(S05E09) Things were getting too exciting during the competition episodes, so the producers brought in Toni Basil to join Nigel and Mary on the panel. Even though it's a big deal to be receiving a prestigious award, I still found myself dozing off when she started talking about it.This year, the competition is so tight that it's hard to figure out who's going to be in the bottom three from week to week. So many of the contestants are really impressive in picking up the different styles, and that continued tonight.
What also continued was couples who were great last week being not so great this week. And there are still so many couples that there are only a few favorites sprinkled throughout. In other words "What have you done for me lately?" is in full effect. So what did they do?
NOW THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKIN' 'BOUT!
Melissa & Ade - "Emotion," Destiny's Child (Rumba, Tony Meredith)
There was a lot of faltering on the turns, but for a single week of work, what they pulled off was damned impressive. Both Ade and Melissa have something incredible in their ability to pick up these different techniques so well, but I think they need to work on their confidence, as the lack thereof showed through at times.
Kayla & Kupono - "Sweet Dreams for You," Jewel (Viennese Waltz, Jean-Marc Genereux)
NEW COUPLE ALERT! With only a week to build chemistry, it's a pretty daunting task to take on a dance so passionate. Despite one stumbling turn, they blew me away with how well they pulled this one off. I not only was won over by the emotion they shared, but by their mastery of the choreography. Beautifully elegant.
Randi & Evan - "Koop Island Blues," Koop (Contemporary, Mia Michaels)
These two are just adorable together; they're "fun" to watch. This number was bizarre, with the butt fixation, but Randi and Evan performed it to perfection. I'll give Randi credit for having a butt of high enough quality to be worthy of the fixation. The piece was unique and "fun." Probably one of my favorite performances of the night.
THE MIDDLE OF THE PACK
Asuka & Vitolio - "Heartbreaker," Pat Benatar (Jazz, Mandy Moore)
Last week, these two had my favorite performance, so I set high expectations for them. Despite Asuka's reservations, I thought they were pretty solid. The partnering was solid and the emotions were great. I think most of the things I didn't like were in the simplicity of the choreography in places. Great lifts throughout, though it must help that Asuka weighs 27 pounds.
Janette & Brandon - "What a World," Common (Hip-Hop, Dave Scott)
Janette channeled her inner Sonya with that look tonight. Considering she has kind of a bookish natural look, it was quite a transformation that looked good on her. Tonight, they both owned those characters brilliantly. I'm to the point I don't think they're going to find anything Brandon isn't capable of, but I'll give it up to both of them for a very entertaining hip-hop vs. rock-n-roll piece.
Jeanine & Phillip - "Moses Supposes," Singin' in the Rain (Broadway, Tyce DiOrio)
This was a messy number, between the feathers flying and Phillip's pants splitting. The choreography was Broadway cute, and Jeanine was up to the task. Phillip gave enough to convince his fanbase to keep on keeping on with them. I wasn't blown away by the overall performance, but it wasn't horrible either.
NOT SO MUCH!
Karla & Jonathan - "By My Side," Jadakiss (Hip-Hop, Dave Scott)
Last week, this coupling really stood out and demanded to be noticed, and notice them I did. And then hip-hop came out and kicked their asses. Jonathan couldn't have looked more uncomfortable if he was dancing on hot coals. He missed almost everything, they weren't in sync and ultimately, it was an awkward disaster.
Caitlin & Jason - "O Fortuna," Mozaretum Orchestra Salzburg & Kurt Prestel (Paso Doble, Jean-Marc Genereux)
With the Beastmaster costuming and the choreography given, this didn't really feel like a paso doble to me. They performed the steps passably well and the lifts were solid, but I thought it was kind of boring and underwhelming. Maybe it was oversimplified by the choreographers for the pair of them, but I wasn't as bedazzled as the panel on this one.
SUMMARY
The worst of the night was Karla & Jonathan, which is disappointing because they were so good last week. I figure they're a lock for the Bottom Three, but as for the rest, it's so hard to predict. I'll put Caitlin & Jason down there as well, because that number was a little off. And Jeanine & Phillip, though I'm not sure his fanbase is ready to do that to him. If not it'll be Asuka & Vitolio. Or someone else. Who do you think will be in the Bottom Three?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-25-2009 @ 7:25AM
Charry said...
First!!!!!!!
I think the bottom 3 couple this week will be Karla & Jonathan, Caitlin & Jason and Vitolo & Asuka and I think they should put us out of our misery and send Jonathan & Karla home, especially Jonathan. I don't know why but something about him just annoys the hell outta me. I can't put my finger on it so I just want him to leave so I can go back to giving my finger a rest.
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6-25-2009 @ 7:29AM
Charry said...
Brandon & Jeannette kicked Ass. They were my favorite
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6-25-2009 @ 8:07AM
laura said...
Bottom Three will be karla and Jonathan, caitlin and Jason, and Kayla and Kupono. I didnt buy thier chemistry and I think america is angry about max leaving so they will want Kupono gone.
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6-25-2009 @ 9:12AM
Charry said...
Yep you're right.. Kupono has to go first. He's like this horrible imitation of Mark from last year.
Ok Kupono this week and Jonathan next week.
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6-25-2009 @ 10:27PM
Elise said...
i think the same thing about kupono! and i always match up the routines with couples from last year. the "Hot Like Wow" would have been perfect for Courtney and Mark. and the "Falling Slowly" for Katee and Joshua.
