No pity for the dehydrated on 'So You Think You Can Dance'
For the second week in a row, I confess that while I'm no expert on the machinations of the So You Think You Can Dance judges, I'm just a bit flummoxed.
[Spoilers coming...]
Last week, the judges made a statement. They said "We're putting originality ahead of talent, at least for now." As a result, Cedric survived.
What statement were they making this Thursday (June 28), particularly with the female elimination? They made it clear on Wednesday that if Jessi, who missed the main performance, couldn't recover from her hospitalization in time to do a solo on Thursday, she'd just be booted. That seemed fair. You can't dance, you don't stick around. So Jessi came back (turns out her problem was dehydration) on Thursday and not only did she do her solo, but she and Pasha did the dance she should have done last night. I personally don't claim I can dance, much less evaluate dancing, but I thought that she and Pasha were great, far sexier and more exiting than Pasha was with Melanie the zaftig assistant last night.
Jessi's solo dance wasn't so good. For whatever reason she opted to do a hip-hop routine that didn't ask her to do anything more than strut for 30 seconds. That was a bad choice, but as the judges observed, Lauren's solo performance was a glorified and infuriatingly partial striptease -- she stood for 10 seconds, took off her jacket, bumped and grinded for a few seconds and it was over. I love Lauren's spirit and I have a great aesthetic appreciation for, um, her, but even I figured that the judges were going to send her home, but the choice was Jessi without any real explanation. Cat Deeley, fetching in sea foam tonight, didn't understand, nor did Jessi. As the judges noted, none of the women soloed very well.
The men's choice was much more logical. Jesus was pretty good, but his Flashdance-style routine just wasn't as good as what Danny and Neil did. The judges had to eliminate somebody, so he had to go.
Does this mean that Sara and Pasha are going to make a hilariously mismatched team next week?
And why am I finding it so easy to get so worked up about a show that tests a skill I neither possess nor understand? I can't honestly tell you.
Other thoughts from Thursday's results show:
I may have a crush on Lauren, but did she really do her solo dance to a Kevin Federline song? I can't believe she wasn't eliminated just for that. What'd you think of the results? Did Jessi deserve to go? How about Jesus?
Isn't the hush-hush word on the street that Jessi was hiding a medical condition from the producers that manifested itself this week in her collapse? That's why I'm guessing she was so unceremoniously booted tonight. I'm pretty sure that was pre-arranged. She didn't seem to have any hope for the future after that Cha Cha. For another recap of this weeks show, click on the link connected to my name...
It may be that Jessi deserved the boot, despite Lauren's solo being the weakest by far of all 7, but I'm disappointed the judges just kicked her to the curb with nary a word of explanation beyond a blanket statement that all four females' solos were sub-par.
As for the guys, once the bottom three were announced it was pretty much a given who was going home, barring something dramatic in the solos. I did think Neil was in real danger, but given how the judges have talked to him in the past (lots of praise) I wasn't too surprised they kept him. And they certainly weren't going to boot Danny, even if he does annoy the rest of us.
The real question is why Cedric/Shauna weren't bottom three instead of Danny/Anya (and frankly I though Jesus/Sara were better than Dominic/Sabra). Cedric certainly seemed surprised and confused by that too.
As for Fergie...meh. Apparently in the SYTYCD world, there is only one style of music, because I swear every guest artist they've had have all been in pretty much the same style. It's a great time to channel surf or go make tomorrow's lunch...
@ Jessi's departure:
I am so disappointed that Jessi went home. After all that dancing from her with the Cha Cha and her solo, I thought she would be able to survive. I personally liked her choice of having the hot/sexy cha cha and than the slower popping solo.
@ the decisions:
I'm guessing the reason we didn't have much explaination last night was because the show was really rushed. Cat will probably have a discussion with the judges on last night's decision on a segment of next week's episode.
From the paleness of Jessi's face (under extreme makeup), I'm guessing the judges was afraid that she might keel over again.
@ the loss of Jesus:
I personally don't think Neil is a "outstanding" dancer. All he did was do a couple spins across the stage; how is that "dancing for your life?" Though I must admit that Jesus did a boring solo also.
As for Fergie, she did an okay performance last night. Anyone else feel that Fergie lip-synched during the chorus? Personally, I prefer the performances in SYTYCD than shows like Dancing with the Stars.
P.S. It's been awhile since I've seen Fergie live, but does anyone else feel that Fergie looks like she got cosmetic surgery on her face last night?
@ Gary:
I have to admit I like Neil more for his personality...he's a very good dancer, but like you said, not outstanding. Yes, I know, it's supposed to be a dance competition, not a popularity contest...
As far as my criticism of their guest act choices...to be honest, I'm not really that keen on this incessant need to bloat out the result shows with all this fluff. They're not as bad as some (see: AI) but still. My main complaint, though, is that it's always the same style (Rap/Hip-hop) which isn't really my thing. It's a minor complaint, though.
And, yeah, I totally thought she was lip synching the chorus! It was pretty blatant.
