The night started off with a group performance choreographed by Chuck Maldonado.
We then learned which dancers were in the Bottom 2 Guys and the Bottom 2 Girls: Will, Twitch, Comfort, and Courtney. I think everyone was shocked that Mark was safe. He was in the Bottom 2 last week, and he arguably had the weakest performance of all the guys on Wednesday night, with his Foxtrot. I'm not upset that he was safe...I love him! He is fabulous!!! For me, it's not just about technical skill, it's about who moves me, who makes me feel something. Mark consistently has done that. Very cool that he was safe.
Each of those dancers then performed yet another solo, just because.
Comfort
Will
Courtney
Twitch
And then Cat revealed with of those dancers would be leaving the competition: Comfort and Will. So, maybe this time, Comfort is leaving the competition IV REAL. Here's hoping that happens, at the very least. Tonight was a tough one for me, as far as the guys are concerned. I have genuinely enjoyed all of the guys who were in the Top 5 guys, and it is only going to get tougher each week. I think I have finally figured out that my overall favorite throughout the whole competition has been Twitch. I think he is fabulous. And he's been a favorite for me since before the season started...since Vegas week of last year! So seeing him in the Bottom 2 with Will (who is easily the best technical dancer on the show) was a tough one. I was biting my fingernails with nervousness for Twitch. Granted, it seems that the voters have been in agreement with me about Will...fabulous dancing, but lacking that little something extra that makes you just LOVE to watch him. He has shown that he is extremely creative and diverse in his solos - no two have been even similar, let alone exactly alike (like all of Comfort's solos). And frankly, his solos make me take notice, make me feel something, make me love him. They have since his very first audition! But there have only been a couple of his partner routines that have done the same. Something is lacking there, and we can no longer blame it on Jessica!
Anyways, Twitch is safe for another week! Thank you!!!
So far, since we were down to the Top 6 guys, they have been going home in the order that I had worked out in my head fairly early on in the season. Thayne, then Gev, then Will...leaving Twitch, Joshua, and Mark. I have a bad feeling in my mouth that it is going to continue in the order I had in my head earlier too...Twitch, then Mark, then Joshua will win. Not that I don't think Joshua will make a great winner! He will! I still love him, and Mark too. I've just gotten to the point that none of the dancers are above Twitch when it comes to my personal favorites. *sigh*
This next week is going to be another tough one for me. I think regardless of which one of Joshua and Twitch goes home...it will be one of them. They are both fabulous, but I think they are splitting a fanbase, at least to an extent. One of them has to go home if the other one is going to have a chance to beat Mark in the finale.
And yeah, I realize I am talking an awful lot about the remaining guys and not so much about the remaining girls. The girls this season, for the most part, haven't done much for me. My early favorites were Kherington, Chelsie, and Katee. Kherington has been eliminated. Chelsie has seemed to kind of flatline for me - she doesn't seem to be improving each week, so she is still at the same place I feel like she was at the beginning of the show. I want more from her. I want her to wow me again, and frankly, she hasn't in a long time. And her solos? Ugh. She needs to work on her solos in a big way. I realize it is difficult for a latin/ballroom dancer to dance a solo, but there have been many who have done it on this show in the past, and who have danced better solos than what she is doing. She needs to step up her game! I don't feel like she is as good a ballroom dancer as Heidi, Lacey, or Anya from previous seasons. And while she has proven to be versatile, she isn't making me love her as much as I loved some of them. And then we come to Katee. I still love Katee...she is a fabulous dancer, and she hasn't let me down a single time. My only concern for her is that I just don't think she has a chance to beat any of the guys. Nothing against her at all...I just think the guys are more unique, more interesting dancers...even if they aren't as technically good as Katee, and even if they have each screwed up a time or two in their routines. With Katee, I feel like she is incapable of messing up. I expect perfection (or near perfection) from her. I guess it might have something to do with those expectations. I don't expect Joshua to be able to dance a samba. I don't expect Twitch to be able to dance a contemporary. I don't expect Mark to be able to dance a hip hop. So when they do, and do it well, it seems better than when Katee dances anything, which I expect her to be able to do well, and then does it extremely well. Probably not fair, I realize. But that seems to be how it is for me.
More next week!
Showing posts with label Top 8. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Top 8. Show all posts
Friday, July 25, 2008
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
SYTYCD - Top 8 - Video
I will add them as they are uploaded to youtube!
EDIT: Thanks to MJ of MJ's Big Blog for the video. I'll likely change them to youtube vids once they get uploaded, but no one has started to upload them there yet. I have better luck with embedding them from youtube than from redlasso.
