Saturday, September 02, 2006

So You Think You Can Dance - Aired Aug. 16 - Full Recap

The competition is over, the votes are in, it's time to crown the dancing champion. An event that only needs a couple of minutes in a two hour show. I'm not going to say there will be a lot of filler, but... Heck, okay. There's going to be a lot of filler. Pretty much nothing but filler and commercials. Hopefully there won't be any guest singers. Just give us two hours of dance.
Because it's just filler and no competition, I'm going to do this unlike any of my other Dance recaps. I'm going to watch for the first time from my computer, so you're going to get my immediate reactions like, "What the hell is Dmitry wearing?" Yes, I expect to see everyone back.
It's nice to see Cat Deely go back to a good animal-themed dress with a sparkly purple leopard print. Never mind that it encourages the poaching of sparkly purple leopards, CAT!
We were just reintroduced to the top twenty. It was nice seeing Jeyahemms again. Oh boy, you have no idea how nice it was to see Jasmysm again! There hasn't been nearly enough to snark at since he was voted off the stage. I missed you, Jynms!
Oh look! There are Stanislav and Erin! I know, I forgot about them too. I do remember Ivan should have gone before Stanislav though.
When the final four are introduced, they all do a little something for the camera except, it seems, Donyelle. Is she tired? Resigned to possibly not winning? Don't give up yet, Donyelle! I would have voted for you if I watched the show live and took time to vote!
As the dancers leave and Cat comes on stage, she keeps calling them her "babies". You think it's just a colloquialism, but we've seen enough awkward flirting between her and Nigel Lythgoe that we should be wondering what kind of twisted dance-related experiments they get up to in their secret lab.
It's a special night with no actual judging involved, so we get treated to six, yes SIX judges! Six judges on a competitive reality show panel? That's twice the recommended dosage! Are they MAD?!?!
Straining the judging dais under their collective weight are the aforementioned Nigel "I'd Do Cat In Our Secret Lab" Lythgoe, Mary "You Don't Want To Hear Me Scream In Bed" Murphy, Brian "I'd Do Nigel In His Secret Lab" Friedman, Shane "I Don't Have A Nickname" Sparks, Mia "Feel My Art Wash Over Your Dark Souls And Lead You To The Light Of Dance Where We Shall Be Forevermore Free From The Shackles Of Mediocre Disco [edited for brevity]" Michaels, and Dan "Kung-Fu" Karaty.
After the introductions, Cat reminds us of the prize for the winner. A one year contract with Las Vegas' biggest show, Celine Dion's "A New Day", then to counteract that crushing disappointment and help people want to win, a hybrid SUV (what kind of competitive reality show doesn't do a product placement here?), $100,000 U.S. funds, a hickey from Mary Murphy, and the title of America's Favourite Dancer, screwing the late, great Gregory Hines over royally.
We then go to a recap of the previous week, as well as some back stage footage of that night being IT! Oh, and reactions to the judges reactions. That's always fun. That sounds sarcastic, but it's not. I really mean it. I really do.
At this point we get our first dance of what I hope is many, and it's another great Shane Sparks routine featuring all twenty dancers with music from the "hit movie", Step Up. It's an enjoyable, high energy number. If the whole show now is nothing but dance, that would be great! It would also be too much to hope for.
Okay, we just learned that the top four will be performing their favourite dances of the season. Yay! And there are peformances by Fergie (I know who she is) and Ciara (not so much, but enough that I knew how to spelle her name, Sierra). Meh. Look, it was even in the first paragraph. A wish, a desire for no guest singers.
Back from the commercials Cat does a little horn tootin' as she lets us know So You Think You Can Dance was the number one show of the summer (you know I'm looking at you, Big Brother: All-Stars) and that their 35 city tour is virtually sold out, proving that dance fever has taken over the United States. And it's not just America! We got to see versions of the show in several other countries, which is pretty damned cool to see. There were glimpses of some great dancers, and it would be nice to see a special episode showing the best of the dances from these other countries. One interesting thing in Turkey is that the show is hosted by a man in drag. What, the American version isn't? I kid, Cat! You're just tall, but you're all woman, and doesn't Nigel know it!
Now we get to start seeing the finalists perform their favourite routines. Up first is Benji who had a tough choice between dances and more importantly, partners. So for once last time, names in bolded text.
Benji and Heidi (Mambo) - Aaaaaah, dancing bliss! This was great! There were some moves I don't remember from the first time around, which is great if they try different things. It's time for them to relax now and just really enjoy the dance. It came across, and they even got a standing ovation from the judges. One thing I was thinking is that Heidi will now be in at least two dances. It'll be interesting to see who the other three choose, and so who gets to dance the most.
