Jun252009
SYTYCD: For the Love of Amazon Ballerinas
Filed under TV by Kim at 8:10 am on Jun 25 2009
Another week, another episode of SYTYCD, another night of ear-ringing from Mary Murphy’s screaming. Is it getting more gratuitous, or am I just putting on my rose-colored glasses when I look to the past?
People seem to be knocking Toni Basil out there on the internets, and I don’t actually get why. She was full of pride at the beginning and I guess that turns people off, but I don’t give a crap about pride and she said at least two things about the actual dancing skills of the actual dancers, and since the bar for judging on this show seems to be lowering, that’s enough to make me happy. (I don’t need the judges to tell me about my emotional reaction to the dance, that I can figure out on my own – please tell me if they were technically proficient thanks! That is why they call you experts!)
I have but brief notes, after the cut… and when you are done with mine, you can peruse Megan’s or MightyGodKing’s, because they are funnier than me.
For one thing, I didn’t actually vote last night. In part laziness and in part the fact that nothing ripped me out of my seat with joy. (And this show has brought me to my feet in my living room before!) I would have voted for 6 couples and not voted for 2, because for the most part I thought everyone was on a par, or I was handicapping couples because I just like them.
Jonathan & Karla: Yawn. My first thought was “this is a dismal season for hip hop”. Of course, what do I actually know about hip hop? Nothing. But I don’t care what this was supposed to be, it was weak and boring.
Vitolio & Asuka: Something was really wrong here. Sensitive moments aside, there was something really leaden about this dance and it’s not that I’m mistaking the slow pace of the song for leadenness. Either Asuka was dragging things or their mutual unconfidence in themselves was showing. I really liked the concept, the choreography, and the music, though. I would have voted for them nonetheless, I want to see them more.
Melissa & Ade: HOLY AMAZONIAN PRINCESS BATMAN. Was Ade even there? If he was, I didn’t notice. I love Melissa and if I were the kind of person who wore t-shirts with iron-ons in the audience that say “HEY MELISSA I WILL BE YOUR GABRIELLE IF YOU WILL BE MY XENA” I would be getting ready for a road trip to LA right now. Also her dancing was good.
Janette & Brandon: Hey! Who’s the couple to beat now? What was I saying about hip hop earlier? Brandon was a big, big surprise in this. That thing he did where he seemed to levitate back up off the floor? I don’t know what that’s called but I loved it. And since he managed to not let his facial expression overshadow what he was doing, you could see him dance. Loved them again this week.
Kayla & Kupono: Yes, it looked like good form to me, but I am ignorant. So what I saw was beautiful people moving really elegantly. It all seemed very safe. Mary Murphy said something about heel leads which let me know that stuff was wrong. Thank you Mary Murphy! I needed to know that! You are forgiven your other trespasses.
Randi & Evan: Now see, this is when I can get into contemporary. When I just see people’s auditions and there’s no story or costume or mood, I’m like, whatever. But this was really compelling. Their looseness matched and their movements were really together. That said. GOD, this routine was CREEPY! Ew! I worry for Evan if he ever has to dance with a different partner. Like Melissa.
Kaitlin and Jason: The note I wrote says “Their ‘anger’ just comes off as focus and trying too hard” and that’s pretty much it. It’s hard to dance to Carmina Burana and sell it, and they did not sell it. Cat Deeley says at the end “These are good reviews folks!” Sorry Cat, you saying that doesn’t make it true. The judges were bending over backwards to be nice, but it was obvious they were like “whatever”.
Jeanne & Phillip: Wheee! That was fun. Tyce, you have a reprieve.
Tonight marks my half-semester point, so perhaps I will watch the rewards show with a bottle of wine. I should have done that last night, it would make my commentary far more entertaining…
1 Meganon 25 Jun 2009 at 9:42 am
Not funny, hmm? laughed out loud at the “Hey, Melissa! I will be your Gabrielle if you will be my Xena” comment. I will also totally wear one of those shirts, too.
I think we need to watch together one night – competing laptops open and at the ready. I’ll show you the trees and you can show me the forest.
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Kim Reply:
June 25th, 2009 at 11:07 am
I really, really want to do that! At this rate though, where does the finale fit in with BlogHer and stuff? I pretty much am screwed by my school schedule. If I can manage to get all my lab homework done on the weekend, I can definitely come over after work sometime!!
Because I think your idea really holds merit!! And would be fun!!
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