Whats Hot On TV

Much is said every year about American Idol’s voting system, as people are never happy with it. Fans seem to not trust each other, and suggest maybe the judges should make the ultimate decision on who leaves the show, yet at the same time, they also get mad at the judges when they seem to push their favorite contestants on them. Maybe it’s So You Think You Can Dance that has it all figured out.

After the first performance show last night, it would have been hard for anybody to figure out who to send home, fan, judge, or jury. The caliber this year is just really, really good, so no one is really standing out yet as unbeatable, or someone that needs to leave imminently. I had no favorites before the show and none after, and as they told us tonight, the “first cut is the deepest. Even watching the group performance, I was stymied. I didn’t even know the contestants well enough to tell who was who as they were covered in zombie makeup and kidnapping Nigel. I knew him, though, as well as the choreographer of this routine that was sitting in the audience, Wade Robson.

Enough people did know who they liked, and after Cat Deeley, wearing a very busy read dress, that looked a little like the blooming rose bush in my front yard, announced those leaving, it was down to Matt Dorame/Kourtni Lind, Rayven Armijo/Jamie Bayard, and Jessica King/Will Wingfield. It was pretty clear how the judges were leaning, as Mary talked more of the talent level of the whole group than Matt and Kourtni who she was supposed to be reflecting on. Nigel mentioned the only memorable thing of Rayven and Jamie’s dance was her pulling down his pants, and Dan talked of being too easy on the dancers last night, except for Will and Jessica, as he thought they did deserve their good marks.

Before those up for elimination got to dance their solos, the show unwittingly showed us how strong of performers they have this season. One of the originators of the popping style was on the show doing a routine, and I thought the poppers that went through to Las Vegas, but weren’t strong enough in choreography to make it here to the final 20 were stronger than the originator of popping.

It certainly seemed like it would be Jessica and Jamie that would be leaving before they all did their solos, and after that thought didn’t change so mcuh, but I was left thinking whoever was leaving, it wouldn’t be Kourtni or Will. They were both fabulous in their solos, especially Will. He was awe-inspiring.

The judges confabbed in the stairwell backstage over who they thought should be leaving. I have to ask again, as I kept repeating last year, why are they talking in the stairwell? Surely there’s a budget here for some type of private room. Maybe Nigel’s dressing room is too big to allow another room or something.

Sure enough, when the bottom three girls were called out together onstage for the judges’ unanimous decision, Kourtni was the first one called safe, as Nigel told her they’d like to see the magic she brought to her solo brought to her pairs routines. Rayven was told they didn’t understand why she was on demi pointe tonight, when her strong pointe work was what got her here. I’m only guessing that she didn’t have time to put her toe shoes on as I watch my daughter do it every day, but after these many year for Rayven, it should be as easy as putting on slippers. Jessica was told her solo wasn’t strong enough, yet they really don’t know who she is yet. For this reason, they decided to keep her and eliminate Rayven.

The decision on which guy would leave was also unanimous. And as expected, Nigel pulled Will out right away, saying they were disappointed to see him in the bottom three, but happy to see him dance so incredibly tonight. He was obviously safe. Nigel then mentioned he wished they could fuse together Matt’s technique and Jamie’s personality for the perfect dancer. They decided to go with growth in the end run, and chose Matt’s technique, hoping his personality will improve.

In any of the other three seasons, Jamie and Rayven would still be there, but this season, the talent level is just too strong. With all of us collaborating, we seemed to get it right in the end run. That said, I don’t think this system would work as well for American Idol, and I don’t really think American Idol is about to make any changes in the way we vote, as they liked saying too much that there were nearly 100 million votes that came in this season crowning David Cook.

With our first elimination down, though, are we any closer to figuring out who the favorites are? Not really. Jessica didn’t dance well last night, and in truth, the reason the judges liked her copules dance was because her partner Will was so strong. Tonight, she wasn’t any better. I think she’ll keep pulling him down until she’s finally eliminated. Hopefully for him, he’ll get paired with someone equally strong. I guess he must be becoming a favorite.

Photos Courtesy of fox.com/dance

For more information on So You Think You Can Dance, see SirLinksalot: So You Think You Can Dance , and for a recap of Wednesdat night’s performances, see “Dancin’ In Bra and Beads” .

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