The show opens with a Tyce Diorio Broadway routine that is at times really cool and times really mundane. They don’t spend any time before getting into the results. First called onto the stage are Lauren and Neil and Lacey and Kameron. Of these two, Lauren and Neil deserve to be in the bottom 3. Lauren is shocked that they don’t immediately tell them their fate. And…. Lauren and Neil ARE in the bottom 3 while Lacey and Kameron are safe. Mary is shocked that they are standing there, when she didn’t have many kind words for their dance yesterday. Short-term memory loss Mary?
The next group features Jamie and Hok, Sabra and Dominic, and Jesus and Sara. From this group, Sara and Jesus are the two that deserve to be in the bottom. Jamie and Hok are safe, but that’s a surprise to absolutely no one. I’d be really surprised to see Dom and Sabra in the bottom, considering they got a Mary Murphy scream. Sara and Jesus’ krumping wasn’t that bad, it just wasn’t as good as the other pairs, which have all been stepping up their game.
Jessi is now out of the hospital and has been cleared to dance for her life. We get the Cha Cha that we were supposed to see last night, with both Jessi and Pasha and it’s markedly better than the one we actually saw last night because it has the crucial element missing from last night, believable sexiness. Jessi brings something hot that the assistant was lacking last night and allows for some more acrobatic moves that Pasha just couldn’t have pulled off with the assistant. The look damn good together. Jessi does her best to get every girl to love Pasha. After watching the improved routine, Pasha pulled off safety with the worse partner. Shauna and Cedric and Danny and Anya are brought out and one of these couples is in the bottom 3. It better be Shauna and Cedric. Danny and Anya rocked their hip-hop in my opinion, for both being out of their comfort zone. But the world is not perfect, and Shauna and Cedric are safe and Danny and Anya are in the bottom 3. Is there a way we can get rid of Cedric anyways? Bring back Jimmy. He would have nailed that Mia routine so much better. Nigel says that 5 million Americans got it wrong, and without actually implying it, says they were responsible for saving Shauna and Cedric because it allowed Cedric to give that speech.
Solo Time:
Lauren: She seems to waste a lot of her time walking. Once she actually starts dancing, she’s pretty good. And I have to give her credit for dancing to Popozao by K-Fed. She clearly has a sense of humor.
Neil: Neil does a lot of jumping and spinning, but his solo is pretty darn fantastic. He seems to have put his all into it.
Sara: I think this is the first time I’ve actually seen her do her style and B-girl Sara does a really lively and good solo in 30 seconds. I enjoyed it.
Jesus: His solo is like a Rock version of an Mia Michael’s choreographed solo. A good amount of energy and fun went into it though.
Jessi: Jessi goes the hip-hop routine tonight and it’s the weakest female solo so far. Maybe just in the wake of Sara’s awesome routine, but it’s only mildly impressive. But then again, she was hospitalized earlier this week, so I can’t be that harsh.
Danny: Danny shows precisely why he’s gonna make the final four. He’s so fluid and easy in his movements, his spins look absolutely effortless, and it’s just a really impressive routine.
Anya: I take back what I said. THIS is the weakest solo. Anya doesn’t really do a whole lot up there, and, as Cat notes, the costume is really something. Way too distracting.
Fergie’s performance is up now. I honestly have no idea why Fergie is a popular recording artist. Her songs are weak, her performance is fairly weak, and she can’t really dance. I don’t know how she landed Josh Duhamel. For a while it seems like she’s lip-syncing as well, but then it may be only for the choruses. Ludacris infuses some energy and life into the performance, but I still hate the song. Fergie’s dancers all abandon the stage as soon as it’s over, leaving her standing there awkwardly.
Here come the final results. The girls are up and it’s not unanimous. Nigel says that none of them were strong enough to consider that dancing for their life. Nigel very quickly calls Jessi forward and eliminates her. Both Jessi and Cat are very surprised. I’m guessing that it was pre-established that she was leaving though, because I just got a vibe. Pasha is the thing that Jessi will remember most. The guys are up and it is unanimous this week. They tell Neil that he was outstanding tonight. Danny was outstanding tonight as well. Jesus is the one who is leaving tonight, even though he was really good for the rest of the season. Personally, I would have dumped Neil. He was a lot weaker overall. Jesus seems lost for words, and is pleased that he could of at least helped kids find their dreams and he leaves with no regrets. Cedric really should have gone home this week. Next week we’ll see the new pairing of Pasha and Sara. It should be interesting to say the least.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Aargh Mateys! Here Be A Pirate Master Recap. It be 6/28
After a recap that seems entirely too long, we get post-pirate’s court reactions. Joe Don is glad he bought the pardon anyway, as insurance. Nessa is flirting with Ben, and Sean tells the camera that he’s going to punch her if she doesn’t stop flirting with people. Nessa seems to be stirring up trouble in general. Jupiter steps in to side with Sean in the building Sean-Nessa feud, who Sean is now intent on cutting adrift. I hope not though. With the loss of Azmyth going crazy with a captain’s hat, this show needs some good drama. Nessa seems like the person to provide it. As opposed to the roughly 7 people who have yet to have more than 5 minutes of alone camera time.
Azymth seems to have lost his British accent. We finally hear something from Christa, and it’s the same generic “I’m doing this for my child” excuse. Christa’s cleavage is imprisoned for the first time of the series. This week’s treasure is from our ship’s pilot, who was apparently an incorrigible gambler. If he was even remotely real. At first glance, the red crew would seem to be stronger, with Ben, Jupiter, Azmyth, and Jay. This week’s trek involves a voodoo forest and blackjack. The black crew is the first to their blackjack card, which tells them to go back to their anchor and use a spyglass to find a heart on the horizon. They encounter some problems involving a wet spyglass, but Christa, for the second time in the entire series, does something of any distinction by correctly pointing out that it is most likely on the island on the horizon. No one appears to listen to her though.
After what appears to be enough time for the red crew to catch up, the black crew finally listens to Christa, and they narrowly beat red to the island, and eventually it comes down to digging luck under the tree. Christa abandons a hole and Jay digs a little more and discovers the treasure, giving the red team a win. Christa is correctly pissed at herself. Louie and Joe Don smooth everything over, Louie claiming an end to vengeance. The red crew wins itself 40 grand, which pisses Christa off even more. Azymth is captain again, and hopefully, the accent returns as well. Despite awkward smiles from Jupiter and Kendra, Azmyth selects Ben and Jay as his seconds. Azmyth follows the trend and splits all the gold equally between the red crew. Sean convinces Jupiter to bid on the pardon so that Nessa can’t get it, but sneaky and suddenly my favorite castaway Nessa has been eavesdropping from the top of the galley, swearing that her enemies better watch out. May I be the first to give Nessa a big thanks for breathing some life and piracy into the show.