Courtney and Will - Samba
Video
Katee and Twitch - Contemporary
Video
Comfort and Mark - Hip Hop
Video
Chelsie and Joshua - Argentine Tango
Video
Courtney and Will - Hip Hop
Video
Katee and Twitch - Broadway
Video
Comfort and Mark - Foxtrot
Video
Chelsie and Joshua - Disco
Video
Video for the solos will be in a separate post again, like last week.
EDIT: Thanks to MJ of MJ's Big Blog for the video. I'll likely change them to youtube vids once they get uploaded, but no one has started to upload them there yet. I have better luck with embedding them from youtube than from redlasso.
Courtney and Will - Samba
Video
Katee and Twitch - Contemporary
Video
Comfort and Mark - Hip Hop
Video
Chelsie and Joshua - Argentine Tango
Video
Courtney and Will - Hip Hop
Video
Katee and Twitch - Broadway
Video
Comfort and Mark - Foxtrot
Video
Chelsie and Joshua - Disco
Video
Video for the solos will be in a separate post again, like last week.
SYTYCD - Top 8 - Commentary
Tonight, Toni Basil is joining Nigel and Mary on the judging panel. Interesting. I'm not sure how I feel about her being a judge...and it makes me wonder if she'll ever choreograph anything on the show. I mean, I know Adam Shankman hasn't ever choreographed any of the competitive pieces (only a group number), and I highly doubt that Debbie Allen has choreographed for the show...at least not that I know of. But she's Debbie-freaking-Allen, so I know she knows what she's talking about. I don't know much about Toni's dance background other than what we saw in the video to the "hey Mickey, you're so fine, you're so fine you blow my mind, hey Mickey *clap, clap - clap* hey Mickey *clap, clap - clap*" song. I guess she is well known in the dance world...but I really don't know much about it all.
Interesting that we're getting a prepackage clip before the solos tonight. I don't know that they've ever done that before. Toni as a judge was pretty okay. She sounds like she knows what she's talking about, which is always a good thing, IMO. She does use the word "street" a bit too much, and I could live without her saying "organic."
Courtney and Will - Samba (Jean-Marc Genereux) - I think Will has really managed to get the flamboyance of the dance down really well, without losing any sense of masculinity. That's something that is really hard to do with the samba. Courtney looks great, but I have to admit, I'm really not focusing on her much in this routine. Will is pretty much stealing the show on this number, which is a little surprising to me. Outside of contemporary-ish routines, he has had a difficult time capturing my attention. He did with the samba tonight. A few times he wasn't quite down-'n-dirty enough for me, but overall, really pretty good. I think Courtney probably did really well with it, because I would have noticed if she was stinking up the joint.
Katee and Twitch - Contemporary (Mia Michaels) - Apparently these two knew each other before they made it onto the show, so they didn't expect to get to work together. That should help with the chemistry! There's a door in the middle of the stage as a prop...and apparently Katee is an abusive girlfriend in this one. Interesting. And Twitch keeps coming back for more - he can't get enough. I'm so caught up into the story on this one that I haven't paid much attention to the dancing in it. Really interesting story on this one, Mia. I didn't want it to end. They both got into their characters so well, that I couldn't pay any attention to technique. I loved this routine, and I really hope they do it on tour.
Comfort and Mark - Hip Hop (Tabitha and Napoleon) - We know hip hop suits Comfort, and I think Mark can do some much harder hip hop than we saw the first time around. I think this has the potential to be a real stand out kind of piece. I love the beginning section with the desks. And this is definitely a much harder hitting kind of hip hop than we've been getting from Tabitha and Napoleon. They are KILLING it! This might be my favorite routine that we've seen from Tabitha and Napoleon, because it combines a real hip hop kind of flair with a story line. It is the best of both worlds. Mark and Comfort really played their parts well, their dancing was off the hook, and that made me really happy. Oh yeah, and that flip lift? SICK!
Chelsie and Joshua - Argentine Tango (Dmitry Chaplin) - Dmitry is hot. Very hot. The intro with the chair was sexy, but I don't know how much tango was going on there. Once they actually get going, it is really fast and intricate footwork that they are required to perform. Dmitry did a fantastic job with the choreography on this one! They are flying all over the place! I'm not 100% sold on Joshua's frame in that one, but overall, I think they did a fabulous job. I think this is the best tango choreography we have seen on this show, and I'm not just saying that because I love Dmitry!
Courtney and Will - Hip Hop (Tabitha and Napoleon) - Slow hip hop with a ghost, huh? I guess we'll have to wait and see. SYTYCD history, Will? We'll see. I think one of the biggest challenges of this kind of slow hip hop is keeping the synchronized parts completely in sync. Sometimes, they are doing a great job with that, and other times, it becomes really obvious that they are just a hair off. I'm not digging this routine by Tabitha and Napoleon nearly as much as I did the earlier one, at all. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't fantastic either. It was just okay. I didn't buy into them playing those parts. Nigel seemed to think that they got the emotion of the routine down, but I really didn't feel it from them.
