So You Think You Can Blow A Dance Finale?
Posted by: Ducky in Cat Deeley, Ducky Does TV, Mary Murphy, Mia Michaels, Nigel Lythgoe, So You Think You Can Dance, So You Think You Can Dance Season 4I know I’ve been down on So You Think You Can Dance for a couple weeks but my overall love for the series hasn’t faltered… know that going into this. Last night I was completely dissatisfied with the Season 4 finale and it was so much so that at one point I was actually pissed off I was watching 2 hours worth of the show.
There was only 1 routine that I feel was worthy of being in the finale and it was also the only routine that really showcased why these people were in the finale. No I’m not talking about the Russian Trepak which I loathed, I’m talking about the man, the myth, the legend Wade Robson’s number that Katee and Joshua performed. It was the only routine all night that made me think, these kids are frakkin’ banoodles! It was dark, emotional, haunting and absolutely gorgeous to watch. I was sincerely wow’d by this number but that’s where my excitement ended sadly.
So before someone has an aneurysm I’ll talk about the Twich/Joshua Russian Trepak. I understand that it was meant to showcase their strenght and their amazing abilities but I don’t think it was all that. The posturing and the chest pumping was annoying considering no one has pit these two against each other all season, so to make a fake rivalry now is ridiculous. I’ve seen Twitch and Joshua spin and jump higher and faster than they did last night so I felt it added nothing to the competition… other than hospital visits. This is the number that sent both boys to the hospital over the weekend and I can see why. They damn near killed themselves doing a number that came nowhere near the talent we saw in Season 2 or 3 between Benji and Travis, Danny and Neil. Those were dances that showcased each dancers talent while still fitting the spirit of the show and of the competitive nature between them. This was just whack… and I know I’m in the minority here.
Continue reading after the jump…
Can we talk about the shit storm that was Mia’s Top 4 routine? What the hell was that plaid nightmare? Like any red blooded American male, I like seeing Twitch and Joshua shirtless and in kilts but poor Katee and Courtney’s outfits made my eyes hurt… or was that from the performance? I’ve loved and defended Mia Michaels for years but that number was so off the mark as a celebration of the final 4 and as a capper to the season that she should be slapped. It was a huge nuke of a bomb. I couldn’t tell if they were all out of sync or if it was supposed to look that way but either way, I didn’t feel like it was intentionally messy so those kids must have danced it poorly. I hate to side with Nigel but I just didn’t get it.
Maybe I’m feeling let down by the talent and the production overall because right now I have to declare this season as their worst yet. I feel like we never hit the point where every routine and every dancer were flawless. In previous seasons, by the Top 8 there was barely a misstep but all the way down the the Top 4 this year, these kids were barely nailing the routines. The choreography was spotty at best.
While I championed NappyTabs for the first two weeks of the competition, I take it all back now. They used and abused these two to the point where they had nothing left. Napoleon and Tabitha were the constant this season which was unfortunate because that constant was weak ass slow hip-hop week after week. Next season I don’t want to see them more than 3 times total. They can Judge all they want, but keep them off the stage for a while. Bring back Cicily and Olisa, have Lil C do a hip-hop number… hell get Paula Abdul’s crazy ass in some leg warmers and have her bust out some Cold-Hearted up there on the scaffolding or something. I can’t take another season of NappyTabs, can I get a witness?
I’m going to stop now because I’m just being Negative Nelly but I will end with me eating my foot. Katee Shean for the win… how’s that for a 180?
*Don’t forget to download all of your favorite songs from last night’s performance over at my SYTYCD Music Guide!
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August 7th, 2008 at 8:13 am
I think I am kinda with you. Is it because the whole season seemed a little rushed and all the dancers were dead last week not mention the walking dead this week? I loved the Wade routine/ Maybe they should have doen the interview thing back in week whatever instead of making everyone dance two dances so early. I feel like I barely knew the top 20.
August 7th, 2008 at 9:00 am
Hi hon!
My thoughts (in no particular order):
1.) NappyTabs need to GO. Their choreography is nothing special and I hate watching her cling to him in the audience every week. He’s not going anywhere honey, TRUST me. I need Wade and Shane back, I think that’s a big part of what’s been missing this season. Which (let’s remember!) is not the dancer’s fault.
2.) The Russian routine was entertaining but you’re right, we’ve seen much better actual dancing. Do we know for sure those two were the ones sent to the hospital? Not gonna lie, I spent most of last night trying to figure out who “the two” were…I’m pathetic.
3.) Here’s where we disagree…I LOVED Mia’s routine. I loved the chaos and thought it was the perfect piece for the 4 of them to leave it all on the stage. That being said, I may have just been distracted by the kilts. HULLO!
