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‘America’s Best Dance Crew 2’: Step up for the season premiere

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The chants for Kaba Modern, Status Quo and JabbaWockeeZ are fading ... but new ones fill the set, hung high with Season 2 crew banners.

‘We love you, Fanny Pak!’

Su-pa Crew! Su-pa Crew!’

A.C. Slater!’ (Wait, who?)

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The same ol’ ‘Saved by the Bell’ jabs at host Mario Lopez notwithstanding, the new season of ‘Randy Jackson Presents America’s Best Dance Crew’ is scheduled to air on MTV at 10 p.m. Thursday, but we got a first look by attending the taping Monday night in Burbank.

The banners (logos based on crew identities -- mirrored sunglasses for Xtreme Dance Force, a ‘P’ for Phresh Select’s Philly phellas -- designated by show co-creator Karen Schwartz) have been raised, crews are stretching out and adjusting their costumes in the Crew Garage spaces backstage.

It’s late now, around 10 p.m., and the group hugs have been doled out, favorites chosen and the first elimination made. (The unlucky ones are crying. We almost don’t want to ask them for their post-game reaction. They look so sad to be going home.)

Lil Mama, Shane Sparks and JC Chasez are a little tougher with their criticisms this year, intolerant of stiffness, braggarts and swag. The top four or five crews are fierce with tricks and pop culture witticisms this season, while the bottom ones are like sacrificial lambs, kicking and bleating out bland routines all the way to elimination.

(No, we won’t tell you yet who was cut last night. But we will tell you that we think one of Shane Sparks’ reactions may end up on the broadcasting *beep* block. All the judges are loving the slo-mo playbacks this season. With one exception (hint: Lil Mama and Boogie Bots), they’re picking great clips. This includes a hilarious one from Fanny Pak, chosen by Lil Mama. Watch for it!

One thing we agree with Lil Mama on is when she said Monday night: ‘It’s starting to look like the bottom five should’ve been the top five.’

Who was in the bottom? Well, isn’t that part of the fun of finding out? You can draw your own conclusions based on judges’ comments like Shane Sparks’ on Sass x7: ‘People are looking at you right now like ‘What are y’all doing here.’ ‘ Or JC Chasez on Distorted X: ‘I don’t want to see nasty people get sexy on me. I want to see pretty people.’ Or Lil Mama when she mispronounced So Real Cru’s Ailyn’s name as ‘alien’ and then compared them, again, to last season favorite Kaba Modern.

Ten crews came in, one went home.

Our surprise crew of the week was ASIID. Jevon thought they ‘came out hard,’ as Lil Mama would say, and may have won some fans (though he’s not saying if they actually made it). Sheigh was impressed that ASSID picked Nicole Scherzinger’s ‘Whatever You Like,’ because the Motor City crew turned out a segment so sizzling it made the Pussycat Dolls’ recent ‘When I Grow Up’ performances look dry and calculated. . Watch out Melody and Carmit, ASSID crew’s ‘MeMe,’ ‘Dalla ... Licious’ and Melissa are coming for you!

(See our ‘ABDC2 - Season Premiere’ playlist below)

From the Boogie Bots’ bounce-knee-slide-hop to Super Cr3w’s superlative ninja maneuvers, most everyone performed well. One performance, as you shall see, had the whole audience on its feet, pointing and cheering, over a gravity-defying stunt.

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During the breaks, battle chants broke out, and dancing in the seats was not only encouraged it was mandatory. Section dance-offs, led by an encouraging audience member, were as entertaining as many of the crew performances.

And they need to let up on Slater, I mean, Mario Lopez. Hosting in L.A. and being in a Broadway show (A Chorus Line) at the same time cannot be easy. Hope he has a miles card plan.

We’ll have more from our time with the crews backstage in the Crew Garage, some post-game judging insights from Shane Sparks, Lil Mama and JC Chasez (in the ongoing YouTube battle between AC/DC and the M&M crew, who do you think Shane Sparks is betting on?), and a sweet goodbye from the eliminated crew.

Check back soon! The ‘America’s Best Dance Crew 2’ season premiere is 10 p.m. Thursday.

-- Jevon Phillips and Sheigh Crabtree

Previously:
‘America’s Best Dance Crew 2’ Casting: Shhh! was robbed, Super Cr3w + Supreme Soul deliver
‘America’s Best Dance Crew 2’ holds Season 2 L.A. auditions (videos)
‘America’s Best Dance Crew 2’: Meet the Top Ten Crews (photos)

Photo: Crew banners line the stage, from left, Phresh Select, ASSID, Distorted X, Sass x7, Fanny Pak, Supreme Soul, Xtreme Dance Force, Super Cr3w, So Real Cru, Boogie Bots (not visible).

ABDC Crew Songs - Season 2 Premiere (Thursday, June 19 10PM)

ASIID: Nicole Sherzinger ‘Whatever You Like’
Boogie Bots: Zapp & Roger ‘More Bounce to the Ounce’
Distorted X: Tweet ft Missy Elliott ‘Oops Oh My’
Fanny Pak: Kylie Minogue ‘Speakerphone’ (not on playlist, above)
Phresh Select: Boyz II Men ‘Motownphilly’
Sass x7: Danity Kane ‘Damaged’
SoReal Cru: Omarion ‘Entourage’
Super Cr3w: James Brown ‘Get Up Offa That Thing’
Supreme Soul: Busta Rhymes ‘Put Your Hands...’
Xtreme Dance Force: Lil Mama ‘Shawty Get Loose’

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