Episode 4, June 7
So You Think You Can Dance 2, June 7: Five Days In Vegas by Sting7 -- 06/09/2006 After seeing thousands of dancers, the field has been narrowed to a talented 116! Tonight, some dancers show they can’t miss. Some are surprises, even to themselves. One dancer sees the softer side of Nigel, and another definitely witnesses the dark side! What prompts Nigel to proclaim he is "not human"? Details are here! The lucky and talented 116 dancers invade Vegas. Michael Keith arrives last after a series of “crazy layovers.” But there is partying everywhere, and those who want to sleep will have a lot of trouble doing that. Cat tells us that the dancers will spend a week in a different class with a different choreographer. Some will be cut based on how well they do, and others may be “dancing for their lives.” If their performance is only borderline, the dancers may be asked to do a solo dance for a straight yes or no about their continuing in the competition! For day one, Mia Michaels, Brian Friedman, Shane Sparks, Mary Murphy, and Nigel Lythgoe are all in attendance. Challenge one, Shane’s impromptu hip-hop choreography. The dancers have one hour with Shane, and then they must perform the routine in front of the judges. Tapper Michael has shaken off his “crazy layovers” and looks great. Andrew Perosi looks a bit demon-possessed. Claire Calloway, whose boyfriend frankly said he hoped she didn’t make it, looks gorgeous. Claire says she’s injured, but nothing is stopping her. Lynn-Rae Hires is a new face, but not one we’ll forget with her flame-ish hair. The judges loved her moxie in her original audition, and Lynn Rae says she’s always confident, she always thinks she looks good. With the first set of Vegas auditions over, the judges start tabulating the scores. Cat tells us each dancer can get from a 0 to a 3. Nigel has called 43 dancers to the stage. He tells them that each dancer could have earned a maximum of 15 points (three points from each judge). Andrew, the scary tapper, earned just one single point, Nigel says. The rest of them max out at six points. (Yikes!) Nigel says ordinarily, they’d be smoke. But they will have a chance to redeem themselves in Mary’s ballroom class. You have ten minutes. Go. Lynn-Rae was part of that unlucky 43, and she seems surprised. Andrew thinks he can excel at ballroom. Lynn Rae has a minor freak-out, and when its time for Nigel to pair the contestants, Lynn Rae is still running down the hallway. Oh, she stops, what are you doing? Go! Meanwhile, Nigel is bellowing for Lynn-Rae in “Bueller-esque” fashion. Cat says Lynn-Rae could be cut without even dancing! But Lynn-Rae does show up, her hair and that flaming red dress leaving a trail across the auditorium. Mary gives her samba instruction (with some help from season one finalist, Artem), and the dancers are on stage and in the aisles rehearsing. Once the judging begins, poor Andrew doesn’t look much better, yet Claire is made of steel! She shows no sign of her injured leg at all. Andrew is told he managed two points out of ballroom class. Hey, twice as good as hip-hop! But, no glass half full this time. Nigel cuts him. In addition, 35 others are cut. Some of the dancers are philosophical. Others are quite furious. Claire is told she got nine points on her samba and is through. Allison, who we haven’t met, got 15 points! Nigel says she “brought it tonight!” Hey, there’s Stanislov! He’s moving on. More familiar faces – hard-working Danyelle is moving on, as is Baltimore’s Krystle. My Pick to Click, Travis Wall, got a perfect score! Lynn-Rae only got five points for her samba. Lynn-Rae says she sucked this morning, Nigel says she sucked this afternoon too! Despite that, she will have a chance to dance for her life. (That seems like it should be said in an echo chamber!) Ryan Sabato, who we haven’t met, fell on his original audition. And fell right on his glockenschpiel, to boot! The judges advanced him to Las Vegas anyway, but he hasn’t shined. He too will be dancing-ancing for-or his-is LIFE-ife! Lynn-Rae tearfully tells us that she’s an emotional wreck right now. Not the time for that. Ryan says he is the nicest guy; he doesn’t deserve to be considered mediocre. There are no character points in this, Ryan. Lynn-Rae says she needs to sit down and remember who she is, because getting into the choreography confuses her. Huh? Ryan says he has danced for seven years, and he’s a perfectionist, a perfectionist dammit, “and for a perfectionist to get a 50% score?