October 27, 2009
Top 20 Performance Thoughts
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I don’t want to say the words jump and shark, I really don’t, but I just don’t know about this season right now. Between the GIANT new stage and the camera angle limitations, all of the injuries and illnesses (Billy Bell, Pauline Mata at Vegas, Noelle Marsh and Mia Michaels) and now this first elimination…
At first I was a bit relieved that the judges were making this first decision. But now that I felt they made it badly, I want my vote back.
Wait, let’s back up…
Cat was gorgeous tonight with her curls and her beautiful red dress. I’m sad that Billy’s gone, but I don’t mind seeing more of Brandon Dumlao.
I’m pleased by Channing and Phillip’s chemistry in the jive, but I can agree with Adam when he says they dropped character, especially near the end. Some of it was a bit awkward and we could see it coming a mile away. But I’m excited to see what’s next for them. It seems like a solid first performance.
Ashleigh seemed a bit sweeter in her interview package and I thought her “sultry Broadway” with Jakob was better than I thought it would be. But my mom made a really good point when she suggested that Ashleigh’s only as strong as her partner. Which is great when she’s dancing with Jakob…but he is outdancing her.
I was pleased with Ariana and Peter. According to that Buddy TV slideshow, they were one of the potential worst couples, but I was immediately excited they were dancing together. They have great personalities and are both adorable. I really like the Nappytabs hip hop routine. Then the judges are pretty tough on them, which makes me nervous.
It was really too bad that Noelle couldn’t dance that foxtrot with Russell – they would’ve been so cute. I thought he did an amazing job with Melanie. And Nigel says that Russell is an example of why he stresses that kids should experience dance in school.
You know who really surprised me? Bianca in her Travis Wall contemporary with Victor. Amazing! Perhaps she has issues with her head, shoulders, knees and toes as Adam suggested, but they had wonderful chemistry together and I think they’ll continue to bring out the best in each other. That one move where Victor lowered her behind his back was stunning. Beautiful.
Karen and Kevin did a really good cha cha, though there were some really awkward transitions. Their personalities and chemistry really carried the routine, though, and Mary put Karen ont he hot tamale train – though Kevin’s just standing on the platform at the moment. Adam had that great comment about “and that’s not usually my thing” about Karen’s smoking hotness. 
So I didn’t get the Elleanor and Ryan Sonya piece the way everyone else did. Maybe I need to watch it again. It definitely had its moments and I was so pleasantly surprised by their chemistry together. Elleanor hasn’t been standing out for a lot of people, so I’m glad if this does the trick for her.
I was pleased by Pauline and Brandon’s smooth waltz. Jason Gilkison said he wanted to do a “young waltz” and I think he did a great job with the movement (the judges compared it unfavorably to a prom dance), but a horrible choice with the song. The Whitney song is good, but not a “young” song. I thought the two of them did a great job, especially considering they had far less time than the others to prepare.
Kathryn and Legacy did a great Dave Scott hip hop. And Legacy is a lucky joker, for sure. It’s pretty unfair how many chances this guy gets and I really don’t think he’s going to do much earthshattering. BUT, this routine was pretty awesome and I’m so glad Kathryn got a chance to shine. She was better than him, though, and this is closer to his style. I loved that she pounded her chest at the end.
Like Adam, I generally don’t like disco. My mom and I go back and forth on this cause she loves it. It’s just not my thing. Yet…I LOVED this disco routine. For the first time, disco has felt relevant to me and not just cheesy. Mollee and Nathan are so good together and the perfect couple for something this high-energy and youthful.
I was pretty much in shock when the judges announced the bottom 2 girls and the bottom 2 guys to dance. I loved Ariana and I don’t want her there. Why not Ashleigh? Nigel’s highest compliment to her was that if she keeps not messing up, she can ride Jakob’s coattails for a while. Clearly, she’s only a strong as her partner. And after Nigel’s comments about Russell earlier, WHY is he in the bottom 2? It doesn’t make any sense. As much as I love Channing, I’d understand her and Phillip being in the bottom 2 more than these choices. Brandon’s kinda a gimme, though very mean.
The solos are pretty awesome, all of them. I particularly liked Russell’s and had a good feeling he’d be safe. I’m mildly appeased that Nigel’s going to “try” to change the rules so that Brandon can come back next season (hopefully Billy gets the same chance), but I get the feeling Brandon kinda knew this was coming and he was just subbing for a bit more dance experience. He was very gracious.
