Hum. Um. A Tyce piece taken from The Color Purple isn’t really sitting well with me. Apparently we’re supposed to be watching a church/dancing piece taken from the stereotypical Southern Black church tradition. And Nigel suggested that Bianca has actually danced like this in church. That’s something. Cuz having lived in the South for most of my life, I don’t know…um…anyone who dances like that in church.
Not that it doesn’t happen. I know that it does. Maybe not so much that style…but it happens.
The problem was…that…it was FULL of problems. Church dancing with pirouettes needs to go a lil more Polly.
But the church thing wasn’t the only moment made of some FAIL tonight.
The Bollywood number was so haphazard for that fellow. (I’m not totally getting to know them yet, since there are still so many.) He looked kinda crazy from start to finish, really. And his leaps toward the end were bizarre. But Mollee surprised me in the beginning of that one, her turns were so strong, she stole the stage IMO.
Phillip Atmore is an excellent tap dancer. He’s an excellent tap dancer. An excellent tap dancer. REALLY bad at the samba.
Ellenore’s dress for the tango was AWFUL!!!AWFUL!!!AWFUL!!! And then got stuck on her heel, besides being uggamugga. And while I was watching that dance – I started to wonder, is the dress supposed to be attached to the shoe?
But I LOVED Legacy and Kathryn’s work with Stacy Tookey. Best dance of the night, bar none. Amazing, really, considering that I’ve hated Legacy from day one.
Two tappers are in the bottom tonight, and it’s hurting. Because “there’s not enough time” (according to Nigel) to teach the dancers tap, so they will never get to perform their own styles. Why is tap the only dance form that can’t possible be learned in the short time required for all the other dance styles? Bianca’s going home and I”m super sad about this, but kind of saw this coming. Wah wah wah. I hope she gets some real big opportunities from this. But I’m still pissed. Both tappers are gone. Too bad we couldn’t have voted.
My work life has been hell lately, and so, I’m thankfully home – instead of at work, like I was last night [until 11:50]. But I am catching up on SYTYCD and ooh, wee! It’s the good, the bad, and the U-G-L-Y.
Russell
the good
With three tappers this season, I’m happy, but apprehensive – I don’t think the show is really equipped to showcase tap. They haven’t really proved themselves, yet.
I’ve been loving this krumper, Russell since his very first audition. He somewhat reminds me of Joshua – just in his untrained ability to wow me with his take on every style. And I want him to win, win, win!
Seeing Dave Scott back on the show is loverly, and I’m hoping for more from him this season.
Mary Murphy is as crazy as ever and, while she’s still weirding me out, all I can say is – Yabba Dabba Doo! Is she on pills?
Travis Wall’s choreo has me all twitterpated. I was never a real fan, cuz I got this hint of attitude during his season, and I’ve always been a Benji fan…but my, oh, my. Bianca and Victor really turned it out IMO. I”m not sure why Bianca didn’t get as much love from the judges but I thought the piece they did was incredible, romantic, and beautiful – and her part was lovely, all the way around.
the bad Well, Mollee and Nathan’s disco was cute, but not nearly deserving of such rave reviews when the transitions were as herky-jerky as they were. I really like them as a couple – but let’s be real, please. Doriana Sanchez’s choreo is always 90mph, but they still looked like they were counting steps!
NappyTab are still on the show. Period.
Injuries/Illness. What’s up, y’all? Everybody’s getting hurt this season. And apparently, it’s not the kind of thing you can dance through [a la Donyelle and everyone else who soldiered on in past seasons]. Noelle needs an MRI, Billy left due to illness [whenever I hear this, my first thought is always mono] – what is up?!
the U-G-L-Y The fact that ANYone, ANYwhere thought it might be a good idea to use the Glee version of Push It, for a ChaCha number. I got the dry heaves.
The fact that Russell was in the bottom 4 dancers. Um…what? These judges are crazy. I still don’t get that, cuz Nigel was right when he said that Fred Astaire would NOT be krumping up there on that stage.
