“Come to the Jungle. Let’s Go!” Lil C - SYTYCD’s Top 20
The Top 20 has been decided. No matter if your favorite didn’t make it - the deal is done and the competition is ready to begin! I (Amanda) feel incredibly relieved to finally have the decisions finalized. My muscles feel physically more relaxed. I love the emotions that “So You Think You Can Dance” make me feel. One emotion that I felt tonight that I hope not to feel so much this season is disappointment.
We saw the clip yesterday of Evan and Ryan standing together in front of the judges. Any Vegas Episode Watching Veteran knows that when two people are standing together, that means that they are the last 2 standing and only one is going to make it. Dawn said that they would take Evan, because he is younger. Sure enough, that was the case. I was hoping that they would bring on Ryan as a choreographer, but they only hinted to come back next season. Their reason that they both had a similar style made sense. Ryan’s story about not letting fear keep you down is a great story. I certainly hope that he doesn’t fear trying out again for the Fall!
Dawn: I’m with ya! Now that the Kasprzak brothers’ fate has been decided, I am feeling less anxiety. I love those boys both so much, and it pained me to see Ryan get cut, especially that last second when he urged Evan to join the fray of excited Top 20 dancers. Oh, knife to the heart, people. I wanted more for Ryan. He’s exceptional. I wanted the judges to say, “We’d like you to be a guest choreographer this season with Tyce” or something. Of course, that’d probably be unrealistic, knowing how big the choreographers’ egos seem to be.
Amanda: Next heartbreaker of the evening was Miami ballet dancer, Alex. He wasn’t able to get out of his contract with the ballet company to appear on the show. My husband wasn’t very sympathetic and thought that Alex should have known. I was imagining him doing Will’s Pas De Deux routine from last year. He would have been great. The judges did a great job of letting him down easy and gave him their blessing as he goes and a blessing to return when his contract is up.
D: I loved Alex. He seemed so cool, with the mad dancing skills to back it up. I want to see another cool Asian dude on the show! Who was the last one, Hok? And I was saying the same thing, how could he not have known this contract issue would come up?
A: Someone that got blessed tonight was Brandon. However, he is on my disappointment list. I would have much rather had Ryan instead of Brandon. I am sort of with Lil C and Mia. He is so over-hyped. All of this talk about his arrogance is certainly going to hurt him getting America’s vote. Just ask Danny and Will.
D: Agreed. I’d have voted with Mia & Lil C. Though it was nice to see Brandon speak up for himself so soon in front of the panel. Maybe he’ll turn it around and not go the way of Will. Danny did. Danny dealt with all that “you’re arrogant” crap for a long time and he made it to the finals anyway! Of course, Danny was one of the best looking dancers the show’s ever had, so that couldn’t have hurt him. :) Ah, Danny.
A: I would have also taken Ryan over Tony. He is playing the role of Dominic this season as the “Watch Him Grow!” contestant.
D: I was so gratified when Nigel told Tony he was the type they like to see grow up and improve throughout the season, since I called it yesterday when I compared Tony to Ivan. The judges love filling out the cast with those predictable roles, don’t they? (The Most Improved, The Breakers/Trickers/Hip Hoppers Who Surprise Us, The Eastern European, The Ethnic Hottie, The Cute Blonde, The Sassy Brunette, The Professional, The Underdog, The Dreamboat, The Quirky One, The Quiet One, etc. The reason I never tire of this is because the choreography and originality of each year’s routines keep it fresh.) Tangent aside, I like Tony. I like him all tall & gangly.
Dancers I am Happy To See in the Top 20
A: EVAN!!! - I am rooting for him all the way to the end. I hope he can do hip hop. Imagining him doing Krunk makes me laugh. Good thing it is America’s favorite dancer and not the best.
D: I bet he does hip-hop just fine, if the Vegas rounds were any indication. They seemed pretty hardcore with all the cuts! I think Evan will be a big favorite.
A: Janette - I like her style and her fighting spirit. I am hoping she can do a good solo, otherwise 3rd best girl dancer will be good enough for her.
D: What other two girls are ahead of her, in your opinion?
A: Max - Just because he is cute.
D: I’m curious to see what he can do. He hasn’t been featured much.
A: Ashley - She auditioned 4 times, people, and she finally made it. All other dancers should take note. (You hear that Bianca?)
D: Ashley who? Seriously though, I thought she seemed quite composed and sweet.
A: Asuka - She is so unique to SYTYCD. I think it is going to be fun seeing what her powerful little body can do.
D: Ethnic Hottie. I would like to be surprised by her.
A: Kupono - I liked Mark last year and I am drawn to another Hawaiian again this year. And his checklists are adorable.
D: Full of life. He’ll go far! And much improved look with that haircut.
A: Randi - “If you could commit to your artistry as much as your unitards, you will be great,” said Mia. Hilarious!!
D: Randi is one of three blondes in the Top 20. That’s a lot of blonde to differentiate from. I don’t recall seeing any of Randi’s dancing in the audition episodes.
