Kent Boyd Will Win So You Think You Can Dance Season 7
For the record, I just want to say that I started this post back on July 21st. So, I’ve thought this to be the case for a long time. It’s not like I’m just hoping on the Kent Boyd bandwagon now. Which is especially interesting because I’m actually on the Lauren bandwagon as a fan, but despite my bias I still think Kent Boyd has this season of So You Think You Can Dance in the bag.
First of all, I think history is really on my side. The best comparison that can be made for Kent is with Benji Schwimmer. The type of fan following that Benji had really reminds me of the way fans are for Kent. They just love the little guy. Plus, really what’s not to like? He’s just a sweet, sincere guy.
The fan following for Kent is just awesome. They adore him. Plus, he really has excelled on the show and he hasn’t shown any signs of arrogance at all. That’s the attribute that America seems to love most (and I know I do too).
Nigel also did Kent a huge favor by saying it was close. I’m sure that many Kent fans were sitting back, thinking that Kent just had it in the bag (like I do). By Nigel saying that it’s close, the whole teen group that loves Kent will be voting in droves for Kent.
I think that @Beth_Pettit on Twitter described it best when she sent me this tweet:
@puresytycd Kent could fall off the stage & land on his face in the middle of a routine and I’d still probably vote for him. He’s pure magic
The good part for me is that I love Lauren and Robert is great too. This might be the first time that I’d be happy with any of the final 3 winning. It’s just too bad that Lauren and Robert really don’t have a chance against the powerhouse Kent!
As I think about it, maybe the fact that I like Lauren Froderman so much might be the best reason why Lauren has no chance of winning. At least considering how all of my past blonde girls were quickly booted from SYTYCD.
As much as I cringe to write this, I think you may be right. The analogy of Kent to Benji is spot on. The other guy I would think of is Joshua, but I’m not sure even he could top the squeels that Kent gets every time he comes on stage. We often forget that we’re crowning “America’s FAVORITE Dancer” rather than the “best” dancer. For the first time ever, all the finalists are contemporary dancers and incredible technicians. Out of the 3, I think Robert has grown the most and surprised me the most. No one really knew who he was coming out of Vegas, but he’s someone I genuinely ENJOY watching each week. I’ll duck the flying vegetables from John as I say that I’m not on the Lauren bandwagon, I never have been. I think she’s an amazing dancer and she’s going to have a very successful career, but she’s just not my favorite. I think Kent is adorable and seems like a sweet guy and he’s definitely become a more refined dancer over the weeks, but my votes go for Robert this week.
I love Kent for his personality and for his dancing.
I love Lauren for her dancing and her personality.
Robert is…ehhh…really good-looking, goofy…but just doesn’t connect with me for some reason enough to pick up a phone and vote for him if I could (which I can’t, being in Japan).
But do you see what I did there with Kent and Lauren? I think Lauren slightly edges Kent out in dance ability because she’s a much better actress. You know Kent – he gets going and makes some godawful face which makes everyone laugh and then say, “Aw hell, he is sooo cute, I’m voting for him anyway!” Men can get away with this so much easier than women can in this show. You see how far Melinda’s permanent grimace got her. Nobody was over-looking the poor dancing because she was just so cute! If you suck even once and you’re female, women start thinking, “Ugh! Get off the stage!” but José’s sweet face has saved him many a time and Kent is that guy everyone grew up with and loved. He seems like the type to be nice to EVERYONE and that’s what everybody loves. Not to mention that he’s one hell of a dancer.
This is tough because Lauren ALSO has that personality. The only thing Lauren has going against her is that she is female playing to a largely female audience who loves cute boys (let’s face it – most people who watch this show = teenage girls, women, and gay men…though my straight husband loves it and cringes like hell when they do male-on-male contemporary. He’s a Marine, don’t hate him).
I think Lauren has one of the best personalities of all the girls we have seen on this show. It’s like putting two gold medals on the table and saying, “Pick one. Which one is better?” and Robert, while freaking phenomenal, is a silver sitting next to the two of them. Robert’s prime hasn’t hit yet because he looks so much older than he is. When his personality grows into those looks and that body – WATCH OUT! Top male dancer – ever. He’s still growing, in my opinion.