… No.” He tells us directly in our eyes like we judged him or something. Better straighten up that attitude, kiddo! Time to show what they got, as they Dance-ance For-or Their-eir LIVES-ives! Ryan is up first, and yeesh! He’s definitely selling his hip-hop routine, though Mia is already shaking her head no. He goes for a combination reverse flip, and on the last tumble, his feet slip from under him, he falls way short on the rotation, and lands on top of his head!! It is gruesome! He barely moves for a few seconds, as Nigel nervously calls for a medic. No medic answers the call (“Why is there no medic in the building?” Nigel asks with exasperation), but Ryan is more stunned than anything and gets to his feet. Nigel cuts him to the quick, and quickly. Ryan does not take it well. He says all the 13 years of dancing (wasn’t it just seven? Sorry, I’m interrupting) may have been for naught and maybe he should rethink what he does. I hope not, dance because you love it, kiddo. Lynn-Rae tells us she had a shower, washed her hair, and drew on herself. (Huh???) She writes on her belly, “Where did you go today?” It’s a question that brings her great joy. I am slowly backing away. She writes “fearless” on her arm, cuz that’s what she is. I’m not. I’m hiding behind my couch. Lynn-Rae gets her chance to dance, and does a furious sprint across the stage, her teeth gritted. The judges look puzzled and Nigel clarifies that “she has written graffiti on herself!” I don’t think they are digging the self-affirmation. Lynn-Rae does a strange, possessed bit of twisting and stutter-stepping and the madness (heh!) ends. Nigel says her choreography change wasn’t much more than a bunch of running. Mary says she looked out of control. (Completely.) Lynn-Rae cuts her off to express her undying gratitude to Brian, who is squirming in his chair. “You feel me! I know you do!” she gushes. Brian answers, “I feel you. I don’t know what I’m feeling, but I feel you!” Shane tells her bluntly, “You’re talented, you’re just not right in the head!” That about nails it. Day two, and it’s time Mia’s lyrical class. This one will claim many victims. Mia tells them that if they feel like they are spazzing out while they are dancing, they are doing it right. That’s comforting. Mary says that the street dancers should be good at this one, but Cat reminds us there are only three street dancers left: Musa Smith, a shocking departure from last year; Hawk Hoshiko; and Chris Fuenza from Ryan Conferido’s six step crew. As Mia begins rehearsal, Musa looks petrified. Claire is beginning to struggle with that ankle. Her pain is an eight out of ten, she says. The dancers do Mia’s routine in small groups. Hawk is doing his best and doesn’t look completely ghastly. Chris has resorted to free-styling. Oops. Musa looks like he has the choreography down, but is a bit robotic. Now for the verdicts. Mia says she thinks Chris is “quirky and fun,” but doesn’t think he will be able to hit what’s left to come. Brian tells him he hopes he tries again next year. Chris tries to philosophical, but he’s fighting back tears. Poor guy. Hawk does make it through! Musa, though, will be dancing-ancing (oh, you know the rest). So, is Benji Schwimmer, who wanted desperately to dance out of his swing dance champ dad’s shadow? He only got a six. Claire Calloway is heading for the hospital! Musa wants to show the judges how much he’s worked in the last year. Musa does a blistering hip-hop set, the judges can’t help smiling. Nigel says Musa will likely always find himself dancing for his life… and he’ll probably always get through, because how can he say no to that? Mia thinks he’s one of the bright shining stars of the competition. Ron Montez (sitting in for Shane for the day) says Musa knew how to punch the energy at the right time. It’s five yeses! Musa is continuing! Benji enlists his cousin (and fellow contestant) Heidi for his jive routine to James Brown. Mary seems to be enjoying herself. Suddenly, the tempo like triples and Benji and Heidi are a blur! The judges are oohing and aahing throughout! The kid is impressive! Plenty of tricks, he nailed all of them, and at that pace. Astonishing! Nigel asks (rhetorically, of course) if that was West Coast Swing? Benji says it was. And who is the United States Champion of West Coast Swing? Benji admits that it is he. Wow! Ron says he expected Benji to be good and he “couldn’t lose tonight!” Brian and Mary are in some awe, and Mia says Benji represents fun to her, and she’s a yes. Five yeses to