I just do NOT understand why Ariana went home tonight. I didn’t want Pauline to go, either, but I love Ariana and I do feel like she’s danced stronger than Pauline so far. While I hate the idea of Noelle leaving because of her injury (hey, maybe she’ll get a chance to come back next season too, while we’re handing out maybes), I’d love for Ariana to come back in her place if that turns out to be the case.
Big breath. Well, what do y’all think?
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23 responses to "Top 20 Performance Thoughts"
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I believe it was Kevin and Karen that had the akward “pretzel” move. Don’t be fouled, season 3: Danny and Sara “Lola” they did that move. Here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVqOYzhYZ50
The routines were good, minus a few but its passed my bedtime and I have school tomorrow (high school mind you) so I cannot really spill my guts about the routines, but I will be back! I just thought the pretzel thing was important.
I’m not sure how I fell about the new changes either. The new stage feels like an extension of last season’s finale to me. I do have to say that with the new stage, there is possibility for better lighting and use of the wings. The camera angles were awkward in some moments, and if you notice when Cat is speaking on her podium, you can sometimes see the dancers setting up. Maybe these are just things the network needs to figure out as the season progresses?
Eliminations: I think the judges totally missed the mark on the bottom four. Ariana and Pauline? These two were part of my pre-season top 10! Oops! Brandon was not great tonight but I feel bad that he wasn’t really given a chance. I do have to agree with Nigel though, to be fair Brandon had to be critiqued as if he was an original top 20. Russell (my favorite), had no right being the bottom 2! He did an excellent job with such a difficult and (sometimes slow and dull) dance. He killed his solo though, so I knew he was safe.
Overall, the routines tonight (in my opinion) were great! I enjoyed both the hip hops and Travis Wall’s piece was great! Victor is starting to impress me. For a season already filled with so much drama, the dancing was very impressive. Hopefully all the bumps will be smoothed out as the season rolls on!
I am not loving the new set. Less intimate, too cavernous, and the acoustics were less than perfect. Makes me wonder where they plan on holding the finale.
Loved Travis Wall’s piece! And the song Wasted Time!
I agree that Russell should not have been anywhere near the bottom 2. What were they thinking?! Brandon definitely should have gone home. As for the girls, I enjoyed Ariana’s hip hop routine. Don’t know if she should have gone home, but I am not entirely sure who should have gone instead.
I hate the new setup. Fine for the finale, but not for the rest of the season. I miss the old staircase! They used to choreograph some amazing things using that staircase. And the camera movement over this new stage doesn’t feel right.
I not sure about the stage but they are in the same smaller studio…so the could still move it to the Kodak for the finale but that depends on Idol…not sure how the timing goes. I miss the stairs.
Its hard having no voice for the first two weeks…stupid baseball why cant it just be on TBS lol.
As if it isnt obvious which dance was my favorite…I loved Dave’s idea and letting the woman win…lol she dragged him off to her cave. I liked the ideas of both hip hops.
Ellenore and Ryan were great tonight. A much better dance from Sonya. I have a feeling this isnt the last time we will see Ryan without a shirt on.
Russel reminds me of Joshua.
so proud of kathryn!! she was way out of her comfort zone and she totally rocked it! also loved bianca and victor, who knew travis could get out of a tapper what he got out of bianca?! and victor’s split leaps were insane, i think will from S4 is the only guy i’ve seen get quite that much height. and i LOVED their assisted roll where he somersaulted over her and hooked onto her legs so she could roll over him, that was so cool!
i was super impressed with russell, especially dancing with his 2nd partner in less than a week! and he just oozed charisma.
i really liked nathan and mollee too! i knew i would love nathan, but mollee had started to get on my nerves. however, they worked really well together and disco was perfect for them. jakob is insane! it might be early, but he’s on his way to that “group” that adam talked about last year, of the most technically gifted dancers the show has had: blake, nick, travis, danny, will, kayla. and how cool would it have been to see billy and jakob together the way they wanted blake and nick together S1.
overall i thought it was a good opening! i still hate the stage though. i miss the staircase and the audience being around the stage instead of just in front of it.
Ariana’s hip hop was clearly the worst dance of the night, in my opinon, so I wasn’t sad to see her go. Then again, she was a contemporary dancer that pulled hip hop in her first week, so maybe it was just bad luck. I would have preferred to see Bianca go. Adam’s comments about her hunched shoulders was spot on (watch the tap routine from Monday night’s show – she did it the whole time).
I don’t get the Ashleigh hate around here. She’s quite good and did a fine job last night – more than just riding Jakobs coattails.
