[lodica1967]

I can't believe I am about to say this but.... I LOVED Danny tonight. I couldn't take my eyes off of him. I have know idea what was different but he blew me away and made me forget how much I dislike him!

Dom and Sabra were very good too. He has really grown on me. He goes all out, no shame or self-consciousness at all.

I liked Pasha and Sara's routine but I keep getting flashes of Olivia Newton John's Let's Get Physical video. I hope it's enough for them to stay, I want to see more of them for now.

Kam and Lacey, starting to get tired of them. She's good but annoying. He's average but nice enough. I hear they broke up and Lacy is spending lots of time with Hok now!

Poor Hok, all praise for Jamie and he looked really upset. He was bad though, or he had bad choreography to work with. Not sure which.

Lauren and Neil. WTF! I wish Mia was more consistent with her routines. I either love them or hate them. Hated it!

 

[murgatroyd]

Another Wednesday night, home late, blitzed through on FF stopping just for the routines and notes from judges. It's a frantic pace, but in ways I like seeing the routines fresh, with no pre-conceptions from the behind-the-scenes commentary.

Wade is on the panel!

We get to hear Wade's notes! :up: :up: :up:

But that means -- no routine from Wade.

Sabra and Dominic: Jive, choreographed by Tony Meredith
Lots of fun, lots of energy. Nice lift. I liked her better than him. Good way to start the show, enjoyable, but is it re-watchable? (contrast Joey's jives on DwtS, super fun)

Jamie and Hok -- Broadway, with Tyce. Lighting director went all-out again. Jamie was gorgeous. Obviously, I liked this more than the judges did, but have to agree with Nigel somewhat in that I wanted more for Hok to do.

Sara and Pasha -- jazz, Mandy Moore. Very spiff, lots of fun. Some good moments.

Lauren and Neil -- contemporary with Mia. Loved the choreography. [Okay, it's twisted, but come on, what's not to get? It's weird. It's about the music. Does everything have to have to beat you over the head with a story? This is dance, for crying out loud, you use it to express stuff that you don't say in words.]

But the execution, not so much. Granted, it's hard to dance with the sunshades on. And granted, they only have so much time to perfect it. But think of what the piece would have looked like, if it were danced by a couple who could do perfect unison. Think how awesome it would be.

As it was, I thought it exposed just how different Lauren and Neil are stylistically. When they move, you can see the type of motion is really different, and in this piece, it shouldn't be. Kinda unfortunate. And as I've said in previous weeks (at least, I'm pretty sure I've pontificated on this before), if they had nailed the piece, the judges would not care so much if they didn't get it. Their dancing wasn't enough to convince the panel that Mia's choreography was the most kick-ass routine ever.

Anya & Danny: Foxtrot, with JMG. The kid comes out of his shell! Finally!

Performance of the night, definitely. But hey, how convenient that they have a ballroom dance this week. (Oh, was that my outside voice?)

Lacey and Kameron: Oh, lordy! did Lacey and Kameron get it from the judges, or what? Not that they didn't deserve it.

I would be very interested in hearing from Dan about how HE thought the two of them did. There were several spots in the routine where I thought Kameron had nailed Dan's attitude really nicely. It wasn't that he learned Dan's routine and then went out and danced it, he was doing a Dan impression. His expressions, the way he holds his head, the whole deal, it felt like Dan all over. Pretty funny. So in that respect, I really enjoyed the routine.

Could it have been performed better? Probably. I can't tell, because there have been so few times where I've seen a routine of Dan's where I've felt the dancers knocked it out of the park. It's partly because his style is so smooth -- if you dance it with a real laid-back vibe, it's nice when you are watching it, sure, but then -- the memory just pops like a soap bubble and you are left with this vague 'well that was nice' afterimage, which fades.

The killer knock against Kameron is, though, if you send somebody's partner off and they've got their solo thing and you find your mind wandering and looking around for the other person instead of being rivited to the soloist -- that's a sign that the soloist isn't exactly knocking your socks off, you know? But was it him, or the choreography, or some of both? I can't say.

Performance of the night: Anya and Danny

a lackluster thumbs up to:
Sabra and Dominic
Sara and Pasha

and my predictions for the bottom three:
Lacey and Kameron
Lauren and Neil
Jamie and Hok

It will be interesting to see what happens if that turns out to be the case. I suspect Wade will feel bad about arguing hard in favor of Hok and Jamie precisely because they performed his piece so well (trying hard to be fair to everyone else).

