Nigel’s Comments About Karen Hauer’s “Sensuality”
So i know we’ve talked and talked about what Nigel said to Nathan, but something that struck me last night as I was watching the hilarious Michael Ausiello from EW talking about SYTYCD was how sexist what he said to Karen was during the results show. He told her that younger female contestants would be “intimidated by her sensuality” and her face just fell.
They seem to be wanting to portray her as the “sexpot” divorcée, and I feel like that’s exactly the opposite of who she is. If you’re going to call her out, then call Ryan out, I mean, the guy looks like a Greek adonis and I didn’t hear Nigel calling him out for being “intimidating” to the younger guys! Don’t get me wrong, I think Karen is beautiful and she is a wonderful dancer. Unfortunately I think the way that they’re portraying her is not only hurting her vote-wise, but I think it’s hurting Kevin as well that they basically keep saying, “you were great, but your partner was better and she looked totally hot.”
Am I alone in my crazy thinking here?
I don’t personally think that Nigel was being sexist with these comments. I’m sure he’d be happy to make the same comments about Ryan. I do think Nigel is just a dirty horny Brit. Certainly the show is playing up Karen’s sensuality/sexuality. Kind of like they did when they played up Melissa’s “naughty ballerina” tag. Which is funny, because meeting Melissa you can see that she’s kind of the opposite of a naughty ballerina.
So, I think the comments might be unfair to Karen, but I don’t think it’s sexist of Nigel.
Women tend to be more petty, so in a way Nigel is right. Ryan is intimidating too but guys aren’t as put off by it as women are. Plus, Ryan will get all the female votes anyway so it doesn’t even matter.
I didn’t mind Melissa’s “naughty ballerina” tag because she seemed to have fun with it. They loved making comments about Brandon not wearing clothes through much of the audition process. I think that the fact that this didn’t come up right away signals that it’s not that big of a deal, but it was just interesting to hear that point of view.
Thinking back, I realize that he did, to a certain extent, make those types of comments about Ryan during Vegas when he took off his shirt for the 800th time, but Ryan laughed it off. I don’t think I would have noticed what he said to Karen had the camera not been right in her face the whole time and her looking so down about (unjustly) being in the bottom 3. And putting her against Mollee (unsuccessfully trying to “sexify” herself) just didn’t seem to work at all.
Hmm…I dont quite understand why Nigel said that because I dont think that is why they ended up in the bottom 3. I know for me the hustle was kinda dull not as exciting as Lacey and Kamerons. I don’t think he will say anything to Ryan other than making it a joke. It was an on going joke with Dmitry in season two. Personally its more about the dancing if they can be sexy while doing it just an added bonus.
Amanda, i agree about the dancing part of it. i did think that their hustle was not as good as lacey and kameron’s, but i thought they executed it well, definitely better than our unfortunately off beat friends nathan and mollee. i think this week is going to be a major test for both couples
I don’t think Nigel was being sexist. I actually think his point was valid, and probably true. Historically the “sexy” female dancers don’t do well on the show, i’m trying to think of one off the top of my head that has done well. But the sexy men tend to be very popular, like Dmitry and Pasha. Karen probably got screwed a bit by the luck of the draw with her partner, Kevin’s not exactly a dynamic personality. I would expect them to be in the bottom again unless they knock it out of the park. I think those two along with nathan/Mollee really have something to prove this week.
Speaking of…. has the show taped yet this week??
Rachel, you bring up a good point about partners, i think Kevin may be better on his own than he is with a partner. they have a great new choreographer this week, so that might give them an energy boost, their hustle felt kind of lackluster, especially as an opening number.
the other 2 dancers i remember nigel highlighting their sexuality like this were Anya and Asuka, who were knocked out top 12 week and top 16 week respectively, so you’re right, that does not bode well for Karen. Ironically, all three ladies are ballroom dancers!
i just rewatched nigel’s comments, and he actually says it’s the younger VOTERS who, in his mind, would be intimidated by Karen’s sexuality. I don’t know if this changes my opinion about it, I’m headed to class so I’ll ponder that on my way.
as far as I know, the show has not taped yet, I’m assuming they’re taping tonight.
Hmm…so you’re saying that sexy men on the show get votes, but sexy women don’t. Goes back to the theory that women are the most common voters. This voting pattern seems to support that theory I think.
I don’t thnk Nigel was being any more sexist than his usual self. I think he was just trying to rationalize why Karen and Kevin were in the bottom 3 when they (especially she) are judge’s favorites. It was a little odd bringing up the divorce as “something America should know”. But I did notice the previous week that Karen kinda carefully didn’t mention auditioning with her husband during the background interview. I guess they figured better to get it into the open than have it come out later.
CoffeyCup, i agree that the divorce mention was odd. I’m not sure if thats going to win her any fans. The judges seem to favor her, but they’re not doing a very good job of marketing her to the voting population.
He wasn’t being sexist, he was just horny lol. But, you have a point with the judges! It pisses me off because Kevin tries so hard and does sooooooo good, and then he’s just pushed back in the shadow! Maybe, they should pair up Ryan and Karen!
p.s. SHES DIVORCED?!?! WHAT?! When did this happen?
John, haha I haven’t forgotten that women are the most common voters! I’m one of them! I am just trying to figure out why he never said anything to Anya about her sensuality being “intimidating” to voters (I mean, if we didn’t have Anya we wouldn’t have a Hot Tamale Train!) I don’t remember it coming up when she and Danny were in the bottom 3 three weeks in a row.
