So You Think You Can Dance: The Final Four Revealed July 31, 2008

Tonight I learned that I like cheesy ’80s ballads better when they are paired with a dance, as Bette Midler’s “The Rose” nearly made me tear up while watching our Top Six dance beautifully to a Mandy Moore-choreographed routine.

Here are a few other observations from the blur of activity we were bombarded with during this bloated one hour results show:

• Cat looked like she fell through a doorway of streamers on her way to the stage. Can you call what she was wearing a dress?
• A small child named, if I heard correctly, Lil’ Demon, break danced his way around the stage for way too long (it was cute for about a minute…)
• Lady GaGa arrived with her posse, fresh off a time machine from a 1980s music video. Seriously. What was with the leotard, the gaudy yellow shoes, and the shoulder pads? Maybe she thought they were doing a Toni Basil tribute, commemorating her short-lived early 80s music career?

Before the results were revealed, each of the remaining dancers danced a solo:

• Courtney – “Almost Lover” by A Fine Frenzy – She looked like she forgot the choreography at the beginning, but I suppose it was just a slow-starting dance.
• Mark – “Wind It Up” by Gwen Stefani – Fun with suspenders.
• Katee – “Beautiful Disaster” by Jon McLaughlin – She did more lighting up of the stage.
• Joshua – “I Can Make You Dance” by Zapp – His solo was the best of the night. Loved when he went down into splits, then halfway back up, then down again. He’s so good!
• Chelsie – “The Girl’s Gone Wild” by Travis Tritt – Travis Tritt. Is he still making music? I wasn’t a fan of this boot-scootin’ solo.
• Twitch – “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” by Bobby McFerrin – Seems like Twitch was sending a vibe of “I’m cool with whatever happens tonight.” Turns out he didn’t need to worry!

Safe - When I heard these two names called as being two of the finalists, I breathed a sigh of relief. As long as they are there next week, I don’t really care about the others

• Katee
• Joshua

In Danger

• Mark and Twitch
• Courtney and Chelsie

Surprise!

I really expected that out of that bottom four, Twitch and Courtney would be going home. Instead, their names were called as the remaining finalists! I thought that Mark had a bigger fan base than Twitch – same for Chelsie. Guess I was wrong. I have a lot of respect for Courtney. She has impressed me more and more each week. And Twitch has held his own in many different styles.

The Final Four

• Katee
• Joshua
• Courtney
• Twitch

Last year’s final four consisted of Sabra, Danny, Neil, and Lacey. I was hopeful that Sabra and Danny would be the final two, and I got my wish. From there I had hoped that Danny would win, but I was okay with Sabra winning. (By the way, where has Sabra been this season? Will she show up next week to congratulate the new champion?) This year, I won’t be disappointed with any of these four winning, but I will be cheering loudest for Joshua. I think that he or Katee are most deserving to win this year.

So You Think You Can Dance: The Top 6 Perform July 30, 2008

We’re already down to the final six dancers? This season has flown by. Cat looks straight out of an Austin Powers movie in her shimmery silver go-go girl outfit. Tonight’s guest judge is Adam Shankman. Given that I am weary tonight and lack the concentration to record the judges’ exact comments to the contestants, I will give a general impression of their opinion, after making my own observations about each performance.

Courtney and Mark – Viennese Waltz (Jason Gilkison) – “The Time of My Life” by David Cook

Ouch. This isn’t good news for Courtney and Mark, since the Viennese Waltz isn’t normally a crowd pleaser. Let’s see how they do. Cheesy song choice, as much as I love David Cook, so that detracted from the routine. Wardrobe seems to be an important aspect of a waltz, and the wardrobe department got it right on this one. Courtney’s dress was simple, yet flowing and elegant. They seemed to do well. The judges were impressed – thought it was well choreographed and romantic.

Courtney and Mark – Jazz (Sonya Tayeh) – “The Garden” by Mirah

This routine is about “old French burlesque,” a battle of the sexes. This style suited Mark, by giving him plenty of opportunities to shake his hands, strike a pose, and basically just act weird. I liked it. But for me, Mark totally overshadowed Courtney. I agree with Cat that the music was great. The judges raved about how bizarre and unique Sonya’s choreography was, and how great Courtney and Mark were together in this routine.

Katee and Joshua – Contemporary (Tyce Diorio) – “All By Myself” by Celine Dion

This dance has a Romeo and Juliet vibe, a story of reunited lovers. They did a good job of playing the characters. I’m so glad to see them back together again, as were they and the audience. I get chills watching the leaps that they pull off. But everything in between was well done, too. It’s also amazing how well Joshua does with all the different styles of dance he is given. He and Katee are, in my opinion, the most versatile contestants left on the show. The judges thought it was beautiful and impressive, and they think these two are headed to the finale.

Katee and Joshua – Paso Doble (Jason Gilkison) – “Filet” from Le Reve soundtrack

I always enjoy this style of dance, which shows us the matador and his cape, which represents his aggression. I wasn’t crazy about the music, but as usual, Katee and Joshua were very fierce and entertaining. The judges were amazed by the routine. They think these two are magic together. I agree!

Chelsie and Twitch – The Mambo (Tony and Melanie) – “Ahora Mi Toca A Mi” by Victor Manuelle

I liked Chelsie’s fun little red dress, despite the wardrobe malfunction that sent bows flying across the stage. I thought she was great (how about those spins?!), but they didn’t have much chemistry together and Twitch didn’t seem fully invested. The judges thought Twitch was a pretty good partner and that Chelsie was on fire and in her element.

Chelsie and Twitch – Hip Hop (Tabitha and Napoleon) – “Control” by the Vitamin String Quartet

This is a humorous, playful routine about dueling conductors. And who thought we’d ever hear orchestral Janet Jackson on this show? Very random. Yet appropriate for this routine. I liked the first half better than the second half. The judges like the wit of T and N’s choreography. They are amazed at everything that Chelsie can do, and love Twitch in his hip hop element.

Solos

• Chelsie – “When I Grow Up” by Pussycat Dolls – That Chelsie is a mover and a shaker for sure. Lots of energy, and quite an ending with the splits!
• Twitch – “Midas Touch” by Midnight Star – Continuing his gimmicky performances, he was decked out in gold, to match his song, of course. No doubt he’s very talented, but I was actually more entertained by Cat putting on his glasses and gold teeth. Very cute.
• Katee – “Can’t Stop” by Maroon 5 – She brought more of a spunky personality to this solo than her previous ones.
• Joshua – “Like That” by Memphis Bleek – From his fast moves, to slow motion, to booty shakin’, to super high leaps, his solo seemed to have a little of everything. And it exuded energy and personality as well.
• Courtney – “Rock Your Soul” by Elisa – I always like Courtney better in her solos than in her partner performances. No exception tonight.
• Mark – “Bum Like You” by Robyn – As usual, I enjoyed his quirky, fun solo. Methinks it was right up the alley of many a teenage girl as well, which is one reason I think Mark will still be standing next week in the final four.

