Saturday, July 17, 2010
Mad Men Extra
I don't know about you but I am on the edge of my seat with anticipation for the Season 4 premiere of Mad Men. Here's a little something to tide you over.
Friday, July 16, 2010
So You Think You Can Dance: The Top 6 Revealed by Kara Howland
So who will join Ashley in the bottom three tonight? Will Ashley be well enough to continue in the competition? I hope so but as a few of my friends pointed out, she wasn’t even in the audience last night which seems like a bad sign to me.
But first, the delectable Cat. I like the bright yellow and I like the headband look. The makeup seems just a bit heavy but I’ll allow it.
Let’s group dance.
Charleston (from Billion Dollar Baby) / Jerome Robbins Broadway
I don’t now how I feel about All-stars and this years competitors dancing together in the group dance. I kind of want to focus on the people still in the competition. But I am enjoying this Broadway number. There’s a lot going on and it’s fun. Choreographed by Tyce Diorio.
National Dance Day is July 31st. Since they mention it every week I don’t think we can forget. There will be flash mobs all over the place – DC, LA, Chicago, and worldwide.
First up are Lauren and Kent. They’re both safe. Not surprising.
Special Performance #1
From Mary Murphy’s champion ballroom academy in San Diego coached by Olga Ginzburg and Igor Ustymovych it’s Fernando Martingullans and Lauren Vayser.
Jailhouse Rock / Elvis Presley
Ok. I didn’t expect them to be so young. This should be adorable. Wow, they’re more than adorable. They’re really great. Amazing technique. It’s funny because their long limbs look a little awkward but they’re so good. And it was adorable.
Adechike and Billy are the next pair up. Billy’s in the bottom three. Boooooooooooooooooooo. I knew it. He was so good last night. It’s really disappointing. Mia says he’s breaking down the walls of technical coldness. Last night there was lightness and fun. He’s just dancing now. His personality is starting to shine through. Mia tells Billy he’s going in the right direction.
Jose and Robert are the final pair up. Jose is in the bottom. Wow. I’m happy he’s there, he needs to be. Adam is wringing his hands. Adam wants to know how Jose feels to have made it this far. Jose says it’s an honor. It feels great. He’s surprised he hasn’t been in the bottom three before because he expects to be there every week. Adam gives him the reality: Jose signed up for a dance competition. He knows what he’s got to do.
Special Performance #2
From Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. With an excerpt from Ullyses Dove’s Bad Blood Jamal Roberts and Rachael McClaren.
Gravity’s Angel / Laurie Anderson
Wow. They are acrobatic. There’s a little too much energy at the beginning but Rachel recovers nicely. Jamal is killing it. So powerful. Great precision. Nice tricks. He is so there for his partner in every way. Great ending but I feel like it was a little bit weird. I watched closely and didn’t type as much as I should have. I’ll say it’s not traditionally pretty but I don’t need that. I liked it.
This week’s All-star featured dancers are Twitch and Comfort. I’m so happy they’re going to dance their Hip Hop piece from Season 4. This is why I love me some Dave Scott.
Forever / Chris Brown
Wow, I feel like Comfort is bringing it more then she originally did. They are hitting it really hard. It’s so hot. I’m loving it. Was it a little different this time? I’m going to watch it again…. Still as awesome the second time. I’ll agree with an earlier statement Nigel made. Comfort is getting better. She really brought it tonight. And Twitch is as awesome as ever.
Solos
Billy
Stand By Me / Ben E. King
He is amazing in his solos. I’m seeing pretty flawless technique. I feel like his emotions are fully engaged. I love him.
Jose
Chicken Bone Circuit / RJD2
Great tricks. He’s throwing a lot of great stuff in there. Very nice job but he’s so great in his own style.
Musical Performance
Christina Perri is performing Jar of Hearts. After Stacey Tookey used it for one of her pieces, the song ended up on the top 100 chart. Nice job SYTYCD viewers. I know I make a lot of music purchases after I hear songs on this show. I really like that Christina’s got a string section on the stage with her and that she’s playing the piano. Neil and Allison are great. I don’t really have too much more to say about them. I liked the performance – both vocal and dance.
Who is leaving? Over to Nigel. He asks Jose to step forward. We’ve seen another new character this week. Nigel says he’s showing us a character fighting to stay on the show. It was quite stunning. It’s the fastest Jose’s done those tricks and the most energy he’s put into his breaking. Billy showed us a different style this week. They think he’s on the right road. In his solo they think he went to a default position. Nigel has spoken to both of Ashley’s doctors. She needs between 3 and 5 weeks rest. They have to let her go this week. Wow. I didn’t expect that although by cubicle neighbor Dave Anderson totally called it.
Only one girl remains in the competition. I would have liked to see Ashley stick around for a few more weeks but her health is more important and I do want her to get better. I think Jose got a pass this week. Ee saw him fighting for it, which is great but I need to see more technique from him next week or else it really will be time for him to go home. I also think Billy is on the right path. If he keeps losing himself in the dance I want to believe people will pick up the phone for him. I know I will.
But first, the delectable Cat. I like the bright yellow and I like the headband look. The makeup seems just a bit heavy but I’ll allow it.
Let’s group dance.
Charleston (from Billion Dollar Baby) / Jerome Robbins Broadway
I don’t now how I feel about All-stars and this years competitors dancing together in the group dance. I kind of want to focus on the people still in the competition. But I am enjoying this Broadway number. There’s a lot going on and it’s fun. Choreographed by Tyce Diorio.
National Dance Day is July 31st. Since they mention it every week I don’t think we can forget. There will be flash mobs all over the place – DC, LA, Chicago, and worldwide.
First up are Lauren and Kent. They’re both safe. Not surprising.
Special Performance #1
From Mary Murphy’s champion ballroom academy in San Diego coached by Olga Ginzburg and Igor Ustymovych it’s Fernando Martingullans and Lauren Vayser.
Jailhouse Rock / Elvis Presley
Ok. I didn’t expect them to be so young. This should be adorable. Wow, they’re more than adorable. They’re really great. Amazing technique. It’s funny because their long limbs look a little awkward but they’re so good. And it was adorable.
Adechike and Billy are the next pair up. Billy’s in the bottom three. Boooooooooooooooooooo. I knew it. He was so good last night. It’s really disappointing. Mia says he’s breaking down the walls of technical coldness. Last night there was lightness and fun. He’s just dancing now. His personality is starting to shine through. Mia tells Billy he’s going in the right direction.
Jose and Robert are the final pair up. Jose is in the bottom. Wow. I’m happy he’s there, he needs to be. Adam is wringing his hands. Adam wants to know how Jose feels to have made it this far. Jose says it’s an honor. It feels great. He’s surprised he hasn’t been in the bottom three before because he expects to be there every week. Adam gives him the reality: Jose signed up for a dance competition. He knows what he’s got to do.
Special Performance #2
From Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. With an excerpt from Ullyses Dove’s Bad Blood Jamal Roberts and Rachael McClaren.
Gravity’s Angel / Laurie Anderson
Wow. They are acrobatic. There’s a little too much energy at the beginning but Rachel recovers nicely. Jamal is killing it. So powerful. Great precision. Nice tricks. He is so there for his partner in every way. Great ending but I feel like it was a little bit weird. I watched closely and didn’t type as much as I should have. I’ll say it’s not traditionally pretty but I don’t need that. I liked it.
