Wowsers what a jam-packed Tuesday, right?
First up - Dancing With The Stars results night. I’ve got to hand it to ABC. If you’re going to do an hour program to essentially tell us something we could learn in five minutes, then at least you don’t make it all fluff and filler. We got a few things, the least of which was the group dance reprise, because, although it was one of their better group efforts, once was enough. But then things improved dramatically with Natasha Bedingfield, who is everything that Megan Joy will never be. Not ever. Enjoyed the haunting song as well as (squee!) Dmitry and Lacey’s lovely dance. The work Lacey put in on both her physique and her ballroom between seasons really shows and I admire her for putting in the effort.
We also get Celtic Woman, which…didn’t do so much for me, despite my love of all things Celt. And I’m pretty sure the couple dancing to their number was a pair from that disastrous Worlds Best competition that was on recently. So that part was interesting, to see them in this venue. Then we had a third performance on the night, this from Broadway bound Burn The Floor. And that? I am totally getting tickets to when it comes out.I really loved the combination of ballroom and Broadway. Definitely enjoyed it more than La Reve.
Finally we get to some bottom 2 action - although we don’t know if this was the actual bottom 2, just that
one of these two is going home. So, it’s either LT or Ty, and we all know which one I want to stay.
But first! It’s You Pick The Pro time! We get three pro couples who are trying to dance their way into your heart while simultaneously trying to beat the partner who’s job it is, in part, to make them look good. I know, like Lord of the Flies of the Dance!
In the first pair we get Season 1 Cutie Ashley Del Grosso’s younger sister, who, while good, is no Ashley.
On the scale of cute, Ashley even out-girl-next-door’s Melissa. Just sayin. Then we get the tall, yet aquiline pair of Anna and Mayo, and while I thought they were the most elegant, and that was quite possibly a more entertaining waltz than we usually get treated to, neither of them grabbed me in terms of watching them on the show with a celeb. The final pair includes Snow, the train wreck personality from Season 1 of So You Think You Can Dance. And although I’m fine with Chelsie, Lacey, and Dmitry being brought over from that program, if they’re going to bring anyone else, their name better be Pasha or Artem. In no combination do I want to see Snow on my screen on any routine basis. However, I could probably live with her partner in this comp, who is Alec Mazo’s younger and equally talented brother. Overall, however, I wasn’t as excited by the choices as I’d hoped to be.
And, in the end, LT is freed up to return to the golf course and leave this place he was well ready to be done with. So all is good and next week? It’s team dances! Yay! I really enjoyed that last season. They either get a Team Samba, or Team Tango. I know who I want to be on Team Tango!!!
Now we move on to Disco Week on American Idol, where the Top 7 will see how badly they can go astray with the most irrelevant music week of the season. So, color me surprised when this? Was very possibly my favorite week yet. Granted, comparatively speaking, this is not hard to achieve. And it was no Dolly Week from last year, but it was damn close. Of course, the interpretation of “disco” was relatively broad, but this was all for the greater good, so I forgive.
We had Lil up first, who, while I agree doesn’t have, and never apparently did have, the chops for this show on the level she needed them to be, I still felt sorry for, because after awhile it’s just no fun to see someone get hammered week in and week out, no matter how hard she tries. So I forgive her the tirade, only because, it’s not going to matter anyway. She Chaka Khan’s her way through I’m Every Woman in a very Chaka kinda way that she does and it’s not going to save her. From yet another public thrashing or from going home. I know the judges are supposed to give helpful critiques, but they need to just accept that telling Lil to “show us who you are as an artist” is never going to garner anything other than what she’s already showing you, because THAT IS ALL SHE HAS. It IS who she is. She just happens to be a really, really generic singer. Move along.
However, just when I thought it was going to be another thrash night, things began to look up! Hunh.
Next up? Kris, who totally Mraz’s the hell out of Donna Summer’s She Works Hard For the Money. (No, seriously. I mean it.) And as long as I don’t watch him sing with that Dana Carvey mouth of his, I actually really enjoyed it. One of my faves by him and a nice addition to the night.
And, is that Vince Neil in the audience? Wtf?
Third up is Danny Jesse Raphael who goes full tilt Hokey-Gokey on Earth, Wind & Fire’s September. And, yet again, he delivers a thoroughly entertaining yet ultimately forgettable performance. He’s a very reliable performer, but he lacks, for me, that memorable element that lifts him out of very-good-entertainer land, to a downloadable performer. I don’t see or hear him as anything that works in today’s market. But that is very likely just me, since I just don’t like the guy much.
Alison is up next and I love what she does with Hot Stuff. Different, interesting, and it works for her. As does her disco bondage outfit. For a change. Nice job, kid.
Then - YAY - it’s Adam time. And I figured since he amped it up last week, and did Funky Music before that, that it would be a slim chance that he’d camp it up, despite this being the perfect week for him to get away with that. And he doesn’t let me down - he slows down a version of If I Can’t Have You to a point where you’d hardly ever get that it was that song. I loved it, I loved his mid range, still get a bit of Adam angsty range in the middle, and a sweeeet ending. Loved the suit in a big way, thought the hair style could have benefited from a bit more focus, but all in all, one of his better stage moments. He always delivers the Adam Experience, and I, for one, am grateful. I’m also grateful that he doesn’t pretend he’s some prodigy who is re-arranging these songs by himself (a la Blake) and makes sure to give credit where it’s due. A professional, this guy. And humble, especially given the praise being slathered all over him by the judges and everyone else. Others could take note. (Danny.)
Poor Matty has to go up next, and he goes full tilt with his version of Stayin Alive. I know. But, for once, though it was nothing earth shatteringly new as perhaps Kris, Alison, and Adam were tonight, he actually found his range and stayed there, put all his energy into it, and delivered a pretty solid performance. Good on you, Matt.
Aaaand, closing out the night is Anoop, who, let’s be honest, didn’t own the pimp spot this week, despite delivering a perfectly respectable version of Dim All The Lights that he did tailor to his strengths. And, despite the biffed note at the end, while not a show-ending performance by any means, was definitely a pleasant way to complete a surprisingly entertaining evening. I didn’t fast forward once all night. Perhaps a sad commentary on this season otherwise, but enough to make me happy.
Tonight, two go home. If it was me, I’d put Lil, Anoop, and, unfortunately, Matt in the bottom (strictly because, comparatively, Adam, Alison, Kris, and even Danny belong there ahead of him.) I’d send Lil and Anoop packing. We’ll see!
Right now, it’s time to get your vote in for this week’s free giveaway. See Monday’s post for all the details.
And right this very second? It’s your time to DISH!! Who goes home tonight on Idol? Who goes home next on Dancing With The Stars? Who do you want to see on Team Tango? And what music theme will we be subjected to next week?
Tags: Writing by Donna
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