Close on the heels of Jeanine's (disappointing) win of the last summer season of So You Think You Can Dance, the show's first fall season premiered last week. The format was much the same as it's been, the season starting with "open" auditions, last week's in Los Angeles, which were filmed during last season's "Top 20" weeks. It was wonderful to see tapping featured, as I think it is one of the great classic American dance styles, and (like most dance), considerably harder than it looks.
Mary Murphy and Adam Shankman were annoying as always, but I won't really have too much to say about the season until we get down to the top 20. I just wanted to check in and remind everyone that, for the next few weeks,
So You Think You Can Dance airs Wednesday nights on FOX at 9pm.
Showing posts with label So You Think You Can Dance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label So You Think You Can Dance. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
This is not going to go well...
Very belated, I would like to share a few thoughts on this years "most anticipated new show," Fox's Wednesday night addition, Glee. I quite liked the pilot, when it aired at the beginning of the summer, but I wasn't really sucked in until the second episode which aired last week. Glee is created by Ryan Murphy, who brought us Popular and Nip/Tuck, and a lot more of his biting humor was present in the second episode than in its PG predecessor.
The adult roles on the show are Will Schuester, played handily by Matthew Morrison (whom I recognize only from an episode of Ghost Whisperer that I watched by accident) as a passionate and optimistic loser. He has a lot going for him, but many obstacles between him and happiness. One such obstacle is his neurotic wife Terri (played by the always-welcome Jessalyn Gilsig - another Nip/Tuck presence), whose financial woes, hysterical pregnancy, and controlling behavior make me wonder how she and Will ever got together in the first place. I think they were supposed to be high school sweethearts, which just makes it even more tragic.
In stark contrast to Terri, there is Will's coworker Emma, the school's obsessive compulsive guidance counselor. The adorable Jayma Mays (Heroes! Ugly Betty!) is wonderful in this tight-lipped but hilarious role of the girl who's hopelessly in love with a married man, but adult enough to know better.
Will's ultimate foe is Sue Sylvester, as played by Jane Lynch, whom I want to accompany me everywhere in my daily life, I am such a fan of hers. She is absolutely wicked to the core, and brings her negative energy to her job as the "Cheerios" cheerleading coach. As the school funds are balanced precariously between her team and the fledgling Glee Club, her one mission is to bring Will down, but I think he is hardy enough to hold his own against her. Sue also has about 90% of the show's best lines, and I heard Jane Lynch (who is a wonderful improviser) say in an interview that she never feels the need to improve on the script.
The kids are, frankly, less interesting. Our main girl is Rachel, who is awesome. She's played by Broadway star Lea Michele, who originated the role of Wendla in Spring Awakening, which I think is inspired casting. She's so much more talented than most of the primetime teen show actors, and her voice is incredible. Her character is such a hilarious exaggeration of an archetype that it's just like a giant wink to the audience the whole time. She's desperate to become famous, and in her mid-teens, feels she's almost too old for success (embarrassingly, I totally empathize). She'll be ruthless in her pursuit of fame, but is dealing with nerdiness, insecurity, and a desperate crush on Cory Monteith's Finn, the bumbling jock with a bitchy Cheerio girlfriend and a wonderful voice.
The other kids in the show are just cookie cutters, and I really think that this needs to be worked on. Mercedes, the plus-sized black diva; Artie, the paralyzed nerd; Tina, the stuttering Asian-American Hot Topic customer; Kurt, the effeminate gay kid; and Quinn, the Christian blonde Cheerio who is Finn's girlfriend. There is pretty much no depth to these supporting characters beyond their stereotypes, and if any one of them is going to get fleshed out, it is likely to be Quinn, which I think is a disservice to the rest of the diverse cast.
I am very excited to tune into the show's third episode tonight, which I think will feature more of Gilsig. Also, I would like to remind everyone of last week's best exchange (paraphrased):
Emma: Rachel, are you throwing up in there?
Rachel: No.
Emma: Then what's that next to you?
Rachel: The girl who was throwing up in here before me left that there.
Emma: Rachel...
Rachel: I tried throwing up, but I couldn't! It's like I have no gag reflex or something.
Emma: You may find that comes in handy later on.
I hate to laugh at bulimia jokes, but I do anyway.