My Favorite: Katee and Joshua’s Contemporary

My Least Favorite: Chelsie and Twitch’s Mambo

Predicting Who Will Be Sent Home: Twitch and Courtney

I’m more sure about Courtney than Twitch. At this point it seems like all three guys are rather equally popular, so it’s a matter of how many votes their respective fans will cast. My fingers are crossed that Joshua makes it into the Final Four!

Related Post

• So You Think You Can Dance: The Top Eight Perform

90s Cinema: So I Married an Axe Murderer July 27, 2008

Last night I watched one of my favorite comedies from the early 90s: So I Married an Axe Murderer. I have probably seen this movie a dozen times, and it never gets old. It stars Mike Myers as a Beatnik-type poet, Nancy Travis as the “bellicose butcher” that he falls in love with, Amanda Plummer as her eccentric sister, and Anthony LaPaglia as his San Francisco detective friend.

Here are some things that I love about the movie:

• The soundtrack – This may be the last album on cassette tape that I purchased before moving on to CDs. I actually still have it! It features some great songs, including Toad the Wet Sprocket’s “Brother” and “There She Goes” by the Boo Radleys.
• Mike Myers as Charlie’s Scottish father – Myers’ is no stranger to playing dual roles, but this may be the first time that he did so. He was hilarious as this loud, obnoxious, loyally Scottish, kilt-wearing father.
• The Sputnik scene – The classic, quotable scene from this movie involves Charlie’s younger brother, known only as “Heed,” blocking the television screen with his large noggin. Their father starts spouting off jokes about how big his head is, and it is hilarious. (It’s like an orange on a toothpick, it’s a virtual planetoid, it has its own weather system, it’s like Sputnik, etc.)
• The Wo-Man Poem – Another quotable part of the movie is Mike Myers’ poetry, which he first performs in a coffee house and then serenades Harriet with. It has some of the best alliteration that I can remember ever hearing: “Harriet. Har-ri-et. Hard-hearted harbinger of haggis. Beautiful. Bemused, Bellicose. Butcher.”
• Phil Hartman as “Vicky” the Alcatraz Guide – It makes me sad now to see Phil Hartman, knowing about his tragic death. But he was hilarious in this cameo, telling inappropriately disturbing stories to his group of tourists, all with a straight face.
• The San Francisco setting – I love the city of San Francisco, and there’s plenty of it to see here, from the Golden Gate bridge, to the Palace of Fine Arts, to the North Beach area.
• The Plot – Unlike some comedies, this one actually has a plot that makes sense. Charlie has a fear of commitment, so he always comes up with an excuse to break up with his girlfriends. One was a clepto. Another smelled like vegetable beef soup. After his mother tells him about a serial killer who murders her new husband on their honeymoon, he starts to believe that his latest girlfriend is this Mrs. X. Mike Myers plays awkwardness and paranoia very well, and Nancy Travis is equally good at being aloof and shifty. As the story unfolds, there’s plenty to keep you guessing and laughing.

Do you love this movie as much as I do? What are some of your favorite things about it?

So You Think You Can Dance: The Top Eight Perform July 23, 2008

The competition is really heating up now, as Kherington and Gev were sent packing last week during a results show that surprised many. I was sad to see Gev leave, but at this point any of the guys leaving is a disappointment. I’m not as attached to the girls this season, although I really like Katee and Chelsie.

Cat’s black, bejeweled dress tonight reminds me of Christie Brinkley in Billy Joel’s “Uptown Girl” video from the 80s. Don’t know why. That’s just what came to mind.

Singer/dancer/director/choreographer Toni Basil is tonight’s guest judge. Cat says we all know her from her huge 1982 hit “Mickey.” I took a look at the music video on YouTube. Let’s just say she’s come a long way since that one hit wonder.

On to tonight’s dancing. Each couple is once again dancing twice, plus everyone is dancing a solo.

Will and Courtney – Samba (Jean-Marc Genereaux)

Very flashy, lots of gyrating. Courtney looked great in her yellow 1/3 of a dress plus tassels. And Will looked very athletic in his black samba suit. They made this samba look effortless and fun. I especially liked Will’s personality in this. I like him more and more every week.

• Nigel – “When you weren’t thinking too much about technique, it was fantastic.” “Somehow all the guys on this show look like they’re out of the movie 300.” That is a true statement.
• Mary – “Where’s Ashton? Because I think I’m being punk’d right now.” She’s referring to how good these contemporary dancers were at samba.
• Toni – “I had so much fun that I actually forgot I was judging.”

Will and Courtney – Hip Hop (Tabitha and Napoleon)

According to Tabitha, this is a slow hip hop dance about turning back time and having one more moment with someone you love. For me, it didn’t live up to the emotional impact that was hyped in the intro. The only time I really felt the longing they were trying to convey was when they slow danced together for a moment.

• Nigel: He was reminded of Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore in Ghost. (Fitting, since Will wanted to be Patrick Swayze in Dirty Dancing as a kid. That was funny to learn.) “You were emotionally together.”
• Mary: “You blew my expectations right out of the water.”
• Toni: “Great art makes you feel something,” and she’s glad to see it happening on this show.

Twitch and Katee – Contemporary (Mia Michaels)

Twitch is the boyfriend in an argument with his co-dependent, psycho ex-girlfriend, and his disinterest makes her angrier and crazier. Should be interesting… The first half of the routine was mediocre. But about the time Twitch closed the door on Katee, it got much better. It was interesting seeing them dancing “together” while separated by a closed door. They did a good job of continuing the connection. And then the choreography got even more interesting when he opened the door again. There were some acrobatic moves that required a lot of strength from both of them. So, I was impressed with them, and it was cute, but this was not one of my all-time favorite Mia routines. By the way, Katee looked very different. She had an Amy Winehouse look going on with the puffed up hair and dramatic eye makeup.

• Nigel: “The performance was absolutely fantastic!” “You’ve gotta wonder what goes through Mia Michaels’ head.” He thought they were great as their characters, and that it was one of the most entertaining routines they’ve had on the show.
• Mary: “Two of the best dancers we’ve seen on this stage!”
• Toni: “Aren’t you guys lucky… being choreographed by the reigning queen of contemporary dance.” She hit the nail on the head. Whoever draws Mia out of the hat has a head start on the votes.

Twitch and Katee – Broadway (Tyce Diorio)

So the story is that Katee is Sweet Georgia Brown, and she’s looking for a man. Twitch is a man on her block, but he doesn’t want her. This was a sassy, fun routine, but my eyes were mostly drawn to Katee in her cute red dress, with the big flower in her hair. Just as with one of his previous Broadway routines, Twitch looked a little awkward up there.

