music starts and Kupono stares at us with his black rimmed eyes. He grabs Kayla and with a simple movement, show us the power he (the addiction) has over her. It was chilling. Several times, Kayla tries to get away from him, but he won't let her. The dance is amazing, the story powerful. Masterful Mia Michaels.
Phillip & Jeanine (#1): They had a god-awful Russian folk dance. Everything was bad, from the costumes to the choreography. It was boring and painful to watch. They tried their best, but it was a 2 minute black hole. Even the judges hated it. Nigel said he would never have that type of dance on the show again. I felt sorry for the choreographers. The camera usually pans over to a choreographer after their routine, but not this time. There were no shots of them giving the dancers a thumb-up, no shout-out from the dancers for the wonderful routine. Don't think we'll see them back on the show. This was a bad pick for Phillip. He needed a good routine because the judges have said he needed to show he could dance in other genres. There was nothing for him to show with this one.
Janette & Brandon (#1): Don't like him. Nothing has changed. But the routine was amazing. They performed an argentine tango, which is supposed to be like walking sex. And it was. I give Janette a lot of credit for that, because your eye went to her most (maybe it was because of the sparkly red dress), but each time I looked at Brandon he was strong and commanding. The leg work was phenomenal. It was a great performance and the judges agreed. Nigel gave it a standing ovation and said it was the best ballroom routine ever done on the show.
Time for the second dance and Cat informs the audience that the couples will be split up next week. So sad :<>
In the end, the bottom three couples were Jason & Caitlin, Janette & Phillip and... Melissa & Ade!! What are you thinking, America? This is a travesty! After they dance their solos, it's clear to me who will be sent home. Will the judges agree?
While the judges deliberated, we were treated to a lackluster musical performance by Kelly Rowland and DJ David Guetta. She has a great voice, but does not have Beyonce's stage presence.
When it was all said and done, we said good-bye to Phillip & Caitlin, but the judges decided to let them go on the tour. I think that decision was made so that Phillip could participate in the tour. They couldn't in all conscious let him go through another week, but they knew that fans would revolt if they couldn't see Phillip on the tour.
What did you think? Did you agree with the judges decision? Are you happy with the Top 10? Who are you excited to see paired up?
TNP
The top 12 dancers performed. By the end of this week, we'll know who will be going on the national tour. (Bear with me, I know this has already happened, but I'll report in real time :>) Cat, as usual, looked lovely on Wednesday in a simple black sheath. On Thursday, she wore a turquoise and gold tunic, that showed miles of leg. She would be so easy to hate, if she wasn't such a wonderful host.
The guest judge this week was Tyce Diorio. I love his choreography, but he can be a bit catty and harsh sometimes. Each couple will dance two routines. Gotta fill up two hours :>
Notable dances:
Melissa & Ade (#1): A broken record, I know, but they are my favorite. They had a disco routine by Doriana Sanchez that was fast and energetic and full of lifts, which were gorgeous. Melissa did an incredible save at the end, where she fell and made a dance move out of it. So cute. As a side note, I wonder if Melissa's husband paid producers to show him every time she's on stage? The camera focuses on him after every routine and any time the judges mention Melissa's body. We get it, she's married to him, not Ade. Her husband gets more screen time than some of the dancers!
Kupono & Kayla (#1): Any time you hear Mia Michaels has choreographed a routine, you know it's going to be good. I had to hold back tears as Kupono explained how this would be a hard routine for him. It's about a person and their addiction and Kupono shared that he almost lost a good friend of his to an addiction. The routine grabs you from the moment the music starts and Kupono stares at us with his black rimmed eyes. He grabs Kayla and with a simple movement, show us the power he (the addiction) has over her. It was chilling. Several times, Kayla tries to get away from him, but he won't let her. The dance is amazing, the story powerful. Masterful Mia Michaels.
Phillip & Jeanine (#1): They had a god-awful Russian folk dance. Everything was bad, from the costumes to the choreography. It was boring and painful to watch. They tried their best, but it was a 2 minute black hole. Even the judges hated it. Nigel said he would never have that type of dance on the show again. I felt sorry for the choreographers. The camera usually pans over to a choreographer after their routine, but not this time. There were no shots of them giving the dancers a thumb-up, no shout-out from the dancers for the wonderful routine. Don't think we'll see them back on the show. This was a bad pick for Phillip. He needed a good routine because the judges have said he needed to show he could dance in other genres. There was nothing for him to show with this one.
Janette & Brandon (#1): Don't like him. Nothing has changed. But the routine was amazing. They performed an argentine tango, which is supposed to be like walking sex. And it was. I give Janette a lot of credit for that, because your eye went to her most (maybe it was because of the sparkly red dress), but each time I looked at Brandon he was strong and commanding. The leg work was phenomenal. It was a great performance and the judges agreed. Nigel gave it a standing ovation and said it was the best ballroom routine ever done on the show.
Time for the second dance and Cat informs the audience that the couples will be split up next week. So sad :<>
In the end, the bottom three couples were Jason & Caitlin, Janette & Phillip and...
While the judges deliberated, we were treated to a lackluster musical performance by Kelly Rowland and DJ David Guetta. She has a great voice, but does not have Beyonce's stage presence.
