Up first is Max "Doody Danny" Crumm, singing "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" by Elton John from The Lion King. Before he sings, we get a little peek at what Max has been doing for the past two weeks. He got a haircut, thus morphing him into Danny. I love you Max, but you still look like a Doody. Hey, stop giggling and get your kindergartener mind out of the gutter.
This performance is BO-ring, especially compared to some of the production numbers we're going to get with the later boys. Based on the comments of later contestants, it's clear they don't get to pick their own songs, so this makes me think the producers are pushing for certain people by giving them more exciting numbers to perform. J'accuse, show!
Our first Sandy is Laura "Dull Sandy" Osnes. She's singing the title number from ALW's Jesus Christ Superstar. We see footage of Laura rehearsing with ALW, and they're totally in the same rehearsal studios they use for SYTYCD! I'd recognize those hemispheric windows and red and yellow walls anywhere! He tells her she's the first girl he can remember singing this song anywhere. Um, singing it in front of you, ALW, but I've definitely sung along to it in my car. And that was like three years ago.
Laura's wearing a cool dress, but it makes her look like some sort of colorful bat with the hem attached to her wrists. And she's barefoot, I guess because Jesus was a famous barefoot-ed person? Who knows. She sounds pretty great, but like all the girls tonight, she's singing in a very low key, so it's not that impressive that she's belting.
ALW loved both of them. He also loves Max's eyes. See? ALW's really awkward! Kathleen wants to see more swagger from Max, but loved Laura. David Ian remarks that they love how Max has changed because they asked him to. Yes, the man producing Grease would like that message, wouldn't he?
Next up: Derek "Wholesale Danny" Keeling. He's worried about having to dance and sing at the same time. But he's working out in the hopes that it will prevent him from getting out of breath during the number. He's singing (and dancing!) to the title number from Footloose. Add Kevin Bacon to the list of guest judges we will not see on this show.
Derek's got backup dancers and everything this week. He's trying hard and he's moving better than he was last week, but compared to his backup dancers he still looks like a total amateur. The winning Danny and Sandy are going to have to hold their own against professionals and Derek is really not there yet.
All the girls find Ashley "Dim Bulb Sandy" Spencer to be their main competition. "Her eyes glitter and so do her teeth." Describes Allie. Ha, yeah I'd totally hate her too. We see her crying in rehearsal for no real reason. Drama queen.
She's singing "Take That Look Off Your Face" from ALW's Tell Me on a Sunday, which is a grrrreat song. Can the audience put their hands down please? You're blocking my view. The first time I watched this performance I wasn't impressed (again, she starts so low that the belting isn't that special), but on repeat viewing, I'm kind of a fan.
As Ryan Seacrest presents Derek and Ashley to the judges for critiques, he comments on Derek's sleeveless-ness. Ryan Seacrest hearts Derek's arms. Also, ALW gets in a dig about pop stars lip-syncing. What a bitch.
Kevin "The Chin Danny" Greene also gets a number with backup dancers, and he's loooving it. He's singing "Burning Love" which the show tells us is from All Shook Up. Ugh, please. That song is from ELVIS, not the jukebox musical based on his work. Kevin doesn't measure up to his backup dancers either. Also, why are the judges obsessed with Max's hair when Kevin could also use a haircut?
Juliana "Poor Sandy" Hansen is still using that overly sweet speaking voice. She reminds me more and more of Lyla Garrity every episode. As she performs "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina" for ALW, she adds some vowels to the word "promise." And then she does it again! Why doesn't anyone correct her? During her live performance Juliana's voice is perfectly lovely, but she sounds overly musical-theater-y. Very trained, but not very interesting. ALW looks bored.
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Comments (12)
These boys should just grease each other up on stage and get it over with!(get it? what a pun!).
The sexual tension is becoming more and more obvious.
Love,
KH
PS---FYI, Krank Mills...I think Jon Secada played Danny in one of the many 'grease' revivals.
1 of 12 | Posted by KatiesHole
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Posted on February 14, 2007 4:11 PM
Krank Mills, Austin did a GREAT job this week, I'll give you that. It's the first time I actually enjoyed his performance, instead of wanting to punch him.
However, I just can't see him as Danny. I think he's too fey for that particular character.
It's kind of the same thing with Juliana--she's good, but she isn't right for Sandy. (And no, it's not because she isn't blonde...there's just something about her that isn't right for Sandy.)
