They Think They Can Dance

So you think YOU can dance? Whether you do or not, they have had over 400 million callers vote. To me, that menas a lot of people have no life. Who has time to call in several times and vote for a dancer? Now if you had voting on Gilligan’s Island, I know how those votes would have gone. People would have voted for the Professor (Roy Hinkley) and Marianne Summers. Yep, you may think the Howells would have won, but only if they could buy the votes. How about giving me your votes here? Don’t forget that the Skipper’s name was Jonus Grumby and Gilligan’s first name was Woody. Mrs. Howell was Eunice – Lovey was her pet name by Thurston. 

Back to the reality show. Of course, for the slow among you, we are talking about the reality TV show, “So You Think You Can Dance” on FOX. I am really happy for these dancers, and that they have the opportunity. This is an amazing chance for them, and highlights something other than gangs, sex, and violence. Yes, some of the outfits are provocative, but that is not unusual in dance. I am glad to see all the different styles of dance represented. However, I do believe it is a way to legitimize hip hop, but I don’t think that is an agenda here. I think it is just a reflection of today’s styles. I think they actually get people interested in dancing again. I am especially impressed with the Mambo, Salsa, and Samba in high heels. I mean the women, of course.

I enjoy watching these styles, and seeing how much they work on it. It is easy to see their inexperience and nervousness. Many times they do not reach the level of emotion and passion in their dancing, but sometimes they hit it just right. Then there is the mechanical problems. I know I’m not telling you anything new here, but my criticism is not about the dancers. I have something to say about the judges.

Before I go there, I was just thinking that maybe they should have had voting on Star Trek. Then you could vote for your favorite alien and they could have them back on another episode. How about the two guys with black and white faces. You remember one was white on the right and black on the left, while the other was black on the right and white on the left. Of course they were totally different people and one was superior. I wonder what that was supposed to mean. Do you think that was a statement on the condition of prejudice in the US at the time? Nah. Hey, comment here to vote for your favorite alien. Don’t forget to remind us what the episode was about. Not all of us are Trekkies.

The show starts out with a strong theme song and graphics, then comes into the host, Cat Deeley. Yes, she is a looker, but she doesn’t really bring energy or interest to the show. She does not have the excitement I would like to see each episode. Perhaps she is getting tired of this gig, but I don’t remember her starting it with energy and emphasis. She is just a cue card reader. People knock Ryan Seacrest, but every time I saw him on American Idol I had to give him props. He always brought an interest, attitude, and energy to the table. When you watched him, you wanted to know what he was going to say next. It didn’t seem so scripted.

I don’t get that feeling from Cat. Even through the show, she only reads the cue cards. If you watch her, you can see she is glued to the teleprompter, even for the most simple of announcements which she should already know she is going to say. It is as if she has no idea what she is going to say. You would think that by now she would know what she is going to say, and only need to read every now and then. Even when she addresses the judges, she often has to look to see what she is going to say next. I don’t know where she got her talent, or who she auditioned with, but I am sure it is not from experience. 

When they come out of the titles and theme, they need to have someone with some power and energy to carry the viewer through to the show. They need someone that cares about what they are going to say and will make me care too. They need someone that is convincing us that they really care about the dancers and their job. I really think she was a poor choice for this job, but she is not the biggest problem I have with the show.

Before I get going, I want to give props to Toni Basil. The judges aren’t really judges. They are cheeleaders with no impact on the vote or selection at all. They don’t really have any purpose at all, other than a bit if narrative and taking a little time up. I think this is obvious when watching Toni Basil. Hey Mickey, you’re so fine, you’re so fine you blow my mind. Hey, in that video she was a cheerleader too. I guess it is only fitting that she is a cheerleader on THIS show. 

Then you get to watch other ‘B’ performers like LL Cool J. I won’t say he isn’t good at what he does, but come on. Couldn’t they get someone more current? He is trying to make a come back. One of two things is going to happen. Either he is going to be left behind because nobody wants to hear his old style, or he will betray his success and style and try a new style. Come on, LL. You don’t need to sell out. Didn’t you make good investments with the money you made the first time around? Jump… jump… jump… jump… jump.

I need to say that the most ANNOYING person on the whole show is the judge, Mary Murphy. Could this woman be even more annoying? She is nothing more than a cheerleader, and not a good one, either. Her knock knocks and attempts at comedy and surprise fall way short of entertaining or surprising. Then on top of that you add her voice and the way she speaks, and it makes me want to cringe. Wait, we haven’t gotten to the good part yet. Does anyone like to hear her screams and yells? Not a single act goes by that she doesn’t annoy me. Even when she tries to be serious, I don’t buy it. She has no apparent use other than to yell and scream, and get picked on by Nigel. She is so predictable.

Someone less annoying but just as predictable is Nigel Lithgoe. He really doesn’t add anything to the show. You would think he could at least give some creative criticism. He does try to balance out the cheerleaders, but he is not effective at it. I do like to hear what he has to say when he is first to speak because he starts to tell us what he thinks. When he comes after the other two, he just spouts babble and references what the cheerleaders said. It is as if he follows their lead like a good husband. It is as if he is just there for the show business aspect of it. Is he just trying to get to be a household name in America? Nigel, keep giving critique and talk about technique and ability. I really do appreciate that part of you, and am sure the dancers would like to know what they are doing right and wrong.

Adam Shankman is alright. He is a bit full of himself, and almost annoying. I am glad Toni replaced him for a while. Fortunately, there is not much season left, so I don’t think he will be a factor for long. I hope they replace him with someone who is more interested in helping the dancers and talking about their technique and ability.

I can summarize my feelings about this show by saying it is fine for a novelty, but I am surprised they have kept the format alive for 4 seasons. It is a bunch of tripe, but I appreciate the showcase for young dancers. It is good for them to have a place to show off their talents and actually show traditional styles of dance and how fun they can be. Dancing really is fun, especially when you learn how to do it. The different styles seem rigid when you watch them in competition, but when you see it applied creatively in this show, it really makes you see the value of the different styles.

As far as the production value of the show, I think it is a good stage and format. I just think the principle people need to be changed. Mary and Cat have to go. Mary is just so annoying. She goes from talking normal to yelling to normal to yelling, and I am tired of it. No, make that SICK of it. I cringe when she comes up. I wish they would get rid of Mary. They need someone with some class and knowledge in there, not a cheerleader. Also, they should get a new host, or let me go give her some lessons on how to be a good show host. Maybe I can take the show from her like Seacrest did to Dunkleman (WHO?) in the first season of Idol.

Now let’s talk about Pants Off Dance Off…

The Opinionator