(Semi) Live Blogging SYTYCD: 7/16/08

I did my best tonight.  But I gotta admit,  I am WIPED.  Also watched it in a group of people for the first time, so had a hard time keeping up with everything.  FORGIVE ME!

FYI: If you had checked Blogging SYTYCD this week, you would know that Jessicar is out and Comfort is BACK IN! This top ten is already infused with drama.  And while I feel for Jessicar and her injury (it must be heartbreaking),   nothing can get in the way of my excitement/ambivalence that it's Top 10 time. 

12 last week.  10 this week.  That means that it's time to switch up the couples and send my blogger comfort into a spiral of confusion.  Can we take a minute to remember how amazing Ailey was on the program last week?  And how Will then came out and did one of the best solos ever seen on the program?  (I'd be stunned if he didn't take the whole competition.)  Okay, I'm so over reminiscing.  It's time for "So You Think You Can What What?!"

8:00- Cat Deeley is perched at the top of the radio tower, wearing a gold dress that looks a print from an elementary school gift wrap sale.  The hair matches the dress, but the skin is jarringly red tonight.   

8:01- During the introductions Joshua still manages to find joints to bend where most humans don’t have joints.  How am I going to handle seeing him without my beloved Katee? 

8:02- Jessicar comes out to explain why she is leaving the competition.  Broken ribs. Perhaps caused by the fact that her dress is wrapped around her as tightly as a rubber band?

8:03- Cut to a shot of Mary wearing Beyonce’s weave.  It’s nice to know that even though Jessicar is leaving, she has a place to live in Mary’s hair, along with all of the eliminated contestants.  Do you think we could make some sequel to “Being John Malkovich,” called “Being Mary Murphy,” with all the characters living in her head? 

8:04- We will see each of the dancers dance solo this week.  “But that isn’t the only change,” says Cat.  “Mary Murphy will be debuting as the new lead singer of the Pussycat Dolls.” Hey, a boy can dream, can't he?   

8:05- Joshua and Courtney are the first new couple of the night.  Doing a hip-hop routine by Dave Scott.   It seems to be a Frankenstein combination with Elvira on the table instead of a big bolted monster. Joshua begins by popping and locking while Courtney looks possessed on a surgical table propped up in back.   I think Courtney stole one of Cher’s wigs from the “If I Could Turn Back time” video.  The routine centers around Joshua creating Courtney and then controlling her, evidently by a lot of humping.   

8:07- ‘Lil C is the first new judge of the night.  But who cares…Mary Murphy is in a gold tube dress right next to him.  It is possible she is a missing member of the Kardashian family. 

8:10- Chelsea has the first solo of the night.  She is doing a lot of hip gyrations and wearing an aqua outfit with so many layers that when she spins she looks like a psychotic version of Strawberry Shortcake’s Sister, Blueberry Shortcake.  Do you think she smells like blueberries if you scratch her?  Ballroom dancers always struggle in the solos, Chelsea is no exception. 

8:15- I think Cat Deeley is laying in a tanning bed during the commercial breaks.  She keeps getting more red.   

8:16- Kherrington and Mark are up next doing a country two-step by Ronnie and Brandy SUPER PREGNANT!  Seriously, I haven’t been so scared that a woman was gonna pop on TV since I watched the “Miracle of Life” video in sixth grade. 

8:17- The duo begins with a very obvious missed grab in their partnering.  Kherrington is dressed in an S&M version of Ariel’s seashells, and a hoop skirt. Throughout the routine they seem to struggle with the intricate hand changes built into the choreography.  Kherrington shows her lack of finesse in a series of tight turns where her right arm looks less real than the amazing girl with the prosthetic one last season.

8:18-  Mary: “Wow.  This was one tough number.  And what quick step is to fast footwork, and body connection, and frame, country two-step is to a lot of arm connections, tornado turns, and windmill turns.” Methinks that is not an analogy. 

8:21- Gev is up next doing a solo that begins with a series of flips where he grabs his shoe and tumbles around.  He then does some crazy cartwheel where he manages to rip of his t-shirt while tumbling around.  He then tumbles around.  And it rocks. 

8:23- Comfort and Twitch are up doing a smooth waltz by Hunter Johnson.  She had a difficult time with this last time she did it. Let’s hope she can pull through this time. 

8:25- They are dancing to “Open Arms” by Journey.  I half expect Clay Aiken to come down the stairs in a cloud of smoke and wrapped in a feather boa, I know Nigel isn’t beyond shameless cross promotion. Comfort and Twitch seem to have a nice connection, but her line leaves a lot to be desired.  Her knees never fully extend, and her arms are always where they should be, but have no grace to them.  They both seem a bit clunky, lacking the rise and fall that is necessary to a waltz. 

8:26- Lil C has his hair in some crazy cornrow design.  Couldn’t he and Mary have switched?  You know Mary’s scalp looks similar under that weave. 