So – I’ll be watching this season. And I can’t wait to see Paula Abdul choreograph a piece on this show.
And here’s a reminder of what 80s ladies rap was all about:
I’ve been a little busy lately, and it seems that you thought I was just letting it all slide. I wasn’t. I was just getting around to this letter, as it’s been a long time coming.
This may not mean much to you since I’m not a die-hard-fan kinda girl, but you’ve let me down. To tease me with prospects of awesomeness and then slowly kill off almost every person of color on the show? Even major characters? That is NOT the way to my heart.
But as time went by, echoes of DL, Monica, and even that vortex guy only grew louder in my head. I don’t have the time or inclination to follow web-posted storylines, just so I can keep up with characters that somehow don’t deserve to make the cut on the small screen. Year after year, the man who came to be known as the Haitian, continued to be known as the Haitian. Even after visiting Haiti! Because having one magical negro wasn’t enough, Usutu got to be a plot device for a while, getting name checked on the show only after he was decapitated! Two cute Asian guys (one a little bit hot) get to play the buffoon occasionally, while propping up what we finally found out was the MAIN storyline last year.
And I’m losing interest.
Watching the few women of color that appear, disappear – sometimes without any explanation – while the blondes almost always have their freaky coercive and inappropriate sexual assaults? Not my idea of a good time. There was the slight incest scare with Claire and Peter, the Puppetmaster scenes, the Sylar/Claire puppetmaster scene, various power plays with every Ali Larter character…and then of course, our good friend from the current season, carnie-tatt-girl.
You really value me so little?
Almost every woman I know who ever watched no longer does. Why should we? If we want to see skeevy dudes planning & executing various forms of domination over women, we can just watch the news.
When things were new and fresh, I thought this was the start of a cool show. And it was. And this is the end.
Men and women of color on your show continue to be use as props with little more than one-dimensional backstories. Seriously. Where is freaking Mohinder?
Becky and the new Usutu are not enough. The cop and the doctor are not enough. Angela is not enough. Portraying your first lesbian while simultaneously painting her as an SWF stalker? Not even close.
My head hurts when I watch, I think of better storylines when I’m half-awake, and I’m just tired. I feel like Syfy could’ve done a much better job with the show. Or maybe Animal Planet. QVC even.
Good night and good luck, Heroes. And so I say, with a yawn,
Last week I went to the opening of a play here in Podunk. The kids of Podunk were putting on a limited engagement of The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, ending today. A coworker of mine had a child in the production, and described rehearsals to us at work. Since they sounded cute, I wanted to go.
So I walk in to the theater and take my seat and do my normal look-see. You know, after a few moments, I look around and check out the demographics. Podunk did not disappoint. Grey-haired ladies, soccer moms with some kids that didn’t make the show, a thirtysomething couple on a date, probably about 120 people (~2xs the kids in the cast) – which is good. Not a lot of brown people, which is normal. There was an Indian family, and two other brown people besides me. So I notice.
Other people notice, right?
There were some star performers in the roles of Mr. Tumnus, the Witch, and Lucy. Mr. Tumnus also had the best costume – he really looked like a faun. But he was comical and cute. The Witch was excellent – screaming at the exactly right points. And Lucy – from start to finish – had impeccable timing, incredible delivery, complete believability. Yeah – I liked Lucy.
There was also a cutie-patootie in the role of one of the woodland creatures. In one scene, some unfortunate woodland creatures [and Mr. Tumnus] were frozen in various positions in the courtyard of the Queen/Witch’s palace. All the kids were supposed to be stationary as Edmund walked through. But there was one little girl (probably about 6) who had struck a pose with her arms up in the air, and the scene got a little long for her. So first one arm dropped – then the other. And so she stood there, slouching a little, until the Queen/Witch came on stage. [Snow starts to fall whenever the Miss Winter comes onstage, to remind us all of her coldness.] So as the snow fell, little miss cutiepants starts raising her arms again – this time to try and catch some of the fake snow that’s falling. Which she did. The entire scene was hilarious, and I didn’t hear a word of the dialogue, because I was focused on this adorable child – surrounded by other woodland creatures of various ages who had all managed to be still.
