Posted Jul 3rd 2009 11:46AM by Michael Pascua
Filed under: OpEd, Contestants, Episode Reviews, So You Think You Can Dance
(S05E12) We're welcomed to the show by Cat Deeley lamenting Thursdays. I'm often confused by Cat mentioning the dancers dancing their "own style." It must have been a
Donyelle rule. I guess we'll never see Karla channel her inner
Boogie Bot.
The sound quality was off tonight, proving that part of the show was live; when they transitioned from live to the clips, you could hear the echoes. The biggest culprit was the transition to Kelly Clarkson; the audience applause didn't sound the same at all.
Continue reading So You Think You Can Dance: 2 of 14 Eliminated
Posted Jul 2nd 2009 12:43AM by Michael Pascua
Filed under: OpEd, Episode Reviews, So You Think You Can Dance
(S05E11) You know that there is going to be a lot of unnecessary fluff when there are seven couples and two hours to fill. The show decided to give us highs and lows of the dancers. Damn time wasters. Did anyone notice the credits took twice the amount than they normally do?
Our guest judge was Mia Michaels who admitted that her harsh opinion of Brandon has changed. Cat in her hot fuchsia dress mentioned a "big announcement" near the end of the show, as if she didn't want us to switch over to
America's Got Talent. Unfortunately, it wasn't
Michael Jackson related.
Continue reading So You Think You Can Dance: Top 14 Perform
Posted Jun 29th 2009 8:01PM by Jason Hughes
Filed under: Other Reality Shows, OpEd, So You Think You Can Dance
Don't look for it this week. As Nigel says, these things take time. At least they should take time. I'm glad
So You Think You Can Dance is
trying to put together a Michael Jackson tribute special. I'm even more glad that executive producer Nigel Lythgoe is trying to take the time to do this right. While everyone seems to be trying to throw something together right away, Lythgoe says that it'll happen if and when it happens. Plus, I'd sure rather see a
SYTYCD tribute than tonight's
re-airing of the MJ American Idol episode.
The more cynical among us may see it as a chance to cash in on the death of the King of Pop, but considering Jackson's significance into the world of popular dance, it makes perfect sense. Lythgoe's even trying to pull in Paula Abdul to help choreograph some aspect of it. I wouldn't mind seeing some synergy between
American Idol and
So You Think You Can Dance, considering that Fox is setting them up to air in opposite half-seasons;
Dance in the fall, and
Idol after Christmas.
Continue reading SYTYCD trying to pull together a Michael Jackson tribute special
Posted Jun 25th 2009 3:04PM by Michael Pascua
Filed under: Other Reality Shows, OpEd, American Idol, Host, So You Think You Can Dance
The summertime is when I could get a breath of fresh air from
Ryan Seacrest. By the end of
American Idol, I'm just hoping that Ryan would stop interviewing contestants and just get to the singing. Eventually the confetti falls, we have a winner, and Ryan Seacrest disappears from my television until January.
So You Think You Can Dance rolls around and we're greeted by the wonderful Cat Deeley. I have to admit that she's light years ahead of Ryan Seacrest. She may not be as witty as
Tom Bergeron, but she brings a flair to her hosting duties.
Continue reading Why Cat Deeley is better than Ryan Seacrest
Posted Jun 21st 2009 1:19PM by Michael Pascua
Filed under: Other Reality Shows, OpEd, So You Think You Can Dance
As a big fan of the
X-Files and
Reality TV, I love thinking about and reading conspiracy theories about eliminations. While re-watching the audition episodes of
So You Think You Can Dance I noticed during Adam Shankman's
fake audition, Katee Shean critiqued him. Below her it read "runner up."
Wait a second. She was second runner up. Shouldn't it just say "finalist" or "second runner up" instead?
I know I'm thinking too hard, but I created an interesting theory about Katee. Maybe the producers knew she was the actual runner up, but thought that wouldn't make good television. They placed her in third and gave her money to compensate. Here are some points of interest.
