NOTE

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Effective immediately all future reviews will now appear on my personal blog, Inside My Wild Mind. The only reviews to appear here now will be the completion of the Fresh Meat Challenge season. This is something I had pondered for awhile, and when I started reviewing I originally planned to have my reviews appear on my personal blog. At some point, I decided to put them in their own place.

However, I think my original plan of over a year ago is probably best, and what better time to do the switch than with the start of the fall season. I will be moving all affiliate links to that blog this week, so if you could change your links accordingly I'd appreciate. At the moment, you can find a review of this week's premiere of Vanished on FOX.

Quite Note About Fresh Meat Episode

Monday, August 21, 2006

Due to a power outage and thunderstorm in my area, there will be no episode recap this week. I will try to catch a repeat airing, but in case I'm not able to for now we'll say no recap.

So You Think You Can Dance The Finale

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

After nearly three months of auditions, dancing and voting we have now reached the final night. Tonight, we find out which of the final four will be named the 2006 So You Think You Can Dance champion. What does that mean? They will win a part for a year in Celine Dion's Las Vegas show, A New Day. They will also win a new SUV and $100,000. Who are you favorites? Who did you vote for? Nearly sixteen million voted last week. Benji, Donyelle, Heidi and Travis are all that is left, and anyone can win tonight. After a look back at last week, we see a performance by our top twenty dancers by Shane Sparks.

After a commercial break, we take a look at So You Think You Can Dance around the world, and the tour is mentioned. You can find a full list of dates here. Tonight's show being two hours long, it means we get to see a lot more dancing. Our final four picked their favorite performances from the season to perform again on tonight's show. Benji picked a dance with his cousin Heidi, while Heidi chose her contemporary performance with Travis. We have another short break before we see an all new couple return to dance for us, Natalie and Dimitry. These two heat up the dance floor. The floor is then taken over by Ciara for her performance of her new song from the movie, Step Up. Donyelle then chooses her Broadway performance with Benji to perform again. That performance is followed by a performance by Ivan and Allison picked by judge Mia Michaels to see again.

As we head into the second hour, we start to see our final four eliminated. Heidi is brought out to perform solo, and then she is told she hasn't made it into the top three. Throughout the competition, Heidi has been one of my favorite females, and I'm sad to see she didn't win. In my mind, this competition is between three dancers - Heidi, Travis and Benji. Donyelle is a good dancer, but not up to the same caliber in my mind. Next up, we see Travis and Heidi dance before we take a look back at Donyelle's time on the show before she performs solo. This means she is next to be eliminated. This also means that a man once again will win this competition.

Brian Freidman brings back Travis and Martha's Broadway performance from the first episode of the competition before we take a look back at Benji's time on the show and also see him perform solo. However, we have to wait to see Travis dance before we find out who will win. The show is far from over at this point. We see another special performance, the top ten perform, and then we see Dan Karaty choose to see last week's performance by Travis and Benji once again before the judges tell us what they think of these two.

These two started off their journey well before the show premiered in May, and by the end of tonight's show we see Benji crowned America's favorite dancer. Many had said that honor would fall to Travis, but Benji is this year's winner. Congratulations to Benji!

Group perfomance: Sean Paul featuring Keyshia Cole - Step Up - (When You Gonna) Give It Up to MeSean Paul featuring Keyshia Cole - Step Up - (When You Gonna) Give It Up to Me
Benji/Heidi: Black Mambo - Angel and the mambokats
Heidi/Travis: Calling You Celine Dion
Dimitry/Natalie: Magalenha - Sergio Mendes
Ciara - Get up Ciara featuring Chamillionaire - Step Up - Get Up
Donyelle/Benji: You Can't Stop The Beat Hairspray Original Broadway Cast - Hairspray - Original Broadway Cast Recording - You Can't Stop the Beat
Allison/Ivan: Why Annie Lenox Annie Lennox - Diva - Why
Group: Ramalama Bang Bang - Roisin Murphy Roisin Murphy - Ruby Blue - Ramalama (Bang Bang)
Heidi: I Love Rock and Roll Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
Travis/Heidi: The Plaza of Execution James Horner - The Mask of Zorro - The Plaza of Execution
Donyelle: I'm Free - Amber
Travis/Martha: Steam Heat Original Broadway Cast - Fosse - Steam Heat
Benji: Never Knew The Rocket Summer The Rocket Summer - Hello, Good Friend. - Never Knew
Travis: Wonderful - Annie Lennox Annie Lennox - Bare - Wonderful
Fergie - London Bridge Fergie - London Bridge - Single - London Bridge
Group: Cell Block Tango Chicago Lil' Kim, Macy Gray & Queen Latifah - Chicago - Cell Block Tango (He Had It Comin')
Travis/Benji: Gyrate Da Muzicianz featuring Mr. ColliPark - Da Muzicianz - Gyrate (Featuring Mr. ColliPark)

