SYTYCD Top 4: My Review of the Performance Finale

Performance Finale Time!

It’s that time again – Wednesday night, we had our Top 4 finalists on So You Think You Can Dance: Joshua, Katee, Twitch, and Courtney. The finale of performances, the last of Mary Murphy. Some definite ups and downs, so let’s get right to it.

First off, it needs to be said: The judges were shamelessly inconsistent in pimping Twitch for the win. There was a clear agenda right away, and it went from the first performance to the last. Look over the tape when it comes out on youtube and listen to those judges’ comments. They not only spent way more time reviewing Twitch’s routines, but they had nothing but extreme accolades for him, even though that foxtrot with Katee was the most butchered foxtrot I’ve seen in a long time. We’ll get into the specifics as we break down each routine one at a time.

1. Courtney & Twitch: Hip Hop

The show began with a nice number from Napoleon and Tabitha. I was surprised to enjoy this routine, not just from Twitch, but also from Courtney – she definitely pulled this off. The choreography was also very well done, with a lot of fun details: the sequence of fake punches that ended with an uppercut to Twitch’s nether regions was acted out well, and Courtney’s little run over Twitch’s thigh and chest was unexpected. Courtney also did a little thing with her shoulders bobbing Twitch’s head up and down. However, it wasn’t without flaws: they had a little trouble staying in synch during some paired moves, and that lift at the end – whoa. I don’t think it was meant to look that awkward in the beginning and that loose at the end, where Courtney almost slipped off his head and onto his shoulders. In fact, she looked just as surprised as we did when it happened.

So a good routine, not flawless, nothing extraordinary to me…. but the judges went W I L D. Mandy Moore went mall chick over it “You guys that was awesome!” and the others were unequivocal in how great it was. Mary was predictably over the top with her scream and constant yelling, and even Nigel was gaga (they had a little Simon-Paula moment as well, which was somewhat nauseating). They had absolutely no critiques at all, which surprised me. This to me was the beginning of the “Let’s get Twitch to win” quest by the judges. Only time will tell if the voters fell for it.

2. Joshua & Katee: Wade Robson

I should be honest from the start: I have a total man crush on Wade Robson. No need for my wife to feel threatened or anything, but still, how cool is that guy? As for the routine, this to me was clearly the best routine of the night, both in terms of choreography and in terms of the actual dancing.

To start, Katee’s presence at the very beginning was breathtaking. As the judges said, the honesty and emotion in that moment were plain to see. Then that side to side motion and arm raising action at the beginning – there really has not been a couple more in tune and in step with each other than these two. The routine only got better from then on, with some shockingly quick, controlled, and expressive pirouettes by both. The ability to spin twice so fast then to stop and be able to collapse into exact movements – both Joshua and Katee showed to all that they are the two best dancers left in the show.

The judges’ comments were on point, though not nearly as enthusiastic as they were for Twitch and Courtney. But they quickly latched on to both dancers’ excellence in their emotions and movements. It was very interesting to see Joshua’s and Katee’s emotions at the end – they were clearly very sad that this was the last time they were dancing as a couple.

3. Courtney & Katee: Broadway

This was the weakest performance for me tonight, in terms of the overall choreography. It may have worked better in a Top 10 or Top 14 show, but for the finale, I felt it was a little weak and Tyce let both girls down. They danced it well, Katee certainly a little better than Courtney as Nigel astutely pointed out, but they had very little to work with. The music was limp, the movements were simplistic, and it just didn’t work for this stage. It felt like a real broadway number, which I can appreciate. But it was a deflating moment for both dancers this night. Mandy couldn’t even fake her enthusiasm in her comments.

4. Joshua & Twitch: Russian?

From weak to … odd. I sort of enjoyed this routine in the end – there was a lot of athleticism and leaping displayed here, but I couldn’t help wondering why they hadn’t picked a Dave Scott choreographed hip hop routine for this pair. It just seems like a no-brainer for me, especially for the ratings-laden performance finale.

