SYTYCD6 - The Legal Minimum

So You Think You Can Dance - Top 18 Performance and Results Night - Ep. 612
Judges: Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy, Adam Shankman

Okay, so last week I was a bit miffed at what transpired in the final moments of a so-so Top 20 night. Tonight, things got a lot better, no thanks to Tyce DiOrio, who continued his choreography of suckage.

Now that the Top 18 dancers are generally so evenly strong, any advantage they have can help, including dancing in their styles, their partners, and the choreography they're given and in essence, the choreographer they must work with. As seasons past has taught us, great choreography by some of the best can make certain routines stand out amongst the rest, bringing along the dancers to infamy with them. Now, it still requires great dancers to pull it off, but now that everyone is great, a BAD choreographer can ruin a dancers chance.

So then, WHY IS TYCE STILL ALLOWED TO CHOREOGRAPH? Why is he not outlawed yet? (It's like a bad joke that Mia is gone yet Tyce is here to stay AND an Emmy winner). Anyways, I'll continue the rant after I comment on the Top 18 routines.


Noelle Marsh
&
Russell Ferguson
Style: Hip-Hop
Choreographed by: Jamal Sims
Song: "Move Shake Drop Remix" - DJ Laz, Flo Rida and Casley
Grade: B+

It was a really fun routine that sort of storylined a Hip-Hop routine with its tennis vignette. I kinda dug it, and though Russell was fantastic and put the power into his swing.

Noelle, who sat out last week due to health reasons, finally gets to show her stuff (despite a huge backlash that she should have automatically been eliminated last week, especially in the wake of the little slack Brandon was given by the judges) and she's... not bad. I mean, I didn't really think she could pull off Hip-Hop well, especially beside Russell, but while she's no Russell, she did a fine job lobbying her swagger and I thought she was imperfect, but enthused.

Here's the video of Noelle and Russell's Hip-Hop:



Ashleigh Di Lello
&
Jakob Karr
Style: Viennese Waltz
Choreographed by: Tony Meredith and Melanie LaPatin
Song: "At Last" - Etta James
Grade: B

There's just something about Jakob isn't there? He floats across the stage like those old time dancers from the Fred Astaire ages. I still think his connection to Ashleigh isn't perfect yet and there were a couple of moments that looked fumbly and he looked slightly awkward whenever he was next to Ashleigh. But since we don't really like Ashleigh, lets blame her!

The judges LOVED Ashleigh and bitch can dance, but I think she almost forceably pulls the attention from her partner because she tries to make it all about herself (and again, we hate her because she's married to Ryan and is partnered with Jakob!).

Adam called Tony and Melanie out for the routine which showed too much of Jakob's strong non-Waltz skills. While I LOVE watching Jakob's skills, I love that Adam finally called out a choreographer and not automatically given them the rehearsed shout-out that the judges usually do. I would like to say though that it wasn't a horrible routine and that while Tony and Mel don't always create amazing routines (again, also hard with their styles because it has less TV-wow factor than others), they never really do a terrible job either (don't worry Tyce, I'm coming for ya).

Here's the video of Ashleigh and Jakob's Viennese Waltz:



Bianca Revels
&
Victor Smalley
Style: Broadway
Choreographed by: Tyce DiOrio
Song: "Maybe God Is Tryin' To Tell You Something" - The Color Purple Broadway Cast Recording
Grade: B

OMG, after that pre-dance interview, I think I love Victor and his laugh and his flo-colours even more! And love that Bianca seems so fun and crazy because so far she actually seems really poised and one of the more mature ones of the group.

Adam said they were supposed to go crazy, instead of just dancing. Mary said it lost it for her. Nigel said they didn't take the characters far enough and it should have been somewhere else.

I thought they did a pretty good job but considering I hate Tyce and his choreography, I thought Victor and Bianca, two great dancers, did what they could with a sh!t routine. It really was a sh!t routine wasn't it? Who can act inspired with that crap? There was little flow and a lot of church rousing. And that's about it. Poor Bianca and Victor, they deserve far better than that, and last week's routine (my fave of the Top 20) showed that they've got what it takes.

Here's Bianca and Victor's Broadway:



Mollee Gray
&
Nathan Trasoras
Style: Bollywood
Choreographed by: Nakul Dev Mahajan
Song: "Azeem O Shann Shahenshah" - Jodhaa Akbar Soundtrack
Grade: A

Was it me or did the cute pubescent couple actually seemed like they were slightly annoyed at each other in the pre-dance video? But in that teenage way? Where if they don't get together, they will hate each other until they realize they love each other and then become a permanent PDA? Nathan truly looked annoyed at Mollee's constant disappearance to the washroom and Mollee had thinly veiled jibes lobbed at Nathan.

Now two weeks in a row and the peppy couple get another fun style (Disco now Bollywood?) but this week, I think they finally danced it right.

THAT'S what Nathan is supposed to look like! He seemed so sure and confident, while Mollee was terrific and as Mary mentioned, both danced so maturely this week. I loved the choreo and I thought the youngest couple danced it amazingly.

Here's the video of Mollee and Nathan's Bollywood:



Channing Cooke
&
Phillip Attmore
Style: Samba
Choreographed by: Tony Meredith and Melanie LaPatin
Song: "Maracatu Funk" - The Samba Squad
Grade: D

Wow, that was really messy wasn't it? I'd say hot mess but it wasn't even luke warm. It should have sizzled like a hot plate. Meanwhile, Adam loved Channing, but I just thought she got away with shaking her blond tresses and wiggling her thin frame, especially compared to other Samba's in other seasons (or in Canada). I felt like Channing seemed slow. She was however slightly better than Phillip.

Mary at least tore Phillip apart, and deservedly, but yet again, Mary too loved Channing. That blond hair really is like that shiny distraction to the judges isn't it? Look! Shiny! Preeeeeety. Must be good. (Groan)

Here's the video of Channing and Phillip's Samba:



Karen Hauer
&
Kevin Hunte
Style: Hip-Hop
Choreographed by: Tabitha and Napoleon D'umo
Song: "Ice Cream Paint Job" - Dorrough
Grade: B+

I really like Kevin and it's so cute that he knows Karen shines and takes over the stage.

Which makes me almost feel bad for him because Karen, yet again, shined here, and in Kevin's style too! Was it me or did she almost outdance him here?

Not my favorite NappyTabs routine but Karen used all her womanly features to control the piece while Kevin was great but almost like that resounded husband who knows that its his place to let the girl go first.

Here's the video of Karen and Kevin's Hip-Hop:



Kathryn McCormick
&
Legacy Perez
Style: Contemporary
Choreographed by: Stacey Tookey
Song: "2 Steps Away" - Patti LaBelle
Grade: A

Well, looks like Mia Michaels is readying for worldwide SYTYCD's including Canada's season 3, but the US version is smart enough to steal Stacey Tookey from Canada for the time being.

That was WICKED! A melding of amazing choreo and two dancers that could pull it off and make it look so easy. When Legacy lowers himself, kicks back to match Kathryn's kick back, I had to gasp for a moment.

Legacy is REALLY proving himself. While I'm not sure what to expect from him, I thought he would be most likely to start annoying me and most likely to disappoint, but 2 weeks in, and he's proven how wrong I was.

And Kathryn, who was a blip on the radar, has been solid yet again.

I'm glad the judges noted that Legacy is growing SO Fast, and that Kathryn is coming from nowhere and commanding our attention.

Here's the video of Kathryn and Legacy's Contemporary:



Pauline Mata
&
Peter Sabasino
Style: Jazz
Choreographed by: Wade Robson
Song: "Little Green Bag" - George Baker Selection
Grade: A-

I love Wade's twisted style.

Adam said it right, Wade requires the dancers to be 100% involved and Pauline and Peter SOLD IT. I thought Peter was in great character and as Nigel noted, Pauline danced it finishing everything off and making her small frame look larger than life.

On a side note, is Wade looking yummier than ever? He always looked pretty good in a roughneck boyband way but now he looks mature and handsome.

Here's the video of Pauline and Peter's Jazz:



Ellenore Scott
&
Ryan Di Lello
Style: Argentine Tango
Choreographed by: Miriam Larici and Leonardo Barrionuevo
Song: "Violentango" - Astor Piazolla
Grade: A

I love that Ellenore is so freakishly weird AND called out Ryan's awesome muscles which is apparently bigger than her head! I LOVE HER SO MUCH NOW!

I didn't even realize her dress was caught in her shoe until the judges mentioned it, because I was just mesmerized by Ellenore's dancing. She was controlled and sizzling without flaunting it (Ashleigh? Are you hearing this?). (Hmm, the judges totally agree and mention similar things)

Ryan just had to be strong and good partner and he and his muscles definitely were!

Here is the video of Ellenore and Ryan's Argentine Tango:



- - - - - - - - - - - - -
So even though the audience doesn't get to vote and the judges are just going to vote someone off right away, here's my Final Roundup:

Best of the Night: Kathryn and Legacy's Contemporary
Second Best of the Night: Mollee and Nathan's Bollywood
Third Best of the Night: Ellenore and Ryan's Argentine Tango

(That's Karen and Legacy and Ellenore and Ryan's second time in my Top 3)

Best Male of the Night: Legacy Perez
Second Best Male of the Night: Nathan Trasoras

Best Female of the Night: Ellenore Scott (her 2nd week running)
Second Best Female of the Night: Pauline Mata

Worst of the Night - Couple: Channing and Phillip's Samba
Worst of the Night - Single: Phillip Attmore

Should Be Bottom 4: Channing, Ashleigh, Phillip, and uh... Peter? Kevin?
Should be Eliminated: Channing, Phillip

- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Dance For their Lives Solos
Bottom 4 determined by the judges:
Bianca Revels
Victor Smalley
Noelle Marsh
Phillip Attmore

Seriously? They really do love Channing don't they? Notice that Tyce's routine landed his two dancers in the bottom? But Stacey Tookey and Wade's are safe? Just saying!

Noelle Marsh
Song: "For a Reason" - Zhané
Grade: A-

Victor Smalley
Song: "Narvas" - The Matrix: Revolutions Soundtrack
Grade: A-

Bianca Revels
Song: "Tootsee Roll" - 69 Boyz
Grade: B

Phillip Attmore
Song: "Almost Like Being in Love" - Nat King Cole
Grade: B

It's hard to really showcase Tap in a dazzling light on such a big stage and on television (the sound mix seemed like they were struggling to play the song while capture the actual tapping noise on the stage) while Noelle and Victor really pulled out all the stops (and Victor's THIGHS? HELLO!).

So in the end, the judges cut BOTH Tappers, with Bianca Revels leaving the competition (too soon if you ask me)


and Phillip Attmore (who really should have been in the bottom 2 last week anyways, so I'm less sad about this).
And notice it is now 4 coloured people gone? Last week someone retweeted me that they don't look at colour and the dancing. Yah, me too, and if so, then Brandon and Bianca should have been safe and Channing and hmm... someone else should have been cut. If Channing didn't have her golden locks, I'm not sure the judges would love her as much. I'm just saying.

(Am I being totally crazy here? Or is the competition so strong this year that the smallest mistake will get you eliminated?)

Also, who would have guessed that Peter was going to be the last tapper standing?

- - - - - - - - - - - - -
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My Top 25 Routines from SYTYCD Season 1-5

So You Think You Can Dance - Season 5:
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So You Think You Can Dance Canada:
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Top 8 and 6 Performances and Results, Top 4 Performances
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The Judges, The Host, The Teaser, All Photos from CTV

So You Think You Can Dance - Season 4:
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Top 16, 14 and 12 Weeks Recaps by Vance again
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Top 14 Performances, Results 14 to 12 - Guest Blogger Linz McC
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Top 18 Performances, Results 18 to 16
Top 20 Performances, Results 20 to 18
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Auditions:
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Milwaukee, WI - How The Midwest Was Won
Charleston, South Carolina and Washington D.C. - S.C.D.C. The New Electric (Boogaloo) Term!
Salt Lake City and Dallas - Yeehaw Utah!
Los Angeles - It's Time To Put On Those Dancing Shoes Again Kids!

So You Think You Can Dance - Season 3:
Live Tour - Toronto, Pasha's Solo Video, Neil's Solo Video
Finale - Winner Result
Top 4 Performances - Finals
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For So You Think You Can Dance Season 2:
Favorite Video Clips
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Thanks again to Rickey for the vids
Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

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Play, Repeat, ReGlee, Shuffle

As The Music of Glee Season 1 Volume 1 gets released officially today (and the tracks for Volume 2 (out Dec. 8th) are announced), here's my Top 5 7 10 picks from the disc with the songs up to the Nov. 11th episode. (There are 17 listed on the disc, 18 on iTunes)

In no particular order here's my Top 10 songs (uh, from the 18 listed, though Mercy isn't on the soundtrack):

Cause I "Don't Stop Believin'" in Glee!:


Cory Monteith (Finn) doesn't have the strongest voice but you can hear his spirit when he sings! It's adorable! "Can't Fight This Feeling":


"Somebody to Love":


Because Lea Michelle (Rachel) can sing everything, she knocks "Take A Bow" out of the park!:


Guest star Kristin Chenoweth (who will be back for more later in the season!) is already a huge Broadway star, but she gets to be "Alone" on Glee (with fellow Broadway alum Matthew Morrison):


Sweet Mark Salling (Puck) singing "Sweet Caroline":


Lea Michelle (Rachel) and Chris Colfer (Kurt) "Defying Gravity", just like the show has done:


Because even Glee can remake Avril Lavigne into a must listen! "Keep Holding On":


Knowing Finn was high helps understand Cory Monteith's enthusiasm on "It's My Life/ Confessions Part II":


Never heard this song before the show but Amber Riley (Mercedes) sure shatters the song "Bust Your Windows"!:

Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

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Crazy Bright - Finian's Rainbow - Musical Review

Finian's Rainbow - St. James Theatre - Broadway, New York, NY - **** (out of 5)
Music by Burton Lane, Lyrics by E.Y. Harburg, Book by E.Y. Harburg & Fred Saidy, Adapted by Arthur Perlman, Directed and Choreographed by Warren Carlyle
Opened Oct. 29th 2009
Note: Review based on preview performance

Finian's Rainbow is back on Broadway!