6-25-2009 @ 9:29AM
Erin said...
I hope they never invite Tony Basil back again. Talk about sucking the life out of everything fun in a show. I found myself fast forwarding every single time she opened her mouth.
Adam Shankman is the best guest judge, I think. He gives good critiques and criticism and throws some fun jokes in there, too. Very good balance.
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6-25-2009 @ 9:50AM
Porchland said...
She's the worst by far. I mean, do they need MORE guest judges than Tabatha/Napoleon, Adam Shankman, Mia Michaels, Little C and Debbie Allen?
6-25-2009 @ 9:48AM
Sigma982 said...
I think the most amazing part of the show was the fact that Tony Basil only said "Street" a total of 6 times. Holy crap is she the worst...stop it already with her - you have enough people that can come in as a judge...let her go...
Randi and Evan are great and - *gasp* - "fun" - they're definitely my favorite couple. Brandon is my pick as the top dancer so far for me still.... I agree about Jonathan, Jason, and Kupono - I wouldn't be upset if any of them were gone, and I'm sorry, but Caitlin is just a disappointment.
The paso doble was the most boring I've ever seen - and that's easily one of my favorite dance disciplines. Don't know if it was the choreography, the costuming, Caitlin's hair, or the fact that they just went thru the motions. It also could have been the AWFUL editing of O Fortuna, which was extremely distracting and really low in the mix (which may have contributed to the lack of intensity I felt with it)....either way, it stunk.
Bye bye Caitlin and ciao to Jonathan - I don't think either will have a solo that will set them apart from anyone else in the bottom 3.
ps - I thought that Karla was a hip-hopper in a dance crew, no? If so, that performance was TERRIBLE - it made a mediocre choreography job by Dave Scott even worse.
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6-25-2009 @ 10:22AM
Sarah said...
i agree with you about the Paso Doble music. as soon as the credit came up for the music, i started to cringe, because a piece of that intensity could easily overshadow the dance (except in the case of Brandon's audition). so, when the dance started and it was low, i thought it was a clever remastering for the very purpose of letting the dance come up to par with the reduced intensity of the music. it failed, as they did, of course.
6-25-2009 @ 9:57AM
Grover said...
I felt Karla did as best as she could given what Jonathon was giving her. Her dancing was good, but she was thrown off by the poor timing of her partner. Give her a different partner (a Phillip, or a Twitch) and the routine would have been good.
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6-25-2009 @ 11:07AM
Annabel said...
I thought Nigel said something last week about how Brandon would be dancing the Mia Michaels routine this week??? Nothing was said about it this week and then Brandon was in the hip-hop routine.
Do you think Mia refused to work with him or something?
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6-25-2009 @ 11:14AM
laura said...
I would think if she refused that she wouldnt be aloud back on this show, i dont see Nigel letting her get away with that kind of behavior.
6-25-2009 @ 11:36AM
Michael said...
Hey, no what he said was that Mia was doing the dance "tomorrow" meaning the group dance.
6-25-2009 @ 11:17AM
Rich P said...
What I thought killed the show was having Nigel speak first. All the couples do these big numbers that were fun and exciting. Then immediately Nigel lectures the dancers and puts the show on pause. Maybe Nigel sticks out more b/c Tony Basil was last in judging. Why do they ask her to judge, yuck.
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6-25-2009 @ 11:53AM
Robert said...
I'm finding this group of dancers to be pretty uninteresting. I'm not sure why, it's just not living up to the last few seasons for me. I'm not gonna stop watching or anything, I just don't have any dancers I'm rooting hard for. Perhaps Ade and Brandon, but I can't seem to find the one girl I want to win. Like a Katee, Lacey, or Chelsie.
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6-25-2009 @ 1:36PM
am_hollitz said...
Personally, anyone partnered with Kayla comes off as underwhelming (especially Max, but Kupono as well.) The girl has fantastic technique and evokes powerful emotion in everything she does. The only male performer that comes close to her level is Brandon.
And while I'm partial to Evan and Randi as a couple--they just seem to fit so well--I think Kayla and Brandon would be unbeatable!
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6-25-2009 @ 10:27PM
Elise said...
I agree, this year I'm not really pulling for any individual dancers. The person I think will end up being my favorite is Brandon, just because he was so criticized to begin with by Mia and Lil C. his technique and versatility is incredible. Other than that, no one sticks out from the group like Katee last year (SHE SHOULD HAVE WON) or Travis from season two. I'm simply going through the motions of watching this show nowadays :/
and agreed, Tony Basil is such a bore. If i hear the word "street" come out of that woman's mouth again..
and on a more petty note.. the obvious facelifts are pretty distracting.....
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6-26-2009 @ 12:06AM
CC said...
I'm not drawn to any of the dancers this season. Well, Jeanine has stood out but the rest - not so much.
I found the Paso Doble number to be not good - surprised that the judges gave them good feedback (I think? I don't even remember). The music being as powerful as it is, both the dancers and the choreography were overshadowed by the music. I think about Paul Wylie (figure skater) skating to that music and how he matched the intensity of the music.
And some of the costumes last night... Caitlin's, Melissa's, not good... well, IMHO.
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6-30-2009 @ 1:38AM
89online said...
hihi
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7-01-2009 @ 7:32AM
Quang said...
Why not ?
http://www.SoDepCatTuong.com
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