Hey Folks,
So, it’s top 16 night! Which gives us another 8 performances on which to pick who our favorites are and who we kinda sorta maybe think shouldn’t be there much longer (cough Philip cough). I know last week some people found my claim of Mia’s “Higher Ground” as being superior to Wade’s “Ramalama Bang Bang” to be dubious to say the least, but the more I watch it, the more I’m tempted to stand by my statement. It’s just soooooo grood. Which is a combination of great and good, for those who are not familiar with the TeenGirl Squad. But what “Higher Ground” has illuminated for me is that this season has been severely lacking in the Mia department. I wonder if she’s gonna have a reduced role this season or something. I know she’s doing one routine tonight (and none of you better complain about spoilers since your reading a recap), but that still seems like an oddly small amount of Mia for being three weeks into the season. Are you guys feeling a Vitamin Mia deficiency? Anyhoo, on to the dancing! Tonight’s Jidges are Nigel, Mary, and Toni “Oh Mickey You So Fine, You So Fine You Blow My Mind Hey Mickey” Basil.
Note: This is the beshortened recap. For the full version, head to sytycd.ca
Karla and Jonathan- They’ve got a Dave Scott hip-hop. And, oooh. He’s just awful. Like, save one trick, it’s Matt Dorame doing hip-hop bad. Karla tries her best to hold it together, but she’s just fighting a losing battle. It’s saying something when they get the biggest screams for nailing a simple move. Nigel felt it lacked a necessary danger. He bets the audience they’ll be in the bottom three. Someone is wearing their cranky pants below the judging table tonight. Mary felt no power and it wasn’t in the right groove. It felt store-bought to Toni. Karla accidentally holds up a two instead of a one. Good job Karla.
Asuka and Vitolio- They’ve got a Mandy Moore jazz. I’m just… not getting much out of this. Asuka seems tentative in most everything she does, and she has some weak leaps in there. Vitolio does better, but I’m not connecting to him at all. Remember all those Showgirls references I was making during the audition weeks? Well, this performance would have perfectly suited to Nomi Malone. And Asuka, well, she’s kind of no Nomi Malone. Uncharacteristically weak for Mandy. Nigel calls it fantastic. Mary thought it was good but not breathtaking. Toni tells them not to let their technique get in the way of their emotions.
Melissa and Ade- They’ve got a Tony Meredith rumba. Well, this is miles better than anything else we’ve seen tonight. I can’t even speak as to whether their technique is great because they’re so frickin’ connected and sultry that the emotion is being nailed and that’s drawing my focus. But it’s like 5 times better than tonight’s other routines. Melissa also looks great. Cat asks if anyone else feels as if they’re interrupting something. Cat also asks the audience to applaud Melissa’s half-an-outfit. She’s called a Goddess. And she looks vaguely Elizabeth Berkeley-ish. OMG, Showgirls is either taking over my brain or it’s a SYTYCD conspiracy. Nigel throws oodles of love their way. apologizes for that pun but throws oodles of love to both. Mary found it both unbelievable and believable, yet I somehow understand what she means. Toni calls it beautifully done. Also, I’m now officially calling it. Ade & Melissa=New Mark and Chelsie. Adessa for season 5!
Janette and Brandon- They’ve got tonight’s other Dave Scott hip-hop routine. FINALLY. GOOD HIP-HOP. Brandon nails it. Janette is a firecracker and deserves kudos forgoing out there in a leather corset, panties, and semi-fishnets with less leg covering. Which, by the way, she pulls off, because she’s a firecracker. But Brandon is buck. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not the best hip-hop the show’s seen, but its certainly the best of the season so far. Nigel though they worked it. Mary thought they hit it. They get a scream. Toni liked Dave’s strategic melding of rock into hip-hop. OK, Toni Basil, we get it, you’re street. Stop using that word.
Kayla and Kupono- Gotta say, I don’t think these two are gonna work, but who knows. They’ve got a Jean-Marc Genereaux (and France!) Viennese Waltz. But I’m pleasantly surprised because it actually works really well. It also helps that they’ve got possibly the least busy lighting and camera work of any number all season. I see moments of weakness, mainly in Kupono, but it’s certainly much better than those first two routines. Nigel thought it was very beautiful but isn’t going to make anyone stand up and heer. Mary found it elegant and flowing and puts them on the Hot Tamale train. Toni really liked it. Toni also maybe sorta revealed she doesn’t watch the show regularly, because she wasn’t sure this week was their first week together.
Randi and Evan- They’ve got a MIA MICHAELS ROUTINE! That’s all about the booty. But it’s Mia, so I’m just excited beyond. Randi is also wearing a “Unitard girl” shirt, which is awesome in so many ways. Unfortuantely, it’s just not that great. I mean, its still good. But it’s missing that zap that other Mia routines have had. Plus they are a bunch of noticeable mistakes including Evan coming really close to falling at one point. It was good, not great. It may have been felled for me by high expectations, but I don’t know. It just didn’t explode off the screen for me. Cat calls them cheeky. Nigel found it beautifully danced and followed through. Mary found them terrific and hypnotizing. Toni thinks they lived up to the choreography.
Caitlin and Jason- They’ve got a Jean Marc Genereaux (And still France!) Paso Doble. It’s all about fight this week. They dance it exceptionally well, it seems, but I don’t feel the connection between them or the anger. But the dancing itself is pretty freaking remarkable. Although I think their timing to the music is off by the end. Nigel thought there was no connection in their eyes but that they danced it fantastically. Mary thought it was strong, but found Jason’s posture and the characters were only good part of the time. Toni liked it. God, she’s an awful judge.
Jeanine and Philip- They’ve got a Tyce broadway. Ugh, I have low expectations. It’s… cute. And I actually like the choreography much more than I usually like Tyce’s choreography. But there’s an energy that I find lacking. Jeanine is cute as button though. And Philip’s pants appear to have split during the number. But there was something that didn’t work about it. It’s almost like the music just didn’t work or something. Mary loooooves that Phil’s pants have split. She finds it ever-so-hysterical. Nigel thinks Phil still needs to grow more. Mary thought Phil nailed the character but his technique needed work. Toni found it adorable.
My Rankings for the Night:
1) Melissa and Ade
2) Janette and Brandon
3) Kayla and Kupono
4) Randi and Evan
5 & 6) TIE- Jeanine and Philip AND Caitlin and Jason
7) Asuka and Vitolio
big jump
8) Karla and Jonathan
Who Should Be Worried: Karla and Jonathan are obvious. Asuka and Vitolio are also probably gonna be there. Either Jeanine and Philip or Caitlin and Jason will probably round out the group.
Who I’d Send Home: Jonathan and Asuka should go home this week.
Who Will Probably Go Home: Save a miracle, Jonathan is dunzo. I fear for Karla as well.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
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