So You Think You Can Dance

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by Izulde

I should so see if I can get on this show.

If you hurry, you can make it to LA in time for next week's audition show.

[Ksyrup]

I have to admit, having never seen anything other than a couple of audition shows from previous seasons, that this show is pretty damn good for what it is. And by that, I mean I think it's better than American Idol, even though it follows the same basic format. There are several reasons for this:

1. Just judging from the first couple of top 20 performance shows, it seems like they are investing way more time in backstory and that week's preparation for the dance than AI usually does. AI seems like they are trying to squeeze an extra 30 minutes into every show and is rushed. Considering it's the biggest show on TV, you'd think they'd be happy to run a 2.5 hour or 1.5 show when needed, instead of running everyone on and off the stage and cutting off the judges for time.

2. And on that point, they give the judges way more time to talk and - amazingly - nearly everything they say has meaning to the competition. There's no buffoonery (Randy), vapid optimism charading as critique (Paula), or even staged confrontations between Simon and Seacrest. There's a depth to the criticism that is almost completely absent from AI (aside from when Simon tells it like it is, but he usually only gets 10 seconds to talk anyway).

3. The format seems better-suited to dance than singing, IMO. I guess there's a valid comparision between the difficulty in switching styles of dance and song, but it just seems to translate to better, more consistent performances in dance (at least so far) as opposed to singing. Granted, I don't know squat about dancing, but I haven't seen anything as painful as BeeGees night, for instance, among any of the dancers. And it also doesn't seem as useless to have a hip hop guy do a broadway dance as it does for an R&B singer to do Bon Jovi.

4. The competitors seem more into it than on AI. These people really want to dance for a living, whereas on AI, most of the contestants don't seem to have that desire. Or at least, the show does a terrible job of bringing that out. But the emotion displayed on just 2 shows of SYTYCD so far, compared to what I'm used to seeing on AI, is like night and day.

5. At this stage, I can't say - like I can on nearly every season of AI - that they should just cut 50-75% of them and get to the real competitors. Again, this might have something to do with my lack of familiarity with dance technique, etc., but then again, when someone like Mia Michaels hands out compliments to nearly everyone, I get the feeling the competition is at a high level, as opposed to AI, which clearly suffers from too many mediocre talents getting picked off one-by-one. Even with 18 people left, I have a hard time figuring which 3 couples should be in the bottom 3, let alone who should go home (although Cedric should leave soon simply because he's a one-trick pony).

6. I prefer the way the voting works - I like that the judges make the final decision after the audience narrows it down. That was how Rockstar did it as well. It just gives the competition more integrity, IMO, although I know the voting is one of AI's main selling points.

7. Lastly, I really like the fact that they're learning original dance routines every week. They're not just dancing a particular style from a show or movie or whatever that someone else has already done. I've always hated the cover song thing on AI, and I realize it's probably easier and more acceptable to do original dances than original songs, but again, it gives the competition more validity when these dancers are not only having to learn these dances, but they can't just pop in a tape and watch someone else do it or already know it going in. Plus, as I enjoy the craft of songwriting, it would be cool and add another element to the show if that was ever incorporated into AI (unless we'd just get 1000 style variations on This Is My Now).

Anyway, I guess I'm really enjoying this show! We haven't watched the vote-off yet, but we did get through the performances last night. I'm definitely pleasantly surprised by this show.

[Eaglesfan27]

We haven't watched the vote-off this week, either. I agree with everything you said. It doesn't hurt (like each of the previous years) that there are a couple of good looking women on the show.

[FrogMan]

funny you bumped this cause I was thinking about bumping it myself.

Like you, I must say that I really enjoy this show, to my wife's (and my own I must admit) amazement. I've never watched AI, but you summarized how I feel about the top 20 we're seeing and the heart they pour out into their performances. I know didly squat about dancing, but some performances simply came and puled me, the emotions, the movement, some of them were just pure fun to watch.

I won't more since I see you have not watched the vote-off. Wouldn't want to spoil it too much

FM

[FrogMan]

Originally Posted by Eaglesfan27

It doesn't hurt (like each of the previous years) that there are a couple of good looking women on the show.

yeah, there's that too.

A singer could have a great voice but be on the fatter side of things, but a dancer is usually pretty muscular and fit. Me loves that.

FM

[Ksyrup]

My "admiration" for Faina is getting on my wife's nerves.

[rkmsuf]

told you people this was a good show

[Ksyrup]

Sorry, I was waiting for the JB Magic seal of approval, but I guess that ain't happening any time soon.