Fresh Meat Challenge Episode 12

Monday, August 14, 2006

On last week's Fresh Meat Challenge, we saw Derrick and Diem win another challenge, and Shane and Linette go home after being exiled. This week's challenge begins with a possible romantic heating up between Derrick and his partner. However, she fears it going nowhere due to her medical condition. The two definitely have their eyes on each other. We also learn of an alliance between Theo, Derrick and Darrell.

The next day we see the remaining teams head off for their most dangerous mission yet, Deep Blue. The mission involves the team members diving down thirty feet to retrieve their team flag. The first two to go dive are Tina and Kenny. The pressure definitely gets to these two. They don't make it down. Next up are Darrell and Aviv, and they are successful in retrieving the flag, but a better time might have wanted by both. Theo and Chandra are up next, and they are also successful. Following them is Wes and Casey, and we see problems from the beginning. However, they are also successful.

Derrick and Diem are last to go, and they appear to do the best time. They do win by one second, so they get to choose who goes to exile again. This means the two have a tough decision to make about who to send in, one that might cause them to break any alliances they may have made with other competitors they have left. Diem and Derrick send in Theo and Chandra. The remaining characters spice up things with voting in Darrell and Aviv to exile. This puts two strong teams into exile, and this is the first time Wes and Casey don't go into exile. Unless one of those two teams win the next challenge and get pardoned from exile.

Derrick is upset about how things end up with his two friends going into exile. Darrell feels betrayed, but Chandra understands the move. Theo is upset as well. Derrick turns to Wes, and the two make an odd sort of alliance. Wes had been trying to get the stronger teams into exile the whole competition, and he finally was successful without really trying. By the end of the episode, we see Derrick and Diem heat up even further. Next week, we'll have to see how these two teams fair in the next competition. Will one of them get out of exile?

So You Think You Can Dance Performance Finale

Wednesday, August 09, 2006

Tonight on So You Think You Can Dance we have the performance half of the finale. The dancers will be all dancing with each other. We'll see the girls dancing together, the boys dancing together, and the couples mixing up. The dancers will also be dancing solo. In all, tonight we saw eleven performances. Tonight's judges are Nigel Lythgoe, Brian Friedman and Mary Murphy.

Tonight's first performance is with Heidi and Travis. They do a disco performance by Doriana Sanchez, and they do an amazing job. These two receive nothing but positive comments from the judges. After a commercial break, we see Donyelle and Benji paired up again with a viennese waltz. This is their second time performing the style, and the judges are less than impressed with the dancing. The two have great chemistry together. They just didn't have the moves down tonight. After a commercial break, we see the dancers head off to the premiere of Step Up.

Next up, we see a solo performance by Heidi, and once again she is just amazing. She is my favorite of the females. We then see Travis and Benji paired up to perform a Shane Sparks hip hop routine. These two just are amazing together on stage, and the judges definitely agreed. Following these two, we see solos by both Heidi and Travis. Solos definitely show how well these dances do what they do.

Donyelle is up in the next two performances . Once with Heidi and then with Travis. She does well both times, but the judges definitely have some things to say about their performance, and not all of it was positive. In between her two performances, we The last dance of the night is with cousins Benji and Heidi. These two are amazing together every time they hit the stage. These two have danced together before, even before the show began, and they are great partners together.

After a break, we are told there is one more dance, and this is a group performance by Wade Robson. It was funky and fun to a song recently released, and the dancers all did well. As Nigel said, they are all great, but not all of them deserve to win. My votes are going to Benji and Heidi. Who do you want to win? We'll find out next week!

