Episode 18, July 26
So You Think You Can Dance 2, July 26: Beware Final Four Week by Sting7 -- 07/27/2006 Fans of reality television probably felt something in the air today. This is final four week on So You Think You Can Dance, and this show is due for a shocking elimination. Sadly, two of the best could be on the bubble and dancing for their lives. No way I’m talking about my Allison and Ivan, am I? Cat Deeley, actually covered this week, though the hair remains post-coital, welcomes us. Meet the top eight dancers: Allison, Benji, Natalie, Ivan, Donyelle, Travis, Heidi, and Ryan. But first, some things to discuss. Some e-mailers are quick to correct me that all ten dancers were not in the opening number last Wednesday night. Natalie was injured and when we saw her later, she had a bag of ice taped to her leg. Poor thing. More importantly, Fox treated television critics to special performance by Allison, Travis, Heidi, and Benji. Apparently, Allison and Travis choreographed their “sexy” contemporary routine at 2 AM the morning of! Benji and Heidi gave a dazzling display of West Coast Swing that Fox Prez Peter Liguori says threw his back out just watching. Perhaps it was that good vibe that prompted Fox to announce they are renewing So You Think You Can Dance for a third season already! Fans of Hell’s Kitchen will be happy to know demented chef Gordon Ramsay will be back for a third go-round as well. Plenty of girls are asking for a Russian sandwich these days. Looks like Dmitry and Artem had their hearts aflutter at Mary’s rehearsal last week. Ivan is gaining your respect rapidly, some suggesting the Benji/Travis showdown is far from guaranteed anymore. And, yes, the tour for the top ten finalists of So You Think You Can Dance appears to be greenlit. But there is no info out there about it, besides that. When I learn something, I will share it with you. On to business, just an hour show tonight! Donyelle chooses a partner, and it’s Travis. They draw Hip Hop and Quick Step. Shane Sparks wants them to embody jungle animals in his hip hop routine. He’s easily excited. Travis expects lots of booty popping. Let’s see if he’s right. Donyelle and Travis, Hip Hop Dancing to “London Bridge” by Fergie, yes, of the Black Eyed Peas (I see why some people are starting to call this show So You Think You Can Dance to the Black Eyed Peas!), Travis and Donyelle are wearing masks, actually on both sides of their heads. Routine wise, you get what you always get with him – floppy moments, and some clever hand gestures. The dancers do it pretty well, but Nigel was on to something when he mentioned how Donyelle draws you in with her eyes. Travis has such commanding presence, but it’s his face that brings home the honesty in his dance. The masks rob me of that, and I’m pleased, but not thrilled. Nigel agrees with me, saying the joy of dance for him is in the faces of the dancers and he missed that, especially from Donyelle. Well danced, but “a tough one for you tonight.” Mary completely disagrees; she loved the concept and she enjoyed the dance. She smartly notes that the masks kept them from being able to mark their spots from each other, they had to rely solely on the counts. Hadn’t that of that. Maybe there is no mystery hooch in Mary’s cup tonight! Brian splits the two saying the masks did detract for him, and they weren’t as clean as they could have been, but he was satisfied. Now, my Allison picks a partner. It’s Ivan, her former partner! They draw hip hop and Argentine Tango. Their last tango was sizzling. Ivan says he plans to put 110% into this one! Allison and Ivan, Argentine Tango Dancing to “La Cumparsita,” which all tangos are danced to sooner or later, Allison (and those legs) and Ivan cast a spell over the audience. You can just smell the sexual tension! Allison seduces me a little more every week, and Ivan does those cool tango leg sweeps like he’s been doing them his whole life! I actually forget for a second who Allison is dancing with! Ivan, how you’ve grown! Nigel notes that Allison was in High School Musical (really?), and says she’s all grown up now. He says Ivan wasn’t as steady as he’d liked, but it was definitely a good job. Mary thought it was a great performance, Allison is sexy and Ivan is such a man. Dan says the first he saw them dance, he said Allison “worked” Ivan all over the floor, this time, Ivan “worked” Allison. Time for Natalie to draw. She chooses Ryan (who was hoping to be paired with Natalie at the start of the top twenty). They will be dancing disco and contemporary. Doriana Sanchez says they are two different energies at play. Will they mesh? Natalie and Ryan, Disco Dancing to Vicki Sue Robinson’s “Turn the Beat Around,” Natalie doing disco is a home run. We know it is. She breaks out the Farrah wings and everything for the occasion. She sparkles like a newly polished