I guess he's doing a sort of jokey locking dance, but I'm not enjoying it as much as the judges. He does a lot of the same things over and over, and I don't get them creaming themselves over this guy. Mary really seems to find him just so adorable. Meh. The kid can move and he's got personality for days, but I'd rather have seen someone else's routine. Nigel liked what he did but fears he won't be able to do much else. Nobuya says he can do other stuff, but he doesn't like it. They move him forward to the choreography round.
In total forty-seven dancers were put through to the choreography. Oh Christ. Lauren is doing the choreography round. She's is not my favorite that they've ever had on this show, and I still think she made it into the top twenty because she was Tyce's assistant.
Go away please.
She's created a challenging amalgam of hip hop, jazz, some technique (WHAT?), and some ballroom. It's challenging because it's season 5. Or because she relishes being a bitch. Either/or.
The dancers have thirty minutes to get the routine down before they will have to perform it for the judges. Remember Mutation? They take a look at Lauren's dance and the other dancers and decide to bow out. They say they appreciate the experience and it was cool. I say they are Quitters!!! At least TRY. Both Maksim and Nobuya get put through. I don't think they'll make the cut in Vegas, though. With that, day one of the auditions is over.
On to day two in Brooklyn. Yikes! Cat apparently both found and killed a yeti.
Don't fuck with me fellas!
First up today is Arielle Taylor. She auditioned a couple of years ago and made it to Vegas, but she says she wasn't ready. She was still in high school and still growing as a dancer. But she's ready now! Nigel seems to remember her. I always wonder whether or not they really remember people, or if it's all there in their handy dandy notebook. She's good.
It's a no-brainer that she gets through. Arielle is so excited that she says she can't form a sentence. "Thank you judges! I love you guys!" That's two right there, Arielle. And then. We go back to the loony bin. Meet Thomas Martin and Amanda Clark. They will be performing a bolero for your viewing pleasure.
Is bolero Spanish for "Please fuck me in the ass"?
For those of you equally unfamiliar with the bolero style, Thomas tells us it's like the rhumba, but slower and with rise and fall. It's about emotion, connection and being at one with each other. I just know they're going to be incredible because when Thomas was younger he was the six time NATIONAL men's baton twirling champion. The obvious progression from there is dancing. I am so excited to see what he does!
Please keep your foreplay off my TV. I have a kid for Chrissake!
They are just as bad as you knew they'd be. Amanda can barely keep her balance standing upright on both feet. They are totally one of those joke auditions where people are just hoping to get their ugly mugs on TV. Bleh. Nigel doesn't know what to say. It was ungainly. Mary says it was just basic basic basic novice, beginning, bronze level dancing. It's a no. And with that, we get our montage of crappy dancers ending with this guy.
It's a revolutionary new genre called "rolling around on the floor". Mia LOVES it!
It's up to ballroom dancers Igor Zabrodin and Nina Estrina to put us back on the right track. They will be dancing a cha-cha. They're good. In one part of their dance, they do a pot-stir that lasts for days and gets progressively faster and faster and faster. Unsurprisingly, Nina is unable to talk after being spun that long and quickly. I think her brain may have been liquefied.
Nigel thinks they could put wet clothes on her and spin them dry. He thinks they're tremendous. Mary thinks it's the longest pot-stir she's ever seen. Nigel points out that she was spotting the entire time, which is pretty impressive given the speed at which she was turning. They're asked to stick around for choreography.
Next up is Kellen Stancil. And his giant umbrella. Isn't it bad luck to open an umbrella inside? You know, he's not bad, but he sort of gets on my nerves. He's got good technique and the choreography is decent. But something is grating. I'm trying to put my finger on what it is, but I can't. I guess there's no reason for it, but somehow I have formed an immediate dislike for the kid.
Maybe it's the umbrellastache.
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Comments (16)
Yay Pottymouth! Thanks for the great recap. It's like you typed up my exact thoughts dancer-by-dancer, only much funnier!
I'm definitely rooting for Natalie, who was unfairly overshadowed by Katee's drama last year. I like Brandon too -- a lot of them, actually.
