'America's Best Dance Crew': Judges take the spotlight

Usually, despite whatever craziness erupts from the table, the judges are still overshadowed by the performances on "America's Best Dance Crew," which is a good thing. But in this week's episode, and even in the MTV Video Music Awards that followed, the judges seemed to take the spotlight away from the performance (just a little, but enough).

Let's start with the performances, which is where the focus should be anyway.  Time for the group dance, and with the crews doing a tribute to Michael Jackson, you know that they wanted it to be really great.  And their "Smooth Criminal" routine, with Rhythm City's Alonzo Williams getting the spotlight, was one of the show's best. I don't think there's been a group performance that has been as together and precise as this was (even the Janet Jackson in the second season, though that one was awesome, too). With crews like Rhythm City and We Are Heroes, that should've been expected, and Afroborike and Massive Monkeys got their chance to shine as well. I put it a mini step below the Missy Elliott performance and group dance, but hey, if Michael Jackson performed with them like Missy Elliott did ... maybe it's apples to oranges.

On to the show. Only four crews left, and there's no real need for a dramatic pause. We Are Heroes and Afroborike were the crews America voted to keep around, and Massive Monkeys and Rhythm City are the crews that had to battle it out to stay alive for now. We'll explore this a bit later. We (myself and colleague Deborah Netburn) asked the crews which judge they feared/wanted to impress most, and here were the responses from Afroborike and Massive Monkeys.

We Are Heroes, the first crew to perform, didn't impress JC Chasez, who seemed to be the judge of choice that crews wanted to make an impression on.  It was a bit ironic that the crew that put out Vogue Evolution last week was given Madonna's "Vogue" as their "MTV Video Music Awards" performance to emulate.  The women said that they wanted to keep Vogue Evolution's spirit alive, but they put their own flair on the dance and song.  Their ruffled mini dresses and fans were great spectacles, giving the performance a theatricality that Shane appreciated. Looking at it straight on (many in the audience were at angles), the fan section was a wonderful image that Chasez said may have been the group's signature moment -- though he only thought that the performance was "OK."  During the taping, there was also ample time spent on exactly what was written (Heroes) on the girl's bottoms under their dresses. Mario Lopez was just curious. Sure.

Next up was Afroborike, the group that most would pick out in a game of "who doesn't belong here." America likes them, though, and their sexy stylings have won over the judges a bit, too.  That sexiness would continue as they took on Britney Spears' "Slave 4 U."  Maybe the best concept of the day, the guys hung suspended by chains and the girls danced around them -- but only for a little while.  They broke into some choreography that didn't seem too challenging, but was done cleanly and with lots of energy and Latin flair, prompting Lil Mama to say that it was "the most exciting choreography" that she ever seen from the group.  Both she and Shane spoke about Afroborike definitely stepping it up, with Shane also saying that their intro was the dopest that he's ever seen on the show. Eh.

Massive Monkeys, the only b-boy crew left, got what might initially seem to be an inside gimme. Performing N'Sync's "Tearing Up My Heart," a song that JC sang lead on, the Monkeys came out with energy and a desire to do well for crew member Tim's cancer-stricken mom.  Not sure if anything really stood out, but there was some breaking (long headspin), popping and playing to the crowd/judges. There wasn't a whole lot of intricate choreography, but it was a wholly entertaining number that excited the crowd and the judges. Shane didn't think there'd ever been a standing ovation like the one they received. Eh.

That slid right into Rhythm City's Chris Brown routine.  Performing "Wall-to-wall," the crew started out with the guys on top of lighted platforms a la Chris Breezy on tables at the Video Music Awards recently.  Dressed in suits and hats like Brown, the crew hit some tight choreography with linear formations and threw in a couple of flips -- one a dangerous-looking backwards flip over another crew mate.  Great presentation, determined dancing .., then controversy.

For the audience at the taping, it was an eternity. The judges deliberation was, we were told over the loudspeaker, the longest session in "America's Best Dance Crew" history. Anyone watching the show saw the judges' passion, and that continued as they made their decision.

Shane's position: This is a battle, and Rhythm City didn't look like they were battling. JC's side: This is a show, and you come to entertain the voting crowd with clean dancing and cool moves -- like Rhythm City displayed.  Lil Mama seemed to come down in the middle, agreeing with both.  But let me break the tie and say that Shane is wrong.  Of course everyone comes on the show with the will and desire to win, so in that sense, it's always a battle.  But not the street kind that it seems Shane makes it out to be (I could be wrong).  Ask Jabba Wockeez or Super Cr3w -- even ask the Massive Monkeys if this is a battle.  It definitely is not, and that shouldn't be how Shane bases his judging. If that's the case, make the show be face-to-face like in the first show's elimination format. Crews aren't out there to impress or belittle each other.  Backstage, they're best friends and supportive professionals who do what they do and leave it to others to decide. They're there to win over the crowd and win over the judges, not battle each other.  Come on, Shane!

OK, done with that.

Rhythm City was sent home.  Yes, maybe the audience should've voted differently to have two other crews in the bottom, but there are only four left. Someone's favorite was going to be there. It just seemed that like Kaba Modern, Fanny Pak or Supreme Soul, it wasn't yet Rhythm City's time. All of this is not to say that Massive Monkeys is not a deserving crew -- it was definitely a close call. For a change, though, it was not the audience's vote that was off ... it may have been the judges.