That said, I thought the routine was … alright. Yes there was a lot of jumping and somesuch, but the music (Tchaikovsky Nutcracker??) was not at all inspiring, and the routine became almost a farce towrads the end. However, I think it was clear that Joshua showed himself to be the better dancer, both in his athleticism and in his overall presentation (I still cannot take Twitch seriously when he tries to make “serious” faces). Nevertheless, the judges did all they could to make Twitch’s case for the voters, even going so far as to point out that Joshua got all the leaps in the air.

5. Twitch & Katee: Fox Trot

Oh man. Here, in my opinion, is where the show hit its low low low point. I’ll be quick. I think the routine was so dumbed down for Twitch that it became something other than a Fox Trot. There really was no foxtroting at all, and as comparison, here below is Danny and Anya doing the fox trot from a season ago. Take a look at that and then review last night’s performance.

It’s actually appalling that the judges said NOTHING about Twitch’s lack of fox trot grace. I think they were in fox trot mode for approximately 15 seconds total, maybe two runs if that. And those fox trot passes just were not graceful or dynamic at all. They had no form, the steps were off, everything just did not work at all. And yet, did the judges say anything about that? Nope. All of their comments were about Twitch’s performance value and they said nothing about his technique. Particularly galling given that, as I mention later, Nigel in particular is focused on telling contestants that on this show, mere effort is not enough – they have to be able to perform the steps. I think they fell incredibly short in this routine.

6. Joshua & Courtney: Jive

Well, Joshua was very tired at this point, having done the Russian dance, his solo, and then this Jive in the span of about 30 minutes. And it showed. His kicks were somewhat slow and short, and Courtney didn’t help either.

However, although Nigel justifiably pointed these flaws out, I was amazed that he did so after giving Twitch a pass on PRECISELY the same issues on the last dance… Nigel in fact said, “I could say you were entertaining and the audience had fun and you put your heart into it, but that would be unfair.” However, he said pretty much exactly that without touching Twitch’s technique, so what’s the deal?

Solos:

Courtney: She had a predictable solo, actually an area that she’s excelled at among the girls. However, I was struck at how much time the judges spent praising her growth and spirit. Nevertheless, she showed some sincere emotion both during her routine and afterwards.

Twitch: Twitch has always had great solos, but (as long time fans of the show surely recognized), tonight was the second time Twitch used music from Wade Robson that Ivan had used in Season 2 for his solos. The first time was a few weeks ago with “Question Mark” and tonight, he used “It Was All In Your Mind.” Now, look, I have absolutely no problem with him using the same music. But I guess my problem is that his movements resembled Ivan’s solos a little too much and in that same vein, he didn’t quite measure up.

What perhaps bothered me more though was how blatantly the judges propped up Twitch as winner of the show. Mary in particular seems to want him to win more than normal. Here’s what bugs me… thoughout the season, the judges were particularly harsh on certain dancers dancing out of their realm (say, waltz for a hip hop specialist) saying that being uncomfortable is not an excuse, that on SYTYCD, they have to step up… However, they never once used that line on Twitch. Instead, they praised his entertainment value and made excuses for his lack of technique. Simply inexcusable in my mind.

Katee: Her solo was actually better than I expected. She also used an old tune (Imogen Heap, previously used in a group routine last season), but paired it with great choreography. The judges seemed, however, to speed through her review and gave her practically no help with the voters in terms of highlighting her immense skills. Plus, I still don’t forgive them for how they treated her during the Top 20 selection show. Her answer was simply honest and emotional, and they used it for drama.

Joshua: I actually was very disappointed by his solo! He seems to have the exact same movements: the double-foot stance, the waving of his arms, the hip bounce, and other hand movements. Then he did the same thing next to the judges (hopefully this will not be a trend in future seasons).

Verdict: Who will WIN????????

I offer two answers. First: Who I think DESERVES to win:

1. Katee

2. Joshua

3. Twitch

4. Courtney

Second: Who I think WILL win after the votes:

1. Twitch

2. Joshua

3. Katee

4. Courtney

What do you guys think???? Am I being too harsh on the judges??

SYTYCD: My Top 5 Performances of Season 4 (and a review)

One day before the final performances of Season 4! It’s been a great season, with perhaps the most talented group of 20 dancers from top to bottom. Now’s as good a time as ever to take a tour though my 5 favorite performances this season – the youtube clips will be embedded into the post.