I just hope that this year we get to see the progression of the dancers -- sometimes we never see them again and they're just magically not in the top 20.
Oh, yeah, and Mitch is "straight and a masculine dancer," right... Nigel was an A-hole to berate them though, especially given his own uber feminine hair and gestures.
Can't wait for the next ep and recap. I hope we get to see Joshua and Twitch and some of the other fab contestants from last year (no more Lauren, please).
XOXOXO,
Z
1 of 16 | Posted by zbird | Posted on May 24, 2009 10:19 AM
I also didn't like umbrella dancer Kellen Stancil, and also can't tell you exactly why.
Thanks for recapping the show. I love this one, even more than Idol.
Hopefully Sonya will be a choreographer [only] again this season.
2 of 16 | Posted by NatPatBen | Posted on May 24, 2009 11:04 AM
Totally with you guys on Lauren. I've never understood her appeal.
I already have this year's drinking game word picked out: intent. Dancing with intent. Blah blah blah...intent. Be sure to have your shots lined up.
Mary still hasn't learned how to pronounce "st" combinations. She continues to add an "h"...so "strength" becomes "shtrength"..."strong" becomes "shtrong." Drives. Me. Crazy.
Natalie Reid is an exceptional dancer...but won't make it very far into the top 20, because she doesn't have the body type the judges seem to prefer (the short, sawed-off thing...see Lauren for a prime example.)
I love Brandon Bryant, and will be rooting for him.
I'm relieved they're showing fewer train wrecks this season. But if they dare show that idiot who calls himself "Sex," I will be done with this show. Nigel can't berate the guy for being there (as he did last year,) then continue to exploit for ratings the creep's delusions.
As for you, PottyMouth...I love your recapping style. You mix your snark and sarcasm with genuine affection and admiration. Nice combination :)
3 of 16 | Posted by cattyfan | Posted on May 24, 2009 11:10 AM
And thank you for including the picture of Hugh Jackman. I think you should do that every week...
4 of 16 | Posted by cattyfan | Posted on May 24, 2009 11:11 AM
Completely disagree with you on Umbrella...I thought his story was sweet.
Was disappointed that Nina (Igor's spinning partner)did not make it
My early favorites are Brandon, Natalie, and Kayla (the girl with the sleepy grandpa)...I thought Kayla was great. While you didn't like the version, I thought she used it well and had great musicality.
5 of 16 | Posted by tv freak | Posted on May 24, 2009 1:11 PM
I agree. I don't like umbrella guy either. It seemed like he just wanted to dance with an umbrella, AND just wanted to include his sob story so he combined the story together. irritating.
The only one that stood out for me what the athritis girl. hoping to see more these next few episodes.
6 of 16 | Posted by chibby | Posted on May 24, 2009 3:17 PM
The umbrella guy? Dancing Danny Gokey.
Is this a new reality show trend- dragging out a dead loved one to work an interesting angle for the producers?
I swear, some of these people will practically drag out the body and hold it up, shaking it at the cameras.
7 of 16 | Posted by missbunnyhugs | Posted on May 24, 2009 6:57 PM
PottyMouth! I am so exciting that you are recapping this - I love your HK stuff!
Haven't even read anything yes, but I got all excited that it was you! Now, off to read!
8 of 16 | Posted by georgiababe | Posted on May 24, 2009 8:18 PM
Great recap, Potty Mouth! I love this show and I'm so glad it's back on.
I don't remember Brandon from last year at all, which is weird because he is SO insanely good. Love him.
Also, someone should send Nigel over to Lost, because he's got daddy issues. I think maybe his daddy used to call him mean names when he was little because he liked to dance, and that's where all the "MEN SHOULD BE MEN" crap comes from.
9 of 16 | Posted by here4beer | Posted on May 24, 2009 10:45 PM
Fine recap. I recall Brandon from last year... he should have been at least in the top 20. They felt (unfairly) he was arrogant. He sure did not come off that way this time... but still insanely talented.
I'm also cheering for the arthritic circus girl.
I know I can't dance, but I've really enjoyed watching this show.