@CoffeyCup, I get what you’re saying, but for Nigel, why not rationalize that they had a tough draw with a dance unfamiliar to the audience, they went first, and compared to some of the other dances (Jakob/Ashieigh, Noelle/Russell) it wasn’t quite as memorable. I don’t know, maybe it’s me, I just haven’t quite warmed up to Karen yet.
@Rachel, I agree that the mention of the divorce was odd, and it felt out of place in comparison to everyone else. I’m not entirely sure what they were trying to accomplish with that.
@Curtis, I really like Kevin! I took to him during Vegas when Mia pointed out how beautiful his contemporary technique was and how he rocked in hip hop. He killed it in their hip hop number, but the praise went to Karen. I think Karen is a beautiful dancer, but give the guy some credit! I hope having the new choreographer is exactly what they need to rebound.
I think what was really bugging Nigel was probably the number of votes Nathan and Mollee got despite their absymal salsa. Even though it is America’s favorite dancer, he doesn’t want it to be based solely on popularity. I think he is dreading a sort of SYTYCD version of AI’s Sanjaya with voting.
I think Nigel was not lashing out at Nathan or trying to rain on Karen so much as lashing out at the preteen girls who voted for Nathan/Mollee. They just got caught in the cross-fire of Nigel’s rant.
Men won’t resent Hugh Jackman…errrr, Ryan, because he’s sexual like dumb bimbos are intimidated by the sexy and talented Karen.
It’s the same reason a “sexy” male dancer like Dimitri or Pasha will last forever, but Anya and Asuka will be voted off quickly. All 4 are the same type of sexy dancers (yes, I’m straight, but I know what sexy is, man or woman)
Let’s face it, most voters are little teenage girls, gay guys, and gay guy’s friends that are girls.
Girls are horribly hypocritical about sexuality, and not to mention; teenage girls are the stupidest people on the planet. How else do you explain Miley Ray Cyrus?
@Ben Franklin, I get what you’re saying, but calling teenage girls the stupidest people on the planet and that girls are horribly hypocritical about sexuality is way harsh. We recognize that the target audience of SYTYCD is female, but it doesn’t mean that we should have to listen to Nigel tell Karen her sexuality “intimidates” younger voters. People will vote for her b/c of her personality and if she’s a good dancer. I think Channing is beautiful and sexy and strong but Nigel called her an “ice-maiden” this morning, in my book that’s just not cool, especially coming from someone like Nigel.
I disagree. I would even go as far to say, “I agree with myself”.
I think I gave perfect examples of what I was referring to by mentioning past dancers male and females who have the same appeal, but the male dancers get a bye pass, while the women are quickly thrust out into the cold hard world of auditions.
The successful women on the show have been WAAY less intimidating, however, beautiful as they are. The successful women have been pretty or gorgeous, but never put on an aura of sexiness. That’s the point Nigel was trying to make. Why can Pasha and Dimitri get so far in past seasons, but yet Asuka, Snow (from Season 1) even Anya, Pasha’s PARTNER was voided quickly by the shallow voters?
Because women/girls usually hate each other and are hostile toward a threatening vamp.
Nigel was right about Channing, in all honesty (not even wanting to be mean or funny), but really, I would actually forget about her as a contestant on a week to week basis until I saw her. He was mean, but if you have ever went through an audition, Nigel was being a “sweetie pie” by comparison. In a way, she needed to hear that if she wishes to continue that career.
Saying “people will vote for her b/c personality and if she’s a good dancer” is disingenuous and incorrect. Past results of all 6 seasons do not backup that point of view.
And yes, teenage girls are really, really stupid, just ask any girl in her 30’s, and she will tell you she was. However, I’m not saying teenage boys are genius, they are idiots as well. But teenage girls take the title because they are inexperienced, naive, superficial, and silly. Not their fault, just a victim of society. Of course, I’m speaking in general, individuals I judge fairly.
When I said people will vote for her because of her personality and if she’s a good dancer I was speaking in general. That’s why Lauren, Lacey, Sabra, Jeanine, Melody, Chelsie, that’s why they stayed so long on the show. So in that way, I agree with you because that makes sense, I just wish Nigel had said that! The reason I even brought this whole thing up in the first place was because I saw the reaction on Karen’s face when Nigel said that, she looked really upset.
it’s pretty obvious looking at someone like Channing who is a beautiful dancer but just couldn’t seem to connect to the audience is the reason she got eliminated, I’m not trying to override that. I understood why she went home.
I’m still not keen on you speaking in general and calling ALL teenage girls stupid, superificial, and silly.
I’ll agree with you on the Miley Cyrus thing though, THAT is something I don’t get.
Hey Margaret,
Lauren, Lacey, Sabra, Jeanine, Melody, Chelsie are absolutely beautiful, and some of my favorites—ohh, Lauren and Jeanine, so my type.
However, I was always upset and bitter when my sexy women were dumped.
I do agree with you that it is sad for Karen to be put in that situation where she was brought to the forefront. But like I said, it was long overdue to be said. If he did not, she was still doomed. So I rather he said what he said to show his dis-satisfaction in these ongoing shenanigans.
Also, I do judge people individually, but it is much funnier to judge people in general. But overall, I am right to believe just how dopey teenagers are.
Miley Ray, and all bad pop music is the fault of teenagers, and it’s hard for me to forgive them as well.
Nigel is right all along. Voters simply votes for the one that takes their fancy, most of them anyway. Some listens to the judges. Karen is fantastic most of the times but less so when doing her solo. But that is the name of the game…if it’s so predictable all the time, there will soon be no show!
Ryan is terrific but he was frequently unable to do many thing like Jacob could do when it came to gracefulness and flair.