Finally, if you are wondering about this post's cryptic title, I am worried about this show. It is unique, and hilariously well-written, and has a rabid fan base. And it's on Fox. If that network does to this show what it did to Arrested Development, Firefly, Futurama, and Family Guy (for a time), then I think many "Gleeks" will be very disappointed. It's currently on just before SYTYCD, but in a few weeks, that show will be switching to a 2-hour format, so where will that push Glee? Friday night at 10pm or something horrible, I'm sure. I am not optimistic about it's chances if it moves around without a solid lead-in.
Glee airs Wednesday nights on FOX at 8pm.
The adult roles on the show are Will Schuester, played handily by Matthew Morrison (whom I recognize only from an episode of Ghost Whisperer that I watched by accident) as a passionate and optimistic loser. He has a lot going for him, but many obstacles between him and happiness. One such obstacle is his neurotic wife Terri (played by the always-welcome Jessalyn Gilsig - another Nip/Tuck presence), whose financial woes, hysterical pregnancy, and controlling behavior make me wonder how she and Will ever got together in the first place. I think they were supposed to be high school sweethearts, which just makes it even more tragic.
In stark contrast to Terri, there is Will's coworker Emma, the school's obsessive compulsive guidance counselor. The adorable Jayma Mays (Heroes! Ugly Betty!) is wonderful in this tight-lipped but hilarious role of the girl who's hopelessly in love with a married man, but adult enough to know better.
Will's ultimate foe is Sue Sylvester, as played by Jane Lynch, whom I want to accompany me everywhere in my daily life, I am such a fan of hers. She is absolutely wicked to the core, and brings her negative energy to her job as the "Cheerios" cheerleading coach. As the school funds are balanced precariously between her team and the fledgling Glee Club, her one mission is to bring Will down, but I think he is hardy enough to hold his own against her. Sue also has about 90% of the show's best lines, and I heard Jane Lynch (who is a wonderful improviser) say in an interview that she never feels the need to improve on the script.
The kids are, frankly, less interesting. Our main girl is Rachel, who is awesome. She's played by Broadway star Lea Michele, who originated the role of Wendla in Spring Awakening, which I think is inspired casting. She's so much more talented than most of the primetime teen show actors, and her voice is incredible. Her character is such a hilarious exaggeration of an archetype that it's just like a giant wink to the audience the whole time. She's desperate to become famous, and in her mid-teens, feels she's almost too old for success (embarrassingly, I totally empathize). She'll be ruthless in her pursuit of fame, but is dealing with nerdiness, insecurity, and a desperate crush on Cory Monteith's Finn, the bumbling jock with a bitchy Cheerio girlfriend and a wonderful voice.
The other kids in the show are just cookie cutters, and I really think that this needs to be worked on. Mercedes, the plus-sized black diva; Artie, the paralyzed nerd; Tina, the stuttering Asian-American Hot Topic customer; Kurt, the effeminate gay kid; and Quinn, the Christian blonde Cheerio who is Finn's girlfriend. There is pretty much no depth to these supporting characters beyond their stereotypes, and if any one of them is going to get fleshed out, it is likely to be Quinn, which I think is a disservice to the rest of the diverse cast.
I am very excited to tune into the show's third episode tonight, which I think will feature more of Gilsig. Also, I would like to remind everyone of last week's best exchange (paraphrased):
Emma: Rachel, are you throwing up in there?
Rachel: No.
Emma: Then what's that next to you?
Rachel: The girl who was throwing up in here before me left that there.
Emma: Rachel...
Rachel: I tried throwing up, but I couldn't! It's like I have no gag reflex or something.
Emma: You may find that comes in handy later on.
I hate to laugh at bulimia jokes, but I do anyway.
Finally, if you are wondering about this post's cryptic title, I am worried about this show. It is unique, and hilariously well-written, and has a rabid fan base. And it's on Fox. If that network does to this show what it did to Arrested Development, Firefly, Futurama, and Family Guy (for a time), then I think many "Gleeks" will be very disappointed. It's currently on just before SYTYCD, but in a few weeks, that show will be switching to a 2-hour format, so where will that push Glee? Friday night at 10pm or something horrible, I'm sure. I am not optimistic about it's chances if it moves around without a solid lead-in.
