Is it just me or have the girls in this season of So You Think You Can Dance, much like their counterparts in American Idol, totally fallen flat this season? I mean, partially talent-wise, I’m just not feeling the girls, but especially personality-wise. Especially since Asuka left, the girls have felt completely flat to me. I have a few who I like above the others (Jeanine, Janette, Randi), but, really, they’re all kind of a blob of “eh”-ness to me.
The boys, on the other hand, at least inspire emotion. I actually care when it comes to elimination time who’s going home. Which, correct me if I’m wrong, is sort of the point.
For instance, since Mia Michaels was the guest judge this week, I cared about how Brandon would do facing her. I mean, was it a surprise when his and Janette’s cha-cha was off the hook? Not really. But it was nice to hear Mia say it.
Surprise — I hated the Sonya routine. In fact, I’m pretty hugely not a fan of Sonya at all. The only routine I’ve ever liked of hers was the Gev and Chelsie routine set to Otis Redding last year, partially because it was less creepy-crazy Sonya, partially because it was Otis Redding, and partially because Chelsie is revered as a goddess around my household and it is considered a true crime that Courntney made it to the top four instead of her (a crime). The Kupono and Kayla routine, therefore, was eh. I think they danced it well, but the routine itself? Weird and/or lame. Doubly weird and/or lame was how excited Sonya was to hear her work compared to Twilight. World at large, take note: I never want that horrid piece of crap excuse for a “book” mentioned in conjunction with any of my work ever. Ever, ever, ever.
Also, I don’t know what it is about Kayla, but something about her just annoys the bajesus out of me. I can’t tell if it’s her poor-little-rich-girl routine or that she looks like those girls in high school who used to come in “in their pajamas” with a popped polo shirt, perfectly slouchy sweatpants, a Tiffany’s necklace, perfect makeup, and an artfully messy bun. Either way, I see her and my eyes start to twitch a little. This isn’t to say that she isn’t a good dancer, because she totally is! Just … I don’t know. I see her and I feel overwhelmingly irritated.
I wasn’t the hugest fan of the Broadway choreographer either (though mostly because she seemed like potentially the meanest human being ever). In general, I think that the Broadway on this show (speaking as a huge musical theater geek) needs some help. But if she’s going to be the one to do it by sticking in more Bob Fosse, I guess I can forgive her for being a horrible person. (Who is Bob Fosse, you uneducated masses ask? Why, only the single greatest choreographer in America’s — nay, the world‘s – history. Don’t believe me? Beyonce’s famous Single Ladies dance is almost a direct copy of some of Bob Fosse’s choreography, which she admits to being the inspiration. Did I just blow your mind or what?)
Thank God it was Randi and Evan doing this dance, because I wouldn’t have wanted anyone else doing it and it was, of course, phenomenal, in my opinion. Because, as far as I’m concerned, Evan can do no wrong. Judges: why were you so hard on him? Because if any other person had done as well as he did, you would have been pissing yourself. Expectation control, people! I actually thought that Randi did far worse. Though neither of them were nearly as committed as I would have liked, Evan threw his body around more and Randi was stiffer. Maybe it’s residual embarrassment from showing her butt off to America, but whatever it is, she needs to get over it.
Clacked by Julia Hass 
on Jul 05, 2009 @ 13:00 EST5EDT
This week was REALLY boring besides the alien thing.
I have always felt the girls to be less on the show for the most part. The guys, even the worse ones, still have a personality for the most part. However besides a few really good girls each season the rest are just blah and lifeless.
I love this show. I lived with two dancers in my early twenties (33 now) and during that time went and saw a lot of performances (they went to the University and majored in dance). Since then I’ve went and seen some here and there – but not like I did back in the day. I tend enjoy the contemporary type more – anything by Mia and Wade I love. but I really love seeing all kinds of good dancing.
And I appreciate this show so much, cause I do think it brings dance to those who wouldn’t go out and pay money for it. That’s cool. I do agree Nigel is a little high on it. Yeah it would be great to have a tap number, I don’t know why it hasn’t been done.
Here’s the thing with this season (for me) – I haven’t been moved by the pieces like in years past. I mean season 3 had Lacy and Kameron’s “Dancing” by Mia the first week. We also got Wade’s Hummingbird with Hawke and Shane Sparks chairs number with Sabra and Dominic (you know the NeYo song make it work). Neil and Lauren’s amazing piece by Mia (let the drummer kick – the goggles) oh and their hip hop (The Way I Are) and their Wade piece (devil and angel) or and also in the first show of the season Jesus and Sara doing Wade.
Then last year we had so many great dances early on with katie and Joshua (not only their hip hop to Jordon Sparks song but every week bam ) we had Kherington and Twitch’s bed dance by Mia, Mark and Chelsie’s Bleeding Love hip hop oh and damn their piece to the song beautiful by Mia. Courtney and Gev’s contemporary piece (to the song Lost by Anouk)
These where all by this time or by the next couple eliminations. I just haven’t gotten too many numbers where I’m just floored by. I’d say Wade’s number with Kupono. I actually liked Sonja’s piece this week but that may just cause I adore Kupono (why aren’t people voting for him). I did like Jeanine and Phillips hip hop the first week but I agree the chain this week was distracting ( I focused on it too much). But really for me this season has been lackluster. Is it that I’m not feeling the dancers, is it the choreographers not bringing it or how the dancers are dancing the pieces?
I mean Ade and Melissa. Melissa I’m not feeling it totally. Ade in that ballet piece it felt like he just lifted her the entire time . The dance this week with Jason didn’t seem like he had much to do either. And I love Kupono, but his solo this week was week. Don’t gfet me wrong, I’ve enjoyed this season but it’s not grabbing me. Like you said the didn’t move me this week or too much this season
I know I’m rambling but will we remember anything so far from this year. I still watch on youtube (and on my SYTICD tape) Katie and Joshua and the Hometown Glory piece -amazing. I want that. I want something that is amazing every single week
just my thoughts
my wife only watches the show occasionally – she doesn’t like the audition part of any of these shows. Our schedules finally meshed and she got to watch this week’s shows with me on DVR. I had been talking about the beautiful waltz and the really nice dancing so far this season, and she saw this show. The quickstep was one of the better dances performed and both got kicked off! (I know, it was for their entire performances so far and lack of growth, but still. How much of that was to keep up the aura of doom surrounding the “kiss of death” quickstep?).
the alien impregnation? the let’s-not-even-make-rape-a-subtext vampire bit? the ballet piece that even a real ballerina couldn’t make all that interesting? I hope that I can convince her to come back for the next couple of weeks.
and yes, the girls are weaker — there’s none that have captured my fancy like there has been in past seasons. They’re good enough dancers, but there’s a generic quality to them — no real personalities have come through. Imagine if Katee’s friend had made it through — we saw enough of her personality in the past two years to know that she would have been memorable.