Speaking of Jakob, I hadn’t noticed seeing much of him before last night. Wow, he’s good.
Yeah, I don’t get all the Ashleigh hate either. I think they’ll keep her around for a bit, the husband/wife and the tension with other dancers makes for too much good television to not take advantage. (I’m thinking the Karen/Ashleigh “cat fight” stuff from the other night)
Elleanore is the one that rubs me the wrong way. Seems too full of herself. Yes, so her parents were both dancers, so what?
I’m glad Kathryn pulled herself together. I was really worried about her as my most vivid memory of her was her blubbering and crying and pretty much having a total meltdown trying to string 6 words together during Vegas eliminations.
Last night’s episode was amazing! For the first of the competition nights, I was blown away by how good some of these dances were! I will admit, we often saw the tricks coming but they were pulled off wonderfully when they happened.
I’m not sure why there was any surprise about Ariana and Brandon. Ariana was not very good in the Nappy Tabs hip hop (neither was Peter, I’m surprised he wasn’t announced in the bottom this week instead of Russel) and out of all the females this week, her performance was, by far, the weakest. Brandon had NO time to prepare and did an admirable job but Nigel explained it all, he wasn’t ready yet. I love that they are going to try to go the extra mile for him in regards to next season. I hope they extend that same courtesy to Billy Bell.
The top routines for me last night were (in this order):
Kathryn & Legacy’s hip hop – she was absolutely AMAZING! Watch out for the girls that do hip hop well in the early episodes – Katee, Jeanine, etc.;
Bianca & Victor’s contemporary – I did NOT think she’d pull off those tricks as well as she did, and she partnered so well with Victor! I’m afraid for them both with something more stiff, but for now I’m pleased;
Ryan & Ellenore’s jazz – oh my jebus, Nigel was right, how do you critique this? This is on the Wade Robson level, this was pure brilliance. I would have liked more of an overboding feeling from Ryan, I get a big, huggable dog vibe from him so he needs to work on that if he gets another role like this.
Jakob is a revelation and the way he moves his body had me in complete awe. How is it possible for him to have SO MUCH CONTROL? It’s insane, and Ashleigh is so lucky to have him. I really want him to help her partner better, she needs to stop performing for the judges in the way they mentioned to Ryan last night. Can you imagine how amazing Jakob and Paula would have been, though?
Channing continues to be my favorite for no discernable reason. Her energy and vibe just make me happy. Mollee is close on those same notes but she really seems like a 14 yo.
Can I say how I love how much this cast has bonded? Everyone putting up those little hearts in the front, it was a WOW moment.
I eagerly anticipate what else this cast can do, and I hope we get to see Noelle dance instead of just being cut.
I’m choosing to believe a show like SYTYCD can’t really “jump the shark,” but I do know what you mean. Especially about the new set. It’s okay, but when I first saw it in the Meet the Top 20, I actually thought it was the Kodak until Cat mentioned it. It’s like they’re trying to make it look like the finale every night, which is only going to make the finale less special. And I miss the intimacy of the old set.
I loved the Travis, Sonya, and Dave pieces intensely.
I thought Russell dancing with Melanie was one of the cutest things I’ve ever seen. Definitely the most entertaining foxtrot I can think of. And I thought he did a really great job. Good thing he didn’t go home or the audience would have stormed the judges. And the charge would have been led by those other 18 dancers, who are obviously his biggest fans! (Make that 19, ’cause Noelle would have hobbled down and beaten Nigel with her crutch.)
Ariana is an extremely strong dancer, and adorable, but I’m not quite captivated when she dances. Her solo versus Pauline’s, I totally got what Nigel said about charisma. Sad to see her go, but I understood it.
Pauline and Peter should be a good match
I really hope Brandon gets to come back. Billy, too. (*sniffle*)
Btw, Victor is unfreakingbelievable! I really hope Nigel doesn’t jinx him by giving him what I call “Will-level” compliments. I barely remember him from auditions, but in the top 20 Wade piece, I was like, “WHO IS THAT?!?” :-O
Arrgh.
Victor IS in fact, unbelievably awesome. But I was actually talking about Jacob.
*smacks self in head*
I was think the same thing about giving Jakob such high praise…it could jinx him. We have seen it happen before.