Heidi/Travis: Shake your groove thing - Peaches and Herb Peaches & Herb - Disco Gold - Shake Your Groove Thing
Donyelle/Benji: I'll be - Edwin McCain Edwin McCain - Rhino Hi-Five: Edwin McCain - EP - I'll Be
Heidi: Rie & Llora - Celia Cruz Celia Cruz - Regalo del Alma - Rie y Llora
Benji/Travis: Gyrate Da Muzicianz featuring Mr. ColliPark - Da Muzicianz - Gyrate
Donyelle: Human - Dionne Farris
Travis: Konstantine - Something Corporate
Donyelle/Heidi: Big Spender Original Broadway Cast - Fosse - Big Spender
Benji: This House is Rockin' The Brian Setzer Orchestra The Brian Setzer Orchestra - Guitar Slinger - The House Is Rockin'
Donyelle/Travis: Georgia on My Mind Ray Charles Ray Charles - Ray Charles - Georgia On My Mind
Group: Sexyback - Justin Timberlake

Fresh Meat Challenge Episode 11

Monday, August 07, 2006

Last week on Fresh Meat, we had a shocking development as the best team of the competition was eliminated due to injuries they had sustained in the competition. So we said good-bye to Coral and Evan. In another shocking twist, Derrick and Diem won a mission, and these two made a strategic move that sent Shane and Linette into exile. This upset Linette because she is friends with Diem. Linette goes to her friend and asks her to tell her if Derrick is planning to vote those two to go first in the mission.

The next mission starts bright and early the next morning. In Jump Down Under, the teams will jump off a four story high platform, and then climb up a huge plastic ball and retrieve a flag. Derrick and Diem choose the line-up, and they ended up picking Shane and Linette to go up first. This once again angers Linette, but they do complete the mission. Wes and Casey are next up, and Casey has some problems in this mission.

She won't jump from the platform and they are eliminated from the mission. Theo and Chandra are next and they also complete the mission successfully. They are followed by Darrell and Aviv and Tina and Kenny. They both complete the mission successfully. Tina and Kenny work especially well together this time around. Last to go is the Derrick and Diem, and they win the mission with the lowest time.

Once the mission is complete, we see Shane and Linette prepare to go into exile against Wes and Casey. Linette is determined to win. Shane and Linette have over 170 pounds to carry against Wes and Casey's 113 pounds. The two teams do well, but once again Wes and Casey come out on top and they return to the house. This sends Shane and Linette home, and it spells the end for Theo and Linette's relationship. Next week, we see Derrick and Diem move past partners to something more!

So You Think You Can Dance The Top 6 Eliminations

Thursday, August 03, 2006

On last night's episode of So You Think You Can Dance, we saw the top six perform in couples and solo for America's vote. Tonight we will see one more male and one more female leave the competition. Next week, we will have the first part of the finale in which the top four will perform for the last vote. Twelve and a half million called in last night to vote for these dancers. This breaks another record for the series. This week our three judges are Nigel Lythgoe, Mia Michaels and Mary Murphy. Mia Michaels also choreographs the group's opening number at the beginning of the show. After the group performs, the judges are introduced and we then see what happened last night both on stage and behind the scenes.

Immediately following the behind the scenes look and a commercial break, we jump right into the girls and finding out which made the bottom two this week. First though we see them each perform again. Natalie is first up this week, and this was the first routine of hers that did nothing for me. It just didn't feel right to me. Heidi came out next, and she did amazing. I wouldn't be surprised to see her win this competition. Her and Benji are two of the best dancers here. However, Mia Michaels has some words for her, and these words cause Nigel to stand up for the dancer. Donyelle is up next, and once again Mia speaks up. This time Mary Murphy stands up for the dancer.

After a commercial break, the men take the stage one at a time. The first up being Travis and he is followed by Ivan and Benji. The judges have nothing but positive comments for the men, unlike they did for the ladies. All three do well though, and with these in the top six, the competition is wide open for next week's finale. After a performance by Omarion, we see the ladies brought back up on stage. After the three are spoken to, Heidi is sent to safety. This means that either Natalie or Donyelle are going home. This is as I suspected. The men are then brought up on stage and after Cat speaks about each of them she sends Travis to safety.

Donyelle and Natalie come back up on stage and we see Natalie sent home. I figured this week might be the end for her in the competition. Her performances this week were definitely less than up to her usual. She takes the news in stride though, and I think we will see her go far in the dance world. As for the men, we see Benji and Ivan brought back on stage. Seeing Benji there scared me a bit, but I had a feeling he wouldn't be going home. He isn't. Instead we see Ivan going home. At this stage of the competition, he is the logical decision to go home. His lack of dance training does him in. Next week, we see the final four dance for America's vote once last time before we see who America picks for their favorite dancer on the August 16th episode of So You Think You Can Dance! Check back for my thoughts of the performances next week.