Then Aslan appears and he’s one of the three cast members of color. It’s all good until the time comes for Aslan to sacrifice himself. The Witch and all her followers descend upon Aslan in a kind of mob scene. He’s shaved, beaten, and tied to the Stone Table. The tie-down and the killing part was behind a screen – for the kids in the audience, I guess.
But that scene was really awful for me to watch. It scared me and brought tears to my eyes. Because I wasn’t just watching Aslan being selfless – I was watching a group of white kids and teens simulate beating and killing a black teenage boy. I knew the story – I knew he was coming back – but I still could barely bare to watch that.
And when he did reappear, everyone was hugging him and it was all lovely, and of course good triumphs in the end.
In fact, the loudest roar of applause at the end was for Aslan. I didn’t think he was that great of an actor, but I think a lot of people just really like his character.
The play was good, overall, and I enjoyed it. But I do wonder if it that scene affected anyone else the way it affected me. Sometimes I wonder if I’m being too sensitive. Should that kind of imagery have been avoided? How?
I’ve been battling strep this week, and I’m winning now – so that’s good. I actually had no idea because the last time I had it [when i was a kid] I was miserable with a fever and all. This week was just gargling salt water and drinking tea – no fever, etc. But what a week of disaster and craziness!
Don’t talk abouttheweather. It might hear you. Not to mention the fact that CA and GA are still dealing with fallout from last week’s fires, floods, and mudslides.
We’re all totally over Kanye now – which is good – but it seems Hollywood/the Entertainment industry decided to give Spanky and the gang their own DiscoveryChannel style ‘women-hating’ week. [trigger warning]
There was leftover Mackenzie-furor from last week, as people are still trying to process what she called a “consensual relationship”. [I don't get it either. With a clear pattern of abuse/steady supply of drugs, how is there *ever* a "consensual relationship between one who has power and one who does not. ]
Then there was the Roman Polanski mess – which still has me pissed. More because of all the misplaced support from people I used to have a lot more respect for like Whoopi. How is drugging and raping a child made better cuz it happened ‘a long time ago’? Especially when the perp has said this?!?!
Then I happened upon this article about Elizabeth Smart’s ordeal, and I was almost in tears at her description of endless rape she endured.
All this awfulness and we can’t even get a public option on the table…bad guys won in the news this week.
Please don’t be depressed though. The people in Rio de Janeiro are having a party – rejoice with them for the first Olympics in South America.
I’m not totally into the new fall season of tv – at least the scheduling. I’m actually *liking* some shows, but must they ALL be on Thursday?? Check out my schedule – and all the conflicts:
i make charts
My DVR can only record two things at a time, so I had to rearrange some things.
Some of these shows might piss me off, though, in which case I’ll quit watching and some time spots may open up.
Right now, I like my staple sitcoms and dramas, but I’m auditioning some new ABC shows and a couple CW shows.
I watched Eastwick last night and was pretty disappointed. I didn’t see the movie all the way through – I saw it in pieces, but *did* see the end. And I basically hated Jack Nicholson’s character/role. I was hoping for a show that was going to either follow up on life after the end of the movie, or move in a different direction with the ladies coming into their powers as friends… If the dude stays on the show and the show just ends up remaking the movie – I’m done.
love!
I watched FlashForward tonight, and enjoyed the concept but was still deeply disappointed. John Cho is love. So he should totally be THE guy. Not some random dude with a forgettable face who was in a movie with Gwyneth back in the 90s. And with him not having a ‘future dream’ – it means he’s probably dead in the future. What? Why would he be dead?? Why kill John Cho???
