Whole lotta lotta going on last night, and four booty shakers went home.

So, on SYTYCD….

I know I was all WOW yesterday, but, though the routines last night were insane in difficulty level for week one, the pairings left me a little whytheface, and it didn’t excite me as much I remember being whampow’d the opening night of season 5. Possibly the illness/injury toll right off the bat was a bit buzz killing, with Billy out for the season and somehow knee-wrecked Noelle just getting to sit out this week (how does that work? How can she just sit out? I’m confused… )

Okay, so, beyond that…loved Travis Wall and Dave Scott as choreographers tonight, and Tyce still isn’t pissing me off anymore. Sonya is still hunh? to me and Doriana went waaaay over those kids heads, literally, with her frantic disco. Season 5 put these kids to shame on that score.

So…we had:
Channing/Phillip doing the jive and they were just okay. Not sure either of them were wow for me, or particularly charming with each other.
Ashleigh/Jakob with a sultry jazz routine that….pass me the umbrella drink, would you? They will be powerful to watch, methinks. Like that pairing, but Jakob needs to work on chemistry, he’s ridiculous with talent, but not the manliest man of the year and he’s got Ash’s ass to writhe around, so he needs to figure that out and fast.
Ariana/Peter with hip hop…I liked Tapper Peter more than his partner, thought the routine was pretty cute, but the pairing didn’t move me one way or the other…
Russell/injured Noelle - so he danced fox trot with his choreographer, Melanie LaPatin, who I love. Okay, this guy? I love. Easily my favorite in that he just infuses joy and charisma effortlessly into anything he does. I think it could be a good partnership with Noelle if she gets the all clear, but the way her knee was strapped up…ummm, I’m thinking it doesn’t look all that great… So who do they give him? It’ll be uneven if she drops out - replacement? Or only one guy goes home next week? The cut girl comes back? What, Nigel, what? And why does Noelle get a pass again? She can’t dance, neither can Billy, both will get well eventually, but not tonight so….why is she still here?
Bianca/Victor - interesting pair, I liked them and thought for a tapper she didn’t get near enough credit for how much of the character and passion she put into the routine.

Speaking of which - I adore Adam Shankman and love that he’s a permajudge this season. I think he gives the best from-the-heart honest critiques to actually help these kids. That said, his enthusiasm is also infectious because it’s also coming from a very real place. Love. Him. Of course, I was all over the map with him on what we liked and didn’t like, but what do I know?

Okay, then was Kevin/Karen and holymolianamama. Another umbrella drink please? Yikes, these two. I’m okay with this pairing. Fanning… Nuff said.
Ryan/Ellenore - contemp from Sonja that was just weird to me, but - not expecting to be into this pair, and I thought they did well. Both were technically brilliant, and love Ryan - what’s not to love? - but am on the fence about the partnership in terms of sizzle. Skillz, yes. Madd. And Ellenore, honey, could your hand have been any lower on Ryan’s um..waistband, while the judges judged? His wife is standing rightoverthere. I kept waiting for her to full on just grope the guy on national television. It was distracting.
Pauline/Brandon - who stepped in for Billy and had 1.5 days to learn the waltz. I thought the judges could have given them more props because tho the dancing wasn’t all that, the chemistry was beyond charming and I really loved the pure joy they had in their performance. It was one of my faves of the night in terms of entertainment. Pffft, judges. Keep them around. Give them a chance.
Legacy/Kathryn - hip hop. I liked the routine and was surprised how well Kathryn did. I’m not a big Legacy fan, the Stallone Jr thing doesn’t do it for me, but there is no doubt he pours his whole heart into it. Good enough pair, as I don’t know who else I’d have paired them with. Definitely good enough to move on.
Mollee/Nathan are The Adorables of this group, but I gotta say I’m not a big Mollee fan. (I know, it’s like saying Down With Smurfs. I’m sorry.) She is charming, but her dancing is still immature for me, tons o’ potential, don’t get me wrong, but too soon for this stage. And pairing her with the other super young Cutie Patootie…not sure that was smart as I don’t think either is capable of pushing the other. They will just doggie paddle around in their adorableness. I do like him and think he totally rocked the solo camera time he had in Wade’s routine…but poor pairing for me seems to waste his potential. And that disco sucked, frankly. It was frenzied and awkward. Check out last season’s disco routines if you don’t believe me… Do not get the gushing on these two as a pair. Wish Nathan was paired with someone else.