A: I am pleased with the selection of the Top 20 this season. There really isn’t one standout yet. I feel like anyone has a chance to bloom or to fail miserably. What’s great now is that America gets to decide.
D: Now that Ryan has been relegated to “cheering audience family member”, I’m feeling pretty chill about the whole thing. Once next week gets underway, I’ll probably have more favorites. For now, I’m on Team Evan, Team Kayla, and Team Caitlin. By the way, who the heck are Ade, Jeanine, Karla, and Jonathan?
Here is your Top 20, Ameriker!
Ade
Brandon
Evan
Jason
Jonathan
Kupono
Max
Phillip
Toni
Vitolio
Ashley
Asuka
Caitlin
Janette
Jeanine
Karla
Kayla
Melissa
Paris
Randi
Yay for the Top 20!!! Tears for Ryan.
Yay for Brandon!! More tears for Ryan! Boo for Tony! Would have taken Ryan instead but we can’t change the minds of the decision makers so… here we are! I guess I need my Team Evan shirt. Maybe Team Brandon, I guess I just have to wait and see.
Is it weird that none of the girls really stuck out in my mind? The only thing that TRULY caught my eye was Randi and her unitard, I even said something before Mia called her out on it. Weren’t they all blue? I think I might like Caitlin but I’ll have to see if she can become more relevant in her dance technique. I do like Janette’s firey spirit…I’m interested to see how she does with Sonia’s stuff. Then there’s Melissa, the “sexy ballerina” (was that quoted by Nigel or Shank?) I think she has potential to be my favorite girl. Again, I guess I’ll just have to wait and see.
Have I ever told you guys…I really don’t like to wait????
YAY for So You Think You Can Dance!!
Hey Zeynep! It was Shanks who called Melissa a “naughty ballerina” - he said there’s nothin’ better. That is all we know about her!!
Why was Mia being so crappy? I don’t disagree with her, but her lack of tact is unreal. It’s like, Don’t you know who I am? I’m mia michaels. I’m about to tell you how bad you suck and how much I don’t like you, and you’re not only going to take it but you’re going to say thank you for enlightening your sad soul. Ready? Buckle up.
I think her and Lil C just didn’t want him in and were mad about it, they ganged a little on him and I didn’t like to see that. Have some respect people.
I agree though, I don’t really like him either. There’s some disconnect with his dancing and his soul. He seems like he’s technically on the nose, but he’s missing that connective aspect that makes a really amazing performer.
Amanda, I have to agree with your husband - I didn’t feel bad for the ballet dance that couldn’t get out of his contract. He knew he was in a contract. He had to know that they weren’t just going to let him quit to be on tv in the middle of running a show. How could they replace him? It seems silly that he would try out without clearance from his boss first.
In any case, I love this show
Woohoo!
Staci, You described Mia’s behavior perfectly. I also saw similar snobbery from Tyce. Lil C & Adam Shankman (and Mary & Nigel, for that matter); however, are pretty good about showing the dancers respect while offering their critiques. Mia’s line about Brandon annoying the @#%# out of her was unnecessarily cruel.
yes, Staci!! Great description of Mia’s attitude problem! (and she’s accusing Brandon of having an attitude problem…??) I’m confused by all the Brandon hype. He seems a bit like he’d be somewhere between Will and Joshua. I didn’t feel like he was being as snotty as Mia was saying. This, too, almost makes me think we’re being deliberately misled by the jidges somehow. Like “let’s try keeping him from being a hero early on and see how that works…”. Just sayin. It feels off.
I think I’m most excited to see Janette. I loved her in last season’s auditions, too… and there’s something about her that reminds me of my Courtney Galiano. She’s going to be my favorite girl out of the gate. I’m also looking forward to what the naughty ballerina might bring…. from the little we saw, she looks mischievous and creative (maybe Sonya will do wonderful things with her…?).
As far as the guys, I want to see if Pono will be half as good as Mark and I want to see what Phillip can do (maybe I just love his big ears and lips…and have a weakness for “breakers”
Of course we all want to see Evan. He’s going to delight us with his brand of cute-but-debonair all season — but can he win it? Can he charm all of “Ameriker”….?
I don’t think Mia can really do much more to lower my opinion of her so I don’t even find the need to comment on her par-for-the-course crappy behavior. I do feel that she has misjudged Brandon — for real arrogance in seasons past, look at Will and Danny.
I’m so sad that Ryan is gone; I think he was the better pick but I’m not surprised they went with Evan merely for his younger look. I will definitely be on Team Evan. Others I could see myself possibly pulling for: Janette, Paris, Randi, Phillip, Pono (I thought his hair was cool and not distracting).
Those that I will NOT be rooting for and won’t be sad to see go: Asuka (I stand by my irritation with her skanky style), Tony (boy has NO skill; he tries too hard to get by on his antics), Kayla (something about her just grates me).
And I definitely see the potential for some dark horses in there!!