8:27- “Mmmm, sorry you guys,” says Mary.  “I just farted.” 

8:33- Courtney is up next doing her solo in Nigel’s blue shirt.  The fact that she is dancing to Celine Dion is about as predictable as the fact that she has claw hands.  She does manage to throw her body around the stage with more abandon than Mary after a few drinks.   

8:35- Katee (my love) is up next with... WILL!  OH MY GOD!  This could be amazing.  They are doing a Tyce Diorio Broadway routine. 

8:37- They are dancing to “Sit Down You’re Rocking the Boat.”  The routine is traveling around the stage very well at first.  And halfway through they get into a boat and start to do little other than tip-toe around the edges, pressing each other up and down from seated positions.  For a number in a Broadway musical it might work okay, but on this show it is too much prop use and obnoxiously literal.

8:44- Mary claims to be hopping on “The Love Boat” with this one.  How long until we can get her her own Soap Opera?  Can we get her and Brenda Dickenson together?   She then starts screaming “Yes, yes, yes” like she is hooked up to a car battery. 

8:48- Mark is doing his “Bohemian Rhapsody” routine, which doesn’t seem to show off much dancing at first.  It’s a lot of praising the heavens like he is in show choir.  Do you think the performers are coached in how to beg for votes with their hands when their phone numbers come up?  They should start doing shadow puppets. 

8:51- Streets of Rage rock star, Sonya Tayeh (with the Mohawk that could eat mine for lunch) is choreographing a contemporary routine for Gev and Chelsea.

8:52- The choreography has a nice weight to it, although Gev struggles with a series of barrel turns.  Chelsea has a beautiful line, and is using the weight of her torso (and hair) to swing her body across the stage. 

8:53- I think all of the hair that is shaved off of Sonya’s head has been glued to Mary’s.  What is Mary was really one of those crazy bald headed doll/spider toys that the crazy neighbor kid creates in “Toy Story”? 

8:55- Comfort is back doing her solo.  I am getting a bit tired of her running around and pulling her jeans up.  Although, she manages to use the stage more than usual tonight.      

8:58- Twitch is back dancing to music by Wade Robson?  What?!  This solo isn’t as inspired as his FANTASTIC conductor number from last week.  But he still has a way of gliding, and yes, twitching across the floor that is mesmerizing. 

9:00- Courtney and Joshua are working with Jean-Marc Generioux doing the Rumba. 

9:01- Okay, seriously.  The music is “Hero,” by Enrique Englesias. Jean-Marc continues his streak of taking me back to middle school dances.   What’s next, “Cottoneye Joe”?   The number also finds Courtney continuing her theme of half dresses.  Although this is the most flattering yet.  So flattering that she and Joshua execute a routine that is borderline sex. 

9:03- “When the lift was coming I could see it in your face,” Lil C says and he lifts his hands, revealing talons instead of fingernails. Is ‘it’ her vagina? 

9:04- Mary talks about how they were stroking the floor.  Then Joshua peels back his shirt, revealing a nipple.  Mary starts to climb over the desk, and Lil C sinks his talons into her weave. 

9:10- Katee is up doing her solo next.  She has great phrasing, and uses a lot of levels in her dancing.  I love her.  Although her facial expressions are a bit forced tonight. 

9:12- Kherrington and Mark are up doing jazz by Tyce Diorio.  There’s no story.  Yay! No boats.  Or will they bring out a book with blank pages, just so Tyce can have a prop to use? 

9:13- They are dancing to “Canned Heat," which reminds me of being obsessed with “Center Stage” when I was a kid.  I want to get in a hair battle with Mark.  But I think he would win.  There can be something very “jazz class” about Diorio’s routines.  Mark manages to mask his limitations well, but seems disconnected tonight. 

9:14- “Well, I’m not jumping out of my seat right now,” says Mary. It’s gotta be hard when you’ve got fifty pounds of imported hair sitting on your head.  “Happy is a weigh station between too little and too much.”  Oh, Mary.  I’m gonna have to put that on a shirt. 

9:22- Will is up doing his solo next.  Will he top last week? 

9:23- It’s a lot tamer then last week, and too much running around the stage, hugging the air. 

9:24- Comfort and Twitch are up doing a hip-hop routine by Dave Scott that is “Studio 54 meets 2089.”  They need to bring it this routine. It’s both of their styles. 

9:25- They are wearing costumes that look a bit like “Tron” gets bedazzled.  She is air biting the hell out of this routine, and it must stop.  Twitch does a reverse worm, which is impressive.  The whole thing reminds me a bit of “Scream,” by Michael Jackson…only not as good.  Still, some very nice moments,  including a series of knee crawls that glide forward. 

9:26- Lil C refers to the routine as “Buck.”  Mary claims to “completely understand” what “buck” means.  Liar, liar, pants on fire.

