'So You Think You Can Dance': Every week should be Vegas week!

For those first-time watchers who tuned in to the "So You Think You Can Dance" auditions and deemed it "American Idol" but with dancing, last night's episode exemplified what's truly exciting about the show, as the top 20 were chosen. 

No matter the dancers' specialties, to reach the final round in Vegas each had to prove him- or herself by learning a hip-hop, Broadway, ballroom and contemporary routine, not to mention choreographing a number on their own and dancing solo for their lives.

Unlike on other reality TV shows, where tears and drama seem concocted for the camera, the physical and emotional exhaustion the dancers were going through was clear. One popper quit before the eliminations even began, sensing himself about to embarrass himself and a potential partner. And some dancers simply took themselves out of competitions, such as the tap dancer who complained about physical fatigue after Mia Michaels' routine, while another stormed offstage and out of the show when he erred in the same round. 

One would have to have a heart of stone not to feel for Erica Gee, who had tried out several times before on the show and had willed herself to believe that she would be in the top 20, whose face crumpled when she was cut in the first round and then had to call her parents. 

Many dancers vowed to be back next year (with encouragement from the judges). It was interesting that, in contrast to "American Idol," where everyone seems to go home angry, only one bitter dancer was shown, complaining that it was her looks that got her cut. Paige Jones, the steely pageant girl who got cut after ballroom, summarized the chilly philosophy of competition life: "The one thing you're taught not to do is fail, and if you do fail, don't cry, and if you do cry, do it in the room by yourself." It's a shame because that small scene doubled her likability factor. 

This was the episode too for viewers to start choosing their favorites (incidentally, this critic did not see this episode ahead of time -- the fact that three-quarters of the people she mentioned in yesterday's post made it to the top 20 is just a sign of skill and intellect).

Hip-hop dancers Comfort and Joshua gained points for tenacity and spirit as they worked their butts off on their ballroom routine and wept with relief when they made it through to the next round. Twitch is hard not to like for his talent, cool attitude and professionalism. And Katie, the last girl to make the top 20, will have to doubly prove herself as she almost talked herself out of her spot by saying she wouldn't try out again next year if she didn't make the cut, while her best friend and roommate Natalie stood up for her and was an exceptionally good sport when she got cut. 

It's going to be a lot of fun watching this group compete together and against one another as the next phase of the competition begins. It would have been nice if the Snuggle Bear had also been cut in eliminations, but unfortunately he and his happy dance seem here to stay.

-- Claire Zulkey

(Photo courtesy Fox)

Comments

[kerouac9]

Great write-up, Claire!

My wife already has a villian in Suzie Garcia, the sexy high-school teacher. She thinks that Suzie has the worst spray-on tan in television history. I think that might just be her complexion (combined with brutal lights and maybe little makeup). Any thoughts?

I missed the first five minutes of the episode--why was Nigel in a wrist cast? Did he trip over his Easter Egg?

My favorites right now are Twitch and Katie. Which is bad news for them, really.

You didn't mention it, but how do you feel about the fact that one of your favorite judges had to recuse herself while her protoge made the Top 20? I know you love her, but she really is the closest that SYTYCD comes to a Paula Abdul, where everyone is wonderful and no one has any room to improve.

More Mia Michaels being mean in rehearsals!

[Kyle Childress]

I like this show a ton, but I thought last night's show was sadistic beyond belief. The contestants were working their asses off and you would think they could be treated with some respect. Instead you get the "you get to stay up all night and come up with a crappy routine" challenge, which seemed little more than a cruel joke. And then comes the selections for the top 20 and the emotional fake outs where they try to convince the contestant that they are going home but, "surprise, you're in." Then they put the two best friends as the last girls with only one spot left and take them through that "you're in, but wait, we might want to reconsider because you not as "up with people" as we would like" cruelty, a requirement apparently added just prior to calling them out on stage. It was cruel to both girls, giving the other the false hope that she would make it through at the expense of her best friend's tragedy. I understand that Lythgoe and his ilk are trying to make good TV, but the professional choreographers should be ashamed to be associated with such treatment to fellow dancers.