4.) She was my most hated in the beginning but I’ve also done a 180. Katee should win. Joshua was the most entertaining, the sweetest and a phenomenal dancer but Katee should win. She did every type of dance flawlessly and was technically amazing.
5.) Almost forgot…the parasol dance may have been the most horrific thing I’ve ever seen on that stage. I had a physical reaction to it and wanted to punch through the TV. WHY GOD WHY do they continue to do Broadway routines with music from four hundred years ago??? There are musicals with amazing music that have been done really recently, why do they continue to do that crap??? I wanted to shove those parasols down Tyce’s throat.
Also, Courtney’s neck was 5 times the size of Katee’s. Please watch when they’re standing next to each other listening to the judge’s babble about the routine. You will pee.
August 7th, 2008 at 9:02 am
I agree! I’ve been wholly disappointed this season. I don’t have a bunch of favorite dances from this group and I kind of blame the choreographers for a total lack of extraordinary routines. Nigel and Mary totally k*ssed choreographer butt this season too and I don’t have any idea why.
Next season, I think we need more of Dmitri, Sonya and, of course Wade. Plus Mandy Moore had a few early on and then, she was kind of left out towards the end. Also - what about having Travis do some choreography? Clearly, he’s capable - he’s doing it during the auditions….
August 7th, 2008 at 9:13 am
Hate to disagree with you…really, I HATE to…but I thought the dancing this season was spectacular. I agree that the choreography was lacking this season. Tabitha and Napoleon were WAY overused, the western swing was an abomination, and I wanted to wretch every single stinkin’ time the judges did the “Choreographer Butt Kiss.” It was almost like they were trying to convince themselves that the choreographers were up to snuff. I missed Wade Robson. I think it put a HUGE damper on the show.
The dancers themselves, though? I thought they were excellent. I’ve loved the season (as I’ve loved them all). I’m still bummed it is over.
August 7th, 2008 at 9:39 am
I think you are being too negative. The dancers were clearly exhausted last night, but this season has been far tougher on them than on dancers in previous seasons. They’ve been doing 2 routines a show since the top 12 or 14. Back a couple of weeks ago, they did a group number and then a girls and a boys dance.
Wade’s routine was wonderful last night but remember that horrific mother/baby fox dance he forced upon Lacey and Sabra. While it would be wonderful, we can’t expect each choreographer to be brilliant all the time. Mandy comes close but even she had a stinker earlier this season.
I agree that Katee should win. She’s technically brilliant and has a quiet but winning personality. Don’t get me wrong–I love Josh, but I think he’ll have a wonderful career (as will Twitch) and be used by Shane, Dave Scott and some of the other hip hop choreographers in film and videos. Katee, as a contemporary dancer, could use the money and the fame from a win more.
I thought Mia’s group number was horrible last night. As Nigel said, “I didn’t get it.” The crappy camerawork may have been the problem, particularly when combined with the “dramatic” blue mood lighting. It’s very difficult to see all the dancers at the same time. Either the choreographers have to work out numbers where individuals can be spotlighted during the piece (like Wade’s Zoolander model walk-off from Season 2) or Nigel needs to hire a whole new camera crew.
Anyway, I’ve been pleased with this season and think there have been some wonderful numbers: Katee & Josh’s No Air, Katee & Twitch’s door dance, Chelsie & Mark’s heart stealing number, Comfort & Mark’s classroom hiphop, Chelsie & Josh’s tango, Katee & Josh’s Bollywood and I loved the Russian dance last night–I thought it and the mock dance-off between the 2 guys was loads of fun.
Looking forward to tonight. I like the personality of all the dancers in the top 4 and I expect it will be a great show. I do hope we’ll see Robert Muraine and Philip Chbeeb, but they didn’t tease that at all so I hope it didn’t fall through.
Hoping for a great recap from you tomorrow, Ducky, and thanks for the news and updates you’ve provided all season.
August 7th, 2008 at 9:48 am
I wish they wouldn’t do such an injustice to the girls’ routine each year. Wasn’t it Tyce who choreographed Heidi & Donyelle’s horrific “Big Spender” routine two years ago? And Wade’s momma and baby fox routine still gives me nightmare. So much talent between Heidi, Donyelle, Lacey & Sabra wasted. Now we can add Courtney & Katee to the list of disasters. When you take two contemporary dancers and give them a Broadway routine, it should be pure magic. And it should just scream fun. Like you said Ducky, with all the great Broadway music that is out there right now, I don’t get why Tyce picks from the 1940s. And we’ve yet to see them give any of these girls lifts. In dancing and in cheerleading, you always see girls lifting other girls. There are a fair amount of lifts that can be done between just two girls, and with the talent & strength of Courtney & Katee, I’m sure we could have seen at least one amazing trick. I was just so disappointed in that routine - as soon as I saw those parasols in rehearsal I knew it was going to be painful.