be exact. He’s still in it! Pretty Claire Calloway, who we last saw being carted off in an ambulance, has some grim news, by the look on her face. She tells Nigel tearfully that the doctors say her ankle is badly bruised, and they don’t recommend her dancing on it. But it’s her call. It’s clear she wants to stay, but Nigel makes her a deal. She has advanced this far in the competition, and next season, she will be allowed to pick up right where she left off! No prelim auditions, straight to Vegas next year! That’s unheard of! Claire thanks even more tearfully. Nigel announces that she will be leaving, and the remaining dancers give her an encouraging round of applause. Claire thanks everyone for the opportunity. Day three, Brian’s choreography. Brian acknowledges that everyone is tired (he’s so sweet!), but today they will have to focus. He grinds them in his choreography, lots of boom-ah-kak-kak’s! The focus didn’t show. Dancer after dancer is conquered by his choreography. Three New York auditioners – Mark Spaulding, Juliya Tamarkina, and long-flying Mikey Keith – are up. Mark gamely finishes the routine, despite his many screw-ups, which more than can be said for the other two. Juliya bails quickly, looking lost from the start and staggers off the stage and promptly collapses. Mike gets about halfway through before looking skyward in frustration and walks off. Mark is cut immediately. So much for following through having its rewards. Juliya is being treated by a medic! Boyfriend Stanislov is at her side. Mike is scolded for showing his age just then (18). Brian gives a one word critique: “blah!” Mia says she has loved him before this point, and wants to see more of him. Mary and Ron says they won’t judge him solely on that performance either. Nigel is a flat no, but he is outvoted so Mike is through. Take your lumps and move on, Mikey! Oh, no. Why is he talking? Mike says he knew before he started that he was going to mess up and he didn’t know the choreography. What was the point of that? Nigel proceeds to drop a house on Mike. He tells Mike sternly, almost fatherly, that he does not care what the other choreographers say when it comes to the television show, because HE decides who is going to make the live shows, and HE will NOT have someone screwing up on national television! Got that? Mike gulps and nods and smartly takes his leave. Good Nigel, bad Nigel! Mike says he is aware he is on Nigel’s hit list. He just can’t mess up. At all. Meanwhile, the ambulance is hot again as Juliya gets carted off. The news isn’t all bad in the theatre. A number of dancers blithely glide through Brian’s choreography, including Benji Schwimmer! Surprise, surprise! Sophie Wang also looks like a pro! Hawk takes a crack at Brian’s choreography. He looks visibly uncomfortable. Nigel says he is impressed that Hawk is fighting so hard. Yes. Mary says she was not impressed, but does want to see more. Shane tells him to hold his head up, because he’s come much further than anyone ever expected. Yes. Mia says she’s proud, he’s what the competition is about. Yes. Brian says Hawk keeps surprising him, and he keeps getting better every time. Yes. Hawk still doesn’t look happy. He actually apologizes, but the dancers give him a supportive round of applause. Cat wants to interview Hawk, but Hawk doesn’t want to. Nigel calls all the survivors to the stage. Hawk doesn’t want to go, he doesn’t think he deserves to be there. Then he starts whining that he doesn’t have the training the others do and that’s not what the show is about. (Yes, it is, actually. What show did he think he was on?) Nigel congratulates the remaining dancers, but breaks it down for them. Some sullen-looking dancer named Ben is called out. “I don’t want to hear that you’re not well,” Nigel scolds. Sure, he’d love to say okay, get better, but that would be human and “I’m not human! I’m a television executive producer!” I’m on the floor right now! Hawk is still crying with Cat. She’s trying her damnedest to cheer him up. Juliya is back from the hospital… and she advances, with 41 other dancers! Nigel tells them have to toughen up. Tomorrow is their one-minute solo dance. It will decide who is making the Top 20! The first dancer, Mike Keith, takes the stage… how will he do? Will Benji achieve his dream? (He’s already crying in the promos!) Will Juliya be healthy enough to continue? Can Musa make the cut this time? Can Hawk pull his confidence together? Can Travis do any wrong?Source: http://www.realitynewsonline.com/cgi-bin/ae.pl?mode=1&article=article6191.art&page=1