So Kent and Lauren…what are people going to vote for? Personality and near-perfect dancing male vs. female with flawless dancing and a vibrant personality? I think Kent will win, hands down. Then again, who ever saw Russell coming?
My favorite from the beginning was Kent and I’m no teenager, I’m a middle-aged woman! He just seems so genuine and I like that. My 2nd favorite is Lauren. I’ve never been a fan of Robert, but the way the judges ooo and ah over him, it made me think that they’d already picked the winner. In any case, at least Kent will have a job when it’s all over, we know that from Adam’s comment about how he’d hire him.
Good points. Just a really great top 3. Hard to not like any of them.
Kelly,
Count me in with your husband. A straight man that loves SYTYCD. Although, we’re certainly in the minority in this audience. However, that’s totally fine with me. I prefer being surrounded by women.
Count me in as another straight male that’s a fan of the show (my wife watches as well). Kelly, your husband isn’t alone – I also found the male/amle contemporary a bit uncomfortable.
I’ve always loved Kent! I’ve been routing for him for awhile. And yes I am a teenage girl haha but I’ve loved him for his dancing and his personality, him being cute just adds to it all haha :). I thought for awhile Lauren was going to win, and to be honest I love her to and would be happy if she won! I’d be happy if Robert won, he’s amazing to! But I can see how he just might not connect with as many people as Kent or Lauren, I didn’t connect with him at the beginning.
This is the first top three I think that I’d be happy if any of the top three won! They’re all so incredible 🙂 and they all have amazing personalities to.
@Kevin,
Should we start the straight man SYTYCD fan club?
Ya know, John, for season 6 you put that “Jakob Karr will win season 6” post, but that didn’t happen, did it? 😉 The winner is usually a surprise. Benji, Sabra, Joshua, Jeanine (even though everyone knew she was gonna win), and Russell. You never know, Robert might be another one of them. Or, Lauren might be the 3rd female winner. I don’t mind Kent, I love him, but slightly less than the others because of the screaming when he performs or comes out on the stage. It’s because of those screaming fans that he’s never been in the bottom. They’ll vote for him even if he does bad. But, honestly, it’s not his fault. But still…
Lola,
You have to bring up my past predictions don’t you? It’s all good. That’s what makes predictions fun. They’re just best guesses. You get some right. You get some wrong. Thankfully, I mostly remember the ones I get right;-)
So, you don’t like Kent as much because of the screaming when he performs on stage? Do you have an aversion to screaming girls or something? I guess I just like girls screaming. lol
Kent connects in so many ways…and, at 18, knows how to work the audience. He and Neil pull off (no pun) the male/male dancing because of the masculine content and personal chemistry. Their performance last week transcended any touch of homo-erotica and brought contemporary dance closer to modern ballet. The final evening will be spectacular – each are very strong performers – but Kent’s ‘it’ factor will dominate the voting.
If Kent wins, he has Neil and Travis Wall to thank for putting him over the edge. Wall showcased Kent’s natural talent in an entertaining broadway baseball routine. And then, after last week’s amazing contemporary, I am not sure what sold me most; Kent’s talent, the partnership (Neil rocks it) or the riveting betrayal? Did you cringe when Neil laid that punch on Kent? Ow, ow! I wish we could vote on best choreography/choregrapher. On the other hand, Lauren beats everyone by a mile in strength and consistency. It almost felt dirty watching her in the Tango with Pasha. Wow! What sexuality, trust and true abandon. If Alex was still in the competition, he’d be watching over his shoulder for her.
I think this will be a very close vote. Barring complete flubs on performance night, ANYBODY can win. The only reason the judges have been talking about Kent winning is so that someone else can end up first and they will have an unexpected winner. Much more interesting for them and they’ll get more press out of it. Kent is a fantastic dancer, but unless he ends up with the most entertaining routines, I don’t expect him to win. I expect Lauren to win. I think more of Billy and Chike’s fans will vote for her. For me, Kent and Lauren have equal dance ability, but I give Kent the edge in charisma. In dance ability alone, Robert is a distant third. But he could win, too.