What Rainbow you say? Yah, I've never heard of it either, and only knew about it when City Center's Encore series presented the 1947 musical in their special concert staging earlier this year. And from those reviews, I had heard that the music was gorgeous but the book and story were creaky and crazy.

And crazy it is! The story follows Finian and his daughter Sharon as they move from Ireland to the made up land of Missitucky, USA to bury a stolen pot of gold near Fort Knox, where it will apparently replicate itself into riches galore. Meanwhile, Finian and Sharon manage to save the small town they've landed in from a corrupt white racist Senator who by a magic spell, turns into a black man. Og, the leprechaun, chases after his stolen pot of gold to avoid turning human. There's a mute dancer, a man named Woody who Sharon automatically falls in love with (yah she does!) and songs about living on credit.

Yes, I didn't make any of that up. It's a nutbar story and almost fun in its ridiculousness, but yet with its story about living on credit and banking on gold to replicate from the ground, it's almost timely in our economic recession.

The musical is so spirited, light and funny, (even in the "racism is bad" plotline), it's hard not to get a kick out of the slight moral lesson within the fantastically loopy book. You know those old, dated, light, silly and frothy musicals The Drowsy Chaperone made fun of? This is one of those musicals.

But to see one of those musicals in full Broadway presentation with a full orchestra playing its gorgeous luscious score is quite a treat. And the new Broadway revival fills the cast with terrific delights that makes this creaky silly musical seem like a wonder.

As a fan of Kate Baldwin (White Christmas, She Loves Me), I was excited that she finally gets a leading lady role on the great white way and fills Sharon's shoes with an exquisite voice and a soothing demeanor, and her red hair and white skin seems to glow on the St. James stage.

Baldwin's Sharon falls quickly in love with townsfolk Woody and while it seems to fast in the story, casting Cheyenne Jackson (Xanadu, 30 Rock) makes it all believable. Who wouldn't fall in love with Cheyenne the moment they see the tall strapping dark and handsome man? And if that doesn't get you, his voice will, both smooth and commanding, melt your heart.

Baldwin and Jackson's voices are perfect for the old-fashioned but soaring songs that are so beautiful and romantic that the sparks between the two easily fly (esp. since Jackson has become quite the gay icon, and Baldwin is married to fellow Canadian Broadway actor Graham Rowat) while the voices harmonize to the grand orchestrations that transcends the loopy story.

As Og, the Irish Leprechaun, Christopher Fitzgerald has his work cut out for him, but Fitzgerald, who stole the show in Young Frankenstein and became a terrific unlikely leading man in Minsky's, manages to not just make Og the Leprechaun believable, but totally endearing and hilarious with an actual emotional arc.

Fitzgerald, with his smaller frame and googly eyes is absolutely adorable and totally hilarious as the leprechaun who keeps growing to human size the longer he's missing his pot of gold. His voice is soaring and his comedic timing is always spot on and it's such a treat to see his zany energy as a counterpoint to Baldwin and Jackson's swoonworthy chemistry.

Terri White gets a showstopping number ("Necessity") of her own as one of the black folk living in the town.

Jim Norton is perfectly old, mischievous and bouncy as Finian who fully believes in his own antics. He creates a lovely center that ties all the random plots together and his Irish charms manage to pull them all together as one can with such crazy ideas.

David Schramm and Chuck Cooper both play the racist Senator (before and after the magic spell) in a hilarious cartoon character and they make the stereotype work with their gusto performances. Though I did find the moment Chuck Cooper's black Senator became friendly with the black quartet singing group, it was the one lull in the show, though not for any of the performance fault.

Alina Faye is lovely as the mute dancer, and Christopher Borger is a treat as the young black kid.

The entire cast is terrific and the voices sound glorious in harmony, while the ensemble is made up of some great dancers.

It's great to see such a solid soaring production of such a loopy cartoony musical (enhanced by the cartoony set of green rolling hills) that happens to have some of the most gorgeous music. And it's truly enchanting to hear the likes of Jim Norton, Christopher Fitzgerald, Terri White fill in these cartoon roles with a three dimensional performance, all while surrounding the should-be-huge-Broadway-stars-if-it-were-up-to-me leads Kate Baldwin and Cheyenne Jackson.


Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

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Rock Hard Cheyenne

OMG. The 30 Rock pictures with Cheyenne Jackson are out. I almost jizzed in my pants with this first one of him in full football uniform (it's like my porn fantasy comes true! No thank YOU Tina Fey!).

Cheyenne's having a great day isn't he? He's great in Finian's Rainbow (I'll have my review out soon) and the reviews from last night have been pretty great. And he's moonlighting (or is it daylighting in this case) on 30 Rock in what is apparently a re-occuring role. YAY! His double duty makes me forgive him for forgetting a line in Finian's Rainbow last Saturday. Plus he covered really well (there was a pause, then he looked into co-star Kate Baldwin's eyes and said "Your skin is so beautiful that it's made me forget what I was going to say", then asked for his next line. It was smooth!)

And now he gets to reunite with his Damn Yankees co-star Jane Krakowski on 30 Rock starting on the November 12th episode!

Okay, so while this season hasn't been its best season, even mediocre 30 Rock is still better than most shows.

30 Rock - Season 4, Into the Crevasses, Stone Mountain - Eps. 401-403

So because I know Cheyenne Jackson must be the new actor Liz will eventually hire to fulfill Jack's wishes for a "REAL AMERICAN" to join the show, I've been kinda loving this new shakeup on the show and the reactions Jenna and Tracy have had. It doesn't always work, and isn't quite as sharp as previous seasons, but it's still a lot of fun.

What worked better was the twisted satire on labour unions when Kenneth goes on strike much to Jack's ire, but possibly the most disturbing thing (other than Kenneth's union leader being easily satisfied and bought off) was him in drag playing Meemah (?) when Jack and Liz go to Stone Mountain to find a "regular" American to join the cast. Anyways, after some disturbingly funny images of Jack ripping off a dummy's head off, I'm ready for Cheyenne to join the cast.

I would say it would give Jenna a good counterpart but I'm kinda loving her with Tracy and her and the gays, so it would just be more awesomeness!

Here's some more promo photos from Cheyenne Jackson's first appearance on 30 Rock:
Plus, Padma Lakshmi (Top Chef) guests on the same episode.


Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

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SYTYCD6 - Cha Cha Change for a Twenty?

So You Think You Can Dance - Top 20 Performance and Results Night - Ep. 611
Judges: Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy, Adam Shankman

There still is a chair for Paula Abdul which already is annoying me.

In the meantime, Billy Bell AND Noelle Marsh have both been sidelined by injuries and illnesses but Billy is out permanently while Noelle is taking a week off for now, with Melanie LaPatin stepping in again. Noelle gets to come back next week if she's better. Meanwhile, Brandon Dumlao takes over Billy's spot. Lucky for all the other dancers, since Billy was probably near the top of the list.

And while I'm at it, I realized what else I don't like about this new huge stage set up, other than the distracting video wall and enormity of it all. The stage is now set up as a proscenium stage and no longer has a in-the-round feel with audience members on 3 sides, giving us even less of an intimate feel, thus distancing the dancers even further. Plus it doesn't give anywhere for Cat to run and hide when the dancers perform.

Oh well, I'll stop my griping for now and let the Season 6 dancing begin!


Channing Cooke
&
Phillip Attmore
Style: Jive
Choreographed by: Jason Gilkison
Song: "Rockin' Robin" - The Jackson 5
Grade: C

At this point, I'm trying to give these two a clean slate, but I was losing favour for these two, so it's strange that they've been paired together.

On top of that, they get the Jive set to "Rockin' Robin"? Seriously? I thought they did an admirable attempt but it lacked the pop and pizzaz needed and their lack of chemistry was palpable. Their connections were fumbly and awkward and as some of the judges mentioned, they looked tired out halfway through the dance.

Not a great start for a couple that really needed to wow me to earn my love, instead I thought it was easily forgettable (with no help from the song choice either).

Here's the video of Channing and Phillip's Jive:



Ashleigh Di Lello
&
Jakob Karr
Style: Broadway
Choreographed by: Tyce DiOrio
Song: "Hit Me With A Hot Note (and Watch Me Bounce)" - Sophisticated Ladies (original soundtrack)
Grade: B

I really didn't want to get into my hatred for Tyce so early but again, I was underwhelmed by the choreo (despite Adam calling it brilliant) and as Joe points out, he's such a douchebag.

On the bright note, Jakob just had the lines and poise to really showcase his skills and just looked great. Ashleigh, who I'm so so for, looked like she kept up, and as the judges said, Jakob carried her to his level.

Here's the video of Ashleigh and Jakob's Broadway:



Ariana Dubose
&
Peter Sabasino
Style: Hip-Hop
Choreographed by: Tabitha and Napoleon D'umo
Song: "Black & Gold" - Sam Sparo
Grade: B

While Jakob and Ashleigh managed to dance a bad choreography really well, here, I'm wondering if good choreography made Peter and Ariana look good? Because I really found myself surprised by Peter and Ariana and liked this routine and thought they were quite good, even though the judges didn't. Maybe it's because I had such low expectations from these two.

I thought Peter did quite a good job, especially since he's a tapper, while Ariana, who seemed kinda bland, got into a Hip-Hop groove that reminded me of Aliyah.

Here's the video of Ariana and Peter's Hip-Hop:



Noelle Marsh Melanie LaPatin
&
Russell Ferguson
Style: Foxtrot
Choreographed by: Tony Meredith and Melanie LaPatin
Song: "Vagabond Shoes" - Vic Damone
Grade: B+

I don't know if I'm buying Russell. I don't buy that he didn't take ANY lessons before this, because he was WAY too smooth and amazing in this Foxtrot. I mean, was it me, or did he look like he almost out-Foxtrotted Melanie LaPatin, the teacher/expert. (Then again, she's such the expert to make sure her partner always looks good). His footwork looked great and he held up his own and oozed charm without being schlocky.

Here's the video of Melanie and Russell's Foxtrot:



Bianca Revels
&
Victor Smalley
Style: Contemporary
Choreographed by: Travis Wall
Song: "Wasted Time" - Me'Shell Ndegeocello
Grade: B+

I pretty much agreed with everything Adam said. GREAT choreography from my secret lover (at least in my head) Travis Wall. Bianca did a great job but still needed that little extra (like lowering the shoulders) while Victor held the whole thing together.

There could have been a little more sizzle but considering the piece was about coldness, I guess Victor and Bianca were more in character.

Here's the video of Bianca and Victor's Contemporary:



Karen Hauer
&
Kevin Hunte
Style: Cha Cha
Choreographed by: Tony Meredith & Melanie LaPatin
Song: "Push It" - Glee Cast version
Grade: B

I really like Kevin but yah, as Adam said, was he even there? I only really noticed Karen who luckily shook it and saved them both, while Kevin did a nice job propping her up. (Also, who knew he had so much hair tucked behind there? Oh wait, I guess it's those braids unleashed. It never clicked in.)

I think the dance could have been slightly jazzier and faster, especially considering the song they had to dance to, but that's partly the choreography too (and just a bad pairing of dance with song). On the other hand, love that they are already using the Glee songs for this. Talk about network synergy!

Here's the video of Karen and Kevin's Cha Cha:



Ellenore Scott
&
Ryan Di Lello
Style: Jazz
Choreographed by: Sonya Tayeh
Song: "Arcadia" - Apparat
Grade: B+

I love Sonya's weird choreo's! And love that they put Ryan shirtless right off the bat. Might as well show off his shoulders and guns right? Hold on, I need to wipe of the drool on the keyboard right now.

I don't really recall Ellenore but she and Ryan were great together, and Ryan, as the judges keep mentioning, was great abandoning his ballroom background to get into weirdness of Sonya's characters.

Here's the video of Ellenore and Ryan's Jazz:



Pauline Mata
&
Brandon Dumlao
Style: Smooth Waltz
Choreographed by: Jason Gilkison
Song: "You Light Up My Life" - Whitney Houston
Grade: B

They had a day and a half together? After Billy Bell had to drop out? That's really hard, especially for the Smooth Waltz, and especially for a hip-hopper like Brandon. Still, I was impressed and thought it was better than the judges critiques.

Pauline was beautiful and Brandon did a good job carrying her through and i thought (maybe with the aid of Pauline's white floaty dress) that they looked quite light and airy, but Nigel and the others totally disagreed.

