(S03E19) The show kicked off with what I am calling the Broadway Matrix, starring Lauren as Trinity. It was a fun number, set to "Get Up" by Ciarra. I thought that giving Lauren the lead role might have been a bad omen for what was to come for her when we got to the results. There was plenty of other First, Cat had a little chat with the judges about dance as a career. Nigel expounded on why it is so difficult, comparing it to being a professional athlete because the career is so short. He noted that the whole time someone is trying to get work as a professional dancer they have to be mindful of what they will be doing in the future. Adam added that the reason that people go through all of the struggles is because it is so full of joy. Mary was asked whether or not a girl can win the competition this year and she responded, "Absolutely a girl could win." I agree with that.
Before any results could be tossed about, this week everyone got to do a solo. The girls were up first, and I have to say, it wasn't a very impressive collection of performances. The only thing that really stood out to me was that I have been much more impressed with Sara in her non b-girl performances than I ever have when she gets back to it. I would have welcomed seeing her try a solo in any other style. It was close, but if I am ranking the ladies on their solos:
1) Sabra
2) Lacey
3) Lauren
4) Sara
The men were up next and they got off to a similar start. Watching Neil almost felt like a rerun. Yes, he's a very good dancer, but there was nothing about his solo that stood out. Danny was better as he gave us a bit of a different look. But stealing the show was Dominic. He could have fallen into that seen it before trap, but his spinning chair trick was a show stopper. Very impressive. The results were similar for Pasha. His cape performance really could have gone off the rails, but I thought it came together nicely. And it stood out because it was something fresh that we hadn't seen from him. Ranking the guys:
1) Dominic
2) Pasha
3) Danny
4) Neil
Finally, it was time to get to the results. The start of the results at least. Cat revealed the bottom two from each group and as most people predicted Sara and Lauren were in the bottom two for the girls. The men were in for a bit of a surprise though. It was fairly clear that Dominic would be in the bottom two, with most people picking him to be the one to leave, but I didn't expect Neil to be joining him there.
One more break before the final results as One Republic came out to do their single "Apologize." It's a great song and it was very well done. My favorite musical guest so far this season. You could almost hear the cheers from fans across the country as there was no lip-syncing.
Then it was down to the serious business. Eight must become six before the show can go on and Cat had one more small surprise for us. Leading up to the results show, it really was looking like Lauren would be going home, but she managed to make it through for at least one more week. Sara is leaving. No surprises on the other side as Dominic's very impressive run came to an end.
So there you have it. I thought the Dominic decision was right on, but can certainly see how you could argue either way between Sara and Lauren. It doesn't bode well for her chances next week, but those Sara and Dom fans have to go somewhere. Will she pick up enough of them to squeak through again? It should be interesting to find out.
Interesting results, but for me the results shows are really losing steam. If the network is set on this being an hour long episode, that's fine, but I'd much rather see it filled up with more performance. The solos have gotten a little stale, and the results/highlights are really only good for about ten minutes of show. Rather than all the stalling and stretching, I'd like to see them put some of the dancers from the first two seasons to work with some special results night performances. Make it a show that people want to watch to see the dancing, not just to get the results.
Chances are you'll never find yourself at the water cooler telling someone that they should have seen the way Cat read names off of a card. But you just might find yourself telling someone that they have to see the results show that you Tivo'd, because they brought back Allison and Travis to do a number.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-03-2007 @ 7:50AM
Chris Hubbs said...
I tend to think that Cat will be glad to have Dominic gone just so he quits hanging all over her. A few weeks ago, he was amusing. Last night, he was just getting creepy.
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8-03-2007 @ 7:59AM
Ryan said...
It sucks that Sara is gone. It just sucks. Pasha had the best solo, because wow that cape was another dancer unto itself. Absolutely beautiful. And everyone keeps saying how totally better the girls are this season, but last night showed the guys can bring it.
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8-03-2007 @ 9:01AM
sarah said...
i told you... the girls are stealing the show. i would have love to have seen Sara stay, but the girls are running so close together in the competition, its the luck of the draw. i disagree with you a bit on the girls' solos though.
1) Sabra
2) Sara
3) Lauren
4) Lacey
i though Lacey's solo sucked big time. its a good thing she was never in the bottom cause she sucks at solo performances. i really loved Pasha's. it was clever to use a cape, since the woman represents the cape in the Paso Doble. they should work with props in their solos more often.
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8-03-2007 @ 9:07AM
Cindy Gibson said...