Nessa pulls Joe Don aside and they hatch a scheme to guarantee Nessa’s safety by supplementing her original bid of 6 grand with another 3.5, 2.5 of which is Joe Don’s. Jay is worried that Laurel votes with her heart, and is therefore threatened. Azmyth’s British accent is back (thank the lord), and he proves that scheming just sounds better in British accents. They realize how much Nessa is bidding, so they decide to screw her over and not put her up. Instead, up goes Louie (because he asked for it), Sean (because Jay doesn’t like him), and Laurel (because Jay can’t control her). Who let Jay take over complete and total control of this game? Seriously, kudos to him, because he seems so utterly unlikeable, but he has majorly played this game and got everyone wrapped around his finger.
All three have strikes against them, which could make this the most interesting vote of the season so far. Laurel’s neutrality is working against her, while Louie’s bad sportsmanship and Sean’s apparent knack of pissing off those in power has him in the hot seat. The officers seem to be attempting to swing it to Sean, which worries Jupiter. Jay notes that if Sean has the pardon, Jay may very well be screwed.
At pirate’s court, Azmyth explains that middle of the road (in reference to Laurel) means that they are not on one side of the road or the other. Thank you Azmyth. Louie explains that he was the captain and he hopes they judge him well. Laurel doesn’t understand Azmyth’s complicated side of the road analogy. Azmyth immediately loses the British accent when challenged, but explains that Laurel also sucks at challenges. She declares her lack of sides and says she’ll do more. Sean says that it’s a game and that’s why he’s playing like it’s a game. Sean also plays the food card. Host Not Jeff Probst quickly tells Azmyth that he’s safe and there’s no mutiny. Laurel is also safe, because apparently, no one cares about her enough to vote her out. Sean has the most votes, but if he was the highest bidder for the Royal Pardon, which he wasn’t. Sean is cut adrift after wishing everyone good luck. Jupiter looks like she’s about to cry. Sean is surprised about his being cut adrift and blames the “triage” of guys who he thought he was friends with. The medical crew Sean? They couldn’t save you. The moral of this weeks piracy lesson kids? Don’t ever get on a used car salesman’s bad side. He will mess you up and get you cut adrift from a pirate ship somewhere in the Caribbean.
Next week sees Nessa flirting more and everyone worrying about the powerful boys club in power. I hope Jupiter seeks vengeance.
Azymth seems to have lost his British accent. We finally hear something from Christa, and it’s the same generic “I’m doing this for my child” excuse. Christa’s cleavage is imprisoned for the first time of the series. This week’s treasure is from our ship’s pilot, who was apparently an incorrigible gambler. If he was even remotely real. At first glance, the red crew would seem to be stronger, with Ben, Jupiter, Azmyth, and Jay. This week’s trek involves a voodoo forest and blackjack. The black crew is the first to their blackjack card, which tells them to go back to their anchor and use a spyglass to find a heart on the horizon. They encounter some problems involving a wet spyglass, but Christa, for the second time in the entire series, does something of any distinction by correctly pointing out that it is most likely on the island on the horizon. No one appears to listen to her though.
After what appears to be enough time for the red crew to catch up, the black crew finally listens to Christa, and they narrowly beat red to the island, and eventually it comes down to digging luck under the tree. Christa abandons a hole and Jay digs a little more and discovers the treasure, giving the red team a win. Christa is correctly pissed at herself. Louie and Joe Don smooth everything over, Louie claiming an end to vengeance. The red crew wins itself 40 grand, which pisses Christa off even more. Azymth is captain again, and hopefully, the accent returns as well. Despite awkward smiles from Jupiter and Kendra, Azmyth selects Ben and Jay as his seconds. Azmyth follows the trend and splits all the gold equally between the red crew. Sean convinces Jupiter to bid on the pardon so that Nessa can’t get it, but sneaky and suddenly my favorite castaway Nessa has been eavesdropping from the top of the galley, swearing that her enemies better watch out. May I be the first to give Nessa a big thanks for breathing some life and piracy into the show.
Nessa pulls Joe Don aside and they hatch a scheme to guarantee Nessa’s safety by supplementing her original bid of 6 grand with another 3.5, 2.5 of which is Joe Don’s. Jay is worried that Laurel votes with her heart, and is therefore threatened. Azmyth’s British accent is back (thank the lord), and he proves that scheming just sounds better in British accents. They realize how much Nessa is bidding, so they decide to screw her over and not put her up. Instead, up goes Louie (because he asked for it), Sean (because Jay doesn’t like him), and Laurel (because Jay can’t control her). Who let Jay take over complete and total control of this game? Seriously, kudos to him, because he seems so utterly unlikeable, but he has majorly played this game and got everyone wrapped around his finger.
All three have strikes against them, which could make this the most interesting vote of the season so far. Laurel’s neutrality is working against her, while Louie’s bad sportsmanship and Sean’s apparent knack of pissing off those in power has him in the hot seat. The officers seem to be attempting to swing it to Sean, which worries Jupiter. Jay notes that if Sean has the pardon, Jay may very well be screwed.
At pirate’s court, Azmyth explains that middle of the road (in reference to Laurel) means that they are not on one side of the road or the other. Thank you Azmyth. Louie explains that he was the captain and he hopes they judge him well. Laurel doesn’t understand Azmyth’s complicated side of the road analogy. Azmyth immediately loses the British accent when challenged, but explains that Laurel also sucks at challenges. She declares her lack of sides and says she’ll do more. Sean says that it’s a game and that’s why he’s playing like it’s a game. Sean also plays the food card. Host Not Jeff Probst quickly tells Azmyth that he’s safe and there’s no mutiny. Laurel is also safe, because apparently, no one cares about her enough to vote her out. Sean has the most votes, but if he was the highest bidder for the Royal Pardon, which he wasn’t. Sean is cut adrift after wishing everyone good luck. Jupiter looks like she’s about to cry. Sean is surprised about his being cut adrift and blames the “triage” of guys who he thought he was friends with. The medical crew Sean? They couldn’t save you. The moral of this weeks piracy lesson kids? Don’t ever get on a used car salesman’s bad side. He will mess you up and get you cut adrift from a pirate ship somewhere in the Caribbean.