[rkmsuf]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

Sorry, I was waiting for the JB Magic seal of approval, but I guess that ain't happening any time soon.

what better Tom Bergeron or Cat Deely

[Ksyrup]

You have to ask?

The only problem with all of these English people on dance shows is having to hear them pronounce stuff like "SAM - ba" repeatedly. Drives me nuts. It's like listening to the whitest white guy try to rap.

[rkmsuf]

cat deely frighten me. she like giraffe.

[Ksyrup]

Apparently, she's the Seacrest of the UK. I had no idea.

[Eaglesfan27]

Originally Posted by rkmsuf

cat deely frighten me. she like giraffe.

Mmmm, that's one giraffe I wouldn't mind climbing. I think it's the accent.

[wade moore]

As I said earlier in this thread, there are a lot of reason I think this show is better than AI. The judging format and personalities are a large part of it.

For what it's worth KSyrup, imo the bottom 10 dancers from this season are better than the bottom 5-10 last season.. early on last season there were generally 2-3 couples that had worse performances than even the very worst one this season.

I think it helps that these people have to love it. You're just never going to make the money in dance that pop singers make. So, you dont' have as mcuh of a money grubbing aspect (outside of the 250k for winning). After this show is over the best these folks can hope for is a career that they can live off of dance for 5-10 years the same way we do at regular joe jobs.

[Ksyrup]

OK, we watched the vote off from last week on Monday night. It should go without saying that I'm mildly peeved Faina got kicked off - particularly since everyone acknowledged she was hurt by her one-dimensional partner, who somehow was given a third chance at the same moment she was let go. I don't quite get it. That kid isn't going to pick up dance suddenly. He might luck out and get a decent bit of choreography that will help him through another week, but there's no way he's in this for the long haul. Bad decision.

[rkmsuf]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

OK, we watched the vote off from last week on Monday night. It should go without saying that I'm mildly peeved Faina got kicked off - particularly since everyone acknowledged she was hurt by her one-dimensional partner, who somehow was given a third chance at the same moment she was let go. I don't quite get it. That kid isn't going to pick up dance suddenly. He might luck out and get a decent bit of choreography that will help him through another week, but there's no way he's in this for the long haul. Bad decision.

someone wants to boff faina...not sure who.

[FrogMan]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

OK, we watched the vote off from last week on Monday night. It should go without saying that I'm mildly peeved Faina got kicked off - particularly since everyone acknowledged she was hurt by her one-dimensional partner, who somehow was given a third chance at the same moment she was let go. I don't quite get it. That kid isn't going to pick up dance suddenly. He might luck out and get a decent bit of choreography that will help him through another week, but there's no way he's in this for the long haul. Bad decision.

Was waiting for your reactions to the vote off show. Gotta admit that I was good in not spoiling for you last week

I was more than mildly peeved about it. Not so much the Faina being voted off as I could see what they meant, she was really good at ballroom dancing but her dancing in other styles left a bit to be desired. I first reasoned to my wife that no everybody can be good in all styles and she pointed out to me the winner of last year, Benji, who was primarily a ballroom (swing) dancer yet is simply an entertainer at heart in about everything I've seen him do.

What peeved me was that the same dang thing should have applied to Cedric. The man is mesmerizing to watch in what he does, but he is destroying his partners in couples. I fear for Shauna's (is that who he's with now? don't remember) stay on the show now that she's stuck with him...

FM

[Ksyrup]

Yeah, I'll admit that for personal reasons I would have liked to see her stay, but understand the move. Although, I thought Jessie's solo sucked, but I knew she wasn't going anywhere based on the judge's previous comments. And the other chick went so over the top to prove she belonged, she wasn't leaving either. So it was almost a process of elimination. But then you just shit-can Cedric too, both because he is clearly only good at what he does, AND you don't have to force 2 people to get comfortable with new partners. Seemed like a no-brainer to me, and would have been fair to Faina - they danced as partners, and left because they didn't do well together.

[Ksyrup]

Given my delay in watching last week's show, I'll return the favor.


*SPOILER ALERT*







Apparently this show is trying to run off the 18 heterosexual males who watch, because this is the second week in a row they've gotten rid of a hottie for no good reason. I don't think I've ever seen a losing contestant as obviously pissed as Jessie was last night. I have to assume she was ticked because she probably thinks (and is right, IMO) that she got voted off not because of her dancing, but because of the possibility that her medical issue comes back.

My wife and I, in our expert opinions, thought she did a fairly solid solo - certainly better than at least 2 of the others. And Nigel was so dismissive of the entire group, only calling out Lauren, that I thought it was a cop out because he didn't want to specifically address why she was let go.