Shane's crankiness, JC's nitpicking, and Lil Mama jumping onstage during Jay-Z and Alicia Keys' performance at the "Video Music Awards"?  Maybe there's something in the water over at "America's Best Dance Crew?" Before they all go over the edge, we were at least able to finally catch up to JC and get his assessment of this season so far.

-- Jevon Phillips

Comments

[BarbaraMN]

I honestly beleive that it truly comes down to the personal preference styles that the Judges like. Where JC and even Lil' Mama are more open to some change and give the 'non' b boy crews I believe that Shane and the powers taht be have their minds set. Look at the past three seasons. Honestly I think that Masive Monkeys were sloted from the begining to win it all. After all they were extremly sloppy yesterday and I don't think that put their all into it unlike Rythum City whom I thought show a lot of soul in this dance. Anyway, I am seriously beging to loose intrest in the predictableness of where the show has gone and my family will probable not return to watching next season and find something better to do with our time.

[Annie T.]

From the get, this season of ABDC has been painfully weak. The only standout, in my eyes, was Rhythm City. But for some strange reason, Afroborike and Massive Monkeys get the votes. People do not see RC for what they are- truly gifted, intricate, and innovative dancers.

Shane completely missed the mark with last night's assessment. It has always been obvious that JC is the ONLY judge to give constructive criticism. What a loss to see RC go. If MM wins (or g0d forbid Afroborike!), then ABDC will lose ALL credibility. This is not to say that Heroes are the best dance crew- they're not. But let's be honest, ABDC was eliminated last night.

Big ups to Rhythm City. I expect great things from you all.

[Megan]

RC was ROBBED - I was literally shocked by the judges' decision. Watching the two performances, I thought it was a no-brainer. RC used their props masterfully, were incredibly athletic, and did AMAZING choreo work that was inventive, tight, and really had the Chris Brown feel. Massive Monkeys were unoriginal and sloppy in their performance (really, ANOTHER long head spin? I'm so over it - Jabbawockeez did it first and best, let's move on!) Other than incorporating the desks (very poorly, I might add), they didn't show much attention to the actual NSync performance they were supposed to be channeling.

Just like Fanny Pak before them, RC was too outside-the-box for Shane. Any group who isn't strictly b-boy style has almost no chance of winning this show, which is a shame, because there have been some incredibly talented crews on the show. I'm sick of Shane - JC brings new, fresh commentary, and Lil Mama brings a lot of humor and character to the judging table. All I get from Shane is "that was hot," "you killed it," and "you gotta battle." Shane, get a new job... and a thesaurus.

[NorahG]

Jevon: Thanks for another great recap. I totally agree with your assessment of the Shane vs. JC dust-up. JC routinely gives the most thoughtful analysis of each performance. I'm going to miss Rhythm City; overall, for me, they were the most inventive crew up there this season.

[Diego GQ]

It is incredible that they sent the best crew home. Rythym City was by far the best, cleanest, most creative, diverse, energetic crew and they got the boot. They were there proudly representing the birthplace of hip hop, and the east coast, but they got no love.

Also, the fact that AfroBorique got this far is an insult to the competition, hip hop, all the other crews that got sent home, and really questions the whole CREDIBILITY of ABDC. they simply dont belong on a hip hop dance show (and they know it), and they should have been sent home the first or second episode. the fact that they are top two next to We are heroes is pathetic. It should have clearly been between we are heroes and Rhythm city.

ADBC is suspect.

By the way, why is lil mama a judge on this show next to a performer and choreographer? shes not a dancer, has no real reputation that makes her a good judge, and she plain and simply sucks - as a judge, and at life.
i wish she would go away, and never be seen again. and did you see her at the VMA's? what was she thinking? she told Leyomi of Vogue Evolution "not to act like a bird", but clearly we know who the real bird is. GO AWAY LIL MAMA, NO BODY LIKES YOU!

[Fre]

I disagree with the love for Rhythm City. I do agree that they are incredibly tight, and I do agree that they are gifted dancers.

Unfortunately, I don't believe they are particularly creative. RC doesn't really bring much from outside the box. What's more, when given a challenge, they seem to break up their performances, where the bulk is doing their Rhythm City thing, and then a portion will have the challenge, rather than simply working their style into the context of the challenge, or vice-versa. Take the Bollywood challenge - what we got was RC doing the RC thing in Indian getup for the bulk of the performance, then they take off their shoes and do some Bollywood.

As for the criticism of Afroborike, again I disagree. ABDC is not supposed to be a strictly hip-hop dance competition. It's been said before - in fact I think JC was the one who said it - that this is not America's Best Hip-Hop Crew. It's America's Best DANCE Crew. Afroborike is an amazing DANCE crew.

The fact that they can thrive and win over audiences despite being out of their element, where they're given hip-hop challenges and where audiences tend to favor freestyle crews, is to their credit. Contrast that against RC, for whom this competition was essentially tailored to. Afroborike stepped up despite the obstacles, while RC skated by, and finally could skate no longer.