• Nigel: He thought it looked like a real Broadway routine. Twitch, “Here you are rising to every single challenge we give you.” Katee, “There isn’t one routine that you’ve done this season that I haven’t enjoyed you doing.” I can agree with that. He added, “You lighten the world when you dance.”
• Mary: “That was magnificent and well matched.” She noted how much fun everyone is having tonight.
• Toni: She thinks Twitch brings more reality to the dance than most Broadway dancers do. “He dances from the inside out.” She wanted more of a “deep, rough approach” from Katee to match the vocals. That was good feedback.

Mark and Comfort – Hip Hop (Tabitha and Napoleon)

This is about what kids do when they are stuck in detention. Like a funky Breakfast Club? This was intense and playful, and I was very impressed by the one move that had Mark flipping Comfort up in the air and over his head.

• Nigel: He’s surprised that Comfort is so much better when she’s choreographed than when she dances her solos. He was also impressed by how good Mark was.
• Mary: “You guys did a great job with that piece.”
• Toni: She knows it’s not easy to do Tabitha and Napoleon’s choreography because she sometimes takes classes from them. That’s interesting.

Mark and Comfort – Foxtrot (Jean-Marc Genereaux)

Mark is supposed to be a man who’s down on his luck, until he meets Lady Luck Comfort. They both did okay with the technical aspects, but what was missing was the genuine charisma, chemistry, and joy. They didn’t look like they were having fun. Their smiles looked fake. I think Mark must be missing his old partner (Chelsie) more than any one else is missing their former partner. The other problem is that the fox trot is usually bad news for anyone. Danny and Anya had one that was pretty good last year, but this dance just isn’t a big crowd pleaser. These two may both be headed home tomorrow night.

• Nigel: “I think Lady Luck walked out of the room when you got your fox trot.” He thought they lost their chemistry because they were thinking too hard. “It was slightly amateurish.” Ouch.
• Mary: “Nothing was melting together.”
• Toni: She thought their turns looked like a recital.

Joshua and Chelsie – Argentine Tango (Dmitri Chaplin)

This dance is set in the 1940s, and is about a couple who is flirting with each other. And the props just keep on coming. We’ve had a door and two desks tonight, and now they are joined by a table and a chair. As it turns out, they were there more to set the scene than to be used for the dancing. I am okay with that. Technique-wise, Chelsie was fantastic with those great legs of hers. And I thought Joshua kept up with her just fine. And, the technique was matched by their personality and energy. I was spellbound by their performance, which included a few wow moments. I love both of these dancers. No matter what the competition has thrown their way, they give everything they have, and the result is always a fantastic performance.

• Nigel: “Chelsie, your legs are absolutely fantastic.” “Joshua, you do have the biggest bum in the competition.” He thought this routine used her legs and his strength very well.
• Mary: “Because you committed so much to it, it was really believable.” They are still on her hot tamale train.
• Toni: She thinks this is the most spontaneous and torrid of the ballroom dances, and that they accomplished this.

Joshua and Chelsie – Disco (Dorianna Sanchez)

I don’t usually care for the disco routines on this show, or anywhere for that matter. But this one was fun. The first thing going for it was Gloria Estefan’s “Everlasting Love.” Good song. The second thing was that it starred the two top contestants to beat this season. The two of them dancing together tonight was special to see. All the lifts, throws, and other feats of strength and balance made this a disco to remember.

• Nigel: He praised all the lifts they pulled off – Joshua’s strength and Chelsie’s courage. “You both carried it off really, really well.”
• Mary: She couldn’t believe how many lifts Dorianna put in the routine. “You were dancing your bodies full tilt.”
• Toni: “You pulled together the spirit of disco.”

Solos

• Comfort – I liked this week’s solo better than last week’s. She had more energy and personality to match her impressive technique.
• Will – Um, was that Will, or Eddie Murphy from his SNL days up on stage? Not sure why he decided to ham it up as James Brown for his solo. Perhaps he’s been reading complaints that he’s too serious. It was fun, but didn’t do the best job of showcasing what he’s capable of.
• Chelsie – I enjoyed her ballroom solo tonight. She sure can move!
• Katee – Her solo was very clean, crisp, and uplifting. That’s the best way I know to describe it.
• Mark – I like how he even dances with his fingers. If he were barefoot I bet his toes would be moving, too. That being said, tonight’s solo was a little sluggish compared to last week’s.
• Joshua – He is the full package. He’s got amazing technique, a fun personality, and all around star quality.
• Courtney – She brought her usual vibrant personality and bursts of energy to this solo.
• Twitch – He’s very entertaining to watch. This is a reminder of why he’s still in the competition.

My Favorite Performances

• Twitch and Katee’s contemporary
• Joshua and Chelsie’s Argentine tango

My Least Favorite Performances

• Mark and Comfort’s Foxtrot
• Will and Courtney’s hip hop

My best guess is that we’ll say goodbye to Mark and Comfort tomorrow night. Everyone else brought their A-game tonight, but I felt that something was lacking from these two.

Related Post:

• So You Think You Can Dance: The Top Ten Perform

Double Feature: Duel and Superman III July 20, 2008

Continuing my new tradition of watching old(ish) movies during the weekend, I sat down for a little ’70s style suspense, and some ’80s style superhero antics. Which one did I enjoy more? Read on, and it won’t be too hard to figure out.

Duel

• No, I’m not talking about the new ABC game show. I’m referring to the 1971 made-for-tv, Steven Spielberg directed thriller starring Dennis Weaver. I have seen this movie several times, and it never gets old. Particularly for a tv movie, it is very well done.

• The premise is very simple: David Mann (Dennis Weaver) is a traveling businessman who is riding along the remote highways of mountainous Northern California in his little red Plymouth, when he makes one innocent mistake. He passes one big truck, which unfortunately is driven by one crazy trucker. This sets off a chain of events that grows increasingly unnerving, for both David and the audience.

• Dennis Weaver does a great job of showing how a real person (as opposed to Rambo or Indiana Jones) might react to such a situation. He goes from annoyed, to angry, to incredulous, to terrified, and continues on this emotional ferris wheel until the grand finale.

• In addition to Weaver’s performance, there are a couple of other things that make this movie a classic. One is the constant tension. You feel like you are riding along with David on the dusty highways, creeping up the mountain passes and flying out of control back down, all while trying to allude the scary monster on wheels. That leads to the second factor: the truck. Because you never really see the driver’s face, it’s almost like the truck has a life of its own. And it’s one intimidating big rig!

