Ah, I think the trainwreck factor in this show is so much greater than in AI.
Whereas you get the sense that a lot of the AI “talent” know they suck and are doing the show to get on TV and get a laugh… dancing doesn’t have that same pull. So these folks tend to really believe that they can dance, despite evidence to the contrary.
I also love how everyone has a tattoo and a story of how they gave it all up to pursue their dream. I was touched by the girl who was at the club in Israel where the floor collapsed. Eerie video. I wish they didn’t show it like three times. If anyone should get a shot because of the hard-luck story I’d think it would be her.
I loved how almost all of the crap dancers claimed to be dance instructors… to kids. Which means a whole new generation of delusional dancers are being brought up to think that flailing one’s arms spasmodically is art. And hip hop takes another beating, because the bad dancers all claim to dance hip hop. It still requires talent, people… free-form dry heaving is not breakdancing. I also think the campness of most of the dancers makes it even more fun to watch at this stage. I have no interest once they get to the talent part though. Am I in the minority, or is it just not terribly exciting to watch people dance for an hour? Or make movies, for that matter.
Nigel Lythgoe’s an interesting character. He used to choreograph The Muppet Show!
The first few episodes of SYTYCD are the height of cheesy summer fun! I feel sorry for the ones who have bought into the myth of ‘natural talent’ and figure since they do it they must be good at it and look! Never studied a day!
And of course, Sex… what a guy. I’m afraid they are warming up hell for me for this one but it cracked my son up - Cat has asked Sex if he has a girlfriend. Sex looks a little deer-in-the-headlights and says, “I have several girlfriends.”
Terror replies, “Although most of them have four legs…”
I wonder if next year, Cat will show up at Sex’s house and say “I’ll give you a hundred bucks to go get humiliated again.” Like scotandrsn said, it’s obvious he tried to improve a little. I give him a lot of credit for his confidence, I just wish he weren’t also delusional.
I’m glad that both the teacher and her student (I think Kate and Ashley?) made it through to Vegas. I thought they were setting up for the heartbreak of sending the teacher home. Ashley looked better to me, but my formerly-dancing roommate assures me that Kate had near-perfect technique, just not the legs and therefore not the extension Ashley had.
The hip-hop/swing guy was hilarious. Nice to see that he didn’t embarrass himself on his return. I don’t think he’ll make top twenty, but I’m glad they rewarded his enthusiasm.
Right now, I’m hoping for Pasha, Anya, Faina, and Hana Lee to move on–and let me say, for somebody who has metal plates holding up her face, that girl is beautiful.
That footage of the dance floor collapsing in Israel was riveting. I’m morbid, I know, but I couldn’t help frame-by-framing it, looking for facial expressions and the first sense that something was awry. But it happened so quickly that faces were still broadly smiling as they disappeared into the dust cloud. Wow.
That hip hop/swing guy had me smiling stoopidly at the screen. I certainly didn’t expect that he’d come back with anything worthwhile, especially after his comment about “I’m waiting for the doot doot doot part of the song” . And while he wasn’t the best Dancer, he certainly has stage presence. Neat. His ability to work out a brand new routine that quickly, and present it so nicely speaks volumes, too.
Was anyone besides me wondering about the hip surgery girl? I mean, I understand the drive to dance. But this continued stress could, conceivably, cripple her for life. Not sure I’d take that chance. I kept waiting for her hips to give out. I hope she does well, but I sure don’t want to watch it when she finally has a blow-out. shudder
I thought that Sex’s routine was better this year, too. And if he keeps practicing for another 100 years, he STILL won’t be in the same league as, say, Hawk. I don’t know why the judges engage him, though, as it’s obvious that he and his mother are both mentally deficient. I draw the line at getting into arguments with retarded people and I think the show should, too.
Pasha & Anya were incredible, and Faina made Stanislav look pretty ordinary. The Breaker/Swing guy (I forget his name) was hilarious - I’d love to know exactly how long he and E-Knock had to put together that routine. Talking of E, I guess his choreographed routine at the end must have really sucked, I thought he’d shown some decent moves and partnering skills and figured he would’ve done enough to make it to Vegas, though I definitely wasn’t expecting F20 for him.
Jeez, some of those people were cringeworthy though. Not just “Sex”, either. I’m guessing he grew out the stubble so people wouldn’t confuse him with his mom?
Looks like Benji will be in the next episode. I wonder if it’s just a catch-up or if he’ll turn up at the auditions?
I have decided not to watch until they decide on the final 20. I cringe too easily - I can’t deal with the people who just can’t dance, but they show their performance just so it can be mocked.
Question… Is Stanislav no longer eligible to compete because he was in a previous competition? I’d wondered why she had a number and he didn’t. I know that some are completing for a second or third time of First Round, but I’m assuming Stan can’t because he made the Top 20 in last year’s.
And someone else mentioned Hawk. Would he be allowed (assuming he’s rectified his Visa issue) to compete this year? He was fun to watch.