This two-hour whopper of an episode started in Los Angeles, home of both of the previous winners of SYTYCD. At 7am, Cat Deeley shows us the line outside wraps around the block and is LITERALLY a mile long. Schmoozing and gooniness unsue.

Today's guest judge is Wade Robison, of The Wade Robison Project. Also, for banging Britney Spears when she was hot and with Justin Timberlake, thus inspiring "Cry me a River." Thank you Wade Robison, for all you've given society. Though actually I really liked that zombie dance last season.

"First in line" is Lauren, who looks like she belongs in the East Village, though her über-perky personality just screams California. She has idolized this show FOREVER... or, you know, for the past two years, but has always been too young to audition (you have to be 18). But even when she was too young, she "found a way to get involved" and worked as a choreographer's assistant on the show. Kiss up.

She dances and it's lyrical and lovely, but also kind of gyrate-y and spastic in a way that I just don't get. Wade thought she had great lines and dynamics in her movement. Whatever that means. Mary liked the choreography. Nigel calls her a beautiful girl and starts to say beautiful dancer, and I totally thought he was going to bust out in the "She's a Beautiful Girl" song they played last year every time a girl got kicked off, but no, he loved her too and Lauren is going to Vegas, clearly, since she WORKED FOR THE SHOW. I mean, I'd hope she's a good dancer. She freaks out with joy and runs screaming into the street, leaving bewildered strangers in her wake.

Next up is Jessi, who tells Cat in a pre-interview that she really just wants an honest opinion and criticism, instead of the "Nice job, you're going to make it, pat on the back stuff." which you usually get in a professional audition. Oooh, I totally wanted the judges to rip her apart, especially because I think she totally sucks, but at one point she rubs baby oil on her bare stomach, so of course Nigel is sold. And yes, she's very pretty, but I have some real problems with Nigel this episode and I think he just put her through cause she's hot because that "dancing" was crap. She's going to Vegas. VOM.

Nigel says "Yes."

Speaking of my annoyance with Nigel this episode, up next is the reason: EJ. He's chubby, so stereotypically gay (I mean, he's a hairdresser), and sweaty, and as soon as Nigel sees him, he's bewildered and EJ is completely written off. But, in my opinion, I thought he was a better dancer than that baby oil slut. He twirls and leaps and has some pretty nice moves. EJ gets a big applause from the watching audience, and Nigel immediately snaps that they're patronizing EJ and that they're not applauding his dancing, but the fact that he's "fat and doing it." Asshole. Yeah, maybe that's part of it - amazement that this guy who's totally chubbs can move and control his body like that - but Nigel's reaction is WAAAAY out of proportion. Nigel finishes his rant by telling EJ he's "sorry it even came up," forgetting that he was the one who brought it up in the first place. Wade goes on to tell EJ he dances like a girl (never heard that iteration of an old insult), which, nice. Mary is horrified. Nigel's last word is to tell EJ to keep dancing because it's good for his health, and that's not patronizing at all.

Outside in interviews we see that other contestants in the room were pretty offended by Nigel's comments, but EJ himself just brushes them off with élan, saying he's a happy person and it takes a lot to bring him down. Aw, love him!

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Posted in So You Think You Can Dance by Krank Mills at 1:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)
Last Comment: Shollia on Jun 4, 2007 09:58 PM.

Comments (6)

sonreesa :

DUDE! where is GOLD INFERNO the self-proclaimed jumpstyle champion!??! that was one of my favorite parts of the episode...especially when he got super mad when he didn't make it. classic. good recap tho!

1 of 6 | Posted by sonreesa | Posted on June 3, 2007 11:44 AM

addicted076 :

I was so annoyed with the way they treated EJ. Did I think he was going to make the top 20 with that routine? No, but he did a pretty damn good job. I really think the other judges took their cues from Nigel's opening rant. If he'd been nicer, they wouldn't have been so mean. This tends to happen a lot. Sheep!

Ah, Benji and Lacey. She is obviously a good dancer. I kind of wonder if she even needs this show. I guess spending the summer dancing on TV is too good to turn down! I'm just wondering if we really want to go there again. Oh, well, I'm sure I'll forget it soon if we don't get constant Benji mentions. (Not that I don't love Benji, but I don't want to watch reruns.)

I didn't make it all the way through this show. They tryouts are just too exploitative for my taste, but I can't wait for choosing the Top 20! Awesome recap. :)

2 of 6 | Posted by addicted076 | Posted on June 3, 2007 12:53 PM

georgiababe :

So I totally missed this episode. Is this the one that they're airing again next Wednesday, as an encore presentation?

3 of 6 | Posted by georgiababe | Posted on June 3, 2007 1:42 PM

Laurie :

Thursday night was Atlanta's audtions (which were totally boring btw)

This Wendesday/thursday all 200(!) people they took to Vegas are going to be narrowed down to the top 20. Not sure about the encore presentation...

4 of 6 | Posted by Laurie | Posted on June 4, 2007 7:45 AM

goldeeloxx :

I thought Atlanta was a good episode... the clogger was BADASS! Anyway, LOVE the recap, Krank; you're AWESOME!

5 of 6 | Posted by goldeeloxx | Posted on June 4, 2007 9:11 AM

Shollia :

Yeah I loved that Clogger from the Atlanta audition!
I was also annoyed with Nigel's treatment of EJ.
Yes I do think the crowd was patronizing by clapping for the guy, b/c you know they wouldn't have if he was skinny... but the way Nigel brought it all up was just so tacky and just... blah.

6 of 6 | Posted by Shollia | Posted on June 4, 2007 9:58 PM

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