Taken as a group, without regard to couples, my top 10 would be:

Girls:
Jamie
Sara
Sabra
Lacey
Lauren

Boys:
Danny
Hok (duh)
Pasha
...

and then it gets tough, because in order to choose between Kameron and Neil and Dominic, I'd want to go back and look at all the tapes again -- which I obviously don't have the time to do before tomorrow night. Or see them with different partners, which we won't get to do until next week.

It's not that I don't like Anya, but as the judges have said, she's not compelling as a soloist. And for the ballroom routines -- Anya and Pasha are very good technically, and they're great to watch together, but I don't like either one of them anywhere near as much as I like Cheryl Burke or Tony Davolani on Dancing with the Stars. I know it's not fair to say that, because Tony is a (current) champ, and they are both pros. But Cheryl and Tony draw my eye -- if I am watching a group of the pro dancers I am always looking to see where they are. And I can't say the same for Pasha and Anya. If you had all the girls on stage at once, I don't think I would be looking for Anya to see how she was dancing.

That's what it comes down to, for me. Which dancers compel you to look at them? It's just like what Julia says, which dancers make you say "I can't take my eyes off" him/her?

Which routines are the ones that make you want to go back and watch them again?

As a whole, I think this episode was weak, choreographically for sure, maybe performance-wise, too.

Jan

 

[Bill Reeves]

I enjoyed Dominic and Sabra's routine -- I think they are my favorite couple. (err, were, because after this week they won't be a team any more).

My wife's theory is that Hok and Jamie are safe this week, because the producers will want them both to be in the top 10 so they can include Wade Robson's hummingbird routine on their tour. We'll see.

Last week, I was harsh on Lauren and Neil, but this week, I really enjoyed their performance. Perhaps it was because the routine did not require them to show any attraction for one another.

Lacey and Kameron's routine this week turned me off.

Predictions for the bottom 3: Jamie and Hok (both safe according to my wife's theory), Pasha and Sara (both safe), Anya and Danny (their wonderful performance this week won't help them, and both will get bumped based on their past, not based on this week). Just a guess though -- I would rather see Lacey and Kameron in the bottom 3, but America seems to think Lacey is a goddess or something, they've never been in the bottom 3.

 

[Cearbhaill]

My wife's theory is that Hok and Jamie are safe this week, because the producers will want them both to be in the top 10 so they can include Wade Robson's hummingbird routine on their tour. We'll see.

I think she's spot on correct with this. I would even go as far as to say that their negative reviews of Hok's performance were designed specifically to cause backlash voting that keeps him out of the bottom three so they aren't forced to dump someone they like in order to preserve the tour roster.

Nevertheless- as soon as he is firmly ensconced in the tour they're done with him. I think they're done with Kameron and Anya, too. I've always resided firmly on the grassy knoll but last night it seemed to me like every judges comment was designed along some sort of agenda. It was almost as if they had a list in front of them "Hok- poor execution, Kameron- heavy footed and invisible, Pasha- great partnering, Dom- great growth, Sabra- heaps of praise, Lacey- find something negative" and so on. I hardly once felt that any given comment related specifically to the performance it followed. They've chosen who they like and who they don't and that's that.

They also went very far out of their way to emphasize individual performances over couples, where usually it is all about chemistry and selling it. I know they are "preparing" us for the dissolution of our couples but it just felt heavy handed and manipulative to me.

That said- I liked the Lauren/Neil routine and they are by far my least favorite couple. I suspect it was Mia's choreo I loved rather than the dancers but found it innovative and interesting which is much more than I can say about Dom/Sabra or Lacey/Kameron. Some of Lacey's booty shaking was near porn worthy IMO- the doggy style followed by the squat humps were cringeworthy. I know this sort of thing is all the rage right now but I don't care for it.

I liked Pasha and Sara- him because he is to die for, and her because she is meeting each challenge without embarassing herself. Anya/Danny are still meh to me- I could feel her favoring her ankle and it diminished the performance for me. Jaime/Hok- she's a lovely dancer but the giggles are killing it for me. And Hok is capable of much more and I blame "Tasty Oreo" for that mess. He dropped the ball there IMO.

It wasn't the most enjoyable episode for me, mostly because of my perception of the judges comments, but also because no one performance blew me away. Mia's choreo came close but the out of sync portions spoiled it.

 

[JoBeth66]

I was working last night, so I didn't get to comment as the show was going on.

Sabra & Dominic - she is just a powerhouse. So incredibly strong - that lift blew me away. I really enjoyed their *performance*, for all that their technique wasn't tops. they had enough pizazz that it hid the mistakes.