Next week sees Nessa flirting more and everyone worrying about the powerful boys club in power. I hope Jupiter seeks vengeance.
So You Think You Can Dance 6/27. Our Top 16...
Opening: Cat starts off in her normal way in a slightly ill fitted black number. Speaking of ill fitting, Lauren is wearing a garish and unflattering multi-colored top. Neil yet again spins like a second-rate Travis. Danny shows he can do more than spin. Anya seems to be having more fun than anyone. Jamie appears to have gotten into a massive hair gel and flattening accident. Jessi is conspicuously missing from the opening. Cat may need to lay off the tanning salons a little. Tonight’s judges are Nigel, Mary, and special guest judge Debbie Allen. Cat gushes about Debbie in “Fame”. Debbie loves this crop of dancers, and recognizes the effort and work that goes in to breaking. Debbie acknowledges her fake hair and eyebrows, but recognizes the effort that goes into the show. Mary thinks that Dominic has shown the most promise and has been knocking her socks off. Mary thinks if he continues bringing his A game, her hair may stand on end tonight. Maybe that’s what happened to Jamie? Nigel is hugely pleased with this season and praises the choreography, which is interesting because he seems to always complain about the choreography. Nigel makes his first creepy joke of the night about Cat being on his head. Thanks Nigel. Good to know that you’re not letting Garry Marshall invade on your “creepy reality show judge” territory.
Sara and Jesus: Sara wants to be a freelance dance reporter. I didn’t know there were many. Or any, for that matter. Jesus wants to pay it forward and help people. Neither Sara nor Jesus knows how to krump, so Lil’ C has a lot of teaching to do, but they seem to learn it well, and it should be “buck”, which I can only assume means Buckwild. I wish Buckwild from VH1’s reality shows were on SYTYCD. That would be amazing television. “This Viennese Waltz is gonna get BuckWILD!” Ok, enough of that. On to the dance. I enjoyed it. Sara seemed more at home this week, and it translated to better pairing and chemistry between them. Sure, they were still seemingly occasionally off from one another, but they were a lot better than their Paso Doble last week. Debbie thought it was great with a lot of energy and power, and that Jesus had the face for krumping. Mary thought that it’s a great contrast for last week, and thought that Jesus was hitting it hard and well. Nigel loves where Lil C’ is taking krumping and thinks that Sara is gangsta. Most importantly, Nigel wasn’t scared of this krumping. While Cat is doing the numbers spiel, there is a cutaway to possibly the best sign we will see all season, which reads “Jesus is a class act”, and I’m pretty sure it has a picture of the old Jesus on it. You know, the one from way back when. With the loaves and the fishes. To the creator of that sign, I say, Kudos to you sir or madam.
Shauna and Cedric: Shauna wants to be a techno singer. Cedric wants to own a toy company. Because they can be played with. Will someone please tell me why Cedric made it through last week? Rumors on the street are that Mia Michaels hated working with Cedric so much that she didn’t want them to perform her number on stage. Cedric looks so wooden in the practice, and from the short clips, Mia looks pissed. Yikes. Mia Michael’s bad side is one place I would never want to be. Mia points out that this is Cedric’s last chance. As for the number, it seems a lot shorter than Sara and Jesus’ krumping. As for the dancers, well, I can only think how this might have been a lot better with Jimmy. Shauna gives it her all, and while Cedric is miles above his painful ballroom foray last week, he’s still not good enough to be in the top 20, let alone the top 16. At one point, he seems to start freestyling in the middle of the dance. But Mia Michaels choreography + good effort from Shauna + bit of freestyle may be enough to save him this week. Unfortunately. The one thing I will say is that they acted it really well. Debbie thinks Mia Michaels delivered and has no idea why Shauna keeps ending up in the bottom 3. She thinks Cedric is making it cool for guys to do contemporary. I don’t quite get this, because he only had to do it once and everyone else has been doing multiple styles as well. Mary thinks Shauna did an amazing job, but it wasn’t good enough for Mary. Mary thinks Cedric’s solos are extraordinary but he wasn’t good enough tonight. She also points out that Mia’s very clever choreography basically benched Cedric for a good portion of the dance. Thankfully, Mary is on the ball tonight. Mary still feels that Cedric doesn’t belong here. Cedric claims the piece was his life and showed his struggles. Because walking slowly and sitting are very struggling. At least for the last 3 weeks. Mia is crying in the stands. Nigel agrees with both Debbie and Mia in that Cedric is an inspiration and that the choreography was great for Cedric because he had to do Jack. Nigel cracks a joke about Paris Hilton’s jail term. Cedric invokes God. Wow, he’s playing for the camera even more shamelessly than Dominic usually does. Nigel wouldn’t be surprised if they’re saying goodbye to Cedric, who, interestingly enough, tells the audience to stop booing and listen to them. This is the first time I’ve actually had any good feelings toward Cedric. Debbie offers Cedric an open door and an scholarship\ to her Dance Academy.
Lacey and Kameron: Lacey had a friend pass last week, and it changed he whole outlook. Her new ambition is to entertain through dance. Kameron wants to keep dancing and have a big family. Lacey likes that people support them. I assume they would. They’re gonna quickstep this week. This should be good for Lacey, but for the third week, it seems like Kameron may be more prop than fellow dancer. Now, this may just be me not knowing the style well enough, but, in my opinion, their step wasn’t really all that quick. It seemed labored at times, and, while they seemed to be having fun, their dancing left something to be desired for me. Benji, sporting a horrendous dye job, seems to have loved it from the audience. Debbie thought it was a lot of fun to watch. She thought it was adorable and sassy and yet again showed their versatility. Mary thought Lacey did a great for not knowing how to do the quickstep, and says bravo to them, because the quickstep is usually the kiss of death and that Kameron did a great job with close holds for being a contemporary dancer. Nigel thought they could have covered more stage area, and that Kameron did a good job leading Lacey, which is apparently not an easy task.