diamond out there. Notice how I haven’t mentioned Ryan? She made him disappear. Poof. Nigel thinks Natalie and fiery and energetic. Ryan was not strong enough, he did not like it at all. Mary is thinking, “Disco inferno. Not.” She found no chemistry with Natalie and Ryan. Not happening with Ryan for her. Dan agrees, no chemistry. He thought Natalie was leading Ryan. Nigel notes they don’t enjoy having to say that at this stage. Heidi will obviously draw Benji, her cousin. They have won competitions together – this should be excellent! They draw Broadway and Club Mambo. For the Broadway routine, Tice Diorio tells us the dance is a church revival themed number. That leads to lots of church puns and playfulness. Can they carry that energy into their routine? Heidi and Benji, Broadway Yes they can. Dancing to “Fake Your Way to the Top” from the Dreamgirls soundtrack, Benji manages to thoroughly outshine his cousin. You just can’t stop watching him. Poor Heidi is overshadowed by her cousin again when she worked so hard to get out of that darkness. Nigel deadpans for a second and bursts, “I believe!” Best chemistry of the night. Mary says, “Amen!” She was so happy when they drew each others’ names. Dan says Broadway could use a couple of dancers like them. For their second routine, Donyelle and Travis take on the quick step with choreographer Glen Weiss. He thinks it’s the most fun dance to watch. We’ll see. Donyelle and Travis, Quick Step Dancing to Barry Manilow’s “Dancin’ Fool,” there are no masks, and Travis puts his hair down, but that’s really the most exciting part of the dance. There are problems with the frame, problems with the steps (and one point, they were nowhere near the beat of the song), problems everywhere. Quick step is a monster, and it claims a couple of talented victims tonight. Nigel says they “cheated fairly well.” The step is more of skim, and Donyelle and Travis more hopped. Didn’t like it. Mary says she loves them to pieces (and both dancers know something bad is going to happen now. Nigel mutters, “Here come the pieces!”), but her favorite part was the end. Dan says he loves to be able to disagree with Nigel and Mary but tonight he can’t. It was painful, he says. Ouch. Now, Allison and Ivan face their hip-hop routine with Shane Sparks. Shane has fancy umbrella work in mind for them. Problem: they keep dropping them. Shane says if they can keep the umbrellas under control, the routine can be hot. If not, “it’s time for somebody to go home!” he cackles. Yikes. Allison and Ivan, Hip Hop Dancing to Ne-Yo’s “Sexy Love,” it’s clearly a romantic hip hop Shane has fashioned for them. Speaking of fashion, Allison’s hair is straight and she’s simply stunning. Lots of sweet smiling at each other, if I didn’t know better I would think… nah! Nice routine, they were a bit out of synch at times, but just barely. I think they will do very well with this one. Nigel thinks it was a lovely style, no booty spanking. He liked it. Mary thinks it was really beautiful. Dan says Shane usually does crazy fast stuff, but this was hot. He adds doing this type of hip hop is harder than the fast stuff, it takes feeling and flow and Allison and Ivan were perfect. Natalie and Ryan arrive for their session with Tice. Tice says they have to bring it with the passion for the routine to work. Ryan should have plenty of passion for this one – it’s Natalie! He can’t even say her name without sighing. Natalie says Ryan is like “a little puppy dog.” Uh-oh. And he’s sooo sweet! Oh boy. Then she drives the wooden stake in the whole thing by adding, “he’s one of my closest friends on the show!” The end, Ryan. When you get the f-word, there is no coming back. Natalie and Ryan, Contemporary Dancing to Boyz II Men’s triumphant “I Will Get There,” you can plainly see why passion is so important in this number. Problem is, while Natalie holds up her end, Ryan is all about technique… without feeling. He cuts gorgeous silhouettes, but somehow, you just don’t feel him. This could be ugly. Nigel thinks Natalie is such a beautiful girl. Ryan has beautiful lines, though he doesn’t always finish it off, it was beautiful. Mary thinks they will “get there”… to the final two, not sure, but she thinks they will have long dance careers. Dan says they brought it on this one, and they looked beautiful. Alex Da Silva says he has surprises in store for Benji and Heidi in their Club Mambo routine. First, the speed. The fastest he’s ever choreographed, says Alex. “Holy… poo!” says Benji when watching the routine done by Alex and a helper. Benji and Heidi struggle at first, Benji says it’s the most challenged he’s been the whole season. Heidi says they just have to keep practicing, over and over and over. Will it work? Heidi and Benji, Club Mambo Dancing to “Black Mambo,” it feels like we are suddenly in Cuba. Benji and Heidi are crisp and