So You Think You Like American Idol? Try SYTYCD
So You Think You Can Dance is in full swing (literally) in it’s fourth season and it’s kicking AI’s butt. Remember how in AI you just knew early on that the two Davids were going to be in the finals? Well, this show is a wide open race. Remember how certain contestants on AI just needed to get kicked off ASAP? SYTYCD has major talent top to bottom (literally). This show just keeps getting better every season. The judges are better than AI’s, partly because the third judge rotates among various choreographers, so that you don’t get the Randy phenomenon where one judge just spouts the same stupid crap every episode (if I hear “It’s just a’ight for me dog” or “you could sing the phone book tonight” one more time…). Nigel Lythgoe plays the Simon role here and he is just the right balance of intellect and bitchiness (He told the crowd to stop booing comments tonight by saying if they don’t like critical comments they can stay home). Mary Murphy is an even more annoying version of Paula. She’s loud and embarrasing and makes you nauseous, but unlike Paula, she does actually say something halfway valuable once in a while. Tonight Nigel told her to bring it down about three decibels and I thought she was going to stab him with a pen. Cat Deely is the host and she beats the living crap out of Ryan Seacrest any day of the week (literally: she’s about 6′2″ and awe inspiring, he’s about 5′4″ and a pussy).
But the real drama is onstage with the dancers. What is it with Utah and these reality shows? Former Utahn Sabra won the show last season and Utahn Chelsie Hightower is shaping up as the David Archuleta of SYTYCD this season. She’s still a bit of an underdog to the more flashy Kherington, Kourtni and Comfort, but she and her partner Mark have had the most show-stopping moments this season so far. On the men’s side Mark is looking very good but he has his work cut out for him to beat Twitch, Will and Matt. If you’re not watching you’re missing some truly great dancing:
Mark and Chelsie are my favorite pair. Until the other three outstanding couples dance. That second video you posted is one of my favorite dance routines I’ve ever seen. So was the leaving for Iraq routine Katee and Joshua did.
Mary Murphy is annoying as heck but I love to hear her comments because she always has things to say about the dance technically. Her comments are often educational for me.
I think the winner this year is going to be determined by who lucks into the best choreography.
I also love that I’ll occasionally discover a great song via the show.
I wonder if they’ll do the thing this season where everyone has to do the same routine to the same song. I liked the idea of it, being able to compare each dancer that way, but in reality it got boring watching the same thing over again 10 times and hearing the same song 10 times. Or however many times it was.
Comment by Susan M — July 3, 2008 @ 7:27 am
I agree, this show is way better than AI and way more entertaining than the other dance shows (even though I support the local employees of any other dance shows!)
The Utah connection runs pretty deep on that show. Utah generated quite a few finalists this year, delivered last year’s winner, and the winner two years ago (Benji) is a Morm with Utah connections as well.
Comment by Geoff J — July 3, 2008 @ 8:50 am
Benji’s dad has been in the audience this season rooting for Chelsie Hightower.
Comment by Susan M — July 3, 2008 @ 8:59 am
Yeah Geoff, I was pretty surprised that they had a tryout here in SLC. I’m surprised more ballroom types didn’t make it though, although Chelsea has a lot of ballroom background.
My favorite is the black football player with braces. He’s pretty amazingly versatile.
Comment by clark — July 3, 2008 @ 9:38 am
Clark, I’m with you. I love Joshua.
I LOVED the Mia Michaels dances from last night - esp. Kherington & Twitch’s.
Isn’t one of the breakers from SLC as well? Gev? Or did he just try out in SLC?
Comment by gabby — July 3, 2008 @ 9:47 am
The Mrs. and I love this show. So much better than AI. And the results shows are actually worth watching as well. The group dances are way more entertaining than AI’s group sings (which are unbearable), they have some interesting singer/dance groups, and then the dance off of the bottom three, makes for an hour show with relatively little filler.
Aside from Matt and Kourtni, there are no easy outs from here to the end.
Comment by spencer — July 3, 2008 @ 10:31 am
Matt and Kourtni don’t look like an easy out to me, but maybe they will be the next to go. Anyone else want to predict who leaves tonight?
Susan, I think your comment about choreography is right on, and it’s the only part of the show that seems a little unfair to me because, unlike on AI, the contestants don’t get to choose their songs or their dances. It’s all chosen for them, and it really makes a difference in how successful they are. The good thing is that all the choreographers appear to be pretty top notch, so no one is really getting shafted, but clearly some are getting better material on occasion than others.
Comment by MCQ — July 3, 2008 @ 11:49 am
I think Thayne & Comfort, Matt & Kourtni will def. be in the bottom three. I think Thayne will go if that’s the case. However, I really wish Matt would go first, only because I worry that if he stays, Kourtni will go. I really like her and wish she would do something to wow me like I think she can. However…it would be hard to pair her with any other dancer because of her height.
I’m not a Comfort fan, so I’m ok if she goes. Thanye (who is also from Utah, right?) is ok, but something’s off with him…
Will & Jessica might be in the bottom 3 since they were all so harsh on her last night, but I hope not.