Here's the video of Pauline and Brandon's Smooth Waltz:



Kathryn McCormick
&
Legacy Perez
Style: Hip-Hop
Choreographed by: Dave Scott
Song: "On & On" - Missy Elliot
Grade: B+

Great routine and Kathryn and Legacy had a nice connection together and dirtied it up just right. Legacy, who I've been on the fence with, won me over here with his dancing and his abs, and while I keep forgetting Kathryn is on this show, she managed to keep up and hit it hard.

Here's the video of Kathryn and Legacy's Hip-Hop:



Mollee Gray
&
Nathan Trasoras
Style: Disco
Choreographed by: Doriana Sanchez
Song: "Turn the Beat Around (Pablo's 12' Remix)" - Gloria Estefan
Grade: B

Love Nathan but I got irritated with Mollee until she proved herself in the showcase. But of course they have to throw these two cute-as-a-button-dancers together and of course they get the Disco.

It was energetic and fast and fun. And it all started all well enough, but was it me or did it get a little messy in the second half, particularly with the footwork?

Here's the video of Mollee and Nathan's Disco:


- - - - - - - - - - - - -
So even though the audience doesn't get to vote and the judges are just going to vote someone off right away, here's my Final Roundup:

Best of the Night: Victor and Bianca's Contemporary
Second Best of the Night: Kathryn and Legacy's Hip-Hop
Third Best of the Night: Ellenore and Ryan's Jazz

Best Male of the Night: Victor Smalley
Second Best Male of the Night: Jakob Karr

Best Female of the Night: Ellenore Scott
Second Best Female of the Night: Karen Hauer

Worst of the Night - Couple: Channing and Phillip's Jive
Worst of the Night - Single: Kevin Hunte

Should Be Bottom 4: Channing, Ariana, Phillip, Kevin
Should be Eliminated: Noelle, Phillip

- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Dance For their Lives Solos
Bottom 4 determined by the judges:
Ariana
Brandon
Pauline
Russell

THAT IS SUCH A SET UP. Like Russell is ever gonna be cut. Poor Brandon. He never had a chance did he?

Ariana Dubose
Song: "Darkest Hour" - Charlotte Martin
Grade: B+

Russell Ferguson
Song: "Give the Drummer Sum" - Black Milk
Grade: A

Pauline Mata
Song: "Magalenha" - Sergio Mendes
Grade: B+

Brandon Dumlao
Song: "Slow Dancing in a Burning Room" - John Mayer
Grade: A-


Okay, so first off, Russell and Brandon should not be in the bottom 4. Neither should Pauline for that matter. I'm not a dance expert but usually I'm not totally off in my opinions but this seems totally wrong. Why are there only coloured people in the bottom 4?

I think Russell is just there so that he gets to show off his solos to build up for the future, plus since there is NO way he will get eliminated, it sets itself up for Brandon to go. Nice. Bring him into the Top 20 and then cut him out right away, despite the fact that he was pretty decent in his Smooth Waltz that he was given a full day and a half to learn and rehearse. In fact, as much as I like Kevin, I thought Brandon did a better job.

While I thought Ariana did a good job, she does lack star quality so I can understand why she's here, but Pauline was far better than Channing.

Luckily, Pauline is saved and Ariana Dubose is the first girl to be cut.

While Noelle gets a reprieve until next week, Brandon Dumlao got no slack and as little as we knew him (he doesn't even have a proper publicity photo or even a page on the website, and now they don't even need to bother), that's about all we will get, at least for this season, if Nigel has anything to say about it.

Now, the judges generally as a whole are far more critically informative and less annoying than the Canadian judges, but why was Mary screaming all night? She's been so calm and articulate in Canada this past season. But now that the judges choices are so obviously manipulating the obvious this week, I'm kind of annoyed. This season looked so promising but tonight's little hiccup only emphasizes the flaws the show still has.


- - - - - - - - - - - - -
For More So You Think You Can Dance:
Check here for the most Recent current postings and Latest News on SYTYCD

So You Think You Can Dance - Season 6:
Introducing the Top 20, The Top 20 Showcase

So You Think You Can Dance Canada - Season 2 with So You Think You Can Dance Season 6 Auditions:
Finale
Top 4 Performances
Top 6 Performances, Top 6 Results & US Vegas Week Auditions Continued
Top 8 Performances, Top 8 Results & US Salt Lake City and Vegas Week 1 Auditions
Top 10 Performances, Top 10 Results & US New Orleans and Atlanta Auditions
Top 12 Performances, Top 12 Results & US Boston Auditions
Top 14 Performances, Top 14 Results & US Phoenix Auditions
Top 16 Performances, Top 16 Results & US Los Angeles Auditions
Top 18 Performance, Top 18 Results and SYTYCD Top 15 Dances of all time
Top 20 Performance, Top 20 Results
Top 20 Announced
Auditions - Toronto, Vancouver, Saint John
Montréal, Edmonton

My Top 25 Routines from SYTYCD Season 1-5

So You Think You Can Dance - Season 5:
Finale
Top 4 Performance
Top 6 Performance, Top 6 Results
Top 8 Performance, Top 8 Results and Panel Chat
Top 10 Performance, Top 10 Results and Panel Chat
Top 12 Performance, Top 12 Results and Panel Chat
Top 14 Performance, Top 14 Results, Top 14 Panel Chat
Top 16 Performance, Top 16 Results and Panel Chat
Top 18 Performance, Top 18 Results and Panel Chat
Top 20 Performance, Top 20 Results and Panel Chat
Auditions - Vegas Week Part 2 - Top 20 Announcement, Top 20 Pictures/Panel Chat
Vegas Week Part 1
New York City, Denver, Miami, Memphis, LA, Seattle

So You Think You Can Dance Canada:
Finale
Top 8 and 6 Performances and Results, Top 4 Performances
Top 10 Performances, Results 10 to 8
Top 12 Performances, Results 12 to 10
Top 14 Performances, Results 14 to 12
Top 16 Performances, Results 16 to 14
Top 18 Performances, Results 18 to 16
Top 20 Performances and Results
Introducing Canada's Top 20
Auditions:
Toronto Week - The Cut to the Top 20
Vancouver, Halifax, Calgary, Montreal - West, East, Middle and Quebec
Toronto - Toronto's Best Foot Forward
The Judges, The Host, The Teaser, All Photos from CTV

So You Think You Can Dance - Season 4:
Finale
Top 4 Performances
Top 6 Performances and Results 6 to 4
Top 8 Performances, Results 8 to 6
Top 10 Performances, Results 10 to 8
Top 16, 14 and 12 Weeks Recaps by Vance again
Top 12 Performances, Results 12 to 10 - Guest Blogger Linz McC
Top 14 Performances, Results 14 to 12 - Guest Blogger Linz McC
Top 16 Performances, Results 16 to 14 - Guest Blogger Linz McC
Top 18 Performances, Results 18 to 16
Top 20 Performances, Results 20 to 18
Introducing the Top 20
Auditions:
Callbacks in Las Vegas - The Top 20 Revealed - What Happens In Vegas
Milwaukee, WI - How The Midwest Was Won
Charleston, South Carolina and Washington D.C. - S.C.D.C. The New Electric (Boogaloo) Term!
Salt Lake City and Dallas - Yeehaw Utah!
Los Angeles - It's Time To Put On Those Dancing Shoes Again Kids!

So You Think You Can Dance - Season 3:
Live Tour - Toronto, Pasha's Solo Video, Neil's Solo Video
Finale - Winner Result
Top 4 Performances - Finals
Top 6 Performances, Top 6 Results
Top 8 Performances, Top 8 Results
Top 10 Performances, Top 10 Results
Top 12 Performances, Top 12 Results
Top 14 Performances, Top 14 Results
Top 16 Performances, Top 16 Results
Top 18 Performances, Top 18 Results
Top 20 Performances, Top 20 Results

For So You Think You Can Dance Season 2:
Favorite Video Clips
Song List Live Tour 2006 - Toronto
Live Tour 2006 - Buffalo, Pics, More Pics
Thanks again to Rickey for the vids
Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

More After the Jump...

SYTYCD Canada & SYTYCD - From 1 to 20

So You Think You Can Dance Canada - Final Results Night - The Final Cut from 4 to 1 - Ep. 223
Judges: Jean-Marc Généreux, Tré Armstrong, Blake McGrath, Luther Brown, Rex Harrington, Kenny Ortega

So You Think You Can Dance - The Top 20 Showcase - Ep. 610
Judges: Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy, Adam Shankman, and an empty chair for Paula Abdul (groan)

Just as SYTYCD Canada wraps up with it's finale on Sunday, SYTYCD starts up again with a new episode to showcase the Top 20 in their own styles before they go into the Top 20 Performance voting episodes. And Canada may have gotten to see one of Mia's last choreography for the show.

So let's first start with Canada:

So You Think You Can Dance Canada Season 2's Top 20:


Man, it's good seeing Austin, Nicolas, Danny, even Taylor looks great! And Natalie and even Mel B and all!

Top 20 Group Dance
Style: African-Jazz
Choreographed by: Sean Cheesman



And with that, I'm reminded how great the Season 2 Canadian Top 20 was (and how great Sean Cheesman is), so the Season 6 Top 20 will have a lot to live up to, but so far, it seems like this new group may be one of the best (though sadly, there is news that Billy Bell (one of, if not THE early fave of mine) has had to drop out due to illness and that Brandon Dumlao will replace Billy)

The Canadian judges get to pick their faves from the season (although you know it's more a general pick that gets spread around so each of the Top 10 dancers get to be featured at least once)

Kenny's pick:
Tara-Jean and Everett's Theatre (Sean Cheesman) from Top 12 Week

JM's pick:
Amy and Vincent's Jive (Tony Meredith and Melanie LaPatin) from Top 12 Week

Rex's pick:
Jayme Rae and Everett's Mambo (Gustavo Vargas) from Top 8 Week

Blake's pick:
Kim and Cody's Hip-Hop (Luther Brown) from Top 8 Week

Jean-Marc's pick #2:
Tara-Jean and Vincent's Rumba (Eric Caty) from Top 8 Week



Tre's pick
Kim and Emanuel's Jazz Funk (Blake McGrath) from Top 14 Week

Tre's pick #2
Jayme Rae and Vincent's Contemporary (Stacey Tookey) from Top 4 Week

Luther's choice
Tara-Jean and Everett's House (Sho-Tyme) from Top 14 Week

Kenny's pick #2
Melanie M and Vincent's Paso Doble (Natalli Reznik & Francis Lafrenière) from Top 10 Week

Jean Marc's pick #3:
Corynne and Austin's Contemporary (Stacey Tookey) from Top 16 Week



Leah's (or producers) pick:
Melanie M and Cody's Krump (Lil' C) from Top 18 Week

Blake's pick #2:
Kim and Everett's Jazz Fusion (Sean Cheesman) from Top 10 Week

Rex's pick #2:
Tara-Jean and Vincent's Contemporary (Stacey Tookey) from Top 6 Week

Luther's pick #2:
Jayme Rae and Daniel's Dance Hall (Jaeblaze) from Top 18 Week

Leah's (or producers) pick #2
Tara-Jean and Vincent's Salsa (Gustavo Vargas) from Top 6 Week

Leah's (or producers) pick #3
Jayme Rae and Everett's Jazz Funk (Nico Archambault & Wynn Holmes) from Top 8 Week




Top 10 Group Dance
Style: Contemporary
Choreographed by: Mia Michaels
Song: "This Moment" - Nic Chagall ft. Jonathan Mendelsohn

Oh man. this is Mia's piece in response to her quitting the US show. OMG.




So that may have been the last choreography we see from Mia for some time, though it seems like she only quit the US version and she gets to vent it out in Canada, so hopefully she will be back in Canada for more next season!

So before we get to the winner, in case people still don't want to be spoiled (is that even possible these days?), I'll continue on at the bottom of the post and get to the special episode of So You Think You Can Dance and their showcase of the Top 20 on their new stage (which I am NOT digging. It's too big and makes the dancers look small and lost on the stage and the video graphics in the back competes with the dancers).

Plus, that chair for Paula is almost like a FU to Idol for stealing the Ellen idea (apparently Nigel has been pissed) and to Mia who didn't get a permanent judges chair like Adam did.


Top 20 Group Dance
Style: Wade Style
Choreographed by: Wade and Amanda Robson
Song: "Comanche" - The Revels

Well, Nathan sure got showcase. And my eye led towards Billy Bell right away... sigh... I also noticed Jakob and Russell. What a great first group routine! But I will admit freely, I watched the boys more than the girls at this point. I'm not sure if they are better dancers or just a hot bunch of boys this season. That said, what a great Wade routine!