• Aside from the entertaining action and suspense, watching the movie 30+ years after its release makes it a funny 1970s period piece. Just to name a few of the now defunct cultural markers:

1. David’s car only has AM radio
2. He has the windows down because the car doesn’t have A/C
3. The gas stations are full service, rather than self service. I think the last of the full service gas stations died out in the mid-90s, when pay at the pump became the norm.
4. At the cafe where he eats lunch, the water glass is tiny! This was before Americans’ portion sizes were enormous.
5. David has to use a pay phone to call his wife, as well as the police. If there had been cell phones in the ’70s, there wouldn’t have been a movie to make. Oh wait, his cell phone would have been out of service or out of battery. But anyway, his situation seemed more dire in the pre cell phone era.

• For its time, Duel was like a modern spin on the western – two men in the wild west, dueling it out from their motor vehicles instead of their horses. To reinforce this theme, at some of the most intense moments in the movie, high tempo country music plays on the radio. This is a movie well worth viewing for anyone who likes action and old school suspense, and who can tolerate the 70s clothing, cars, and conversation.

Superman III

• This movie was released in 1983, and it was quite a departure from the previous two Man of Steel films. Not in a good way. The opening scene is about as ridiculous as they come – phone booths fall like dominoes, a blind man stumbles into the street, toy penguins trip a woman on skates, and one poor man gets hit by various objects, including a pie in the face. What does any of this have to do with Superman? I have no idea. It doesn’t get much better from there. I only enjoyed the movie at all because it made me nostalgic about my childhood. It’s clear, though, that I had no clue what the plot was when I was five years old.

• Unlike Duel, whose 1970s cultural references added to its appeal, Superman III does not stand up well to the test of time. Maybe 25 years is in the too recent past to appreciate it, or maybe the movie was just done poorly. The main problem: computers. In 1983 the general public didn’t know much about them, particularly when it came to using computers for power and control. Now that we do understand how computers and networks work, and what kinds of things won’t work, it’s hard to watch Richard Pryor’s character, Gus, a supposed computer genius, push a few buttons to manipulate the world’s weather, re-route all the oil tankers, and create kryptonite. Even sillier, when the villains launch a computer-controlled missile system at Superman, the radar screen appears like a video game, with the bad guys aiming their weapons at a cartoon Superman. Guess that’s the only way the writers thought the audience could understand what was happening?

• Despite the campy, ridiculous plot, there are a few disturbing scenes in the movie. The subplot involving Superman and Clark to split into evil Superman and powerless Clark, leads to a violent standoff in a junk yard. Evil Superman attempts to crush Clark in some creative ways, but as a child they were also scary ways. And, the transformation of the main villain’s uptight sister into a robot assassin (as a result of the super computer developing a mind of its own, of course) should have made my list of Disturbing Cinematic Images. Even watching it as an adult, there was something creepy about the scene:

• Watching any of the Superman movies now, it is very sad knowing what happened to Christopher Reeve, so young and strong in these movies, a decade later, with the equestrian accident that paralyzed him and led to his premature death.
• The first Superman movie was truly a classic. I also enjoyed the second one. This one has its place in history as a silly but tolerable addition to the series. One that should never have been made is Superman IV. We’ll pretend that it didn’t happen.

2008 Emmy Nominations in Drama: My Two Cents July 19, 2008

Overall, I must say that I am pleased with all of this year’s Emmy nominations. As always, I have a few complaints, but they recognized many of the right people and shows this year.

DRAMA SERIES
Boston Legal
Damages
Dexter
House
Lost
Mad Men

• Lost had a great resurgence this year, so it totally deserves this nomination. House remains a consistently strong and inventive medical drama - much better than Grey’s Anatomy at this point, so I’m glad it made the cut over that show, which lost me at the beginning of this season when Izzie tried to save the deer that had been injured. I was intrigued by the darkly humorous Dexter in its first season, and can’t wait to watch the second season when it is released on DVD in a couple of months. I assume its second season is equally deserving as the first was to be nominated. And although I’ve never watched Damages or Mad Men, I’ve heard only good things about them.
• That leaves us with Boston Legal, the old standby in this category. Same old story, and I have the same old complaints as last year. I won’t get into it again, but here’s an excerpt from my 2007 Emmy reaction post: “Boston Legal - Am I out of the loop? I just don’t get it. What is the big deal about this show? I can never stand to watch more than a few minutes of it. The characters are caricatures, the show relies too heavily on guest stars… Can someone please explain to me why the Emmy voters are so fascinated by this legal comedy?”

ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Gabriel Byrne, In Treatment
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Michael C. Hall, Dexter
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Hugh Laurie, House
James Spader, Boston Legal

• I think Michael C. Hall is brilliant in Dexter. He plays the haunted serial killer in a way that makes us sympathize with him, and even cheer him on. Although House is a character that makes me cringe, he is so selfish and manipulative, you can only applaud Hugh Laurie for playing the role with such gusto. It’s strange to see Bryan Cranston in this category, since I only know him from Malcolm in the Middle (a show that outstayed its welcome).
• Again, my only complaint it with Boston Legal. James Spader? Again? I’d much rather have seen someone from Friday Night Lights, Battlestar Galactica, or Lost.

ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Glenn Close, Damages
Sally Field, Brothers & Sisters
Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Holly Hunter, Saving Grace
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer

• This category looks like more of the same as last year, aside from Holly Hunter and Glenn Close’s characters. I don’t watch any of these shows, so I will hold on to my dream world in which the amazing Mary McDonnell would win this category for her powerful portrayal of Laura Roslin on Battlestar Galactica. She’s just so good!

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Ted Danson, Damages
Michael Emerson, Lost
Zeljko Ivanek, Damages
William Shatner, Boston Legal
John Slattery, Mad Men

• If Michael Emerson doesn’t win, it’s a tragedy. He is so good at being manipulative, slightly evil, never trustworthy, but strangely likable as Benjamin Linus on Lost. If William Shatner wins this drama category for his goofy, campy role on Boston Legal, I will be angry. As always, Battlestar Galactica’s great actors were overlooked – most notably Michael Hogan as Tigh.

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Candice Bergen, Boston Legal
Rachel Griffiths, Brothers & Sisters
Sandra Oh, Grey’s Anatomy
Dianne Wiest, In Treatment
Chandra Wilson, Grey’s Anatomy

• I’d like to see Chandra Wilson or Rachel Griffiths win this category. Other than that I have no opinion, other than that I shake my head at Boston Legal being represented in every major acting category.

I skipped talking about the guest stars on drama series, as well as the reality categories because I don’t really care about them. I may watch the Emmys to see if Lost or Dexter can pull out a win. I doubt it, so I probably shouldn’t waste my time.

Related Post:

• 2008 Emmy Nominations in Comedy: My Two Cents

2008 Emmy Nominations in Comedy: My Two Cents July 18, 2008

• Last year I had the foresight to come up with my own Dream Emmy Ballot, but this year time got away from me. So, I’ll just hem and haw about the actual nominees.

