Ta.
Oh, and while we’re at it, the other bottom two were Ryan & Kathryn
Tuesday night the producers revealed something that, well, I suppose wasn’t hidden, but they sure didn’t play up at all.
Mollee Gray was in High School Musical 1, 2 and 3.
Now it all makes a lot more sense. At age 14 she was scoring roles in multi-million dollar dance productions. She’s been in HSM3 which grossed $100 million in the US alone and has the exact same demographic as people who would buy tickets to the SYTYCD tour.
Of course the Producers would want her in the top ten. It would be stupid of them not to.
I don’t know. I just don’t think being cast as a dancer in HSM makes anyone a shoe-in. I wasn’t a big fan of Mollee’s before, but pairing her with Russell was brilliant. They were youthful, energetic, and cute as two buttons. He was still better than her (he was much lighter on his feet during the jive), but she’s a solid dancer.
I’m afraid I didn’t “feel” Sonya’s number. From Cat’s chills to the judge’s effusive praise, it’s clear that other people did. I didn’t. I thought it was good, but certainly not chill inducing. I actually preferred Kathryn and Ryan’s waltz. Maybe I’ll watch it again tonight and see if I can discover what others are raving about.
I’m amazed at how attractive the top 10 dancers are.
I thought Ashleigh and Nathan would go home. Nathan was just a heap of emotional wreckage and seemed like a deflated balloon. Glad he’s gone. Ashleigh was just horrific in that hip hop number.
Ryan is a really solid dancer and great partner, but his video clip was a big turn off to me. IMO, he’s way too focused on his appearance – from his muscles which are TOO big, to his tan. He came across as arrogant and entitled. “I was born to entertain?” No, dude, you were TRAINED to entertain. If anyone was BORN to entertain it was Russell, who hasn’t had the benefit of formal training and rich parents yet has more musicality in his left thighbone than Ryan does.
Russell and Jakob’s stock went up a few notches while Ryan and Nathan’s went down. Legacy is a dark horse, IMO. I want to root for him, but there’s something off-putting about him that I can’t quite put my finger on.
Kathryn is still the strongest woman, IMO. Ellenore is very good, too, but I don’t think she connects with the audience as well as Kathryn.
Ya think? To me, Ellenore has way more personality, whereas Kathryn is … um, which one is Kathryn again?
I like Kathryn a lot, and think she’s the best dancer of the women, but I’m inclined to agree. Ellenore’s quirkiness took some time to connect with the audience, but I think she has an edge now. Of course, Kathryn hasn’t been fortunate enough to get a really flashy, crowdpleasing number to perform in, so that could change too.
Nathan is the anti-Evan. Evan was a good dancer with a GREAT personality that probably kept him around longer than he should have been. Nathan was a spectacular dancer with insane ability, but his personality sunk him like a stone. (Well, yeah, the rumba was lame…)
I think the married couple may be going next. I have to wonder if a ballroom dancer could ever win this show–what could they ever do in their solos?
SYTYCD is primarily a partner dancing show, and Nathan’s inability to connect with either of his partners sunk him just as much as his personality. He’s a good solo dancer, but if he doesn’t learn to work well with others he won’t get far in the dance world.
Doesn’t S2’s Benji Schwimmer’s West Coast Swing style come under the broad categorization of ballroom? His solos were pretty bad too though, but I don’t recall him having to do many.
Color me a little confused. Tonight they cut down to 6, and then next week is the finale? Shouldn’t there be one more week of show?
I have to say, I have absolutely luurved Travis’ choreography, does amazing work, but I was fairly underwhelmed by the Ellenore and Legacy number.
I was confused about this too but have to think it simply has to do with the holiday approaching.
Kathryn & Ryan: I was a bit underwhelmed by the disco (it was fine, but couldn’t hold a candle to a few others from previous seasons), but the cha-cha was indeed awesome. Ryan was in the bottom 2 last time, so is vulnerable, but he was used to good effect last night, and Kathryn still remains the most naturally gorgeous of the ladies. At least his solo wasn’t as bad as last week’s.
Ellenore & Legacy:Boy, that opening table piece was indeed fantastic, and something no other two combinations of couples could’ve replicated. Superb. But that hip-hop number sucked the big one: terrible remix, unflattering costumes, indifferent choreography; just overall, an uphill battle to make that bit sellable. I thought her solo was goofy, as if she stopped caring, and I’d be surprised if she’s not in the bottom 2.