Katee and Twitch - Broadway (Tyce Diorio) - They've got some interesting relationships in their routines tonight! Earlier he was running from her because she was kicking his ass, now he's running from her because he really isn't interested. Tons of energy here, and I think they are really in control of the characters that Tyce gave them to play. I love the playful aspect that he puts into his Broadway pieces so often, especially in the lifts. The lifts he choreographs are never what you are expecting. Tons of fun! And for a style that is not really either of their specialty, they both really seem to excel at it. They both make me smile when they dance. And what a compliment from Toni for Twitch, saying he dances from the inside out. That really seems to match what I feel about him. I just wish she could have said it without saying the words "street" and "organic" again. LOL.
Comfort and Mark - Foxtrot (Jean-Marc Genereux) - I love Brian Setzer!!! The BSO is fabulous. Comfort and Mark on this foxtrot, however...not so much. They were missing connections all over the place, and I can't help but feel like those misses were mainly Comfort's fault. Mark has proven to be a good partner time and again, but he has had two partners in a row who weren't up to snuff. They were thinking too hard throughout the entire routine, and it made it feel very stiff. Their posture and hold weren't right AT ALL! Mark manages to really make lifts fly somehow though.
Chelsie and Joshua - Disco (Doriana Sanchez) - I really can't stand disco, and I really, really, REALLY can't stand Disco Doriana. This number is going to have to be seriously amazing for me to not hate it from the very core of my being. Lots of lifts, Doriana? Really? I'm shocked. Ugh. Yep, tons of tricks and lifts and really very little in between to make it cohesive as a dance at all. Did they do the tricks and lifts well? Sure. Fine. Really well, actually. But seriously, if they put another disco number on the show this season I'm gonna gag. Doriana's choreography is only good for making the audience gasp over the tricks.
Solo order: Comfort, Will, Katee, Mark, Chelsie, Joshua, Courtney, Twitch
Will as James Brown really, really works for me. Nice to see some personality coming through. Mark's solo, as usual, was incredibly interesting and unique. I could watch him dance in his own style all day. Happy Birthday to Chelsie - but honey, you need to up your game with your solo. And Twitch? He is definitely one of my superheroes!
Interesting that we're getting a prepackage clip before the solos tonight. I don't know that they've ever done that before. Toni as a judge was pretty okay. She sounds like she knows what she's talking about, which is always a good thing, IMO. She does use the word "street" a bit too much, and I could live without her saying "organic."
Courtney and Will - Samba (Jean-Marc Genereux) - I think Will has really managed to get the flamboyance of the dance down really well, without losing any sense of masculinity. That's something that is really hard to do with the samba. Courtney looks great, but I have to admit, I'm really not focusing on her much in this routine. Will is pretty much stealing the show on this number, which is a little surprising to me. Outside of contemporary-ish routines, he has had a difficult time capturing my attention. He did with the samba tonight. A few times he wasn't quite down-'n-dirty enough for me, but overall, really pretty good. I think Courtney probably did really well with it, because I would have noticed if she was stinking up the joint.
Katee and Twitch - Contemporary (Mia Michaels) - Apparently these two knew each other before they made it onto the show, so they didn't expect to get to work together. That should help with the chemistry! There's a door in the middle of the stage as a prop...and apparently Katee is an abusive girlfriend in this one. Interesting. And Twitch keeps coming back for more - he can't get enough. I'm so caught up into the story on this one that I haven't paid much attention to the dancing in it. Really interesting story on this one, Mia. I didn't want it to end. They both got into their characters so well, that I couldn't pay any attention to technique. I loved this routine, and I really hope they do it on tour.
Comfort and Mark - Hip Hop (Tabitha and Napoleon) - We know hip hop suits Comfort, and I think Mark can do some much harder hip hop than we saw the first time around. I think this has the potential to be a real stand out kind of piece. I love the beginning section with the desks. And this is definitely a much harder hitting kind of hip hop than we've been getting from Tabitha and Napoleon. They are KILLING it! This might be my favorite routine that we've seen from Tabitha and Napoleon, because it combines a real hip hop kind of flair with a story line. It is the best of both worlds. Mark and Comfort really played their parts well, their dancing was off the hook, and that made me really happy. Oh yeah, and that flip lift? SICK!
Chelsie and Joshua - Argentine Tango (Dmitry Chaplin) - Dmitry is hot. Very hot. The intro with the chair was sexy, but I don't know how much tango was going on there. Once they actually get going, it is really fast and intricate footwork that they are required to perform. Dmitry did a fantastic job with the choreography on this one! They are flying all over the place! I'm not 100% sold on Joshua's frame in that one, but overall, I think they did a fabulous job. I think this is the best tango choreography we have seen on this show, and I'm not just saying that because I love Dmitry!