This week’s All-star featured dancers are Twitch and Comfort. I’m so happy they’re going to dance their Hip Hop piece from Season 4. This is why I love me some Dave Scott.
Forever / Chris Brown
Wow, I feel like Comfort is bringing it more then she originally did. They are hitting it really hard. It’s so hot. I’m loving it. Was it a little different this time? I’m going to watch it again…. Still as awesome the second time. I’ll agree with an earlier statement Nigel made. Comfort is getting better. She really brought it tonight. And Twitch is as awesome as ever.
Solos
Billy
Stand By Me / Ben E. King
He is amazing in his solos. I’m seeing pretty flawless technique. I feel like his emotions are fully engaged. I love him.
Jose
Chicken Bone Circuit / RJD2
Great tricks. He’s throwing a lot of great stuff in there. Very nice job but he’s so great in his own style.
Musical Performance
Christina Perri is performing Jar of Hearts. After Stacey Tookey used it for one of her pieces, the song ended up on the top 100 chart. Nice job SYTYCD viewers. I know I make a lot of music purchases after I hear songs on this show. I really like that Christina’s got a string section on the stage with her and that she’s playing the piano. Neil and Allison are great. I don’t really have too much more to say about them. I liked the performance – both vocal and dance.
Who is leaving? Over to Nigel. He asks Jose to step forward. We’ve seen another new character this week. Nigel says he’s showing us a character fighting to stay on the show. It was quite stunning. It’s the fastest Jose’s done those tricks and the most energy he’s put into his breaking. Billy showed us a different style this week. They think he’s on the right road. In his solo they think he went to a default position. Nigel has spoken to both of Ashley’s doctors. She needs between 3 and 5 weeks rest. They have to let her go this week. Wow. I didn’t expect that although by cubicle neighbor Dave Anderson totally called it.
Only one girl remains in the competition. I would have liked to see Ashley stick around for a few more weeks but her health is more important and I do want her to get better. I think Jose got a pass this week. Ee saw him fighting for it, which is great but I need to see more technique from him next week or else it really will be time for him to go home. I also think Billy is on the right path. If he keeps losing himself in the dance I want to believe people will pick up the phone for him. I know I will.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Rescue Me: Comeback by Sabrina A. Taylor
“Bottoms up” for Tommy has certainly never meant pouring perfectly good whisky, vodka and Gin down the drain but that’s exactly what Janet wakes up to. His new mantra is, “No more butts and no more booze.” Of course Janet is not buying any of this but starts pulling bottles of wine out of the refrigerator. Tommy immediately tells her that wine is only grape juice with a kick and booze is only hard liquor. He asks her how much wine does she think it would take for Colleen and him to either catch a buzz, Janet says she’s sure they will all soon find out and Colleen wakes up for breakfast and asks “which goes best with cheerios red or white”…and we all know the answer to that is white.
Tommy is certain that the guys at the firehouse are planning a cake and stripper filled “welcome back to work party” and calls ahead and tells Damien that he insists that there is no fanfare - just business a normal for his return. Which is what he finds. No cake and no strippers…just the guys in a contest to see who can belch most creatively. It’s Lou. A disappointed Tommy starts complaining when the station gets a call.
It’s one crazy day for the firehouse as they get 34 calls. After about the 8th call, the guys start complaining but Tommy is enjoying being back to work and says he laid in the hospital for 4 weeks dreaming of a day just like this one. Tommy loves being a firefighter again.
It’s a great episode as some of our favorite characters get a lot of airtime. There is some hilarious bickering between the two Shawns. Black Shawn is under stress being romantically involved with a Gavin and white Shawn can relate as he used to be married to Maggie and White Shawn has been struggling trying to find a charitable act to help the firehouse from being shut down and I think we all can understand why “thinking” would frustrate white Shawn. Cousin Mickey and Uncle Teddy show up to deliver a very rare expensive bottle of Irish whiskey and to let Tommy know that after the night of drinking he and Colleen had at the end of the last episode that Tommy is a lost cause and they are cutting him loose. I’m sure we’ll see what cutting Tommy loose really means in upcoming episodes.
Towards the end of the day Sheila shows up to check on how Tommy is doing convincing Damien to leave the job. While Tommy is telling her that it doesn’t look likely Damien joins them and asks to speak to Sheila alone. After a very brief conversation a very pleasant and horrifying Sheila seems eerily at peace and tells Tommy he’s been a good uncle and a good friend and he is released. Seriously…she was scary. Very confused by her demeanor Tommy tries to figure out what is exactly going on with her but is interrupted by the 35th fire call of the day.
After the last call of the day the guys surprise Tommy with a Kevlar bulletproof vest complete with a bulls eye on the front. As they celebrate Damien rushes in to tell them something is wrong with Lou and they find him not breathing on the floor of the firehouse.
Tommy is certain that the guys at the firehouse are planning a cake and stripper filled “welcome back to work party” and calls ahead and tells Damien that he insists that there is no fanfare - just business a normal for his return. Which is what he finds. No cake and no strippers…just the guys in a contest to see who can belch most creatively. It’s Lou. A disappointed Tommy starts complaining when the station gets a call.
It’s one crazy day for the firehouse as they get 34 calls. After about the 8th call, the guys start complaining but Tommy is enjoying being back to work and says he laid in the hospital for 4 weeks dreaming of a day just like this one. Tommy loves being a firefighter again.
It’s a great episode as some of our favorite characters get a lot of airtime. There is some hilarious bickering between the two Shawns. Black Shawn is under stress being romantically involved with a Gavin and white Shawn can relate as he used to be married to Maggie and White Shawn has been struggling trying to find a charitable act to help the firehouse from being shut down and I think we all can understand why “thinking” would frustrate white Shawn. Cousin Mickey and Uncle Teddy show up to deliver a very rare expensive bottle of Irish whiskey and to let Tommy know that after the night of drinking he and Colleen had at the end of the last episode that Tommy is a lost cause and they are cutting him loose. I’m sure we’ll see what cutting Tommy loose really means in upcoming episodes.
Towards the end of the day Sheila shows up to check on how Tommy is doing convincing Damien to leave the job. While Tommy is telling her that it doesn’t look likely Damien joins them and asks to speak to Sheila alone. After a very brief conversation a very pleasant and horrifying Sheila seems eerily at peace and tells Tommy he’s been a good uncle and a good friend and he is released. Seriously…she was scary. Very confused by her demeanor Tommy tries to figure out what is exactly going on with her but is interrupted by the 35th fire call of the day.
After the last call of the day the guys surprise Tommy with a Kevlar bulletproof vest complete with a bulls eye on the front. As they celebrate Damien rushes in to tell them something is wrong with Lou and they find him not breathing on the floor of the firehouse.
So You Think You Can Dance: The Top 7 Perform by Kara Howland
I’m gonna pull a Mia and say I miss Alex so hard right now. But I’m saying it before the show even starts. Now that it’s out of my system I will watch the remaining contestants perform without even a thought for Alex. It will be hard. But I can do it.
But first, what is our lovely Cat wearing? I like the multi-colored one-shoulder drapey dress. Very becoming. Her hair is kind of back and off her face and her makeup is perfection.
Right away I notice Ashley isn’t in the opening montage. Uh oh. Cat announces that Ashley was taken to the hospital on Monday with severe rib pains and she has been advised not to dance tonight. As we know, this means Ashley is automatically put into the bottom 3. If she can’t dance two weeks in a row she will have to leave the competition. Cat does have an Alex update. He had surgery to reattach his Achilles tendon. Alex thanks everyone for their kind thoughts and wishes. He hopes to see us soon.
