(S03E08) It's becoming quite apparent that this is going to be a tough race. The competition is just entering the second week and there really isn't anyone that sticks out as being noticeably below the rest of the group. Depending on the styles drawn each week, every team in the competition has the potential to have the best performance of the night. It should make some difficult decisions for both the voters and the judges. This week Nigel and Mary were joined at the judges table by Mia Michaels for what turned out to be quite an impressive group of performances. She told Cat that she was disappointed to see Ricky leave and that America got it wrong, putting the best three male dancers in the bottom three. I didn't agree with Ricky being let go last week, but I think she's going a little far there.
Also, since there have been a lot of comments coming in each week asking about a particular song, I've started adding the songs that each couple danced to at the end of their section of the post.
Lauren and Neil - They both agreed that their samba from last week was lacking some chemistry. This week they drew hip hop with Dave Scott. Their performance felt a little unbalanced to me. Neil impressed me with how well he adapted to the unfamiliar style, but Lauren just kind of disappeared at times, like she just didn't have enough to do in the piece. Mia really liked the choreography, and thought Neil "tore this up." Mary thought that their chemistry was much improved. Nigel loved both of them and also praised Dave Scott.
Song - "The Way I Are" by Timbaland featuring Keri Hilson & D.O.E
Jessi and Pasha - Coming off of the waltz last week, a jazz number with Tyce Diorio was quite a departure. This was not what I was expecting from the jazz category. The costumes, the choreography, and the music all came together to give it a very tribal feel. They both fit right in to what Diorio was doing and they do work very well together. I don't think they should be worried about being in the bottom three. Mia thought it was quirky, ridiculous, and amazing. Mary praised Jessi for her movement and Pasha for his partnering skills. Nigel agreed with them and praised the choreography.
Song - "Stiff Jazz" by Zihan and Kamien
Jaimie and Hok - I thought they caught a bit of a break by drawing hip hop in week one. It's always a little easier when one of the partners draws their particular style, so it was interesting to see what would happen when they got the samba with Jean Marc Genereux. I thought Jaimie was excellent here. Hok held his own, but I think we are starting to get glimpses of what might develop into a problem later in the competition. He danced well, but it's just not as polished as some of the other dancers. What he lacks in the details though, he makes up in charisma. He's very fun to watch. Mia had nothing but good things to say, calling it amazing. Mary disagreed. She said there were some good bits, but it was not a proper samba. Nigel thought it was a great performance, but agreed with Mary about the technical difficulties. He said he would prefer to see a samba like you would see on Dancing With The Stars, which drew an eyebrow raise from Jean Marc.
Song - "Bang Bang To The Rock 'n' Roll" by Gabin
Sabra and Dominic - These two were under the gun a bit this week after being in the bottom three last week. They went to see Mandy Moore to learn a contemporary piece. It was an interesting performance, although I think the editors blew the big stunt by showing it in the practice package. Sabra could do with a bit more personality, but she does dance very well. Dominic really impressed me. It wasn't perfect, but it should stop some of those questions about whether or not he was going to handle the different challenges. Mia was thankful that Nigel pushed for Dominic because she had missed it. Mary praised Mandy Moore's choreography and called Sabra a heavenly little creature. She also added that Dominic is a force to be reckoned with. Nigel said Sabra was outstanding.
Song - "I'll Stand By You" by The Pretenders
Faina and Cedric - The other couple from the bottom three last week, and this week they were trying to avoid a repeat of that with a foxtrot choreographed by Hunter Johnson. It was another uneven performance. This was right in Faina's wheelhouse, so you would expect her to excel. It doesn't hurt her that she is just ridiculously pretty either. Cedric was ok, but never really seemed committed to their performance. Mia thought they just 'got through it.' She compared it to Ginger Rogers and an insecure Michael Jackson. Mary agreed, saying that Cedric had let his partner down. Nigel thought they would end up in the bottom three again, and blamed Cedric for that. It was a tough bit of judging for him, but he took it very well. Good on him.
Song - "You're The Boss" by Elvis Presley & Ann Margaret
Lacey and Kameron - These two were widely regarded as the best team last week (65% in the TV Squad poll), so I was curious to see what would happen this week. They went to see Tyce Diorio for their Broadway number. This couldn't have been much more different than last week, but it was almost as good. I had my questions about Lacey early on, but after two weeks I think she really is a contender. For his part, Kameron turned in another great performance. No worries this week for the two of them. Mia said she thinks they are the sexiest couple, but she missed the pizazz of the performance. Mary thought it was very well done and called Lacey hot hot hot. Nigel thought they looked like they've been dancing together for years.
Song "Overture / And All That Jazz" from Chicago
Anya and Danny - I think drawing any of the waltzes is always a good thing. It's a dance that translates well to everybody, no matter what there preference. So when they met with Hunter Johnson for the Viennese waltz, I expected good things. And that is what we got. It was a beautiful performance with some great technical dancing. Anya was very good, Danny really shined here. He's quickly becoming my favorite for the male side of things. He is just so crisp and polished in everything he does. It's very impressive. Mia praised the pair of them for bringing a maturity to the competition. Mary said that they had stepped out of a dream. She also added that they are her favorite couple in the competition. Nigel pointed out that the waltz will look beautiful to the fans and called it the performance of the night.