Anya and Danny: Anya wants to open an animal shelter. Danny wants to work in production of some sort. This week they’ve got a Dan Karaty hip-hop routine. What happened to Shane Sparks? His hip-hop routines are always markedly better than Dan Karaty’s. Anya is worried that she’ll look like a Cha Cha girl doing hip-hop. After watching their routine, I’d like to call it now. Anya and Danny deserve to be the last couple standing and I’ll be shocked if both don’t make our final four. This was the best hip-hop routine we’ve seen on the show this year, and it came from a contemporary and a ballroom dancer. Sure, Anya inflects some Latin movement into the dance, and some of Danny’s footwork seems a tad more lyrical, but they really just knocked this routine out of the park. Also, can we see a really good routine to Sinnerman by Nina Simone. I feel like that’d probably be amazing. The opening where Danny was tapping his hands along with the pilfered opening was great. Debbie thinks Anya and Danny are the dream team and something needs to be done to level the playing field because it’s not fair to the rest of the dancers. Debbie Allen wants Danny and can’t imagine them not being there in the end. Mary loved it and thinks they may have to handicap the other dancers. Nigel didn’t think they were comfortable with that, and that it wasn’t as good as he would have liked it, and he wants them to improve the same amount as the worse couples are improving.
Sabra and Dominic: Dominic’s biggest ambition was originally doing naked headspins, but now he thinks it’s performing on stage. Sabra wants to be a stand up comedian because she thinks she funny. But it doesn’t come across. Sorry Sabra. Sabra and Dominic have the rumba, which is problem, because neither of them knows what it is. Sabra thinks it’ll be their biggest test. Long story short, they’re both worried. Watching the video, I think that the show may be trying to injure Sabra out. They’re throwing and dropping her everywhere. I hope that she has a large box of Band-Aids. To me, Sabra and Dominic knocked this one out of the park. Graceful, elegant, good footwork, and holds, and they meshed so well together. Debbie thinks that was hot, which Dominic responds to by booty-popping. Dominic’s B-Boy strength apparently helped him this week. Debbie thinks they broadened everyone’s vocabulary. Mary loves their partnership and that Sabra looks effortless and amazing. Dominic pulled it off as well and was there for Sabra. Mary ends her critique by placing them on the Hot Tamale train and giving them a Mary Murphy scream, and then begins yelling at Nigel. Just when you thought she might be sane again, there goes Mary back into crazytown. Maybe she took the Hot Tamale train. Nigel says they keep surprising them and wonders if they keep surprising themselves, and calls Sabra a gorgeous little pixie.
Lauren and Neil: Lauren wants to be an astronaut and a part of NASA. Neil wants to sing, act, and dance. Neil is shocked that the judges liked him last week. Lauren was sick during training, and told her to leave the flu at the door. Wait, did Neil just lick her face? I’m pretty sure he did. Neil comes off as more masculine than he has in the past, but, in my opinion, he’s still not commanding enough and still seems disinterested in his partner. As for the dancing, it was alright. Nothing special. But nothing terrible either. In all honesty, I kind of lost interest in it part way through. Debbie thought they connected this week, but at times it wasn’t smooth enough. Mary didn’t feel the passion together and that it was sloppy and too hoppy. The crowd wasn’t even enthusiastic enough too boo loudly when Mary calls it “Just ok”. It was good for Nigel but that Neil overdanced it, but he’s glad that the male dancers dance like dudes.
Jamie and Hok: Hok wants to paint and do graphic design. Jamie wants to write a book about her mom. Hok thought they stunk last week. This week they’re doing a Wade Robson jazz routine which he describes as ballet-esque about a hummingbird and flower. The routine is great and it is so well suited for Hok and Jamie that everything just seems to come together perfectly. In all, just a great routine. Can Wade Robson and Mia Michaels please just choreograph the lion’s share of routines? Debbie thought that the piece was brilliant and that Wade took the best of both of their worlds. She also accurately points out that it could’ve come from Cirque De’Soleil. Mary thinks it was a big step up from last week and that the piece and the dancers were just wonderful. Mary also makes a bird joke. Get it? Because his name is Hok and he was dancing like a hummingbird? Nigel thought it was beautiful and cultural and that both Jamie and Hok were sensational because Wade got at their essence as dancers and you can’t critique that. The only problem is that neither the dance nor the music seemed like it fit a Jazz routine to me.
Pasha and ?: Pasha wants to reunite with his family. He hasn’t seen his mom or brother in the past 10 years. Jessi wants to be a performer like Judy Garland. They’ve got the Cha Cha. Jessi says she’s lucky because Cha Cha is part of Pasha’s ballroom curriculum. It’s all about flirting. But we get a second video package now, because “something dramatic happened” After the dress rehearsal, Jessi collapsed, and Pasha is now partnerless. So he’s dancing with choreographer Tony Meredith’s assistant. We only get to vote for Pasha this week, which leads me to believe they’re booting Jessi this week no matter what. For two professionals dancing this, it wasn’t great. The assistant seemed to not bring a whole lot to the stage, and Pasha was good, but didn’t show as high a level of proficiency as I expected of someone who knows and performs this dance. But then again, he hadn’t danced with the assistant, so I can’t fault them for the lack of chemistry. Debbie thought he did great and that Pasha deserves an Oscar for the amount of sensuality he brought. Mary thought he brought the house down and that Pasha was lucky for the assistant stepping in. Nigel, after bringing the mood down about Jessi’s health problems and her automatic placement in the bottom 3, says Pasha was great.
Top Couples: Hok and Jamie's routine was the best, then Anya and Danny and Sabra and Dominic
In Danger: Lauren and Neil should definately be worried, and I hope that Cedric ends up in the bottom 3, so the show will finally get rid of him. Lastly, I think Pasha will probably be rounding out the bottom 3.
Sara and Jesus: Sara wants to be a freelance dance reporter. I didn’t know there were many. Or any, for that matter. Jesus wants to pay it forward and help people. Neither Sara nor Jesus knows how to krump, so Lil’ C has a lot of teaching to do, but they seem to learn it well, and it should be “buck”, which I can only assume means Buckwild. I wish Buckwild from VH1’s reality shows were on SYTYCD. That would be amazing television. “This Viennese Waltz is gonna get BuckWILD!” Ok, enough of that. On to the dance. I enjoyed it. Sara seemed more at home this week, and it translated to better pairing and chemistry between them. Sure, they were still seemingly occasionally off from one another, but they were a lot better than their Paso Doble last week. Debbie thought it was great with a lot of energy and power, and that Jesus had the face for krumping. Mary thought that it’s a great contrast for last week, and thought that Jesus was hitting it hard and well. Nigel loves where Lil C’ is taking krumping and thinks that Sara is gangsta. Most importantly, Nigel wasn’t scared of this krumping. While Cat is doing the numbers spiel, there is a cutaway to possibly the best sign we will see all season, which reads “Jesus is a class act”, and I’m pretty sure it has a picture of the old Jesus on it. You know, the one from way back when. With the loaves and the fishes. To the creator of that sign, I say, Kudos to you sir or madam.
