I’ve never watched So You Think You Can Dance, but it comes highly recommended, and all of my guilty pleasures have abruptly ended so I’m looking for another reality TV show to follow. I refuse to watch The Bachelor. I can’t stomach it. I’ve tried several times over the years (including last week when The Bachelorette premiered) and I can’t get past how ludicrous the whole concept is. Although, ironically, I thoroughly enjoy reading Boomama‘s recaps.
But back to So You Think You Can Dance. I know NOTHING about dance. NOTHING. So I do not claim to be an expert of any sort. But that has never stopped me from airing my opinions before, and I see no reason to stop now.
Evidently the show is run much like American Idol. The preliminary auditions take place in various cities across the country, and the judges eventually narrow the contestants down to a top 20. I wrote this last night.
Day 1: NYC
Gabi Rojas is the first dancer to perform. The judges are in awe. I guess she was flexible, but I found it a bit odd. Did I mention that I know nothing about dancing?
Saalim “Storyboard” Muslim (is that the name of one of the guys or the group?) are 2 guys that are apparently double jointed, and this makes the last one look like classic ballet. I take it So You Think I Can Dance takes after American Idol in that they allow people who have no chance to have their 2 seconds of fame. And yet, the judges are actually considering these guys. I’m perplexed.
Does that Amy girl remind anyone else of a very obnoxious Marie Osmond? Her laugh… I’m not sure I can take a whole season of that.
Oooooh, Philly boy! Peter Sabasino is a tap dancer, evidently, but he doesn’t look like any tap dancer I’ve ever seen before. He’s going straight to Vegas, and I for one am looking forward to seeing him again. Ahem.
Tiffany Geigel is simply inspiring. WOW. You go, girl. Unfortunately, while her performance was remarkable, the judges decide that she isn’t right for this competition.
Nabuya is doing something called “locking” ??? My dancing ignorance is quite evident. Anyway, he gets to go on to the choreography round to see if he can do anything else.
The choreography round is briefly televised, and then a slew of people get tickets to Vegas, including Nabuya and someone else I recognized from the prelims.
Day 2: NYC
Arielle Taylor has auditioned in past seasons, and she’s giving it another shot. She looks fabulous to my untrained eye, and evidently to the judges too as she gets a ticket straight to Vegas.
Nina Estrina and Igor Zabrodin are super talented, but I about tossed my cookies watching her spin for 20 seconds straight. They get called back for the choreography round.
Kellyn Stencil gives everybody a sentimental moment and gets a ticket to Vegas.
Chimezie Nwosu is entertaining and fun to watch but aren’t they supposed to know ballroom dances and stuff? Evidently the judges have the same concern, and he is asked to return for the choreography round.
Igor makes it but his partner Nina doesn’t. Chimezie makes it through though. I’d love to see him again. I’m curious to see what else he can do.
Day 1: Denver
Kayla Radomski is only 18 and I’m just in awe of her flexibility. What style of dance is this? Hi. Dance NOVICE. Remember? Did anyone else tear up at her grandfather in tears? Okay, so I’m a dance novice AND a sap.
The judges are perplexed by the same-sex ballroom dancers (perplexed doesn’t even touch the tip of the iceberg for me) but they get called back to choreography where one is asked to Vegas and one isn’t. Ten other dancers from Denver get tickets to Vegas.
Day 2: Denver
Day two in Denver is NOT looking promising.
Natalie Reid is giving the guest judge convulsions, and this is where my dancing ignorance comes to the surface. I mean, she was good and all, but I don’t get all the drama. I guess this modern dance style is not my cuppa tea? (Was that modern dance?)
Brandon Bryant is the final dancer for Denver. I’m sorry; I just can’t get past the wardrobe slelection. Evidently the Amy judge had no such hangups. She’s in TEARS over this performance.
Alrighty then. Hopefully SYTYCD is much like American Idol in that the preliminary auditions are no where near as entertaining as the competition will be when they get down to their top 20. Because so far… eh.
So who’s watching So You Think You Can Dance this season? Did anyone stand out to you last night?
Okay, I’m off to come up with a fashion post. Maybe. I make no promises when the weather is this nice. (If anyone has a fashion topic they want to discuss, lay it on me. I am all out of fashion posts in my drafts folder.)