So You Think You Can Dance 2, June 7: Five Days In Vegas by Sting7 -- 06/09/2006 After seeing thousands of dancers, the field has been narrowed to a talented 116! Tonight, some dancers show they can’t miss. Some are surprises, even to themselves. One dancer sees the softer side of Nigel, and another definitely witnesses the dark side! What prompts Nigel to proclaim he is "not human"? Details are here! The lucky and talented 116 dancers invade Vegas. Michael Keith arrives last after a series of “crazy layovers.” But there is partying everywhere, and those who want to sleep will have a lot of trouble doing that. Cat tells us that the dancers will spend a week in a different class with a different choreographer. Some will be cut based on how well they do, and others may be “dancing for their lives.” If their performance is only borderline, the dancers may be asked to do a solo dance for a straight yes or no about their continuing in the competition! For day one, Mia Michaels, Brian Friedman, Shane Sparks, Mary Murphy, and Nigel Lythgoe are all in attendance. Challenge one, Shane’s impromptu hip-hop choreography. The dancers have one hour with Shane, and then they must perform the routine in front of the judges. Tapper Michael has shaken off his “crazy layovers” and looks great. Andrew Perosi looks a bit demon-possessed. Claire Calloway, whose boyfriend frankly said he hoped she didn’t make it, looks gorgeous. Claire says she’s injured, but nothing is stopping her. Lynn-Rae Hires is a new face, but not one we’ll forget with her flame-ish hair. The judges loved her moxie in her original audition, and Lynn Rae says she’s always confident, she always thinks she looks good. With the first set of Vegas auditions over, the judges start tabulating the scores. Cat tells us each dancer can get from a 0 to a 3. Nigel has called 43 dancers to the stage. He tells them that each dancer could have earned a maximum of 15 points (three points from each judge). Andrew, the scary tapper, earned just one single point, Nigel says. The rest of them max out at six points. (Yikes!) Nigel says ordinarily, they’d be smoke. But they will have a chance to redeem themselves in Mary’s ballroom class. You have ten minutes. Go. Lynn-Rae was part of that unlucky 43, and she seems surprised. Andrew thinks he can excel at ballroom. Lynn Rae has a minor freak-out, and when its time for Nigel to pair the contestants, Lynn Rae is still running down the hallway. Oh, she stops, what are you doing? Go! Meanwhile, Nigel is bellowing for Lynn-Rae in “Bueller-esque” fashion. Cat says Lynn-Rae could be cut without even dancing! But Lynn-Rae does show up, her hair and that flaming red dress leaving a trail across the auditorium. Mary gives her samba instruction (with some help from season one finalist, Artem), and the dancers are on stage and in the aisles rehearsing. Once the judging begins, poor Andrew doesn’t look much better, yet Claire is made of steel! She shows no sign of her injured leg at all. Andrew is told he managed two points out of ballroom class. Hey, twice as good as hip-hop! But, no glass half full this time. Nigel cuts him. In addition, 35 others are cut. Some of the dancers are philosophical. Others are quite furious. Claire is told she got nine points on her samba and is through. Allison, who we haven’t met, got 15 points! Nigel says she “brought it tonight!” Hey, there’s Stanislov! He’s moving on. More familiar faces – hard-working Danyelle is moving on, as is Baltimore’s Krystle. My Pick to Click, Travis Wall, got a perfect score! Lynn-Rae only got five points for her samba. Lynn-Rae says she sucked this morning, Nigel says she sucked this afternoon too! Despite that, she will have a chance to dance for her life. (That seems like it should be said in an echo chamber!) Ryan Sabato, who we haven’t met, fell on his original audition. And fell right on his glockenschpiel, to boot! The judges advanced him to Las Vegas anyway, but he hasn’t shined. He too will be dancing-ancing for-or his-is LIFE-ife! Lynn-Rae tearfully tells us that she’s an emotional wreck right now. Not the time for that. Ryan says he is the nicest guy; he doesn’t deserve to be considered mediocre. There are no character points in this, Ryan. Lynn-Rae says she needs to sit down and remember who she is, because getting into the choreography confuses her. Huh? Ryan says he has danced for seven years, and he’s a perfectionist, a perfectionist dammit, “and for a perfectionist to get a 50% score?