sharp, dancing well enough to make me ignore that ridiculous looking scarf around Benji’s neck. These two are amazing together, just phenomenal! If they survive the week, the chances of them partnering together is even greater. That, my friends, would rule. Nigel quips that he’s thrilled they’ve found something to do with Dmitry’s old shirts. Heh! There is Dmitry! Nigel says this is why “we got nearly eight million votes last week, this is why we are America’s number one rated season show, this why we have been picked up for season three before we’ve finished season two!” The best routine of the night, he adds. He commends Benji on what an excellent partner he is. He commends Heidi on her ability to wait for Benji in his solo moves and then picking up again in step. Magnificent, he breathlessly finishes. Mary teases that she is disappointed, then she says it takes so much partnering skills to do the number, the best mambo they’ve ever seen. Dan says it was the most professional looking routine they’ve ever scene, in any genre. Nigel demands that they do this routine on the tour – he’d even pay to see it again! (Nigel does find clever ways of pimping things, doesn’t he?) How I ranked ‘em: Routine 1: Heidi and Benji Allison and Ivan Donyelle and Travis Natalie and Ryan Routine 2: Heidi and Benji Allison and Ivan Natalie and Ryan Donyelle and Travis Did I really just rank Donyelle and Travis last? Beware of locusts. Despite that, I am fairly certain the bottom two tomorrow will be Natalie and Heidi and Ivan and Ryan. Why? I believe Allison and Donyelle and Benji and Travis are just that popular. Count on that as your final four. Who leaves? Ryan, for sure this time. And probably Natalie. I love Natalie, but I think Ryan was a sinking ship and try as she might, she could not save herself from him/it. Heidi just keeps rising to the occasion, but I think the clock is ticking on her too. But… this is technically final four week. You know, historically, final four week has brought some shocking results. Season one of Idol, Tamyra Gray’s shocking exit… final four week. Then in season three, LaToya London’s exit… final four week. Even on So You Think You Can Dance, we were deprived of the Nick Lazzarini/Blake McGrath finale because of… final four week, when Blake got the boot. Donyelle and Travis did not have their best week this week. Could either of them be the latest victim?http://www.realitynewsonline.com/cgi-bin/ae.pl?mode=1&article=article6290.art&page=1
So You Think You Can Dance 2, July 26: Beware Final Four Week by Sting7 -- 07/27/2006 Fans of reality television probably felt something in the air today. This is final four week on So You Think You Can Dance, and this show is due for a shocking elimination. Sadly, two of the best could be on the bubble and dancing for their lives. No way I’m talking about my Allison and Ivan, am I? Cat Deeley, actually covered this week, though the hair remains post-coital, welcomes us. Meet the top eight dancers: Allison, Benji, Natalie, Ivan, Donyelle, Travis, Heidi, and Ryan. But first, some things to discuss. Some e-mailers are quick to correct me that all ten dancers were not in the opening number last Wednesday night. Natalie was injured and when we saw her later, she had a bag of ice taped to her leg. Poor thing. More importantly, Fox treated television critics to special performance by Allison, Travis, Heidi, and Benji. Apparently, Allison and Travis choreographed their “sexy” contemporary routine at 2 AM the morning of! Benji and Heidi gave a dazzling display of West Coast Swing that Fox Prez Peter Liguori says threw his back out just watching. Perhaps it was that good vibe that prompted Fox to announce they are renewing So You Think You Can Dance for a third season already! Fans of Hell’s Kitchen will be happy to know demented chef Gordon Ramsay will be back for a third go-round as well. Plenty of girls are asking for a Russian sandwich these days. Looks like Dmitry and Artem had their hearts aflutter at Mary’s rehearsal last week. Ivan is gaining your respect rapidly, some suggesting the Benji/Travis showdown is far from guaranteed anymore. And, yes, the tour for the top ten finalists of So You Think You Can Dance appears to be greenlit. But there is no info out there about it, besides that. When I learn something, I will share it with you. On to business, just an hour show tonight! Donyelle chooses a partner, and it’s Travis. They draw Hip Hop and Quick Step. Shane Sparks wants them to embody jungle animals in his hip hop routine. He’s easily excited. Travis expects lots of booty popping. Let’s see if he’s right. Donyelle and Travis, Hip Hop Dancing to “London Bridge” by Fergie, yes, of the Black Eyed Peas (I see why some people are starting to call this show So You Think You Can Dance to the Black Eyed Peas!), Travis and Donyelle are wearing masks, actually