SYTYCD

Remember that time I was going to blog all about this season of SYTYCD? Hmm.
Looks like life, or something like it, got in the way of that plan. I personally blame my DVR for allowing me to procrastinate and watch every episode the next day on fast forward mode.

To sum things up: They did a great job giving the All-Stars props for their performances instead of making them just props for performances. Sometimes, the contestants were a little out shined by their more seasoned partners while others blew them off the stage. The tour situation is a little questionable if you ask me; Only the Top 6 get to go on tour? And the rest are All-Stars that have already had their chance? Weird but, I guess it makes sense following the season.

Season 7 of SYTYCD can't be discussed without bringing up the obvious--what the hell were they doing to these kids to cause so many injuries? The answer: Over working them. Alex, a professional ballerina, injured himself doing a leap and is now out of commission for 3+ months. He is probably most use to all the rehearsal and excess work and it seems even his body succumbed to the stress along with Ashley, Billy and Lauren. Hopefully next season they take it down a notch for these young dancers so they don't damage their goods permanently.

Now we're down to the Top 3. Do I agree with America? Yes and a sort of No. I love Robert and Kent and Lauren is pretty amazing. I have issue with two things, however: Why not a Top 4? And Adechike should have been gone a lot sooner then poor Billy Bell. Mr. Bell sustained a knee injury and still kicked the ass of that Bollywood number after the bizarre no one-gets-sent-home-episode. He was voted out the same night as the worst dancer of the season, Jose who clearly only got votes based on the whiteness/wideness of his smile. My ideal finale would have included Robert, Kent, Lauren and Billy.

My picture says it all...

• Voted off
  
• Out by injury
  
• Unfairly cast off because of slightly feminine tendencies

We'll see how the finale goes. It is usually filled with amazing dances from throughout the season and special guests that few people will care about. Hopefully they bring back at least Billy and Ashley to remind us how they were robbed by injury and injustice.

Avidazen, peace out.

I'm couple days late (thank you, DVR) but, my America's-favorite-dancer-instinct was pretty close. Alexie was in my bottom 3 along with Melinda and, in my opinion, Adechike instead of Cristina. Melinda still hasn't impressed me which is common with specialty dancers like tappers or breakers. Alexie however, did blow her solo. She was not dancing for her life and seemed to wilt in front of the cameras during all performances. Hopefully, the other dancers bring it now that they know what their Thursday nights will look like.

Not-so-unfortunately, I will be in Disney World next week so no SYTYCD for me until I reunite with my DVR. Until then, keep it real, keep it cool, keep it dirty.

So You Think You Can Change Things Up?

As a semi-avid SYTYCD follower, Season 7 has brought some mixed emotions. As always, I was excited to meet some 20 new, freakishly talented dancers but this season promised a twist--we would be joining only 10 new dancers on their journey. The other empty spots? All-star dancers from past seasons.

There were many questions right off the bat: Who were these "all-stars"? Were they re-competing? If so, why?! Now that the show has officially got on a roll, the questions have been answered but I'm not sure everyone likes those answers. The all-stars are basically there as a "Dancing With the All-Stars" set up. Former contestants from specific genres have been brought back as familiar faces for the audience and expert partners for the newbies.

After the first night of performances. it is clear why they have brought back these runners up. The 12 all-star performers do bring a new level to the competition but then, when they've done their dance, they roll off stage like a prop only to return next week to be another dancer's partner. Without a week-to-week partner to grow and learn with, no real connections will be made between couples. No Mark and Chelsie, no Melissa and Ade, no Benji and Donyelle.

Also, since they are well seasoned dancers, some of them are blowing the new kids off the block. Twitch definitely outdid himself in the NappyTabs number, leaving Alexie looking a little amateur. Other partners that worked it were Robert and Courtney and Jose and Comfort. In the case of contestant Alex Wong, his all-star partner Allison brought an equally impressive level of talent that amazed and goosebump-ed the judges. However, I respectfully disagree with Mia Michael's statement that the Sonya Tayeh number was the greatest dance ever danced. Off the top of my head, Melissa and Ade's breast cancer performance was called the same and the dance Travis Wall choreographed to Jason Mraz's "If it Kills Me", could also be a competitor in the "Best Dance" category.

We'll see how America feels about the new setup when we see the results show tomorrow. Will they be voting on performances based on their favorite all-star or the actual competitor? My top 3 were Robert, Alex and I have to say, Kent. My bottom 3 were probably. Adechike, Alexie and Melinda. America tends to be more fickle than I, so we will see whose fate they determined tomorrow night.