10 of 16 | Posted by fire@will | Posted on May 25, 2009 9:37 AM
I agree that the show includes too much reaction from the judges during the auditions. Although I really liked Sonya - she seems so earnest and such a fan herself. I don't think think she is anything like Mia (who should only choreograph and never be allowed to talk).
11 of 16 | Posted by hoboscooter | Posted on May 25, 2009 7:10 PM
Well, finally done!
Gotta say, I agree with a lot of what you said, especially about showing the judges' reactions.
Secondly, Sonya was sort of creepy. I love her choreography, but she was practically making sex noises in her chair - if I were auditioning and I got that kind of reaction, I would have been totally creeped out.
And lastly, I don't understand how Nigel can keep going ON and ON about that stupid "Men should be men, women should be women" crap. If he believes that, he really ought to work in construction. I don't know how anybody who has been a dancer and has been around dance for so long can be so homophobic.
Also, Nigel has terrible hair. Thank you.
12 of 16 | Posted by georgiababe | Posted on May 26, 2009 2:36 AM
Another Lauren hater here. So fucking annoying. Remember when she and Dominic kissed? Ew. LoL at zbird, although I don't quite agree. I think the judges like tall girls with your typical "dancer's body." Lauren isn't even really that short, is she?
I don't really feel the umbrella hatred, but I really have no opinion on him either way. I live for this show.
13 of 16 | Posted by Rock Star | Posted on May 26, 2009 4:14 AM
I've only finished about half of this episode so far, but when I saw Brandon in the preview I was so very excited. He was my #1 last year and I was so sad he didn't make it through. Beautiful dancer. I also wanted Natalie over Katee (would have prefered both of them, but like Natlalie better). Favorite new dancer this year is the girl with athritis. Wow.
14 of 16 | Posted by cansnuts | Posted on May 26, 2009 12:31 PM
PottyMouth,
You write the best SYTYCD recap out there. I hope you don't mind but I posted the link to this recap on Twitter. Hopefully more SYTYCD fans will discover the genius of your writing.
It's a pleasure reading you.
No opinions on dancers yet but I hope Arielle Taylor and Kayla Radomski make the cut in Vegas.
I was disappointed that Nina Estrina (pot sticker gurl) didn't make it past choreo. She looked a lot like Paula from Hell's Kitchen.
I also was not impressed by Singin' in the Rain Man, Kellen Stancil.
15 of 16 | Posted by gerritv | Posted on May 27, 2009 11:09 AM
zbird: Thanks! Seeing the progression would be great. Too often people just show up in the top twenty that we’ve never even seen before.
NatPenBen: I’m glad I wasn’t the only one! I’m also hoping we see more of Sonya’s choreography this year.
cattyfan: You’re so very welcome. I’ll include him as many times as I can come up with an excuse to put him in there.
tv freak: I agree with you that Kayla had great musicality – I just REALLY hate that version of the song.
chibby: I’m looking forward to see who else stands out also. Keeping my fingers crossed that they leave their umbrellas at home :P
missbunnyhugs: Too true, too true. Spoiler! Tune in to the next recap for more on this subject.
georgiababe: Awww, thanks! I wish someone would tell Nigel he needs a decent haircut. The 70’s are over!
here4beer: I wonder……you may be dead on with the daddy issues thing. Considering his age, Nigel’s parents may not have been too thrilled with his dancing.
fire@will: I never understood why they thought Brandon was arrogant. I’m also hoping he makes it to the top twenty.
hoboscooter: Sonya reminds me of Mia in the way she talks, not her attitude. They both remind me of talking to someone who has just smoked a crapload of weed.
Rock Star: Ewwwww, I had scrubbed that image from my brain.
cansnuts: Wow is right. I’m really hoping she can keep up physically and get through to the top twenty.
gerritv: Thanks so much! And no, I don’t mind at all.
Thanks for taking the time to read and comment – I love hearing what you all think. This week is going to be brutal with four hours worth of show to recap, but I’ll try to get it all done as soon as I can.
SWAK, PottyMouth
16 of 16 | Posted by PottyMouth | Posted on May 28, 2009 1:06 PM