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Different is good on 'Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious'
This crazy train called The Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious keeps chugging along and I, for one, am hoping one girl in particular gets stuck on the tracks.
Spoilers
Ilisa waxes philosophical about the plus and minuses of standing out (tall + red head), saying she thought she'd be the one going home because she's so different.
Fun fact: Chrystina's uncles are pro-football players Ron & Gayle Sayers. I don't think that has anything to do with her being so chippy and full of vinegar.
Then two of the Pussycat Dolls pop up in the oddly cut video to introduce this week's lesson of Charisma - something that can "turn fans into fanatics." Which is a sort of scary thought, actually. Upon meeting with Robin in the studio portion of the house, she announces that the three best girls from last week will be team captains and picking their teams this week. Charley, Carrie and Chrystina get the nods and, like kickball, go into the unnecessarily catty task of picking their teams.
Charley's team, consisting of Tiffanie and Nicole, are singing "These Boots Are Made For Walking" by Nancy Sinatra. During rehearsal, vocal coach Ken Hicks wonders if Tiffanie can dial down her overly dramatic vocal proclivities. Nicole and Charley wonder as well.
Carrie picks Jamie, Alexis and Cassandra to join her in performing Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Want To have Fun." Alexis is having some issues finding her funk because she's classically trained but is still trying super hard. She's also studying to get into dental school which makes some of the girls question whether or not she really wants this. Which she does but, you know, she's smart enough to have a back-up plan.
One-half of the Shrew Crew, Chrystina, gets the last captain spot and picks Natalie (her partner in malice) and Jenna to join her in singing "Respect" by Aretha Franklin. Ilisa, being the last left, is automatically on this team and doesn't seem particularly happy - not only because she's the last picked but because she's on the shrew team.
Natalie immediately starts griping in her confessional because Ilisa stands out too much and they're "trying to blend and be a group." She later talks smack about her with Chrystina and Jenna. Because they're all hateful shrews. Natalie says that she tries to be nice to her but...um...I don't feel she's capable of truly being nice to anyone. Because she's evil.
Later on, some of the girls are practicing and Ilisa offers one of the groups help and they laugh at her. Um. Yeah. Get ready for that karma, you wenches.
This little episode segues into Ilisa explaining to us a little about her past. See, she has an irregular heartbeat that causes her some problems. The first time it happened, she passed out at a dance recital and, despite being given CPR by two nurses on the scene, wasn't revived for 30 minutes - she was even declared dead. That gave her a different perspective on things than a lot of other people.
So, Ilisa being the grown-up she is decides to talk to Chrystina and Natalie about not getting along with everyone else...though she really picked the wrong folks. I suppose it's because they're in the same group but those girls are bitches.
Next, to illustrate what real charisma is, Robin brings the contestants to a listening party for Nicole Scheringzer who sings a number and causes a few of the girls to tear up. She also gives some tips about charisma, one of which is to not be afraid of who you are. Nicole leaves and Robin announces this weeks challenge - they'll be singing the PCD's "I Don't Need A Man" for some of their perspective core audience. Namely a bunch of young girls. Frightening. Each group goes up while the rest are backstage watching.
The young focus group then talks about all the contestants individually to Robin as they all watch backstage. Almost everyone gets super-harsh comments - Tiffanie says they're worse than Ron Fair and they totally are. For example, some 11-year-old said Chrystina looked liked she was trying hard, but still needed to bring more to the stage. Ah, the unfettered honesty of a child.
When it's Ilisa's turn on the Tween Wheel of Random Humiliation, everyone waits with baited breath (and Natalie waits with a certain anticipation of sadistic glee). And guess what? Every one of those girls who spoke really liked her, much to the shock of the rest of the finalists, the majority of whom can suck it. Natalie, unfortunately, got some great feedback too - one girl going so far as to say she could be the lead like Nicole - and damn it all she won the challenge. Ilisa, in her interview, says that even though she didn't win she felt she triumphed as she was given validation to continue being herself.
With renewed confidence, Ilisa gathers all the finalists at the house to share her life story so they can understand her better. She tells them how in she technically died in August of 2005, how she was in a coma and had 3 surgeries. She has a freakin' defibrillator in her heart. She brings some of those salty wenches to tears. Alexis states in her one-on-one that it's not like she didn't like Ilisa, it's just that she didn't get her and was socially awkward - which was the general consensus amongst the girls. Except for Natalie who hates everyone and says that, while she respects that she's a survivor, Ilisa shouldn't be in the group. She adds that this group is Girlicious not "Tomboylicious". But Ilisa reveals that she's not going to worry about what the others girls do or say to her, she's just going to be herself and work it out.
It's performance time and Tiffanie, Charlye and Nicole come out and perform a very interesting version of "These Boots Are Made For Walking" - different than the Jessica Simpson version. I actually really enjoyed it. Tiffanie's been practicing these crazy runs at the end of the number but she fortunately pulled back on that during the performance. Ron Fair said that Nicole doesn't have enough oomph, whether it's laziness or youth, but she still has talent. A little ouch there. Tiffanie and Charyle both get positive marks.