I watched Heroes this week, and was impressed with how loyal the writers were to the STOOPID that runs in the Benetrelli family. As Wanda Sykes says, “stick wit’ your lie”. They are sticking. Glee is really letting me down and I hate that, after the 90s R&B sensation of last week. I’m glad the Asian girl got to sing, but we still haven’t heard many actual lines from her. And a pregnant cheerleader? Shouldn’t we just save that for Secret life of…? Bones is starting slow, but I like that slow burn that Boreanaz and Deschanel have going on. I could watch the chemistry between them for a long time. I just hope his awkwardness after the coma eases up. I don’t want the show to jump the shark just yet. I’m pretty sure Grey’s has already jumped the shark, with all the I-see-dead-people business last year, but I’ll watch it anyway…later. Right now – I’ve gotta go to bed.
I love music. I love singing – I love dancing. And I love watching singing and dancing. Musicals have been a part of my life since the first moments I can remember. My favorite movies have singing and dancing [from the Muppets, to Barbra Streisand, to random Disney fare]. So – I will watch movies, plays, and tv shows that might not have the best actors or plots as long as they have some cool musical performances. This includes reality shows.
With all that said, it should be no surprise that I love Glee. I do. Comments have been made about inappropriate musical choices and cheesy, awful stereotypes – and I get that. I understand. But I hardly even feel guilty about enjoying this show, because it’s too much yummy-goodness in the form of 90’s R&B music!
Tonight we had This is How We Do It(Montell Jordan), Poison (BBD) – with the rap!, Mercy(Duffy), Bust Your Windows (Jazmine Sullivan), and I Wanna Sex U Up (Color Me Badd-d-d-d-d LOL!). Three out of five songs were from the 90s! And I still know the words! So yeah – even though the songs weren’t performed all that well – except for Bust Your Windows – I loved it!
Even with a guest spot from Josh Groban [who I personally cannot stand], and a name drop of Run DMC, who I like,I think I’m mostly loving this show because of the big numbers and the reminiscing factor.
So keep it coming Glee, you’re like McDonald’s to me: I’m lovin’ it.
When else can I “to the ah-tick tock, ya don’t stop”?
Being back home is a wonderful thing, but I had a fabulous time at the beach last week. I was there with family and of course we all had our moments…days, even…but still – great trip. I kinda wish I’d taken the Mustang – everybody looks better getting out of a Mustang than a Corolla. But it’s two doors, and didn’t need the extra mileage anyway, so it’s all good.
The place we stayed this year [a trilevel 2BR/2 bath w/deck and view of trees and a stream] was a bazillion times better than last year [a studio/closet in a hugely built-up area (ie. view of parking lot)]. Privacy and space make getting along with family SO much easier. Especially if they snore. Loudly.
My dad was there to relax. My sister and I were there to shop and hang out at the beach. We all accomplished our goals.
We shopped, snacked, and watched the Hannah Montana movie. Which is not that bad. I mean, if you settle in for the cheese of it, it’s actually really fun. Because I like to let my inner dork free sometimes, I suggested we learn the dance from the movie – it’s quite involved, but totally fun to try.
We mastered everything up to the first zig zag part, then we decided we’d sweated enough and hit the showers. But we laughed a lot. And if you can’t be corny with your sister – well shoot, I feel sorry for ya.
Went to the beach at midday and got burnt up on the sand. [And by the sun, I found out later.] But had fun actually swimming in the ocean. There were hardly any waves and the water was shallow for hundreds of feet, so it woulda been cool for kids, but I coulda used a few more waves. Every day we got a few more waves tan the day before, so that was nice.
So besides shopping and hanging at the beach, I got some reading done:
Loved it all!
After passing a hog on the side of the road on the drive down, seeing an alligator in the stream behind our place, and the bunch of pelicans that kept divebombing the waves a hundred yards or so from where we swam, I felt like my nature communion quotient had been satisfied.
Then I had the lovely privilege of getting to play vball on Saturday night -which was just as fab as it sounds [if you love vball like I do]. I jammed a finger, but otherwise enjoyed myself immensely.
And finally I made it home last night – just in time to watch some crazy people on the VMAs. Another successful vacation over, another day at work looms.