I was really surprised they let Jessi go. I think it should have been Lauren. She "danced" for 5 seconds, but I guess they are playing favorites with her even though they said they wouldn't. Unless of course there's something else going on with Jessi's health that we don't know about. I'll miss Jesus. I liked him. Cedric should "step" down, its the "Sanjaya" thing all over again.
I predicted that Jessi would go home following the performance show; however, I didn't really give a reason. The reason I felt that way was b/c I think Nigel didn't want to take a chance in case her condition reoccurred - he didn't want the liability.
I'm disappointed that they (the producers) didn't plan the show better to give the judges time to explain their decisions the way they did last week. It appears from what little they did offer that Lauren was the other possibility of elimination, but obviously I can't confirm that. I also wonder who among the judges was the one who wanted to keep Jessi and who wanted to eliminate her.
As for the guys, I'm not sure what you guys saw in Neil's solo that I didn't, but I wasn't impressed at all. I thought Neil and Lauren should have went home yesterday based on who was up for elimination, not based on Wednesday's performance show. Although you could argue that Lauren was the worst female on Wednesday's show also.
I feel really bad for Jessi, b/c if she hadn't have gotten sick I believe that her and Pasha would not have been in the bottom 3.
I agree with Daniel that Pasha and Sara appear to be a mismatched couple and regardless of the style they are presented they will struggle next week. Pasha may be able to save them b/c of the cir***stances from this week plus Jessi did him a huge favour by pointing out how he stayed with her at the hospital.
I'm predicting that Cedric/Shauna; Neil/Lauren will be in the bottom 2 again and the 3rd couple will be either Pasha/Sara or Danny/Anya again.
I feel that 2 places in the finals have already been locked up by Hok and Lacey. I'm fairly confident that Dominic will be the 2nd guy finalist. As for the 2nd female finalist I'm still debating between Anya and Sabra.
I'm going to try to predict the next few weeks of the competition now:
I think that Cedric and Neil will be the 2 guys eliminated the next 2 weeks - likely Cedric finishing 7th and Neil 6th. I believe that Lauren will be out next and likely Shauna to finish 6th.
That leaves us with a top 10 of (first guys):
1) Hok
2) Dominic
3) Pasha
4) Kamerson
5) Danny
1) Lacey
2) Sabra
3) Anya
4) Jamie
5) Sara
I think the 5th place guy and girl will be Kameron and Jamie - I think they will really suffer without their popular partners (in Lacey and Hok respectively).
In 4th will be Sara and Danny.
I'll admit that the 4th and 5th place finishers could easily trade places based on goodwill earned through their ***ociations with Hok and Lacey.
In 3rd will be Pasha and I'm going with Sabra for now.
In 4th (overall and 2nd among the girls) will be Anya.
In 3rd will be Dominic (2nd among the guys).
In 2nd will be -> and this is where it gets really murky, but I'm going to go with a small upset and say it will by Hok (1st among the guys).
Therefore, the winner will be Lacey. She will be the first female winner. I think this is the year to have that breakthrough.
Woo Hoo, another long post ;)
Neil just doesn't do anything for me. I'll miss Jesus and that great big smile. Lauren's solo was a joke!
I think some reasoning behind Jessi's ouster might be that the producers saw her medical emergency as a stunt. Oh, there might have been some legitimate health issues; most dancers on the show's schedule would get a medical evaluation pointing toward dehydration.
But think about it: On the day of the taping, she comes down with a dramatic illness. Her partner goes on and wins over the crowd. She makes a triumphant return--after a few extra days of practice, don't forget--to dance with her partner finally. She knows she has to dance solo regardless but is riding a wave of sympathy and enthusiasm from the audience and viewers. She makes a defiant comeback "speech" and seems confident she will make it through. The producers nip it in the bud by booting her, because before they know it, every top 10 dancer who's struggling with their mandated routine will try the same thing.
I don't think her illness was fake. On the show they said her ekg had showed there was a problem with her heart. I can't see how anyone could fake something like that. I think Jessie got the boot because she could have been a liablity due to her health.
I know this is a "reality" show, but I don't understand why people equate being carted away in an ambulance to being a stunt. Perhaps if this were The Bachelor or some other piece of crap I'd understand it, but this is a show based on actual talent.
Since Pasha and Jessi had good chemistry and got a dance in which Pasha excels, their Cha Cha would've been at least as good on performance night as it was elimination night. I don't think they would've been in the bottom three.
It's fine if Jessi was dismissed out of fear of medical liabilty but that should've been explained. Based on solos, Lauren should've went home (though I admire her balls for dancing to Popozao).
As for Cedric not being in the bottom three, I point to Mary Murphy being incredibly harsh on Wednesday. If she hadn't been as blunt and seemingly hostile in her "critique", he might've been there. Add that to the fact he took it extremely well and you have a legion of teenage girls hitting the phone lines for two hours.
I'm not entirely impressed by Danny - he's a great dancer, but he just doesn't do it for me. He and Neil are about equal technique-wise (impressive spins, athleticism, great lines) so either of them leaving wouldn't have fazed me.
I liked Jesus the most so I admit I was ****ed. But I'm sure Debbie Allen will cast him in the upcoming Fame movie, so he'll be fine.