But other than the elimination moments, you can tell the entire production team of SYTYCD — from host Cat Deely, to the judges, on down to the choreographers and cameramen — just doesn't take things too seriously. It's like American Idol if everyone involved with the show was always high — chill out, dudes and dudettes! It's just DANCE.
Or maybe that's just how I view it, and I'm crazy for thinking I shouldn't be taking SYTYCD seriously. I'll live in my delusional world, because it makes for far more entertaining television.
Last week's Wednesday two-hour extravaganza marked the start of SYTYCD's season four competition, and we were treated to a surprisingly boring set of dances. Even contemporary choreographer Mia Michaels, who typically "wows" with her routines, offered up little more than a bland contrivance she described as "Tim Burton's dream wedding." Mia, we're talking about Tim Burton the gothed-out movie director, not Tim Burton the insurance adjuster from Columbus, Ohio, right?
The only routine that effectively blew my mind and made me bolt up on the couch was Katee and Joshua's, a slow hip-hop that conveyed the story of a soldier heading off to war and the girl he'll leave behind. Normally I'm not much for "story dances," as I always wonder why the dancers don't just open their damned mouths and tell us the story instead. This time, the sharp power of the movement conveyed all the emotion necessary, and it was a compelling flow from start to finish.
Back to the twee, lanky Brit, bound and tied. The bit was part of the opening dance routine for last night's results show, which also featured appearances by the Pussycat Dolls, performing their hit single "I'ma Make Your Daughter Wanna Dress (Like a Hooker)," and Poppin' Pete, the gentleman who allegedly invented the dance style known as "poppin," or maybe his brother did, I dunno.
(It reminds me of this hip-hop documentary I watched for a few minutes with my one-time roommate, who was a big hip-hop fan... all these legends on the mic were sitting around in a circle talking about the good ol' days, and one of them claimed to be the man who invented "Yes, yes, y'all." It's sorta like saying you're the first person to say "Hello," isn't it? Sure, it may be true, but who's gonna prove it?)
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