Matt sings "Pretty Woman" and it sounds like karaoke. Really bad karaoke. He also has no idea what to do with his hands. I boo, but the studio audience screams. Ashley sings "Looks Like We Made It" and is out of tune from the first note. This is what I sound like when I sing and I'm kind of tone-deaf. For ONCE the panel is honest and gives criticism. David Ian says that Ashley Anderson confuses him because she's pretty, but also untalented. And pretty people are never untalented.
Next: "Can Mormons Be Gay?" Danny, Jason Celaya, and "Doody" Danny, Max Crumm. Singing "Faith," Jason is pretty good, though I agree with Kathleen Marshall that his performance was a little contemporary ( i.e. Justin Timberlake instead of Elvis Presley). Hey, is that Kirsten Dunst in the audience?
Max starts his song, "Summer of '69" in front of a giant screen playing the Windows Media Player Visualizer. Awesome graphics department on this show. His performance is kind of awesome, but he's still reading Doody to me not Danny. Also, I don't know if skinny-jeans really project that Danny image the judges are obsessed with.
"Dull" Sandy Laura Osnes is currently playing Sandy in Minnesota, and is a total Jessica Smith look-alike. 'Guna references all over this show! She just got engaged, but now that she's moving to LA she doesn't have a lot of time to plan a wedding. Sounds like fiancée is getting left in the cold Minnesotian dust! Kathleen Monteleone is married and a worship leader at her church. Heh, oops, she's the one I called a hussy last week. I dub thee, "Hester Prynne" Sandy!
Laura sings "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" and this is the first song all night that sounds like something that could be in Grease. She sings pretty well and gives some personality, but I'm distracted by her hideous outfit. Especially the white ankle boots.
Kathleen Monteleone is singing "She's a Beautiful Girl" and I'm distracted by thoughts of how much more I like So You Think You Can Dance than this show. She's fine, but I'm pretty sure every time she sang about him she meant Him. She does have a nice spriritual tip: "When wearing Sandy spandex, do not rely on prayer alone." HA. Poor girls. Awful pants. Olivia Newton-John is cracking up over that comment. David Ian doesn't think Laura could hold her own against the people they've been casting in the other roles. But they all loved Kathleen.
When we get back from commercials, Ryan Seacrest is sitting with Olivia Newton-John and Jim Jacobs with the prospective Sandy's in the audience. The girls have a boring Q&A sesh with ONJ and the girls all listen really hard.
"The Chin" Danny, Kevin Greene is from Greece, NY. He's a regular guy who's doing this for his grandpa. "Pretty boy" Dannny, Chad Doreck started acting as a kid and has a band. He also likes his family. Shocker.
Kevin is singing "Walking in Memphis" and I get a Matthew Morrison vibe. Me likey. It's all about the chin, "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" is Chad's song. It's rather splendid, and he's the only boy all night that hit the falsetto in his song. Jim Jacobs is ready to cast Chad, but the all judges loved both of them.
We're finally at our last pair of the night. YAY. "Poor" Sandy, Juliana Hansen is a child of divorce. For most of her life her and her mother shared a bedroom with 6 other people. That is insane. Juliana says that coming from that background really fuels her ambition. "Dim Bulb" Sandy, Ashley Spencer started dancing at age four. She spent her last dime to get to the auditions in L.A. Sucker.
Juliana is singing "The First Cut is the Deepest" and it's kind of funny to hear this pop song sung totally in the style of musical theater., but her performance is dull overall. Ashley Spencer sings "Does He Love Me" and reminds me of a thin Laura Bell Bundy. I can play the who-do-you-look-like game all day long. She plays the song all cutesy. The judges loved both of them, but would like to see some more personality from Juliana.
Just as I get excited that the show is over, it's not. There's another group number! I guess this is where we get to see their dancing ability? I wonder if we're ever going to see them act. This time they're performing "We Go Together" from Grease and HERE are the poodle skirts.
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Comments (10)
I only watched the first hour of this because of new Simpsons, etc. This show is just ridiculous to me. I get the same queasy, slightly nauseous, embarrassed feeling that I used to get when I attended bad high school plays when I watch this show. Do these people really expect to get famous from this? If they were any good they would already be on Broadway. And shame on Olivia Newton John for supporting this shit. I probably will keep watching though, because I never pass up a chance to make fun of others. I'm just that kind of girl.
1 of 10 | Posted by BlueAspic
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Posted on January 31, 2007 10:05 PM
This show is the reverse of Idol I thought the audition shows were way more interesting. This was a total cheesefest. But of course I'll probably keep watching. The judges have to stop being cheerleaders though. P.S. ONJ should have a clause in her contract that she can not be broadcast in HD. Not a pretty sight.
2 of 10 | Posted by JasonR
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Posted on February 1, 2007 8:14 AM
It's amazing how much this show is copying the British inspiration (How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria). Bringing back the cut contestants (although it worked out better in the UK version), the color coding, the cheesy nicknames, even the set for the live show is pretty much the same.
And I hate Austin. I'm watching just to watch him lose.