Legacy Perez, Russell Ferguson, Kevin Hunte
Style: Hip-Hop
Choreographed by: Napoleon and Tabitha D'umo
Song: "Beggin' (District 78 Remix)" - Madcon

Very very awesome and the first Krumper on the US show! (But ha! Canada beat you by a few months when Natalie became the first Krumper on the Canada show (plus a girl! From HALIFAX)). That said, Russell is awesome and one of my faves. Him and Kevin seem to have a great rapport. I'm still unsure about Legacy in general but he mixed well here and looked great.
Here's the video of the Hip-Hoppers:



Nathan Trasoras, Ariana Debose, Jakob Karr, Channing Cooke
Style: Contemporary
Choreographed by: Tyce DiOrio
Song: "Crying)" - K.D. Lang

The dancers were lovely. Already love Jakob and Nathan but Ariana was quite impressive and expressive. But wasn't loving the choreo and yet again, I think Tyce is so overrated. There was barely any cohesion between the 4 dancers and they basically just danced separately for most of it.
Here's the video of my new SYTYCD boyfriends and Ariana and Channing:



Peter Sabasino, Bianca Revels, Phillip Attmore
Style: Tap
Choreographed by: Derrick K. Grant
Song: "Take The "A" Train" - Ella Fitzgerald

Peter really doesn't look like a tapper so watching him on his fancy feet is kinda funny and nice to see. It's great to see 3 tappers finally in the Top 20 (though again, Canada got in Everett already and who made it to Top 4!)
Here's the video of the Tappers:



Pauline Mata, Mollee Gray, Ellenore Scott
Style: Jazz
Choreographed by: Sonya Tayeh
Song: "On ACloud" - PPP

I'm not sure I could take Mollee's cuteness but was it me or did she seem all grown up here? I have to admit, my eye ended up drawn to her and maybe the straight hair helped, but Mollee was fantastic. I liked Pauline as well and Ellenore's spunk but I think I was most surprised by Mollee so far (prob. because I was ready to hate her).
Here's the video of the Jazz girls:



Victor Smalley, Noelle Marsh, Kathryn McCormic, Billy Bell
Style: Contemporary
Choreographed by: Mandy Moore
Song: "Viva La Vida" - Coldplay

Now that's how you choreograph a contemporary piece that still shocases the individual dancers and lets them interact with each other. Boy girl, boy boy. girl girl. THAT'S PROGRESS.

On a sad note, that's the last we will see of Billy Bell this season. Sigh...


Ryan Di Lello, Karen Hauer, Ashley Di Lello
Style: Samba
Choreographed by: Jason Gilikson
Song: "Everything I Can't Have" - Robin Thicke

A husband, a wife, and Karen. I give props to Karen for openly moving on Ashley's man, especially since said man is Ryan and his guns.

So before the actual competition for So You Think You Can Dance Season 6 begins with the Top 20 Performances on Tuesday, let's get back to So You Think You Can Dance Canada which finally narrowed it down from the Top 20 to one of the best Top 4 I've seen.

While I predicted:
Should Be: (#position from Top 6 week in parenthesis):
Fourth: Everett (4)
Third: Tara-Jean (2)
Second: Jayme Rae (3)
First: Vincent (1)

Will Be:
Fourth: Everett
Third: Jayme Rae
Second: Vincent
First: Tara-Jean

And alas, Everett Smith and Jayme Rae Dailey were not in the Top 2 (with Everett being told first, so make of that what you may). And with Vincent Desjardins and Tara-Jean Popowich in the Top 2, both win a car, but alas, Vincent comes in second as I predicted.

Which means the Season 2 winner is Tara-Jean Popowich!!! Who looked so happy and shocked! Very cute! And still totally deserving even though I voted for Vincent and Jayme Rae.

And there you have it! The end of Season 2. Auditions for Season 3 start in November. And Season 6 of the US edition now really begins. It's non-stop dance!

- - - - - - - - - - - - -
For More So You Think You Can Dance:
Check here for the most Recent current postings and Latest News on SYTYCD

So You Think You Can Dance - Season 6:
Introducing the Top 20

So You Think You Can Dance Canada - Season 2 with So You Think You Can Dance Season 6 Auditions:
Top 4 Performances
Top 6 Performances, Top 6 Results & US Vegas Week Auditions Continued
Top 8 Performances, Top 8 Results & US Salt Lake City and Vegas Week 1 Auditions
Top 10 Performances, Top 10 Results & US New Orleans and Atlanta Auditions
Top 12 Performances, Top 12 Results & US Boston Auditions
Top 14 Performances, Top 14 Results & US Phoenix Auditions
Top 16 Performances, Top 16 Results & US Los Angeles Auditions
Top 18 Performance, Top 18 Results and SYTYCD Top 15 Dances of all time
Top 20 Performance, Top 20 Results
Top 20 Announced
Auditions - Toronto, Vancouver, Saint John
Montréal, Edmonton

My Top 25 Routines from SYTYCD Season 1-5

So You Think You Can Dance - Season 5:
Finale
Top 4 Performance
Top 6 Performance, Top 6 Results
Top 8 Performance, Top 8 Results and Panel Chat
Top 10 Performance, Top 10 Results and Panel Chat
Top 12 Performance, Top 12 Results and Panel Chat
Top 14 Performance, Top 14 Results, Top 14 Panel Chat
Top 16 Performance, Top 16 Results and Panel Chat
Top 18 Performance, Top 18 Results and Panel Chat
Top 20 Performance, Top 20 Results and Panel Chat
Auditions - Vegas Week Part 2 - Top 20 Announcement, Top 20 Pictures/Panel Chat
Vegas Week Part 1
New York City, Denver, Miami, Memphis, LA, Seattle

So You Think You Can Dance Canada:
Finale
Top 8 and 6 Performances and Results, Top 4 Performances
Top 10 Performances, Results 10 to 8
Top 12 Performances, Results 12 to 10
Top 14 Performances, Results 14 to 12
Top 16 Performances, Results 16 to 14
Top 18 Performances, Results 18 to 16
Top 20 Performances and Results
Introducing Canada's Top 20
Auditions:
Toronto Week - The Cut to the Top 20
Vancouver, Halifax, Calgary, Montreal - West, East, Middle and Quebec
Toronto - Toronto's Best Foot Forward
The Judges, The Host, The Teaser, All Photos from CTV

So You Think You Can Dance - Season 4:
Finale
Top 4 Performances
Top 6 Performances and Results 6 to 4
Top 8 Performances, Results 8 to 6
Top 10 Performances, Results 10 to 8
Top 16, 14 and 12 Weeks Recaps by Vance again
Top 12 Performances, Results 12 to 10 - Guest Blogger Linz McC
Top 14 Performances, Results 14 to 12 - Guest Blogger Linz McC
Top 16 Performances, Results 16 to 14 - Guest Blogger Linz McC
Top 18 Performances, Results 18 to 16
Top 20 Performances, Results 20 to 18
Introducing the Top 20
Auditions:
Callbacks in Las Vegas - The Top 20 Revealed - What Happens In Vegas
Milwaukee, WI - How The Midwest Was Won
Charleston, South Carolina and Washington D.C. - S.C.D.C. The New Electric (Boogaloo) Term!
Salt Lake City and Dallas - Yeehaw Utah!
Los Angeles - It's Time To Put On Those Dancing Shoes Again Kids!

So You Think You Can Dance - Season 3:
Live Tour - Toronto, Pasha's Solo Video, Neil's Solo Video
Finale - Winner Result
Top 4 Performances - Finals
Top 6 Performances, Top 6 Results
Top 8 Performances, Top 8 Results
Top 10 Performances, Top 10 Results
Top 12 Performances, Top 12 Results
Top 14 Performances, Top 14 Results
Top 16 Performances, Top 16 Results
Top 18 Performances, Top 18 Results
Top 20 Performances, Top 20 Results

For So You Think You Can Dance Season 2:
Favorite Video Clips
Song List Live Tour 2006 - Toronto
Live Tour 2006 - Buffalo, Pics, More Pics
Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

More After the Jump...

Ol' Blue Eyes - White Collar - Pilot Review

I'm sure New Yorkers (and other cities that have been plastered with USA's ad campaign) have noticed the piercing blue eyes on the posters for the new show White Collar which premieres on USA this Friday, Oct. 23rd at 10pm (BravoCanada starts airing it a week later starting Fri. Oct. 30th).

Well, that's Matthew Bomer (Chuck, Traveller) and he stars as a white collared criminal con artist who escapes prison 3 months prior to release to chase after his girlfriend, only to be caught by Fed Tim DeKay. Some deal is cut and Bomer is out under DeKay's watch and working to help solve con crimes. It's a fun concept that lets Bomer play a smooth criminal who not only wins the trust of a rich lady (the regal Diahann Carroll in a re-occuring role), but manages to help DeKay catch some criminals.

USA seems to be doing well with these male oriented breezy-feel shows (Burn Notice, Royal Pains) and White Collar, while not as zippy or humourous as Burn Notice, follows in the same crime fighting vein with an overarching story and what looks like a case of the week to solve.

In addition to the excellent Tim DeKay, the ensemble is filled out with Tiffany Thiessen (forever Kelly Kapowsky to me, but does a nice subtle job here) as DeKay's wife, and Willie Garson (Stanford from Sex and the City) as one of Bomer's connections.

While I didn't love the pilot, I enjoyed it enough to keep with it for now, and it's fun to see Bomer smooth talk his way around his con games, with DeKay sadly keeping watch. It's a nice start for the show to build upon so it can still go either way, but so far the cast and the relaxed feel for the show seems like perfect USA fare. They sort of seem to be making well made shows that once would have been syndicated, only now are made with more intelligence and charm.

White Collar gets *** stars for now, though it has potential to easily go up or down. And if Royal Pains is any indication, it go easily go up. RP had a shaky pilot but got better very fast, and turned out to be an enjoyable summer show.

Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

More After the Jump...

SYTYCD - So You Think You're In The Season 6 Top 20?

So You Think You Can Dance - Vegas Auditions - Revealing the Top 20 - Ep. 609
Judges in Vegas Week: Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy, Adam Shankman, Debbie Allen, Tyce DiOrio, Mia Michaels

It's a great looking group this year, though I'm starting to feel old after noting that this seems to be the youngest group they may ever have had. There seems to be quite a few 18 and 19 year olds. And so many are crushworthy. Seriously, I feel slightly dirty.

Here they are! The So You Think You Can Dance Season 6 Top 20:



Ariana Debose
Dance Specialty: Contemporary
Hometown: Newbern, NC
Currently Resides: Wake Forest, NC
Age: 18
First Impressions: Seems nice enough if maybe a little bland. Let's hope more airtime will help.


Ashleigh Di Lello
Dance Specialty: Latin Ballroom
Hometown: Orem, UT
Currently Resides: Orem, UT
Age: 26
First Impressions: I don't hate her like everyone else on the boards right now, but bitch did marry a hottie and she really needs to control her showface. It will get irritating really fast. Plus, she's basically the replacement for the girl that turned the Top 20 down. So was she really not originally going to make the cut? (Or was it just the way they made it for her husbands dramatic purposes?)


Bianca Revels
Dance Specialty: Tap
Hometown: Detroit, MI
Currently Resides: Los Angeles, CA
Age: 20
First Impressions: I loved her in previous seasons so I'm glad she's FINALLY in the Top 20! Plus, She seemed just as, if not even MORE excited when her fellow tappers made it through. That is sweet!


Billy Bell UPDATE: Sadly, apparently Billy had to drop out for health reasons. So Brandon Dumlao is in instead.
Dance Specialty: Contemporary
Hometown: West Palm Beach, FL
Currently Resides: New York, NY
Age: 19
First Impressions: He's a bit young but I think I may ask him to marry me. Or at least dance that last solo he did again and again in front of me. That was seriously breathtaking.


Channing Cooke
Dance Specialty: Contemporary
Hometown: Haverhill, MA
Currently Resides: Haverhill, MA
Age: 18
First Impressions: In theory I should like her but I feel sort of indifferent to her, even though I remember liking her auditions.


Ellenore Scott
Dance Specialty: Contemporary/Jazz
Hometown: Santa Cruz, CA
Currently Resides: Brooklyn, NY
Age: 19
First Impressions: I like her face, but that's all I got so far.


Jakob Karr
Dance Specialty: Contemporary
Hometown: Windermere, FL
Currently Resides: New York, NY
Age: 19
First Impressions: Loved his audition, loved that he's bff with Jeanine.


Karen Hauer
Dance Specialty: Latin Ballroom
Hometown: Valencia, Venezuela
Currently Resides: Queens, NY
Age: 27
First Impressions: Seems nice enough but I got nothing.



Kathryn McCormick
Dance Specialty: Contemporary
Hometown: Augusta, GA
Currently Resides: Burbank, CA
Age: 19
First Impressions: Same as above, seems nice but don't really have any impression at this point.


Kevin Hunte
Dance Specialty: Hip Hop
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Currently Resides: Brooklyn, NY
Age: 23
First Impressions: I like this dude! For a Hip-Hopper, doesn't seem to have that cocky swagger that I hate.


Legacy Perez
Dance Specialty: Hip Hop/B-Boy
Hometown: Miami, FL
Currently Resides: Los Angeles, CA
Age: 28
First Impressions: Legacy sometimes has that cocky swagger, and then sometime he cries. So I'm still split on him. Helps that he's totally hot.


Mollee Gray
Dance Specialty: Jazz
Hometown: Orem, UT
Currently Resides: Upland, CA
Age: 18
First Impressions: Seems irritatingly sweet.


Nathan Trasoras
Dance Specialty: Contemporary
Hometown: Downey, CA
Currently Resides: Downey, CA
Age: 18
First Impressions: Sweet and tasty. Oh lord he's only 18. I feel dirty now. At least he's an AMAZING dancer so that my crush isn't totally shallow.


