Hey kids - it's time - our top 20 dancers for the first time on So You Think You Can Dance! Cat announces each by name and I can't help but pee my parents a little when I hear "These are your girls... and these are your guys!" as they do their little West Side Story strut towards us. AHHH!!! It's finally begun!
Cat reminds us that the winner gets 1/4 million. Which I think is cheap - pony up for the talent already Fox!! Lord knows you don't spend any on your news department or quality writers! She then introduces us to the "jidges" - but makes the audience say it. Sheep!
Along with Mary and Nigel we have wanna-be New Kid on the Block, Dan Karaty. Who has yet to ever wear a suit that fits him:
"Hey! Ima just a lil' guy - tryin' to make it in a big and tall world!"
Cat asks Nigel if he thinks there are any front runners and Nigel responds that it's... Cat! Sigh. Stop trying to get laid Nigel. Cat needs a hot guy with straight teeth. You have neither. I love how Cat brushes it off with good ol' self-deprecation though. When's the last time we ever saw that in a reality host?
We learn that the 20 kids have been paired into 10 couples and each pick dances randomly from a hat. Cat then introduces a montage of the top 20 and their auditions. REALLY?!? A friggin' montage ALREADY?!? The competition hasn't even officially started and we're getting montages thrown at us already!!? OY! Nevertheless it makes me cry, laugh and hold myself in just 2.5 minutes. God I love getting good montage.
First up, Rayven and Jamie. Rayven is a contemporary ballet dance who auditioned in LA - and she's the oldest contestant at 28 years old. Aaaaaand I officially feel old. Sometimes I hate this show. But it only lasts for a moment until my Alzheimer's kicks in and I forget about being old.
Jamie is a west coast swinger (as in dancer - not that thing that Tom and Katie do with Rob Thomas - allegedly!). He auditioned in Vegas alongside his girlfriend until she was cut. That sucks. "No really honey - I'm happy for you - you go on... without me... break a leg... seriously...break it."
Napoleon and Tabitha are teaching them hip-hop - white-married-couple style. It's pretty much the equivalent of sky-diving in one of those wind tunnels. Similar feeling - not as exciting. Jamie is all set though because he found a sweatshirt just for this:
Now start dancing already! And they do. Jamie tells us he's used to "pulling his face west-coast style". I've learned over time this means "making facial expressions". Or in Mary's case - it's called plastic surgery. Rehearsal goes well and they actually seem to be picking it up quickly for 2 kids that don't do hip-hop.
So Jamie and Rayven finally hit the stage to perform and I think they do a really good job. I think it's really cool - fresh and fun. And the song is kick-ass! Their style is like bubblegum hip-pop. Their raciest moment comes when Rayven pants' Jamie:
And he rightfully rips one in her face for payback.
That was the one part I didn't like. It's stupid and pointless. Although Jamie has nice legs and I think he shaves them. Interesting. However this reminded me of when Benji did it to himself last season which SUPER annoyed me.
Nigel makes a comment about hip-hop getting "soft" and then congratulates Napoleon and Tabitha on their choreography! HAHAHHAHA! Back-handed compliments are FANTASTIC! Mary does the worst "I'm gonna give a nasty-comment fake-out" and immediately screams about loving it. She should be allowed only 1 scream per episode. And even that should be into a paper bag. Mary calls the dance "cotton candy" but says she loves "cotton candy". Lady, if that's not what you eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner I'll eat my fucking hat.
Dan calls the dance "not quite there" and says there was "no funk". Maybe they could borrow some from his hair.
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Comments (6)
WAHOO! The hot tamale writer is back! Thanks for the giggles! 5...4...3..2..1.. Can't wait for the next recap!
1 of 6 | Posted by jglau78 | Posted on June 17, 2008 11:47 PM
LOL about Dan's suit not fitting... I thought the same thing when I noticed his sleeves were halfway down his hand.
2 of 6 | Posted by aidnnme | Posted on June 18, 2008 8:12 AM
For some reason (talent? style? personality?) most of the dancers I found myself really watching were black (of either gender). For example, I'm a straight male (who could be on "So You Admit You Can't Dance?"), but I thought Twitch was more interesting to watch than his partner (who was talented and sexy). Few of the other dancers really held my attention. I'd like to see Twitch and Chelsea paired up (or is it better to have only one star at a time?)
Overall, the level of talent is incredible. I wish they'd keep everyone around for at least two weeks. I enjoy seeing people grow, plus it is too early to eliminate any of these people (especially when they all get different styles to dance - apples and oranges).
3 of 6 | Posted by fire@will | Posted on June 18, 2008 9:31 AM
I do not like the stripper teacher. What school hires a teacher w/ pink hair? Not that I'm against pink hair, but shouldn't there be some level of professionality and distinction between students and teacher. Plus yeah she looks like a stripper- how are young boys supposed to learn anything w/ that in front of the class distracting them?
4 of 6 | Posted by tvkitty | Posted on June 18, 2008 12:25 PM
I was looking forward to this recap because I thought you'd be all "OMG Thayne looks like Benji!" but then you didn't. Still, good job.
I really disagreed with the judges on this one... I thought the disco routine was great (Courtney may possibly be the next Natalie from season 2) and I couldn't stand the tango or the hip-hop routine.
Loved your calling out the blatant advertising... it really is ridiculous. And something that kind of bothers me; I swear when Nigel is talking about a pole being where the sun don't shine, he means the bum not the penis? Because somehow a rod being jammed up a penis gives me horrible, aching sympathy pains.
5 of 6 | Posted by alex_w | Posted on June 22, 2008 10:39 AM
Alex - Sorry - should have clarified - I meant Nigel was mistaking the word "Broomstick" for "Penis". As in - Matt was dancing he had a penis stuck up his butt. This is all technical dance speak of course. AND I TOTALLY thought Thayne looks like Benji - I don't know why I didn't write it - thought I did - I'll discuss in next recap! :)
bBitz
6 of 6 | Posted by bBitz | Posted on June 22, 2008 2:26 PM