Heidi and Travis (Contemporary) - Heidi chose the routine they did with the bench, which was one of the highlights of the season but still a surprising choice. Why? Because the first time around it seemed designed more to show Travis' strengths as a contemporary dancer and Heidi's weaknesses. Her best non-ballroom dance of the season was the African-infused pop routine with Travis on August 2nd. She did really well in this contemporary, and they too got a standing O from the judges, but damn, I would have loved to see that pop routine again. This one may have been the real start of her growth outside her comfort zone, but the pop was where she really came into her own.
Also getting to choose dances this night, as well as dancers, are the judges. Mary wanted to see a couple who had sparks on stage and off, but has never danced together.
Natalie and Dmitry - Sparks off stage? Does Musa know this? Not that it matters, because they did a heck of a sexy Latin routine. Other than the two singers, this also means we get a lot more dance.
Mary loved it, gave us a scream, and then the back patting kicked into high gear as Nigel talked about the success of the show and the upcoming tour, how dance is becoming more popular, he then thanked the choreographers and told Cat that they have more "babies" to make after the show.
Nigel mentioned the box office motion picture sensation, Step Up, and that let to a song from the movie, "Get Up" by Ciara. It's alright, I guess. I'm still going to fast forward.
Donyelle and Benji (Broadway) - Ah, this was a fun, very high energy dance! It was also the least flattering dress Donyelle had to wear all season, but it's good that she looked at the routine she enjoyed most and not the costume. For those keeping count at home, that's now two dances for Heidi, two for Benji, Travis will have had two when he makes his choice, so I'm wondering if he's going to pick a dance with Donyelle so they all get equal stage time. I will also stop mentioning standing ovations from the judges, because it looks like everyone's going to get one.
Mia got to give her choice for a dance and dancers now, and she went with one that she didn't get to see live the first time but when she watched from home it was one of the two times she's cried this season.
Allison and Ivan - I wasn't an Ivan fan, but there were a couple of times he impress the hell out of me and this contemporary routine with Allison was one of them. It was nice to see it again.
Oooh! Dancing With the Stars starts September 12th! Thank you, commercials! Survivor starts September 14th, and The Amazing Race on September 17th. Staggering the shows! Yes!
The top twenty dancers danced together one final time in a frickin' great vampire/zombie/gothic number choreographed by Wayne Robson, then it was goodbye to the first ten to have left the show in a video montage that showed why they deserved to be there in the first place and the heartbreak of leaving the competition. Oh, and Jhaeyeheeheyseeeysymaaaaaaammzzzmmzzyzzzaaassssss!
Following this was a look at the journey of the top four, starting with Heidi.
I love Heidi. She has grown so much as a dancer through this competition and we see that on the montage. I can't remember what solo it was, her first or her second, that she came out and blew us away. Some might argue that Natalie or Allison deserved to be in the top four more, but Heidi has progressed so much and was such a joy to watch that I truly feel she was equally qualified to be there.
She got to dance one last solo, and it wasn't her best but I don't care. She wasn't dancing for her life now so she did something different and that brought me pleasure.
Cat had an envelope in her hand, and she announced that Heidi did not win the competition. That was no surprise, because if they're going to announce something now, it's not going to be the winner.
Heidi was presented with some flowers, gave a really nice thank you to the the judges, choreographers, and the rest of the top twenty (I haven't looked, but sadly knowing some of the fans she'll get some flack for not thinking them), and the audience chanted her name. She had a huge smile on her face through the whole thing. Congratulations on making it this far, Heidi.
Travis and Heidi (Paso Doble) - Yeah, that was a great paso doble. Travis was having issues with ballroom dances, and this was the first such routine that really came together for him so that's why he chose this one. I appreciate that with his choice and with Heidi's where they went with the dances that first really allowed them to shine way outside their comfort zones. This was as good as I remembered. Also, Heidi wins this little competition by being in three of the four dances.
So that's all four finalist's choices and one person was eliminated. I just checked the counter and there is still 49 minutes left. Oy vey. Lots of dance? Good. My fingers getting tired? Pity me!
Donyelle's journey is next, and she still remains my sentimental favourite even though I don't think she's going to win. As wonderfully talented as she is, if I had to bet my money would be on Benji or Travis. That doesn't make me love Donyelle any less. She's fought through this competition with an injured foot and held her own.
Her solo was beautiful, and also different from what we're used to seeing from her. I hope the two guys change things up in their solos, Travis. When Donyelle first auditioned, she talked about how her larger size in relation to other dancers kept costing her work. Shame on anyone who doesn't hire her based on that, and double shame on them for being really too stupid if they don't hire her now.