Mollee & Jakob: She’s certainly benefitting from being paired with anyone not named “Nathan”, and that waltz was one of the best in recent memory. Usually that genre seems ballroom-gowny conventional and a little awkward, but this one was effortless in its movement while still being obviously complex. I thought the Broadway was simply ho-hum, though I liked the comparison of him to Joel Grey (which I can totally see). Overall, I think Jakob may be vulnerable simply because he gets so many OTT raves from the judges (deservedly) but there’s been no real indication that the public is equally enthused. He seems really nice and personable but also a bit invisible charisma-wise, which may do him in. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time the most technically proficient didn’t advance all the way.
Ashleigh & Russell: Really tough since both numbers made me really interested in seeing how she would’ve done in them (including the preparation videos was smart, and I even liked the little clips of rehearsal footage at the end). If she advances, it may be because of the props Hubby gave her in the phone shout-out–a genuine and moving moment that may serve both their causes well. Still, she’s certainly gotta ride on past performances, which may be tough. Russell handled both numbers well, but the Bollywood was more impressive, not only because the partnering was more effective but it was also much farther outside his style. Plus, his solo was the best of the night.
As to the two boottees–really tough to say and I’m not sure I’d even venture a guess because it’s hard to tell where Nathan’s and Noelle’s votes would transfer to (I’m guessing Jakob & Kathryn), but there are other factors of emotion and likability that make all of them contenders (the only exception is Ellenore, who still needs to convince me that she has the following necessary). We’ll see…
Kathryn is getting the same comments from the judges (“you’re peaking at just the right time!”) as what’s-her-name (who won last season) did, and is displaying just about the same degree of “personality”- pleasant, friendly, pretty, not arrogant or too bubbly or too quirky. I think she’s the one to beat. Ashleigh and Mollee may have their strengths, but I don’t think they’re anyone’s favorite. I think it’s Kathryn and Ellenore in a photo finish for best girl, with Kathryn by a nose.
Ryan’s a little arrogant, Legacy is talented but his skills as an all-around dancer are limited, and Jakob is technically excellent but I don’t think he has the fan appeal of Russell. Russell has shown remarkable skill in every style that’s been thrown at him, seems like a genuinely nice guy and no ego. Although Jakob is clearly the better dancer, I don’t see the squee girls connecting with him.
Next week’s 6-down-to-1 will be interesting.
Apparently I’m the only person on the planet who liked Ellenore and Legacy’s hip-hop – I thought the hand moves when Legacy was standing behind her were really cool, and there was other neat stuff as well. Go figure.
Jakob rules – that waltz was amazing, and his kicks were all both higher and straighter than Mollee’s (no surprise there). Ditto for the B’way routine – men should not be able to do some of the shit he can do, and he does it not only well, but better than any female he’s danced with.
Bummer about Ashleigh – agree that the rehearsal footage made it look like she was on her way to a good week, though I’d have to see her do hip-hop well before I’d believe it.
Re: Russell’s partner’s being injured – any possibility that this is because of his lack of training in partnering? If your partner dislocates her shoulder when you’re doing a trick with her … hm. Not accusing him of harming anyone deliberately (god forbid), just wondering if there’s a connection there.
That said – he’s absolutely got the joy thing going for him, and it’s there that he edges out Jakob, who’s otherwise on a different planet in terms of talent and skills. Those two are my picks for the top two men. Weird that it’s a final six, not a final four* – though obviously they don’t want to try to run the last couple shows in the immediate lead-up to Xmas – I’d pick Legacy for the third man.
Among the women: Kathryn (despite her lack of personality, she’s one of the top dancers this season) and Ellenore (who overdoes quirky a bit, but whom I like anyway). Going home tonight – Mollee (who’s gotten way further than she deserved to) or Ashleigh, unless her husband’s tearful plea for her had an effect.
Not the best season ever of this show – despite Jakob – but I’m enjoying it.
*And weirder still that next Tuesday’s show is only an hour – how will they showcase the final 6?, they can’t do the usual “every finalist dances with every other finalist” thing – though the finale on Weds. is two hours, Glee being over until next spring.
I actually voted for the first time last night, for Kathryn. That cha cha was definitely one of the best ballroom routines I’ve seen on the show. She’s far and away my favorite female contestant, and I hope she wins the whole thing.