Glee airs Wednesday nights on FOX at 8pm.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Summer in the City, Pt. III (TV)
As many of you know, television has long been my beloved mistress, my perfect drug. Now with TiVo, and Netflix instant streaming, my TV consumption really has gotten out of hand. I've done a lot of catching up on older shows, and following summer shows, and I am kind of getting antsy waiting for the fall shows to premiere. As always, thoughts of the many months we must wait before the final season of Lost only serve to distress me. On to happier thoughts:
So You Think You Can Dance (Fox, Wednesdays at 8pm & Thursdays at 9pm)
I've been a fan of SYTYCD since season 2, and I love it no less now than I did then. The dancing is still spectacular, the variety of styles given exposure is admirable, and as a dancer, I just love how inspirational the show is to keep everyone moving to the music. That all said, this season was mostly a dud. Perhaps the show's creators and choreographers were overworked, preparing for the show's first fall season while filming their summer season, but there were not too many stand-out performances - or performers - this year. Mary Murphy is continually a thorn in my side, and the bizarre Katie Holmes interlude was just...off-kilter (or maybe I'm just an SP). I am still looking forward to the fall season though. Can't go wrong with more dance.
True Blood (HBO, Sundays at 9pm)
Obsessed. I have a complicated relationship with the vampire genre of late, but this show is just so ridiculous, I can't get enough. It's a soft-core pornographic soap opera about vampires, created by Alan Ball. What more could anyone ask for? As per uzh, the main characters Bill and Sookie are pretty damn annoying, but the sheer awesomeness of Jessica, Lafayette, and Eric is just so worth it.
Mad Men (AMC, Sundays at 10pm)
This is a show that I have watched exclusively on DVD, so I am just over the moon about being all caught up before the next season premieres next Sunday. It's a wonderful show with a lot of women behind the scenes, and a lot of compelling women on screen as well. Peggy Olson is one of the most interesting characters I've seen in a long time, and I am so eager to see where everyone will pick up after hiatus.
Hung (HBO, Sundays at 10pm)
This one of the couple of shows each season that isn't particularly great, but isn't bad, and I just watch it because it's on. Like Penn & Teller's Bullshit which is just a timefiller. I think Anne Heche is doing a good job on the show, and I'm interested in seeing where Ray and Tanya's relationship goes. Tanya's a refreshing surprise in an otherwise unremarkable new show.
The Secret Life of the American Teenager (ABC Family, Mondays at 8pm)
This show is so, so bad. The acting is bad. The writing is bad. The acting - really, you have to see it. I can't get enough of this horrible horrible show. I have been catching up on DVD, and am one season behind. It is the greatest guilty pleasure of all time. Look at that picture. That bump is a more obvious indicator of farce than a drag queen's Adam's apple.
So You Think You Can Dance (Fox, Wednesdays at 8pm & Thursdays at 9pm)True Blood (HBO, Sundays at 9pm)Mad Men (AMC, Sundays at 10pm)Hung (HBO, Sundays at 10pm)The Secret Life of the American Teenager (ABC Family, Mondays at 8pm)Friday, May 23, 2008
this time, less skreet
Last night heralded the return of one of my favorite TV shows, Fox's So You Think You Can Dance in its fourth season, filling in the network's reality gap left by Wednesday's American Idol season finale. I've watched SYTYCD regularly since it's second season, and last summer I even had the chance to be in the live studio audience. Like AI, the show is produced by reality juggernaut 19 Entertainment, and uses many of the same tricks which get Idol such high ratings. The first few weeks of the season focus on the open auditions around the country, with a lot of screen time devoted to the fame-hungry and misguided masses who can't dance, but who can make fools of themselves. With Idol, I lose my patience with the show once it's been narrowed down to the "talented" contestants, because I find the song choices, arrangements, and gimmicky filler to be unworthy of my time. SYTYCD, however, keeps me interested the whole season through because the dancers and choreographers are so talented, and the performances are much more exciting.
Maybe it's because of my history as a dancer, but I get such a thrill out of watching dedicated dancers sweat it out to new and challenging styles of dance, and amateurs getting to work with some of the country's most talented choreographers. The dancers themselves become celebrities in their own right, as it makes me giddy to think how much I'd love to meet them in person (Benji! Hok! Sabra!).