I think they got it right last night. From this point on, it will be hard to see anyone leave. This is a really talented group of top six. I agree about Dominic and his "thing" for Cat. But it has been creepy for me from the start.
Remember Ricky? He also swore his dying "lust for Cat on national TV. THat just shows that even though they have talent they are still young "boys".
Looking forward to next week already. Glad they dumped the general solo thing. Cindy
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8-03-2007 @ 9:19AM
Georgia said...
I think they tried to set it up from the git-go to have a girl win this year. In auditions, they rarely sent thru guys that had any technical training. In the end, technique is required. I think that's why they thru out the comment to Mary could a girl win - subtle suggestion.
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8-03-2007 @ 9:50AM
liz said...
Was anyone else really happy to see Sara go? Maybe it's just me, but she has been one of my least favorites since the beginning. I agree that she has grown a lot (probably the most, next to Sabra or Dominic), but she had a longer way to go than anyone else, and she never made it to where she needed to be for this competition. I feel like she hasn't done anything really impressive this season. She's performed mediocre performances and been praised for how far she's come from b-dancing, but never for her technique. I also don't think she has great performance abilities either. Her solo last night did not impress me.
As for the solo rankings, I would have put Lacey below Lauren- that was a horrible solo! I also wasn't too impressed by Pasha (ok, so he knows how to play with capes, but he didn't do anything impressive or exciting with it). Did I miss something?
Bring back Allison and Travis! How cool would that be?!
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8-03-2007 @ 10:50AM
Vince said...
I liked Domenic but he was getting creepy with the Cat touching all the time.
Sara was the most improved dancer but still the weakest of the girls. So the public voted correctly in my opinion. Next off Lauren and Neil I hope.
Sabra to win, as they judges have been telegraphing for weeks.
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8-03-2007 @ 11:53AM
David said...
Next week Neil will go, and then Parsha or Danny will win for the season.
And Domenic was a freak and I'm so glad he is gone.
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8-03-2007 @ 11:20AM
Porchland said...
Random notes:
I took Cat's question to Mary about a girl winning this season as maybe a subtle hint that a girl (probably Sabra or Lacey has been leading the voting this season). Maybe you're right that they're just pushing for a girl to win.
Three weeks ago, I thought it was the Lacey Invitational, but I think Lacey has trended down and Sabra has trended up since then. I suspect Benji will be back in the crowd next week doing Lacey PR.
I would have expected based on Neil's always-fanatical crowd reaction and his absences from the bottom group that he was leading the guys. Guess not.
I like Pasha, but I don't see him winning.
I think Sara had more training than she let on. She seemed much more comfortable with a big range of dance styles, and her technique is more polished than other street dancers they've had.
I absolutely agree that the show has not figured out how to do the Thursday episode and that they should use previous season performers. One of the more memorable Thursday shows was when Benji danced. The previous performers are very often there, so it seems kind of obvious. "American Idol" and "Dancing With the Stars" both have better performance shows for this very reason.
I like Adam Shenkman, but why have him back and not have him choreograph the Thursday opener?
Shane Sparks is over-rated. His choreography doesn't play well on a live stage, and the hand-tricks are tiresome. Same for Tice Diorio, who almost always has someone from his routine in the bottom two/three.
More Wade Robson. More Mia Michaels. More Dan Karady. More Alex DeSilva. Less everyone else.
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8-03-2007 @ 11:40AM
Brett said...
We're on the same page Porchland, with one exception. I would substitute Tony Meredith for Dan Karady in your list.
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8-03-2007 @ 2:13PM
Pat in AZ said...
I agree with most of what Porchland says, although a little less of Mia would suit me fine after that last number. I'm sorry to see Sara go - not being a Lacey fan at all (her solo was awful and she's a horrible partner. Heidi was twice as good as Lacey). Now that Sara is gone, I no longer have to split my votes between Sara and a guy - guess I go with Danny from now on since he is hands down the best dancer. Those spins are awesome!
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8-06-2007 @ 7:42AM
liz said...
Just FYI, Sara's bio on fox's website says this:
3. How old were you when you started to dance?
Started dancing at age 4
4. Do you have any formal dance training?
Red Bull Beat Rider 2006, Colorado State University Dance Program, Broadway Dance Center Intern, Motion Underground, The Gruv Factory, Academy for the Performing Arts
I'm pretty sure that means she has some formal dance training (hello- she was in a University dance program- those are fairly broad in training, although she probably would not have done ballroom). It makes me feel like the audience has been completely mislead about her over the course of this season. This information could have possible changed some votes...
taken from: http://www.fox.com/dance/bios/17-vongillern.htm
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