Ok, my predictions (which I’m not at all confident about!) will be Thayne & Kourtni going tonight.
Comment by gabby — July 3, 2008 @ 12:02 pm
Yeah, I’m thinking Matt and Kourtni are apt to be on the chopping block tonight just because both their dances were weak. Thayne, if he is in the bottom three, may end up chopped. But I think it’ll be Matt and Kourtni.
As for who’ll be in the bottom 3 it’s hard to guess. There were some dances that had lots of technical errors but that I really enjoyed. (Say Twitch and the Paso Doble which I loved but which he got criticized a lot for or even Courtney and Gev’s smooth east coast hip hop in which I liked watching Gev more than Courtney but for which the judges gave Gev hell for)
I think Comfort and Thayne though really make a great parntership and may not be in the bottom 3. Certainly at the top, as they are every week, will be Joshua/Katee and Mark/Chelsie. I think those four are likely to be in the final four although Will make sneak in once they stop having fixed partners.
Of course we’re at the stage now where at least one solid couple will be in the bottom three each week. And there will be a surprise simply because who does well doesn’t necessarily correlate to who gets voted for. (Although thankfully it’s better on this show than say that celeb dance show — forget the name)
Comment by Clark — July 3, 2008 @ 12:43 pm
MCQ, one thing that makes a big difference is whether you get a dance in your style. I think when you get a dance you struggle with makes a big difference in your success.
Having said that though there are some dancers who surprisingly do well in everything thrown at them. While I thought Joshua and Katee struggled in that Benji choreographed dance they did well enough to make it through. (And the judges surprisingly really liked it - I thought it lacked a lot of energy) But as far as I can tell that’s the only one they’ve really struggled in.
Ditto for Chelsie and Mark - the biggest struggle they had was the Argentine Tango.
What’s surprising is how well Twitch has done in all the dances he’s done. The only one I recall him struggling with was the Paso Doble but I thought he performed great and just struggle a bit in a few positionings.
Comment by Clark — July 3, 2008 @ 12:48 pm
I agree Clark — I thought Joshua especially fumbled his way through the Benji choreography. It was light years away from how Benji would have nailed that one. Katee nailed it pretty well though.
I’d say that the guys most likely to go are Matt and Thayne. Gev might be next but he got a bad rap last night I thought. The judges love the other 4 guys too much.
The girls most likely to go are Courtney and Jessica. Komfort should be safe for now but in a few weeks not so much.
Comment by Geoff J — July 3, 2008 @ 1:29 pm
I really like Mark and Chelsie. She is so versatile; the “my husband works too much” routine is my favorite so far of the season. I really like watching Twitch and Kerrington dance, but there is still just something about her that bugs me. I adore Comfort, and I think she looked beautiful last night, but I cannot stand Thayne; can’t stand the cheesy grin, can’t stand the way he dances. He’s pretty good technically, but he’s not nearly as good as he thinks he is and I hope he goes home tonight. I really didn’t want to like Katee because of the Whiny Las Vegas Debacle, but she is probably the best girl this year, and their Mia routine last night was incredible.
I noticed Benjy’s dad and wondered what the connection was there. Surely if they were related, they would mention that wouldn’t they?
Yes, Gev is from SLC too; driving home from Salt Lake the other day, I saw a big sign on one of the overpasses that said “Vote for Gev.”
I don’t think Kortni is strong enough for the show, but I do think Matt should stay this week over Thayne. Unfortunately, if they send either Kortni or Matt home, they will probably send them both because it would be difficult to pair either of them with anyone else.
Comment by shazbraz — July 3, 2008 @ 1:33 pm
I can’t see them letting Jessica go. In particular they think that her main problem is insecurity but that she’s one of the top dancers. I can’t see any of the girls going but Courtney unless someone really flubs up their solo. Komfort just nailed her dances last night too well and is too significantly improved over prior weeks.
Comment by Clark — July 3, 2008 @ 2:56 pm
There’s something about Kerrington that bugs me too and I can’t put my finger on it. I think it’s the “I’m still in High School” thing. But I believe Chelsie just got out of High School too, didn’t she? I suspect it’s just that she covers it up better although I thought it came out a tad too much last night. (I thought last night was Chelsie’s weakest thus far which of course is still better than most others)
Benji for some reason brought his dad rather than his sister to the show last night. At least I didn’t see the sister. By the way I hated how they put up that joke by Benji to his sister about how that’s why she didn’t win. I’m sure it was light hearted in context but came off kind of crass.
Comment by Clark — July 3, 2008 @ 2:59 pm
I must’ve missed that joke.
Kherington doesn’t bother me (I know there’s an “H” in her name somewhere). I thought Chelsie looked like a little girl playing dress up last night in the waltz routine, but I blame wardrobe for that.
I forgot how fantastic Joshua and Katee’s Mia Michaels routine was. One of my faves of the year, for sure. The part where she jumped through his arms and he caught her, and that assisted run—just all so fantastic.
Comment by Susan M — July 3, 2008 @ 4:05 pm
I think you have to give Thayne and Comfort a little space because they’re a new partnership and they did pretty well last night. They, along with Matt and Kourtni are probably the most vulnerable, however. I also think Gev could be in trouble.