I thought Laura did a great job this week--kind of a weird song choice, but she made it work.
Right on about Kevin's haircut. I don't like the guy--not enough personality and he looks too contemporary.
I still love Max (though I thought he could have picked a better song), but I agree with you, he's more of a Doody. I wish they'd make an exception and cast him in a supporting role.
Kathleen's scary Christian eyes frighten me, and Memory is WAY more obvious than I Don't Know How to Love Him.
Allie was okay on the latter, but she needed to act it more.
And I'm quickly falling out of love with Kate. She has a freaking mullet, and her voice is good, but I don't think she's a very good actress/performer. And that's important too.
My favorites? Still Chad for Danny (yeah, he had the flu and the song was boring, but it still sounded gorgeous and he has great charisma), and I like Arms Guy too. For Sandy, Ashley Spencer, and Laura is quickly rising in the rankings for me.
Thanks for the great recap!
2 of 12 | Posted by maybeimamazed02
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Posted on February 14, 2007 5:27 PM
The reason that the producers are so obsessed with Max's hair is because it would be too cruel to say he's just too plain ugly to play Danny, so they try to build him up by blaming his hair.
Laura did a GREAT job. I had never noticed her before but she's certainly got my attention now!
3 of 12 | Posted by 626
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Posted on February 14, 2007 5:50 PM
Actually, FWIW, Jon Secada played Danny Zuko on Broadway in 1995. :O)
4 of 12 | Posted by peepsmama
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Posted on February 14, 2007 6:11 PM
Great recap!!I really liked Derek this week and aww hell Austin too but my fav still is Chad and I like Ashely S for Sandy doesn't she look a bit like a younger version of Meg Ryan? like when she did when harry met sally?
again awesome recap!!!
5 of 12 | Posted by Rose18
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Posted on February 14, 2007 10:30 PM
Andrew Lloyd Webber looks like a Muppet. His weird "boneless" hand clapping made me think a big hand was up his butt and controlling his movements.
By the way, "pierce the toast"...a great Bird Cage reference.
6 of 12 | Posted by Jezebel
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Posted on February 15, 2007 10:35 AM
unintentionally funny lines from the night:
“The level of talent is so high!”.
calling phantom a "masterpeice".
any of Max's 30 cliche'd "Now its time to bring our A game!" sayings.
"World wide Weber" Its unintentially funny because its not clever like Billy Bush thought, but just shows what a dueche he is.
When Juliana sanf Don’t Cry For Me Argentina" from Evita, instead of singing the line “I kept my promise. Don’t keep you distance” She actually sings “I kept my prom eyes. Don’t keep you distance”. Swear to god. I even rewound it and listened to it twice. I guess they are catering to their audience, since the 14 year olds would rather hear songs about proms instead of a long dead Argentinean dictators spouse.
7 of 12 | Posted by EdHill
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Posted on February 15, 2007 11:43 AM
I almost forgot the best one. Wehn Jim Jacobs, who loves everything he see's, tell's Max:
“You’re a master storyteller. I love you madly!”.
8 of 12 | Posted by EdHill
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Posted on February 15, 2007 11:46 AM
EdHill -- re: Juliana singing, I know! She's changing the vowels cause she can't get the sound out on the correct vowel. What a newb.
9 of 12 | Posted by kmills
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Posted on February 15, 2007 12:52 PM
Hmmm...that pic of "Laura" is actually a pic of "Julianna". I guess that says volumes as to how memorable either of those gals are. I actually like Julianna - when she's singing like a normal singer.
Austin? Really? I agree with maybeimamazed02 - he's too fey to play Danny. There is no macho bone in Austin's body and I kind of gag when they call him "hot Danny".
Oy. My choices I guess are - for Sandy Ashley Spencer and Kate - mullet notwithstanding. For Danny - Sick Boy and Derek. Even with Derek's less than stellar dancing, we have totally learned from Dancing with the Stars that newbs can make it work.....
10 of 12 | Posted by jennae
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Posted on February 15, 2007 2:23 PM
Actually, "That'll Be the Day" I believe is from the musical "The Buddy Holly Story: Live" which had a short run on Broadway from 90-91
11 of 12 | Posted by primadarling
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Posted on February 15, 2007 2:30 PM
this show is sooo boring.
yes austin is obviously the best. i forgot who the best gal is most likely kate.
12 of 12 | Posted by wincha
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Posted on February 18, 2007 7:37 PM