Noelle Marsh
Dance Specialty: Contemporary
Hometown: Sanford, NC
Currently Resides: Sanford, NC
Age: 18
First Impressions: I think I liked her? Can't remember now, which may be the problem.


Pauline Mata
Dance Specialty: Jazz
Hometown: West Covina, CA
Currently Resides: West Covina, CA
Age: 19
First Impressions: Despite her injury in the final rounds of the auditions, I'm kinda rooting for her.


Peter Sabasino
Dance Specialty: Tap
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
Currently Resides: Philadelphia, PA
Age: 22
First Impressions: The rugged tapper seems charming, although I'm not sure how far he will actually go, and the judges already warned him that he needs to pull up his other styles to keep up.


Phillip Attmore
Dance Specialty: Tap
Hometown: Pasadena, CA
Currently Resides: Los Angeles, CA
Age: 25
First Impressions: Of everybody, Phillip seems like the cockiest guy, on the other hand, I can understand his outburst during the group routine so I'm willing to overlook that and give him a blank slate.


Russell Ferguson
Dance Specialty: Hip Hop/Krump
Hometown: Boston, MA
Currently Resides: Boston, MA
Age: 20
First Impressions: Seems so genuine and hard working without an ounce of attitude. The humility and the fact that he's rocked all the styles, especially for a Krumper, is winning me over BIG time!


Ryan Di Lello
Dance Specialty: Ballroom
Hometown: Springville, UT
Currently Resides: Orem, UT
Age: 28
First Impressions: Hello biceps!


Victor Smalley
Dance Specialty: Contemporary
Hometown: Miami, FL
Currently Resides: Miami, FL
Age: 21
First Impressions: He's apparently not Puck. At least he changed his hair, now I can maybe think of him as his own self.



- - - - - - - - - - - - -
For More So You Think You Can Dance:
Check here for the most Recent current postings and Latest News on SYTYCD

So You Think You Can Dance Canada - Season 2 with So You Think You Can Dance Season 6 Auditions:
Top 4 Performances
Top 6 Performances, Top 6 Results & US Vegas Week Auditions Continued
Top 8 Performances, Top 8 Results & US Salt Lake City and Vegas Week 1 Auditions
Top 10 Performances, Top 10 Results & US New Orleans and Atlanta Auditions
Top 12 Performances, Top 12 Results & US Boston Auditions
Top 14 Performances, Top 14 Results & US Phoenix Auditions
Top 16 Performances, Top 16 Results & US Los Angeles Auditions
Top 18 Performance, Top 18 Results and SYTYCD Top 15 Dances of all time
Top 20 Performance, Top 20 Results
Top 20 Announced
Auditions - Toronto, Vancouver, Saint John
Montréal, Edmonton

My Top 25 Routines from SYTYCD Season 1-5

So You Think You Can Dance - Season 5:
Finale
Top 4 Performance
Top 6 Performance, Top 6 Results
Top 8 Performance, Top 8 Results and Panel Chat
Top 10 Performance, Top 10 Results and Panel Chat
Top 12 Performance, Top 12 Results and Panel Chat
Top 14 Performance, Top 14 Results, Top 14 Panel Chat
Top 16 Performance, Top 16 Results and Panel Chat
Top 18 Performance, Top 18 Results and Panel Chat
Top 20 Performance, Top 20 Results and Panel Chat
Auditions - Vegas Week Part 2 - Top 20 Announcement, Top 20 Pictures/Panel Chat
Vegas Week Part 1
New York City, Denver, Miami, Memphis, LA, Seattle

So You Think You Can Dance Canada:
Finale
Top 8 and 6 Performances and Results, Top 4 Performances
Top 10 Performances, Results 10 to 8
Top 12 Performances, Results 12 to 10
Top 14 Performances, Results 14 to 12
Top 16 Performances, Results 16 to 14
Top 18 Performances, Results 18 to 16
Top 20 Performances and Results
Introducing Canada's Top 20
Auditions:
Toronto Week - The Cut to the Top 20
Vancouver, Halifax, Calgary, Montreal - West, East, Middle and Quebec
Toronto - Toronto's Best Foot Forward
The Judges, The Host, The Teaser, All Photos from CTV

So You Think You Can Dance - Season 4:
Finale
Top 4 Performances
Top 6 Performances and Results 6 to 4
Top 8 Performances, Results 8 to 6
Top 10 Performances, Results 10 to 8
Top 16, 14 and 12 Weeks Recaps by Vance again
Top 12 Performances, Results 12 to 10 - Guest Blogger Linz McC
Top 14 Performances, Results 14 to 12 - Guest Blogger Linz McC
Top 16 Performances, Results 16 to 14 - Guest Blogger Linz McC
Top 18 Performances, Results 18 to 16
Top 20 Performances, Results 20 to 18
Introducing the Top 20
Auditions:
Callbacks in Las Vegas - The Top 20 Revealed - What Happens In Vegas
Milwaukee, WI - How The Midwest Was Won
Charleston, South Carolina and Washington D.C. - S.C.D.C. The New Electric (Boogaloo) Term!
Salt Lake City and Dallas - Yeehaw Utah!
Los Angeles - It's Time To Put On Those Dancing Shoes Again Kids!

So You Think You Can Dance - Season 3:
Live Tour - Toronto, Pasha's Solo Video, Neil's Solo Video
Finale - Winner Result
Top 4 Performances - Finals
Top 6 Performances, Top 6 Results
Top 8 Performances, Top 8 Results
Top 10 Performances, Top 10 Results
Top 12 Performances, Top 12 Results
Top 14 Performances, Top 14 Results
Top 16 Performances, Top 16 Results
Top 18 Performances, Top 18 Results
Top 20 Performances, Top 20 Results

For So You Think You Can Dance Season 2:
Favorite Video Clips
Song List Live Tour 2006 - Toronto
Live Tour 2006 - Buffalo, Pics, More Pics
Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

More After the Jump...

SYTYCD Canada - Who To Vote Four?

So You Think You Can Dance Canada - Final 4 Performance Night - Ep. 222
Judges: Jean-Marc Généreux, Tré Armstrong, Blake McGrath, Luther Brown

Top 4. A strong group too. Maybe one of the strongest. I would switch out Everett for Austin but Everett has got some PERSONALITY and I still love him.

But seriously, after this performance night, I'm still torn between who should win, who will win, and it almost makes me mad that Tara-Jean, Vincent and Jamie Rae all won't win, since each are deserving of the title.

Alas, we will have to wait until Sunday's (9pm EST) 2 hour finale (with what might be the last Mia Michael's choreographed routine for this show, plus Kenny Ortega will be back as well), but as you can see below, it was an AMAZING final performance night that didn't really help make any clear choice since EVERYONE upped their game.


Top 4 Group Dance - Everett, Jayme Rae, Tara-Jean, Vincent
Style: Theatre Cabaret
Choreographed by: Tony Meredith & Melanie LaPatin
Song: "Theme for Gypsy (Shivas Regal)" - Sonny Lester and His Orchestra
Grade: B+

That was fun and quite different from what we're used to from Tony and Melanie! Though what was with the half naked men in the background playing coatcheck?

Okay, so the judges favoured the girls here more than the guys but maybe my own biases prevail but I found myself watching Tara-jean and Vincent's side more, and then Vincent and Jayme Rae more when they switched up, which is to say, basically, I thought the girls and Vincent did great, but Everett, while I adore him, was slightly lacking.

On the other hand, TJ and Vincent have a slightly unfair advantage since they've just worked together for the last 2 weeks, while Jayme Rae and Everett haven't. And when Everett was back with TJ, it showed that TJ has really grown since the first few weeks and now seemed to carry the weight.

Here's the video of the Top 4 Group Dance:



Everett SmithEverett Smith
&
Vincent Desjardins
Style: Atlanta Hip-Hop
Choreographed by: Sho-Tyme
Song: "B.O.B." - Outkast
Grade: B

Okay, usually I think Vincent has been the best Hip-Hopper this season (outside of the Hip-Hoppers) but I think Everett did a better job here. Loved the shoe swap with one red and one white. Cute!

Still, love these two and I think that was such a fast Hip-Hop and they did a great job for such a fast style. As Tre says, Everett's stamina stayed strong but either way, these two seemed to have a nice chemistry together.

Here's the video of Everett and Vincent's Hip-Hop:



Tara-Jean Popowich
&
Everett Smith
Style: Jazz
Choreographed by: Sean Cheesman
Song: "Say (All I Need)" - OneRepublic
Grade: A-

Okay, that wind was a bit cheesy. I was loving it up until that point.
Luckily then there was the toe thrust and we were back in the game. That was really cool!

Here's a perfect marriage of song and dance and with TJ selling it, and Everett's natural charms, it ended up being a beautiful piece (minus that slightly wind cheese moment). I think TJ still showed stronger skills, and Everett still has some awkward, less smooth moments, but on the other hand, remembering that he's a tap dancer, he's done a tremendous job growing into this style.

Here's the video of TJ and Everett's Jazz:



Jayme Rae Dailey
&
Tara-Jean Popowich
Style: Mambo
Choreographed by: Tony Meredith & Melanie LaPatin
Song: "Ran Kan Kan" - Tito Puente
Grade: A

Was I the only one thinking about Betty and Veronica?

So shaky shaky and so dazzling! And those heels! Seriously. These two girls are amazing. They would have kicked ass in any other season and already won the damn thing. It's kind of sad that no matter what, at least one of these two WON'T win.

Here's the video of Jayme Rae and Tara-Jean's Mambo:



Jayme Rae Dailey
&
Vincent Desjardins
Style: Contemporary
Choreographed by: Stacey Tookey
Song: "Can't Stop Thinking 'Bour You" - Martin Sexton
Grade: A+

WOW. HOLY. WOW. AMAZING. WOW. HOLY COW. WOW.

Jayme Rae. WOW.

Vincent. WOW.

It's hard to believe that Vincent is a ballroom dancer and not a contemporary dancer after seeing that. He's SOOO versatile and has been all season, but watching him do Stacey Tookie's choreography was just heaven. Pure heaven!

And if there was any doubt about Jayme Rae, um, WHY WOULD YOU HAVE ANY DOUBT? She's fricken AWESOME.

Why can't BOTH of them win? Seriously?

Here's the video of Jayme Rae and Vincent's Contemporary:



Tara-Jean Popowich
&
Vincent Desjardins
Style: Hustle
Choreographed by: Maria Torres
Song: "Last Dance" - Donna Summer
Grade: A+

That was supposed to be cheese. But it SOOO wasn't. It was so classy, smooth, controlled, swaggered, elegant and just plain AMAZING TOO.

Vincent just had that edge and manly swagger to pull it off, and Tara-Jean just sparkled and swung around like a disco ball.

My heart is actually beating hard after watching that. WOW!

Here's the video of TJ and Vincent's Hustle:



Jayme Rae Dailey
&
Everett Smith
Style: Samba
Choreographed by: Eric Caty and Kelly Lannan
Song: "Run the Show" - Kat DeLuna
Grade: A-

Okay, Everett still struggles just a bit with the lifts but his leg work is great and his smiling face always saves whatever flaws he may have. That being said, I couldn't take my eyes off Jayme Rae and her red frilly dress. By the second half, I barely noticed Everett was even there.

Here's the video of Jayme Rae and Everett's Samba:



The Solos

Everett Smith
Song: "Style" - Cameo
Grade: A-
I still love Everett's solos and forget what a great tapper he is. His showmanship is still through the roof and his smile and positive aura are always welcoming.


Jayme Rae Dailey
Song: "Radiaciones Arrabaleras" - Bailongo
Grade: A+
I've mentioned this before but I had been disappointed by JR's solos through the season only cause I KNEW she could do so much more, but every week, they got better and better as she figured out how to perfect them. Well, NICE TIMING because that was not just HER best solo, but an AMAZING solo period, and just in time for the final performance night!


Vincent Desjardins
Song: "Land of 1000 Dances" - Wilson Pickett
Grade: A+
No guy has done ballroom solos like Vincent. SO FAST. SO Much ENERGY. He's like a Ballroom Rock and Roll star. As much as I loved Pasha and Dmitry and Francis, Vincent has always managed to make his ballroom solos look edgy and modern.


Tara-Jean Popowich
Song: "Bleeding Love" - Boyce Avenue
Grade: A
Still such the sparkplug. I think TJ's had the biggest growth and really got great during the Top 10, and her solo's have been fabulous in the second half.

Here's the videos of the solos:


- - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Final Roundup:

Best of the Night: Jayme Rae and Vincent's Contemporary
Second Best of the Night: Tara-Jean and Vincent's Hustle
Third Best of the Night: Jayme Rae and Tara-Jean's Mambo

Um, I just realized that leaves JR, TJ and Vincent tied with 2 dances apiece. What a way to help decide.

Best Male of the Night - Overall: Vincent Desjardins
Best Female of the Night - Overall: Jayme Rae Dailey

Predictions:
Should Be: (#position from last week in parenthesis):
Fourth: Everett (4)
Third: Tara-Jean (2)
Second: Jayme Rae (3)
First: Vincent (1)

Will Be:
Fourth: Everett
Third: Jayme Rae
Second: Vincent
First: Tara-Jean

Though I think it's going to be really close. And I think anyone can really take this. And if Jayme Rae, Vincent or Tara-Jean wins this, I'll be happy. (And even Everett winning won't give me a fit). Seriously, we can't award a three-way tie for 1st place?