3 of 10 | Posted by kvc
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Posted on February 1, 2007 10:08 AM
Recap is right on the money.
And I am so with you kvc -- can't stand Austin, especially for this role. He's more "Fey Danny" than any other kind of Danny. Probably a great ensemble performer but just plain annoying otherwise.
I can't believe I sat there and watched this crap for 2 hours -- it is such a poorly produced show and most of the talent is forgettable.
4 of 10 | Posted by nj2ca
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Posted on February 1, 2007 11:33 AM
OK, so I turned off the show as soon as I heard them utter those stupid nicknames for everyone. And then I got to the paragraph in your recap where you give them your own nicknames and dug up the episode on the dvr. Damn you, Krank, I thought I had managed to successfully drop this show and now you've sucked me back in!
Your nicknames are so much better and the recap was right now.
Pretty Boy Danny is my current favorite, he's not only cute but I actually liked listening to his song. The same can not be said for everyone. Austin sucks. But then I thought that since I first saw him. Meh.
And you're right about So You Think You Can Dance too. I miss it so.
5 of 10 | Posted by mountain_girl
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Posted on February 1, 2007 2:46 PM
THANK YOU, Krank! A fellow theatre geek has arrived at TVGasm! My roommate and I love all of your obscure musical theatre references.
I hate Austin. I have since Day 1. I'd believe him as Link in Hairspray (I think he said that was his job before he got on this show), but NOT as Danny. Waaaay too gay.
Love Max, but I can't get past the fact that he looks more like Doody. Maybe Sonny. I wish they would make an exception and cast him somewhere in the show, as I love his voice and presence.
Kevin has a good voice but is too contemporary. Gay Mormon Jason creeped me out for some reason. I liked the first guy (keep forgetting his name).
Chad is so far my favorite--has been ever since his first audition, when he sang Hunka Hunka Burnin Love (really good choice for a Danny audition). Cute, funny, charismatic, believable as a straight guy.
As for the girls, Kathleen weirds me out in the way that really really Christian people do (I used to work at Borders, and the people buying Bibles were often the rudest customers). Allie is too young and untrained. Kate's got a great voice, but I'm not sure if she can act. Juliana has a good voice, but just really annoys me (she just seems very sugary and fake). My favorite so far is Ashley Spencer--has the perfect look (especially when her hair is in a ponytail)and a good voice.
Ashley Anderson--I want to like her, but she needs to get a grip. She wants it too badly. Matt Nolan...sweet guy, would be great for community theatre. However, he's simply too untrained to be a Broadway lead.
My main concern is that America is casting not just one person, but a couple. Meaning chemistry should be a factor as well...hopefully as the judges get down to the final four or six, they will start pairing them off.
6 of 10 | Posted by maybeimamazed02
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Posted on February 2, 2007 9:37 AM
This show is absolutely cheese-tastic!!!!!!
I guess I'm in the minority because I found the tryouts and Grease Academy painful to watch. I decided to give it one live show to see if I would keep watching. The answer is a resounding - YES! Of course I probably will continue watching it via TIVO so I can fast forward through Billy Bush crap and idiotic group numbers.
7 of 10 | Posted by gretcheepoo
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Posted on February 2, 2007 6:56 PM
Hi Everyone! I love this show! It's giving these talented kids the opportunity of a lifetime! I have a friend that is a finalist, but I am rooting for all of them!
They are doing a great job.
It would be nice if you all would give them a break. Also, if it doesn't appeal to you, why are you all tuned in every week? Just a question! Have a great day!
8 of 10 | Posted by Choderman
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Posted on February 8, 2007 8:07 AM
Wow, Choderman. I'll bet your friend appreciates your loyal support, with you "rooting for all of them"!
At this point, I do not appreciate the producers yanking my chain with this "let's give these guys a second chance" routine. I honestly feel they did that just so they could give the actual finalists another chance to make an impression on the audience. They decided that some valid options could be "accidentally" eliminated by the unwashed masses, so they threw these two, um...what's that popular phrase these days?? Oh yeah--threw these two retreads under the bus! It's a shame to give them hope and then watch them flounder like they did. Painful.
9 of 10 | Posted by MsEudora
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Posted on February 11, 2007 1:16 PM
There are so many talented actors in NYC that can't even get a foot in the door of this crazy business. These are people who are talented, experienced, and a hell of a lot more entertaining than any of the HACKS on this show! So when I see these amateurs get up there and do a mediocre job at best, and then the judges pretty much blow sunshine up their butts, I get a little angry. I thought Broadway was supposed to be the best of the best. What a joke. This show is making a fool of Broadway. I've turned the show on twice and was so aggravated by what I saw that I can't have anything to do with it. I don't want the show to count me in the ratings. I want it to disappear. The people I want to see on Broadway are the ones who have really worked and struggled for it, the ones who have studied and networked and done shows for free and paid every due possible. Those are the people I want to see on Broadway-not these wide-eyed, clueless kids who have no idea what it really means to entertain people, and no idea of the struggle that most actors go through to make it to Broadway.
10 of 10 | Posted by Mosiedots
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Posted on February 13, 2007 4:16 PM