Last night's episode showcased the stylings of Los Angeles area contestants, which unsurprisingly had a strong showing of popping, locking, and bboying. Now, don't let my love of ballet fool you - I have no pretensions against street dance styles. In fact, I usually really enjoy watching it, and would love to learn how to break. But there was a monotony to the auditions last night, and except for a couple of standouts, I was bored by the popping/locking. I mean, four seasons in you'd think the judges would know by now that most of those contestants will not make it past the second round (partner dancing, different styles, &c.). Further proof that the producers know that viewers like to see people do cool tricks.
Next week continues the span of early auditions, but I'm geared up for a summer with Cat Deely, Nigel Lythgoe, Mia Michaels, and Shane Sparks. Hopefully there will be more guest judging or choreography from Wade Robson, or previous competitors like Dmitry Chaplin or the Schwimmer siblings. My sincerest hope for the season, though, is that Mary Murphy will take a page out of Paula Abdul's book and Quaalude up before riding the hot tamale train into town. Bitch crazy.
ETA: In regards to this blog entry's title, "skreet" refers to Kippery Rigsby's unfortunate, schadenfreude-inducing appearance on the show, which can be viewed in low-def here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=FWtRnBBeMKg
Maybe it's because of my history as a dancer, but I get such a thrill out of watching dedicated dancers sweat it out to new and challenging styles of dance, and amateurs getting to work with some of the country's most talented choreographers. The dancers themselves become celebrities in their own right, as it makes me giddy to think how much I'd love to meet them in person (Benji! Hok! Sabra!).
Last night's episode showcased the stylings of Los Angeles area contestants, which unsurprisingly had a strong showing of popping, locking, and bboying. Now, don't let my love of ballet fool you - I have no pretensions against street dance styles. In fact, I usually really enjoy watching it, and would love to learn how to break. But there was a monotony to the auditions last night, and except for a couple of standouts, I was bored by the popping/locking. I mean, four seasons in you'd think the judges would know by now that most of those contestants will not make it past the second round (partner dancing, different styles, &c.). Further proof that the producers know that viewers like to see people do cool tricks.
Next week continues the span of early auditions, but I'm geared up for a summer with Cat Deely, Nigel Lythgoe, Mia Michaels, and Shane Sparks. Hopefully there will be more guest judging or choreography from Wade Robson, or previous competitors like Dmitry Chaplin or the Schwimmer siblings. My sincerest hope for the season, though, is that Mary Murphy will take a page out of Paula Abdul's book and Quaalude up before riding the hot tamale train into town. Bitch crazy.
ETA: In regards to this blog entry's title, "skreet" refers to Kippery Rigsby's unfortunate, schadenfreude-inducing appearance on the show, which can be viewed in low-def here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=FWtRnBBeMKg
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
"we need to do some pick-ups"
So yesterday afternoon was spent navigating the midday traffic on the 10 and the 101, figuring out how to park at the Grove (for all the times I've been to the farmers' market, I had never been to the Grove before - can you believe it?) walking in heels on uneven pavement while my blister constantly reminded me of its existence, and clapping and screaming when told. It was totally worth it, though, because yesterday I got to be in the studio audience for one of my favorite TV shows, So You Think You Can Dance!
Because of where we were standing in the audience, it is unlikely that we'll have ended up onscreen during the reaction shots, but I'll at least be paying close mind tomorrow to see if I can identify my "rolled R scream" (think Speedy Gonzales) which I tried to throw in at random intervals.
I am not supposed to say much about the routines before it airs, so I will just say that since we are now down to the top ten, the show is comprised of ten solos and five partner routines. The dancers are no longer paired with the partners they've gotten used to, but select a random partner each week, along with their randomly selected genre. Viewers will vote for the individual dancers, and the man and woman with the least amount of votes will be sent home, because the judges now have no say in that (except Nigel, because he is also a producer). This week the solos were all the same politically conscious routine choreographed by Wade Robson. Though I appreciate how forcing the audience to watch each dancer do the same choreography makes us judge them separately from the choreography, I hope that they start shaking tings up a little bit, because it just seemed like all the dances blended together after a while.