I’m back from Hilton Head and made it home just in time to unpack and catch the VMAs. Tonight begins with an MJ tribute kicked off by Madonna, which actually brought me to tears by the end. Next came dance numbers from Thriller, Bad, Smooth Criminal, and Scream (apparently, me and Bey love this song!). I’m not sure how the lean works in Smooth Criminal, but apparently one of the dancers couldn’t get his trick to work and just bent at the waist…
I can't imagine how strong you have to be to perform in honor of a sibling...
But now Janet’s on stage and I’m so glad that they had the chance to record this song together.
Tribute over, now we get to see Katy Perry singing Queen (w/Joe Perry on guitar), to bring Russell Brand onstage. She does a good job, considering that I’m not actually into her. And since I’ve now seen Forgetting Sarah Marshall, I know a bit more about Russell Brand. Don’t all the way hate him. But I still am not a fan. He’s still really doing really rude humor, and I’m not impressed.
And I think it’s gonna be one of those nights where whenever one of his jokes falls flat he’s gonna reference love and MJ.
crazy appetizer - more to come!
The camera pans to Lady GaGa several times and I admit, here and now, I don’t get her. It just seems like she’s trying too hard.
Best female video (presented by Shakira, and the teen wolf from Twilight): Taylor Swift wins for You Belong With Me – I thought it should be for Romeo and Juliet. But maybe that was last year.
"what can I say? it's all about Bey! (not me!)
So then Kanye pulls a Kanye and jumps up on stage, grabs Taylor’s mic and says Beyonce made one of the best videos of all time. Bey had a kinda thanks-that’s-really-sweet-but-I-didn’t-ask-for-that-and-I-love-my-fans-ok? look on her face. Taylor looks around, not really knowing what to do. So they cue up a video intro for the Best New Artist voting. That way the booing calmed down. But how is Asher Roth in the running for BNA?
And there we are – Russell Brand’s first ref to love and MJ when he makes a crappy dirty joke.
Leighton Meester and Jack Black present Best Rock video. Sometimes I wonder how Coldplay qualifies as rock. I don’t have to worry, though. Green Day wins!
Miranda Cosgrove [AKA iCarly, a friend of Jack Black's] and some kid I’ve never seen or heard of [perhaps because I'm a bit of an oldhead] introduce Taylor Swift singing in the subway on the way to Radio City. Once again – You Belong with Me – cute the first 80 times I heard it. Now…just ok.
perhaps a little over-the-top
Lady Gaga actually has a really good voice. So maybe she’s just Prince-eccentric. I don’t really get the wheelchair and brace in the dance number. And then the poorly mic’d piano bit that segues into her having been mortally wounded and hanging center stage? That was really disturbing. And this Wale person functioning as house band vocalist has (I guess) been assigned to distract everyone from all the weirdness. So the audience doesn’t really get the chance to let what’s actually happening sink in.
The clips with Em and Tracy are a lil bit cute. I think I’d prefer Em as a comedic actor.
Russell Brand makes a joke that no one laughs at – maybe because it seems to reference taking advantage of a mentally ill person by drugging and raping her.
Nelly Furtado and Kristin C. present Best Pop video and I think we all are hoping Bey wins. But she doesn’t. Brit-Brit wins for Womanizer. But at least she’s on tour, so no one can come take her mic away.
Then we get Adam Brody [looking a tiny-bit more grown up] and Megan Fox [wearing an ugly dress, IMO] to introduce Green Day’s performance. Billie Joe is way hype. Tre Cool’s only signs of life are the fact that he continues to beat the drums. Then BJA decides to get a bunch of fans up on stage – starting with a girl that looks like someone took her pants. Then it’s mayhem for a lil while until we see him again body surfing. I’m sure that was a security nightmare.
Security!
But then we get a nice nugget from the announcer-lady pre-commercial, Bey got a VMA for best choreo. Yay!
***Twi-hard moment*** Unplug your brains, peeps. Yay for Dakota Fanning getting a cool role. Boo for the cute boy losing the girl to Mr. Cellophane.