on both sides of their heads. Routine wise, you get what you always get with him – floppy moments, and some clever hand gestures. The dancers do it pretty well, but Nigel was on to something when he mentioned how Donyelle draws you in with her eyes. Travis has such commanding presence, but it’s his face that brings home the honesty in his dance. The masks rob me of that, and I’m pleased, but not thrilled. Nigel agrees with me, saying the joy of dance for him is in the faces of the dancers and he missed that, especially from Donyelle. Well danced, but “a tough one for you tonight.” Mary completely disagrees; she loved the concept and she enjoyed the dance. She smartly notes that the masks kept them from being able to mark their spots from each other, they had to rely solely on the counts. Hadn’t that of that. Maybe there is no mystery hooch in Mary’s cup tonight! Brian splits the two saying the masks did detract for him, and they weren’t as clean as they could have been, but he was satisfied. Now, my Allison picks a partner. It’s Ivan, her former partner! They draw hip hop and Argentine Tango. Their last tango was sizzling. Ivan says he plans to put 110% into this one! Allison and Ivan, Argentine Tango Dancing to “La Cumparsita,” which all tangos are danced to sooner or later, Allison (and those legs) and Ivan cast a spell over the audience. You can just smell the sexual tension! Allison seduces me a little more every week, and Ivan does those cool tango leg sweeps like he’s been doing them his whole life! I actually forget for a second who Allison is dancing with! Ivan, how you’ve grown! Nigel notes that Allison was in High School Musical (really?), and says she’s all grown up now. He says Ivan wasn’t as steady as he’d liked, but it was definitely a good job. Mary thought it was a great performance, Allison is sexy and Ivan is such a man. Dan says the first he saw them dance, he said Allison “worked” Ivan all over the floor, this time, Ivan “worked” Allison. Time for Natalie to draw. She chooses Ryan (who was hoping to be paired with Natalie at the start of the top twenty). They will be dancing disco and contemporary. Doriana Sanchez says they are two different energies at play. Will they mesh? Natalie and Ryan, Disco Dancing to Vicki Sue Robinson’s “Turn the Beat Around,” Natalie doing disco is a home run. We know it is. She breaks out the Farrah wings and everything for the occasion. She sparkles like a newly polished diamond out there. Notice how I haven’t mentioned Ryan? She made him disappear. Poof. Nigel thinks Natalie and fiery and energetic. Ryan was not strong enough, he did not like it at all. Mary is thinking, “Disco inferno. Not.” She found no chemistry with Natalie and Ryan. Not happening with Ryan for her. Dan agrees, no chemistry. He thought Natalie was leading Ryan. Nigel notes they don’t enjoy having to say that at this stage. Heidi will obviously draw Benji, her cousin. They have won competitions together – this should be excellent! They draw Broadway and Club Mambo. For the Broadway routine, Tice Diorio tells us the dance is a church revival themed number. That leads to lots of church puns and playfulness. Can they carry that energy into their routine? Heidi and Benji, Broadway Yes they can. Dancing to “Fake Your Way to the Top” from the Dreamgirls soundtrack, Benji manages to thoroughly outshine his cousin. You just can’t stop watching him. Poor Heidi is overshadowed by her cousin again when she worked so hard to get out of that darkness. Nigel deadpans for a second and bursts, “I believe!” Best chemistry of the night. Mary says, “Amen!” She was so happy when they drew each others’ names. Dan says Broadway could use a couple of dancers like them. For their second routine, Donyelle and Travis take on the quick step with choreographer Glen Weiss. He thinks it’s the most fun dance to watch. We’ll see. Donyelle and Travis, Quick Step Dancing to Barry Manilow’s “Dancin’ Fool,” there are no masks, and Travis puts his hair down, but that’s really the most exciting part of the dance. There are problems with the frame, problems with the steps (and one point, they were nowhere near the beat of the song), problems everywhere. Quick step is a monster, and it claims a couple of talented victims tonight. Nigel says they “cheated fairly well.” The step is more of skim, and Donyelle and Travis more hopped. Didn’t like it. Mary says she loves them to pieces (and both dancers know something bad is going to happen now. Nigel mutters, “Here come the pieces!”), but her favorite part was the end. Dan says he loves to be able to disagree with Nigel and Mary but tonight he can’t. It was painful, he says. Ouch. Now, Allison and Ivan face their hip-hop routine with Shane Sparks. Shane has fancy umbrella work in mind for them. Problem: they keep dropping them. Shane says if they can keep the