1. Cat Deeley spoke Spanish for the first time when she welcomed the Miami auditioners with 'Bienvenido a Miami.' It is clearer than ever that this woman needs a recording career. And it will lead off with a remake of Will Smith's "Miami." I've been waiting for the summer anthem to pop up. This is just too obvious.
2. Tice Diorio's involvement in the show continues to dumbfound me. It's not that he's not talented. It's just that he's the least tolerable person on the planet on this show. For me to say this takes a lot. I mean he's sitting next to someone who had the balls to Tweet: "I just don't want to see Brokeback Ballroom," earlier this week in an effort refute his homophobia displayed on last week's show. (I should note that my first reaction to Lythgoe's ignorant tweet wasn't so much that it was incredibly offensive, just that it was incredibly outdated. Really, Lythgoe?! Still pulling out Brokeback jokes?) But back to Tice. I even have a hard time with his facial hair. That thin stripe roped around his jawline? I think it's really just the hair from his head making an organized run for the border. You know it's bad when even your own hair hates you. I wouldn't feel nearly as inclined to be this rude if he wasn't a total jerk to everyone auditioning.
3. Mary Murphy in reaction to the twin girls dancing with each other: "Every season I keep thinking..." (long pause). I really thought she was going to just finish the sentence there.
4. I always love to see who (and how) they bring back former contestants. So far this season we have Lauren from season three teaching the choreography round at the auditions. Fingers crossed for Twitch. Or Katee and Joshua.
5. Prayer of the week: Debbie Allen returns to the judging panel and brings her sister Phylicia Rashad with her. But not P. Rash as herself...P. Rash as her August: Osage County character. Can't you just imagine the critiques the dancers would get if we put this African Queen disguised as a pill-popping matriarch on the judging panel?! That would be siiiinful.
6. Alex Wong (soloist with Miami City Ballet and former member of ABT Studio Company) is involved in this season?!?!?! Talk about someone that could make it to the end. Boy is an incredible dancer and an incredibly sweet guy...he's perfect for this show. Can't wait to see what comes from him.
7. "WIll Memphis just leave our jidges with a case of the blues?" Cat Deeley deserves an award for making groan worthy dialogue charming.
8. I had totally forgotten about this whole "Buck" compliment from last year. Something I didn't forget about? Beatrix and Geronimo (known to some as Tabitha and Napoleon). I seriously cannot wait to see what they choreograph this year.
9. Speaking of choreographers...we got our first sights of Mia Michaels and Adam Shankman looking somewhat interchangeable. God. I forgot how fun this is gonna get.
10. We got our first glance at one of the loveliest girls we've seen yet this season. Caitlin Kinney (whose sister already made it through to Vegas) is one of the more classical looking girls the program has ever had. She has gorgeous legs, feet, and control (as well as some gymnastic ability). Not the most emotional dancer, but lots of room to grow. (Side note, is Mary wearing one of those creepy plastic see-through masks with the makeup painted on?)
11. Marico Flake (I think that's his name but I'm too lazy to rewind when there's pizza in front of my face...this show seems to make me crave carbs...it's tough watching people exert energy) has the potential to bring something very fun to this season; I am in awe of people who can make their dancing look like it's stop motion animation. And while wearing a rainbow colored plaid shirt?! So much cooler than Gumby and Friends.
12. Now, I'm all for trying new dance styles...and I can't even imagine creating my own like the red haired dreadlocked man who came up with "Electric" (also known as bouncing while vogueing...otherwise known as, what I do instead of walking). But a quick question: when did John Travolta in "Battlefield Earth" and Carrot Top have a kid?
13. Sure, Texaco, New Mexico wasn't the best dancer ever, but damn if the producers didn't get to me with that "supportive dad" storyline. Another landmark? Mary and I agreed with one another. I, too, wanted Texaco, New Mexico to kill it. Maybe next year?
14. Twins dancing in perfect unison makes me think those twins from The Shining broke out of the hotel and performed the routine they'd been perfecting all of those years while the grandma was in the tub. How did Mary not trip out to that?!
You forgot to my two favorite quotes of the week!!!... The Miami twins saying, "They learned ballet by reading books" and Adam Shankman's, "There's nothing better than a naughty ballerina!"... This is going to be a fun ride.
Posted by: Misssy619 | May 29, 2009 at 07:55 AM
OOPS... You forgot to "mention"...
Posted by: Misssy619 | May 29, 2009 at 07:56 AM
I had never seen Tyce in auditions before, and his obvious pleasure in being cruel really ticked me off.
I think I've been hearing more substantive remarks from all the judges about the dancers than in auditions past, although they are still stooping for the low humor and crass mockery.
Mary's face at least used to move--now she just makes that joker smile but the rest of her face is immobile. Scary clown!
Posted by: Joanna | May 29, 2009 at 10:18 AM
Tyce is really annoying me...
So cool to see Alex Wong there!
And I always love your Mary Murphy commentary.
Posted by: sophie | May 29, 2009 at 02:15 PM
I cringe every time Mary and/or Nigel ejaculates some euphemistic "too feminine" critique of the male dancers but, like a wombat caught in halogen headlights, I can't turn off the TV. Mary's jaw will eventually retract like a snake's, and she will devour everyone in the studio. Who could miss that? As far as Tyce, if only his hangman's noose were the real thing. The Hawaiian cutie has my support so far, well, Texaco, NM, too.
Posted by: Rob Kendrick | May 30, 2009 at 02:26 AM