- - - - - - - - - - - - -
For More So You Think You Can Dance:
Check here for the most Recent current postings and Latest News on SYTYCD

So You Think You Can Dance Canada - Season 2 with So You Think You Can Dance Season 6 Auditions:
Top 6 Performances, Top 6 Results & US Vegas Week Auditions Continued
Top 8 Performances, Top 8 Results & US Salt Lake City and Vegas Week 1 Auditions
Top 10 Performances, Top 10 Results & US New Orleans and Atlanta Auditions
Top 12 Performances, Top 12 Results & US Boston Auditions
Top 14 Performances, Top 14 Results & US Phoenix Auditions
Top 16 Performances, Top 16 Results & US Los Angeles Auditions
Top 18 Performance, Top 18 Results and SYTYCD Top 15 Dances of all time
Top 20 Performance, Top 20 Results
Top 20 Announced
Auditions - Toronto, Vancouver, Saint John
Montréal, Edmonton

My Top 25 Routines from SYTYCD Season 1-5

So You Think You Can Dance - Season 5:
Finale
Top 4 Performance
Top 6 Performance, Top 6 Results
Top 8 Performance, Top 8 Results and Panel Chat
Top 10 Performance, Top 10 Results and Panel Chat
Top 12 Performance, Top 12 Results and Panel Chat
Top 14 Performance, Top 14 Results, Top 14 Panel Chat
Top 16 Performance, Top 16 Results and Panel Chat
Top 18 Performance, Top 18 Results and Panel Chat
Top 20 Performance, Top 20 Results and Panel Chat
Auditions - Vegas Week Part 2 - Top 20 Announcement, Top 20 Pictures/Panel Chat
Vegas Week Part 1
New York City, Denver, Miami, Memphis, LA, Seattle

So You Think You Can Dance Canada:
Finale
Top 8 and 6 Performances and Results, Top 4 Performances
Top 10 Performances, Results 10 to 8
Top 12 Performances, Results 12 to 10
Top 14 Performances, Results 14 to 12
Top 16 Performances, Results 16 to 14
Top 18 Performances, Results 18 to 16
Top 20 Performances and Results
Introducing Canada's Top 20
Auditions:
Toronto Week - The Cut to the Top 20
Vancouver, Halifax, Calgary, Montreal - West, East, Middle and Quebec
Toronto - Toronto's Best Foot Forward
The Judges, The Host, The Teaser, All Photos from CTV

So You Think You Can Dance - Season 4:
Finale
Top 4 Performances
Top 6 Performances and Results 6 to 4
Top 8 Performances, Results 8 to 6
Top 10 Performances, Results 10 to 8
Top 16, 14 and 12 Weeks Recaps by Vance again
Top 12 Performances, Results 12 to 10 - Guest Blogger Linz McC
Top 14 Performances, Results 14 to 12 - Guest Blogger Linz McC
Top 16 Performances, Results 16 to 14 - Guest Blogger Linz McC
Top 18 Performances, Results 18 to 16
Top 20 Performances, Results 20 to 18
Introducing the Top 20
Auditions:
Callbacks in Las Vegas - The Top 20 Revealed - What Happens In Vegas
Milwaukee, WI - How The Midwest Was Won
Charleston, South Carolina and Washington D.C. - S.C.D.C. The New Electric (Boogaloo) Term!
Salt Lake City and Dallas - Yeehaw Utah!
Los Angeles - It's Time To Put On Those Dancing Shoes Again Kids!

So You Think You Can Dance - Season 3:
Live Tour - Toronto, Pasha's Solo Video, Neil's Solo Video
Finale - Winner Result
Top 4 Performances - Finals
Top 6 Performances, Top 6 Results
Top 8 Performances, Top 8 Results
Top 10 Performances, Top 10 Results
Top 12 Performances, Top 12 Results
Top 14 Performances, Top 14 Results
Top 16 Performances, Top 16 Results
Top 18 Performances, Top 18 Results
Top 20 Performances, Top 20 Results

For So You Think You Can Dance Season 2:
Favorite Video Clips
Song List Live Tour 2006 - Toronto
Live Tour 2006 - Buffalo, Pics, More Pics
Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

More After the Jump...

Two Opposing Sides - The Boys in the Photograph & Memphis - Musical Reviews

The Boys in the Photograph - Royal Alexandra Theatre - Toronto, ON - ** (out of 5 stars)
Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Book, Lyrics and Direction by Ben Elton, Choreographed by Tracey Flye
Runs until Nov. 1st 2009

Memphis - Shubert Theatre- Broadway - New York, NY - ***1/2 (out of 5 stars)
Music and Lyrics by David Bryan, Book and Lyrics by Joe DiPietro, Directed by Christopher Ashley, Choreographed by Sergio Trujillo
Opened Oct. 19th 2009

Two new cliched musicals that feel like retreads of things we've seen before. Both by composers who were big in the 80's and early 90's. Both are love stories set upon a backdrop of real life historical tensions and conflicts of warring groups of people. Yet while each are thin on true darkness despite the dramatic subject matter, one still ends up becoming a complete bore, while the other turns out surprisingly entertaining.

Andrew Lloyd Webber's "new" musical The Boys in the Photograph finally made it to Toronto after its initial Winnipeg trial, but it is a reworked version of The Beautiful Game which ran in London for a year or so. The musical follows a local football (soccer) team and what happens to some of its players during the years when the IRA began forming and warring against Britain and London. While some players become radical terrorists, others try to stay true to the beautiful game and make it as a football star, but alas, old relationships collide and things get bloody. Throw in a central love story, friendships, betrayals, and some fancy dancing footwork made to look like soccer playing, and the musical should have had some strong themes to run with.

Sadly, despite a game Canadian cast let by Erika Peck (We Will Rock You) and Tony LePage, the musical gets bogged down by a lack of direction and even worse, a lack of an actual book. The big showy musical elements appear in the first act, but nothing happens in the plot. When finally things actually start happening in the 2nd act, when tensions rise, friendships are broken and actual conflict happens, the musical is so blandly staged and sung that it's too late to save the show.

I mostly blame Director and Writer Ben Elton here for a totally imbalanced book that takes way too long to set things up in the first act, then rushing through the interesting drama in the second act and never allowing the issues and conflict to truly deepen and ripen for any true emotional impact. By the time things get tense, badly photoshopped photos are projected on the set almost to comical effect, not exactly the outcome they were probably going for in a musical about IRA radicals and those that stood up against them.

Andrew Lloyd Webber's music was surprisingly subdued for ALW and seemed less bombastic than his normal stuff. Things still got sort of monotonous when the main melodic themed seemed like the only thing to run repeatedly throughout the show, but the song "The Beautiful Game" was actually a pleasant sequence, despite the stand still direction.

Ben Elton doesn't help the numerous tepid solo or duo ballad's by staging them with little to no action, with almost every song sung by a character standing perfectly still. Only Tracey Flye's somewhat clever choreography created any interest on the stage, despite not jarring with anything Elton decided to put on stage.

Alas, while I admire the issues Elton and Webber were trying to portray on stage, and as hard as the cast tried to make it interesting (with so much great talent feeling wasted on stage), the end result is a warmed over musical with shades of West Side Story meets Riverdance that requires a far more skillful team to deal with such serious issues. (I would have loved to see what Jason Robert Brown or Michael LaChiusa could do with this).


On the other hand, Bon Jovi's David Bryan and his musical collaborator Joe DiPietro, who last created the very ridiculously silly The Toxic Avenger Musical (my review here), seemed like the last people that could deal with an interracial love story set in Memphis in the 1950's. And to be honest, they aren't, as the musical never really gets deep enough for any real issues. On the other hand, the glossy musical built as a crowd pleaser is so entertaining and winning, that despite the cliches and retread, I found myself thoroughly enjoying the new musical.

And yes, it is actually a brand new musical, with brand new songs and not cobbled together from existing songs! But with David Bryan's catchy music that sounds Top-40 familiar (if slightly forgettable), and a story that feels familiar (from many movies or musicals or cliches), there's a comfort level to the show that allows the general public to sit back and enjoy the terrific singing and terrific dancing with enough of a hint of racial tension and serious drama unfolding behind the central love story (though sometimes it does resemble South Side Story meets Hairspray meets Dreamgirls) to feel weighty enough.


The show isn't going to win any awards or further the musical theatre canon but it's a solidly entertaining show with a lot of credit to its director Christopher Ashley (Xanadu) and choreographer Sergio Trujillo (Guys and Dolls, Jersey Boys) for putting on a old-style crowd pleaser with tons of dancing incorporated back into the musical. The audience was eating it up, and I had to say, I was right along with them.

Memphis follows a local white DJ wannabe who hears the sound of a beautiful black singer, and woos her both in love and with the prospect of a singing career, each using each other to further their career while they fall in love despite their differing races in a city and time still not accustomed to blacks and whites co-existing together.

Chad Kimball plays Huey Calhoun, the white DJ, and Montego Glover (above) plays Felicia Farrell, the phenomenal crooner and while I'm not sure Kimball and Farrell's chemistry together fully works (though that partly may be on purpose for the story), individually, each easily commands the stage. Glover has a remarkable voice and one that is believable in the central star-to-be-born story and her energy and elegance is clearly palpable.

Chad Kimball, sporting an odd mannered Southern accent (that could be annoying but didn't really bother me actually), charms his way through the show with his boyish youthfulness and spunk, and brings out a mature soulfulness in his singing.

A large cast nicely surrounds the two great leads, with a great James Monroe Iglehart (one of the best things from last summer's tepid The Wiz) and a slightly caricature Cass Morgan (below with Baskin , Iglehard and Calloway).

Though if Derrick Baskin, J. Bernard Calloway or Michael McGrath all seem a little two-dimensional, that's due to the lightweight script that glosses over the darker sides of the ugly race wars in 50's Memphis. This in the end is a happy joyous musical so there's no time to dwell on the beatings and the truly ugly. If recent musicals (like Spring Awakening, Next to Normal, Grey' Gardens) have furthered the future of musical theatre, then Memphis is an unabashedly feelgood throwback to the glossy Hollywood shows that makes you feel good. The conflicts may resolve a bit too easily and things seem to almost work out in the end, but with hugely talented and likable leads and some pleasing tunes, Memphis glides by on that southern charm.

While the show is not as strong as Jersey Boys or even Mamma Mia, Memphis seems to be gunning for the same suburban 40+ demographics and they're gonna love it. The Theatre queens are gonna hate it, but I think this may last longer than some are predicting. In the end, I gotta say, I liked it. Way more than I anticipated. With some editing (especially in act 2) and reworking of the book, the show could definitely succeed based on the charm currently shown.

Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

More After the Jump...

The TV Blog Coalition - I Got Nothing

Here's what the other TV bloggers were talking about this week:

Scooter takes a look at the new season of Nip/Tuck now with 100% more mimes. (Scooter McGavin's 9th Green)

Vance loved what may have been Mia Michael's last choreography for SYTYCD on So You Think You Can Dance Canada's Top 6. (Tapeworthy)

When did Parks and Recreation and Dollhouse get good? Jesse examines the evolution. (TiFaux)

This week, we offered up some valuable lessons ABC, CBS, NBC and the CW can learn from the success of GLEE. (The TV Addict)

Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

More After the Jump...

The ABC's of Colliding Stars

How come I've never seen these before? They're quite ingenious and fun! This first one with Teri Hatcher's Susan and Matthew Fox's Jack is awesome!:



Man, this just makes me love ABC even more. Despite Dancing with the Stars. But with Desperate Housewives, Lost, Brothers & Sisters, Ugly Betty, Modern Family, Cougar Town, FlashForward etc. they're definitely my favorite network at this point.

And I love when stars collide! AND in character! So fun!

I love this one with Patrick Dempsey, Courtney Cox, Ed O'Neill and Dominic Monaghan!:



Or this amazing one with Michael Emerson's Ben Linus with the new Wednesday comedy lineup with Courtney Cox, Patricia Heaton, Julie Bowen, Kelsey Grammar, Ty Burrell, and Sofia Vergara:


Here's one with several clipped together:
ABC house promo with Expanded scenes with: Michael Emerson, Josh Holloway, Courteney Cox, Kelsey Grammer, Patricia Heaton, Taye Diggs, Nathan Fillion, Marcia Cross, Felicity Hoffman, Calista Flockhart:






Bree and McSteamy:


Hurley with Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli:


Nora and The Bachelorette:


Amanda, McSteamy and Hurley!:


Nora and Jimmy Kimmel:


Supernanny and the balls from Wipeout:


Rob Lowe and Ty Pennington:


Dana Delaney with Karina Smirnoff and Derek Hough:


Nathan Fillion, Patricia Heaton and the other chick from Castle:


Courtney Cox with Josh Holloway's Sawyer:



Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

More After the Jump...

OH! GO! - OVO - Cirque Du Soleil Review

Cirque Du Soleil's OVO - Le Grand Chapiteau - The Port Lands - Toronto, ON - ****1/2
Written, Choreographed and Directed by Deborah Colker
Runs in Toronto until Nov. 8th 2009. Tour continues to San Francisco, San Jose, Philadelphia, New York City, etc.

