Hey, dance fans. This is Keira, filling in for Annie this week. This episode featured both terrific and rather average dancing, the apparent first appearance of the mysterious "Bollywood" in these lands, and randy judges who alternately want to screw and, in the case of Mia Michaels, brutally murder the contestants. Quite possibly at the same time.
Chelsie and Mark have the number one slot tonight. Initially, this team didn't make much of an impression on me (I still can't remember their earlier dances), but that all changed with the "Bleeding Love" briefcase routine a couple of weeks ago. I still haven't gotten sick of rewatching it, and I've loved every routine of theirs since.
Their first dance is a salsa choreographed by Alex Da Silva, who insists on wearing sunglasses inside, which is one of my pet peeves. Nigel steals my joke about Alex resembling Bono, so clearly it was a lame joke to start with. Mark and Chelsie really burn up the floor, and I think they do a fantastic job. The unison on the side-by-side footwork is particularly sharp. Nigel loves it, although thinks Mark's upper body is a bit tight. Also tight is Chelsie's hot bod, which Nigel drools all over inappropriately.
Mary notes Mark's tight upper body as well, but thinks he did a great job and is a great partner. Chelsie is "beautiful dynamite." Mia agrees, adding that she wants to stab her because Chelsie's so gorgeous. Um, thanks? Mia is harsher on Mark, saying he's awkward -- which I totally disagree with. However, Mia thinks they danced well overall.
Mark and Chelsie's second number is Broadway by Tyce DiOrio, and wowsa. It's bluesy (the music is "Smokey Joe's Cafe") and fantastic, and they both act the hell out of it. Chelsie doesn't seem to be the sharpest tool in the shed, intellectually speaking (she hilariously misspells "wrap" in the rehearsal footage, but like a good partner, Mark is there to pick up the slack), but she's a terrific theatrical dancer. There's one great segment where she fiercely bats Mark's head back and forth and she's practically snarling. Hot!
The judges who count love it, with Nigel noting that they bring the audience to life. Mary thinks it was sultry and sexy. Mia says the routine was a success, but it showed Mark's lack of technique and training. If it did, I sure didn't notice. Of course, Mark is also extremely sexy, so that might have distracted me.
Dead Team Walking Comfort and Thayne take to the stage with a hip-hop routine by Tabitha and Napoleon. I've loved most of their stuff, so I'm excited. While Comfort and Thayne dance it well enough, and the choregraphy is indeed good, it's lacking something. We learn in the rehearsal footage that Thayne had to really work to drop his usual Guy Smiley visage, and you can seriously see him concentrating on keeping his lips sewn together. Smiling a lot is certainly not a bad flaw to have in my book (if you've watched previous episodes you know that my book is not on the same shelf as Mia Michaels'), but Thayne doesn't have the acting range of someone like Mark, who always inhabits his characters.
I don't think the routine is bad at all, but it doesn't wow. Nigel agrees and says they didn't add anything of themselves to it. Mary didn't see the chemistry, but thought there were some good moments. Mia thinks it's "a little better than good," but the connection between Thayne and Comfort wasn't there. During the judges' review, Cat stands up for the dancers, noting that they've only been together a couple of weeks. However, Nigel ain't buying it and says they'll be in the bottom three again. I think it's a real handicap against the dancers when the judges come out and say things like that (especially when they still have another dance to do!), because it's a bit of self-fullfilling prophecy given Nigel's influence. However, in this case they do deserve to be in the bottom for sure.
Comfort and Thayne's next dance is a contemporary piece by Mandy "Hit or Miss" Moore. I've loved some of her routines and been underwhelmed by others this season. (This is also my first season of watching, by the way.) The choreography on this routine is a definite hit, and I think it's Comfort and Thayne's best dance yet, especially for Thayne. However, Nigel harshes on them by saying he wishes another team had gotten that choreography. Ouch! But I don't necessary disagree. Mary and Mia mention Comfort's lack of technique, which is very valid. Mia adds that Thayne was great, though, and she can't wait to work with him in the future. Lucky Thayne! Mia does some excellent choreography, but the thought of working with someone so mercurial gives me hives.
Now for Albatross Jessica and Will. I think the judges have been way too hard on Jessica, since Will is not only better than her, but arguably better than anyone else in the competition. Not that there aren't valid criticisms of Jessica, but I feel for her, because it's hard to build your confidence when you're torn down constantly. Their first number this week is a Tyce DiOrio contemporary. It's an Adam and Eve theme (complete with skimpy costumes) set to very quiet, haunting vocal music. Quite an impressive bit of choreography, and Will and Jessica are sexy as hell writhing all over each other. I think they're both fantastic.
The judges adore it, with Nigel calling it "stunning and extraordinary," Mary saying it's one of the most amazing pieces in the show's history (earning a "wow" from Tyce in the audience), and Mia added that it was amazing. She compares Will to dancer Desmond Richardson and all the judges finally give Jessica a break and declare that she was great. Don't get used to it, Jess.
Next up for this pair is the dreaded quick step, which really is a bitch and a half. The choreography by Tony Meredith and Melanie LaPatin is great, and there are some wonderful moments. Nigel enjoys the same moments, but not the actual quick stepping, which is weak. Mary thinks they didn't skim across the stage lightly enough, and takes issue with the bunching of Will's jacket, which restricted him. I have to say, sometimes the costumers on this show are really out to lunch. Poor Chelsie had to eat through her feather dress last week just to finish her dance.