Shauna and Cedric: Shauna wants to be a techno singer. Cedric wants to own a toy company. Because they can be played with. Will someone please tell me why Cedric made it through last week? Rumors on the street are that Mia Michaels hated working with Cedric so much that she didn’t want them to perform her number on stage. Cedric looks so wooden in the practice, and from the short clips, Mia looks pissed. Yikes. Mia Michael’s bad side is one place I would never want to be. Mia points out that this is Cedric’s last chance. As for the number, it seems a lot shorter than Sara and Jesus’ krumping. As for the dancers, well, I can only think how this might have been a lot better with Jimmy. Shauna gives it her all, and while Cedric is miles above his painful ballroom foray last week, he’s still not good enough to be in the top 20, let alone the top 16. At one point, he seems to start freestyling in the middle of the dance. But Mia Michaels choreography + good effort from Shauna + bit of freestyle may be enough to save him this week. Unfortunately. The one thing I will say is that they acted it really well. Debbie thinks Mia Michaels delivered and has no idea why Shauna keeps ending up in the bottom 3. She thinks Cedric is making it cool for guys to do contemporary. I don’t quite get this, because he only had to do it once and everyone else has been doing multiple styles as well. Mary thinks Shauna did an amazing job, but it wasn’t good enough for Mary. Mary thinks Cedric’s solos are extraordinary but he wasn’t good enough tonight. She also points out that Mia’s very clever choreography basically benched Cedric for a good portion of the dance. Thankfully, Mary is on the ball tonight. Mary still feels that Cedric doesn’t belong here. Cedric claims the piece was his life and showed his struggles. Because walking slowly and sitting are very struggling. At least for the last 3 weeks. Mia is crying in the stands. Nigel agrees with both Debbie and Mia in that Cedric is an inspiration and that the choreography was great for Cedric because he had to do Jack. Nigel cracks a joke about Paris Hilton’s jail term. Cedric invokes God. Wow, he’s playing for the camera even more shamelessly than Dominic usually does. Nigel wouldn’t be surprised if they’re saying goodbye to Cedric, who, interestingly enough, tells the audience to stop booing and listen to them. This is the first time I’ve actually had any good feelings toward Cedric. Debbie offers Cedric an open door and an scholarship\ to her Dance Academy.
Lacey and Kameron: Lacey had a friend pass last week, and it changed he whole outlook. Her new ambition is to entertain through dance. Kameron wants to keep dancing and have a big family. Lacey likes that people support them. I assume they would. They’re gonna quickstep this week. This should be good for Lacey, but for the third week, it seems like Kameron may be more prop than fellow dancer. Now, this may just be me not knowing the style well enough, but, in my opinion, their step wasn’t really all that quick. It seemed labored at times, and, while they seemed to be having fun, their dancing left something to be desired for me. Benji, sporting a horrendous dye job, seems to have loved it from the audience. Debbie thought it was a lot of fun to watch. She thought it was adorable and sassy and yet again showed their versatility. Mary thought Lacey did a great for not knowing how to do the quickstep, and says bravo to them, because the quickstep is usually the kiss of death and that Kameron did a great job with close holds for being a contemporary dancer. Nigel thought they could have covered more stage area, and that Kameron did a good job leading Lacey, which is apparently not an easy task.
Anya and Danny: Anya wants to open an animal shelter. Danny wants to work in production of some sort. This week they’ve got a Dan Karaty hip-hop routine. What happened to Shane Sparks? His hip-hop routines are always markedly better than Dan Karaty’s. Anya is worried that she’ll look like a Cha Cha girl doing hip-hop. After watching their routine, I’d like to call it now. Anya and Danny deserve to be the last couple standing and I’ll be shocked if both don’t make our final four. This was the best hip-hop routine we’ve seen on the show this year, and it came from a contemporary and a ballroom dancer. Sure, Anya inflects some Latin movement into the dance, and some of Danny’s footwork seems a tad more lyrical, but they really just knocked this routine out of the park. Also, can we see a really good routine to Sinnerman by Nina Simone. I feel like that’d probably be amazing. The opening where Danny was tapping his hands along with the pilfered opening was great. Debbie thinks Anya and Danny are the dream team and something needs to be done to level the playing field because it’s not fair to the rest of the dancers. Debbie Allen wants Danny and can’t imagine them not being there in the end. Mary loved it and thinks they may have to handicap the other dancers. Nigel didn’t think they were comfortable with that, and that it wasn’t as good as he would have liked it, and he wants them to improve the same amount as the worse couples are improving.
Sabra and Dominic: Dominic’s biggest ambition was originally doing naked headspins, but now he thinks it’s performing on stage. Sabra wants to be a stand up comedian because she thinks she funny. But it doesn’t come across. Sorry Sabra. Sabra and Dominic have the rumba, which is problem, because neither of them knows what it is. Sabra thinks it’ll be their biggest test. Long story short, they’re both worried. Watching the video, I think that the show may be trying to injure Sabra out. They’re throwing and dropping her everywhere. I hope that she has a large box of Band-Aids. To me, Sabra and Dominic knocked this one out of the park. Graceful, elegant, good footwork, and holds, and they meshed so well together. Debbie thinks that was hot, which Dominic responds to by booty-popping. Dominic’s B-Boy strength apparently helped him this week. Debbie thinks they broadened everyone’s vocabulary. Mary loves their partnership and that Sabra looks effortless and amazing. Dominic pulled it off as well and was there for Sabra. Mary ends her critique by placing them on the Hot Tamale train and giving them a Mary Murphy scream, and then begins yelling at Nigel. Just when you thought she might be sane again, there goes Mary back into crazytown. Maybe she took the Hot Tamale train. Nigel says they keep surprising them and wonders if they keep surprising themselves, and calls Sabra a gorgeous little pixie.