I like Comfort a litle more than Kourtni right now and I like Thayne a little more than Matt (Thayne is, in fact, from Utah, so maybe it’s a local prejudice, but Matt lives in SLC as well, though I believe he’s from Arizona).
I’m going to say Matt and Kourtni are probably leaving tonight.
Comment by MCQ — July 3, 2008 @ 4:58 pm
BTW, Gev lives in SLC but he’s from Kazakhstan. I think Twitchington (Twitch and Kherington) are awesome. They’re my second favorite after Mark and Chelsie. My third favorite couple is Will and Jessica. Josh and Katee are technically very good but I’m just not into them as much. They are my fourth favorite. I like Courtney but Gev just doesn’t do it for me, so they are in my bottom three along with Matt and Kourtni and Thayne and Comfort.
Comment by MCQ — July 3, 2008 @ 5:12 pm
So the four Utahns are Chelsie, Thayne, Matt, and Gev? Is that right?
Comment by Clark — July 3, 2008 @ 8:33 pm
I wouldn’t call Gev and Matt Utahns. They just happen to be living in Utah.
Comment by MCQ — July 3, 2008 @ 9:05 pm
Which kinda makes them Utahns…no?
Comment by gabby — July 4, 2008 @ 8:53 am
No surprises with the results show this week. Next week it’ll obviously be Comfort and Thayne leaving. I personally thought Comfort should’ve gone home this week.
Does anyone have the One Republic album? Is it strong or is there only one or two great songs? Cuz I love what I’ve heard of them so far.
Comment by Susan M — July 4, 2008 @ 9:53 am
Gabby: No.
Susan: One Republic is kind of a one hit wonder so far. They did that “Apologize” song with Timbaland and have had maybe one other good song. Nigel or somebody must have a stake in them though, because they seem to get a lot of face time on these reality shows.
Comment by MCQ — July 4, 2008 @ 12:45 pm
MCQ — why not? I’m not from Utah, but I’ve lived here for 17 years. Does that mean I’m not a Utahn?
Comment by shazbraz — July 4, 2008 @ 1:23 pm
We’ll let you slide Shaz.
Comment by MCQ — July 4, 2008 @ 2:00 pm
Seriously, why not? Are you just trying to be contrary? If you aren’t born somewhere, but live there are you forever to be deemed an outsider? That seems a little harsh.
Comment by gabby — July 4, 2008 @ 2:31 pm
Ah, thanks! And I wasn’t trying to cause an argument about it-I promise! The whole from-Utah, not-from-Utah discussion got a little hot recently on another board that I read and I think it’s kinda weird so I just wondered what your reason was for answering so finally. Whether I tell people I’m from NM, where I was born and raised but haven’t lived for 20 years or from Utah where I own a house, had my kids and have paid taxes for the past 17 depends on the situation and who’s asking and why they’re asking
Susan, One Republic also sings that (awful) Stop and Stare song which I think at least partly accounts for why I have such a bias against Kherrington.
Comment by shazbraz — July 4, 2008 @ 2:47 pm
Ok, here’s the deal: It’s not about where you were born (I wasn’t born in Utah). It’s about residency, which is a legal concept. From my perspective, as an attorney, I think of someone as a Utahn (or Californian or whatever) if they have established a permanent residence there, as opposed to temporary status like you have when you go to school someplace but return home to a permanent residence for summers or when you are finished with school. It appears to me that Gev and Matt are just in Utah for school or some other temporary thing, and have not established a permanent residence here.
Comment by MCQ — July 4, 2008 @ 11:29 pm
I thought Comfort was just so improved she ought to stay. But her solo was definitely far weaker than it needed to be.
But wow for Gev’s solo. That was awesome.
As for where you’re from, it’s always fluid when you’re in your early 20’s. My understanding is that they’ve been in Utah a while so that’s close enough for me. The reason I bring it up is that Utah seems to have such a solid dance tradition which is why I think year in and year out they seem to really dominate the show - surprising when you consider how small the state is.
Comment by clark — July 6, 2008 @ 7:39 pm
To add, if they are training in an Utahn dance studio that’s significant as well. Especially if they’ve been there a while.
I understand that Thayne lives in Springville and was born in Provo despite living in Wyoming for a while. So it sounds like it’s a little more permanent than you suggest. Especially since he’s one of the older competitors at 27. (I think only Twitch is older)
Chelsie clearly is Utahn by any stretch. (She went to High School at Timp here)
Gev I’ll give you since he’s only here because he’s going to the U.
Matt is from Arizona but’s been training in dance full time I believe. Apparently most of them have been in those musicals from Disney or MTV here. (I’m going from this local story for all the above)
Comment by clark — July 6, 2008 @ 7:42 pm
I’m so glad you posted that last clip. I missed two weeks and that was one of the numbers I missed during that time. It really had the punch I’ve often felt was missing from their routines. I knew it was waiting under the surface, so it was nice to really see it in action.
SO MANY great performances this season, it’s really been a treat to watch.
Comment by mo mommy — July 8, 2008 @ 1:47 pm