On the guys side, Cedric officially becomes the John Stevens of SYTYCD. I was afraid the judges were making too much fuss over the fact that he should be voted out, and sure enough, the voters rallied behind him. It was obvious who was going home, though, after the solos. Jesus was terrible - wrong music, barroom dance routine, etc. The dude who got voted into the bottom 3 when Cedric was safe - man that was funny when Nigel gave him the "The fans didn't vote you into the bottom 3, they voted the other couples into the top 4" comment, and he couldn't stop laughing. That was great TV. I was hoping he would completely lose it, but he regained his composure....after 30 seconds of laughing so hard you could hear it through the mic.

[FrogMan]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

Apparently this show is trying to run off the 18 heterosexual males who watch, because this is the second week in a row they've gotten rid of a hottie for no good reason. I don't think I've ever seen a losing contestant as obviously pissed as Jessie was last night. I have to assume she was ticked because she probably thinks (and is right, IMO) that she got voted off not because of her dancing, but because of the possibility that her medical issue comes back.

My wife and I thought the same thing that maybe her medical breakdown could have scared the judges into thinking she wouldn't be able to go the whole way. That's a shame. Her cha cha with Pasha was extremely hot.

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

My wife and I, in our expert opinions, thought she did a fairly solid solo - certainly better than at least 2 of the others. And Nigel was so dismissive of the entire group, only calling out Lauren, that I thought it was a cop out because he didn't want to specifically address why she was let go.

While her solo could have been more impressive, she had to be compared with Lauren (whom I love btw) who took 15 seconds walking and 5 seconds to take off her coat, and to Anya who was blah walking around on stage and doing an even less impressive solo than fellow Russian ballroom specialist Faina did just a week ago. Sarah's solo was strong enough to me, especially for a girl doing breakdance.

As for the guys, yeah, Jesus was out of his league against these two, but Danny annoys the hell out of me for some reason. Oh, he's good all right, but he's got extra terrestrially long arms and legs and that just bothers me for some reason. Neil was just outstanding. The height he can get on some of those jumps reminded me of some sport karate specialist I've seen at my school. Yeah, don't laugh.

FM

[FrogMan]

dola, and yeah, Cedric should have been sent home a couple weeks ago. I told my wife I hoped this would serve as a warning to the judges. You know how they told the first guy they sent home that he didn't give his all in his solo and that it should be a warning to all of them. Now Cedric is your warning. Send someone home when you think he should go. Don't wait...

FM

[Eaglesfan27]

I agree that Cedric should have been gone, and I also thought it was great TV when Danny couldn't stop laughing. I think it was a sign of arrogance and disbelief that he was in the bottom 3.

As for Jessie, she is very hot, but I don't blame them for cutting her. EKG changes don't usually occur just from a bit of dehydration. I strongly suspect there is more to that story than what we are hearing.

I knew they wouldn't get rid of Lauren because Nigel seems to love her. I think she is a beautiful girl and a fun dancer to watch and I thought the other 2 women deserved to stay as well based on their body of work.

[Ksyrup]

That's fine with Jessie, but just come out and say that. It seemed like they hid behind the "you didn't dance well enough" excuse to justify keeping the show's format the same, when in reality, they just should have said she couldn't continue given her medical issue.

Speaking of which...if it's true her doctor gave her the OK to dance last night (and presumably to continue in the competition), do you find that to be irresponsible of the doctor? Obviously we have limited info, but your comments suggest that just from the EKG it is likely something more than dehydration.

[Eaglesfan27]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

That's fine with Jessie, but just come out and say that. It seemed like they hid behind the "you didn't dance well enough" excuse to justify keeping the show's format the same, when in reality, they just should have said she couldn't continue given her medical issue.

Speaking of which...if it's true her doctor gave her the OK to dance last night (and presumably to continue in the competition), do you find that to be irresponsible of the doctor? Obviously we have limited info, but your comments suggest that just from the EKG it is likely something more than dehydration.

This is more in your realm, but I'm guessing there could be potential legal ramifications if they cut her from the show and said it was because of her medical condition after a doctor cleared her to return to the show.

I don't know if it was irresponsible of the doctor to allow her to return to the show without knowing all of the facts. I don't know much of anything about this situation. However, the things I think of as hypothesis in a girl who looks like Jessie who has sudden EKG changes are things like anorexia (which can frequently lead to EKG changes), substance abuse (including stimulants - they keep a demanding schedule), congenital cardiac arrhythmias. However, I don't mean to say that it couldn't have been dehydration.. severe dehydration can lead to cardiac conduction issues. However, dehydration that is severe enough to lead to EKG changes often requires correction over a longer period of time than 24 hours and it seems odd that she would be able to dance well in such a short period of time if she was so dehydrated as to have multiple significant electrolyte imbalances (which is how dehydration causes EKG changes.) I'm suspicious given the situation and I think there may be more going on than they are letting on.

