Just a quick update to review our fallen gazelles...the first of our bottom three couples are Missy and Wadi (wonder if America agreed that Wadi was the weak link, or if they weren't as charmed by Missy's identity of "sexy contempo"?). They're in a group with Mitchell & Caitlynn (whose name I couldn't remember), who are safe after she got punched in the snoot yesterday. Sasha & Alex are the third couple in this group, and honestly, we're not sending Sasha home this early (nor are they announcing the second endangered couple this early). I fast forward through the rather maudlin review of their dance, the recap of which leaves Alex in tears. And they're safe, of course.
There's a bit about Gatorade and athleticism and Nigel is gibbering and I'm boop-booping. Next!
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
SYTYCD Top 20 Again - Blogtastrophe!
Gah! My poor Tivo management meant that I accidentally ranked The Voice higher than SYTYCD, and thus came home late to discover I'd missed the first 45 minutes of the show. My apologies, fans!
We begin with Missy and Wadi's dance--they have a cha cha with Jean-Marc, the ballroom elf who looks like your company's IT manager. Missy is a bit of a control freak in rehearsals, wanting to be perfect, while Wadi is just trying to wrap his mind around a cha cha at all. In the performance itself, they begin with some tutting--a shout-out to Wadi's specialty, perhaps?--and then set off...but they are dancing to Ke$ha, which is a mandatory .5 deduction. There's lots of sexy posing and Wadi picking Missy up and putting her down, but not a lot of work in hold--and the dance seems to lack elevation. I don't feel any chemistry between these two. Will the judges be suck-ups like they were last week?
Whoa! Debbie Reynolds is a guest judge! Don't know why, but what the hell. She just tells them "muy bueno." Nigel is the first to rain on our parade, though nicely. He felt Wadi was too weak, especially in the arms--there was no power and technique. Yeah, fair enough. Says Missy was great, though, and "took care of herself." Sorry, Wadi. Mary agrees that Wadi was the weakest link, and says a bunch of good technical things about the inside edges of his feet. Then she turns up the volume and screams that Missy is "the cha cha queen"! Still not feeling her. Debbie chimes in to say that she'll take Wadi home, and "he can cha-cha with Debbie anytime." Heh.
We begin with Missy and Wadi's dance--they have a cha cha with Jean-Marc, the ballroom elf who looks like your company's IT manager. Missy is a bit of a control freak in rehearsals, wanting to be perfect, while Wadi is just trying to wrap his mind around a cha cha at all. In the performance itself, they begin with some tutting--a shout-out to Wadi's specialty, perhaps?--and then set off...but they are dancing to Ke$ha, which is a mandatory .5 deduction. There's lots of sexy posing and Wadi picking Missy up and putting her down, but not a lot of work in hold--and the dance seems to lack elevation. I don't feel any chemistry between these two. Will the judges be suck-ups like they were last week?
Whoa! Debbie Reynolds is a guest judge! Don't know why, but what the hell. She just tells them "muy bueno." Nigel is the first to rain on our parade, though nicely. He felt Wadi was too weak, especially in the arms--there was no power and technique. Yeah, fair enough. Says Missy was great, though, and "took care of herself." Sorry, Wadi. Mary agrees that Wadi was the weakest link, and says a bunch of good technical things about the inside edges of his feet. Then she turns up the volume and screams that Missy is "the cha cha queen"! Still not feeling her. Debbie chimes in to say that she'll take Wadi home, and "he can cha-cha with Debbie anytime." Heh.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
SYTYCD Top 20 - Two Dancers Leave...Or Not
The opening number is a Sonya joint, and I thought it was really cool! They're sort of like Russian jazz ninjas with canes. (You know, that old thing....) Turns out we're doing three couples plus Mitchell, I guess so no girl gets a free pass? The bottom three couples are Jordan and Tadd, Clarice and Jess, and Miranda and Robert.
