thank the heavens for no more baseball
We are back to NORMAL on SYTYCD! Praise be! In the past I've mumbled a bit about how maybe they shouldn't do audience vote in the early rounds, so the popular-but-not-great people (or people paired with a popular dancer, Kherington) don't stick around till Top 10 and thus take tour spots away from people I'd rather see. I TAKE IT BACK. I TAKE IT ALL BACK. GIVE ME MY BIANCA BACK, YOU BASTARD BASEBALL TEAMS.
Er. Anyway.
Random thoughts on the top 16:
Kevin and Karen: Saddled with a lackluster dance this week, I thought. They were better in previous weeks. I like Kevin a lot. Karen's okay, but she's no Janette.
Jakob and Ashleigh: Don't particularly care about either of them. Currently, I'd be happy to see them exit anytime before Top 10. When they pulled Mandy Moore, I was like, "Oooh, is it going to be good Mandy or bad Mandy?" Because she's done some good stuff...but also some reeeeally bad stuff. I didn't agree with Nigel that it was up to Table Dance standards (the cane was just too distracting for me) but it wasn't Bad Mandy, at least. Oh, Mandy. You and your 80s music.
Peter and Pauline: Oh my gosh they are so cute. Lacking in technique, yeah, absolutely. (And not just in this dance, pretty much across the board-- which is weird because I don't remember Pauline having technique issues during auditions?) But as the judges said, definitely smart that it was a quickstep (dance of DOOM!) with a story so they could sell the characters. I voted for 'em.
Legacy and Kathryn: Okay, okay, Legacy has totally won me over. He's throwing himself into everything with total commitment and it shows. He was *fab* in this Broadway piece. Absolutely fearless. (Also, died laughing at Adam calling him "Legs.") Kathryn is just eh. Actually, I'm eh on most of the girls this season. :-/
Victor and Channing: Can exit as soon as possible. They bore me.
Ryan and Ellenore: Oooooh, that was unfortunate this week. Yeek. I thought Ellenore pulled it off better than Ryan, but...yeah. I love Ellenore and I want her to stay a long, long time in the competition so I voted for them a bunch. Ryan, well, I'll be happier when he's de-coupled from Ellenore.
Nathan and Mollee: Seriously, seriously disappointing this week. I thought Nathan was terrific in last week's Bollywood-- the hair, the sword, the character, it really worked for him. The salsa was just...sad. Sad junior salsa. I think Nathan will probably be fine if they end up in the bottom-- the judges do love him, and his solos are craaaazy. I'm still not sold on Mollee (just too juvenile for me) so I wouldn't mind if she left.
Russell and Noelle: Daaaamn, could they have come up with something *more* perfectly suited to Russell? He was great. Noelle, I don't care about. She can go. (SHOULD HAVE GONE, DAMMIT.)
And on the judging: How much do I love Adam as a permanent judge? THIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIS MUCH. He always has excellent, helpful critiques (like his comments to Legacy about his hands) and he's never unnecessarily mean. I was skeptical about having three permanent judges instead of the rotating spot, but I'm liking it so far. Really, all it takes is watching other reality shows to make you appreciate how good the judging is on SYTYCD. Actually, over on Project Rungay they had an interview with Gordana where she specifically mentions that she watches SYTYCD and loves that the judges are constructive and respectful, and wonders why they can't have that on PR. (Which is a whole nother rant for a whole nother day, but let me tell you internets, I've watched a grand total of two PR episodes this season, because this season is ass. I've just read the PRG recaps for the rest.) But ANYWAY. I've never understood how judges making mean, catty comments is supposed to make for "good TV," and I'm glad that the stupid judge tricks from auditions (ugh, TYCE) are not continuing.
And I'm going to the STYCYD tour!!! I bought a ticket! I AM FREAKING EXCITED ABOUT IT!!!
Er. Anyway.
Random thoughts on the top 16:
Kevin and Karen: Saddled with a lackluster dance this week, I thought. They were better in previous weeks. I like Kevin a lot. Karen's okay, but she's no Janette.
Jakob and Ashleigh: Don't particularly care about either of them. Currently, I'd be happy to see them exit anytime before Top 10. When they pulled Mandy Moore, I was like, "Oooh, is it going to be good Mandy or bad Mandy?" Because she's done some good stuff...but also some reeeeally bad stuff. I didn't agree with Nigel that it was up to Table Dance standards (the cane was just too distracting for me) but it wasn't Bad Mandy, at least. Oh, Mandy. You and your 80s music.
Peter and Pauline: Oh my gosh they are so cute. Lacking in technique, yeah, absolutely. (And not just in this dance, pretty much across the board-- which is weird because I don't remember Pauline having technique issues during auditions?) But as the judges said, definitely smart that it was a quickstep (dance of DOOM!) with a story so they could sell the characters. I voted for 'em.
Legacy and Kathryn: Okay, okay, Legacy has totally won me over. He's throwing himself into everything with total commitment and it shows. He was *fab* in this Broadway piece. Absolutely fearless. (Also, died laughing at Adam calling him "Legs.") Kathryn is just eh. Actually, I'm eh on most of the girls this season. :-/
Victor and Channing: Can exit as soon as possible. They bore me.
Ryan and Ellenore: Oooooh, that was unfortunate this week. Yeek. I thought Ellenore pulled it off better than Ryan, but...yeah. I love Ellenore and I want her to stay a long, long time in the competition so I voted for them a bunch. Ryan, well, I'll be happier when he's de-coupled from Ellenore.
Nathan and Mollee: Seriously, seriously disappointing this week. I thought Nathan was terrific in last week's Bollywood-- the hair, the sword, the character, it really worked for him. The salsa was just...sad. Sad junior salsa. I think Nathan will probably be fine if they end up in the bottom-- the judges do love him, and his solos are craaaazy. I'm still not sold on Mollee (just too juvenile for me) so I wouldn't mind if she left.
Russell and Noelle: Daaaamn, could they have come up with something *more* perfectly suited to Russell? He was great. Noelle, I don't care about. She can go. (SHOULD HAVE GONE, DAMMIT.)
And on the judging: How much do I love Adam as a permanent judge? THIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIS MUCH. He always has excellent, helpful critiques (like his comments to Legacy about his hands) and he's never unnecessarily mean. I was skeptical about having three permanent judges instead of the rotating spot, but I'm liking it so far. Really, all it takes is watching other reality shows to make you appreciate how good the judging is on SYTYCD. Actually, over on Project Rungay they had an interview with Gordana where she specifically mentions that she watches SYTYCD and loves that the judges are constructive and respectful, and wonders why they can't have that on PR. (Which is a whole nother rant for a whole nother day, but let me tell you internets, I've watched a grand total of two PR episodes this season, because this season is ass. I've just read the PRG recaps for the rest.) But ANYWAY. I've never understood how judges making mean, catty comments is supposed to make for "good TV," and I'm glad that the stupid judge tricks from auditions (ugh, TYCE) are not continuing.
And I'm going to the STYCYD tour!!! I bought a ticket! I AM FREAKING EXCITED ABOUT IT!!!