Group: Hide and Seek - Imogen Heap Imogen Heap - Speak for Yourself - Hide and Seek
Natalie: I Would Die For You - Jann Arden Jann Arden - Living Under June - I Would Die for You
Heidi: Hey Mama - The Black Eyed Peas Black Eyed Peas - Elephunk - Hey Mama
Donyelle: Buttons - The Pussycat Dolls The Pussycat Dolls - Improve Your Endurance 1 - Buttons
Travis: Flying Without Wings - Westlife Westlife - Westlife - Flying Without Wings
Ivan: I Question Mark - Wade Robson
Benji: Brown Derby Jump - Cherry Poppin' Daddies Cherry Poppin' Daddies - Zoot Suit Riot - The Swingin' Hits of the Cherry Poppin' Daddies - Brown Derby Jump
Omarion - Entourage

So You Think You Can Dance: The Top 6 Perform

Wednesday, August 02, 2006

So You Think You Can Dance is getting right down to the end. Next week, the final four are going for gold with the finale set to begin. Tonight though we have the top six going for it as the couples each dance two dances together. Tonight, we also see the dancers each dance a solo performance, unlike last week.

Tonight, the show opens with Ivan and he picks Natalie as his partner. Out of the hat, she picks contemporary and jive for him, and they open the show with a jive performance put together by Ron Montez. All three judges are quite harsh with their critiques of the performance this time around, and Nigel even tells Natalie she needs to step it up if she is going to stay on. The crowd boos as usual, but the two take it in stride. After they leave the stage, Travis takes it for his solo and he does well.

After a commercial break, we see Donyelle and Benji reunited. These two were partnered together early on in the season, and seeing them together again is wonderful. The judges are a bit harsh to Donyelle with her follow through and energy level, but they all have great things to say about Benji. Natalie's solo follows, and once again she showed why she is one of my favorites left. Before we see another solo, we see Heidi and Travis pair up for a smooth waltz. The judges have little negative to say about their performance. Mia Michaels just has a comment about the flow. We then see a solo by Ivan, and he does well. This time around the judges aren't commenting on their solos.

We then begin our second round of dancers with our partners. First up is Donyelle and Benji with a hip hop routine by Shane Sparks. It was fun and aggressive, and the judges don't have one negative thing to say about it. These two are great together. Afterwards we see Heidi, and the judges call her the most improved female in this competition, and I agree with them. She is just a wonderful dancer.

Another commercial and then we see Ivan and Natalie perform for a second time. I think they look amazing, but the judges don't think so. In their contemporary performance by Tyce Diorio, the judges don't feel no chemistry between the two. Mia Michaels comments that Natalie looks fake and that she is performing. Ivan is told by two judges that tonight he showed his lack of training. He has improved greatly since he joined the competition, but he still is a hip hop dancer. Benji takes the stage following their departure. The audience once again love him.

The last couple of the night is Heidi and Travis as they work on a pop routine with Wade Robson. These two are just amazing the moment they take the stage, and Nigel calls them the best couple of night. The other judges have nothing but positive things about the two and their choreographer. This is the first time we've seen Wade Robson work with the dancers, and he is amazing as a choreographer. The last up for their solo tonight is Donyelle.

Now it is up to America. Which four of these six will be in next week's performance finale? Who are your favorites? For me, I think it Heidi, Natalie, Benji and Travis. Those four are just amazing. I love Donyelle too, but we can only pick four. I don't think Ivan is ready just yet. He needs some more training. Who do you like? Are you voting? We will find out on tomorrow's show who is going home. Check back then for my thoughts on the final pair of eliminations.