Song - "You And Me" by Lifehouse
Shauna and Jimmy - They are are both contemporary dancers, so that makes their assignment of a Dave Scott hip hop routine all the more interesting. They were both very good, but hurt somewhat by the choreography I thought. When the music cut out for the stepping portion of the performance, it kind of lost a little steam. I chalk that up to the choreography more than their individual performances though. A nice job by both of them. Mia thought Shauna took a step up, but still looked like a student. She loved Jimmy though. Mary thought they both grew. Nigel thought the performance was fun, and brilliant to watch.
Song "U Sexy Girl" by Fat Man Scoop featuring Elephant Man & Jabba
Sara and Jesús - For the final dance of the night, it was off to see Jean Marc Genereaux to learn the paso doble. I don't know who chose the music, but good grief that was the worst song selection so far on the show. It's a great song, but so out of place here. Sarah did a nice job, and looked great all done up in her ballroom duds. Jesús continued to impress, and I would now label him the dark horse to win the competition. Mia thought it was a little awkward. She didn't like the music either. She thought Jesús was great and Sarah was all over the place. Mary thought Jean Marc's routine was great. She praised Sarah for getting through the routine and called Jesús amazing. Nigel liked that they experimented with the music instead of the dance and agreed that Jesús was fantastic.
Song - "We Will Rock You" by Queen
All things considered, it was a great night of performances and it's hard to choose any of them as best or worst. For me, the best of the night was Jessi and Pasha. That performance was so strange, and so fun. And the worst, unfortunately, was Sara and Jesús. They didn't do anything horribly wrong, but that music was so distracting.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-21-2007 @ 9:23AM
Erin said...
I think Jessi and Pasha's dance was the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen. I really don't like Jessi at all. She is not even close to being as talented as any other girl on there. I'm confused on how she made it in the top 20 actually.
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6-21-2007 @ 9:49AM
Where did my stars go? said...
I agree with your opinion of the music for the paso doble that Sara and Jesus danced to. The music and lights were so distracting I could barely keep up with what they were doing.
Anya and Danny were absolutely breathtaking. I reran that sequence a couple of times - truly beautiful.
I was so ready to not like Lacey because I thought she got a pass because of her connection to Benji. I was so wrong - that girl can dance! She looked so much like her cousin last night when she smiled - they have a strong family resemblance.
I don't want to see any of them go - they are all fantastic this year!
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6-21-2007 @ 9:41AM
La-di-dah said...
I have to agree with you Reviewer Brett; the best for me were Pasha and BabyOil. I think because of Pasha's great partnering skills and BabyOil Jessi's dabbling, they look flawless and great together, and they are both easy-going enough for me to feel their chemistry. I think they could be a force to be reckoned with if everyone forgot that Jessi is BabyOil and if the judges stopped gushing over Danny and Anya.
Which brings me to my lament: I don't get the Danny and Anya love. I think their waltz was okay, but was it some kng of "mature" configuration sent from the firmament? No. Do I think their Jive was the best dance of last week? Double no. Do I get the sense of the chemistry of friendship/great partnering that I get with Jessi/Pasha? No. I always get the feeling of the 2 prideful people strutting their stuff around each other when they dance, but maybe not using it to complement each other. And that Danny's ballet training shines through everything is annoying (Danny, watch Pasha, he-can-strut-the-Latin man dancing smooth waltz and Afro-Jazz, and you might learn something). And the faces Anya makes, for me, is quickly making it a memory that Jessie is BabyOil, because with the fact that Jessi has actually done quite well in 2 dances in a row, I am actually getting impressed.
The thing with the Jessi and Pasha pairing, I think, is that Pasha might go unnoticed because he is kind of quiet in speech and personality, and Jessi made some weird impressions during the auditions week. These things might hurt them if people don't take notice and if people don't vote for them.
All I can say is the pair I love to watch is Pasha and Jessi and my favorite man is Pasha. Resting my case.
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6-21-2007 @ 10:27AM
Melissa said...
Hands down, my favorite couple is Lacey and Kameron. Last week's Mia Michaels' routine took my breath away, but they were also nothing short of incredible last night. They are the sexiest couple, but I actually thought Kameron could have been a bit more all over her (is that wrong?)
There's a reason why Benji's sister is in the competition-- that family is insanely talented and full of personality. Like it or not, personality is what makes the difference in this competition. Sure, a lot of it is the fault of the editors, but people like Sabra, Shauna and Jimmy don't stand out because they don't show much personality. They're all fantastic dancers though, so time will tell.