Another music comment… the use of the Nutcracker Suite in the guys’ routine. I’ve yet to see anyone comment on this, so maybe I’m the only person who felt this, but I just didn’t feel that at all. The routine and the music seemed so disjointed. For the first time this Russian dance was on the show, I would have liked Russian music. But if the choreographers wanted to stay away from that, then I would have went with hip hop music to give the routine a more current feel. I just didn’t get it.
I’ll stop by complaining for the moment, though I could go on
Overall, I will say I’ve enjoyed this season. But, there just didn’t seem to be as many memorable dances in season 4 as there were in the past 2 seasons. Normally, going into the very last show, I have a pretty decent list of dances I hope they perform again. But this year… eh. Bleeding Love was a fav of mine, as was Mercy. The Pas de Duex was sick, and any time Courtney did Latin she just lit up that stage. Maybe it’s because I just started my Intern year and I can’t remember anything non-medically related so I’m forgetting some others, but are there any dances in particular anyone else is just dying to see again?
August 7th, 2008 at 10:21 am
You have no idea how happy I am that someone agrees with me that the Russian thingy did not work out for me. Entertaining yes…worthy of a standing ovation….no. and for goodness sakes nigel…josh has had training, he even told us. and i like josh. courtney did almost make me cry, and wtf? dont they have any other choreographers than tyce?
August 7th, 2008 at 10:38 am
THANK YOU, DAN! seriously. this whole season has been a train wreck. I must agree with you about everything. The only dance that looked like it belonged in a SYTYCD finale was the Wade Robson routine. It was brilliant. But other than that I cant really say anything stood out.
August 7th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Dan -
- I TOTALLY agree on NabbyTabs - is it bad that I want to smack her?
- “So You Think You Can Kiss Choreographer ***” should become its own reality show cause it is clearly rampant
- Last night was the attack of bad choreography, bad, bad, bad - shame on them
- Parasols? REALLY? Ugh.
- Wade - I need a piece of that!
And last, I love Joshua. I want him to win, I hold a grudge. I do. And I can’t forget her comments in the beginning. She has danced her butt off, but I am a fan of the underdog, the one who wants it the most, the one with no advantage coming into the competition, the one who has shown the most growth. To me that is my Joshua.
See you on Twitter tonight, SYTYCD fans!
August 7th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
I don’t understand why Nigel keeps harping on Joshua’s lack of formal training since it is obvious he has had some and it has made him a better dancer. It is doing a disservice to talented young people who may think they can make it in the dance world with no formal training. You can’t!
Even given Joshua’s training, his technique is far below that of Danny and Neil from last season which the awful Russian number from last night proved. If the people in charge were trying to prove “street” dancers could do Russian character dancing, they failed and robbed the audience of seeing the two of them in a performance that highlighted their real and considerable talents.
The parasol number for the girls was slightly better than last year’s fox number but come on. These young women could have rocked the stage.
The costumes last night were pretty awful especially for Courtney.
The best dancer is Katee.
August 7th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
It’s interesting…everyone’s so passionate about this show, it just goes to show that we only demand the BEST for SYTYCD. We have been spoiled with great routines for the past three years. But I am hopeful that next season they’ll be opening up the floodgates with new choreographers, and hopefully new styles.
Wade should definitely come back. Interesting that he’s doing the Criss Angel/Cirque du Soleil show in Vegas. I would love to see Debra Brown (one of the original choreographers for Cirque Du Soleil’s touring shows) do some choreography!
Hard to pick a favorite from the top 4…but I am hoping for Twitch. But I do love them all.
August 7th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
As I look back on the season there were several times when the dances made me laugh or smile. I enjoyed them, but I wasn’t thrilled or “wowed” by very many of them. While I like Joshua and Twitch personality-wise, they aren’t the greatest dancers. I mean if you match them up against Neil and Danny or Travis and Attention Whore, I mean, Benji, Joshua and Twitch just don’t cut it. I hope Katee wins, and I hope that tonight’s show does include something with the dancers from past seasons. I mean, have they even MENTIONED Sabra this whole season? If it weren’t for the opening credits, you wouldn’t know about her, unlike last year when we had to see Benji in the audience every freaking week making faces trying to be the center of attention!
August 8th, 2008 at 9:45 am
I thought the finale was GREAT! Seeing all the best dances of the season…and done with the same energy (or even better than during competition). And I must say, Mary & Nigel do have chops! ‘Til next season.
James — I thought the same thing…haven’t heard a peep out of Sabra or even Nick (although I think Nick danced in the AI Idols Give Back.) I was shocked to hear that Allison has a baby now!