Jaimie & Hok - ok, but it didn't grab me. I totally agree with the 'keeping them on the panel for the sake of the tour', but next week they'll probably go unless they turn in amazing performances. I didn't like the choreography, which doesn't help my opinion - Jaimie does seem to make it look effortless - but Hok was given crap to work with, and I felt like HE wasn't feeling it, either, which made it that much worse.*

Sara & Pasha - Damn, but I hope they're safe. The routine was a little different, but that was the FIRST jazz routine I've seen this season that FELT like a jazz routine. Maybe, like Mandy Moore, I just like the jazz hands. So much fun, and the two of them have awesome partnering skills, they feel like they've been together forever from watching them. I think *both* of them will do well next week, because they're both strong partners. They don't belong in the bottom 3, but I'm afraid they'll end up there*

Lauren & Neil - Mia's choreography was great, contemporary with a hip-hop feel, and finally one that didn't have all that angst and crap that we've seen the last few weeks. That being said, neither of them was up to the challenge. You HAVE to be good to perform her stuff. You have to feel it, and you have to get inside it - and they just didn't. They failed, horribly. Technique, style, performance - none of it was there, on any level.*

Anya & Danny - Jan, I really paid attention to Danny this week, after your insights from last week - and there's a *marked* improvement in his performance. He was THERE. He wasn't inside himself, he was performing for the audience, and he was having fun, and the routine was just gorgeous. Yes, Anya was favoring that ankle, but she covered it up well, her form and technique were there, and they just looked good. I really enjoyed this number.

Lacey & Kameron - dreck. Pure dreck. She was total porn chick Cearbhaill. Again, more with the faces & expressions (though they fit in more with THIS number than they have in the ones she's done previously), Kameron did nothing for me, and there was just nothing stand-out about them or the number. His solo was lackluster, at best, and her sitting on the side of the stage just takes away from whatever it was they were trying to convey. These two *belong* in the bottom 3. They should've been there before, but it seems like the country has something for her.

* - my pick for bottom 3. I hate to see Sara & Pasha in the bottom 3, but I'm afraid they will be to keep Lacey & Kameron safe.

 

[Bill Reeves]

Yeah, I didn't want to use the p-word to describe Lacey and Kameron's dance, but that's what it reminded me of. Trampy and skanky, and not in a good way. I prefer my porn to be more private.

 

[coolpenguin]

hhhmmm I enjoy Wade's choreography but I don't enjoy him when he's a judge. I can't pinpoint it, but there is something about him that just annoys me. I love love love his hummingbird routine, so I completely agree about Hok going through so he can do it on tour. Last night I think lacked in choreography for pretty much everyone. Nothing really blew me away. Dominic and Lacey are definately my least favorites and I really want to see them go.

 

[mwhip]

Kind of a ho-hum week nothing too Earth shattering. Since I am new to this season is Wade always this critical?

 

[Indiana627]

RE: Lacey - my wife and I looked at each other last night and said to each other "she looks and acts like a porn star!"

 

[firerose818]

So, I must the only person who didn't love the jazz routine. I love Sara and Pasha, but man, I thought the routine was awful. Or maybe it was the Queen song I didn't like, or the awful costumes. But it just did not work for me at all.

I did like Jamie and Hok's broadway routine better than the judges though. I also liked Danny and Anya, a couple I don't usually enjoy watching.

But I thought the best routine of the night was my favorite couple's: Dominic and Sabra. I think Dominic would make a heck of a ballroom dancer, considering he has never had formal training. And, I think Sabra is just beautiful and a joy to watch.

 

[jehma]

I don't know what to think about Jaimie. She's a gorgeous dancer, and then she opens her mouth and ruins it. I think I'm ready for Lacey to go. She just isn't doing anything for me. Sara, OTOH, I love. She might not have the training of some of these dancers, but I love to watche her.

Of the men, I still find Hok the most interesting, and last night's choreography was bad for him.

 

[jradosh]

So, I must the only person who didn't love the jazz routine. I love Sara and Pasha, but man, I thought the routine was awful. Or maybe it was the Queen song I didn't like, or the awful costumes. But it just did not work for me at all.

I really disliked it at first, but felt it got better as it went along.

And hey, what's wrong with a little dirty porn dancing?!?!?

 

[JoBeth66]

And hey, what's wrong with a little dirty porn dancing?!?!?

Jeremy, you know me. So if *I* think it was over the top porn dancing...