COMEDY SERIES
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Entourage
The Office
30 Rock
Two and a Half Men

What I Like: Yay for 30 Rock and The Office. I think 30 Rock should win again. It is consistently the quirkiest, most randomly funny comedy, at least on network television. I can’t speak for Entourage and Curb Your Enthusiasm since I don’t subscribe to (so-called) premium channels.

What I Don’t Like: I’m tired of Two and a Half Men’s perpetual presence in this category. I’ve forced myself to sit through the show, and it’s humor is tired and predictable. It’s like Perfect Strangers for the 21st century. Just as silly, but way more sexual humor. I’d rather have seen How I Met Your Mother here, but it had a so-so season.

ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Steve Carell, The Office
Lee Pace, Pushing Daisies
Tony Shalhoub, Monk
Charlie Sheen, Two and a Half Men

What I Like: I loved Lee Pace on Pushing Daisies. What a refreshing show, character, and actor. The humor is much more subtle, though, than it is with the other nominees, so I doubt he will win. But it’s at least nice for this little gem of a show to get recognized. Steve Carell and Alex Baldwin are both great at what they do on their shows.

What I Don’t Like: Repeat nominations for Charlie Sheen and Tony Shalhoub (I didn’t even know Monk was still on!)

ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Christina Applegate, Samantha Who?
America Ferrera, Ugly Betty
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, The New Adventures of Old Christine
Mary-Louise Parker, Weeds

What I Like: This is a very strong category. I don’t really have any complaints. I’ll be cheering for Tina Fey. She is so hilarious as Liz Lemon.

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men
Kevin Dillon, Entourage
Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother
Jeremy Piven, Entourage
Rainn Wilson, The Office

What I Like: Neil Patrick Harris receiving another nomination. He should totally win this year! Stop giving this award to Jeremy Piven!

What I Don’t Like: Rainn Wilson’s nomination. He isn’t near to being the funniest supporting player on The Office. He’s mostly annoying.

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Kristin Chenoweth, Pushing Daisies
Amy Poehler, Saturday Night Live
Jean Smart, Samantha Who?
Holland Taylor, Two and a Half Men
Vanessa Williams, Ugly Betty

What I Like: Another strong category. Women must be taking over television, with all the talent on this list. I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone nominated for an Emmy for their work on SNL, as Amy Poehler is here. She is very deserving, though.

GUEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Will Arnett, 30 Rock
Shelley Berman, Curb Your Enthusiasm
Steve Buscemi, 30 Rock
Tim Conway, 30 Rock
Rip Torn, 30 Rock

What I Like: The recognition of how brilliant the guest stars on 30 Rock are. Will Arnett should win this hands down.

GUEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Polly Bergen, Desperate Housewives
Edie Falco, 30 Rock
Carrie Fisher, 30 Rock
Kathryn Joosten, Desperate Housewives
Sarah Silverman, Monk
Elaine Stritch, 30 Rock

What I Like: More 30 Rock love! Edie Falco was perfect in her role, so my vote is for her.

So there was a lot to like in the Emmy Nominations in Comedy. What about in Drama? I’ll take that topic on next.

• 2008 Emmy Nominations in Drama: My Two Cents

So You Think You Can Dance: The Top Ten Perform July 16, 2008

Dance Legends, Mad Max Extras, and Washed Up Boats – all on tonight’s episode of So You Think You Can Dance.

• Cat is looking like a disco queen tonight, decked out in a sparkly gold dress. Perhaps she wore that dress to the premiere of the new movie Mamma Mia? (not to be confused with this show’s Mamma Mia – as she described herself in a recent interview.) Tonight’s guest judge is Lil’ C. In lieu of tiring my fingers out from pausing the DVR and doing extra typing, I’ll refer you here for tonight’s track list.

• The show doesn’t waste any time getting to the big announcement which was all over the internet this week: Jessica is dropping out of the competition because of an injury: she “broke two ribs and fractured one.” She does hope to be back in time for the tour. So, since Jessica is out… Comfort is back in.

• The other big change this week, the couples we know and love have been broken up. Let’s get to it.

Joshua and Courtney – Hip Hop (Dave Scott)

Hmm… my favorite guy and least favorite girl. And I loved it! Joshua was great – loved his facial expressions and how he was totally invested in the role of the hip hoppin’ mad scientist. Courtney held her own. I liked her different look. They danced well together.

• Lil’ C: “Joshua, you killed it… Courtney, you did good!” He thought they made it their own and added so much character. I agree!
• Mary: She thinks they had great chemistry, and enjoyed Dave Scott’s comedy. “Joshua, you stole the show for me right now.” I agree. I couldn’t take my eyes off of him.
• Nigel: “That’s the first time I’ve seen Dr. Frankenstein spank his monster.” He liked Courtney’s character, but didn’t think as much of her dancing.

Joshua and Courtney – The Rumba (Jean Marc and France Genereaux)

They recycled the wardrobe with Courtney’s half dress and Joshua’s famed tight pants from previous weeks. And the song couldn’t have been cheesier than Enrique’s overdramatic, wispy “Hero.” Thankfully they rose above the song with a smooth, sexy dance. They were terrific until that last lift, when it looked like Joshua couldn’t quite keep his grip on Courtney to raise her up. This dance reminded me of Dominic and Sabra’s Rumba from last season. That routine also featured a song that I normally wouldn’t like.

• Lil’ C: “I might need my asthma pump. You took my breath away.” He felt a “sensual innocence” in the routine, and “so much valor” from Joshua. He did notice Joshua’s hesitancy with the lift, but thought he nailed it.
• Mary: She felt “extra energy, subtle sexiness.” “Fantastic!”
• Nigel: He thought the choreography “fit their bodies beautifully.” Well said. He thanked Joshua for “keeping what’s left of his shirt on,” which led to some cute banter.

Kherington and Mark – Two Step (Ronnie and Brandy, and their unborn child, apparently)

Country two step is low on my list of dance styles, so it will take a lot to impress me. And, I wasn’t impressed. Kherington’s outfit made her look like a dance line girl more than a country two stepper, and I didn’t like Mark as a cowboy. I wasn’t buying their partnership. It seemed shaky, they were uncertain about the choreography, and the whole routine felt disjointed.

• Lil’ C: He thought the audience could see the wounds, that were really deep, from their missed steps.
• Mary: She thought it was tough, they didn’t do well technically, and that Mark had a better connection than Kherington.
• Nigel: This type of routine requires the partners “to have complete faith in each other.” He put most of the blame on Kherington. “You looked uncomfortable.” Indeed.

Kherington and Mark – Jazz (Tyce Diorio)

There’s no story, just style, and lots of sliding. I wonder if the audience will connect with that. They looked like extras from Mad Max in their piecemeal, tattered, post-apocalyptic clothing. The dancing was okay, but lacked in the entertainment department.