Lauren and Neil: Lauren wants to be an astronaut and a part of NASA. Neil wants to sing, act, and dance. Neil is shocked that the judges liked him last week. Lauren was sick during training, and told her to leave the flu at the door. Wait, did Neil just lick her face? I’m pretty sure he did. Neil comes off as more masculine than he has in the past, but, in my opinion, he’s still not commanding enough and still seems disinterested in his partner. As for the dancing, it was alright. Nothing special. But nothing terrible either. In all honesty, I kind of lost interest in it part way through. Debbie thought they connected this week, but at times it wasn’t smooth enough. Mary didn’t feel the passion together and that it was sloppy and too hoppy. The crowd wasn’t even enthusiastic enough too boo loudly when Mary calls it “Just ok”. It was good for Nigel but that Neil overdanced it, but he’s glad that the male dancers dance like dudes.
Jamie and Hok: Hok wants to paint and do graphic design. Jamie wants to write a book about her mom. Hok thought they stunk last week. This week they’re doing a Wade Robson jazz routine which he describes as ballet-esque about a hummingbird and flower. The routine is great and it is so well suited for Hok and Jamie that everything just seems to come together perfectly. In all, just a great routine. Can Wade Robson and Mia Michaels please just choreograph the lion’s share of routines? Debbie thought that the piece was brilliant and that Wade took the best of both of their worlds. She also accurately points out that it could’ve come from Cirque De’Soleil. Mary thinks it was a big step up from last week and that the piece and the dancers were just wonderful. Mary also makes a bird joke. Get it? Because his name is Hok and he was dancing like a hummingbird? Nigel thought it was beautiful and cultural and that both Jamie and Hok were sensational because Wade got at their essence as dancers and you can’t critique that. The only problem is that neither the dance nor the music seemed like it fit a Jazz routine to me.
Pasha and ?: Pasha wants to reunite with his family. He hasn’t seen his mom or brother in the past 10 years. Jessi wants to be a performer like Judy Garland. They’ve got the Cha Cha. Jessi says she’s lucky because Cha Cha is part of Pasha’s ballroom curriculum. It’s all about flirting. But we get a second video package now, because “something dramatic happened” After the dress rehearsal, Jessi collapsed, and Pasha is now partnerless. So he’s dancing with choreographer Tony Meredith’s assistant. We only get to vote for Pasha this week, which leads me to believe they’re booting Jessi this week no matter what. For two professionals dancing this, it wasn’t great. The assistant seemed to not bring a whole lot to the stage, and Pasha was good, but didn’t show as high a level of proficiency as I expected of someone who knows and performs this dance. But then again, he hadn’t danced with the assistant, so I can’t fault them for the lack of chemistry. Debbie thought he did great and that Pasha deserves an Oscar for the amount of sensuality he brought. Mary thought he brought the house down and that Pasha was lucky for the assistant stepping in. Nigel, after bringing the mood down about Jessi’s health problems and her automatic placement in the bottom 3, says Pasha was great.
Top Couples: Hok and Jamie's routine was the best, then Anya and Danny and Sabra and Dominic
In Danger: Lauren and Neil should definately be worried, and I hope that Cedric ends up in the bottom 3, so the show will finally get rid of him. Lastly, I think Pasha will probably be rounding out the bottom 3.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
On The Lot 6/26. Comedy Tonight!
The show starts off in front of the painfully poor-looking fake movie theater front. Is it just me, or is Adrianna Costa wearing less and less each week. Not that this recapper is complaining, but I wonder if she’s gonna host the finale in Carrie Fisher’s Leia bikini. Now that would garner ratings.
Tonight is comedy night, and, unfortunately, they are not referring to how painfully and unintentionally funny the show can be at times. Adrianna rotates 540 degrees with the camera while introducing what happened this past week for our finalists. I’m guessing that that will be the most interesting thing she does all night. Onto a recap of last weeks failures (mainly Jessica). All the directors are magically sitting in a perfect formation when Garry and a very demure Adrianna arrive to deliver the results. What’s interesting is that the show seemingly can’t find a good way to deliver the results. It’s changed each elimination week. In a shock to absolutely no one, Jessica’s film of a man cutting down a tree garnered the least number of votes. Adrianna then delivers news to the 6 directors going this week: Will, Hillary, Adam, Shalini, Zack, and David. For the umpteenth time tonight, we (and the directors) learn that they will be writing, shooting, and editing a comedy in 5 days. Here’s hoping Hillary’s, Shalini’s, and David’s won’t be as bad as their first week’s comedies. If I see one lady peeing on a bus again, I’m turning off this TV.
This week’s judging panel includes our normal mental patients, Carrie and Garry, and our specialty judge, director of such cinematic triumphs as “Just Like Heaven” and the Freddie Prinze Jr. vehicle “Head Over Heels”, Mark Waters. I wish they would bring in John Waters instead. Again, that would make much better TV than this. We can only hope.
Shalini is up first. She’s stepping out of her comfort zone. Neither the other directors nor her actors seem to have any confidence in her. Surprisingly enough, I actually dig this one. Shalini’s first one-minute comedy didn’t have a single laugh to it, and her submission film showed that she could do documentary filmmaking, something we had already established. But this one is well shot and executed. The only thing I had problems with was some of the actors actually. She seems to have a particular soft spot for Asian actors though, and may need to branch out a bit in terms of her subject of focus. Carrie likes it and reiterates that Shalini went out of her comfort zone. She thought it was funny, which is interesting, because Carrie has previously derided any sort of humor that involved the buttocks. Mark Waters continues the trend of the guest director being the only one to make actual film criticism, commenting on her shot technique. Garry liked it because he once did something in a proctologist’s office as well. He liked that there were subtitles, because he doesn’t speak Korean. Garry actually comments on Adrianna’s slowly disappearing clothing. He may actually be awake during these things. Who knew? Adrianna calls it “below the belt” humor. Wow. You see that America? Adrianna made a funny. What? Oh, absolutely no one thought that line was clever in the least. Good. Because it wasn’t. Adrianna announces that voting was up 37% last week. Meaning that 137 people voted, as opposed to 100. Maybe less.
Wait. Did Adrianna’s dress actually get shorter over the commercial break? I think it did. Hooray. Adrianna asks Mark Waters what his favorite comedy is. His response of Groundhog Day is great for Adrianna, because apparently she thinks Groundhogs featured prominently in Shalini’s movie, and somehow it continues to segue into Adam’s.