… No.” He tells us directly in our eyes like we judged him or something. Better straighten up that attitude, kiddo! Time to show what they got, as they Dance-ance For-or Their-eir LIVES-ives! Ryan is up first, and yeesh! He’s definitely selling his hip-hop routine, though Mia is already shaking her head no. He goes for a combination reverse flip, and on the last tumble, his feet slip from under him, he falls way short on the rotation, and lands on top of his head!! It is gruesome! He barely moves for a few seconds, as Nigel nervously calls for a medic. No medic answers the call (“Why is there no medic in the building?” Nigel asks with exasperation), but Ryan is more stunned than anything and gets to his feet. Nigel cuts him to the quick, and quickly. Ryan does not take it well. He says all the 13 years of dancing (wasn’t it just seven? Sorry, I’m interrupting) may have been for naught and maybe he should rethink what he does. I hope not, dance because you love it, kiddo. Lynn-Rae tells us she had a shower, washed her hair, and drew on herself. (Huh???) She writes on her belly, “Where did you go today?” It’s a question that brings her great joy. I am slowly backing away. She writes “fearless” on her arm, cuz that’s what she is. I’m not. I’m hiding behind my couch. Lynn-Rae gets her chance to dance, and does a furious sprint across the stage, her teeth gritted. The judges look puzzled and Nigel clarifies that “she has written graffiti on herself!” I don’t think they are digging the self-affirmation. Lynn-Rae does a strange, possessed bit of twisting and stutter-stepping and the madness (heh!) ends. Nigel says her choreography change wasn’t much more than a bunch of running. Mary says she looked out of control. (Completely.) Lynn-Rae cuts her off to express her undying gratitude to Brian, who is squirming in his chair. “You feel me! I know you do!” she gushes. Brian answers, “I feel you. I don’t know what I’m feeling, but I feel you!” Shane tells her bluntly, “You’re talented, you’re just not right in the head!” That about nails it. Day two, and it’s time Mia’s lyrical class. This one will claim many victims. Mia tells them that if they feel like they are spazzing out while they are dancing, they are doing it right. That’s comforting. Mary says that the street dancers should be good at this one, but Cat reminds us there are only three street dancers left: Musa Smith, a shocking departure from last year; Hawk Hoshiko; and Chris Fuenza from Ryan Conferido’s six step crew. As Mia begins rehearsal, Musa looks petrified. Claire is beginning to struggle with that ankle. Her pain is an eight out of ten, she says. The dancers do Mia’s routine in small groups. Hawk is doing his best and doesn’t look completely ghastly. Chris has resorted to free-styling. Oops. Musa looks like he has the choreography down, but is a bit robotic. Now for the verdicts. Mia says she thinks Chris is “quirky and fun,” but doesn’t think he will be able to hit what’s left to come. Brian tells him he hopes he tries again next year. Chris tries to philosophical, but he’s fighting back tears. Poor guy. Hawk does make it through! Musa, though, will be dancing-ancing (oh, you know the rest). So, is Benji Schwimmer, who wanted desperately to dance out of his swing dance champ dad’s shadow? He only got a six. Claire Calloway is heading for the hospital! Musa wants to show the judges how much he’s worked in the last year. Musa does a blistering hip-hop set, the judges can’t help smiling. Nigel says Musa will likely always find himself dancing for his life… and he’ll probably always get through, because how can he say no to that? Mia thinks he’s one of the bright shining stars of the competition. Ron Montez (sitting in for Shane for the day) says Musa knew how to punch the energy at the right time. It’s five yeses! Musa is continuing! Benji enlists his cousin (and fellow contestant) Heidi for his jive routine to James Brown. Mary seems to be enjoying herself. Suddenly, the tempo like triples and Benji and Heidi are a blur! The judges are oohing and aahing throughout! The kid is impressive! Plenty of tricks, he nailed all of them, and at that pace. Astonishing! Nigel asks (rhetorically, of course) if that was West Coast Swing? Benji says it was. And who is the United States Champion of West Coast Swing? Benji admits that it is he. Wow! Ron says he expected Benji to be good and he “couldn’t lose tonight!” Brian and Mary are in some awe, and Mia says Benji represents fun