It’s really weird that Russell’s the only person who’s had to dance with a non-contestant, and he’s had to do that for three routines. Shane Sparks’ assistant was so awkward in that hip-hop number that it was difficult for me to even watch Russell - my eye kept going back to her. The Bollywood number went better. I think he’s the guy to beat, for sure.
The ability level of the female contestants is much lower this season than last season. Janette, Jeanine, Kayla, and Melissa were all really great dancers. Kathyrn could have held her own against them, but I doubt that Ellenore or Mollee could have. Ashleigh, no way.
For the males, Brandon and Ade could have held their own against Jakob. Personality-wise, Russell is probably the Evan equivalent (I actually couldn’t stand Evan, but they’ve got the same joyful dark horse thing going on). But Russell’s vastly superior in skill and actually deserves to still be in the competition.
In the clips of Russell and Ashleigh working with the choreographers, she had a huge bruise on her right shoulder. It seems like she was already injured at that point and still practicing. Then they had clips of her rehearsing on stage (like a pre-dress rehearsal? they weren’t in costume), which presumably would have taken place after they worked with the choreographers. I wonder why she suddenly wasn’t allowed to perform on the actual show. Maybe I’m reading it all wrong, though.
My order of favorites, just for fun. I don’t presume that America has the same taste:
- Kathryn - Absolutely beautiful, nails everything she does.
- Russell - Still don’t buy that he hasn’t had training, but who cares? He’s really fun to watch.
- Jakob - Unquestionably, ridiculously talented.
- Ellenore - Great performer, but I agree that she overdoes quirky.
5.Legacy - I’m surprised he’s still around, and he looks undead, but he has been doing a pretty good job.
6.Mollee - She’s gotten much better post-Nathan, but I still have a visceral, negative response to her. - Ryan - His solos are horrendous, but his physical strength makes him a great partner. I do have a problem with his over-manicured look, particularly his eyebrows.
- Ashleigh - Just not good. Even when she was dancing well with Jakob, I didn’t like her.
I knew the first four for sure, then I had to work from the bottom for 5-8.
I wish they didn’t have to cut out the top six show and head straight to the finale. But oh well.
I don’t think she was exactly bad…just completely giddy and star struck at actually being able to dance in the competition that it threw the entire routine off.
In the hip hop number she was definitely not dancing full out or hitting the moves sharply, probably just to divert attention from herself & direct it toward him.
The Ellenore & Legacy “Mr & Mrs Smith” number was great. High energy, great tricks, and great use of props. Didn’t get to see the second number.
Also great was Kathryn & Ryan’s cha-cha. Unfortunately it was tempered by the sucky disco routine. Sorry, but disco should not be a genre mainly because the routine always looks stale and rehashed – retro but not in a good way.
I really enjoyed Mollee & Jakob’s Vienesse Waltz but was meh on the Broadway routine. Of course, it’s hard to compete against a great story piece like the “Mr & Mrs Smith” routine next to a fluffy Broadway piece, no matter how well it was executed.
Poor Russell. He really can’t catch a break with partners. I really enjoyed the hip hop number though honestly I like his own choreography better. (Though the Santa solo was too cutesy for me and I was surprised that he spent so much time putting back on the shoe instead of just moving on.) I wasn’t a fan of the Bollywood number. His huge grin was actually distracting to me. And technically I’m not sure he mastered the subtle hand moves at all. But I his joie de vivre and would hate to see him go.
I don’t think it would be fair to keep Ashleigh in the competition. Even if the doctor okays her to dance, it would really limit what she and her partner could do because you can’t dance full force with an arm recently pulled out of socket. And that wouldn’t be fair to her partner. I really think they should eliminate Ashleigh due to injury.
Personally I think Ryan & Ashleigh should go. Ashleigh for obvious reasons; Ryan because he’s a great partner but he lacks the grace of Jakob, the x factor of Russell, and the dark horse advantage of Legacy. I think Jakob WILL go because he doesn’t seem to connect with the audience.
While that makes a certain sense from the standpoint of the show, I doubt any dancer would intentionally “hold back”. I think it would actually be detrimental to the performance of their competing partner. I’m sure they didn’t give her as much camera time as they would a competitor, though.
Is Russel cursed or something?
There have been some excellent disco routines in the past- Sara & Neil from a couple seasons ago, and Brandon & whomever last season. This season they just haven’t been as impressive.