Adam’s “Dance Man” short was one of the better of the first week, and the way he’s stepping out of his comfort zone is that he’s using special effects. To me, Adam’s short reeks of an extended ripoff on the Geico cavemen idea. Sorry Adam, ABC beat you to that. Overall, I don’t find if funny. The concept is just tired to me. Carrie thought it was ambitious and unlike his previous work, but she thought it was good after stammering for a while. Mark thought that he blended comedy and cinematics well, but that he needed a stronger laugh at the end. Garry liked the car and that somehow; by having the same actors play multiple parts that gives him a bigger cast. Oh, and he comments on a pretty young blond behind him. As if you weren’t crazy enough Garry, now you have to be sketchy as well? Also, he calls Adam Zack, but then apologizing, claiming he was confused by Adrianna’s dress, which I think has gotten shorter yet again.
When we come back from break, Adrianna is sitting, so I’m not sure if her dress has gotten any shorter. After really poorly plugging VCast, we have Will’s comedy short. His past two have been really good and surprisingly funny, so here’s hoping the trend continues. Will’s last two have been light-hearted though, and this week he appears to have taken a darker, gorier turn. No, Will. Next week is horror. Will pulls off comedy yet again, with a disturbing if still funny look at one surgical intern’s sadistic tendencies. And, am I mistaken, or was that the dad from Family Matters. That show rocked when I was 7. The only thing I’d say is that it could have been a little less bloody. Carrie says that only Will could make blood and brains adorable. Carrie also makes an actual funny. See, Adrianna? That’s how it’s done. Mark Waters admits that he’s been watching every week. So Mark, I guess you’re the other viewer. After saying that Will is one of the most talented directors, he calls this a misfire, saying it’s not grounded in reality. Because all situations in comedy always happen. Like that time Robert Hays saved my entire plane from crashing. Or that one time where I turned into a llama and John Goodman helped me stop Eartha Kitt from taking over my kingdom (For those of you who don’t know, that was “Airplane” and “The Emperor’s New Groove”). Garry knows Will’s name, and was scared by Will’s movie, because Garry thinks doctors turn him into a marionette when he’s under anesthesia.
OK. Adrianna’s dress definitely got shorter. Again. Thank you to whoever keeps tailoring her on commercial breaks. You’re making Mark Waters and me very happy I’m guessing. Hillary is up next. Her past two comedies, if you can call them that (I’d call them torture devices), were horrendous. What drivel can we expect from her this week? That would be “Under The Gun”. You know it’s gonna be bad when you start off with a sperm bank sign. I mean, I thought it was gonna be bad, but it was so poorly done. Bad acting, completely unfunny, and just over-the-top crude. Carrie thought it was good, which is surprising, considering her track record with crude. Mark thought it was well shot, albeit missing a few. Garry calls it an action movie, and then makes a joke about masturbation. We get it Garry; you’re a creepy old man. He loves it as well, calling it Thelma and Louise rob a sperm bank.
Adrianna can’t wait for David’s sex comedy. Maybe they’ll awkwardly hug again. Dammit. Adrianna’s dress got longer. Apparently, David is bringing sexy back. Or maybe awkward back. Or not particularly funny back. Oh great, Kenny’s on set. It’ll be an emo sex comedy. Only funny in its punch line, David’s film is, fittingly, more awkward than sexy. It’s well shot, but his two actors have less than zero chemistry, and I think his lead guy was the nerdy brother from Eurotrip. Carrie found it confusing. Maybe that’s because too many men have left her for other men, which we learned last week. She didn’t think it was a success. Mark calls it a delicious conceit that didn’t deliver. Garry starts off with “sex is nice”. Seriously Garry. How pervy are you gonna be? He thought it was a better wrestling scene than in a film that he saw called “Borak”. I’ll have to try to catch that one Garry. Garry then quotes Samuel Beckett, but the quote doesn’t quite apply. Nice try Garry.
Zack is up last. The show appears to be saving the best for last. Adrianna starts off at the terribly fake concession stand, where she has apparently bought popcorn, only to realize it has too many calories. And has probably been sitting there for upwards of a day. Zach’s title, “Die Hardly Working” is already funnier than the entirety of Hillary’s film. Surprisingly enough, Zack’s actually isn’t the best one of the night. I mean it’s good, I like the concept, and it was very cleverly shot. But the acting wasn’t great and it lacked a good punch line. Carrie quotes Garry Marshall, with a quote that, like Garry, has nothing to do with this show. Carrie thought it was fantastic and charming, as usual. Carrie points to three girls in the back that think Zack is the cutest guy in the competition, but the camera doesn’t cut to them, because I don’t think they’re actually there. Mark liked it because it was grounded in reality, and thought it was hysterical. Garry calls him Zack (Correct Garry!). Garry thinks killing should look silly.
The best of the night were Will and Shalini, while Hillary, David, and Adam’s all left a lot to be desired. Next week sees Kenny and the others making horror movies. Maybe his will be someone forced to watch “Wack Alley Cab” over and over on loop. Shudder.
Tonight is comedy night, and, unfortunately, they are not referring to how painfully and unintentionally funny the show can be at times. Adrianna rotates 540 degrees with the camera while introducing what happened this past week for our finalists. I’m guessing that that will be the most interesting thing she does all night. Onto a recap of last weeks failures (mainly Jessica). All the directors are magically sitting in a perfect formation when Garry and a very demure Adrianna arrive to deliver the results. What’s interesting is that the show seemingly can’t find a good way to deliver the results. It’s changed each elimination week. In a shock to absolutely no one, Jessica’s film of a man cutting down a tree garnered the least number of votes. Adrianna then delivers news to the 6 directors going this week: Will, Hillary, Adam, Shalini, Zack, and David. For the umpteenth time tonight, we (and the directors) learn that they will be writing, shooting, and editing a comedy in 5 days. Here’s hoping Hillary’s, Shalini’s, and David’s won’t be as bad as their first week’s comedies. If I see one lady peeing on a bus again, I’m turning off this TV.
This week’s judging panel includes our normal mental patients, Carrie and Garry, and our specialty judge, director of such cinematic triumphs as “Just Like Heaven” and the Freddie Prinze Jr. vehicle “Head Over Heels”, Mark Waters. I wish they would bring in John Waters instead. Again, that would make much better TV than this. We can only hope.