Group Two -Carrie, Jamie, Alexis and Cassandra - also did an enjoyable version of "Girls Just Want To Have Fun." Last week, Cassandra was identified as a "non-singer" but she's progressed very nicely. Jamie too. But when Carrie sings...woo. She really stands out. Robin and Lil' Kim were really into it, bouncing around in their chairs during the performance. Jamie got positive marks from Ron Fair and Cassandra and Carrie were praised as well. Alexis gets some lackluster comments of doom about her lack of personality.
Ilisa starts off "Respect" rather nicely. She's got a lot of strut when she performs and always makes interesting note choices - not bad, just unexpected. There's this weird fan effect when they come out an sing. Not sure that's necessary but whatever. They have the hardest song and the most troubling shots of the judges - they all have pensive face. When Natalie performs, she does have good presence but there's something very prefabricated about her. Maybe it's because I just watched 40 minutes of her being a heinous, two-faced harpy. Robin compliments them on taking the song and making her think of them singing and not Aretha. Jenna gets props on her voice but Ron Fair says she doesn't have enough energy to get away with just standing still and singing. Ilisa gets great marks, complimenting her on standing out. Chrystina gets negative comments, particularly in reference to her voice breaking, speculating that her nerves got to her and she still needs to bring it more to the stage.
After deliberation, host Mark McGrath reminds us that Natalie has immunity. She smiles and I want to punch her in the face. She's an awful, awful person. Anyhoo, because all the groups did so well, the judges decided to eliminate based on individual performances and some of the girls looked like they wanted to hurl when they heard the news. Charley, Tiffanie, Carrie, Jamie, Cassandra are Ilisa all saved first. Jenna, Christyna, Alexis and Nicole are all still left on the chopping block. Jenna and Nicole get stays of execution but Alexis doesn't.
Next week it's time for makeovers and not everyone is happy with the results.
How awesome were those Tween judges? Are we surprised that Alexis was sent home? How many episodes until Natalie gets shanked in her sleep?
I'd have got rid of Christyna this week. I thought Alexis was better than her in the performance.
I thought Natalie would win the charisma competition going in b/c while I wouldn't have picked her to make the final 12 ahead of the '13th' finalist (sorry I don't remember her name, but she was the one that Natalie compared herself to), she clearly does have a lot of charisma.
I thought maybe that Ilisa would win the comp the way they edited the show, but regardless she survives the week.
Had they got rid of Christyna this week, it would've been fun to see Natalie's reaction(s) next week.
I'll say this though, unlike the search for the next PCD last year where it was fairly obvious that Asia was going to win, they have done a better job of not just focusing on a couple people, but showing a few personalities each week. Hopefully, we get more of Jamie next week - as long as she isn't being eliminated during the show.
Rishi | Mar 4, 2008 10:18:03 PM | #i def want Ilysa to win, she's the one with talent. Natalie is a bitch !
Melissa | Mar 11, 2008 11:32:48 AM | #I think alot of the girls are catty not just Natalie. Nichole and Tiffany are always talking to smack about other people as well. They are so annoying!! I think because she is different and really pretty that they always show her comments. She does have a opinions and i think she is great! so do alot of other people, if you see the polls and she is one of the favourites.
| Mar 12, 2008 6:43:11 PM | #It is so crazy how popular Girlicious is with the tween generation, so it was interesting how insightful...the tween judges episode.
My daughters are in a band, G-Force (http://www.gforcerevue.com) and they love the show! Is Ken Hicks available for vocal coaching:)
G-Force Mom
G-Force Mom | Mar 13, 2008 8:40:48 AM | #YOU STUPID BITCH, YOU CAN'T JUST SAY THAT ABOUT NATALIE, YOU'RE SOOO JUST JEALOUS OF HER BEAUTY AND TALENT, SHE'S JUST TRYING TO WIN SO STOP HATING ON HER. YOU DUMB WHORE
| Mar 13, 2008 11:36:07 AM | #Natalie is a bitch in and out... sorry hun shes awful and if they put her in the group, its gonna suck balls cause uh she thinks everyone sucks except her. doesn't spell a good recipe for a group now does it?1?! shes in it for herself and herself only, and will be a terrible role model for tweens all across the world. she needs to get off asap. she makes for good reality tv though, thats the only reason they are keeping her on there. its all about the ratings!
Shantel | Mar 26, 2008 2:29:55 PM | #I love Charley! I hope she be one of the 3 girls to be choice! I think Nicole, Charley and Tiffany should be in girlcious. Christine and Jenna aint no good
O Baker | Mar 31, 2008 10:45:05 AM | #Well i dont think tiffany should be in the group or or natalie, because they both got bitches ways. But i love nicole and Charley! Charley my favorite. I hated when she broke down and started to cry about her father death when she was on her college trip. But she grew strong and was not elminated. I love her make her #1
T Baker | Mar 31, 2008 10:47:50 AM | #fuk natalie n chrystina...nichole,,tiffani,,charyle
Nicole | Apr 10, 2008 9:44:55 AM | #Natalie is very rude and arrogant.
S.E. | Jul 23, 2008 2:33:48 PM | #Hello Everyone!
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