• Lil’ C: He wanted a little more confidence.
• Mary: “I’m not jumping out of my seat right now.”
• Nigel: “It was a little bit like a driving test for me.” Like checking items off a list. “No heart, no passion, nothing outstanding.” I agree.

Comfort and Twitch – Smooth Waltz (Hunter Johnson)

I was distracted by how Comfort’s dress kept bunching up. Shouldn’t it be flowing for a waltz? The dance seemed more jerky than a smooth waltz should be. Twitch seemed stiff. Comfort was a little better than him, but it wasn’t any better than mediocre.

• Lil’ C: “A lot of your steps, you weren’t floating.” Just what I was saying.
• Mary: (Shaking her head “no”) “It’s just lacking so much power at this point.” “Choppy.” “Clunky.” “The quality of movement was just not there.”
• Nigel: “It certainly wasn’t strong enough for a top ten dancer.” But he complimented them on the majestic lift that they succeeded on at the end.

Comfort and Twitch – Hip Hop (Dave Scott)

Dave Scott calls this “Studio 64 in 2085.” This was a solid routine, despite the homemade looking clothing that the wardrobe department put together (spray painted jeans, various pageant sashes, pieces of broken glass, etc.). They looked like they were having fun. I didn’t love it as much as the judges did, but I’m glad they had such nice things to say to Comfort.

• Lil’ C: “That was kind of buck.”
• Mary: She, too, thought it was buck.
• Nigel: He thought they were “dancing for the joy of it.”

Katee and Will – Broadway (Tyce Diorio)

She’s supposed to be a promiscuous gypsy girl. The boat prop wasn’t doing much for me. In fact, there wasn’t much boat rockin’ going on until Will ripped open his shirt toward the end. Could him going shirtless be enough to keep him ahead of the competition? Possibly. It was cute, but not outstanding. Here come all the boat metaphors…

• Lil’ C: “You guys were explosive in character, and even more explosive in the choreography.” “You rocked my boat.”
• Mary: “I’m hoppin’ on the love boat with this number, yes I am!” “Katee, you’re cute as a button.” She thought Will left his serious side on the sidelines tonight. I agree with that.
• Nigel: “It was terrific.” He got great things from two technically great dancers.

Katee and Will – Pas de Deux (Desmond Richardson and Dwight Rhoden)

This was the first pas de deux featured on the show, and I really enjoyed it. It was graceful, beautiful, and fluid, and it continued the trend of Will going shirtless. My only problem with it was the music. I don’t mind listening to David Archuleta’s version of “Imagine,” but why the awkward pause and shift in the music halfway through? I was so distracted that I couldn’t enjoy part of the routine. As for Katee, I’m really impressed with her after tonight. She’s no fluke, and it wasn’t just Joshua that was making her look good. She may be the most versatile, talented girl left on the show. Will and Katee may have been the best pairing tonight. They complemented each other.

• Lil’ C: “You guys danced with so much commitment and passion and vigor and fervor… You delivered.”
• Mary: “Two of the most beautiful dancers I have ever seen.”
• Nigel: First he had to do some damage control, because Lil’ C failed to credit one of the choreographers. I’m glad he praised Desmond, because I’d hate for anything to keep him and Dwight from coming back on the show. I really enjoyed this routine! As for the dancing, he hasn’t seen “such wonderful dancing on the show, certainly this season, but in the past as well,” as he saw from them tonight.

Chelsie and Gev – Contemporary (Sonya Tayeh)

This dance is about how soulmates feel when they are apart, yearning for each other. Chelsie and Gev worked well together. I believed their emotion and chemistry. I liked how it incorporated some of Gev’s unusual moves. My favorite of the night so far, perhaps, and the best that I’ve seen Gev.

• Lil’ C: This routine made him feel something. “You guys really committed… I could actually feel you yearning for him.” “Gev, you did look like you were more prepared to do a contemporary piece.”
• Mary: “Sonya brought out something that could give you amazing chemistry together.” I agree!
• Nigel: He thought Gev lacked a little passion (“I think you had Courtney on your mind.”) Complimented Chelsie for winning Gev over by the end. I think Nigel missed the point of the dance.

Chelsie and Gev – The Jive (Jean Marc and France Genereaux)

This was billed as “Formula One fast,” and that it was. There was plenty of booty shakin’ and high steppin’. Gev looked lost a couple of times – he couldn’t keep up with Chelsie. But, it was a fun way to end the night.

• Lil’ C: “She out stepped you, Gev.” He thinks Chelsie could make a mannequin look good. What is it with ball room dancers and mannequins on this show?
• Mary: She thought it was great, but “too much concentration” from Gev.
• Nigel: “The energy levels were there… Chelsie you were outstanding.” He thought they did a mostly great job.

Solos

• Chelsie – So so, as most ballroom solos are, since it’s a partner dance. Will we ever forget Pasha’s ill-fated solo last season when he danced with a mannequin? Ouch.
• Gev – He’s like an illusionist with some of his moves! He is my favorite soloist so far this season.
• Courtney – She brought a lot of energy and power. Pretty impressive.
• Mark – He’s so weird, and I love it! “Bohemian Rhapsody” was an appropriate song for him to dance to.
• Comfort – Maybe it’s just because we’ve seen her perform solo so much, but it seemed like more of the same. I was bored.
• Twitch – Fun and funky, with some cool slow motion moves. I must say, though, that I’m getting tired of his gimmicks – the dorky glasses and his Super Twitch shirts need to take a back seat to him.
• Katee – She has a beautiful spirit that comes across while she dances, and her movement was also beautiful to watch.
• Will – He used the stage well and had some impressive leaps, but it wasn’t his most powerful solo.
• Kherington – This solo seemed tired and slow, especially compared to some of the other ones. Kherington seemed out of sorts tonight, and was particularly lackadaisical here.
• Joshua – This solo had some “wow” moments, and lots of energy, as does everything where Joshua is concerned.

Best Solos:

• Mark
• Katee

Worst Solos: (I thought all the guys did pretty well, but if I had to pick one for this list, I’d go with Twitch.)

• Kherington
• Comfort

Best Couple Performances:

• Katee and Will’s Pas de Deux
• Chelsie and Gev’s Contemporary
• Joshua and Courtney’s Rumba

Worst Couple Performances:

• Kherington and Mark’s Two Step
• Kherington and Mark’s Jazz
• Comfort and Twitch’s Smooth Waltz

The person who least impressed me tonight was Kherington. I don’t know if she just had an off night, or if she’s getting burned out, but she could be in danger Thursday night. She and Mark had, in my opinion, the worst partnership of the night. Katee and Will most benefited from the new pairings, followed closely by Courtney and Joshua. Realistically, Comfort is most likely going home, but it’s a tough one with the guys. My guess is either Gev or Twitch.