This has always been my favorite show on television by far (never missed a season), I am 43 and I watch it with my teens and we all love it, HOWEVER, we all hate the new set with a passion. The cavernous stage, the dizzying lighted background, the bad camera angles. Before the dancers owned the stage, now it swallows them and you now longer feel like you are there on stage and it’s hard to feel the intimate emotion of the pieces. And for gosh sakes “You Light Up My Life” as a song choice???!! What’s next, a Sonya alien pregnancy dance to Paul Anka’s “Having My Baby”?! I am old and even I like the newer songs so Nigel you have the budget, pay the copyright fee and use newer music. I am allready mourning the loss of Mia Michaels and Billy Bell
I totally agree with Thelma about the stage being less intimate. I’m so sad about Billy Bell getting sick, they better let him through next season
So wait…Pauline was paired to dance with Billy, a phenomenal dancer projected to win, and then she had to dance with Brandon at the last minute, who she was able to establish great chemistry with…, and NOW she has to dance with Peter?? It’s going to be a tough road for Pauline… If they were going to get rid of Ariana, they should have gotten rid of Peter too. But then again…the judges get to pick next week again don’t they.
If Noelle had to pull out of the competition, thus bringing Ariana back, then Ariana would then be paired with Peter again, Also Pauline would be paired with Russell….This ethnic pairing has been done in the past and has actually worked out pretty well. Katee/Josh, Asuka/Vitolio (if they were given more time to nurture that chemistry) Pauline’s head must be spinning @_@.
I feel like the judges are trying to pair up Pauline with a fan favorite to get her in the top 10. I’d like to see more of Pauline, but any contestant who changes partners this frequently always spells danger.
@Kevin & CoffeyCup: Ashleigh rubs me the wrong way when she talks. Plus, I think she oversells when she dances and I’m not sure she’ll be able to disappear into a character. And it sucks that she might stay around so that they can have “tension” for the show. You want tension? Cut her and then there are two marrieds on the show without their spouses.
@Ben: I like your point about girls who do hip-hop early.
And about Ryan being a bit more foreboding.
@ahs: Good points about the stage and the “jump the shark” aspect. I *don’t want* to say that. Or think it. And VERY FUNNY about Noelle beating Nigel with her crutch. I enjoyed that visual, thanks.
@Tricia: I’m glad I’m not the only one who thought that “You Light Up My Life” right after the choreographer said he was going for “younger” was one of those… “whaaaaa?” moments. Lol. Sonya alien pregnancy to Paul Anka. She’d do it, too. She’s lovely and perverse like that. But she’d make it work somehow. I still have faith in her, though I’ve been underwhelmed so far this season.
@Christine: I like Peter, I’m glad they kept him. He’s my favorite of the tappers and I think he’s the one that will unite personality/charisma with dance versatility the best. Though, Bianca just may give him a run for his money. We’ll see.
So time is only allowing me to post briefly from my bb, but I loved the routines from this week. Russell is my fav…he’s adorable and awesome. I think jakob and victor are phenomenal talents, but fewer girls are capturing my attn this time. I like kathryn after her performance though (she blew me away). But I wasn’t upset about ariana, as cute as she is. I can’t wait until we can vote again…
First time poster, but I have watched since Season 1!
Just thought I’d tell what the cute heart that they are all making means…
Watch their fingers not used in the heart, there are 6..so..Love season 6.
Like 4 real, 5 alive, quite inventive really!
Oh Sue makes a good point…I’ll have to pay attention to that next time. I still love the IV Real thing.
Yea Sue that IS a good point. I’ll have to watch for that as well. What did the Season 5 cast do?
And Emilie: It’s not that I don’t like Peter, but I guess I just like other dancers more? I think Peter is really talented and he’s got a lot to offer. Just the whole ordeal with Brandon vs. Russell didn’t seem fair. But then again, they are sneaky judges who probably have a reason why they did that. I imagine it was to showcase Russell’s krumping and gain a larger fanbase. And maybe to keep him grounded, since he’s been hearing a lot of comments on doing well for a Krumper.
@Christine: Those are good points. I think it was a bit fishy of the judges to put him in the bottom 2 as well, but clearly they had no intention of sending Russell home. Hmmm.
Season 5 was 5 Alive, one hand down jazz hand style with the other hand making an A out of two fingers of the down hand ….my daughter catches all these.
Liking Season 6 so far…love Jakob and Nathan.
Jacob maybe my “new” Travis (all time favourite).
I knew that Brandon would go home, they had to keep the krumper, at least he has more dance talent than Cedric!
Oh, and fwiw, I really like the new staging and lighting. I think it adds an air of grandeur without the huge expanse of the Kodak theatre. Gives our fun little show a bit of sophistication.
Change is often difficult to get used to, but so far, I’m a fan!