Honestly, I didn’t get to watch all of it b/c I was watching it streaming. And that doesn’t always work so well.
But I’m sad you didn’t watch it last season b/c it was so good I actually MISS those contestants! *sigh* Anyway, I just stumbled upon (blog pun) the show last season and loved it! I like it MORE than American Idol. I’m just sayin…you might want to prepare yourself!
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I didn’t read your re-cap since I haven’t watched my dvr yet, but I just wanted to tell you sytycd is my ALL-TIME favorite show and you will not be sorry. You will see some of the most amazing dance routines in the world. It’s truly mind-blowing, and Amanda is right, it’s SO much more exciting than Idol.
If you get a chance, go to youtube and search for “wade robson ramalama bangbang”. It’s a group dance from season 2 of the show (the best season, imo) and I think it’s the most amazing routine of the entire series. Wade Robson stopped choreographing for the show after season 3, but he’ll occasionally come back and do a group number, and he’s so so talented. I can’t fully express my love of this show. I hope you love it!
I have never got into that show. Sad to see the Hills final episodes are next week and is the City coming back in the fall? I know stupid MTV reality but it really sucks you in.
FYI – Left an award for you on my blog.
OK, so I love SYTYCD. I’m not quite an addict or anything, but I do have a piece of advice. While the preliminaries are entertaining (much like AI), it really gets good when they have their top contestants. Hang in there, it will get even better.
As far as fashion advice . . . here’s my quandry. I am progressing in my weight loss
after having 3 kids in 3 1/2 years, but I’m not there yet. I want clothes that fit, are fun, practical, and affordable! I just can’t see spending a lot when I’m bound to end up with spit-up, ketchup, or other shall we say, unmentionables on me by the end of the day. How do I make it through the day, feel good about how I look, feel good about what I’ve spent, oh, and make sure it’s washable???? I must also confess, I’ve never really found my style. I got married young (18) and it was just never a priority for me or in my family. I so want to look cute (in my eyes, and at least my husband’s) but I don’t know where to start. I guess I would say my style now is jeans and “dressy” t-shirts. I’m pretty laid back, classic, easy. How do I figure it all out, not spend a fortune and not cry when the baby spits up on me?Need help!
Thanks!
I have never watched this show. I may have to start with all your recapping! I know NOTHING about dancing either. I do watch the Bachelor and Bachelorette. Sometimes it is just to much for me, you know all the alcohol and hot tubs! Who really does that? It is like an extended spring break!
I also can’t bring myself to watch the Batchelor/ette shows. The basic idea of the show is just a bit far fetched for me.
My husband and I started watching sytycd last season and it has quickly become a favorite here. Personally, I like AI a little better, but my hubby would choose sytycd in a second. I hope you enjoy the rest of the season! I’m sure you’ll be hooked.
Hmm, I thought both of the same sex ballroom dancers didn’t make it to Vegas, guess I wasn’t paying attention there. I like watching the show. I’m no dancing expert either and don’t really get modern dance. I agree with a previous commentator, it gets really good later with the top 20 and when it is down to the last few couples. They are working with professional choreographers and that makes a big difference! Love to read your AI recaps and will enjoy reading your SYTYCD recaps too, if you stick with it!
Oh, the things you’ll learn on this show! I looooove it. Except for Mary Murphy’s annoying scream. That, I could do without. But the dancing? And the British-ness of Nigel and Cat? LOVE IT.
You should watch Here Come The Newlyweds, pemieres on Monday (Memorial Day). My hairdresser (and longtime friend) and her husband are competing and they are from Philly. They’re a riot, I’d LOVE to hear your commentary.
Here’s a link to their “Meet the Huffmans” segment. It’s from the husband’s blog, sorry, I couldn’t figure out how to link to it directly
http://laserblade.blogspot.com/2009/05/meet-huffmans.html
um, premieres. I can spell in real life, honest.
I don’t like SYTYCD. I can’t get into the dance shows, at all. I have my summer reality, Big Brother, starting in July. That is my summer love! lol
I ran across So You Think You Can Dance a couple times, while watching other shows, and it looked mildly interesting. I’ve never actually kept up on reality shows though (except for Hell’s Kitchen). I don’t have cable/sat. or a way to record shows I like so that really puts me at a disadvantage. I’m pretty bummed about it.