John,
Ha ha, not because of that. I just think that it’s unfair that he can do bad and get away with it. He hasn’t had any horrible routines (come on… that disco last week wasn’t THAT bad…) but sometimes the other contestants had good nights and ended up in the bottom, whereas he didn’t. Like Billy, for instance. After that great routine with Ade, he still ended up in the bottom and Kent didn’t, even though Kent had a “meh” night. Billy didn’t deserve to be eliminated. I think that Kent has a good chance of winning, but could possibly end up as runner-up… but I don’t know. Trust me, I know what those girls feel like. I’m 12 (I’m about to enter the 8th grade on Thursday, though) , so I should be going gaga over Kent, as most girls my age would be. But… I don’t know why I’m not in love. I like him, and I’ll be happy for him if he wins, but… bah, I don’t know. You know how teenage girls are like. 😉 It’s the hormones. I probably feel the same way about Dom as the fangirls feel about Kent. 🙂 I feel as if whoever has had the greatest journey should win. Nobody knew who Robert was in the beginning, but he’s had a great journey, as did Lauren. But then again, it’s America’s FAVORITE dancer, not the best, so it’s highly likely that Kent could win. But I digress…
I’ve been a committed follower of SYTYCD since season 2, at which time I fell in love with Benji! Kent has also won my heart, however, Lauren and Robert are totally talented as well! This is the first season that the top 3 are all within reach of the title of America’s Best Dancer. All three of them blow me away with their professionalism. The main reason I’m responding is to mention how totally awesome the opening dance was on August 5 (Thursday). I have watched this segment at least 12 times. It haunts and mesmorizes me at the same time. I hope that in next years Emmy’s this one wins. It tasted of Dante’s Inferno.
thought i think kent is the contestant everyone “thinks” is going to win, im not sure that is going to be the case. According to Nigel, for the past couple weeks the the first and second place contestants have been seperated by less than 2%. Nigel also said the top contestant has not been the same every week, which means lauren could have possibly had the highest number of votes last week. Two weeks ago, in the top 6 again show, lauren was in the bottom and Robert could have easily been 2% higher than kent with his amazing stacey tookey number. So all im saying is this finale might be a shocker, and im gonna vote as much as possible for lauren!
Ohhh…I LOVE a good shocker. I’d be happily shocked if Lauren won. So, please do vote like crazy!!
LOL! I love the straight male fan club. My husband loves his man card. It’s a necessity in his profession. He doesn’t want to have to fork it over to admit he loves watching dance (of course Lauren’s uhh…black widow costume didn’t hurt either). I wish more men would feel comfortable admitting that this is an awesome show. My brother-in-law also watches it, from what my sister-in-law has told me. No shame in finding the beauty in art and the grace of the human body. However, don’t ever Google trying to figure out who Travis Wall’s boyfriend is…(we suspected that man-on-man contemporary was relationship inspired)…you’ll see some photos you might not want to see. Actually, I’m jealous…Travis’s butt is nicer than mine, right now. Ugh, back to the gym for me.
I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if Lauren did win. In the end, I really don’t care who wins. I had to go look up on Wikipedia who won in past years because I couldn’t remember…but I’m still holding firm on it being Kent.
Kelly,
Sounds like you have a good husband. Man cards are important and enjoying dancing gives you more of a man card. How beautiful are the female dancers? Just saying.
Although, since you brought up Lauren’s black widow costume, I wasn’t a fan. Wasn’t flattering to her body. Although, I think the costume department has done a horrible job with Lauren this season.
@ Kelly: OH, GOD. “Travis’s butt is nicer than mine?” AH HA HA, ditto. Though I wouldn’t know. I ain’t looking THAT up. So, Travis is gay, huh? Well, if he is, I’m happy for him. The routine with Kent and Neil didn’t look like they were best friends, more like lovers. I relate to gay guys better than I relate to straight guys. 😛 There’s a homosexual senior at my school, and he is just pure joy. And he’s a good dancer. There’s a website called http://www.homorazzi.com that keeps on insisting that Kent is gay. And they’re calling Nigel a homophobe. Well, why is he friends with Adam Shankman? Huh?
[…] John, Marianya and Amanda have each broken down why each of the three remaining contestants could win Season 7. […]