Continue reading Was Katee Shean actually the runner up on So You Think You Can Dance?
Posted Jun 19th 2009 12:24AM by Michael Pascua
Filed under: Other Reality Shows, OpEd, Episode Reviews, So You Think You Can Dance
(S05E07) I'm happy that I'm not investing money on
So You Think You Can Dance. Three of the best couples last week became the bottom three, dancing for their lives.
We started off the night with a poorly shot routine. It is never good when you can see a camera man on the right taping, then switch to a shot where he magically disappears. At least try to convince America that this portion was pre-taped. Also, with the Maori-like face paint, I couldn't tell Ashley from Asuka.
Continue reading So You Think You Can Dance: 2 of 18 Voted Off
Posted Jun 18th 2009 1:28AM by Michael Pascua
Filed under: Other Reality Shows, OpEd, Episode Reviews, So You Think You Can Dance
(S05E07) Shane Sparks, you sly devil. Somehow he managed to choreograph two routines and allow his face to be shown. That's great because Shane has provided some of the best hip-hop choreography this show has seen. Unfortunately, this episode didn't show any of it.
Cat Deeley starts off the show on an odd note. I didn't know that wrapping my living room drapery over one shoulder is fashionable. The order of the show threw me off, because they put the best performances in the middle and the bad ones on the ends.
Continue reading So You Think You Can Dance: Top 18 Perform
Posted Jun 17th 2009 3:25PM by Michael Pascua
Filed under: Other Reality Shows, OpEd, Dancing With The Stars, TV Squad Lists, Casting, So You Think You Can Dance
With the second week of competitions tonight on
So You Think You Can Dance, I wanted to point out a trend:
reality dance show contestants can't leave television. Several contestants and a few choreographers have jumped ship and have appeared on other reality shows.
The jump basically can plant an already established fanbase onto a different television show. One great example is Ty Murray on
Dancing with the Stars. I'm not sure what the percentage of votes for Ty came from fans of Chelsie Hightower and her work from
SYTYCD or his charm, but he definitely benefited from someone who knew to make routines that were camera friendly.
Continue reading The reality TV dance show scorecard
Posted Jun 5th 2009 12:42AM by Michael Pascua
Filed under: Other Reality Shows, OpEd, Episode Reviews, So You Think You Can Dance
It's difficult for any summer reality show to emotionally connect with the audience, because there's less effort to watch. Unlike
American Idol,
So You Think You Can Dance has no big dance related prize. Don't tell me that touring with Celine Dion is anywhere near a multi-album contract. Dancers will eventually have to retire because their bodies can't take it.
The show finally made the cut from 32 to our top 20. I'm a little surprised how laid back Lil' C looks, and how he votes against these dancers. Most of the cuts were obvious and no one really has me emotionally tied at the moment, but I've made some snap decisions on what little impressions I got.
Continue reading So You Think You Can Dance: The Top 20 Revealed
Posted Jun 4th 2009 2:04AM by Michael Pascua
Filed under: Other Reality Shows, OpEd, So You Think You Can Dance
Were the Vegas rounds ever this hard? I never remember the intensive dancing in previous seasons, but I feel as though the contestants were pushed really hard because they were all a lot better than the judges expected.
It's a little childish, but I laughed when Mia Michaels exclaimed, "I'm a cutter." She seems to always say or do things that are a little risqué, but her opinions are always heard. As for the other judges, Mary was sedated, Lil C only said "buck" once, and I missed Debbie Allen for being that supportive mother type.
Instead of day by day analysis, we're going to take a look at some of the hits and misses for the dancers.
Continue reading So You Think You Can Dance: Vegas Part 1
Posted May 22nd 2009 12:25AM by Michael Pascua
Filed under: Other Reality Shows, OpEd, Episode Reviews, Episode Recaps, So You Think You Can Dance
"Your metal rod is showing" – Sonya Tayeh(S05E01) Screams and potential contestants wailing to the cameras start off our show. What did I get myself into? Cat Deeley preps us that we have thousands of dancers, six cities, lots of tears, and one obsessively screaming judge. I guess we don't get an explanation as to what happened to Joshua, other than making it to the opening credits. Whatever did happen to Step Up 3D? Let's hope it doesn't go straight to DVD.
