SYTYCD WTF?!?!

I love So You Think You Can Dance. I love the level of talent that is represented on the show. The dedication, the passion and the commitment of these dancers is so moving to watch. It's always hard to see a favorite from the early auditions get cut before making it to top 20. Having said that...I think the judges made a HUGE mistake this season and I'm really quite upset about it.

Last season, we met Natalie, a beautiful dancer who came to the audition with her roomate/best friend Katie. In the end, there was room for only one of them in the top 20, and Katie moved on to be one of my favorite things about the show. In fact, I think she should have won. Flash forward to this season. I was so excited to see Natalie again. I was thrilled when her solo proved my memory to be right on the money, that I had not built her ability up in my head after all. She's that good. She made Sonya cry. The judges were blown away. Game on.

In Vegas, she breezed through early rounds and then during the Jazz choreography by Sonya, she was singled out by the choreographer who told the other dancers "you wanna see what I like?? Natalie and Brandon, will you come forward and show everyone?". Somehow when performing that EXACT choreography in front of the judges, they were not impressed. Even if she didn't blow them away, I don't think anyone could have argued her ability overall. Then the judges gave her that "we expected more from you" crap. It's not fair to have different standards for different dancers. At that moment, she was eliminated. Just like that, they sent her home. ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME???? Everyone was shocked, including Sonya, who did NOTHING to defend Natalie.

Throughout the next hour and a half we watched a lot of dancers stumble and disappoint, and almost ALL of them got a second chance. They were able to perform either the same choreography again or their own solo in order to 'dance for their life'. Good for them, some of them really deserved it. So did Natalie. GRRRRRR.

Anyway, the top 20 looks like an interesting mix this year, including a really cute, young male dancer that I don't remember seeing before they told him he was through to the show. I am really really happy that Evan made it to the top 20 this year because he is a breath of fresh air. I can't wait to see who they pair up together!!!

SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE PREMIERES TONIGHT!

So excited.

So very very excited.

that's all.

Glee

On Tuesday night, I watched the highly anticipated premiere of Glee on FOX. Before watching on the West Coast, I saw that some of my East Coast friends on Facebook were not thrilled by the first episode. I prepared myself for the inevitable disappointment. After all, I had been really looking forward to this show - I loved the promos for it, the concept and well...the singing! I also was grateful that there would be new, scripted television to watch during the summer.

I have to say...maybe because I let down my expectations or maybe i'm a sucker who is easily manipulated, but I thoroughly enjoyed it! Yes, some of the dialogue between the adults was a little cheesy, but this is the exact type of show for the celebration of cheese!

Perhaps I am a little close to the subject matter, but I really love that there is a show about the artsy kids in high school for once. I have seen so many shows about jocks and cheerleaders, or rich kids who listen to Coldplay and sleep around, or at-risk kids who walk through gang wars and metal detectors to get to school and it's refreshing to see a show that reminds me of what I loved about high school. Yes, I had a very unique high school experience, going to a performing and visual arts school that nurtured BOTH sides of my brain equally. There were no official sports teams, no cheerleaders, no prom king and queen. We didn't have homecoming or pep rallies. But there was music; the sounds of the piano emanating from the ballet studio, overhearing singers warming up while on your way to trig, and the orchestra playing the overture to the musical that ran for 2 weeks (sold out). and oh, how we danced. The school had an art gallery and a black-box theater with an entire stage crew of eager drama students fulfilling their tech requirements before they could ever walk across the stage. There were teachers that understood that a well-rounded education is more than what can be measured by a standardized test.

This is another thing I enjoyed about this show. The teachers. They have issues. Some are just punching a clock, which is sadly true way too often in public schools. And there's the one teacher who sees these oddball, drama geeks and can't seem to let them disappear, the way everyone else is happy to do. He sees something great in them and encourages them to be who they are and be heard. I get it. I eat that shit up.

Is this really the same network that gave us Moment Of Truth?

LOST

I have a headache from watching tonight's episode.

GLEE!

Anyone else super excited for this show????

First of all, I am glad to have a scripted show to watch over the summer.

Take a look at 2 of the trailers and try not to smile. I dare you.





Jake and I are going to see a premiere screening of it on the 11th. I'll let you know what we think!!

Any Dream Will Do

Is anyone watching this??

Any Dream Will Do on BBCAmerica is the search for the lead in the West End Revival of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Basically, it's "Grease: You're the One That I Want" only more...British. They seem to be showing a marathon of it every weekend on BBC America, and it's really good 'bad TV'. Just a warning, watch it with a DVR delay, because you may want to fast forward through some of the more horrendous performances (and they are not uncommon). It's worth it just for the creepy and weird candid camera shots of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber as he is watching these earnest young men sing both pop ballads and musical theater tunes. Also, they have totally raised the reality tv bar on humiliating the loser at the end of each episode. Take a look. This happens each time a "Joseph" is eliminated.



Now, since I couldn't find/choose a creepy Andrew Lloyd Webber moment from THIS show, here his is flirting with David Cook on American Idol and making everyone uncomfortable.

BEA ARTHUR 1922 - 2009

This post is long overdue, but travels and then after-travel catching up have not given me much time to post lately. Either way, it would be inexcusable for me to not pay some small tribute to a television legend who brought so much joy and laughter into my life.

Mostly known for her TV roles as the title role in Maude and Dorothy Zbornak on the Golden Girls, Bea Arthur was also a Tony Award winner for her performance as Vera Charles in Mame, a role she also reprised in the film version of the musical.

Here's to you, Dorothy.



and here's hoping that Estelle and Bea are together again, eating cheesecake on a cloud somewhere...