OVO is the latest new offering by the Cirque Du Soleil folks (at least it will be before the new show Banana Schpeel opens in Chicago in November. Man they are just cranking out these shows now aren't they?) but while OVO joins the numerous touring shows under the famous Blue and Yellow Grand Chapiteau (Big Tent), it is the first Cirque show ever to be directed by a woman AND a dance choreographer.

And it shows! And (OV)OH what a SHOW!

OVO (Graphically looking like the eyes and antennas of a bug, and meaning Egg) is probably the most literal Cirque show I've seen, and probably has the most easily understood narrative. Instead of the usual artsy allegorical "story", OVO simply delves into the world of bugs as one insect loses an Egg and tries to recapture it back (Think A Bug's Life but live).

In the meantime, Grasshoppers bounce around the tent and off the walls, Ants toss corn and kiwi slices around on their feet. A spider contorts her body in the midst of a web, and Crickets fly around on the highwires. It's the usual array of Cirque circus acts and as always, they look simple at first, then mesmerizing once comprehension sinks in. You know the world is still going to be okay when cynicism disappears and you hear the collective audience respond with "oohs" and "aaahs" and audible gasps.

As with recent Cirque touring shows (like Koozå), Cirque is bringing their shows back to basics and back to its circus roots, before they went gimmicky and all Vegas glitz, so the basic circus acts at the core of OVO are pretty plain and simple (and not totally original if you've already seen other Cirque shows or even a Chinese acrobatic act). There's the contortionist, the acrobatics, the wire walker, the trampoline tumblers.

Director/Choreographer Colker takes all these basic circus elements and culls them into a beautifully flowing show through better transitioning elements that use dance and choreography to blend all the acts into one long show (Cirque is famous for this blend already but this show flows better than ever). Colker has the different acts interact not just in the transitions but have others on the sidelines watching the focus central act, and in some portions, have different acts return and mix in their acts together. It simply creates a dazzling nonstop shows. The best Cirque du Soleil show I have seen yet.

As usual, the costumes are simply dazzling, this time evoking the array of insects. The grasshoppers are particularly impressive. Meanwhile, the set, and the set changes are so inventive and clever and change so smoothly from one scene to another that by the end of the show, the backwall (an area rarely used as a central focus in the Grand Chapiteau shows) seemed to come out of nowhere (even though it had been looming over the set the whole time). The grasshoppers hop around in the final spectacular sequence with trampolines that appear out of the ground, while Ants crawl across the back wall.

Once again, Cirque nicely balances the show between theatrical entertainment (with the usual original musical scores and live singers), circus tricks at its core, the traditional circus clowns disguised this time as the head insect, the fool who loses the egg, and a lady bug lover who manages to tie the show together. From giant flower set pieces to the initial giant egg seen upon the stage as the audience enters the tent, OVO creates a luscious awe inspiring experience that manages to fully envelope the Cirque mantra at its best.

Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

More After the Jump...

SYTYCD Canada & SYTYCD - All That's Glitter

So You Think You Can Dance Canada - Top 6 Results Night - The Cut from 6 to 4 - Ep. 221
Judges: Jean-Marc Généreux, Tré Armstrong, Rex Harrington, Mary Murphy

So You Think You Can Dance - Auditions - Vegas Week 2 - Ep. 608
Judges in Vegas Week: Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy, Adam Shankman, Debbie Allen, Tyce DiOrio, Mia Michaels

First off, there's news that Mia Michaels (from her tweets (official?)) is leaving SYTYCD. Is it cause she just choreographed our Top 3 girls, who she claims are the best final girls ever? Going out on a high maybe? Just saying!

Oh yah, and to no big surprise, Season 3 of So You Think You Can Dance Canada was confirmed on the show tonight. Let's just hope FOX doesn't screw over CTV again and give some space for it to actually happen. (Is it going to move to the summer now, at least if FOX keeps it on the fall?)

Top 6 Group Dance
Style: Disco
Choreographed by: Tré Armstrong
Song: "Turn the Beat Around" - Vicki Sue Robinson

Fun to have a group disco but to be honest, I didn't love the choreography. Why didn't they get Melissa Williams? She's the only one to consistently do great Disco.

I did love the moments when all six danced together, but when they split back into the partners, it lacked something (though part of it might be the camerawork). On the other hand, the most fun part was seeing the two boys Everett and Vincent in their little paired spotlight.

Also, I was really digging Vincent in his pimp suit. HAWT! And I thought the girls looked great (though for a while, I thought Mel was JR and JR was Mel, thought that's just a testament to how good those two are).

My Predictions From The Top 6 Performances:
Bottom Four: Jayme Rae, Melanie, Everett, Emanuel
Should Go Home: Emanuel (Can't we just have a Top 5?)
Going Home: Emanuel and Melanie

But as always, before I get to the results, here's some quick notes on So You Think You Can Dance's continuing auditions in Vegas week:

Jazz round with choreographer Laurie Ann Gibson and she's SCARY.

Willem de Vries (the gay dance partnered dude) is cut along with tons of others.

The dancers that make it through now go through the group self-choreography round which is always a difficult portion for the dancers. And consdieing how so many this year seemed to actually be really good? Why couldn't they show ALL of them? Other than Russell (with Jakob Karr!) and Molly's group?

Then they move on quickly to Mia Michael's contemporary round.

Tyrone and Russell, the hip-hoppers kill Mia's routine! It makes me smile. But again, I wish I could actually see more of the dancing. Especially considering they're already stretching out the Vegas week into several episodes, you'd think they'd have time to stretch this out with actual dancing.

Then Tyce gets to do his Broadway round.

Bianca Revels is still in it (the tap dancer) and I think she'll make it to the Top 20 this time around.

Ryan Di Lello (the hot married dude) has apparently stayed strong throughout the rounds (and makes it easily through Broadway), but his wife Ashley was having more trouble, but luckily she does a spectacular job with Broadway and apparently has grown the most. Will there be a husband and wife in the Top 20?

I'd also like to point out something this year that might be controversial. For the first time, all the black men that they've spotlighted seem delightful and don't seem to have that cocky confidence that has plagued previous seasons.

Billy Bell does his solo and makes Adam cry. If his solo wasn't so amazing, I would roll my eyes but instead, I could see why Adam reacted that way.

Sadly, they do a montage of everyone else's solos. And the end... for now. Til next week at least.


So... back to So You Think You Can Dance Canada And let's be honest. Vincent better be safe, while it's gonna hurt for any girl cut.

And the bottom 4 dancers were:
Well, actually, they didn't announce the bottom 4, and had everyone dance another solo. All of them are amazing but I must say, Tara-Jean went ALL OUT and is now gunning to win this thing.


No matter what girl gets cut, it was going to hurt. While Jayme Rae and Melanie started off strong in the competition, Tara-Jean has sort of come out of nowhere and propelled herself into the top spots just at the right time. I feel bad for Mel and JR almost for getting overshadowed by TJ's better "story arch" especially because JR and Melanie are amazing dancers, but it's sort of what has happened.

So alas, Melanie Mah, my hometown girl AND the farthest any Asian has gotten (at least in the US and Canada versions), gets cut. (UPDATE: OH crap. I totally forgot about Katee (I guess a halfy) and Mark. Nevermind. I'm a retard)

And for the first time ever, Emanuel Sandhu isn't just in the bottom, he's out of the competition. And the other Asian is cut.

Which means the ethnics are out in one fell swoop.

However, it leaves one of the strongest Top 4's we've seen, with no real loser amongst the bunch!

Vincent! Tara-Jean! Jayme Rae! And Everett!

A ballroom guy AND a Tapper in the finals! You gotta admit, Canada seems to have a more eclectic mix in the finals (Last year we had a ballerina and b-boy).

See you at the finals!

- - - - - - - - - - - - -
For More So You Think You Can Dance:
Check here for the most Recent current postings and Latest News on SYTYCD

So You Think You Can Dance Canada - Season 2 with So You Think You Can Dance Season 6 Auditions:
Top 6 Performances
Top 8 Performances, Top 8 Results & US Salt Lake City and Vegas Week 1 Auditions
Top 10 Performances, Top 10 Results & US New Orleans and Atlanta Auditions
Top 12 Performances, Top 12 Results & US Boston Auditions
Top 14 Performances, Top 14 Results & US Phoenix Auditions
Top 16 Performances, Top 16 Results & US Los Angeles Auditions
Top 18 Performance, Top 18 Results and SYTYCD Top 15 Dances of all time
Top 20 Performance, Top 20 Results
Top 20 Announced
Auditions - Toronto, Vancouver, Saint John
Montréal, Edmonton

My Top 25 Routines from SYTYCD Season 1-5

So You Think You Can Dance - Season 5:
Finale
Top 4 Performance
Top 6 Performance, Top 6 Results
Top 8 Performance, Top 8 Results and Panel Chat
Top 10 Performance, Top 10 Results and Panel Chat
Top 12 Performance, Top 12 Results and Panel Chat
Top 14 Performance, Top 14 Results, Top 14 Panel Chat
Top 16 Performance, Top 16 Results and Panel Chat
Top 18 Performance, Top 18 Results and Panel Chat
Top 20 Performance, Top 20 Results and Panel Chat
Auditions - Vegas Week Part 2 - Top 20 Announcement, Top 20 Pictures/Panel Chat
Vegas Week Part 1
New York City, Denver, Miami, Memphis, LA, Seattle

So You Think You Can Dance Canada:
Finale
Top 8 and 6 Performances and Results, Top 4 Performances
Top 10 Performances, Results 10 to 8
Top 12 Performances, Results 12 to 10
Top 14 Performances, Results 14 to 12
Top 16 Performances, Results 16 to 14
Top 18 Performances, Results 18 to 16
Top 20 Performances and Results
Introducing Canada's Top 20
Auditions:
Toronto Week - The Cut to the Top 20
Vancouver, Halifax, Calgary, Montreal - West, East, Middle and Quebec
Toronto - Toronto's Best Foot Forward
The Judges, The Host, The Teaser, All Photos from CTV

So You Think You Can Dance - Season 4:
Finale
Top 4 Performances
Top 6 Performances and Results 6 to 4
Top 8 Performances, Results 8 to 6
Top 10 Performances, Results 10 to 8
Top 16, 14 and 12 Weeks Recaps by Vance again
Top 12 Performances, Results 12 to 10 - Guest Blogger Linz McC
Top 14 Performances, Results 14 to 12 - Guest Blogger Linz McC
Top 16 Performances, Results 16 to 14 - Guest Blogger Linz McC
Top 18 Performances, Results 18 to 16
Top 20 Performances, Results 20 to 18
Introducing the Top 20
Auditions:
Callbacks in Las Vegas - The Top 20 Revealed - What Happens In Vegas
Milwaukee, WI - How The Midwest Was Won
Charleston, South Carolina and Washington D.C. - S.C.D.C. The New Electric (Boogaloo) Term!
Salt Lake City and Dallas - Yeehaw Utah!
Los Angeles - It's Time To Put On Those Dancing Shoes Again Kids!

So You Think You Can Dance - Season 3:
Live Tour - Toronto, Pasha's Solo Video, Neil's Solo Video
Finale - Winner Result
Top 4 Performances - Finals
Top 6 Performances, Top 6 Results
Top 8 Performances, Top 8 Results
Top 10 Performances, Top 10 Results
Top 12 Performances, Top 12 Results
Top 14 Performances, Top 14 Results
Top 16 Performances, Top 16 Results
Top 18 Performances, Top 18 Results
Top 20 Performances, Top 20 Results

For So You Think You Can Dance Season 2:
Favorite Video Clips
Song List Live Tour 2006 - Toronto
Live Tour 2006 - Buffalo, Pics, More Pics
Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

More After the Jump...

Free Food!

I love me some Top Chef but since I live in Canada, we're a few weeks behind on the new Las Vegas season. Meanwhile I spent this past summer also catching up with Top Chef Masters but alas, I missed Padma.

Now, in the past week, I found a few friends still seemed confused by the idea of Top Chef and thought Gordon Ramsay screams on the show. HE DOES NOT. It has NOTHING to do with Ramsay or Iron Chef. IT'S a CLASSY VERSION of a cooking show contest where top chefs (hence the name) compete in challenges for some of the best world renowned chef's to judge. The fact that the series has shown itself to be classy and legit over the seasons has only made the competition better with better competitors and better judges. It's totally yummy and addictive!

Just check out Top Chef Season 5: New York which will be released on DVD on Tuesday, Oct. 20th 2009. You can pre-order it here. Oh, with Stefan! Hosea! Carla Hoodeehoo! Jeff! Leah! Fabio! Jamie! And So many more! Now I've already seen the whole season but the DVD contains "never-before-aired Stew Room footage, extended interviews, cooking demonstrations and much more — TOP CHEF: NEW YORK will satisfy the appetite of any fan, foodie or cook." Man, it's amazing how right and wrong I was about the chefs before the show aired.

A&E Home Entertainment is letting me give away a Top Chef Season 5: New York DVD Prize Pack!!!

To enter, just tell me what Guest Judge also appeared as a contestant on Top Chef Masters (any one Chef will do)?
Email your answer and info (address) to tapeworthycontest at gmail dot com.