All I keep thinking is, I just have to wonder what her family is thinking, seeing their daughter dancing like that!! It's one thing to dance sexy, and many of the girls have done that - but this is beyond "sexy" (I don't think it counts as sexy) and into pure raunch.

 

[mwhip]

Jeremy, you know me. So if *I* think it was over the top porn dancing...



All I keep thinking is, I just have to wonder what her family is thinking, seeing their daughter dancing like that!! It's one thing to dance sexy, and many of the girls have done that - but this is beyond "sexy" (I don't think it counts as sexy) and into pure raunch.

Hey I am perfectly OK with it. I could care less what her family thinks.

I do wonder how short her hair is with out the weave though.

 

[zalusky]

I am getting tired of Anya and her one note style. I also think Danny over performed his foxtrot. His high leaps just did not seem appropriate character for foxtrot style.

But thats just me.

Yes Lacey danced the porn (Fine with me) but I think she is much more versatile than some of the other dancers and deserves another round or two.

She is definitely more versatile than her brother.

 

[murgatroyd]

Interesting comments, everyone. I was just dumping the show off to tape while I was reading, so I saw the behind-the-scenes stuff, and the judges' comments at the end, for the first time, including the snippet that this is the last time the judges will have a say about who goes.

Here's the thing about Tyce's choreography that bugged me.

The problem with deliberately choreographing that someone can't dance is this -- it actually takes MORE technique to deliberately dance badly and to sell that you just can't do it, in the context of the routine.

It's like the music of PDQ Bach. You have to be an amazing musician in order to play that deliberately badly. It takes exquisite control and timing.

And if Hok is supposed to be old, and Jamie is the magic spirit that makes him young again, where's the part of the routine that allows him to establish his age? In the context of a show, I guess, you could let a guy walk on stage before the number, doing a walk that looks like it is too painful for him to move, and then once the music starts, you get the transformation. But the way they set it up, we didn't get that. The contrast wasn't there.

The pieces have to speak for themselves -- you can't depend on the rehearsal segment to set things up.

Now to take some points in order. I agree with Bill's wife's theory about them wanting to have the hummingbird routine on tour. But I don't think it's a mortal lock -- I still think it will depend on who else ends up in the bottom three. I would agree with Cearbhaill that once he is safely in the top three, he'll be gone, except that after this week, it isn't up to the judges. So it will come down to the popularity vote. We'll see.

For Sara and Pasha: I like Sara a lot. I also liked the routine, but I felt that the number could have been performed better. There were some spots, like where Sara threw Pasha that Look -- the Look was great. But what if the whole number had been danced with the same kind of sass? I think it could have been brought up another notch without over-selling it. A little crisper, a little more 'pow', a little sassier.

Danny -- watch at the end of the show where they are panning down the line and the camera comes to him. There he is, biting his lip again. Crap, now that I have noticed it, it is going to stick out a mile. I hate that. But I think he was sincere in the after-dance commentary where he said he enjoyed dancing to that music. He looked like he was having fun. He's kicked butt with the other smooth dances.

I liked some of Wade's commentary a lot, especially when he was talking about Kameron and Lacey and what went wrong with Dan's routine. The kind of stuff he was talking about is just what I like when I hear commentary, because I can be watching a routine and I know *something* is off, but not what. And when Wade said that they didn't hit the hard parts hard enough, it was one of the 'yeah, that's it!' moments.

Plus I know exactly what he is talking about, when he was saying you have to dance inside the music. That kind of thing, when done right, can make or break a routine. A routine can look like total crap if you are not with the music, and you think it is total drek, but then you see it performced properly and you say oh WOW because it is a completely different animal. I felt that way about Mia's routine, and you could make the same case for most of the performances on the show last night -- the only difference was the degree.

Jan

 

[jradosh]

Yeah, definately slutty.

 

[GoHalos]

Did I miss the first time that they showed when Dominick dropped Sabra and her head whipped back and smashed against the stage? My wife and I hadn't remembered that, and were surprised when we saw it last night in the "recap".

It looked like maybe there were others on the stage when it happened, so I guess it was during a group dance.

 

[firerose818]

Did I miss the first time that they showed when Dominick dropped Sabra and her head whipped back and smashed against the stage? My wife and I hadn't remembered that, and were surprised when we saw it last night in the "recap".

It looked like maybe there were others on the stage when it happened, so I guess it was during a group dance.

I was guessing it was a group dance rehearsal.

 

[GoHalos]

I was guessing it was a group dance rehearsal.

Could have been.

Whenever it happened, it sure looked like it hurt!