[Ksyrup]

Well, she looked pissed enough last night to perhaps call an attorney!

[FrogMan]

there is apparently more than meets the eyes on the Jessi situation here. Take a look at this blog:
http://bloggingsytycd.blogspot.com/2...ce-jessis.html

She was supposedly hospitalized once before, in the week of the top 18 show, so last week, suffering from severe dehydration, but was cleared in time to dance with Pasha. Twice in two weeks was probably too much for the judges to take a chance on...

FM

[Ksyrup]

Well that certainly makes a bit more sense.

[wade moore]

Yeah, that does make sense..

I felt Lauren should go, but I don't think it was some big, shocking outrage for Jessi to go..

let's face it, outside of Cedric all of these dancers have been fantastic at adapting to different styles, etc.. at this stage there's nothing that would totally shock me for the judges to do outside of saving Cedric again.. I was thinking as Nigel (or Mary or whomever) was saying that America got it wrong with Neil (i think?) - they said "America got it wrong, you shouldn't be here" - who would you put in instead?

To me Cedric and Neil were the two that I expected to be in the bottom after Wednesday's show. Outside of that, it could be anyone based on personality, etc, etc...

That's what's great about this show right now to me.. the level is SO high (far better than last year) that it can happen to anyone (see: Danny and Anya).. As for Danny, I'm glad his cocky ass got knocked down a peg.. he's a fantastic dancer, but that attitude has to go. He was so smarmy when Nigel and Mary told him he had room to improve on Wednesday.

[rkmsuf]

bump

because you are dweeb if you aren't watching this show

[MikeVic]

I 110% agree. I love this show so much. And I love Kherington Payne, Twitch, Joshua, and Katee.

Cat Deeley is an awesome host (fixing that girl's shoe when her toe popped out??), the judges are great, the voting results seem fair, and the performances are great.

[FrogMan]

yeah, great season so far, tons of dancers I like, some cuties and lots of really great talent.

FM

[Eaglesfan27]

Agreed with all of the above, not to mention most of the girls are hot this year. Kherington is an incredible natural beauty.

[FrogMan]

Originally Posted by Eaglesfan27

Kherington is an incredible natural beauty.

agreed, and she's a soccer player. I got a thing for cute soccer players, females only of course.

FM

[FrogMan]

dola, anybody realize there weren't any Russian ballroom dancers in the top 20 this year. Found that interesting as it looked like there are had been a few in both of the previous seasons...

FM

[MikeVic]

Yeah when I first saw Kherington with her soccer thing and then her dance... I was sold. I probably looked like that guy that was in the balcony watching her. Smiling and relaxed.

[MikeVic]

Dola,

That waltz they did last week was just amazing.

[Lathum]

Twitch is awesome and Kherington is smoking hot

[JeeberD]

I've never watched more than a few minutes at a time in the past (my wife has always watched it religiously, though) , but this season I've been watching since the start and am really enjoying it. I didn't think I would, but I haven't missed an episode yet.

[Zelig]

God Bless you guys. Really.

[JeeberD]

I watched Wednesday's show last night. Now, I've been in love with Jessica's red hair and big tatas since I first laid eyes on her, but goddamn that dress that Courtney Galiano was wearing just about made the faint. She was absolutely smoking hot in that thing...

[FrogMan]

Originally Posted by JeeberD

I've never watched more than a few minutes at a time in the past (my wife has always watched it religiously, though) , but this season I've been watching since the start and am really enjoying it. I didn't think I would, but I haven't missed an episode yet.

You are where I was last season. Had never really watched more than a few minutes here or there, then started with watching maybe 3/4 of all the auditions and never missed a minute once they got to the top 20. Also never thought I would enjoy a dance show, but these people are amazing.

Originally Posted by JeeberD

I watched Wednesday's show last night. Now, I've been in love with Jessica's red hair and big tatas since I first laid eyes on her, but goddamn that dress that Courtney Galiano was wearing just about made the faint. She was absolutely smoking hot in that thing...

Oh, heck yeah. And even petite Katee with the other half of the dress was very sexay.

Even though she was simply in jeans and not dancing anything super hot yesterday, Chelsie Hightower really knows how to move those legs.