Is it just me, or was this like the longest post ever! Signing off…

Related Post:

• So You Think You Can Dance: The Top 12 Perform

So You Think You Can Dance: The Top 12 Perform July 9, 2008

Kat is wearing a flower child dress made out of paper mache and bicycle streamers. Very odd. But on with the show. Tonight we’ll hear from guest judge Mia Michaels, which means we won’t get to see any of her fantastic choreography. For each of the couples’ two dances, I’ve included what style they did and who choreographed, what I thought of it, and what the judges thought.

Chelsie and Mark – #1 – Salsa – Alex De Silva

First half was great, second half kind of slow and boring, and a bit awkward. But they are really good dancing together. Her dress was much better than last week’s, and Mark’s outfit was nice and sleek.

• Nigel: “Terrific opening.” “Mark, you could have relaxed your upper body, it was a bit tight… but you always get into character.” “Chelsie, you were tremendous.”
• Mary: This rocket fast number from Alex worked for her. She wanted Mark to be looser. Chelsie was phenomenal.
• Mia: “[Chelsie] is so freakin’ gorgeous…” She thought it was danced really well, but that there’s something awkward about it from Mark.

Chelsie and Mark – #2 – Broadway – Tyce Diorio

This dance is about a sexy girl and the guy who really wants her. A cat and mouse thing. I expected them to be great at this character piece, since they’ve been great on all their others… and they were. They just have so much personality and charisma. I bet watching them dance live that there is an electricity in the air. Good for them!

• Nigel: He thought it was very hot. “Chelsie, you’ve just got legs that somehow go on forever.” “You brought the audience to life here.”
• Mary: “Was it sultry, sexy, bluesy… yes it was!” “Wow Chelsie, what attitude!”
• Mia: “I think that it was a success… you guys told the story really well.” But, she thought that it showed Mark’s “lack of training and technique.”

Comfort and Thayne – #1 – Hip Hop – Tabitha and Napoleon

It was fun, and it was nice to see Comfort in her element. Thayne couldn’t help but smile some of the time, but when he didn’t he pulled off the cool guy look pretty well. This dance, however, didn’t have near the level of energy and personality of Twitch and Kherington’s krump routine later in the episode.

• Nigel: He loves that T and N’s choreography allows you to play a part, but he doesn’t think that they took the opportunity to do so. He thought they danced it okay, but didn’t see what they added to the routine. He expects to see them in the Bottom Three again this week.
• Mary: “We’re talking about chemistry, you guys.” She mentions the chemistry that T and N have, and says this couple doesn’t have that. Um, Tabitha and Napoleon are married. These guys have only been dancing together for two weeks.
• Mia: “It was a little bit more than good.” But… “you guys have got to work on your connection.”

Comfort and Thayne – #2 – Contemporary – Mandy Moore

It’s a shame, but these two simply have no chemistry. I felt no emotion in this routine. It was like watching two mannequins who were brought to life performing. Where they should have been light on their feet, it was heavy. The other problem was that I didn’t know what the routine was supposed to be about.

• Nigel: He wished another couple had danced the routine, because he didn’t think they danced it anywhere near what the choreography deserved.
• Mary: “It just wasn’t really completely believable for me.”
• Mia: “Comfort, honey, you can only fake technique so much.” Ouch. Mia’s bringing the harsh truth with her tonight. But on the bright side, she loves Thayne and thinks that he’s “brilliant” with “grounded and thick” movements. She looks forward to working with him and loves his smile.

Jessica and Will – #1 – Contemporary – Tyce Diorio

Tyce says there’s no story, “just an essence that needs to be felt.” It’s something about the Garden of Eden, man and woman. I was distracted by the absence of music. As a dance routine, this was odd. As an exhibit of the beauty of the human form (particularly the male form – wow Will!), it was successful. This won’t be one of the most memorable performances of the night. They looked hesitant on some of the movements, and it just felt awkward at times.

• Nigel: “No wonder there was so much begetting in the Old Testament.” “Stunning piece.” He praised Will’s lines and strength, and said that Jessica is finally keeping up with him. “You two added something to the choreography… you added a connection.”
• Mary: “You Tarzan, me Jane.” “That was one of the most amazing pieces I’ve ever seen on the show.” Really? A bit of an extreme statement.
• Mia: “Amazing.” “It was like the perfect moving human body art.” I can agree with that statement.

Jessica and Will – #2 – The Quickstep (Tony and Meredith)

I’ve compared this style of dance before to horses trotting around. Needless to say, it’s not my favorite. But, Will’s opening flips were a nice twist out of the gate, so to speak. Jessica pulled off some nice walking splits at well. I suppose they danced it well, but the quick step is just a little too giddy and manic for my taste. Not sure their performances tonight will be enough to keep them out of the bottom three.

• Nigel: The performance was great, but the actual quickstepping, “not good.”
• Mary: She didn’t like Will’s “bunched up” jacket, and she thought Jessica kept losing her shape. It was too heavy.
• Mia: “You went back to that stiff, disconnected, insecure place, and it wasn’t working at all… Will you look tired of carrying her.” Ouch! She says Will needs a new partner. Sweetly, Will vouches for Jessica. (But it is true that he is a more talented dancer than she is.)

Courtney and Gev – #1 – Cha Cha – Anya and Pasha!

This was a smokin’ routine. And although I would have rather seen Anya and Pasha perform it (they were two of my favorites last season), Courtney and Gev did a good job. I felt their connection tonight – something that hasn’t always been the case.

• Nigel: “I got the message.” “That is an Anya and Pasha cha cha cha.” (Maybe we can see them do more chorepgraphy for the show?) He thinks this couple is perfect for each other.
• Mary: “It was magic!” Then she spouts out some gibberish about “cha cha cha cha” this and that. Er? Oh, and they are on the hot tamale train.
• Mia: “I think that was fabulosity at its best.” “The performance quality that you guys own together is amazing.” She’s starting to see something more in Courtney, and is seeing her and Gev get better and better every week.

Courtney and Gev – #2 – Jazz – Mandy Moore

Mandy says this is about “two people who are lost in the jungle.” Oh boy. Another prop, this time a map. Not quite as fun as the shirt that Jessica and Will used last week. Gev had one amazing push up maneuver that must have required incredible strength and control, but other than that I was indifferent to this routine, much like their previous “tourists in New York” Broadway routine.

• Nigel: “It was fun. They’re always fun, this couple, whatever they do.” Cotton candy, no substance.
• Mary: “I don’t feel the same way. I thought it was rough and raw, and just livin’ it up there.”
• Mia: “You guys had a great night. Both pieces were great.” They are one of her top couples.