When it was all said and done, we said good-bye to Phillip & Caitlin, but the judges decided to let them go on the tour. I think that decision was made so that Phillip could participate in the tour. They couldn't in all conscious let him go through another week, but they knew that fans would revolt if they couldn't see Phillip on the tour.
What did you think? Did you agree with the judges decision? Are you happy with the Top 10? Who are you excited to see paired up?
TNP
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
We Say Goodbye, Others Say Hello...
It has been blessedly quiet these past six months! And I didn't even realize it until I turned on the TV this week and saw Al Sharpton & Jesse Jackson. I'm sure all of you have experienced this in some form or fashion: You usually don't realize the beauty of silence until it's gone. Now, we've had to deal with the likes of Palin and others, but they don't have the ability to make my skin crawl they way Al & Jesse do. They've been making the rounds of the news circuit since the passing of Michael Jackson and I began to wonder: where have they been?
Normally, they would be everywhere exploiting our current situation: a bad economy, record high unemployment, large numbers of foreclosures. A & J would be shouting that the government doesn't care about the effect the economy is having on black people. They would be on all the news shows as the "unasked for voice" of the African-American community. But one thing changed all that:
OBAMA!!
Most people I know were rejoicing the moment Obama was elected. But Al & Jesse? Outside they looked happy, inside they were crying. What would they do now? How could they be the singular voices of the black community when the president was black? Jesse probably wished he had cut Obama's balls off!! (You remember that quote don't you? In case you don't, or if you want to see it again: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQl_6buUggM&NR=1)
But now, they're baaaaack. Jesse has been helping the Jackson family with the funeral arrangements and Al has been uplifting the people and reminding us that if it weren't for Michael Jackson there would be no Obama! WTF??! Seriously? Seriously??
I don't want to go into the spectacle that was the Michael Jackson farewell at the Staples Center, but I don't know how those people sleep at night. It's nice that he influenced a lot of people, but did of these "presenters" and "performers" even know MJ? Personally, I mean? Were they at his house eating dinner and watching videos? Did they have playdates with his kids? Did they share recipes? This past week I've seen interviews with numerous people who say they were MJ's confidante during these past few years and I didn't see any of them up on that stage.
And just when I thought Al & Jesse were bad, along came Hurricane Sheila. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX) spent almost 10 minutes talking about her relationship with Michael Jackson. She is known in the media as Hurricane Sheila because of her statements a few years ago that the current names given to hurricanes are too "lily white" and need to be changed to reflect diversity. (Hurricane Jamal, y'all). She's also a known TV hound. Congressional staffers have a drinking game in her honor. (Congresswoman Jackson-Lee is on C-SPAN. Let's do a shot!) She outdid herself this time by telling the attendees that she introduced a House Resolution that, if adopted, would honor Michael Jackson as a great humanitarian by the United States House of Representatives.
Really? [insert skepticism]
He was a wonderful entertainer. But he also died hundreds of millions of dollars in debt because of all the stuff he brought for himself.
I digress.
What I want to know is where were these people a month ago? If you haven't been a constant presence in his life, don't make a name for yourself with his death.
You know who you are and you should be ashamed.
Normally, they would be everywhere exploiting our current situation: a bad economy, record high unemployment, large numbers of foreclosures. A & J would be shouting that the government doesn't care about the effect the economy is having on black people. They would be on all the news shows as the "unasked for voice" of the African-American community. But one thing changed all that:
OBAMA!!
Most people I know were rejoicing the moment Obama was elected. But Al & Jesse? Outside they looked happy, inside they were crying. What would they do now? How could they be the singular voices of the black community when the president was black? Jesse probably wished he had cut Obama's balls off!! (You remember that quote don't you? In case you don't, or if you want to see it again: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQl_6buUggM&NR=1)
But now, they're baaaaack. Jesse has been helping the Jackson family with the funeral arrangements and Al has been uplifting the people and reminding us that if it weren't for Michael Jackson there would be no Obama! WTF??! Seriously? Seriously??
I don't want to go into the spectacle that was the Michael Jackson farewell at the Staples Center, but I don't know how those people sleep at night. It's nice that he influenced a lot of people, but did of these "presenters" and "performers" even know MJ? Personally, I mean? Were they at his house eating dinner and watching videos? Did they have playdates with his kids? Did they share recipes? This past week I've seen interviews with numerous people who say they were MJ's confidante during these past few years and I didn't see any of them up on that stage.
And just when I thought Al & Jesse were bad, along came Hurricane Sheila. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX) spent almost 10 minutes talking about her relationship with Michael Jackson. She is known in the media as Hurricane Sheila because of her statements a few years ago that the current names given to hurricanes are too "lily white" and need to be changed to reflect diversity. (Hurricane Jamal, y'all). She's also a known TV hound. Congressional staffers have a drinking game in her honor. (Congresswoman Jackson-Lee is on C-SPAN. Let's do a shot!) She outdid herself this time by telling the attendees that she introduced a House Resolution that, if adopted, would honor Michael Jackson as a great humanitarian by the United States House of Representatives.
Really? [insert skepticism]
He was a wonderful entertainer. But he also died hundreds of millions of dollars in debt because of all the stuff he brought for himself.
I digress.
What I want to know is where were these people a month ago? If you haven't been a constant presence in his life, don't make a name for yourself with his death.
You know who you are and you should be ashamed.
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