umbrellas under control, the routine can be hot. If not, “it’s time for somebody to go home!” he cackles. Yikes. Allison and Ivan, Hip Hop Dancing to Ne-Yo’s “Sexy Love,” it’s clearly a romantic hip hop Shane has fashioned for them. Speaking of fashion, Allison’s hair is straight and she’s simply stunning. Lots of sweet smiling at each other, if I didn’t know better I would think… nah! Nice routine, they were a bit out of synch at times, but just barely. I think they will do very well with this one. Nigel thinks it was a lovely style, no booty spanking. He liked it. Mary thinks it was really beautiful. Dan says Shane usually does crazy fast stuff, but this was hot. He adds doing this type of hip hop is harder than the fast stuff, it takes feeling and flow and Allison and Ivan were perfect. Natalie and Ryan arrive for their session with Tice. Tice says they have to bring it with the passion for the routine to work. Ryan should have plenty of passion for this one – it’s Natalie! He can’t even say her name without sighing. Natalie says Ryan is like “a little puppy dog.” Uh-oh. And he’s sooo sweet! Oh boy. Then she drives the wooden stake in the whole thing by adding, “he’s one of my closest friends on the show!” The end, Ryan. When you get the f-word, there is no coming back. Natalie and Ryan, Contemporary Dancing to Boyz II Men’s triumphant “I Will Get There,” you can plainly see why passion is so important in this number. Problem is, while Natalie holds up her end, Ryan is all about technique… without feeling. He cuts gorgeous silhouettes, but somehow, you just don’t feel him. This could be ugly. Nigel thinks Natalie is such a beautiful girl. Ryan has beautiful lines, though he doesn’t always finish it off, it was beautiful. Mary thinks they will “get there”… to the final two, not sure, but she thinks they will have long dance careers. Dan says they brought it on this one, and they looked beautiful. Alex Da Silva says he has surprises in store for Benji and Heidi in their Club Mambo routine. First, the speed. The fastest he’s ever choreographed, says Alex. “Holy… poo!” says Benji when watching the routine done by Alex and a helper. Benji and Heidi struggle at first, Benji says it’s the most challenged he’s been the whole season. Heidi says they just have to keep practicing, over and over and over. Will it work? Heidi and Benji, Club Mambo Dancing to “Black Mambo,” it feels like we are suddenly in Cuba. Benji and Heidi are crisp and sharp, dancing well enough to make me ignore that ridiculous looking scarf around Benji’s neck. These two are amazing together, just phenomenal! If they survive the week, the chances of them partnering together is even greater. That, my friends, would rule. Nigel quips that he’s thrilled they’ve found something to do with Dmitry’s old shirts. Heh! There is Dmitry! Nigel says this is why “we got nearly eight million votes last week, this is why we are America’s number one rated season show, this why we have been picked up for season three before we’ve finished season two!” The best routine of the night, he adds. He commends Benji on what an excellent partner he is. He commends Heidi on her ability to wait for Benji in his solo moves and then picking up again in step. Magnificent, he breathlessly finishes. Mary teases that she is disappointed, then she says it takes so much partnering skills to do the number, the best mambo they’ve ever seen. Dan says it was the most professional looking routine they’ve ever scene, in any genre. Nigel demands that they do this routine on the tour – he’d even pay to see it again! (Nigel does find clever ways of pimping things, doesn’t he?) How I ranked ‘em: Routine 1: Heidi and Benji Allison and Ivan Donyelle and Travis Natalie and Ryan Routine 2: Heidi and Benji Allison and Ivan Natalie and Ryan Donyelle and Travis Did I really just rank Donyelle and Travis last? Beware of locusts. Despite that, I am fairly certain the bottom two tomorrow will be Natalie and Heidi and Ivan and Ryan. Why? I believe Allison and Donyelle and Benji and Travis are just that popular. Count on that as your final four. Who leaves? Ryan, for sure this time. And probably Natalie. I love Natalie, but I think Ryan was a sinking ship and try as she might, she could not save herself from him/it. Heidi just keeps rising to the occasion, but I think the clock is ticking on her too. But… this is technically final four week. You know, historically, final four week has brought some shocking results. Season one of Idol, Tamyra Gray’s shocking exit… final four week. Then in season three, LaToya London’s exit… final four week. Even on So You Think You Can Dance, we were deprived of the Nick Lazzarini/Blake McGrath finale because of… final four week, when Blake got the boot. Donyelle and Travis did not have their best week this week. Could either of them be the latest victim?