Laptop Television Mom

Another good week for dancing, and another great
week for Dixie’s
recaps. Here’s a shout-out to Katee, who
I just learned is from San Jose! Read the story in the San-Jose Mercury News HERE. Good luck, Katee!

DIXIE SAYS: Okay.
They should never do that again. Way too many short dances and it was obvious that
most of the couples spent tons of time on one of them, and then just “made due”
with the other one. By the last half hour of the show, I didn’t care anymore.

Nigel, the third guy is Jules Munshin. But more
importantly, surely there is another rude British dancer/choreographer that can
take Nigel’s place. I have just about had it with that man. I hate the way he
judges. I hate his voice. I hate his face.  Please Nigel, for the survival
of the show, replace yourself. Just stay home and count your money.

I’ll admit that I rather liked his grumpy mood
toward Mary and the audience. It’s very annoying when the audience starts
booing before the judges even finish a sentence, but I never expected Nigel to
tell them not to come to the show. That was classic!!

On to the dancing:

Jessica and Will (Jive and Lyrical Jazz)

I feel so bad for Jessica. It’s got to stink to
have the perceived “svengali of dance” as a partner. I don’t even really like
Jessica, but the “William is God and you are dirt on his shoes” is getting old.
And then they have the gall to criticize her for not having confidence? Talk
about mind games! I kind of want Jessica to leave the show just so they can
stop reminding her how much she sucks. The Jive was “okay” but I really thought
Jessica was on par with Will. The Lyrical Jazz, which is really just
Contemporary under another name, was brilliant! Mandy Moore redeemed herself,
and Jessica was a beautiful partner. Will looked genuinely upset when the
judges were tearing Jessica down for the zillionth time on a dance he knew she
nailed. Although I think he is getting far more praise than he deserves, it’s
not his fault and I think no one (except maybe Jessica) would be more delighted
if they stopped tearing his partner apart.

Comfort and Thayne (Broadway and Waltz)

Andy Blankenbuehter is definitely a valuable
recruit to the show. His choreography tonight was the best we’ve seen in the
nebulous “Broadway” category. It actually seemed worthy of being on a Broadway
stage, especially compared to the theme park revue choreography we are used to
getting from Tyce. What a shame that it was wasted on these two dancers! While
Thayne was “okay”, he doesn’t have the musicality needed for a number like
“Cool”. I agree with Tabitha and Napoleon completely (and I love them as
judges!)- There is a build and a momentum to true Broadway choreography. There
are moments that are understated so that other moments can pop, and this couple
just didn’t grasp that aspect. The Waltz was stunning and Comfort looked
amazing, but by that time, I was falling asleep and over it, as I’m sure most
of America was. B3 for sure.

Kourtni and Matthew (Hip Hop and Mambo)

So yet again, we have Nigel calling Matt gay in
every way he possibly can without actually saying the G-word. Matt is in the
same boat as Jessica, except that Nigel actually hates Matt as a person. I’m
probably in the minority here, and I will admit that the Hip Hop routine
started out pretty rough, but all of a sudden, they were rocking it out! They
started to relax and get into it, and personally, I thought it was fun and very
enjoyable. No, it wasn’t the best hip hop ever, but Kourtni and Matt did not
deserve that beating! Unfortunately, Alex Duh Silva is a selfish ego maniac who
didn’t take the dancers height into consideration when choreographing their
Mambo and they suffered because of it. In addition, neither of these dancers
has any hip action, or hips so to speak. Definitely B3 and there’s a possibly
they could both be eliminated. Although the judges would love to get rid of
Jessica and Matt, there is no way they will pair Kourtni, who is the biggest
girl on the show, with thin little Will.