Before I start, what were my criteria? Because, I’m no egotistical fool. I know my top five will be different from your top five, and I am by no means saying these were the absolute best of the year. Instead, this list includes those performances, partnered or solo, that (a) made me want to watch it over and over again, (b) was technically terrific, and (c) had some emotional impact to it. I definitely had my favorite dancers this year (Joshua, Katee, Will), but I think the top five includes a bit of a mix too, maybe.

Now, I only picked five, maybe next year, I’ll try a Top 10 list split over two days, but there were some Honorable Mentions that I’ll list here (youtube clip in link):

Katee & Joshua: Bollywood – I was nervous about this one, I’ll be honest (as was Joshua, apparently). But it was one of the more dynamic performances of the season, and exciting for its novelty to SYTYCD.

Mark & Chelsie: Argentine Tango – Mark definitely knows how to disappear into a role, which is probably at least half the game for the male in a tango, and Chelsie is fabulous at any latin/ballroom style.

Twitch & Comfort: Hip Hip – Two hip hop dancers got their style, choreographed by Dave Scott (a better hard hip hop choreographer than Nappy Tabs, for example). A great combination.

Twitch Top 12 Solo: Maestro – The solos had been a little dry up to this point (lots of contemporary dancers), but Twitch put a jolt into it with his very musically choreographed solo.

In looking over the five I picked and the four above, I see that *spoilers* I didn’t pick any Chelsie “hot numbers”, where she is in a fast Latin dance. This kind of surprises me because I think she is amazing at those routines. But I never really needed to see them over and over after she had performed them, for some reason. Maybe because she got to do them several times this season? In any case, I go into this knowing that many may disagree with me on the ones below. Comment away!

Alright! Without further ado, my Top Five, with commentary:

5. Will’s Top 8 Solo

This solo was apparently one of the more polarizing performances, based on what I read on idolforums and other blogs. Of course, Will was promptly booted from the show the next day in what I still consider to be a bad decision (I would have put Twitch or Mark off at that point). The ironic thing is that I think all Will was doing was showing exactly the personality that judges had asked him to display. In fact, the judges LOVED the solo, giving him a standing ovation afterwards. However, perhaps it was too late for Will to overcome early perceptions of his “aloof” personality.

In any case, a great rendition of a James Brown dance. My favorite moment is the leap and slide up at 1:24 – I mean, the boy can DANCE. Plus, the slow smooth shuffle down the stairs at 1:10, it just doesn’t get more fun to watch than that. Some have said it was all twirls and jumps, but I think there’s also the great alignment with the music (the hip bumps at 1:16). I only wish it could have gone for another 10 seconds.

4. Mark & Chelsie Hip Hop

Tabitha and Napoleon have gotten a bit of a beating from hip hop aficionados in some of the forums I’ve been reading. I think part of the blame goes to Nigel for his christening of “lyrical hip hop” as the future of hip hop. Nigel certainly loves Nappy Tabs, and I enjoy their choreography (as you’ll see), but this is really more of a contemporary feel than hip hop. That said, I really enjoyed this routine.

Mark and Chelsie do a great job getting into the roles, particularly Mark. Mark really does seem like a much stronger dancer when he has that role. The few routines he struggled in this year came when they were “story-less” routines, all about the moves and dances. Certainly a flaw when it comes to this show, but it doesn’t take away from this performance. My favorite moves start at 1:22, the bridge portion.

3. Thayne’s Top 14 Solo

Now I’m guessing a lot of people will read this and think “No way. He’s nuts.” My own wife thinks this was a cheesy performance. That may be, but I’m putting this one on my list for a few reasons. First, I think the solos this season were somewhat bland, particularly the girls’ solos – too many contemporary dancers. I liked Twitch’s solos, I liked a couple of Will’s, and… I liked this one. Second, why did I like this one?

Something about the musicality (is that now a word?) of it. It’s not just a bunch of tricks and pirouettes (all the rage this season after Danny perfected them last season). Not a lot of leaps for the sake of jumping. It’s actually a mix of artistic moves closely choreographed to the music, and they’re not athletic moves or flashy moves, just musical. What do I mean?