[Jessica Rabbit]

I'm pretty pissed that my far-and-away favorite, Evan/Gene Kelly, didn't make it. Even worse, the early favorite that they spent a lot of screen time on got about six seconds of last night's show--six seconds showing him being cut for no reason that they bothered to explain.

Oh well. The top 20 looks pretty good to me, minus an Even and plus a Slut Susie or two. I almost don't even try to pick favorites from the audition shows anymore, because they inevitably skip over people like Danny and Sabra who go on to be awesome without any screen time whatsoever. That's the difference between this and American Idol--the producers can pimp for anybody they want, but it all comes down to that first step they take onto the dance floor next week. Hooray for talent.

[Dance Fan]

Was anyone else as disappointed as I was that Brandon (the one of the last two male dancers who wasn't picked) was denied a spot. I've been watching SYTYCD for three seasons and his audition was one of the best I've ever seen. Perhaps he didn't do as well with the other styles? We didn't see much of him during Vegas week, that is, until he was cut.

[SafeTinspector]

I do love the Vegas week episodes.
And, other than the 40's dancer guy, I don't think I'll miss any of the eliminated, really.

What was with that video shrine each contestant had to pass through on the way to being told if they are going to be in the top 20?
I think it was definitely to the dancer's credit that they by and large ignored it.

On to the regular format!

[Claire Zulkey]

kerouac9, I do love Debbie Reynolds for her craziness I admit so I like her occasional addition of spice to the show but don't need her to be a judge all the time (didn't she only just once or twice last season?)

As for Susie, this sounds totally superficial but I was fascinated by the curve of her outline behind those cut-out outfits she was performing in and couldn't figure out if it was an optical illusion or not so I look forward to investigating further.

[Patrick]

So my wife and I were watching "Hairspray" tonight on HBO and she noticed someone...Twitch! He's a dancer in the movie and if you pay attention to the dance scenes with the black kids, he's a prominent dancer. So this led us to wonder...

Does the fact that Adam Shankman directed that film, and choreographed it (which ultimately means he HIRED Stephen "Twitch" Boss) means that Adam will not be allowed to be a judge? I think it's pretty trivial, but it could be viewed as a conflict of interest by some. Also, was Adam the judge who put Twitch through to Vegas? (not that he didn't deserve it) I just think the producers should be careful so as to avoid any negative press.

[Claire Zulkey]

Good catch, Patrick (or "good looking out" as Randy Jackson would say.) I'll keep an eye out for Adam's potential return this season as a judge and be sure to mention it and your point.

[Ciao Bambina]

Claire, "Debbie Reynolds" = Debbie Allen? Altho, Deb R. would make a fine sub for Deb A. as a judge. She was quite the hoofer in her day and she's still a hoot and a half!

[Claire Zulkey]

bambina, I am secretly 80 years old. Also I should re-read my comments before I post them!

[A Smith]

I have been a regular viewer of the show. However, unfortunately I have been turned off since it seems that whenever the dancers speak their mind they get punished for it (i.e kicked out of the competition). For instance, the female tap dancer ( I forget her name), when she was initially told that she would move on in the competition, but then revoked a chance bc she spoke her mind about why she looked stressed during her audition. Now I don't feel right about watching the show because I feel like I am ignoring the fact that the judges discourage the dansers from having their own thoughts and opinions. Why don't they just name the show "So you think you can be a puppet", since the judges just want dancers who kiss their ass. I have much more respect for those who stand up for themselves and speak their mind - even if that means getting kicked out of the competition for it. People should be able to speak the truth without consequence. Perhaps the judges should re-analyse the direction for their show. Or get off their high horses. For although, the judges are successful in their own rights the show is not a show without it's audience and I for one am pretty turned off now. Just because they are judges does not mean their opinion is the right one all the time - they are only human, even if they think they are above that.