9:28- They praise Comfort as having finally arrived at her potential. Cue a shameless cut to Jessica “raising the roof,” in the audience.  Do you think Comfort went all Tonya Harding on her ass? 

9:35- Kherrington’s solo is up next.  Doing a lot of hip shaking and tossing of her hair.  These solos are underwhelming tonight.

9:37- Katee and Will are up next doing a pas de deux by Desmond Richardson and Dwight Rohden!  AMAZING! 

9:39- They are dancing to David Archuleta’s version of “Imagine” (didn’t I tell you about the shameless cross promotion), and Will is wearing tie dye cut off jeans.  But he is shirtless, so the tie die is okay.  They struggle with an under the arm spin where Katee is being swiveled while Will holds her leg.   But the choreography is strong, giving them both a chance to show off their extension, phrasing, and ability to underplay emotion.  Overall the routine is very nice.   

9:41- I wish that during the critique, Mary would just walk up to the girls on stage with a pair of scissors and start pasting it to her head with Elmers glue.  You know she’s jealous of Katee’s bangs. 

9:42- Nigel says its good that they messed up one thing, because if they hadn’t then they would have “never have surpassed it in their lives.”  I’m glad to know someone else uses hyperbole. 

9:47- Joshua has the best solo of the night to “Jam” by Michael Jackson.  He manages to throw in 540s that seem more like a transition step than the usual flash.  Effortless. 

9:49- Gev and Chelsea are up next doing the jive by Jean-Marc.  Who is this woman assisting him?  She’s like “Run Lola Run” as a “Beetlejuice” character. 

9:50- The piece has a frantic pace to it, but Chelsea is keeping her moves tight and controlled while infusing it will a loose playfulness when needed.  Gev’s arms need a significant amount of work, and he doesn’t do a great job of leading. 

9:52- “The basic movement wasn’t right yet.  You didn’t have that double bounce, or that move in your hips.”  An excerpt from Madame Murphy’s “The Joy of Sex With Dentures.”   

9:55- Cat ends the show by saying that tomorrow night, Mia will “take on the girls.”  Hmmm…

Best of the night

Duos
Katee and Will Contemporary
Comfort and Twitch Hip hop
Joshua and Courtney Smooth Waltz 

Solos
Joshua
Twitch
Katee

Going home
Kherrington
Mark

Comments

[Cindy]

I made most of the same observations that you did in last night's show but could not have expressed it as well or with your humor. I enjoy your (semi) live blog more each week but I sometimes don't understand your movie and music references. By the way, what are 540s? I think I'm a bit out of touch.... okay, way out of touch.

[Cindy]

I made most of the same observations that you did in last night's show but could not have expressed it as well or with your humor. I enjoy your (semi) live blog more each week but I sometimes don't understand your movie and music references. By the way, what are 540s? I think I'm a bit out of touch.... okay, way out of touch.

[Natalie]

I feel bad for Mark and Kherrington. I like them both, but they were the weakest of the night. So will comfort get to go on tour? Interesting....

[Chimene]

I only liked 2 couples, Katee & Will, obviously, followed by Josh & Courtney. I'm sick of Comfort already and want Jessica back instead. I can only pray next week is better.

[Josie]

And may I just ask--what was up with Lil C's comments? “Balance on the fulcrum of character”... “the mediators and intercessors to communicate and manifest what the choreographers see"...I mean, understand the words he's saying, but I feel like he's just throwing in these "big" words to sound fancy. Anyway, thanks for the great live blogging! Fun stuff as always!

[jennifer]

I'm sooo conflicted because Project Runway is now on at the same time as SYTYCD. Although my loyalty lies with PR, I know I have your blog posts to keep me updated on the latest on the dancing reality show front. thanks m!!

[Scarlet]

Comfort better go. Katee and chelsie are my favorites...and all the guys.

[Blake]

When watching the results show last night I kept wondering what you would think about Cat...she was particularly loopy last night! I'm surprised you don't poke more fun at her than you do at Mary's outfits...doesn't it get old after a while?

....no.

[M]

I actually missed the result show! Was busy photographing a dance show in Helena, MT.

Blake, I just find Cat so utterly charming, and sincere, that I have hard time poking fun at her. But I agree with you, the Mary commentary is getting old ;) And she's been so subdued recently that I'm losing interest. I'm a bit ashamed of this live blog, I struggled to get through it, as I was a bit sleep deprived after traveling. Been absolutely exhausted. But I'll survive :)

Thanks for tuning in, everyone!

[Bruce]

Hope you are having fun up and out there. Bill's from South Dakota, so I know what it's like to return home with him out on the range!

I thought Mark and Comfort would be going home. WRONG TWICE. I know Gev was not going to be in the top three but you know I have had a soft spot in my heart for the lil guy. I was sad to see him leave but I have recovered and I will go on. Like the ending of an Albee play.