Chelsie and Mark (Jazz and Foxtrot)

This couple didn’t excite me the way they normally
do, but they continue to be a delight! I love their chemistry and they are two
of the better “actors” on the show. They balance each other beautifully, and
always seem to know where the other is at any given moment in the routine. The
Jazz routine was awesome and highlighted their fantastic partnership. They took
the choreography, injected their personalities, and made it their own. The
Foxtrot was elegant and lovely, and Mark totally looked like a ballroom dancer.
Why do they keep hiding Chelsea in these big gaudy dresses? Poor girl had to eat a feather! The judges
praise them, but blandly. I think Adam (Hairspray) has been the only judge so
far to really express great appreciate for the way they dance.

Kherington and Twitch (Paso Doble and Contemporary)

Kherington looks like a young Sharon Stone,
especially with her hair slicked back. Twitch’s upper body trumps little Will’s
any day of the week. The reason he can’t bring his shoulders down, aside from
the fact that they are huge, is that they are naturally high. And apparently,
no other male dancer on the show has the type of upper body strength Twitch has
because no other male is given the complicated, extreme lifts and flips he is
given. They judges must know this, so why bring up his shoulders? I actually
enjoyed the Paso Doble and thought they both did an excellent job maneuvering
those capes. As for the Contemporary, Kherington’s bed head cracked me up!
There wasn’t a whole lot of dancing or real movement, and what is up with Mia
and those faux flowers? Still, it was entertaining and goes to show that this
couple can look good doing just about anything.

Katee and Joshua (Contemporary and West Coast
Swing)

It’s about time that Katee get some individual love
and praise! The girl is all that and more!! The Contemporary routine was hands
down, my very favorite of the night! Deep, riveting, truly amazing… For once,
Joshua was choreographed into the background, but he was there for Katee and
the partnered parts were captivating. Before the commercial break when Kat
announced that this couple would be doing West Coast Swing, the mere thought of
Benji choreographing the dance was just too much to hope for! And then we get
Benji, Lacey, a puppy, and my favorite couple all in one segment! As for the
performance, they executed it well (minus a little bit of clunkiness from
Joshua) but I couldn’t help but want it to be faster, like the way Benji and
Heidi dance! I realize that West Coast Swing can be danced fast or slow, just
like the Rhumba, and some of the best swing is an earthy, grounded partnering
where the lead-and-follow connection is the main ingredient. But I personally
prefer the fast, razzle-dazzle, show me the money, competition style that the
Schwinners have down pat. Regardless, Americahas fallen
in love with Katee and Joshua.

Courtney and Gev (Hip Hop and Broadway)

Without a doubt, Courtney is THE best non-hip hop
dancer that has ever graced the SYTYCD! She is from New York and has the same
old school, East Coast feel as the two choreographers. While Gev was very good,
Courtney just blew me away! I never would have thought she had THAT in her. My
second favorite performance of the evening! How incredibly disturbing and
offensive were Nigel’s comments! Where do I begin! First of all, why does
Courtney have to be naturally “ghetto” in order to dance hip hop well? For
whatever reason, this show’s presentation of hip hop as a legitimate dance
genre is distasteful and hypocritical. Come on, Nigel, do you want the dancers
to hit it hard or not? We all know he loves “so called” lyrical-hip hop set to
slow, bluesy songs, but to tell two professional Hip Hop choreographers that
their work wasn’t really hip hop? This was one of the first REAL hip hop routines this season!
No wonder Shane Sparks doesn’t want to be a mentor on the show anymore. And
since when did Nigel become a hip hop expert? As for the Broadway, my mind was
pretty much numb by that point. Both Gev and Courtney were as cute as can be,
and I wanted to love their Broadway, but… I just didn’t. It wasn’t bad, just
blah, kind of like the West Coast Swing.

B3 Predictions:

Comfort and Thayne

Kourtni and Matt

Jessica and Will??? I’m not sure about the third
couple, but its probably because I love the other four couples! I hope its not
Courtney and Gev!! The judges eliminations were PERFECT last week, so I have
faith they’ll get it right. Eliminating Comfort and Thayne would probably be my
first choice. If it was actually the weakest girl and the weakest boy, it would
be Comfort and Thayne in my opinion.