Cat came out with an envelope, so we already know Donyelle has lost this competition. But only the competition, not in life. She had quit dancing earlier this year and was hoping for some direction, then this competition came along so she auditioned for it and made it all the way to the final four. This has re-established her love of dance. This was very emotional, but it was alleviated with laughter as we got to see Mia's third cry of the season, and her reaction to the other judges showed she was quite aware of this too. Congratulations, Donyelle, you've shown the world you can do it.
That means the final two are Benji and Travis, both of whom are fine choices indeed. You know Cat's not going to be walking out with an envelope until they've both had their final solos which will only be in... 46 minutes? All that with Donyelle was only three minutes?
Brian's turn came up to pick his dance/dancers for the night. He went all the way back to the first episode and the couple who became the early favourites based on their first dance.
Martha and Travis - Ssssssteamed heat! This Fosse-esque number did put them in the lead at the start, but both suffered in later dances, Martha more than Travis. If Martha kept the energy up from this dance, she could well have made the final four. This was a pleasure to watch again.
Benji's journey. Oh, you loveable clown of the dance world, you. If there is one thing Benji can do probably better than anyone else in this competition, that's entertain. His solo has elements of what we've seen from him before, but he's mixed it up with some new stuff. I'm so glad to see these dancers finally stretch in their solos. When Cat came out, she had an envelope. Uh oh. She opened it up, said, "Benji, I'm sorry..." His face dropped, then Cat finished, "...you'll have to wait until after the break." You evil wench! Poor Benji, people have been doing this all season! Whatever else happens, I'd like to congratulate Benji on making it to the final two and making the audience smile.
Finally we come to the journey of one Travis. What can I say? He's a fantastic dancer. He was a favourite from his first dance, and despite some hiccups remained one of the front-runners the entire way. I've been asking for a while that he speed his solo up, and he did a little bit. It wasn't as fast-paced as I would have liked, but it was still a change in music and tempo so that was nice to see. With close to half an hour left in the show, it wasn't quite the shocker to see Cat pull the same trick with Travis that she did with Benji.
It's time for the second musical guest of the night. I like Fergie in the Black Eyed Peas. She's a great singer, and that's what she does so well in that group. I don't like her rapping so much.
A finale like this wouldn't be the same without a look back at the rest of the season, including glimpses at some of the worst and more memorable auditions, great dancers that didn't make it all the way, and high points through the competition. Dancing With the Stars is fun, but there's nothing like watching trained dancers at their best.
By the way, Cat, your roots are showing. Just giving you a head's up. Love the dress.
The top ten dancers are touring the United States starting in September. After this season and the Broadway dance to a song from the musical Chicago, I'm very sad that I won't get to see it. The routine is fun to watch. The season's almost over! Sob!
The next judge's choice is one of the most recent dances. Dan liked these two from the beginning and loved them working together.
Travis and Benji - It's fitting to see Tranji's nerd-hop dance one more time, seeing as they are the final two. What more can be said about it that wasn't said last time? It's an entertaining routine and they earned their final two spot. I'm not a fan of audience voting, but this time they got it right.
Cat brought the two of them over the judges, and it's time to hear what they think of Tranji before the results are read.
Nigel thinks it's like comparing Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly. If you don't recognize those names, shame on you for not watching more older movies. Hurry up and rent what you can with either of them! Nigel thinks they are both amazing dancers, and if he gets even one dancer as good as them next season he will be very happy.
Mary loves them, thinks they are both amazing technicians in their fields, and gives a warning before she lets off one more scream.
Brian feels it was a priviledge to be there and watch them grow as dancers. He doesn't know who should win, but he lets out a scream, prompting Mary to join in. Please let that be the last.
Shane has never met two dancers who didn't have a weakness. Tranji (sounds like a giant Japanese monster) destroyed (even moreso) every (yes?) dance (oh, Godzilla wouldn't do that) that came their way, and it was a pleasure for him to work with them.
Mia thinks they have a future that can reach far beyond dance into other fields of entertainment. Benji has an old Hollywood vibe to him, and Travis is the new, hip young dude. She thinks every man would see them and want to dance. You can tell she spends too much time around dancers, because no men I know would be prompted by them to try out dance. Sadly. Anyway, she would be happy if the competition ends in a tie.
Dan says the reason they love them and America loves them is that they're fun to watch. Never stop having fun with what they're doing because there's nothing better than this. Ha! He's never worked in a dead-end office job! It doesn't get any better than that!
After that, there is one last break and we will finally find out who the winner is.
And the winner is... Jaamzesszaz!
No, sorry, I had to get one last one in.
In the end it came down to technique vs. personality, and the winner is...
Benji!
He broke down in tears, Travis had a big smile and was a great sport, and Benji even got a message from Celine Dion congratulating him.
Way to go, Benji! And Nigel? See you next year!

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