Lauren
All-star partner: Mark
Tiana Liufau / Tahitian Dance
Rehearsal: Before they had a written alphabet the Tahitians would keep their stories and perpetuate myths and legends through dance. The theme is night and day. They flirt and eventually come together to make the first day.
Jungle / Last Voices
Performance: I’m somewhat distracted by the costumes but I’m pretty into it. I love Mark. He is working it hard. Lauren’s totally doing her part too. There’s a lot of hip shaking. I liked it quite a lot. Very entertaining.
Judge’s critiques:
Nigel admits that he doesn’t know what to say. He likes that Tiana brings something new to the program. Adam says those hips don’t life. Nigel thinks it was a lot of fun but technically he has no critique. Mia is fascinated. The poise, the posture. Absolutely wonderful. Adam can’t believe Lauren just did that. She had him going. The energy was amazing. He thinks their technique is spectacular.
Further comment: I don’t know how to critique this either. I found the performance highly enjoyable. I will admit to looking at Mark more than Lauren because I think his crazy quirky personality really brought something to this.
Adechike
All-star partner: Anya
Liz Lira & Danny Davalos / Salsa
Rehearsal: They’re doing a traditional competitive Salsa. It’s fast and intricate with death-defying moves. Anya thinks it’s the hardest Salsa to hit the SYTYCD stage.
Oyelo Que Te Conviene / Eddie Palmieri
Performance: A bit of a bobble on the first flipping trick but decent recovery. Adechike is trying his hardest. It’s a bit awkward and it’s not flowing the way it should. Wow, the tricks are nonstop. I’m so nervous for Anya. Nice finish but I can’t say I enjoyed it.
Judge’s critiques:
Nigel thinks their choreographer is a crazy woman. He thinks the routine worked. There’s so much in the routine that was challenging. It’s a totally alien subject and Adechike pulled it off. Mia says the choreography was excellent and the tricks were awesome. There were little bumps. Some of the fluidity isn’t there. Good attempt. He got through it. Adam says the choreography was hard. He blew though it, never showed weakness and was there for Anya.
Further comment: I fully acknowledge that we haven’t seen choreography this hard in a long time, if ever. I do enjoy that the show is giving so many new choreographers a shot but I would have liked to see Liz take this down a couple of notches. I don’t need to see Adechike dance perfectly but I don’t want Anya’s life put in danger. I’m just sayin’.
Jose
All-star partner: Courtney
Joey Dowling / Broadway
Rehearsal: Courtney is a showgirl and Jose is a stagehand who is mesmerized by her. But she never sees him. Courtney thinks it will be hard to ignore Jose.
Mister Cellophane / Chicago (Motion Picture soundtrack)
Performance: Jose is dancing (mostly) in the style which is what I want to see. I’m seeing the emotion but his technique is lacking. Courtney is amazing as usual. I didn’t love it.
Judge’s critiques:
Nigel loves the concept of it but he doesn’t think Jose danced it well. This let Jose down tonight. Mia can’t even look at him right now. Mia says Nigel hit it right on the nose. The patheticness is too much; she wants to see a glimmer of hope. The lack of training is evident, no technique to back it up. Adam says Nigel and Mia aren’t wrong. Jose needs finish and lines.
Further comment: I feel bad for Jose but we need to see his weaknesses. He needs to know what he needs to work on. The judges aren’t being mean or vicious; they’re being honest because that’s what Jose needs to hear.
Robert
All-star partner: Allison
Travis Wall / Contemporary
Rehearsal: The piece is about Travis’s mother who just had massive surgery. Robert can really relate to this character. Every step is a storytelling moment. Travis’s mom is everything to him.
Fix You / Coldplay
Performance: Great emotion. Nice connection. I liked the slow start and the much more energetic parts following. Wow. Robert is amazing and so is Allison. This is really Robert’s style. That was great. Really beautiful. Nice ending.
Judge’s critiques:
Robert gets a standing ovation from the judges. Cat is all choked up. I’m misty too. Nigel says that just transcended the competition. Nigel sends love and support to Travis. The audience should come together for Robert this week. Mia is touched. This is her cry of the season. It brings Mia back to the week before her mom passed. What was danced on that stage is so much bigger. Our moms are everything. It’s the best Mia’s seen him dance this season. The negative space and partner work were genius. Adam says if Travis doesn’t get an Emmy nomination for that there is no God. This is going to be the performances of the season. Congratulations. Robert is brilliant.
Further comment: I watched it again. It was just beautifully danced. The technique and emotion were there. It was beautiful.
Billy
All-star partner: Anya
Louis Van Amstel / Jive
Rehearsal: This is a traditional, competitive Jive. It requires a lot of speed and personality.
Paradise by the Dashboard Light / Meat Loaf
Performance: Billy’s technique looks spot on. This is such a fun and FAST piece. I think his connection with Anya is great. Totally believable. And it looks like they’re having fun. Great ending.
Judge’s critiques:
Nigel says that’s the hardest he’s seen Billy work on chemistry and it was really good to see. It’s a bit up in the air and he’d like to see him get down more. Nigel is happy with what he’s seen. Mia thinks it was absolutely stellar. She likes that Bill is regal and pulled up. There’s no awkwardness. The connection is so there. Adam says it’s one of his favorite performances from Billy. He’s connected and committed. Billy is in it to win it.
Further comment: I agree with the judges completely. I’m so happy to see Billy have some fun and have great chemistry with a partner.
Kent
All-star partner: Neil
Tyce Diorio / Broadway
Rehearsal: It’s about baseball players. It’s about the team, the movement that implies they’re on the field. You have to be a character in this and really portray it. Really with all the baseball references?
Shoeless Joe From Hannibal, Mo / Damn Yankees (1994 original Broadway cast)
Performance: It’s a fun piece. Very, very Broadway. The technique and character look spot on. Nice use of the stage. Impressive acrobatics. They seem to be almost perfectly in synch.
Judges critiques:
Nigel says Tyce is throwing every trick in the book. Kent is the MVP tonight. Kent outdances Neil tonight. Mia loves boys so much. To have that kind of choreography for two male characters. It was great entertainment. Their characters are there. Partnering was awesome. Adam tells Tyce that was so awesome. That was the other side of Fosse. Kent nailed it. He has a huge future in Broadway if he wants it. What was so special is that they made it look effortless.
Further comment: I fully acknowledge that the piece was great. It looked like it had all the necessary bells and whistles. I just didn’t love it which happens more often that not when Tyce choreographs a Broadway piece. Maybe I didn’t connect with the subject matter. Who know?
Lauren and Billy
Mandy Moore / Jazz
Rehearsal: Two shoes meet up and want to boogie. The shoes take over the dancer’s bodies. Lauren is struggling. Mandy hopes the shoes are full of magic instead of possessed.
Boogie Shoes / KC & The Sunshine Band
Performance: I think it’s a cute concept. Billy looks like he’s having fun again. I like the footwork (and everything else). I watched a lot more than I typed. Extremely enjoyable.
Judge’s critiques:
Nigel calls is absolutely adorable. The style makes you smile. Billy is really connecting with his partners this week and this style suits him. Lauren connected with her partner. She shouldn’t go clicking her heels together because she’s not going home yet. Mia says the choreography and performance is completely in the pocket, quirky and groovy. Adam calls it happy-making. Billy finally gets lost in the dance. That will make people pick up the phone for him. He tells Lauren the boys have something to be afraid of. She could get way up there; she’s killing him lately.