Ivan/Natalie: Route 66 Cars Soundtrack
Travis: You and Me Lifehouse Lifehouse - Lifehouse - You and Me
Benji/Donyelle: Le Jazz Hot - Victor/Victoria Soundtrack Julie Andrews - Victor / Victoria - Le Jazz Hot
Natalie: Ooh La La - Goldfrapp Goldfrapp - Ooh La La - Single - Ooh La La
Heidi/Travis: Flying Cait Agus Sean Avalon & Cait Agus Sean - Voice of Comfort - Celtic Songs of Love & Life - Flying
Ivan: It Was All In Your Mind - Wade Robson
Benji/Donyelle: Hotline - Ciara Ciara - Goodies - Hotline
Heidi: I Like It - The Blackout Allstars The Blackout Allstars - Total Dance Explosion - I Like It
Ivan/Natalie: Everytime We Touch - Cascada Cascada - Everytime We Touch - Everytime We Touch (Yanou's Candlelight Mix)
Benji: Reet Petite - Jackie Wilson Jackie Wilson - Jackie Wilson: 20 Greatest Hits - Reet Petite
Heidi/Travis: W'happy Mama - Zap Mama Zap Mama - A Ma Zone - W'Happy Mama
Donyelle: And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going - Dreamgirls Dreamgirls in Concert - Dreamgirls In Concert - And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going

Fresh Meat Challenge: Episode 10

Monday, July 31, 2006

On last week's episode of the Fresh Meat Challenge, we saw one team go down with injuries, Evan and Coral. Evan had suffered an injury early on in the season. Even with the hernia, he is determined to stay in the competition. Coral popped her knee out, but she is also determined to continue on as well. She returns to the house after he knee is popped back in, but she is in on crutches. Will these two be allowed to continue on in the competition? They want to, but will they be able to?

The next morning we see some of the newer additions to challenge play discuss the game and how it is progressing. As things go on, we see the teams head off to compete. However, before they do we get a shocking announcement by host T.J. Lavin. Coral and Evan are being told they are no longer allowed to compete. Their injuries are just to great for them to do so. This shocks everyone, including Evan and Coral. This team leaving opens up things wide open as far as this competition goes. Anyone can win now. Coral and Evan were in the lead and the top team there. Nothing changes in the competition, except for the number of teams going into the final competition. Instead of four, we will see three. All three teams will see money made.

Today's mission is called Batten down the hatches. The two have to climb down ladders, somehow trade with their partner and then climb back their partner's ladder and go back to the point they started. The first team up is Wes and Casey, and they are eliminated. Tina and Kenny are next, and they successfully complete the mission. After these two go we see some discussion between Tina and Wes about getting some teams into exile other than them, we see the challenge continue. However, in a shocker Derrick and Diem have the lowest time and win the challenge. This means they get to choose who goes into exile this time around.

Derrick decides to go with a strategic move, and he talks Diem into selecting Shane and Linette to go into exile. Diem and Linnette are friends, and the decision hurts and angers Linnette. Everyone is shocked to see these two go in. Now who will meet them in exile? Wes wants everyone to join him in voting for Theo and his partner.

However, this plan backfires. After Darrell votes Wes and Casey in, he goes ahead and votes Tina and Kenny in, against their plan. Tina and Kenny return the favor. Theo and his partner also vote for Wes and Casey. This means we will see Wes and Casey go against Shane and Linette in exile. That is unless one of the teams can win the next challenge. We'll have to wait and see what happens next week!

Movie Review: Miami Vice

Sunday, July 30, 2006

NOTE: Contains spoilers.
This weekend, Michael Mann brought Miami Vice to the big screen. The movie based loosely on the characters he made famous in the late 80s television series of the same name come to vivid life and we're jumped right into the thick of things the moment the film starts as Colin Farrell's, Sonny Crockett, fills the screen and Numb/Encore begins to play. This movie may be nothing like the television series it is trying to portray. The only similarity to that long gone show and this movie today is the name of the main characters.

However, as I sat in the movie theater watching the movie, I realized the movie of today couldn't really stay true to the series of yesterday. I was a fan of the series. I was nine when it came out, and I watched it each and every week. I fell in love with Don Johnson's sockless loafers and pastels. It worked back then. It's only been twenty years, but times are drastically different than were then. The criminals are smarter. Technology is different. Everything has changed, and this movie had to recognize that. The characters may be the same, but the time certainly isn't.

In this film, we see our undercover cops start out the night on one case, and end up doing something else when a deal goes bad and one of their past informants gets outed. In the process the man loses his family and then takes his own life. Sonny and Rico soon learn that there is a leak somewhere between the FBI, DEA and various other agencies involved. However, Miami P.D. isn't in the mix, so this frees the two to go in undercover.