FM

[Eaglesfan27]

Last night in the first dance, Kherington looked her best yet. Even my wife commented on how good she looked. Mia's choreography is amazing and those two pieces were by far my favorites of the night, with the Twitch/Kherington 1st number being a close 3rd because of her portrayal of the character.

[wade moore]

Originally Posted by Eaglesfan27

Last night in the first dance, Kherington looked her best yet. Even my wife commented on how good she looked. Mia's choreography is amazing and those two pieces were by far my favorites of the night, with the Twitch/Kherington 1st number being a close 3rd because of her portrayal of the character.

Haven't been keeping up with the thread because with moving I was behind on the show.

Mia is incredible. When you pair her with good dancers it's just amazing. I will hit my one conspiracy theory with this show - the dance selection. Mia has not been paired up with a bad couple in quite sometime, you have to wonder if that is a coincidence.

Anyway. Right now there is a clear division. There are 2 or 3 couples that will continue to be in the bottom three until they get weeded out:

Will and Jessica (Because of Jessica)
Thayne and Comfort
Matt and Kourtnee

Then you have Gev and Courtney in the middle

Then the other 3 couples are clearly a notch above imo.


So, I think it's just a matter of time before those three couples get whittled down. I'd like to see Gev and Courtney get in the bottom three for a Gev/Jessica elimination because I think Will and Courtney could do very well together. But I think Gev will stay for awhile if nothing else because if he gets in the bottom three he won't have been there for the 3rd time like the other guys.

[Eaglesfan27]

Completely agree with that ranking of couples, although I think Jessica really stepped up in their 2nd routine.

I think Matt and Kourtnee are going home tonight (I think Comfort's unique style will keep her another week.)

[wade moore]

Originally Posted by Eaglesfan27

Completely agree with that ranking of couples, although I think Jessica really stepped up in their 2nd routine.

I think Matt and Kourtnee are going home tonight (I think Comfort's unique style will keep her another week.)

Agreed on Jessica, but she is still clearly not up to par with at least 4 of the other females. She may squeak by for a bit - especially with Will as her partner - but it's only a matter of tiem before she's gone. It doesn't help that, imo, her solo's aren't all that impressive either.

Matt and Kourtnee are my likely bets as well. I think it's unfortunate. If I had my choice Thayne would go before Matt as Matt is an incredible technician. But by now he should have been making progress on things, but he's making the same mistakes (facial expression and dancing to "high") week after week.

IMO Matt is by far the better dancer over Thayne, but Thayne is at least showing some ability to adapt.

I know I'm in the minority here, but Comfort's personality drives me up a wall.

[FrogMan]

Originally Posted by wade moore

Mia is incredible. When you pair her with good dancers it's just amazing. I will hit my one conspiracy theory with this show - the dance selection. Mia has not been paired up with a bad couple in quite sometime, you have to wonder if that is a coincidence.

I agree that Mia is amazing in her craziness. Wade Robson is another of my favorites.

As for Mia, not sure if it qualifies as out of the "in quite sometime" period but she did catch some flack when she tried to protect Cedric in a choreography with Shauna last season... I'm pretty sure she'd be able to make almost anybody look good.

FM

[Flasch186]

...and she knows it.

[wade moore]

Originally Posted by FrogMan

I agree that Mia is amazing in her craziness. Wade Robson is another of my favorites.

As for Mia, not sure if it qualifies as out of the "in quite sometime" period but she did catch some flack when she tried to protect Cedric in a choreography with Shauna last season... I'm pretty sure she'd be able to make almost anybody look good.

FM

Good point on Cedric last year.

I love Robson too (not just cause of the first name). I'm actually a bit concerned that we haven't seen him this year. The only criticism I'd have of his is that I can almost always pick out his numbers because he over uses some certain styles imo.

There are actually a couple of choreographers that I'm concerned may not be involved with the show anymore - namely Robson and Shane Sparks.

[wade moore]

Interesting.

I was just reading Robson's Wiki page.

1) Didn't know he co-wrote some Timberlake, N'Sync, and Britney stuff.
2) Didn't know there were rumors of an affair with Britney.
3) Didn't know he was one of the boys that hung out with Caulkin at the Neverland ranch.

[FrogMan]

Originally Posted by wade moore

There are actually a couple of choreographers that I'm concerned may not be involved with the show anymore - namely Robson and Shane Sparks.

yes, I'm also a bit concerned that we've not seen them with couples but they both did a group routine. Robson's was on week 1 and Sparks' was on week 2. (thanks wikipedia)

I think Sparks is also quite taken by his permanent judge spot on America's Best Dance Crew. (again thanks wikipedia)

FM