Deadline for entries is Tuesday, Oct. 20th 2009 at 11:59 E.S.T.
If there are more than one correct entries, a random draw will be made to determine the winner. Only winner will be contacted. Contest is only open to US and Canadian residents.

Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

More After the Jump...

SYTYCD Canada - Sixy Time

So You Think You Can Dance Canada - Top 6 Performance Night - Ep. 220
Judges: Jean-Marc Généreux, Tré Armstrong, Rex Harrington, Mary Murphy

Has Mary gotten louder? Is that even possible?

Top 6. Final performance before the finals. Last chance to make the final cut. I definitely have my male fave but it's a harder decision between the remaining girls.

Tara-Jean Popowich
&
Vincent Desjardins
Dance #1
Style: Salsa
Choreographed by: Gustavo Vargas
Song: "Vengo Caliente" - Sonora Carruseles
Grade: A-

Arguably (or maybe not even necessary) the two best dancers together again for a second week in a row. Unfair advantage? TJ and Vincent usually don't disappoint though maybe we expect SOOO much from them, and they're SOOO perfect technically now, that I was almost bored by the perfection of this dance.

I should have loved it more than I did, even though there's nothing I can really pick apart here and I love both these two dancers.

Here's the video of Tara-Jean and Vincent's Salsa:



Melanie Mah
&
Everett Smith
Dance #1
Style: Jazz Rock
Choreographed by: Melissa Williams
Song: "Burn It to the Ground" - Nickelback
Grade B-

Mary loved it but I thought it looked a little messy. Or actually, it started off well but then got a little messier when Everett made a shaky lift and a couple steps were out of sync. From then it never seemed like they recovered to their initial energies and confidence and they used the personality to cover the flaws.

Here's the video of Melanie and Everett's Jazz Rock:



Jayme Rae Dailey
&
Emanuel Sandhu
Dance #1
Style: Quickstep
Choreographed by: Pierre Allaire
Song: "Let's Go" - Hipjoint ft. Sherry St. Germain
Grade: B

Okay I'm gay and I'm okay with the fey, but was it me or did Jayme Rae seem more manly here? I thought Jayme Rae totally brought it and seemed like she was trying to connect and reign in Emanuel in before he flew off into the rainbow.

Emanuel is good, but he STILL has the scrunchy face and yet again, he relies on his triple axle skating what not to save his dance.

Here's the video of Jayme Rae and Emanuel's Quickstep:



Top 3 Girls Group Dance - Jayme Rae, Melanie, Tara-Jean
Style: Contemporary
Choreographed by: Mia Michaels
Song: "Concerto for 2 Violins in D Minor, Strings and Continuo in D Minor, BWV 1043: II, Largo ma non tanto" - J.S. Bach - The Scottish Ensemble/Jonathan Rees
Grade: A

Even though there were some resemblance of Mary's Girls piece she did for S5, it seemed almost very unMia like. Almost Shakespearean. The girls did an AMAZING job there to make me forget what I was watching and while I wasn't loving it at first, by the end, I was totally won over and like Mary mentioned, it was hard to separate the three girls even though this would be a perfect way to pick one girl off.

Here's the video of the Girls Group Dance:



Top 3 Guys Group Dance - Cody, Emanuel, Everett, Vincent
Style: Suave -Funk
Choreographed by: Gustavo Vargas
Song: "Get Up Offa That Thing" - James Brown
Grade: B+

Okay, so Vincent is my favorite guy, but while I like Everett more, I was thinking Emanuel might be a better technical dancer, but watching the three boys dance together showed a LOT.

And it showed that Everett is one funky and fun dude and was so playful in a youthful sly cool way and as Mary said, stole the show. Vincent proved he's the man of the group and always had that sexiness DOWN. Emanuel seemed kind of awkward trying to keep up which JM totally pointed out.

Here's the video of the Guys Group Dance:



Tara-Jean Popowich
&
Vincent Desjardins
Dance #2
Style: Contemporary
Choreographed by: Stacey Tookey
Song: "It Doesn't Hurt (Studio Version)" - Katie Thompson
Grade: A

Can't we just see these two dance together forever? That would be great! My life would be complete!

That is all.

Here's the video of Tara-Jean and Vincent's Contemporary:



Melanie Mah
&
Everett Smith
Dance #2
Style: Hip-Hop
Choreographed by: Luther Brown
Song: "That's Right" - Ciara
Grade B

I thought Everett looked SEXY in that wifebeater and I thought Mel and Everett got really groovy into it but like Rex, I was hoping they hit it just a bit harder. When Mel jumped on Everett, I thought they lost a bit of momentum and energy there and seemed slightly tired after that (but 4 dances late, who can blame them?). Mel looked a bit more tired and I thought Everett totally got his funk on.

Here's the video of Melanie and Everett's Hip-Hop:



Jayme Rae Dailey
&
Emanuel Sandhu
Dance #2
Style: Jazz-Funk
Choreographed by: Blake McGrath
Song: "I Gotta Feeling" - Black Eyed Peas
Grade: B+

Okay, I know Jayme Rae's costume was a bright red thing while Emanuel had a dark black/maroon outfit that blended into the background but really... was Emanuel even there?

All I saw was Jayme Rae and some dude who worked the props for her.

Here's the video of Jayme Rae and Emanuel's Jazz-Funk:



The Solos

Jayme Rae Dailey
Song: "As Much As I Ever Could" - City and Colour
Grade: A
FINALLY. The Solo I've been waiting for from Jayme Rae. I knew she had it in her, now I've finally seen it. Maybe it was the smart choice of song (LOVE City and Colour, despite his choice of a wife) and I thought Jayme Rae threw all her passion into that solo dance and just WENT FOR IT without any reservation or hesitation. Nicely done girl!


Tara-Jean Popowich
Song: "Fever" - Michael Bublé
Grade: A-
Much better than last week! Thank goodness! I still felt there was a moment of ungracefulness where she seemed to not know how to transition from one segment to another but overall it was great and spicy!


Melanie Mah
Song: "The District Sleeps Alone Tonight" - The Postal Service
Grade: B+
The first half seemed a little heavy and not as graceful as Melanie usually is, but then she won me over in that second half quirkiness.


Everett Smith
Song: "Shake Your Pants" - Cameo
Grade: A-
You gotta love Everett's sense of humour and sense of showmanship! Totally entertaining and those continuous tapping on the toes is impressive (if not completely painful looking!)


Emanuel Sandhu
Song: "Whole Lotta Love" - Led Zeppelin
Grade: C
He's got a lot of skills but Emanuel's attempt at sexiness was a whole lot of WRONG. I wasn't sure if I was going to start giggling or throw up in my mouth a little. Emanuel. Stop TRYING to be sexy. It never is. Don't touch yourself or lick the stage. EWW.


Vincent Desjardins
Song: "Ai Mi Morena" - (Chocolate Restyle) Mo' Horizons
Grade: A-
My love knows no bounds!


Here is the video of the girls solos:


Here is the video of the guys solos


- - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Final Roundup:

Best of the Night: Tara-Jean and Vincent's Contemporary
Second Best of the Night: Top 3 Girls Group Contemporary
Third Best of the Night:Tara-Jean and Vincent's Salsa

Best Male of the Night - Couples: Vincent Desjardins
Best Male of the Night - Solo: Everett Smith
Best Male of the Night - Overall: Vincent Desjardins

Best Female of the Night - Couple: Tara-Jean Popowich
Best Female of the Night - Solo: Tara-Jean Popowich
Best Female of the Night - Overall: Tara-Jean Popowich

Worst of the Night - Couple: Jayme Rae and Emanuel's Quickstep
Worst Solo of the Night: Emanuel Sandhu

Predictions:
Bottom Four: Jayme Rae, Melanie, Everett, Emanuel
Should Go Home: Emanuel (Can't we just have a Top 5?)
Going Home: Emanuel and Melanie

I think my list from favorite to least looks like this right now (#position from last week in parenthesis):

1. Vincent (1)
2. Tara-Jean (2)
3. Jayme Rae (4)
4. Everett (5)
5. Melanie Mah (3)
6. Emanuel (7)

- - - - - - - - - - - - -
For More So You Think You Can Dance:
Check here for the most Recent current postings and Latest News on SYTYCD

So You Think You Can Dance Canada - Season 2 with So You Think You Can Dance Season 6 Auditions:
Top 8 Performances, Top 8 Results & US Salt Lake City and Vegas Week 1 Auditions
Top 10 Performances, Top 10 Results & US New Orleans and Atlanta Auditions
Top 12 Performances, Top 12 Results & US Boston Auditions
Top 14 Performances, Top 14 Results & US Phoenix Auditions
Top 16 Performances, Top 16 Results & US Los Angeles Auditions
Top 18 Performance, Top 18 Results and SYTYCD Top 15 Dances of all time
Top 20 Performance, Top 20 Results
Top 20 Announced
Auditions - Toronto, Vancouver, Saint John
Montréal, Edmonton

My Top 25 Routines from SYTYCD Season 1-5

So You Think You Can Dance - Season 5:
Finale
Top 4 Performance
Top 6 Performance, Top 6 Results
Top 8 Performance, Top 8 Results and Panel Chat
Top 10 Performance, Top 10 Results and Panel Chat
Top 12 Performance, Top 12 Results and Panel Chat
Top 14 Performance, Top 14 Results, Top 14 Panel Chat
Top 16 Performance, Top 16 Results and Panel Chat
Top 18 Performance, Top 18 Results and Panel Chat
Top 20 Performance, Top 20 Results and Panel Chat
Auditions - Vegas Week Part 2 - Top 20 Announcement, Top 20 Pictures/Panel Chat
Vegas Week Part 1
New York City, Denver, Miami, Memphis, LA, Seattle

So You Think You Can Dance Canada:
Finale
Top 8 and 6 Performances and Results, Top 4 Performances
Top 10 Performances, Results 10 to 8
Top 12 Performances, Results 12 to 10
Top 14 Performances, Results 14 to 12
Top 16 Performances, Results 16 to 14
Top 18 Performances, Results 18 to 16
Top 20 Performances and Results
Introducing Canada's Top 20
Auditions:
Toronto Week - The Cut to the Top 20
Vancouver, Halifax, Calgary, Montreal - West, East, Middle and Quebec
Toronto - Toronto's Best Foot Forward
The Judges, The Host, The Teaser, All Photos from CTV

So You Think You Can Dance - Season 4:
Finale
Top 4 Performances
Top 6 Performances and Results 6 to 4
Top 8 Performances, Results 8 to 6
Top 10 Performances, Results 10 to 8
Top 16, 14 and 12 Weeks Recaps by Vance again
Top 12 Performances, Results 12 to 10 - Guest Blogger Linz McC
Top 14 Performances, Results 14 to 12 - Guest Blogger Linz McC
Top 16 Performances, Results 16 to 14 - Guest Blogger Linz McC
Top 18 Performances, Results 18 to 16
Top 20 Performances, Results 20 to 18
Introducing the Top 20
Auditions:
Callbacks in Las Vegas - The Top 20 Revealed - What Happens In Vegas
Milwaukee, WI - How The Midwest Was Won
Charleston, South Carolina and Washington D.C. - S.C.D.C. The New Electric (Boogaloo) Term!
Salt Lake City and Dallas - Yeehaw Utah!
Los Angeles - It's Time To Put On Those Dancing Shoes Again Kids!

So You Think You Can Dance - Season 3:
Live Tour - Toronto, Pasha's Solo Video, Neil's Solo Video
Finale - Winner Result
Top 4 Performances - Finals
Top 6 Performances, Top 6 Results
Top 8 Performances, Top 8 Results
Top 10 Performances, Top 10 Results
Top 12 Performances, Top 12 Results
Top 14 Performances, Top 14 Results
Top 16 Performances, Top 16 Results
Top 18 Performances, Top 18 Results
Top 20 Performances, Top 20 Results

For So You Think You Can Dance Season 2:
Favorite Video Clips
Song List Live Tour 2006 - Toronto
Live Tour 2006 - Buffalo, Pics, More Pics
Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

More After the Jump...

The TV Blog Coalition - One Step Forward, One Step Behind

It's amazing how a few days sick at home and I can catch up with everything on my TV backlog and a few days away and out and about for the holiday weekend and how easily it was fall behind again. Still watching the way I've noted on my Tapeworthy sidebar and so far the new season has been good to most returning shows, but I'm really going to need to purge a few since my system can't handle taping 4 shows in one time slot. It's almost enough stress to get me sick again. Oy!

Here's what the other TV bloggers were talking about this week:

We keep hearing that the only thing keeping us from an Arrested Development movie is scheduling conflicts, so BuzzSugar checked in on what each cast member is up to now. (BuzzSugar)

For those that may only know The Avett Brothers from providing the soundtrack to Landry and Tyra hooking up will want to check out their latest album I and Love and You. Scooter even points out how you can download the title track for free and legally. (Scooter McGavin's 9th Green)

Vance agrees with Mia Michaels who said that the remaining Top 4 Girls in the current So You Think You Can Dance Canada Top 8 is the strongest ever. But Vance still loves Vincent best. (Tapeworthy)

If the idea of George Clooney with ridiculous 21 Jump Street hair make you excited, you might want to learn about Sunset Beat. (TiFaux)

Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

More After the Jump...