I think Jordan's interview hurt her a bit, because she seems like kind of a dummy, and also she's a bit of a thick dancer compared to some of the others. But ultimately, the biggest strike against this couple is probably that they had to go first. Ten dances later, who remembered them?
Clarice and Jess were hindered by a boring routine, well-danced but without much in the way of chemistry. As discussed, Jess got slammed in Vegas (and he had that icky joke with Cat after his dance during the showcase episode), and Clarice is mostly legs without a discernable personality. The dreaded Who? factor may have come into play.
Miranda and Robert weren't totally expected, at least not by me. Was it the jive that did them in? Or could America just be getting sick of Mr. Woo! and his Urkel routine?
In the interim, we have Keri Hilson singing...something....and a dancer from the Bolshoi dancing the gopek, the Russian folk dance that was the worst-received in the history of SYTYCD. He shows everyone how it's supposed to be done, and he's clearly a remarkable and beautiful dancer, but it's still boring.
Solos! Mitchell goes first, and although his gestures are too matchy-matchy with the lyrics, he has some beautiful leaps and kicks. I'd keep him, just so we could see him dance for real. Jordan is next and dances like a stripper, basically. A ton of HMV moves and little musicality. I say dump her. Tadd does his b-boy stuff, which is impressive and should keep him safe, while Clarice is also a little strippery. She looks better than Jordan, though, because she's taller and her extensions are better, so I bet she stays. Jess kept the fedora (could it be the source of his power?) and basically just pirouettes his ass off. He busts out every step in the Broadway toolbox, and certainly is fighting to stay. Miranda's our last girl and enters like it's a gymnastics floor routine. Lotta hairography from this one. Finally, it's Woo!'s turn--the crowd starts hooting before he's even announced, and then he gestures for more. His solo's awfully marchy, but it's enough to keep him, I bet. I think we're going to lose Jordan from the girls, but I'm stumped by the guys. Mitchell, because they have enough contempo boys? Or Jess, because he has an unpopular specialty and is unlikely to catch on with younger voters?
While the judges deliberate, Cat takes us back to Season 4, and the TV debut of a little lady called Gaga. (She debuted on SYTYCD? I feel so hip.) Then she announces that she will be guest-judging later in the season. Whee! She was actually very good as a mentor on Idol, though I'm not convinced she'll be as helpful about dance. And then we watch her new video, "The Edge of Glory." I like this song in spite of myself, because the substance, it is fairly thin on the ground in this one. But this video is boring. C'mon, Gaga, you can do better.
Judges are back! So who's taking the fall? We don't know yet, because Nigel has to take a minute to share the news that Clarence Clemons (who played sax in the video) had a stroke. And then, he still won't give us an answer, because the judges need to see Mitchell and Robert (that's Woo! for those of you who already forgot) dance one more time. This has got to freak them out. But I can see Robert is bringing it much harder this time--every joint is working overtime. Mitchell basically just starts his solo again, but I don't think he has the improvisational talent to jam-pack his routine at the last minute. I think this probably sealed his fate.
Cat is doing yeoman's service managing this twist, because it really does look unplanned. She's like the most charming tour guide you've ever had. She calls the girls up to get their results first, says nice things about all of them, and then refuses to give us an answer. He makes Cat call the guys up (is he seriously NOT going to dump anyone?), and starts with Jess, whom he calls "Jesse." He says nice things about all of them, too.
And of course, it turns out that all the bullshitting was to stall the fact that "we are not going to let anybody go home." So why are we here, dude? The crowd is screaming and the dancers have all rushed the stage to hug their compatriots. Over the chaos, Nigel shouts to Cat that two couples will go home next week. I guess they wanted Mitchell to have a chance to be judged on more than 30 seconds, which seems fair.
And then my Tivo cut off because of all Nigel's rambling, so if he said anything else important, I didn't get it! See you next week!