Courtney and Will - Hip Hop (Tabitha and Napoleon) - Slow hip hop with a ghost, huh? I guess we'll have to wait and see. SYTYCD history, Will? We'll see. I think one of the biggest challenges of this kind of slow hip hop is keeping the synchronized parts completely in sync. Sometimes, they are doing a great job with that, and other times, it becomes really obvious that they are just a hair off. I'm not digging this routine by Tabitha and Napoleon nearly as much as I did the earlier one, at all. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't fantastic either. It was just okay. I didn't buy into them playing those parts. Nigel seemed to think that they got the emotion of the routine down, but I really didn't feel it from them.
Katee and Twitch - Broadway (Tyce Diorio) - They've got some interesting relationships in their routines tonight! Earlier he was running from her because she was kicking his ass, now he's running from her because he really isn't interested. Tons of energy here, and I think they are really in control of the characters that Tyce gave them to play. I love the playful aspect that he puts into his Broadway pieces so often, especially in the lifts. The lifts he choreographs are never what you are expecting. Tons of fun! And for a style that is not really either of their specialty, they both really seem to excel at it. They both make me smile when they dance. And what a compliment from Toni for Twitch, saying he dances from the inside out. That really seems to match what I feel about him. I just wish she could have said it without saying the words "street" and "organic" again. LOL.
Comfort and Mark - Foxtrot (Jean-Marc Genereux) - I love Brian Setzer!!! The BSO is fabulous. Comfort and Mark on this foxtrot, however...not so much. They were missing connections all over the place, and I can't help but feel like those misses were mainly Comfort's fault. Mark has proven to be a good partner time and again, but he has had two partners in a row who weren't up to snuff. They were thinking too hard throughout the entire routine, and it made it feel very stiff. Their posture and hold weren't right AT ALL! Mark manages to really make lifts fly somehow though.
Chelsie and Joshua - Disco (Doriana Sanchez) - I really can't stand disco, and I really, really, REALLY can't stand Disco Doriana. This number is going to have to be seriously amazing for me to not hate it from the very core of my being. Lots of lifts, Doriana? Really? I'm shocked. Ugh. Yep, tons of tricks and lifts and really very little in between to make it cohesive as a dance at all. Did they do the tricks and lifts well? Sure. Fine. Really well, actually. But seriously, if they put another disco number on the show this season I'm gonna gag. Doriana's choreography is only good for making the audience gasp over the tricks.
Solo order: Comfort, Will, Katee, Mark, Chelsie, Joshua, Courtney, Twitch
Will as James Brown really, really works for me. Nice to see some personality coming through. Mark's solo, as usual, was incredibly interesting and unique. I could watch him dance in his own style all day. Happy Birthday to Chelsie - but honey, you need to up your game with your solo. And Twitch? He is definitely one of my superheroes!
Monday, July 21, 2008
SYTYCD - Top 8 - SPOILERS
And here they are...wait...um...
WHERE ARE THEY????
All of the usual sites are quoting each other, mainly just furthering some speculation about the pairings, and possible dances for one of the speculated couples. Nothing is really concrete. I am starting to think that we may not get anything else before the show. I hope I'm wrong, and if I am, I'll post it here.
In the meanwhile, the speculation is that the pairings will be:
Mark and Comfort
Twitch and Katee
Josh and Chelsie
Will and Courtney
Further speculation is that Mark and Comfort will be dancing Hip Hop and a Foxtrot.
BUT - all of this is speculation, and none of this is confirmed. If anything else shows up, I'll either post it or link to it. Have fun with speculation!
Oh, wait...one thing that is fairly certain - Mia Michaels will be choreographing at least one of the dances. That is based on something she said in an interview recently.
EDIT: As soon as I hit post, I find this at TWoP. That'll teach me to give up on spoilers. LOL. I'm sure more will show up from there, but that will give us a start.
WHERE ARE THEY????
All of the usual sites are quoting each other, mainly just furthering some speculation about the pairings, and possible dances for one of the speculated couples. Nothing is really concrete. I am starting to think that we may not get anything else before the show. I hope I'm wrong, and if I am, I'll post it here.
In the meanwhile, the speculation is that the pairings will be:
Mark and Comfort
Twitch and Katee
Josh and Chelsie
Will and Courtney
Further speculation is that Mark and Comfort will be dancing Hip Hop and a Foxtrot.
BUT - all of this is speculation, and none of this is confirmed. If anything else shows up, I'll either post it or link to it. Have fun with speculation!
Oh, wait...one thing that is fairly certain - Mia Michaels will be choreographing at least one of the dances. That is based on something she said in an interview recently.
EDIT: As soon as I hit post, I find this at TWoP. That'll teach me to give up on spoilers. LOL. I'm sure more will show up from there, but that will give us a start.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