to her, and she’s a yes. Five yeses to be exact. He’s still in it! Pretty Claire Calloway, who we last saw being carted off in an ambulance, has some grim news, by the look on her face. She tells Nigel tearfully that the doctors say her ankle is badly bruised, and they don’t recommend her dancing on it. But it’s her call. It’s clear she wants to stay, but Nigel makes her a deal. She has advanced this far in the competition, and next season, she will be allowed to pick up right where she left off! No prelim auditions, straight to Vegas next year! That’s unheard of! Claire thanks even more tearfully. Nigel announces that she will be leaving, and the remaining dancers give her an encouraging round of applause. Claire thanks everyone for the opportunity. Day three, Brian’s choreography. Brian acknowledges that everyone is tired (he’s so sweet!), but today they will have to focus. He grinds them in his choreography, lots of boom-ah-kak-kak’s! The focus didn’t show. Dancer after dancer is conquered by his choreography. Three New York auditioners – Mark Spaulding, Juliya Tamarkina, and long-flying Mikey Keith – are up. Mark gamely finishes the routine, despite his many screw-ups, which more than can be said for the other two. Juliya bails quickly, looking lost from the start and staggers off the stage and promptly collapses. Mike gets about halfway through before looking skyward in frustration and walks off. Mark is cut immediately. So much for following through having its rewards. Juliya is being treated by a medic! Boyfriend Stanislov is at her side. Mike is scolded for showing his age just then (18). Brian gives a one word critique: “blah!” Mia says she has loved him before this point, and wants to see more of him. Mary and Ron says they won’t judge him solely on that performance either. Nigel is a flat no, but he is outvoted so Mike is through. Take your lumps and move on, Mikey! Oh, no. Why is he talking? Mike says he knew before he started that he was going to mess up and he didn’t know the choreography. What was the point of that? Nigel proceeds to drop a house on Mike. He tells Mike sternly, almost fatherly, that he does not care what the other choreographers say when it comes to the television show, because HE decides who is going to make the live shows, and HE will NOT have someone screwing up on national television! Got that? Mike gulps and nods and smartly takes his leave. Good Nigel, bad Nigel! Mike says he is aware he is on Nigel’s hit list. He just can’t mess up. At all. Meanwhile, the ambulance is hot again as Juliya gets carted off. The news isn’t all bad in the theatre. A number of dancers blithely glide through Brian’s choreography, including Benji Schwimmer! Surprise, surprise! Sophie Wang also looks like a pro! Hawk takes a crack at Brian’s choreography. He looks visibly uncomfortable. Nigel says he is impressed that Hawk is fighting so hard. Yes. Mary says she was not impressed, but does want to see more. Shane tells him to hold his head up, because he’s come much further than anyone ever expected. Yes. Mia says she’s proud, he’s what the competition is about. Yes. Brian says Hawk keeps surprising him, and he keeps getting better every time. Yes. Hawk still doesn’t look happy. He actually apologizes, but the dancers give him a supportive round of applause. Cat wants to interview Hawk, but Hawk doesn’t want to. Nigel calls all the survivors to the stage. Hawk doesn’t want to go, he doesn’t think he deserves to be there. Then he starts whining that he doesn’t have the training the others do and that’s not what the show is about. (Yes, it is, actually. What show did he think he was on?) Nigel congratulates the remaining dancers, but breaks it down for them. Some sullen-looking dancer named Ben is called out. “I don’t want to hear that you’re not well,” Nigel scolds. Sure, he’d love to say okay, get better, but that would be human and “I’m not human! I’m a television executive producer!” I’m on the floor right now! Hawk is still crying with Cat. She’s trying her damnedest to cheer him up. Juliya is back from the hospital… and she advances, with 41 other dancers! Nigel tells them have to toughen up. Tomorrow is their one-minute solo dance. It will decide who is making the Top 20! The first dancer, Mike Keith, takes the stage… how will he do? Will Benji achieve his dream? (He’s already crying in the promos!) Will Juliya be healthy enough to continue? Can Musa make the cut this time? Can Hawk pull his confidence together? Can Travis do any wrong?