I think Jordan's interview hurt her a bit, because she seems like kind of a dummy, and also she's a bit of a thick dancer compared to some of the others. But ultimately, the biggest strike against this couple is probably that they had to go first. Ten dances later, who remembered them?
Clarice and Jess were hindered by a boring routine, well-danced but without much in the way of chemistry. As discussed, Jess got slammed in Vegas (and he had that icky joke with Cat after his dance during the showcase episode), and Clarice is mostly legs without a discernable personality. The dreaded Who? factor may have come into play.
Miranda and Robert weren't totally expected, at least not by me. Was it the jive that did them in? Or could America just be getting sick of Mr. Woo! and his Urkel routine?
In the interim, we have Keri Hilson singing...something....and a dancer from the Bolshoi dancing the gopek, the Russian folk dance that was the worst-received in the history of SYTYCD. He shows everyone how it's supposed to be done, and he's clearly a remarkable and beautiful dancer, but it's still boring.
Solos! Mitchell goes first, and although his gestures are too matchy-matchy with the lyrics, he has some beautiful leaps and kicks. I'd keep him, just so we could see him dance for real. Jordan is next and dances like a stripper, basically. A ton of HMV moves and little musicality. I say dump her. Tadd does his b-boy stuff, which is impressive and should keep him safe, while Clarice is also a little strippery. She looks better than Jordan, though, because she's taller and her extensions are better, so I bet she stays. Jess kept the fedora (could it be the source of his power?) and basically just pirouettes his ass off. He busts out every step in the Broadway toolbox, and certainly is fighting to stay. Miranda's our last girl and enters like it's a gymnastics floor routine. Lotta hairography from this one. Finally, it's Woo!'s turn--the crowd starts hooting before he's even announced, and then he gestures for more. His solo's awfully marchy, but it's enough to keep him, I bet. I think we're going to lose Jordan from the girls, but I'm stumped by the guys. Mitchell, because they have enough contempo boys? Or Jess, because he has an unpopular specialty and is unlikely to catch on with younger voters?
While the judges deliberate, Cat takes us back to Season 4, and the TV debut of a little lady called Gaga. (She debuted on SYTYCD? I feel so hip.) Then she announces that she will be guest-judging later in the season. Whee! She was actually very good as a mentor on Idol, though I'm not convinced she'll be as helpful about dance. And then we watch her new video, "The Edge of Glory." I like this song in spite of myself, because the substance, it is fairly thin on the ground in this one. But this video is boring. C'mon, Gaga, you can do better.
Judges are back! So who's taking the fall? We don't know yet, because Nigel has to take a minute to share the news that Clarence Clemons (who played sax in the video) had a stroke. And then, he still won't give us an answer, because the judges need to see Mitchell and Robert (that's Woo! for those of you who already forgot) dance one more time. This has got to freak them out. But I can see Robert is bringing it much harder this time--every joint is working overtime. Mitchell basically just starts his solo again, but I don't think he has the improvisational talent to jam-pack his routine at the last minute. I think this probably sealed his fate.
Cat is doing yeoman's service managing this twist, because it really does look unplanned. She's like the most charming tour guide you've ever had. She calls the girls up to get their results first, says nice things about all of them, and then refuses to give us an answer. He makes Cat call the guys up (is he seriously NOT going to dump anyone?), and starts with Jess, whom he calls "Jesse." He says nice things about all of them, too.
And of course, it turns out that all the bullshitting was to stall the fact that "we are not going to let anybody go home." So why are we here, dude? The crowd is screaming and the dancers have all rushed the stage to hug their compatriots. Over the chaos, Nigel shouts to Cat that two couples will go home next week. I guess they wanted Mitchell to have a chance to be judged on more than 30 seconds, which seems fair.
And then my Tivo cut off because of all Nigel's rambling, so if he said anything else important, I didn't get it! See you next week!
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Dusting off the Ol' Blog...