So, about 50/50 on pairings for me. I honestly wonder how much more dynamic it might have been if they’d mixed a few of those ho-hummers up. But that’s just me! All in all, a lot of talent. A whole lotta lotta potential. I am looking forward to seeing what develops and who knows, I hope I’m pleasantly surprised!

At the end of the night, because of the World Series tonight, no results show can happen, so the judges had to axe two right then and there. Ouch! Who is out? Okay, right off the bat, WHAT ARE THEY THINKING putting Russell in the bottom four? Man has more potential and more charm and will be the most fun to watch grow than anyone. From a ratings standpoint alone he’s gold. The guys are all super talented, yes, but it’s America’s favorite dancer, and he’s got Twitch written all over him, only better. (He’s at risk over Kevin, Peter and Phillip? WHAT?) Man, oh man, they’d better let us vote and vote soon so he’s not even in danger. YIKES! And we have another week of him being at risk before we can. I so don’t get that choice, I’m on another planet of not getting it. Different solar system entirely. And Brandon, also in the bottom, albeit more understandably. Still - you could see that he wasn’t happy. Drag him here and shove him in Billy’s spot, give him one and half days, then what? No way is he staying over Russell. No way. So he’s a dead man dancing right off. That seems to so suck…and yet, the guys are all so strong this year, who would you send in his place? Still, talk about feeling used as a place filler. (I mean, Noelle gets a bye…why not just pair Russell with Pauline and if Noelle can come back, go from there..? Seems all ass backward to me.)

Now, on the girls side, no real problems, really with the choices of Pauline and Ariana, overall, since I knew Mollee wasn’t going anywhere. Feel like Ariana deserves more of a shot, but it’s a tough class there. Especially given Noelle doesn’t even perform and what, she gets a bye? Not happy. Seems wrong. (And RUSSELL? Are you kidding me? I still can’t get past it.)

They really dance for their lives…and dang, Russell, way to KILL IT. Emphasis on kill. (Judges, shame on you!) And Brandon does…what? Contemporary? He’s hip hop. Was that to show his versatility? I heart him and it sucks he’s going home after being dragged back. In the end, I think it’s Pauline and Brandon leaving. (But only because it’s can’t be Legacy and Mollee…) Both girls were weak, actually, in their solos. They should go and both guys should stay. Dammit. Instead, they send Ariana home, which won’t break hearts since no one knew her, but comparatively, she should have stayed over Pauline. (I’m already over the heart-hands y’all.) And Brandon goes home - but appreciate Nigel trying to bring him back next year. (So…does that mean Billy can come back then, too? Hmmm, me thinks maybe that’s the bigger reason for the rule change…but I heart Billy so, DO IT FOX. Screw the rules.)

And Russell? Much love. You will get the votes. Just make it one more week, dude. One more week. And give the man a damn partner. (Talk about unfair consequences tonight for both guys….through no fault of their own…)

On DWTS - two more go home. Kanye also stayed home, so Taylor Swift sang (loose term there) without being accosted. Then Tiempo Libre were kind of oddly boring for hot Cuban musicians. (And tell us who the guest dancers are, show!) Taylor “sings” again, but our pros dance, so all is forgiven. Then it’s time for someone to go home. I was figuring Michael and probably Melissa, then maybe Aaron would be in the Dance Off of Death. Only they change it up - lowest goes straight home, the next two dance to the death. Was I right? Well no, because Aaron is safe. It was Louie/Chelsie in there instead. No real surprise, I figured he was on the ropes next week. So, straight home? Oooh, Melissa and Mark. Kinda surprised at that one. So it’s a dance off between Irvin and Louie. Hunh. So, Irvin/Anna were pretty cute out there - ha! Mr. Hips! The Adorables gave it their all, too. But in the end? The NFL rules again and the snowboarder dude heads out. Awwww. But he really lasted way longer than his skillz did, so you can’t be too sad about it! Next week, Irvin goes down…but who goes with? I’m still thinking it’s Aaron. (And how scary was he in the little private post performance interview pieces? Yikes! Aww, about the dad thing though…explains a lot.)

So, next week, more dancing! More eliminations! Who goes home next? Tonight? More cooking! But right this very second? DISHing!

Tags: Writing //