Shalini is up first. She’s stepping out of her comfort zone. Neither the other directors nor her actors seem to have any confidence in her. Surprisingly enough, I actually dig this one. Shalini’s first one-minute comedy didn’t have a single laugh to it, and her submission film showed that she could do documentary filmmaking, something we had already established. But this one is well shot and executed. The only thing I had problems with was some of the actors actually. She seems to have a particular soft spot for Asian actors though, and may need to branch out a bit in terms of her subject of focus. Carrie likes it and reiterates that Shalini went out of her comfort zone. She thought it was funny, which is interesting, because Carrie has previously derided any sort of humor that involved the buttocks. Mark Waters continues the trend of the guest director being the only one to make actual film criticism, commenting on her shot technique. Garry liked it because he once did something in a proctologist’s office as well. He liked that there were subtitles, because he doesn’t speak Korean. Garry actually comments on Adrianna’s slowly disappearing clothing. He may actually be awake during these things. Who knew? Adrianna calls it “below the belt” humor. Wow. You see that America? Adrianna made a funny. What? Oh, absolutely no one thought that line was clever in the least. Good. Because it wasn’t. Adrianna announces that voting was up 37% last week. Meaning that 137 people voted, as opposed to 100. Maybe less.
Wait. Did Adrianna’s dress actually get shorter over the commercial break? I think it did. Hooray. Adrianna asks Mark Waters what his favorite comedy is. His response of Groundhog Day is great for Adrianna, because apparently she thinks Groundhogs featured prominently in Shalini’s movie, and somehow it continues to segue into Adam’s.
Adam’s “Dance Man” short was one of the better of the first week, and the way he’s stepping out of his comfort zone is that he’s using special effects. To me, Adam’s short reeks of an extended ripoff on the Geico cavemen idea. Sorry Adam, ABC beat you to that. Overall, I don’t find if funny. The concept is just tired to me. Carrie thought it was ambitious and unlike his previous work, but she thought it was good after stammering for a while. Mark thought that he blended comedy and cinematics well, but that he needed a stronger laugh at the end. Garry liked the car and that somehow; by having the same actors play multiple parts that gives him a bigger cast. Oh, and he comments on a pretty young blond behind him. As if you weren’t crazy enough Garry, now you have to be sketchy as well? Also, he calls Adam Zack, but then apologizing, claiming he was confused by Adrianna’s dress, which I think has gotten shorter yet again.
When we come back from break, Adrianna is sitting, so I’m not sure if her dress has gotten any shorter. After really poorly plugging VCast, we have Will’s comedy short. His past two have been really good and surprisingly funny, so here’s hoping the trend continues. Will’s last two have been light-hearted though, and this week he appears to have taken a darker, gorier turn. No, Will. Next week is horror. Will pulls off comedy yet again, with a disturbing if still funny look at one surgical intern’s sadistic tendencies. And, am I mistaken, or was that the dad from Family Matters. That show rocked when I was 7. The only thing I’d say is that it could have been a little less bloody. Carrie says that only Will could make blood and brains adorable. Carrie also makes an actual funny. See, Adrianna? That’s how it’s done. Mark Waters admits that he’s been watching every week. So Mark, I guess you’re the other viewer. After saying that Will is one of the most talented directors, he calls this a misfire, saying it’s not grounded in reality. Because all situations in comedy always happen. Like that time Robert Hays saved my entire plane from crashing. Or that one time where I turned into a llama and John Goodman helped me stop Eartha Kitt from taking over my kingdom (For those of you who don’t know, that was “Airplane” and “The Emperor’s New Groove”). Garry knows Will’s name, and was scared by Will’s movie, because Garry thinks doctors turn him into a marionette when he’s under anesthesia.
OK. Adrianna’s dress definitely got shorter. Again. Thank you to whoever keeps tailoring her on commercial breaks. You’re making Mark Waters and me very happy I’m guessing. Hillary is up next. Her past two comedies, if you can call them that (I’d call them torture devices), were horrendous. What drivel can we expect from her this week? That would be “Under The Gun”. You know it’s gonna be bad when you start off with a sperm bank sign. I mean, I thought it was gonna be bad, but it was so poorly done. Bad acting, completely unfunny, and just over-the-top crude. Carrie thought it was good, which is surprising, considering her track record with crude. Mark thought it was well shot, albeit missing a few. Garry calls it an action movie, and then makes a joke about masturbation. We get it Garry; you’re a creepy old man. He loves it as well, calling it Thelma and Louise rob a sperm bank.
Adrianna can’t wait for David’s sex comedy. Maybe they’ll awkwardly hug again. Dammit. Adrianna’s dress got longer. Apparently, David is bringing sexy back. Or maybe awkward back. Or not particularly funny back. Oh great, Kenny’s on set. It’ll be an emo sex comedy. Only funny in its punch line, David’s film is, fittingly, more awkward than sexy. It’s well shot, but his two actors have less than zero chemistry, and I think his lead guy was the nerdy brother from Eurotrip. Carrie found it confusing. Maybe that’s because too many men have left her for other men, which we learned last week. She didn’t think it was a success. Mark calls it a delicious conceit that didn’t deliver. Garry starts off with “sex is nice”. Seriously Garry. How pervy are you gonna be? He thought it was a better wrestling scene than in a film that he saw called “Borak”. I’ll have to try to catch that one Garry. Garry then quotes Samuel Beckett, but the quote doesn’t quite apply. Nice try Garry.
Zack is up last. The show appears to be saving the best for last. Adrianna starts off at the terribly fake concession stand, where she has apparently bought popcorn, only to realize it has too many calories. And has probably been sitting there for upwards of a day. Zach’s title, “Die Hardly Working” is already funnier than the entirety of Hillary’s film. Surprisingly enough, Zack’s actually isn’t the best one of the night. I mean it’s good, I like the concept, and it was very cleverly shot. But the acting wasn’t great and it lacked a good punch line. Carrie quotes Garry Marshall, with a quote that, like Garry, has nothing to do with this show. Carrie thought it was fantastic and charming, as usual. Carrie points to three girls in the back that think Zack is the cutest guy in the competition, but the camera doesn’t cut to them, because I don’t think they’re actually there. Mark liked it because it was grounded in reality, and thought it was hysterical. Garry calls him Zack (Correct Garry!). Garry thinks killing should look silly.
The best of the night were Will and Shalini, while Hillary, David, and Adam’s all left a lot to be desired. Next week sees Kenny and the others making horror movies. Maybe his will be someone forced to watch “Wack Alley Cab” over and over on loop. Shudder.
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