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Say what you will: I still say this is a talent show, not reality TV == and these dancers have MEGA-talent!
While I'm not sure I'm 100% bought into this "all-stars" partnering scheme, last night's kick-off to the new season of So You Think You Can Dance was pretty stellar.
It was interesting to hear executive producer Nigel Lythgoe say that he was hoping that pairing the contestants with favorites from past seasons would up the quality level -- make people rise to new heights. Sort of a Dancing with the Almost Stars. I'm still a little confused as to what happens to the all-stars. Are they all sort of in the bullpen, and they get paired up as the producers see fit? It must be something like that, since there are 12 all-stars to begin with. (Dominic didn't dance last night.) Or were they planning to also have a surprise sixth girl too, but decided not to?
I'm also wondering if the popularity of the all-stars will rub off on their partner each week, or if people will realize they're only voting for the contestant?
Questions! I have questions. And their site and blog don't answer them all.
Image courtesy FOX/Mathieu Young
But enough of that, let's get down to it. Welcome to Season 7's first recap!!
1. Contemporary dancer Billy paired with all-star Lauren to dance a Tyce Broadway routine
Done to the tune of "Footloose," this was a lot of posing and messing about a set of school lockers, and not a lot of dancing. Frankly, Lauren pulled my attention the whole time. Maybe it was her stellar abs (I'm jealous, so what?) or maybe it's just that she has a frickin' personality!! Billy needs to work on that, because this routine was all about personality and sharp quick moves, and he was all about the "look at my fabulous extensionsssssssss."
Bottom line: After he dropped out so quickly last season due to illness, I think the SYTYCD audience will want to see more of Billy, no matter what.
2. Salsa dancer Cristina paired with all-star Mark on a Sonia jazz routine
This number was also a bit pose-to-pose. Full of staccato moves and kind of cliche snaky moves, if you ask me. But Cristina pulled it off well for a salsa dancer without a lot of this kind of movement experience. I didn't love it, but not sure that was about her.
Bottom line: She might be at risk, simply because the piece itself was a little disjointed and without enough amazing moves to compensate.
3. B-Boy Jose paired with all-star Comfort for a Napoleon/Tabitha hip-hop routine
The judges had this exactly right. When Jose was down on the floor exhibiting his strength and flexibility, it was amazing. When they were dancing, feet on the floor, Comfort outshined him by a mile.
Bottom line: Still, the only B-boy in the competition isn't going anywhere the first week. We all want to see him tackle something other than hip-hop, and hopefully shine! That's why we watch the show, right? And that's why folks like Dominic and Twitch are all-stars.
4. Contemporary dancer Adechike paired with all-star Katherine to dance a Travis contemporary routine
This was some weird office fantasy sequence, and all due respect to the judges, I don't think the routine itself was up to the standard Travis set for himself last season. Yeah, it's really creative to have a hot chick in a red dress and really high heels prance round the stage and writhe about. Now, I agree that Adechike didn't bring and matching chemistry to make that kind of posing and posturing sexy instead of cliche, but I say "meh" to the entire routine, big Katherine fan though I've been.
Bottom line: I think Adechike has had a rough road to the finals, and that may continue.
5. Tapper Melinda paired with all-star Pasha to dance a Tony/Melanie jive routine
Well, this was the clear dud of the evening, IMHO. The judges were all pimping her "performance skills", but I thought she looked freaked out the entire time. And I know she was missing steps, falling behind, not as sharp and winded by the end. Yes, I sound brutal, but I thought this was bad.
Bottom line: Oh, she's gotta be at risk with that one.
When the show was at its halfway mark, I stopped to note that Cat Deeley