Kherington and Twitch – #1 – Krumping – Lil’ C

I wasn’t sure how Kherington would do with this, but she actually kept up with Twitch. They were both intense and believable. This was a fun routine. The flashing, running lights didn’t hurt either.

• Nigel: “It felt like constipation.” “On paper, this was the equivalent of a duet between Busta Rimes and Miley Cyrus.” But, he thought that in reality, Kherington did a great job. I agree.
• Mary: “This is the first time on this show that I have really believed in this krump number.” I agree with her. Usually these aren’t my thing, but this was one of my favorites of the night.
• Mia: “That was just dirty and disgusting and nasty and… buck.” She thinks that normally “puppy dog” Twitch “served gangster on a platter.” And she thinks Kherington did really well until toward the end, when she got tired. But still, she thinks they “killed it.”

Kherington and Twitch – #2 – Tango – Jean-Marc Genereaux

This dance is about a couple who is very intense, like Mr. and Mrs. Smith, and they are fighting. Should be fun. Well, it started out slow and I kept waiting for it to build, but it never reached the intensity that was talked up in the intro. I don’t know much about the tango, but from what I do know, there wasn’t much of it there. This was lackluster for me, especially compared to their first dance tonight.

• Nigel: “Twitch, it wasn’t honest for me… it didn’t feel like you were comfortable with it.” “Kherington, there was no passion really.” “You murdered the dance routine tonight, not each other.” I agree with him, but not as dramatically.
• Mary: She loved the beginning and end, but felt that the in between “didn’t really happen.”
• Mia: She talks about voice and personality being the magic of dance, not the steps, and she felt like they were very non-committing. No fighting, nothing there. I agree with her.

Katee and Joshua – #1 – Viennese Waltz – Jean-Marc Genereaux

Joshua is playing a ghost, and Katee can feel him but not see him. I thought they achieved this concept. They were very light on their feet. Many of the moves made Katee appear to be floating. She looked pretty in her flowing dress. It’s clear that theirs is a partnership of complete trust. She jumps and dives into what could be scary turns, twists, and lifts with complete confidence that Joshua will be there to catch her. And he always is. Great serpentine move at the end. Very magical looking.

• Nigel: “Joshua, it was a little too bouncy for me from you.” “The rest of it, I thought you did very well.” He thought Katee did beautifully.
• Mary: “All the lifts were great in this number.” She thought the execution of the dancing could have been a lot stronger.
• Mia: She thought Joshua was “like a football player trying to grasp the movement.” He was okay. She thinks that Katee is a gift to dance, is meant to dance. That was a sweet compliment.

Katee and Joshua – #2 – Bollywood

The choreographers, new ones that I don’t catch the names of, explain the routine as “guy likes girl, girl plays hard to get.” This is the first time that bollywood has been featured on the show. The last time I was exposed to this style was while watching the movie Bride and Prejudice, during which I had the fun of watching Naveen Andrews (Sayid on Lost) dance around and lip synch. Wow. This performance was just as entertaining as that movie. The outfits, the exhuberance. They get my vote just for dancing all out, caution to the wind. I’m not used to seeing non-Indians dancing this style. It was rather comical for me (I laughed my way through the routine), but good for Katee and Joshua for investing the same energy that they have in their other routines. They clearly had fun with it.

• Nigel: He’s excited about finally getting Indian culture onto the show. He thought it was tremendous. “You two always find a way of fusing your styles with whatever you’re given, and with giving it personality.”
• Mary: “On this stage we have one rule… Heart, Soul = Stardom. You guys are stars tonight.” She praised their athleticism and strength. They are back on her hot tamale train.
• Mia: “You need to dress like that every day of your life, Katee.” “Great fun, great piece.” “It’s awesome to have world dance on this stage.”

My Favorite Routines

• Chelsie and Mark’s Broadway
• Kherington and Twitch’s Krumping
• Joshua and Katee’s Viennese Waltz

However, the most fun routine of the night was Katee and Joshua’s Bollywood dance. I still laugh when I think about Joshua dancing around in that outfit.

My Least Favorite Routines

• Comfort and Thayne’s contemporary
• Twitch and Kherington’s tango
• Courtney and Gev’s Jazz

Predicting the Bottom Three

• Comfort and Thayne
• Jessica and Will
• Courtney and Gev

Related Post

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Robert Downey, Jr.: Reincarnated Lover and Amateur Detective July 9, 2008

The past few days I have had the oddly blended voices of Peter Cetera and Cher running through my head. Remember their classic, catchy love ballad from the late ’80s, “After All”? You probably do. But, did you know that it was featured in the movie Chances Are, starring Robert Downey, Jr. and Cybill Shepherd?

I happened to watch two Robert Downey movies over the weekend, and they couldn’t have been more different. That man has been in as many movies as Kevin Bacon! In one, the aforementioned Chances Are, he plays Alex, the reincarnated husband of Corinne (Cybill Shepherd). Alex, by chance, meets and falls in love with Miranda (his daughter from his previous life – yuck?), until he remembers that he’s in love with her mother, Corinne. All kinds of fun and chaos ensues, and the movie manages to dodge the whole incest topic rather well. I actually really like this movie and have watched it many times.

The other Downey, Jr. movie I watched was Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang. I didn’t really know much about it, but it was very entertaining. The plot itself was convoluted enough to keep me intrigued – Harry (Downey, Jr.) is a criminal who stumbles (literally) into the world of acting, and soon afterwards begins shadowing a private detective (Val Kilmer) to prepare for a potential role. Very quickly Harry and Perry get in over their heads, along with Harry’s childhood crush Harmony, trying to solve a double murder mystery while also staying alive. What I liked even more than the plot, though, was the playful, quirky feel of the movie. Harry also narrates the movie (in typical PI movie fashion), but he doesn’t take himself seriously. He pauses from time to time to apologize for unnecessary scenes, to talk about movie conventions, etc. One of my favorite moments is when he talks about how he hates when a movie panders to the audience by wrapping up a story with a happy ending, having everyone live (even those thought to have died). Suddenly all the characters who have died in the movie walk into the room, and then they are joined by Elvis and Abraham Lincoln. Very funny moment! There was also plenty of dark humor. For example, Harry couldn’t seem to keep track of one of his fingers (I won’t explain how he lost it). At one point it is sitting in a bucket of ice, but then a dog grabs it to play with. This is complicated by the fact that Harry is at a crime scene, and leaving his finger there will place him at the scene. Yes, I found this scene amusing as well.

So, kudos to Robert Downey Jr. for always playing interesting characters. I hope to see Iron Man soon since I hear it was very good. A super hero is a role that he hasn’t played before, from what I remember of his roles. Some of my favorite movies that he’s starred in are Soapdish (another fun ’80s movie), Zodiac (disturbing but very good), Only You, and Chances Are.

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