For some more TV recaps! This time, it's my beloved "So You Think You Can Dance." I skipped the audition rounds, but we're finally ready to start the real thing with tonight's Top 20 show!
First off, may I observe that when you have 20 dancers, it takes FOREVER to introduce them. Did it always take this long? I feel like I'm at a highschool graduation. But at Cat's "Here are the girls...and here are your boys," everyone does the little sashay-skip that has become tradition on the show, and I settle in for some comfort TV. Ahhhh....
Cat appears to be wearing a very shiny garbage bag, and her hair looks like she just got out of the shower. I love you, Cat, but leave a little more time next week. Also, because no one is safe from my rapier wit, including myself, I will confess to you that after eating a spring roll too vigorously, I found a carrot shred on my collarbone. In my defense, I was really hungry.
First off, may I observe that when you have 20 dancers, it takes FOREVER to introduce them. Did it always take this long? I feel like I'm at a highschool graduation. But at Cat's "Here are the girls...and here are your boys," everyone does the little sashay-skip that has become tradition on the show, and I settle in for some comfort TV. Ahhhh....
Cat appears to be wearing a very shiny garbage bag, and her hair looks like she just got out of the shower. I love you, Cat, but leave a little more time next week. Also, because no one is safe from my rapier wit, including myself, I will confess to you that after eating a spring roll too vigorously, I found a carrot shred on my collarbone. In my defense, I was really hungry.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
THIS...is your American Idol
Finale time! Honestly, I'm too lazy to do a full-on blog post for this two-hour show. Will you settle for bullet points?
- Missed the guys' medley while making dinner. Stir-fried shrimp & veggies were delicious, though.
- Girls' medley of Beyonce songs was fun, even though they still can't harmonize, and a few were dressed as hookers. But all of them were more interesting than they'd ever been as contestants.
- Jacob comes out and sings with Gladys Knight (and another gentleman who played the piano and I'm probably supposed to know). He was more relaxed than we've ever seen him.
- Casey sings with Jack Black. Um, huh? (Yes, I know, Tenacious D. But is that really Casey's musical future?)
- Haley sings with Tony Bennett. Way to keep her fresh, show.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Idol Finals - When Does a Dream End?
When does a dream begin, and when does it end? our Idol producers ask. Judging by the footage, the dream begins at 8 to 10 years old, in a talent show or school recital. And it ends...here. On American. Idol! Ryan's all fancy in a tux--but not a Texas tux, which is surprising given our final two contestants. There is a shocking lack of denim on display for this countrypalooza.
As Scotty and Lauren are introduced, it appears that Angry Stylist spent her whole budget on Lauren, because Scotty is in jeans and a t-shirt. What, Scotty, did you miss your call time? Lauren actually looks pretty good, even though my description of her outfit probably won't sound that way. She's in black pants & vest, over a black and silver striped shirt--and by silver, I mean silver lame. Or possibly there's a shirt, vest and jacket? Oh, wait, I think it's a silver jacket lined in black, that currently is flipped open. Anyway, it's something I probably would have loved when I was in high school (i.e. the 80s), but somehow I think Lauren is pulling it off. I like to think that she and Angry Stylist have at last buried the hatchet.
Ooh, Idol drama! Ryan has called out a dude in black scrubs professing to be a doctor, who tells us that there was a tragic incident in rehearsal--Lauren blew out a vocal cord! Doc tells us that she'll be OK for the show, however, because they gave her "a lot of medicines." So basically, I think Lauren will be the first contestant to bring Idol down in a steroid scandal.
As Scotty and Lauren are introduced, it appears that Angry Stylist spent her whole budget on Lauren, because Scotty is in jeans and a t-shirt. What, Scotty, did you miss your call time? Lauren actually looks pretty good, even though my description of her outfit probably won't sound that way. She's in black pants & vest, over a black and silver striped shirt--and by silver, I mean silver lame. Or possibly there's a shirt, vest and jacket? Oh, wait, I think it's a silver jacket lined in black, that currently is flipped open. Anyway, it's something I probably would have loved when I was in high school (i.e. the 80s), but somehow I think Lauren is pulling it off. I like to think that she and Angry Stylist have at last buried the hatchet.
Ooh, Idol drama! Ryan has called out a dude in black scrubs professing to be a doctor, who tells us that there was a tragic incident in rehearsal--Lauren blew out a vocal cord! Doc tells us that she'll be OK for the show, however, because they gave her "a lot of medicines." So basically, I think Lauren will be the first contestant to bring Idol down in a steroid scandal.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
No Love for xoJane
Recently, a new website launched, from the creator of Sassy magazine. Jane Pratt captured a generation of young women who were shocked and amazed to find their voices represented in a magazine that talked to them about things they cared about. When Jane moved on to her next endeavor, Jane, she didn't have quite the same alchemical magic, but people were still plenty ready to give her a try.
So now there's xoJane.com. A web-based mag in the vein of Jezebel.com, it features articles on family, sex, fashion, technology, and Jane, Jane, Jane. I like snark, I'm a regular reader of Gawker, Jezebel and Television Without Pity, so I'd hoped this would be up my alley...but after reading much of the first "issue," I'm incredibly disappointed with what they've produced. And I'm not alone--all over the web (and all over the comments on xoJane itself!), readers are expressing their disappointment at the site's lack of substance and its fairly remedial gender politics.
Current articles include "I Obsessively Monitor My Husband's Lube Bottle," in which a woman feels hurt and paranoid because her husband masturbates; an ignorant review of the excellent "Game of Thrones" that declares women are only watching for the HBO sex; their tech writer declaring "I Can't Date You Unless You Have a Smartphone"; and a piece from Jane herself being upset because she eavesdropped on her waxer's receptionists and heard them say she looked old. There's one fairly strong article that even the negative reviews are pointing out: the story of a woman whose rapist friended her on Facebook, leading her to have a conversation with him for the first time since the rape happened.
This site is doubly disappointing because of Jane Pratt's history, and because the point of creating a site like this on the web is that a publication doesn't have to be beholden to the typical "women's mag" model. The voice alone isn't enough to carry this site, and while it would be easy to overlook an occasional off-base article, or a single staff writer with whom I didn't click, the pervasive tone-deafness throughout the site is worse for its good intentions.
Anyone else reading xoJane? What's your favorite online read?
So now there's xoJane.com. A web-based mag in the vein of Jezebel.com, it features articles on family, sex, fashion, technology, and Jane, Jane, Jane. I like snark, I'm a regular reader of Gawker, Jezebel and Television Without Pity, so I'd hoped this would be up my alley...but after reading much of the first "issue," I'm incredibly disappointed with what they've produced. And I'm not alone--all over the web (and all over the comments on xoJane itself!), readers are expressing their disappointment at the site's lack of substance and its fairly remedial gender politics.
Current articles include "I Obsessively Monitor My Husband's Lube Bottle," in which a woman feels hurt and paranoid because her husband masturbates; an ignorant review of the excellent "Game of Thrones" that declares women are only watching for the HBO sex; their tech writer declaring "I Can't Date You Unless You Have a Smartphone"; and a piece from Jane herself being upset because she eavesdropped on her waxer's receptionists and heard them say she looked old. There's one fairly strong article that even the negative reviews are pointing out: the story of a woman whose rapist friended her on Facebook, leading her to have a conversation with him for the first time since the rape happened.
This site is doubly disappointing because of Jane Pratt's history, and because the point of creating a site like this on the web is that a publication doesn't have to be beholden to the typical "women's mag" model. The voice alone isn't enough to carry this site, and while it would be easy to overlook an occasional off-base article, or a single staff writer with whom I didn't click, the pervasive tone-deafness throughout the site is worse for its good intentions.
Anyone else reading xoJane? What's your favorite online read?
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