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“So You Think You Can Dance”: season overview

It’s taken me this long to recoup from last week’s finale. I’m still out of breath from screaming. (Actually, I missed last week because I was at a women’s music festival, romping in the woods with a few thousand half naked women. I know, you feel sorry for me.) What a season, eh? From sexy Cat Deeley to great guests (Jordin Sparks) to lousy guests (take the Pussycat Dolls, please) and last but certainly not least, some out-of-this-world dancing. Someone fan me and pass the ice cream while I go over a few highlights.

We started with auditions in six cities from the bad (Gold Inferno, anyone?) to the amazing (popper Robert Muraine, who bowed out of the finals). After a while, they morphed into one giant dancer but somehow, 20 finalists emerged from the wreckage, 10 girls (or “gulls” if you’re Cat) and 10 boys. They paired up and in the weeks afterward, danced everything from a waltz to hip-hop to jazz. Two new genres were introduced — Bollywood and a country two-step. The latter was weak, but the Bollywood dances, with their colorful costumes and fun moves, were a hit. I hope there’s more of that next season.

Regular judges Mary Murphy and Nigel Lythgoe were always there with a rotating group of guests including my TV girlfriend Mia Micheals and the Dumos. I could’ve done without Toni Basil‘s pontifications about dance but I think she was only on once. While Murphy’s million decibel screams were sometimes annoying, I got used to her, like living on a busy street and not hearing the honking. Besides, we need someone to get worked up, it certainly wasn’t Nigel.

There were some great guest dancers like the L.A. Ballet Company (who did a gorgeous pas de deux) and the Alvin Ailey Dance Troupe.

The choreographies were freakin’ amazing and even more amazing, the dancers learned so many genres in so little time. Usually it was successful although a few of the hip-hop dancers had trouble with the more formal ballroom dances. And speaking of ballroom dance, it was great that Chelsie lasted as long as she did. Ballroom dancers usually don’t have the versatility of the other dancers although my man Benji (season two winner) did a pretty damn good job. Then there was the weird bunny choreography. Yeah, I know it was oh-so-Cirque-du-Soleil but please, people, demonic bunnies?

There were the expected eliminations, like Rayven, early in the finals but what about the Comfort debacle? I was ready to love her street smart self but it was clear she wasn’t on a par with the others. Still, she toughed it out, even staying longer than Chelsea. Then when Jessica was injured and she came back for two more weeks? Whoa.

The opening choreographies were cool. One of my favorites was the one where Nigel was tied up.

There are too many wonderful couple dances to count but Chelsea and Mark‘s about the workaholic guy put together by the Dumos is definitely a stand out. So was the sexy samba done by Katee and Joshua in the same episode. Both couples danced well together, as did Kherington and Twitch. And can you believe that Kherington was asked to go before Comfort?

Ooh! Don’t forget about that fiery pasa double by Kherington and Twitch, with the cape twirls and fierce expressions. I’m still dreaming about Kherington. She can play dress up with me anytime.

The solos weren’t as memorable because they were so short and because most would’ve benefited from a good choreographer. However, I do remember Will‘s great James Brown routine although a fat lot of good it did him since he was eliminated soon after. What a shock that was! It happened not long after we started voting and I’ll bet the public was tired of the tongue bath he got from the judges every week.

After 60 million votes for the finale, Joshua was declared the winner. Good for him. It was rewarding to see a street dancer win and wasn’t it sweet that Twitch clearly supported him? No sour faces or bad losers here.

What were your highlights? Surprised at the winner? What are you anticipating for next season? I’m hoping for more soccer players (Kherington), less comments about masculinity (Can you hear me, Nigel?) and expanding the genres of dance (more Bollywood please).

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