We started the night with New York City's auditions, specifically in Brooklyn. Cat does the Brooklyn Dance while more people dance for the camera. Our judges today are Nigel, Mary, and Tabitha & Napoleon, our favorite lyrical hip-hop choreographers. The dancers still have the same process for auditions: win (straight to Vegas), lose (rejection) or draw (choreography round where the judges will make their decisions).
Continue reading So You Think You Can Dance: NYC and Denver Auditions
Posted May 21st 2009 11:03AM by Michael Pascua
Filed under: Other Reality Shows, OpEd, The Amazing Race, American Idol, The Apprentice, Survivor, Dancing With The Stars, So You Think You Can Dance, America's Got Talent
With the latest seasons of
Survivor,
The Amazing Race, and
American Idol wrapping up, fans patiently have to wait until the fall or spring 2010 for their favorite shows to return. But why wait? Several reality TV shows debut in the summer both as lighter fare than fall shows and a way to test for target audiences.
If one recalls, several summer reality TV shows have eventually moved to prime real estate in the fall or spring. If rumors are true the summer favorite
So You Think You Can Dance will be the next to move, airing in the summer and fall.
Here are some alternatives for your favorite reality TV shows.
Continue reading Summer reality TV alternatives
Posted Aug 25th 2008 10:20AM by Jane Boursaw
Filed under: Programming, OpEd, American Idol, Music and Variety, TV Squad Lists, So You Think You Can Dance
It's sad when you can't remember who won the last American Idol. Oh yeah, David Cook. And we're avid fans around this house, too.
Simon Cowell probably remembers, but, apparently, he's as bored as the rest of us. In a TVGuide.com story, he says of Season 7, "I was a little bored ... I think [last season] the talent was great, and the ratings were great, I just think it could be more interesting and controversial."
That's why he plans to mix it up a little come January 2009, when he'll be taking a larger role in the show, perhaps compensating for executive producer Nigel Lythgoe stepping back to focus on his other show, So You Think You Can Dance.
Simon's not saying how he'll shake things up, but I have a few ideas:
Continue reading Simon Cowell to shake up American Idol - I've got some ideas for him
Posted Aug 8th 2008 7:41AM by Kristin Sample
Filed under: OpEd, Episode Reviews, So You Think You Can Dance
(
S04E23) It all comes down to this. The season has been a bit underwhelming at times compared to seasons past, but it did indeed have its fantastic moments. I'm sure I won't soon forget Twitch and Kherrington's Viennese waltz or Katee and Will's pas de deux.
Still standing at the end is a girl who is the ultimate underdog, a girl who would've quit, a guy with absolutely no formal training, and a guy who was #21 last season, just shy of making the top 20 dancers. Let's talk about the season finale of
So You Think You Can Dance. For Real!
Continue reading So You Think You Can Dance: Season Finale
Posted Aug 7th 2008 8:23AM by Jason Hughes
Filed under: Episode Reviews, So You Think You Can Dance
(S04E22) The two night season finale is here and there are only four dancers left. On the guys' side we have Joshua and Twitch, two hip-hop dancers with very different styles. The girls are representing contemporary and jazz this year, with both Katee and Courtney. I can't say I would have expected this top four at the beginning of the season, but with the range of talent we had this year, it was hard to guess who might make it here.
With Mandy Moore joining Nigel and Mary on the judging panel, we were treated to a two hour extravaganza of dance dance dance! Each of the four finalists danced no less than five separate times, sometimes with only a commercial break between them. Those whiners at
American Idol talk about how exhausting that show can be, but can you imagine the physical strain these dancers go through? Especially as they ramp up to a show as demanding as this finale. Thankfully, it was packed from beginning to end with amazing numbers and amazing dancing!
Continue reading So You Think You Can Dance: Top 4 Perform
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