Further comment: I did smile a lot throughout the piece. They were so cute and comfortable together and made it funky and fun. I feel like Lauren is finally connecting fully with her partners as well.
Jose and Dominic
Tabitha & Napoleon / B-Boy Routine (1st time ever on SYTYCD)
Rehearsal: Having Legacy and Mike Murda assisting NappyTabs was fresh. It’s East meets West; bringing the styles together.
Battle for the Beat / District 78
Performance: It’s so cool. The way they get their bodies to move is totally amazing. Nice levels. Great tricks. I really enjoyed it. Jose and Dom were truly great. Jose needed that.
Judge’s critiques:
Nigel tells Jose he redeemed himself. None of the other dancers could do what he just did there. Nigel is really enjoying see the guys dance together this season. Mia loves boys. The beginning part, the traveling section was amazing. All she wants now from Jose is training and strength, strength, strength. Loved it. Adam tells Jose that’s the way to compete. For Jose to come out and school us like that is hot.
Further comment: Can we talk for a moment how much I love Dom? He was a bit inappropriate with the sword at the end but the things he said about Jose were so touching.
Adechike and Kent
Dee Caspary / Contemporary
Rehearsal: Kent is in a poisonous relationship and Adechike is trying to get him out of it. They’re using the chairs in a way Adechike has never seen before.
You Only Disappear / Tom McRae
Performance: Great quality of movement. Nice emotion. Amazing airtime. I liked their connection. Two technicians really going after it. It was a pleasure to watch.
Judge’s critiques:
Nigel thanks Dee for contributing another brilliant piece to a diverse show. Calls it tremendous. Great height on Adechike’s jump. He thanks Kent for underplaying that. He has such a beautiful style. Kent stands a remarkable chance of being this year’s champion. Mia calls Kent an unbelievable dancer. The organic quality and strength in this is breathtaking. Mia says there’s a God for sure. She was praying this would be a great week for Adechike and it is. Adam tells them that they just taught America that a super athlete can also be a super artist. They just taught him so much about dance and performance. They were both brilliant.
Further comment: They were both subtle and powerful throughout the piece. I completely and totally agree with the judges. That piece was a pleasure to watch.
Robert and Kathryn
Doriana Sanchez / Disco
Rehearsal: They’re going for fun and big party time. Robert says it feels like a pretzel.
Instant Replay / Dan Hartman
Performance: I’m not always in love with Doriana’s pieces but this looks pretty fun. The lifts are interesting. I feel like we’re not seeing the same old thing. And Robert looks like he’s really attacking it and having fun. The energy ‘s great. A few transitions are a bit rough but they kind of make up for it in performance for me.
Judge’s critiques:
Nigel says that people don’t always appreciate how tough Disco is. You have to be strong and energetic. You can’t stop and take a breath. Robert gave us lines, strength. Doriana gave them a beautiful routine. Mia feels like it was too thin; she wants the texture of the movement needed to be more masculine. Nigel disagrees. Robert is selling fun and Adam bought it.
Further comment: I see what Mia is saying but I really enjoyed it. Anytime any dancer can perform a Doriana Sanchez piece and NOT bore me is a victory. I liked it. Kathryn was a great partner for Robert to have on this.
So who will join Ashley in the bottom three tomorrow? I really don’t know. At this point, I think all the dancers are incredibly strong. Even if someone didn’t have two amazing performances – like Jose – at least one of the performances was remarkable. Kent is untouchable right now. I agree with Nigel; there’s a real chance he’ll win this whole thing especially if the teen and pre-teen girls keep voting for him. Robert’s contemporary might keep him out of the bottom and Jose’s B-Boy routine should also keep him safe. I really don’t want Billy to be in the bottom again because I thought both of his pieces were strong. But if he does end up there again we’ll know that America still can’t connect with him. Lauren was great so she’d better not be there. So I guess that leaves Adechike? His salsa might put him in the bottom. Tomorrow’s results show will be a doozy.
Even though I love that we’re seeing new choreographers and old favorites return, where the heck is my Mary Murphy? Wasn’t it made clear during Vegas week that Mary Murphy would be back during the season? Hello, it’s half over. When will the hot tamale train arrive with my hot tamale Mary? And we also met Hi Hat during rehearsals but haven’t seen her return to the show. If neither one is going to come back just tell us. We can take it.
Who do you want to see in the bottom and why?
But first, what is our lovely Cat wearing? I like the multi-colored one-shoulder drapey dress. Very becoming. Her hair is kind of back and off her face and her makeup is perfection.
Right away I notice Ashley isn’t in the opening montage. Uh oh. Cat announces that Ashley was taken to the hospital on Monday with severe rib pains and she has been advised not to dance tonight. As we know, this means Ashley is automatically put into the bottom 3. If she can’t dance two weeks in a row she will have to leave the competition. Cat does have an Alex update. He had surgery to reattach his Achilles tendon. Alex thanks everyone for their kind thoughts and wishes. He hopes to see us soon.
Lauren
All-star partner: Mark
Tiana Liufau / Tahitian Dance
Rehearsal: Before they had a written alphabet the Tahitians would keep their stories and perpetuate myths and legends through dance. The theme is night and day. They flirt and eventually come together to make the first day.
Jungle / Last Voices
Performance: I’m somewhat distracted by the costumes but I’m pretty into it. I love Mark. He is working it hard. Lauren’s totally doing her part too. There’s a lot of hip shaking. I liked it quite a lot. Very entertaining.
Judge’s critiques:
Nigel admits that he doesn’t know what to say. He likes that Tiana brings something new to the program. Adam says those hips don’t life. Nigel thinks it was a lot of fun but technically he has no critique. Mia is fascinated. The poise, the posture. Absolutely wonderful. Adam can’t believe Lauren just did that. She had him going. The energy was amazing. He thinks their technique is spectacular.
Further comment: I don’t know how to critique this either. I found the performance highly enjoyable. I will admit to looking at Mark more than Lauren because I think his crazy quirky personality really brought something to this.
Adechike
All-star partner: Anya
Liz Lira & Danny Davalos / Salsa
Rehearsal: They’re doing a traditional competitive Salsa. It’s fast and intricate with death-defying moves. Anya thinks it’s the hardest Salsa to hit the SYTYCD stage.
Oyelo Que Te Conviene / Eddie Palmieri
Performance: A bit of a bobble on the first flipping trick but decent recovery. Adechike is trying his hardest. It’s a bit awkward and it’s not flowing the way it should. Wow, the tricks are nonstop. I’m so nervous for Anya. Nice finish but I can’t say I enjoyed it.
Judge’s critiques:
Nigel thinks their choreographer is a crazy woman. He thinks the routine worked. There’s so much in the routine that was challenging. It’s a totally alien subject and Adechike pulled it off. Mia says the choreography was excellent and the tricks were awesome. There were little bumps. Some of the fluidity isn’t there. Good attempt. He got through it. Adam says the choreography was hard. He blew though it, never showed weakness and was there for Anya.
Further comment: I fully acknowledge that we haven’t seen choreography this hard in a long time, if ever. I do enjoy that the show is giving so many new choreographers a shot but I would have liked to see Liz take this down a couple of notches. I don’t need to see Adechike dance perfectly but I don’t want Anya’s life put in danger. I’m just sayin’.