NeYo and Nate from GG intro Ms. Bey. Sasha Fierce is in the building, y’all! And hopefully this many dancers will finally cement the fact that it’s the left hand that gets the ring into people’s minds. Wheee! That is why I watch, MTV!
i got my hands up! oh, oh, oh
Jamie Lynn Siegler and Diddy intro Best Male vid. When Diddy says Kanye’s name there’s a bunch of booing, cuz folks can’t move on. I love TI and NeYo, but I got love for Jay too, so basically I’m cool with anybody but Em winning this. TI wins! ATL, baby! WOOOOO!!!
Muse, an apparently British band that inspires Stephanie Meyer, plays in a separate theater. I’m guessing this is the potty break/nap time for viewers, audience members in the main theater, and prep time for presenters. I’m ffwd-ing. [oh DVR, how I love thee]
A glitter covered man singing Gives You Hell finishes up and then J Lo is onstage to present Best Hip-Hop vid. I don’t think Em should even be nominated for this – that song is not hip-hop. Kanye’s isn’t really, either. I feel like this should go straight to Jay. But instead it doesn’t. This doofball Em gets it. And if he says something about MC I will flip. Thankfully his mouth stays shut.
Then there’s a tiny moment dedicated to DJ AM.
come on now. really?
Russell Brand is back on. Miraculously he doesn’t insult anyone and actually calls Tracy Morgan a comedy legend. Wow. Em and Tracy present BNA to Lady GaGa…who can’t really see because of her bizarre outfit. She clains her moonman for her fans, God, and the gays. Ok.
Serena’s onstage now to introduce Pink. She references that little line thing and then all eyes are on Pink. She’s on the ground for a few moments and then she’s in the air the rest of the time she performs Sober. With no wardrobe malfunctions. Maybe that’s how the superbowl forever ago was actually supposed to work. Nonetheless, her work in the air was awesome!
Video of the Year is presented by SNL folks: Jimmy Fallon [yawn], and Andy Samberg [grin]. They reference BIIM and Motownphilly and I love it – LOVE. Moonman goes to Bey! Whee! She is happy. And Jay is still on the way. But Bey gives this moment to Taylor – also wearing a red dress. Looking SO seventeen. Sounding so seventeen. But really – all’s well that ends well, right?
How has the hype around Jay gotten this big? Come on. He’s not that big. But this’ll be cool. Alicia Keys and Jay. And I know he’s loving it but feels like a fool being as old as he is having to sag his pants. A tribute to the city. I like it. And I love how Bey is all the way into supporting her man. All the way.
And now the close: This Is It, the documentary. With “never-before-seen” footage. You know, now, every time I hear those few beginning notes of Man in the Mirror, I get tears in my eyes.
Were the last words of the VMAs just Hare Krishna? Could we please stop having Russell Brand as the host, please???
Let’s let Mike’s legacy be how we end this evening:
I’m enjoying a short few days off, and just wanted to take a moment while I’m waiting for the shower to document my first time really enjoying the beach since the 90s.
Hum. Um. A Tyce piece taken from The Color Purple isn’t really sitting well with me. Apparently we’re supposed to be watching a church/dancing piece taken from the stereotypical Southern Black church tradition. And Nigel suggested that Bianca has actually danced like this in church. That’s something. Cuz having lived in the South for most of my life, I don’t know…um…anyone who dances like that in church.
I love music. I love singing – I love dancing. And I love watching singing and dancing. Musicals have been a part of my life since the first moments I can remember. My favorite movies have singing and dancing [from 
I’m back from Hilton Head and made it home just in time to unpack and catch the VMAs. Tonight begins with an MJ tribute kicked off by Madonna, which actually brought me to tears by the end. Next came dance numbers from Thriller, Bad, Smooth Criminal, and Scream (apparently, me and Bey love this song!). I’m not sure how the lean works in Smooth Criminal, but apparently one of the dancers couldn’t get his trick to work and just bent at the waist…
!["what can I say? it's all about Bey! [not me!]"](http://molecularshyness.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/kanye-being-kanye.jpg?w=300&h=200 "kanye being kanye")