Cat Deely looked amazing, as did Mia Michaels. It was cool to see the judges, the choreographers, and the dancers still in the competition, but for SYTYCD fans such as myself, the real celebrities were the past competitors who were in the audience. Benji and Heidi from last season's top four were there of course, to support their sister/cousin (respectively) Lacey. Snejana who became "Snow" was there as well, looking super hot and uber Russian. Dmitri of the ripped shirt placket was there as well, who choreographed one of the hottest dances the show has ever seen. But my girl friend and I were most excited to see Hok, who sat right behind us, and was probably amused at how we kept turning around to peek at him while we debated whether or not we should wave. I did. I'm lame, get over it.
So tune in tomorrow night for this week's episode of SYTYCD! I meanwhile, and just a little more than halfway done with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It's really good, and this is the longest it's ever taken me to finish a Harry Potter book. I just get distracted chatting about it with my roommate! Thursday morning I will be leaving with a couple of friends for three days at Comic Con in San Diego. Unfortunately, I will probably not be able to blog about either Harry Potter or Comic Con until August, when I get back from the vacation I'm going on next week.
Because of where we were standing in the audience, it is unlikely that we'll have ended up onscreen during the reaction shots, but I'll at least be paying close mind tomorrow to see if I can identify my "rolled R scream" (think Speedy Gonzales) which I tried to throw in at random intervals.
I am not supposed to say much about the routines before it airs, so I will just say that since we are now down to the top ten, the show is comprised of ten solos and five partner routines. The dancers are no longer paired with the partners they've gotten used to, but select a random partner each week, along with their randomly selected genre. Viewers will vote for the individual dancers, and the man and woman with the least amount of votes will be sent home, because the judges now have no say in that (except Nigel, because he is also a producer). This week the solos were all the same politically conscious routine choreographed by Wade Robson. Though I appreciate how forcing the audience to watch each dancer do the same choreography makes us judge them separately from the choreography, I hope that they start shaking tings up a little bit, because it just seemed like all the dances blended together after a while.
Cat Deely looked amazing, as did Mia Michaels. It was cool to see the judges, the choreographers, and the dancers still in the competition, but for SYTYCD fans such as myself, the real celebrities were the past competitors who were in the audience. Benji and Heidi from last season's top four were there of course, to support their sister/cousin (respectively) Lacey. Snejana who became "Snow" was there as well, looking super hot and uber Russian. Dmitri of the ripped shirt placket was there as well, who choreographed one of the hottest dances the show has ever seen. But my girl friend and I were most excited to see Hok, who sat right behind us, and was probably amused at how we kept turning around to peek at him while we debated whether or not we should wave. I did. I'm lame, get over it.
So tune in tomorrow night for this week's episode of SYTYCD! I meanwhile, and just a little more than halfway done with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It's really good, and this is the longest it's ever taken me to finish a Harry Potter book. I just get distracted chatting about it with my roommate! Thursday morning I will be leaving with a couple of friends for three days at Comic Con in San Diego. Unfortunately, I will probably not be able to blog about either Harry Potter or Comic Con until August, when I get back from the vacation I'm going on next week.
Thursday, June 7, 2007
summer lovin'
This post brought to you by my never-ending romance with my television. "Kat love TV. Marriage?" (That's a UK Office joke, for you plebes out there...) I decided it would be unfair to the greatest season of all if I did not give a little insight about what I'm watching on TV this summer. Because I won't have cable again until the fall, I must continue to scour network programming. Luckily for me, Fox has completely taken care of all of my needs. Though the only reality show I watch with any regularity during the school year is America's Next Top Model, reality is pretty much all I go for during the summer. So here's a brief explanation about the three shows I've been following lately.
Hell's Kitchen
Mondays at 9PM on Fox
I started watching Chef Gordon Ramsay's quest for a new chef to hire last summer, and it became quite addictive. When I told a friend that I liked to watch it, he said, "Well, why? You can enjoy the singing when you watch American Idol, but you don't get to eat the food!" But alas - Hell's Kitchen has almost as much drama as ANTM, and a cast of contestants so frequently pitiable or scorned that I don't know why sadistic reality TV watchers don't pay closer attention to this show. This season just premiered this week, and is already promising to have better editing and drama than last year's. Besides, if seeing things onscreen that you aren't experiencing in real life wasn't pleasurable, the food network wouldn't exist. Let alone the porn industry.