Jose
All-star partner: Courtney
Joey Dowling / Broadway
Rehearsal: Courtney is a showgirl and Jose is a stagehand who is mesmerized by her. But she never sees him. Courtney thinks it will be hard to ignore Jose.
Mister Cellophane / Chicago (Motion Picture soundtrack)
Performance: Jose is dancing (mostly) in the style which is what I want to see. I’m seeing the emotion but his technique is lacking. Courtney is amazing as usual. I didn’t love it.
Judge’s critiques:
Nigel loves the concept of it but he doesn’t think Jose danced it well. This let Jose down tonight. Mia can’t even look at him right now. Mia says Nigel hit it right on the nose. The patheticness is too much; she wants to see a glimmer of hope. The lack of training is evident, no technique to back it up. Adam says Nigel and Mia aren’t wrong. Jose needs finish and lines.
Further comment: I feel bad for Jose but we need to see his weaknesses. He needs to know what he needs to work on. The judges aren’t being mean or vicious; they’re being honest because that’s what Jose needs to hear.
Robert
All-star partner: Allison
Travis Wall / Contemporary
Rehearsal: The piece is about Travis’s mother who just had massive surgery. Robert can really relate to this character. Every step is a storytelling moment. Travis’s mom is everything to him.
Fix You / Coldplay
Performance: Great emotion. Nice connection. I liked the slow start and the much more energetic parts following. Wow. Robert is amazing and so is Allison. This is really Robert’s style. That was great. Really beautiful. Nice ending.
Judge’s critiques:
Robert gets a standing ovation from the judges. Cat is all choked up. I’m misty too. Nigel says that just transcended the competition. Nigel sends love and support to Travis. The audience should come together for Robert this week. Mia is touched. This is her cry of the season. It brings Mia back to the week before her mom passed. What was danced on that stage is so much bigger. Our moms are everything. It’s the best Mia’s seen him dance this season. The negative space and partner work were genius. Adam says if Travis doesn’t get an Emmy nomination for that there is no God. This is going to be the performances of the season. Congratulations. Robert is brilliant.
Further comment: I watched it again. It was just beautifully danced. The technique and emotion were there. It was beautiful.
Billy
All-star partner: Anya
Louis Van Amstel / Jive
Rehearsal: This is a traditional, competitive Jive. It requires a lot of speed and personality.
Paradise by the Dashboard Light / Meat Loaf
Performance: Billy’s technique looks spot on. This is such a fun and FAST piece. I think his connection with Anya is great. Totally believable. And it looks like they’re having fun. Great ending.
Judge’s critiques:
Nigel says that’s the hardest he’s seen Billy work on chemistry and it was really good to see. It’s a bit up in the air and he’d like to see him get down more. Nigel is happy with what he’s seen. Mia thinks it was absolutely stellar. She likes that Bill is regal and pulled up. There’s no awkwardness. The connection is so there. Adam says it’s one of his favorite performances from Billy. He’s connected and committed. Billy is in it to win it.
Further comment: I agree with the judges completely. I’m so happy to see Billy have some fun and have great chemistry with a partner.
Kent
All-star partner: Neil
Tyce Diorio / Broadway
Rehearsal: It’s about baseball players. It’s about the team, the movement that implies they’re on the field. You have to be a character in this and really portray it. Really with all the baseball references?
Shoeless Joe From Hannibal, Mo / Damn Yankees (1994 original Broadway cast)
Performance: It’s a fun piece. Very, very Broadway. The technique and character look spot on. Nice use of the stage. Impressive acrobatics. They seem to be almost perfectly in synch.
Judges critiques:
Nigel says Tyce is throwing every trick in the book. Kent is the MVP tonight. Kent outdances Neil tonight. Mia loves boys so much. To have that kind of choreography for two male characters. It was great entertainment. Their characters are there. Partnering was awesome. Adam tells Tyce that was so awesome. That was the other side of Fosse. Kent nailed it. He has a huge future in Broadway if he wants it. What was so special is that they made it look effortless.
Further comment: I fully acknowledge that the piece was great. It looked like it had all the necessary bells and whistles. I just didn’t love it which happens more often that not when Tyce choreographs a Broadway piece. Maybe I didn’t connect with the subject matter. Who know?
Lauren and Billy
Mandy Moore / Jazz
Rehearsal: Two shoes meet up and want to boogie. The shoes take over the dancer’s bodies. Lauren is struggling. Mandy hopes the shoes are full of magic instead of possessed.
Boogie Shoes / KC & The Sunshine Band
Performance: I think it’s a cute concept. Billy looks like he’s having fun again. I like the footwork (and everything else). I watched a lot more than I typed. Extremely enjoyable.
Judge’s critiques:
Nigel calls is absolutely adorable. The style makes you smile. Billy is really connecting with his partners this week and this style suits him. Lauren connected with her partner. She shouldn’t go clicking her heels together because she’s not going home yet. Mia says the choreography and performance is completely in the pocket, quirky and groovy. Adam calls it happy-making. Billy finally gets lost in the dance. That will make people pick up the phone for him. He tells Lauren the boys have something to be afraid of. She could get way up there; she’s killing him lately.
Further comment: I did smile a lot throughout the piece. They were so cute and comfortable together and made it funky and fun. I feel like Lauren is finally connecting fully with her partners as well.
Jose and Dominic
Tabitha & Napoleon / B-Boy Routine (1st time ever on SYTYCD)
Rehearsal: Having Legacy and Mike Murda assisting NappyTabs was fresh. It’s East meets West; bringing the styles together.
Battle for the Beat / District 78
Performance: It’s so cool. The way they get their bodies to move is totally amazing. Nice levels. Great tricks. I really enjoyed it. Jose and Dom were truly great. Jose needed that.
Judge’s critiques:
Nigel tells Jose he redeemed himself. None of the other dancers could do what he just did there. Nigel is really enjoying see the guys dance together this season. Mia loves boys. The beginning part, the traveling section was amazing. All she wants now from Jose is training and strength, strength, strength. Loved it. Adam tells Jose that’s the way to compete. For Jose to come out and school us like that is hot.
Further comment: Can we talk for a moment how much I love Dom? He was a bit inappropriate with the sword at the end but the things he said about Jose were so touching.
Adechike and Kent
Dee Caspary / Contemporary
Rehearsal: Kent is in a poisonous relationship and Adechike is trying to get him out of it. They’re using the chairs in a way Adechike has never seen before.
You Only Disappear / Tom McRae
Performance: Great quality of movement. Nice emotion. Amazing airtime. I liked their connection. Two technicians really going after it. It was a pleasure to watch.
Judge’s critiques:
Nigel thanks Dee for contributing another brilliant piece to a diverse show. Calls it tremendous. Great height on Adechike’s jump. He thanks Kent for underplaying that. He has such a beautiful style. Kent stands a remarkable chance of being this year’s champion. Mia calls Kent an unbelievable dancer. The organic quality and strength in this is breathtaking. Mia says there’s a God for sure. She was praying this would be a great week for Adechike and it is. Adam tells them that they just taught America that a super athlete can also be a super artist. They just taught him so much about dance and performance. They were both brilliant.
Further comment: They were both subtle and powerful throughout the piece. I completely and totally agree with the judges. That piece was a pleasure to watch.
Robert and Kathryn
Doriana Sanchez / Disco
Rehearsal: They’re going for fun and big party time. Robert says it feels like a pretzel.