Their mission is to find the leak and take down those involved. Their first target being Jose Yero. However, upon their first meeting Sonny and Rico realize there is more than just Yero involved. He is merely a middle man working with a much larger fish. This changes things, and Sonny in his mind changes the mission. He escalates the stakes and he puts his eye on an even larger prize, Isabella, the woman attached to the operation and the man he is after. The two quickly heat up, but both know that nothing will ever happen passed the moments they are allowed to share. She belongs to someone else. Sonny does use their relationship to successfully raise the stakes though.

As things continue on, we discover the leak, see one of their own taken hostage by the group responsible for the original killings. The team has to go in to save their fellow officer, and then they need to take down Yero and those responsible. We find out Yero is actually behind the killings as well and in contact with the leak. By the end, Isabella finds the man she had been falling for is a cop, and Sonny goes against everything to get her out of the life she has lived and not arrested like she should be. They both knew they could never last, and that becomes even more clear once he is exposed for what he is.

The movie itself was action filled, but it also had its moments where things slowed down considerably. Almost too slow in parts in fact. The romance between Sonny and Isabella was done well, and I think I enjoyed their scenes in Cuba the most. Some scenes had me scratching my head, but all in all it was a good movie. It didn't stay true to the series, but as I explained earlier it really couldn't. As a fan of the series, I didn't feel let down by the differences. In fact I enjoyed this movie for what it was, a re-make for a series I totally enjoyed. Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx slip in believably to the characters of the two undercover cops, and they bring their own style to it. Colin Farrell may not be Don Johnson, but he does well here. I'd recommend checking out the movie if you can in theaters or when it is released on DVD.

So You Think You Can Dance: The Top Eight Eliminations

Thursday, July 27, 2006

Last night on So You Think You Can Dance we saw the top eight dancers perform for America's vote. America sure did vote last night breaking a past record with ten million casts. We have three weeks to go to find out who America's favorite dancer is, but tonight we get to see two more go home before we're down to our top six. Busta Rhymes also appears on tonight's show. Our three judges are back from last night as well - Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy and Dan Karaty.

However, before we get started tonight the show is opened with a performance by the eight left at this point. They perform a Broadway performance put together by Tyce Diorio. Then, Cat Deeley talks to our judges to find out what they are thinking. Mary Murphy talks about Ivan's performance throughout the season, while Nigel focuses on the popularity of the show. Dan talks about the difficulty of this competition for the dancers. Once the judges have spoken, we take a look back at last night's performances and some behind the scenes footage.

After a commercial break we see our first two girls go up on stage. Natalie is sent to the bottom two, and Donyelle is safe. We then see Heidi and Allison brought up on stage. Out of these two, Heidi is safe and Allison joins Natalie in the bottom two. Both are amazing, and either one of them going home would be upsetting. Next up, we see the men come up, and we learn that Ryan and Travis are in the bottom two. I predicted this last night. After a commercial break, we see our four dance one more time, even if the dance itself won't change the final result of who is going home.

All four of these dancers are just amazing. Based on past performances, I think Travis should continue on and Ryan should go home. As for Natalie and Allison, I don't think either of them should be going home tonight. Based on last night's performance, I think Donyelle should be standing there in place of one of them. Allison and Natalie are two of my favorites on the show, and I'd be sad to see them go.

However, we're down to the wire, so anyone at this point can go home. After the performance by Busta, we see Allison sent home. She is amazing, and I'm sure she'll go far as a dancer. After seeing her dance one more time and a commercial break, we see Ryan and Travis come up on stage, and Ryan is quickly sent home. After last night's performance and past performances, I knew we'd see him go next tonight. Next week, we'll see the top six perform for America's vote!

Check below for the songs used on tonight's show.

Group: Cell Block Tango - Chicago Lil' Kim, Macy Gray & Queen Latifah - Chicago - Cell Block Tango (He Had It Comin')
Natalie: Veins - Charlotte Martin Charlotte Martin - Veins - Veins
Ryan: Just Fine - Chris Brown Chris Brown - Chris Brown - Just Fine
Allison: Feeling Good Michael Buble Michael Bublé - It's Time - Feeling Good
Travis: Gotta Get Through This - Daniel Bedingfield Daniel Bedingfield - Gotta Get Thru This - Gotta Get Thru This
Performance: I Love My Bitch - Busta Rhymes Busta Rhymes - The Big Bang - I Love My Bitch
Girls elimination song: Suddenly I See K.T. Tunstall KT Tunstall - Eye to the Telescope - Suddenly I See
Boys Elimination song: The End of the Road - Matt Goss Matt Goss - It's the End of the Road (From the TV Show "So You Think You Can Dance") - Single - It's the End of the Road

So You Think You Can Dance: The Top Eight Perform

Wednesday, July 26, 2006

Tonight we see the top eight dancers left in the competition dance for America's vote in an action packed hour long episode of So You Think You Can Dance. Just this week it was announced that the finale of this competition would air in two parts on August 9th and 16th, but we're not at the end yet. We have four more dancers we need to eliminate before we hit the finale. Tonight's show will be like last weeks. Each dancer will be performing twice with a partner. Tonight's judges are Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy and Dan Karaty.