Thank you, Jo-Lynne. I can sleep now knowing that someone will be documenting my opinions about sytycd. Phew.
Ok….so this is better than AI (in my opinion)since I am such a sucker for awesome dance. I wanted to be a dancer when I was little.
Anyway, my faves were Natalie (who made it to Vegas last year and I was SO BUMMED when Katie made it on and she didn’t) and the guy who danced with the umbrella (as an homage to his aunt who just passed away). I totally spaced on his name!
I think you will really like this show, especially when it gets to the regular season part after the auditions. It is amazing how dancers who are trained in one genre can or can’t pick up other ones.
PS Most of those girls you mentioned that you didn’t know what kind of dance it was, it is called contemporary dance (cross between classic ballet and modern dance often done barefoot).
Oh, and I agree with Robin, Here Come the Newlyweds is hysterical!
My biggest concern with Here Come the Newlyweds is that it’s possibly geared towards making these relationships weaker, not stronger? If it undermines marriage, then I’m not a fan. But I don’t know that it does; it’s just the way it appeared in the commercials?
So what, exactly, is the premise?
I LOVE SYTYCD!! I too knew nothing about dance when I started watching season 2, but you learn a lot watching the show. These kids are amazing and I love what I have learned about dance and the dancing profession. Keep watching, Jo-Lynne. I think you will love it, too!
I think- I didn’t actually watch the first season, this is what I’ve gleaned from the little I’ve been told- that your performance is based on how well you and your spouse know each other and how well you communicate. For instance, a competition where the wife is driving a go-kart blindfolded and the husband directs her via walkie-talkie. Or being asked trivia questions and you have to guess how your spouse will answer. Certainly, some bickering and competing will come out, but at the end of the day you’re a team and you can’t win unless you trust and understand each other.
But I also love SYTYCD- I like the kids who’ve had no formal training.
My only formal dance training is in ballet…and a college hip hop class, in which I earned the lowest grade of my college career…
SYTYCD only gets better as the season progresses. I missed it last night, but plan to watch the rest of the season. I love it!!!
Love this show. My only dance knowledge comes from my girls taking 10 years of tap, jazz, and ballet. All I did was pay for lessons and costumes, take them to and from class, pay for the cutest pictures ever, and give flowers at the recitals.
This show will make you sway in your chair. You’ll raise an eyebrow at some of the dances and think to youself “THAT’S dancing?” I hope you’ll stick with it! It’s easy viewing and good entertainment!
As far as I’m concerned this show is better than AI… we know summer is here when SYTYCD is on! My husband and I love it!
Love SYTYCD!! Have learned so much watching. G hates MM’s voice, laugh, and scream though. Okay, back to nursing now.
I’m a fan and have been since the beginning probably because I used to dance myself. You will learn a lot of the terms and what the judges like as you watch. I know I did! : ) It really is fun to watch once they get to the top 20, trust me. They make the ballroom dancers do hip-hop and vice versa.
BTW, did you like that Kris won AI? I did! : )
I just started catching your American Idol reviews at the end of it so I’m glad to see you’ve found another show to follow. And I have watched this show every season and love it!
I love watching stuff that I could not possibly do myself. It’s amazing. I know there’s a lot of rediculous tryouts at the beginning which are kind of funny to watch, but the show really gets good when it’s down to the top 20.
I love SYTYCD. I’ve watched all but the first season. I think it’s mostly because there’s nothing else on in the summer, but I still love it. It makes me wish I was coordinated and flexible. And I love the modern dances (I think comtemporary is the appropriate term). But Mary (not Amy) is totally annoying, I agree. You just have to ignore her. I love Natalie, but that’s just because I remember her not making it last year.
So, here is my fashion question. I need some cute work shoes. I work in a hospital, so they have to be closed toed and comfy and not slippery on the bottom (usually rubber soled). But most of my pants are hemmed to go with a higher shoe (2 1/2 inch heel or so), so I need something with a wedge or ??? I have 2 pairs that I wear over and over again, and I’m getting really tired of them. Help!