Instant Replay / Dan Hartman
Performance: I’m not always in love with Doriana’s pieces but this looks pretty fun. The lifts are interesting. I feel like we’re not seeing the same old thing. And Robert looks like he’s really attacking it and having fun. The energy ‘s great. A few transitions are a bit rough but they kind of make up for it in performance for me.
Judge’s critiques:
Nigel says that people don’t always appreciate how tough Disco is. You have to be strong and energetic. You can’t stop and take a breath. Robert gave us lines, strength. Doriana gave them a beautiful routine. Mia feels like it was too thin; she wants the texture of the movement needed to be more masculine. Nigel disagrees. Robert is selling fun and Adam bought it.
Further comment: I see what Mia is saying but I really enjoyed it. Anytime any dancer can perform a Doriana Sanchez piece and NOT bore me is a victory. I liked it. Kathryn was a great partner for Robert to have on this.
So who will join Ashley in the bottom three tomorrow? I really don’t know. At this point, I think all the dancers are incredibly strong. Even if someone didn’t have two amazing performances – like Jose – at least one of the performances was remarkable. Kent is untouchable right now. I agree with Nigel; there’s a real chance he’ll win this whole thing especially if the teen and pre-teen girls keep voting for him. Robert’s contemporary might keep him out of the bottom and Jose’s B-Boy routine should also keep him safe. I really don’t want Billy to be in the bottom again because I thought both of his pieces were strong. But if he does end up there again we’ll know that America still can’t connect with him. Lauren was great so she’d better not be there. So I guess that leaves Adechike? His salsa might put him in the bottom. Tomorrow’s results show will be a doozy.
Even though I love that we’re seeing new choreographers and old favorites return, where the heck is my Mary Murphy? Wasn’t it made clear during Vegas week that Mary Murphy would be back during the season? Hello, it’s half over. When will the hot tamale train arrive with my hot tamale Mary? And we also met Hi Hat during rehearsals but haven’t seen her return to the show. If neither one is going to come back just tell us. We can take it.
Who do you want to see in the bottom and why?
First Watch_Covert Affairs: Pilot by Kara Howland
I think I might lose your respect after what I’m about to say so I’m just going to say it and get it out of the way. I didn’t hate Coyote Ugly. I know a lot of people did but I didn’t. In fact, I’d watch it right now if it came on HBO or Showtime. Since Piper Perabo did that film I’ve been waiting for her to break out and I think she’s finally found her vehicle. And I’ve loved Christopher Gorham since Popular. He pretty much can do no wrong for me. Then you add in Peter Gallagher and Kari Matchett. I don’t know about you but I’m in heaven. And they’ve got Anne Dudek? It’s an embarrassment of riches. Anyone who’s seen Mad Men or House knows what I’m talking about.
I’m going to do a micro recap and then expand from there. Basically, if you didn’t watch the show you should give it a try. I didn’t love it but I did like it. I think some reviewers are calling this Alias-lite but I’ll disagree. There are elements that are similar but I think there is enough that is new and different here to keep me entertained and engaged.
So, Annie fell in love two years ago and it ended badly. After that she vowed to herself to never get burned again. Enter the CIA. She can use her love of languages and travel and her ability to basically become anyone she wants to do her job. A Russian assassin Stas is coming in from the cold but he’s assassinated as Annie gets his intel. Only, it turns out the guy she met with was a patsy. The real assassin wants people think he’s dead so he can take out his real target. Annie stops him before he can but he turns on her. Before he can kill Annie someone – who looks just like her ex – saves her by killing the assassin. She receives a commendation. Her bosses are pleased they’ve drawn her ex out of hiding. It looks like that’s the whole reason Annie’s at the CIA in the first place. Oh, and she has some decent banter with a fellow CIA agent and flirts with an FBI agent who is on her tail. Meanwhile, Annie’s boss Joan uses agency resources to find out if her husband Arthur, also a director at the agency, is cheating on her.
Now here are the details that flesh out our story:
- When we meet Annie Walker she’s talking a polygraph for admittance into the CIA. She’s 28 and speaks 6 languages.
- At an all hands briefing at the Office of the D.C.S. (Director of Clandestine Services) we learn there’s a traitor in their midst. Classified information is being leaked to a reporter.
- Auggie Anderson, former special ops in Iraq who was blinded by an IED, is with tech ops and will be her guide for the day. He tells her 50% of the agency is young – the agents have 5 years or less job experience. No cell phones in the building, polygraphs every year, no dating foreigners. The CIA encourages dating within the agency since they’re all already within the circle of trust.
- Annie will be working for the Domestic Protection Division. Annie’s never heard of it before and that’s exactly the way Joan wants it. Every global threat that makes it into US borders is dealt with here.
- When Stas is killed Annie doesn’t have a chance to retrieve the PDA that was the intel they need. She pretends to be a hooker again and get back in the room. She gets close enough to the PDA for the data transfer. During all this she meets FBI Agent Rasabi. I like him. They have chemistry.
- Joan and Arthur are in marriage counseling.
- Auggie is seriously popular with the ladies. Even though he’s blind he can tell whether or not a woman is hot. He just has to listen to the way other guys talk to her.
- A mystery BMW, which later we later discover belongs to her ex Ben, is following her home from happy hour. She turns it around on her pursuer but getting the upper hand and pursuing him. But her car craps out on her and she loses him.
- Annie’s sister has invited a blind date for Annie to her dinner party. The mustache Ethan is rocking is a bit too much for me and he’s way too eager. He loves him some Zinf and he talks a lot. A LOT.
- Arthur meets with the reporter who is published the leaked information. She tells him she won’t give up her sources.
- Annie goes to Georgetown University to see an old professor. From him she learns that the man they thought with Stas is a patsy. He called her Kiisu, which is Estonian. Someone from Moscow would never use that term. And even though Annie denies it, her professor urges her not to work for the CIA.
- Joan order Annie back to training but Auggie urges her to show some initiative, which is how they end up at the morgue. If the guy she met with was really Stas he would have tattoos from spending ten years in prison. This guy is tattoo free.
- FBI agent Rabasi catches Annie and Auggie at the morgue but she’s able to maintain her cover. Rabasi suspects she’s CIA but can’t prove it. When Rabasi gets a call from his boss’s boss he has to release them. Her chemistry with the FBI agent during the interrogation was hot. I don’t think this is the last we’ve seen of him.
- After looking at the threat matrix, Joan determines that the person Stas is targeting is Petrov, an outspoken Russian journalist. He’s at the Smithsonian right now.
- Annie and Joan arrive in time to prevent the assassination. Annie sees a man there she recognizes – the Spanish businessman who flirted with her in the hotel lobby. That’s Stas. She pursues and they end up in the subway. Stas is about to kill her, when Ben shows up and kills Stas. Annie can’t be sure it’s Ben though, she didn’t get a good look.
- Ben still has the bracelet he bought when he was in Sri Lanka with Annie.
There is a lot of potential here and I can’t wait to see what happens next week. I love Anne Dudek so I’m hoping to see just a bit more of Annie’s home life. The dynamic between Peter Gallaher’s Arthur and Kari Matchett’s Joan is very interesting. I hope they don’t overdo it though. Joan seems like a strong woman with great ambition. I don’t want to see her mired down in suspicion about her husband’s extracurricular activities. Even though it seems like he’s innocent, I wouldn’t take that at face value.