Neil is so adorable, I don't know how he stands himself. He was great last night. Lauren lacked energy, but they have a lot of potential as a couple. I thought it was funny how they edited the practice footage to make it seem like Lauren just killed it from the beginning. She was definitely the weaker of the two.
I don't have a strong dislike for any of the guys, but Faina and Jessi annoy me to no end. Baby Oil needs to go back to her boring desk job (much like the one I have) and Faina needs to get more than just one move. Saying that Cedric let his partner down this week is insane because Faina's hip hop was one of the most painful things SYTYCD has ever seen.
My bottom three: Faina/Cedric, Jamie/Hok, Jessi/Pascha
Going home: Jamie and Cedric (as much as I love him)
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6-21-2007 @ 11:04AM
Ryan said...
Even though my favorite couple of the competition is Kameron/Lacey, I would have to give the award to best dance of last night to Pasha/Jessi as well. I just couldn't take my eyes off the screen. Very well done.
And I agree with La-di-dah, I don't GET the Danny/Anya lovefest from the judges. Yes, they are TECHNICALLY wonderful, really quite pretty to look at. But I just don't feel the chemistry and there is just something a little off about those two. I don't know. Maybe I'm still reeling from the judges saying they were the best last week even though I easily ranked them as #6.
In any case, even though they are not my favorites I still would like to see them in the top 10 (for drama) along with Kameron, Pasha, Neil, Sarah, Sabra, and Lacey. If any of these eight leave before then, I'd be a little sad.
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6-21-2007 @ 12:20PM
Bas said...
Maybe I just love contemporary, but my #1 this week was Sabra and Dominic. Sabra is amazing to watch, and their performance was the only one that moved me emotionally. Dominic reminds me a little of Ivan from last year - not in personality, but the fact that he seems like a one-note dancer, but then really puts his heart into all the other dances that they are asked to do.
My #2 would be Lacey & Kameron, but for Lacey only -- I think she's carrying Kameron with her performances so far.
I'm not sure about the girls, but I do think that Cedric is going home. It's unfortunate, because he's so good at what he does and seems like such a nice young man.
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6-21-2007 @ 2:11PM
MrsEldubya said...
I didn't really want to like Lacey that much either but she won me over last week with the Mia Michael's routine. This week I was thinking "whoa, Lacey has some abs!" She looked amazing but I do agree after watching their routine again, the Broadway number needed a little bit more pizazz. Chicago is a Foss musical and they needed a bit of that Fosse over the top dramatics to it. It was a good number and it caught your attention but it wasn't as sharp as it could have been and that's probably from trying to put it together in less than a week.
So for me Jessie and Pasha edged out and was the best performance of the night. I found myself watching Pasha because I was amazed at how well he was doing. He draws your attention when he dances.
Last year the draw for me was the personalities of the contestants and the interesting choreography. Some of the choreographers became stars of the show as well and now you can even tell that some of the audience get just as excited by who is behind the dance as they are with who is dancing.
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6-21-2007 @ 2:08PM
Diana said...
I just have to say that it was incredibly unfortunate that Sara and Jesus had to do the Paso Doble to "We Will Rock You". People were too focused on the music being so wrong to really notice that Jesus KILLED IT. He was fantastic. He was also incredible last week. I'm calling it now: this kid is going to win it.
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6-21-2007 @ 5:22PM
Sab said...
I didn't think I was going to like Anya and Danny at first, but they've really stood out so far! Watching Danny nail that jive last week, and then that reverse attitude turn this week -- wow. I used to think at first that Danny was going to be pretty cocky, but when he gets on that stage, he relaxes and just lights up so wonderfully.
It's too bad about Jesus and Sarah - I have to agree with Diana, I think the fact that the music was battling it out with the choreography is going to hurt them. It's really a shame, too - if you tuned out the music and just watched them go, Jesus was just on fire.
Is it just me, or are the editors biased toward certain couples? Every time Dominic and Sabra get on stage, the camera stays zoomed out, which drives me crazy. I can't see facial expressions worth a damn, and I think that just hurts my opinion of them. When they're getting judges' critiques, and the camera's on them, they're like entirely different people to me because I can see their faces. In fact, it feels like whoever's doing the video editing this season is killing the sense of personality in the contestants because they keep doing weird camera angles, not allowing us to see facial expressions as often, etc.
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6-21-2007 @ 6:48PM
jdg said...
This year is going to be tough. Unlike last week, when Ricky and what's-her-name were awful and the bottom spot was obvious, there were no glaringly bad performances. Lacey and Cameron are still my faves, but Cameron is dragging down the performance level. I'm a little surprised by that. I thought the most improved award definitely went to Dominic and Sabra. And I'm on board the "why the love for Danny and Anya?" train; their performance seemed to be no better than any of the other strong couples. Nobody stood out as the front-runners for me this week. I do hope that Jamie sticks around for awhile--she seems very talented and I don't think she's been given a chance to shine. Surprise of the night: Sara and Jesús. I cringed when they drew Paso Doble. He nailed it and she was almost as good--her first time in heels?? Wow.
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