Mia gives me another example of why I don't like her. Perhaps it's the Canadian in me, but she can just be so mean with her criticism. She bags on Jessica and says that Will (who was equally weak in this routine) looks tired from carrying Jessica all these weeks. Because Will is not a douchebag, he defends Jessica, and is probably really sick of being put in this crappy position week in and week out. Again, I do think Will is certainly the stronger partner, but the judges keep emphasizing the connection the partners should have with each other. I think it's undermined by pitting Will and Jessica against each other each week, although they both rise above it.
Time for Courtney and Gev, whom I just want to put in my pocket. Such cuteness! They didn't make much of an impression on me at first either, but have moved up to my top three this week. First off is a cha cha by Pasha and Anya, whom I'm guessing are former contestants. The rehearsal footage focuses on Gev learning how to give Courtney a "message" by thrusting his crotch at her. I suspect Gev would really like to deliver this message off stage as well. The song is Rihanna's "Don't Stop the Music," which I unapologetically adore. The dance is fantastic, with both Courtney and Gev looking hot.
The judges love it, with Nigel saying that even though they aren't technically brilliant, they're fun to watch. I agree that their performance level is extremely high and that it masks their weaknesses. They're on Mary's Hot Tamale Train (cue screams from all parties), and Mia thinks they're getting better every week, after noting that it's "very clear" they aren't the best dancers on the show. Okay, that may be true, but again, Mia just rubs me the wrong way. Even when she's praising someone she manages to be high and mighty. But things end on a high note with an indepth discussion of Gev's manscaping preferences.
Courtney and Gev's next bit is a Mandy Moore jazz number. I know it's jazz because it looks pretty much like contemporary, but the toes are pointed. Although this one could be Broadway, too. Courtney and Gev are dressed in cute Indiana Jones outfits and are looking for buried treasure, or something. Whatever, it's fun, fun, fun, and features some neat headstanding and whatnot from Gev. Nigel also thinks it was fun, but that it was cotton candy with no substance. Mary disagrees, and thinks it was raw and that there was a lot there. Mia loved it and doesn't make me want to punch her.
Next up is Kherington and Twitch with a krump routine. I'll admit that krump is not my favourite of the genres, but choreographer Lil'C assures us it'll be "buck." And it is! Well, a lot of it is, but Kherington visibily tires for the last part of the dance. However, since the judges love her, they actually say that they're ignoring the last quarter of the routine when Khertingon was stinking up the joint. Ugh, I hate it when they are this blantant in promoting their favourites.
Their second number is a smooth tango by Jean-Marc Genereux. No Celine Dion tonight, but instead a tango from the Mr. and Mrs. Smith soundtrack with the idea behind the dance being that they're trying to kill each other. That is a movie I've never seen, and never really want to. I get enough Brad and Angelina through tabloid osmosis, thank you very much. The tango is...well, it's okay. There's one lift where she rolls onto his back and he stand up that I thought was very smoothly done. But overall, it's meh.
The judges are most decidedly not feeling it. Nigel criticizes Twitch and says they murdered the routine. Mary liked the beginning and end, but not the middle. Mia blathers on about magic and power and personality, and basically they didn't have any. I have to say this pair was second weakest after Comfort and Thayne for me tonight. Their stock is falling as the competition goes on.
Last, but most certainly not least, are my faves Katee and Joshua. I have to say I'm so glad the judges haven't held Katee's momentary lapse of honesty in Vegas against her. (I think all future contestants learned a valuable lesson that night: Always, always tell the judges what they want to hear.) Katee and Josh's first dance is a waltz by Jean-Marc Genereux. Katee is great, but Josh is a bit tentative and uncomfortable at times. It's one of their weaker dances (the other being the terribly choreographed west coast swing last week), although still not bad by any means.
Nigel agrees, and praises Katee while saying Josh was too bouncy and not flowy enough. Mary says the gliding across the floor wasn't quite there, but the lifts were great (which they were). Mia notes Josh's lack of fluidity, and then launches into an embarrassing mash note to Katee on how she's meant to dance and her journey is just beginning and her spirit soars and she loves her very much. Katee's expression is a combination of fear and blankness in the face of Mia's affections. Run, Katee, run! I think she's stabbing you right after Chelsie.
For the last (and best) dance of the night, Katee and Joshua with a Bollywood piece choreographed by Nakul Dev Mahajan. We learn that they somehow had no idea what Bollywood was (!) when they pulled it out of the hat. These kids need to get out of the dance studio more often, apparently. The routine is absolutely wonderful, and I immediately rewind it on TiVo and watch it again before even listening to the judges. So good! Lots of deep knee action and sharps hands and high energy.
Nigel agrees with me and tells Katee how awesome she looks. Which, she totally does, but how about the dancing, dude? I hate it when they focus on the looks and not the technique. It's okay for viewers to do that, but I expect better from the actual dance experts. Nigel then annoyingly waxes poetic on how he's been trying to get Bollywood on the show for three years, although being the executive producer, one wonders what was standing in his way. He talks about how great it is to have other cultures up on stage and why can't the world dance out its problems instead of fighting? He thankfully stops short of serenading us with "Imagine."
Mary loved the dance and says they're back on the Hot Tamale Train. There is much rejoicing. Mia also mentions how awesomely amazing it is to have world dancing on the show. Well, this is FOX, so I guess it is an accomplishment.
If Comfort and Thayne don't go home this week, I'll eat my hat. Granted, I'm not a hat person, so I'd have to buy one, but still. They're goners.
delicious
digg
yahoo
Stumble this
Technorati Tags:
