|
Columns
Video
Currently Recapping
Popular People
|
"So You Think You Can Dance" mini-cap: another night of voting narrows the playing fieldIt’s the brutal second show of the week where someone has to go home and at this point in the season, how do you choose? Yeah, yeah, Comfort went home once so it’ll probably happen again but after that? It makes me want to close my eyes, like I’m passing an accident site. But I’m going to be adult about this and watch the whole program, just for all of you. Oh, the sacrifices I make. The opening number is a hip-hop dance with a futuristic vibe. Decked out in black latex accented with strips of various colors, it looks like, um, one of those kind of parties, you know? But hey, it’s edgy and cool. The choreographer is Chuck Maldonado, a hip-hop jazz dancer who’s worked with many including Missy Elliot and Pink. It’s his first time working for the show.
Cat looks like a Greek goddess, with a draped white tunic that’s off one shoulder and a barrette that looks like wings. She flutters about the stage hugging dancers and emanating a golden glow that others merely orbit around. Before the dancers come out, Lythgoe gives a statement about voting. He says that 97.5 million people voted in the American Idol final and 40 million have voted for So You Think You Can Dance. And he thinks that just maybe a few million people could register to vote and, oh I don’t know, vote for a president? (It’s funny that a Brit has to tell us that but he’s right. It’s easier than ever to register to vote so go do it, OK?) On to the who-is-in-the-bottom-four drama. After many pauses and much hand wringing, we find out that the four dancers with the least votes were Comfort, Courtney, Twitch and Will. Will?! The anointed one? The Debbie Allen prince? America clearly doesn’t agree with the judges. Mark is so sure he’s going home that when Deeley announces he’s safe he puts his hands to his face Macauley Culkin-style and says over and over again, “Oh my God.” When Twitch’s name is announced, he falls to his knees with his back to the audience. Deeley goes to him and murmurs some sweet words until he gets up. His eyes are moist. Deeley hugs him. Two members of the Los Angeles Ballet dance a beautiful pas de deux. While the guy did a lot of posing and lifting, it was the ballerina who really made the dance graceful and gorgeous. I was embarrassed about the audience, though, who acted like they were seeing a hip-hop routine where they had to cheer at all the more difficult moves. Remind me not to take any of them to the theater.
Each of the bottom four do a solo. It doesn’t have any impact on who goes home, it’s just a way to torture them further. Or, if I’m looking at a glass half-full, a way for them to dance again on national TV in front of a few million people. Yeah, that’s it. Next, LL Cool J comes out with his buff self and some booty shakin’ dancers and does a song from his new album. Now, Courtney and Comfort take the stage. Deeley tries to make it dramatic but we all know it’s Comfort. She does, too and takes it well. They show some clips about her time on the show and to their credit, they update it and don’t just run the same one from a couple of weeks ago. Next, Twitch and Will take the stage. I just know it’s going to be Twitch and he’s one of my favorites. I squeeze my eyes tightly. Deeley somberly announces that it’s Will. Huh? Will? I scream, “I can’t believe it!” as my cats streak to the bedroom and under the bed. Sweet Mark stays on for at least another week. Maybe his unique solo last night really did save him.
There’s a group hug at the end. Aw. What do you think will happen next week? Maybe Courtney and Mark will go home but it’s anyone’s game now.
Submitted by on July 25, 2008 - 3:00pm. |
Recent blog posts
New forum topicsActive Topics |
Welcome to AfterEllen.com!
- Login
- Join Now!
News, Reviews & Commentary on Lesbian and Bisexual women in Entertainment and the Media
Facebook
Twitter
Pas de deux
Maybe now that America has seen an ACTUAL pas de deux, next season they'll have an actual one as one of the dances. Instead of the basically contemporary thing we had this year that they called a pas de deux.
Guys mostly do pose and lift in ballet while the girls dance, which is why you can start dancing at age 15 as a guy but as a girl, forget it, if you don't start when you are 5 or under no way.
I predict that Mark goes home next week. Not sure about which girl, tough call. After that...I'm torn on the guys. I'd be okay with Katee, Twitch, or Joshua winning it, though I think it should be Katee.
I am so mad that Will went
I am so mad that Will went home. I don't understand in what world does he go home before Mark. I was routing for Will to win it all, now I'm going for Katee
"Power is never given back. When it's stolen, if you want it back, you have to take it." - M. Caballero
Journey2enlightenment.blogspot.com
He's going to be fine
Will was one of the best dancers the show has ever had. His abilities are far beyond average. The James Brown solo was one of the most creative and best choreographed I've seen for a solo on the show.
Since the show has gained in popularity over the past few years the dancers get a lot more exposure. I know he's getting phone calls. He could easily dance for Alvin Ailey, and since they performed on the show I'm sure he's made some contacts.
That makes me feel better about it
I guess he's going to be fine. This show is fantastic exposure for him. . .Still, I'm a little upset with America. Wah wah wah. . .
Will is SUCH a gorgeous dancer, and I was so surprised that he went home, but then I guess America votes for someone who is super charismatic and quirky on stage (which is fine) and Will seemed a bit more withdrawn (or serious-faced maybe) than some of the other guys on the show. Still. . .he's so good. . .so beautiful with the legs and the leaps and the perfect turning and the pretty, pretty lines. . .sad face.
America Got Tired Of It...
I think that the voters got tired of the judges fawning over Will like he was a perfect dancer. I know that I got a bit nauseated watching Debbie Allen fanning herself after Will danced.
This is America's Favorite Dancer, not Best Dancer. Will was my least favorite guy just because of his smugness. His body, though, is gorgeous as is his dancing.
Aww
Fair enough. The judges are pretty ridiculous when they fawn. I try to take them with a grain of salt anyways. I think they make their comments extreme because. . .they know they're on tv/they are over-eager and high on attention?
Still, I love Will, regardless of off-stage personality. I just think he's an exciting dancer. And my favorites are developed based on what they do onstage. That doesn't mean I don't think the other dancers are great as well. I would have been disappointed to see Twitch go, too - I think he's a fabulous performer. I just thought of Will as so formidable, with that perfect technique and his effortless sense of dynamics. Maybe I was so surprised because he's much more "classically" (as in, with ballet-derived styles) proficient than than the other dancers (in my opinion). That said. . his solo on his last night - meh, choreographically boring, but beautifully executed.
I guess I was surprised because I envy his techinique. The envy probably makes a difference, as opposed to pure, objective admiration. Man. . .I didn't mean to write so much. Sorry to talk your ear off. It's interesting to hear what influences people's votes, and why you didn't like him. I guess I'm a nerd for dance shows, because the comments all really interest me.
Backlash
I hear what you're saying. Will was/is an exciting dancer and his movement is so incredible. But (snort. snort...I'm a dance show nerd too), Nigel did say that he thinks maybe Twitch and Will were so good that America didn't feel the need to vote for them.
Who knows what America is thinking. This is a country that voted for Bush. Twice.
Good points, crazy judges, and poo on Bush
Sarcasm?
I couldn't stand Will
I couldn't stand Will because he was constantly being praised as a genius by the judges and that could be a dumb reason but he really wasn't that much of a genius. I've seen a lot of dancers that were a lot better than him and it's true, he didn't really have a personality and I didn't enjoy watching him dance at all, it just wasn't interesting.
Haha my friend said if Twitch left she would never watch the show again...
Will goes on...
Back on Track
There is a Lord... of the dance! I have to admit that I'm ecstatic that Will is gone. He's not very good, IMO. He's just not. He misses the beat in most songs, and he seems to have real trouble dancing with a partner. I'll never forgive him for breaking Jessica's ribs and not taking any responsibility for it. Either that night or later when they found out how bad she was hurt. Mark is better in hip hop, btw, but got no credit for it. I probably overanalyzed Will because of the injustice heaped upon Jessica, who outdanced, and saved, Will on most of their numbers together. The constant "jidge" pimping was messed up. I'm sure he's decent, but as I said before, Will does not compare to my top five guys of all time: as follows
5)Travis 4)Benji 3)Pasha 2)Blake 1)Danny (they really should have a male and a female winner. Even though Sabra won last year, it's not fair to compare the girls to the guys)
I was starting to like Comfort, but I think it was right that she went, especially instead of Courtney, who is now my favorite girl. Still love Katee, but Courtney is an underdog... and gorgeous!!
My top four is now: Katee, Courtney, Josh and Mark. Joshua for the win.
NOOOO!!
nooooo!!!!!
Debbie Allen has had a huge
Debbie Allen has had a huge influence on my life through her work on TV. She's a strong, positive force in this world. I see so much of her in Will. He IS a genius and I know he will be fine, but I'm going to miss seeing him perforn every week. And while it was Comfort's time to go, it was great seeing her every week. I love them all, but if one of them has to be the best, it's Katee.
"what kind of rat bastard psychotic would play that song right now at this minute?"
Will
Will can't control compliments so that's a really odd reason not to like him. Will had an attitude problem? I'm confused. What does an attitude problem entail for you? Constantly smiling? Being passionate about dance? You wanna see attitude, watch clips of Kherington during her last results show.
You can't knock talent, and that young man has got it...Hate it or love it...so he wasn't America's favorite. That doesn't take away from his beautiful technique.
But anywho...At least Debbie Allen can be a judge now :-) I <3 Debbie Allen
Has anyone noticed?
i don't know about the girl
Mary Murphy On The Girl Train
couldn't have happened to a nicer guy
Whew! What a relief that Will is gone. Though his James Brown impression dance may have been well-choreographed, it was downright freaky! It screamed, "I am a huge geek that desperately wants America to like me." Sorry, the WIG gave me the creeps, and made him look ridiculous and aaawk-ward!! Anyway, a truly good male dancer knows how to complement and showcase his female partner. Will never did that. With the exception of his dance with Katee, he always outshined his partner. There were so many times that I just wanted to cry for his original dance partner, who he seemed to be tossing around WILLy-nilly. Ouch!!