'Superstars of Dance': Viewers liked it, but critics ...

Many on the dance watch ("America's Best Dance Crew," "So You Think You Can Dance," "Dancing With The Stars") were probably quietly hoping that NBC's "Superstars of Dance" did well. The mixture of styles, the continuation of the love of dance, and even cheesy Michael "Lord of the Dance" Flatley helped the show's Sunday preview get the network's highest non-sports results in the time period since Feb. 17 among adults 18-49 and total viewers with a 3.1/7 in the 18-49 category (10.4 million viewers overall), according to NBC.

"Superstars of Dance" ranked No. 2 in the the time period among adults 18-49 and tied for No. 1 among men 18-49. It was going up against CBS' "Cold Case" and "The Unit" and a rerun of Fox's "24: Redemption" movie.

There are lots of recaps, but reviews are rolling in slowly for the show. With pretty good numbers, it looks like the audience will stay along for the ride, with international regions (like India) probably rooting for their squads.  But looking at some of the comments, next week's premiere of "America's Best Dance Crew" (Jan. 15) can't come fast enough!

Headline: 'Superstars of Dance' premiere: Just, WHY? ... I do recommend viewing the show as if it's an intentionally arranged nightmare ... which is pretty much the definition of what it is ANYWAY ... aggghh, mind melt!" Annie Barrett, Entertainment Weekly

Headline: 'Superstars': A Blinding Onslaught of Glitz "If last night's premiere of 'Superstars of Dance' is any guide, you'll need a strong stomach -- and preferably an empty one -- to watch the second installment of the show tonight." Sarah Kaufman, the Washington Post

That's only a couple. For NBC, it's the numbers that count. And they're jitterbugging mightily right about now.

-- Jevon Phillips

Photo: Shaolin Monks of China. Credit: Chris Haston / NBC

Comments

[liping]

it's really irritating that the camera moves around a bunch-- i'm not interested in the crowd or a chair or some ugly piece of prop. I'm watching this show for dance!!
and the host is really a drag. find someone new and more energetic.

[Nancy G]

Flatley reminds me more of Ted Mack (as in TM's "Amatuer Hour") than Welk, but in either case, "flat" indeed -- and boring, as is this whole dreadful show. What's wrong at NBC? First the absolutely ghastly Rosie O'Donnell variety nightmare, and now this? Get it "Superstars of Dance" off the air just as quickly as Rosie's show was yanked, please!

[Myka]

The judges had me ready to pull my hair out. On Sunday night, they were saying nothing about whether or not there was actual "dancing" and gave the monks rave reviews. Monday night, they all gave low scores if the performers were not "dancing" enough. Obviously, these are all performance artists. These poor contestants work so hard and then get slapped in the face after being invited on the show. The judges were so rude to the American tap dancer. I felt really bad for the Chinese pair. Doing a toe point on one shoulder? Hello? I thought the indian team was great! And they got crappy scores...should have gotten second place.

Either the premise of the show should have been changed or the show should have had more traditional styles of dance ONLY.

The judges did win back a little credibility when they picked Robert the popper in the tie breaker and gave the Groovaloos the scores they deserved.

[milo]

This show starts in the middle - it was not well thought out and a handful of countries certainly does not represent the world - that was a let down.
Oh - and before the judges open their mouths, they should dance first and show us what THEY can do. Argentina and South Africa: THIS IS NOT A SELF- PROMOTION SHOW. We are not interested in you.

[dancer8]

Come on! Aside from from a handful of actual dancing numbers, this is more like contortionists, acrobatics and smut. Forget the sex, move the feet in some sort of rhythm to the beat and impress us.

[bzelig]

I'm trying to figure out why I enjoyed the relatively inexperienced dancers on So You Think You Can Dance season 4 (or season 2 or 3 for that matter) so much more than any of the "world class" dancers on the Superstars of Dance. I was expecting more given Lythgoe's association with SYTYCD. Most of the routines felt flat to me and others just seemed out-of-sync with the music. I really like the idea of a world competition based on dance, but, something just seemed off as I watched performance after performance hoping for things to get better. Was the problem in the choice of presenters? the staging? the camera work? lighting? sound system? choreography? music selection? or some other factor that could be changed to make the show a success. Eventually, I came to the conclusion that it is all of those things along with a format which doesn't let us get to know or really empathize with the dancers or choreographers.

[kathy]

My daughter is a professional dancer on the west coast. We were so excited for the show, I watched then called her to tell her how bad it was. We were so disapointed but then turned it around to be one of the funniest 2 nights on TV. Better the SNL recently. Has anyone heard a good review? Nah! Enjoy the show, lol lol

[Gary]

The concept of the show is good, the determination of judging has something to be desired, I know they are allowing certain judges express their thoughts and that is for pure drama factor. But the one large negative is the host, they should have gotten someone who had a personality and wit. What Michael Flatley host this show is like watching a rock sitting still. I know he is very credible in dance, maybe he should have been a judge, but a host he is not. He leaves the show flat(ley).