On The Lot
Tuesdays at 8PM on Fox
I have been watching this show with, for some reason, not as much interest as I think I should have. Maybe because I do not (yet) have directorial aspirations, I cannot be as captivated by this show as other film students. But there's something strange about this show. I would think that enough people would be interested in watching short films once a week, but I think there's a formatting problem that makes it difficult to carry out. I have enjoyed a number of the shorts that have been shown, but I think the show lacks a personality. Garry Marshall is the most captivating person onscreen, and while he's quite a character, that's not really a good thing when there are enough talented young people around showing their work. I'd like to see this show get a little revamped for next season, because I think it could be interesting to apply the reality show competition to film.
So You Think You Can Dance?
Wednesdays and Thursdays at 9pm on Fox
I had really wanted to watch this show during its first season, and I can't remember why I was never available when it was airing. But last year I got a little obsessed. Produced by the same geniuses behind Pop Idol, etc., SYTYCD has pretty much the same format. There are three to four judges (Nasty Nigel and Mary Murphy being the most memorable), and each week contestants work with a different expert choreographer. Also, the early episodes of each season have both impressive performances and hilariously bad ones - sound familiar? Why I love the show, though, is that by and large the personalities are more fun to watch. Also, I love the dancing almost every time, whereas I am rarely entertained by the singing on Idol anymore. Plus, I respect the way that they make dancers from different backgrounds compete in other styles that will challenge them, proving who is a great dancer, not just a one-trick pony. Last night they picked the top 20, notable because of the presence of Lacey, sister to last year's winner Benji, and the return of Hok! Hok was a favorite of a lot of people's last year when he would have been put through to the top 20 if it weren't for his lack of a work visa. I'm looking forward to seeing who he's partnered with next week!
Hell's Kitchen
Mondays at 9PM on Fox
I started watching Chef Gordon Ramsay's quest for a new chef to hire last summer, and it became quite addictive. When I told a friend that I liked to watch it, he said, "Well, why? You can enjoy the singing when you watch American Idol, but you don't get to eat the food!" But alas - Hell's Kitchen has almost as much drama as ANTM, and a cast of contestants so frequently pitiable or scorned that I don't know why sadistic reality TV watchers don't pay closer attention to this show. This season just premiered this week, and is already promising to have better editing and drama than last year's. Besides, if seeing things onscreen that you aren't experiencing in real life wasn't pleasurable, the food network wouldn't exist. Let alone the porn industry.
On The Lot
Tuesdays at 8PM on Fox
I have been watching this show with, for some reason, not as much interest as I think I should have. Maybe because I do not (yet) have directorial aspirations, I cannot be as captivated by this show as other film students. But there's something strange about this show. I would think that enough people would be interested in watching short films once a week, but I think there's a formatting problem that makes it difficult to carry out. I have enjoyed a number of the shorts that have been shown, but I think the show lacks a personality. Garry Marshall is the most captivating person onscreen, and while he's quite a character, that's not really a good thing when there are enough talented young people around showing their work. I'd like to see this show get a little revamped for next season, because I think it could be interesting to apply the reality show competition to film.
So You Think You Can Dance?
Wednesdays and Thursdays at 9pm on Fox
I had really wanted to watch this show during its first season, and I can't remember why I was never available when it was airing. But last year I got a little obsessed. Produced by the same geniuses behind Pop Idol, etc., SYTYCD has pretty much the same format. There are three to four judges (Nasty Nigel and Mary Murphy being the most memorable), and each week contestants work with a different expert choreographer. Also, the early episodes of each season have both impressive performances and hilariously bad ones - sound familiar? Why I love the show, though, is that by and large the personalities are more fun to watch. Also, I love the dancing almost every time, whereas I am rarely entertained by the singing on Idol anymore. Plus, I respect the way that they make dancers from different backgrounds compete in other styles that will challenge them, proving who is a great dancer, not just a one-trick pony. Last night they picked the top 20, notable because of the presence of Lacey, sister to last year's winner Benji, and the return of Hok! Hok was a favorite of a lot of people's last year when he would have been put through to the top 20 if it weren't for his lack of a work visa. I'm looking forward to seeing who he's partnered with next week!
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