But let’s talk about Annie. I don’t want to see her cut herself off too much. Her relationship with Auggie is fun and I’m looking forward to seeing where that goes – and I don’t mean romantically. Conrad didn’t make much of an impression on me. I didn’t really like their banter but I loved Annie’s scenes with the FBI agent. I thought that was hot. I’m interested to learn more about Ben and why he left Annie so suddenly two years ago and when he’s resurfaced now. It’s clear he cares about Annie but I hope there is something else going on.
What did you think?
I’m going to do a micro recap and then expand from there. Basically, if you didn’t watch the show you should give it a try. I didn’t love it but I did like it. I think some reviewers are calling this Alias-lite but I’ll disagree. There are elements that are similar but I think there is enough that is new and different here to keep me entertained and engaged.
So, Annie fell in love two years ago and it ended badly. After that she vowed to herself to never get burned again. Enter the CIA. She can use her love of languages and travel and her ability to basically become anyone she wants to do her job. A Russian assassin Stas is coming in from the cold but he’s assassinated as Annie gets his intel. Only, it turns out the guy she met with was a patsy. The real assassin wants people think he’s dead so he can take out his real target. Annie stops him before he can but he turns on her. Before he can kill Annie someone – who looks just like her ex – saves her by killing the assassin. She receives a commendation. Her bosses are pleased they’ve drawn her ex out of hiding. It looks like that’s the whole reason Annie’s at the CIA in the first place. Oh, and she has some decent banter with a fellow CIA agent and flirts with an FBI agent who is on her tail. Meanwhile, Annie’s boss Joan uses agency resources to find out if her husband Arthur, also a director at the agency, is cheating on her.
Now here are the details that flesh out our story:
- When we meet Annie Walker she’s talking a polygraph for admittance into the CIA. She’s 28 and speaks 6 languages.
- At an all hands briefing at the Office of the D.C.S. (Director of Clandestine Services) we learn there’s a traitor in their midst. Classified information is being leaked to a reporter.
- Auggie Anderson, former special ops in Iraq who was blinded by an IED, is with tech ops and will be her guide for the day. He tells her 50% of the agency is young – the agents have 5 years or less job experience. No cell phones in the building, polygraphs every year, no dating foreigners. The CIA encourages dating within the agency since they’re all already within the circle of trust.
- Annie will be working for the Domestic Protection Division. Annie’s never heard of it before and that’s exactly the way Joan wants it. Every global threat that makes it into US borders is dealt with here.
- When Stas is killed Annie doesn’t have a chance to retrieve the PDA that was the intel they need. She pretends to be a hooker again and get back in the room. She gets close enough to the PDA for the data transfer. During all this she meets FBI Agent Rasabi. I like him. They have chemistry.
- Joan and Arthur are in marriage counseling.
- Auggie is seriously popular with the ladies. Even though he’s blind he can tell whether or not a woman is hot. He just has to listen to the way other guys talk to her.
- A mystery BMW, which later we later discover belongs to her ex Ben, is following her home from happy hour. She turns it around on her pursuer but getting the upper hand and pursuing him. But her car craps out on her and she loses him.
- Annie’s sister has invited a blind date for Annie to her dinner party. The mustache Ethan is rocking is a bit too much for me and he’s way too eager. He loves him some Zinf and he talks a lot. A LOT.
- Arthur meets with the reporter who is published the leaked information. She tells him she won’t give up her sources.
- Annie goes to Georgetown University to see an old professor. From him she learns that the man they thought with Stas is a patsy. He called her Kiisu, which is Estonian. Someone from Moscow would never use that term. And even though Annie denies it, her professor urges her not to work for the CIA.
- Joan order Annie back to training but Auggie urges her to show some initiative, which is how they end up at the morgue. If the guy she met with was really Stas he would have tattoos from spending ten years in prison. This guy is tattoo free.
- FBI agent Rabasi catches Annie and Auggie at the morgue but she’s able to maintain her cover. Rabasi suspects she’s CIA but can’t prove it. When Rabasi gets a call from his boss’s boss he has to release them. Her chemistry with the FBI agent during the interrogation was hot. I don’t think this is the last we’ve seen of him.
- After looking at the threat matrix, Joan determines that the person Stas is targeting is Petrov, an outspoken Russian journalist. He’s at the Smithsonian right now.
- Annie and Joan arrive in time to prevent the assassination. Annie sees a man there she recognizes – the Spanish businessman who flirted with her in the hotel lobby. That’s Stas. She pursues and they end up in the subway. Stas is about to kill her, when Ben shows up and kills Stas. Annie can’t be sure it’s Ben though, she didn’t get a good look.
- Ben still has the bracelet he bought when he was in Sri Lanka with Annie.
There is a lot of potential here and I can’t wait to see what happens next week. I love Anne Dudek so I’m hoping to see just a bit more of Annie’s home life. The dynamic between Peter Gallaher’s Arthur and Kari Matchett’s Joan is very interesting. I hope they don’t overdo it though. Joan seems like a strong woman with great ambition. I don’t want to see her mired down in suspicion about her husband’s extracurricular activities. Even though it seems like he’s innocent, I wouldn’t take that at face value.
But let’s talk about Annie. I don’t want to see her cut herself off too much. Her relationship with Auggie is fun and I’m looking forward to seeing where that goes – and I don’t mean romantically. Conrad didn’t make much of an impression on me. I didn’t really like their banter but I loved Annie’s scenes with the FBI agent. I thought that was hot. I’m interested to learn more about Ben and why he left Annie so suddenly two years ago and when he’s resurfaced now. It’s clear he cares about Annie but I hope there is something else going on.
What did you think?
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
First Watch: Rizzoli & Isles by Tina Charles
I'm not someone who likes to be negative so when I don't like a show it's difficult for me. So I'm happy to report I really enjoyed the pilot for TNT's newest crime show Rizzoli & Isles. The two leads know their way around a crime drama. Angie Harmon plays tough Boston detective Jane Rizzoli. Harmon's best known for her three-year run on NBC's Law & Order as ADA Abbie Carmichael. But she has also starred in ABC's Women's Murder Club and let's not forget she cut her investigative teeth as the Hoff's detective partner on Baywatch Nights. Meanwhile, Dawson's Creek alum Sasha Alexander is arguably best known for playing Special Agent Caitlyn "Kate" Todd on the first two seasons of CBS' NCIS. She's the super smart very fashionably dressed medical examiner Maura Isles. All I can think about is the fact that Sasha is "Ducky" on this show. Well, if Ducky were a woman who wears lots of designer clothes and Louboutin shoes. This girl has never heard of Casual Friday.
One of my litmus tests for any new show is the chemistry of the cast. And right away, I'm enjoying the friendship between Rizzoli and Isles. The two are opposites of course: Rizzoli's no frills, one of the guys, and takes the tough cop thing to heart. She definitely seems a little damaged. She has her family around, but as we learn in the pilot she's the target of a serial killer (or two). This guy had gotten the best of her before so she damn well wasn't going to let him get away this time around. Plus, even though Jane's allergic to dogs, she ends up adopting a stray which I guess will serve to help bring out more of her feminine side. We definitely find out much more about Rizzoli in this episode. Hopefully we'll find out more about Isles soon. She's intriguing. Much like Jane, Maura's beautiful and she's smart. Really, really smart. Like reeling inane facts off the top of her head smart. Her inner nerd is offset by her outward model-type looks. She dresses to the nines for every occasion. Like I said, I'm curious to learn more about her background. I mean, she also has a giant tortoise as a pet. Sasha and Angie work well together and I think they'll gel even more as the series continues. Right away Rizzoli and Isles sort of show interest in the same guy (FBI Agent Gabriel Dean), but it's clear Rizzoli is more in need of companionship than the coroner. And Isles helps the flirtation between Jane and the visiting agent progress.