The fall backwards onto the rail at 0:11. The right leg kickback and head back at 0:13. The elbows at 0:15. And so on. From the stairs, to his slowly-timed turns and pirouettes. His leap and head bobs. All of it was just timed carefully to the music; you can see his thought process. I loved Katee, but her solos pale majorly in comparison.

2. Will & Katee Pas de Deux

I don’t think words can do this routine justice. Probably the most difficult routine ever performed on SYTYCD, all four seasons included. So many great moves, so much grace and power. I only wish, and I realize this is a bit lame of me, I only wish they hadn’t made that one small mistake with Katee’s head hitting Will’s arm. It threw off the timing of the routine up until that break/pause in the middle, and kept this from true contention for my number 1 spot.

1. Katee & Joshua Hip Hop

And the number one spot! Right away from the first week, Katee and Joshua established themselves as both fan and judge (especially Nigel) favorites. They probably needed this, Katee especially, because of her Top 20 selection fiasco (I think the judges were being drama queens and totally driven by production value when they creamed Katee like they did), and there’s no doubt that their early momentum kept them out of the Bottom 3 and 2 for the whole show.

Again, I think this is more contemporary than hip hop, closer to Mia Michaels than to Dave Scott. But bottom line, it’s a well-choreographed, terrifically performed routine. My highlights: Joshua’s entrance at 2:26. The flip of Joshua at 2:50. The synchronized dancing at 2:52. The hands at 3:12. The facial expressions from then on. This had the emotional and technical impact, and sold me from day one.

So, I went with the five that hit me emotionally the most, the ones I want to watch over and over. Now, I KNOW I left your favorite off, and put a horrible performance in its place. Tell me which one you disagree with! And then tell me which one you agree with!

And only 1 day to the finals! As a teaser, I leave you with this from Philip Chbeeb, who we’ll see on Thursday, I’m guessing.

Making Pencils Disappear – My Review of Dark Knight

I finally went to see Dark Knight today. It seems like the majority of the movie-going public watched this movie on opening weekend: Dark Knight broke the record for proceeds in an opening weekend (from the venerable Spiderman 3… I guess the record doesn’t quite mean as much as it did back in the days of Star Wars).

Bottom line: This movie was a mixed bag for me, and I am a bonafide Batman fan. But one thing should be clear: Heath Ledger was amazing. More on that later.

The movie has certainly received incredible hype and buzz. A lot of it, however, doesn’t seem to be all that well deserved.

First, Maggie Gyllenhall was not the vast improvement over Katie Holmes that I expected. I thought her acting was a bit superficial, obvious maybe. Perhaps it was the writing, but I did not enjoy her character.

Second, the Harvey Dent – Two Face story line was resolved a bit too quickly. I had thought Two Face would be the subject of the next movie, but it appears not. I think they could have gone without the conversion to Two Face until the very end of the movie, and use that as a cliff hanger, much like the great cliff hanger they used in Batman Begins with the Joker card. That way, they could have shaved at least 20-25 minutes off this long movie.

Also, the sound and editing seemed a little off during the movie. A lot of the dialogue was too quiet, the background music was inconsistently noticeable, and the scenes were a little jagged, fragmented, not logically sequenced at all. A few times I thought the projector had somehow skipped a reel!

That said, I will say this again. Heath Ledger’s performance was everything it had been promised to be, and it is reason enough to plunk down the $8.00 $9.50 to watch this in the theater. He saves the movie, plain and simple. Or rather, he IS the movie, plain and simple. I hesitate to write any more in case some readers haven’t seen the movie (though, let’s be honest, how many readers will read this early post?). I think it is enough to say that even if you don’t know exactly what the Joker character is based on, you will love his performance. It is simply the best villain I have seen in the movies in a long long time. It truly is a shame that it is Mr. Ledger’s last full performance. Seems like we tend to lose artists just when they have mastered, or reached an epiphany in, their craft… Kurt Cobain, River Phoenix are the two that come to mind. If you have any others, please add some comments.