This week, the first to hit the stage is Donyelle, and she chooses Travis as her partner. For their styles they pick hip hop and quick step. For hip hop, they work with Shayne Sparks, and they do a different kind of dance in which they wear masks. The judges all comment on how the masks distract and make their dance stand out. However, the masks probably hurt them here. After a commercial break, we see Allison pick her partner out of a hat. This week that pair picks hip hop and Argentine tango to perform. First up is there tango choreographed by Alex Da Silva. These two have danced a tango before, and this time around they did okay. Nigel says Ivan does a good job.

Natalie is up next, and for her partner she picks Ryan out of the hat. For their styles, they pick contemporary and disco. Their disco routine is up first, and for this they work with Doriana Sanchez. When they take the stage, they start out great but something about the last few seconds bothered me. Ryan definitely didn't do much for either. He stayed around another week, and after seeing this performance I wanted Dimitry back. Natalie is once again amazing, but there is no chemistry between this couple. I hope Natalie isn't hurt by her partner here this week. Last up for the first round is Heidi and out of the hat she picks her cousin Benji. For their styles, they pick mambo and Broadway. First up is their Broadway routine and they work with Tyce Diorio. These two haven't danced together since their Las Vegas auditions. These two together are just amazing on stage. They are both talented, and together that talent just shines through so easily.

After a commercial break, we see our dancers start again. Donyelle and Travis work with Glenn Weiss on a quickstep routine. When they take the stage, I enjoy the two, but the judges are really harsh with these two this week. Nigel compares Travis to the gingerbread man from Shrek, and the other judges are just as bad. We might see one of these two go home this week. Next up is Allison and Ivan with a hip hop routine with Shayne Sparks. I really like their routine. It was a softer hip hop routine, and the judges compliment it. I see these two continuing on.

Natalie and Ryan are up next with a contemporary routine by Tyce Diorio. This time around Ryan shows America why he stayed on to this week. The judges have nothing but good things to say about this performance. The last dance of the night is a mambo routine by Alex Da Silva performed by Heidi and Benji. What a way to end the night. These two are just phenomenal together and apart. If they don't continue on. I would be shocked beyond belief. The judges call these two the best dance of the night.

The only problem I have with tonight's show is the lack of solo performances like we had last week. Last week, such a big deal was made about needing the solo performances to help America choose their favorite dancer, and this week all we have is partner dancing. No solo routines to speak of. How can America pick their favorites with no solo performances? This week I think we're in danger of seeing Ryan or Travis going home. The women stepped it up, but I think we might see Donyelle go home this week. We'll find out tomorrow night who America sends home!

Check below for the songs used on tonight's show.

Donyelle/Travis: London Bridge - Fergie Fergie - London Bridge - Single - London Bridge
Allison/Ivan: La Cumparsita - Orquestra Esquela de Tango
Natalie/Ryan: Turn the beat around - Vicki Sue Robinson Vicki Sue Robinson - Dance Vault Remixes: Turn the Beat Around - EP - Turn the Beat Around
Benji/Heidi: Fake Your Way To The Top - Dreamgirls C. Derricks, J. Holliday, Loretta Devine & S. Ralph - Dreamgirls - Fake Your Way to the Top
Donyelle/Travis: Dancin' Fool - Barry Manilow Barry Manilow - Scores (Songs from Copacabana and Harmony) - Dancin' Fool
Allison/Ivan: Sexy Love - Ne-Yo Ne-Yo - In My Own Words - Sexy Love
Natalie/Ryan: I Will Get There - Boyz II Men Boyz II Men - Boyz II Men: Legacy - The Greatest Hits Collection - I Will Get There
Benji/Heidi: Black Mambo - Angel & The Mambokats

 
 
 
 
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