[Marion]

Russia got ripped off soooo badly last night. My boyfriend and I were about ready to start throwing shoes at the TV. Their group performance was awesome (and so was China's duet where the girl was dancing on the guy's shoulders), and for some reason they both got ripped off big time, it seems. Also, is it just me, or was the Argentinian group routine pretty similar to the solo China did last night? Because I think they over-scored Argentina big time and jipped China.

[althea]

Got through about 15 minutes on Sunday night -- excruciatingly dull and stupid. And to compare Michael Flatley to Lawrence Welk is an insult to Welk. Without dancing, Flatley is boring, boring, boring. And the judges aren't very lively either. A total dud!

[BabyBoomer]

I completely agree with Peggy H. She is on the money when she says after watching JabberWockeez it is hard to watch these losers. None of the dancers or choreographers can close to the JabberWockeez in creativity, dancing and choreography. I love watching Dancing With the Stars, so I thought NBC would bring the same quality to their show. NOOOO. This one sucks big time. Slow, boring, uncreative and the judges are so unclassy...just like NBC!
Get it off the AIR for God's sake. I am glad I have CBS showing Unit at the same time. Love that show. I definitely wont waste my time watching this show.

[Gary]

Boring. Totally boring.

[tjoast]

The show was absolutely terrible. The dancers were terrible (especially the first guy from the US), the judges were clueless and inconsistant and the announcer was annoying.

The only reason my wife and I watched it was because we caught the 24 movie the first time around. About halfway through we turned off the TV in discust and worked on her web page.

[JandT314]

I was enthused about this show by the commercials before it even began. That enthusiasm, however, was short lived. Michael Flatley's performance was just that: FLAT. The judges are consistently inconsistent and downright insulting to the dancers. The judge from South Africa is simply obnoxious and I cannot even stand to look at him. At the end of the this episode it became clear to me that this was not a show about dance.....but rather, it had become a show about ego...the ego of the South African judge, the judge from Argentina, and how THEIR personalities affect the show. I will not be watching again and I pray this is the only series from Nigel Lythgoe.

[Holly by Golly]

Amazing how armchair observers will judge those who actually get up and do something
exceptional. Not all of these styles can be compared fairly, but most of the performers are very good - it's so easy for those who can't do anything but use a remote control to criticize. What killjoys you all are.

[Amrita]

I am an Indian classical dancer, have been for many years now, and I have quite a bit of critical words for "Team India", which has shamed me (save for the Bharatnatyam solo; I haven't seen the Bhangra yet).

First of all, that Bollywood dance was horrendous. Period. Quite frankly, I could choreograph a better dance. This show is about "superstars", yet we have some local LA girls doing the dancing? I don't think so.

Next, the solo classical Kathak dance was mediocre at best. Either the show is rigged or the judges aren't fit to judge other cultures, but they scored it way too high. Her knees moved too much in the footwork, and the turns weren't crisp AT ALL. The turns ARE SUPPOSED to look uniform, but each one looked different! And, not to mention, but 15 turns is hardly difficult at all. I could do that in my sleep. And this girl is supposed to be a "superstar"? I don't think so. The coach doesn't seem to know what he's talking about either. (Perhaps she only turned 15 times because more would have become boring, but the coach shouldn't have bragged about it like some doofus. The judges obviously hate him.) Also, more and more of those bells are supposed to be awarded by your teachers. She obviously just bought a whole bunch of them by herself. No teacher would even hand out that many bells to a pupil with footwork that unclean.

I have no experience in Bharatnatyam, but the dance did look extremely clean and precise. A pity the judges didn't rate it with higher scores. But, anyways, what more can you expect from another stupid reality show?

[Susan M]

Perhaps they should reveal the judges scores only after they have ALL cast their votes, so that some can't weigh down another country's higher score. It's making me gag how political some of them seem. ugh.

[Howie Dewum]

This show is simply out of control. The judges are third-rate and the scores do not reflect anything remotely near the deserved marks. Good scores for poor dancing & poor scores for skilled dancing. I'm insulted as a viewer. It's apparent that this show's marketing budget is much more than the money alloted to the competition. Flately obviously brought the highest skilled dancers to this competition.

[LG]

How can you compare 2 people dancing together with 3 guys dancing with ropes - they don't need judging, just a narrator.

[Elena Marie]

I was so excited to watch SOD because I love SoYouThinkYouCanDance and especially our Canadian version where the dancers were spectacular- - - - now I am soooo disappointed. The first night I thought it was just first night jitters but I have only watched the first hour of Mon. night and had to turn it off - just a waste of time. Has it become politicized? It was like watching the Ice Skating judges on the Olympics. It seemed to me that there was tension between the judges. Some of the acts weren't even dancing and then the real dances were scored so low it didn't make any sense. I won't be watching it again. Mr. Lythgoe, I think perhaps this was an idea whoes time has NOT come yet. You just can't judge cultural dances compared to say tap dancing and then ballroom - - just too much like a dogs breakfast. Looking forward to more SYTYCD and Can./Amer. idol.