The case is personal for Rizzoli which makes it kind of interesting. What I did love is that for much of the episode the males in her life (her brother, her cop colleagues, even FBI Agent Dean), rally around her and want to protect her from the serial killers who are after her. But in the end, Rizzoli's forced to save herself. I really liked that. At this point, I just really want to learn more about Dr. Maura Isles so hopefully she'll be quickly incorporated into the show even further. This show has the makings of a keeper. I'm going to record the series on my DVR. The cast chemistry has lots of potential, although the dialogue doesn't always seem to snap, crackle and pop. The show tries a little too hard to make the characters quirky but things should settle as the series continues. And I'm curious as to how all the cases are going to play out. But I'm definitely on board for the foreseeable future. It won't be a weekly blog, but if something big happens or I want to highlight one aspect of the show, I'll post a new column.
Cast Notes
Other cast members include: Lorraine Bracco (The Sopranos), Bruce McGill (MacGyver) and Lee Thompson Young (Jett Jackson, Smallville, FlashForward). Marisa Ramirez (General Hospital, Miracles, Mental) plays Harmon's neighbor. I'm unclear as to whether she'll continue in that capacity. Bella's dad on Twilight plays the FBI agent in the first episode and he shares a nice chemistry with Harmon's Rizzoli. I love Billy Burke in the Twilight saga so I hope his character comes back at some point. Michael Massee plays one of the killers. He almost always plays a villain, he's really good at being creepy. Supernatural fans will recognize him as Kubrick, Gordon's partner in crime in both "Bad Day at Black Rock" and "Fresh Blood."
Random Thought
Ratings Update
Rizzoli & Isles had a huge debut. According to tvbythenumbers.com, R&I became "cable's #1 commercial-supported series launch of all time" reeling in 7.6 million viewers. Congrats, TNT!
One of my litmus tests for any new show is the chemistry of the cast. And right away, I'm enjoying the friendship between Rizzoli and Isles. The two are opposites of course: Rizzoli's no frills, one of the guys, and takes the tough cop thing to heart. She definitely seems a little damaged. She has her family around, but as we learn in the pilot she's the target of a serial killer (or two). This guy had gotten the best of her before so she damn well wasn't going to let him get away this time around. Plus, even though Jane's allergic to dogs, she ends up adopting a stray which I guess will serve to help bring out more of her feminine side. We definitely find out much more about Rizzoli in this episode. Hopefully we'll find out more about Isles soon. She's intriguing. Much like Jane, Maura's beautiful and she's smart. Really, really smart. Like reeling inane facts off the top of her head smart. Her inner nerd is offset by her outward model-type looks. She dresses to the nines for every occasion. Like I said, I'm curious to learn more about her background. I mean, she also has a giant tortoise as a pet. Sasha and Angie work well together and I think they'll gel even more as the series continues. Right away Rizzoli and Isles sort of show interest in the same guy (FBI Agent Gabriel Dean), but it's clear Rizzoli is more in need of companionship than the coroner. And Isles helps the flirtation between Jane and the visiting agent progress.
The case is personal for Rizzoli which makes it kind of interesting. What I did love is that for much of the episode the males in her life (her brother, her cop colleagues, even FBI Agent Dean), rally around her and want to protect her from the serial killers who are after her. But in the end, Rizzoli's forced to save herself. I really liked that. At this point, I just really want to learn more about Dr. Maura Isles so hopefully she'll be quickly incorporated into the show even further. This show has the makings of a keeper. I'm going to record the series on my DVR. The cast chemistry has lots of potential, although the dialogue doesn't always seem to snap, crackle and pop. The show tries a little too hard to make the characters quirky but things should settle as the series continues. And I'm curious as to how all the cases are going to play out. But I'm definitely on board for the foreseeable future. It won't be a weekly blog, but if something big happens or I want to highlight one aspect of the show, I'll post a new column.
Cast Notes
Other cast members include: Lorraine Bracco (The Sopranos), Bruce McGill (MacGyver) and Lee Thompson Young (Jett Jackson, Smallville, FlashForward). Marisa Ramirez (General Hospital, Miracles, Mental) plays Harmon's neighbor. I'm unclear as to whether she'll continue in that capacity. Bella's dad on Twilight plays the FBI agent in the first episode and he shares a nice chemistry with Harmon's Rizzoli. I love Billy Burke in the Twilight saga so I hope his character comes back at some point. Michael Massee plays one of the killers. He almost always plays a villain, he's really good at being creepy. Supernatural fans will recognize him as Kubrick, Gordon's partner in crime in both "Bad Day at Black Rock" and "Fresh Blood."
Random Thought
- With the presence of Sasha Alexander, I couldn't help play connect the dots between NCIS and Rizzoli & Isles. All I could think of when Dr. Isles said she had to take a trip to Quantico for a different case and the investigation started involving a military green beret is that maybe NCIS could help out or something. They threw around words/terms like "National Security" and "soldier" and "Chairman of the Armed Services Committee." What was I supposed to think? First episode and I'm already looking for a crossover! Earlier, Jane and Maura were trying to decipher a clue and the jumbled up word ended up spelling out Theodore Bundy. You know who played Ted Bundy in a TV movie, right? NCIS' Mark Harmon. Okay the NCIS comparisons end there.
Ratings Update
Rizzoli & Isles had a huge debut. According to tvbythenumbers.com, R&I became "cable's #1 commercial-supported series launch of all time" reeling in 7.6 million viewers. Congrats, TNT!
Monday, July 12, 2010
Snap Judgment_The Glades by Tina Charles
I'm not having any luck with TV series featuring short, catchy titles this summer. I wanted to continue to satiate my love for vampire shows by getting sucked into ABC's The Gates. Didn't happen. Then I turned my attention to the wannabe gritty police drama on CBS called The Bridge. The jury's still out on that one. Now I've given A&E's The Glades a chance. And all it did is make me long for the days when USA Network's Silk Stalkings was on. If I want to see police officers investigate murders in a pretty Florida town that features the word "Palm" in it, Silk Stalkings (SS) is for me. Chris and Rita made solving crimes in Palm Beach sizzle. Palm Glade is the setting for A&E's newest original series. And where SS provided lots of colorful (do you remember the clothes Lance and Lorenzo wore?) flavor, The Glades is just dull. I only made it seventeen minutes into the pilot before hitting delete. I get the sense A&E is trying for a fun USA Network-type show, but unfortunately, this doesn't cut it. The lead character is Detective Jim Longworth. He's a tough Chicago cop living in Palm Glade after he parted ways with his boss. It seems he accused Jim of sleeping with his wife. He's a loner. He's out of his element. He's constantly sarcastic and doesn't take life seriously. He rather be playing golf than working. I just wish this character wasn't as cliched as he comes off. This is the pilot so immediately Det. Jim has to try and drum up some chemistry with a nurse (played by Lost's Nikki aka Kiele Sanchez). I don't know. Sometimes it takes time for chemistry to percolate but I normally like to see some sort of spark right away, something that lets me know that maybe I'm not feeling them now, but there's potential for a connection down the road. All I'm sensing between the cop and the nurse is a flatline. I'm glad the first episode did really well for A&E in the ratings, but time will tell if this success will continue. If you want fun in your summer shows just tune into TNT's Leverage or USA Network's White Collar.
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