Guest blogger Lenni G. gives you the scoop:
Nice opening routine tonight from Tyce Diorio - lots of dance gimmicks and tricks.
Cat called Karla and Vitolio and Randi and Evan to the stage. I was really pleased that Randi and Evan were declared safe since they were victims of what I thought was some "iffy" choreography the night before. Karla and Vitolio, both of whom had been in the bottom three numerous times, were once again in the danger zone.
Next three called up were Janette and Brandon, Kayla and Kupono, and Melissa and Ade. Mia was beside herself when Kayla and Kupono were put in danger saying their contemporary dance on Wednesday was "the best of the night. We can't lose you." My personal favs, Melissa and Ade, as well as Janette and Brandon, made it through for another week of what I hope will be spectacular performances from them.
The final group of two were Jeanine and Phillip, and Caitlyn and Jason. Cheering loudly in the audience were Caitlyn's aunt, mom and cousin waving signs that read, "Aliens for Caitlyn." And, with the combined vote from the "aliens" and the rest of the American public, Caitlyn and Jason also survived the really, really bizarre choreography from the night before. Jeanine and Phillip, recently taken "off the chain," became the final bottom three couple.
While the bottom three couples prepared for solos, we were treated to, and I do mean TREATED TO, a fabulous contemporary ballet routine from professional dancers, Patricia and Desmond. As Mary Murphy would say, "Holy Cow," what an incredibly unique dance moment. I want more of this really good stuff. After the solos, and while the judges were debating, Kelly Clarkson, best known as the first American Idol, sang her latest. She was cute.
The judges' decisions were unanimous this time for both the girls and the boys. Nigel called Jeanine's solo the strongest of the night, said Kayla was a fan favorite but that her solo was static, and told Karla that, while she is a good dancer, she really has not "captured star quality" yet. So Karla, after four out of four possible bottoms threes, hit the Bye Bye Train, looking desperately for "star quality" along the way.
For the boys, Nigel called Phillip unique and declared him superb at his style (IMHO, the only style he can dance), told Vitolio he had presence and great carriage but he just didn't deliver, and let Kupono know that his solo was weak. But, "weak" Kupono and one-style Phillip made it to next week, putting Vitolio on the BBT looking for his inner FedEx, otherwise known as the ability to deliver.
So fellow 4th of July celebrators, no new couples next week. Think it might be Kayla and Kupono's turn to "hit the Bye Bye rails."
As promised, here's a bit more information on the announcement on Wednesday night. Nigel, Adam Shankman, Carrie Ann Inaba and Katie Holmes have started the "Dizzy Feet Foundation" to benefit struggling dancers and the dance community in general. To further promote this new organization, Katie Holmes, channeling Judy Garland, will be featured in a Tyce Diorio Broadway routine on the anniversary of the l00th episode of SYTYCD. Set your Tivos now for Thursday, July 23rd - this will definitely be a keeper.
And, want more details on the Dizzy Feet? Go to DizzyFeetFoundation.org
blogs.newsobserver.com | July 3, 2009You can't be at the pool/beach/park/slippy-slide all the time, so here are some 4th of July TV viewing options.
Marathons!
Nothing says holiday weekend like TV marathons, and we love it when someone does all the work for us. The blog Interesting Pile (a highly addictive blog that compiles random lists like 7 great sci-fi chase scenes and 12 disturbing vintage ads) has put together a list of TV marathons this weekend, including our favorite holiday standby, "Law & Order." But some other marathons caught our eye, too: "Martin," James Bond, "Ice Road Truckers," "The Cake Boss," "Twilight Zone," and many others.Capital Fourth
Jimmy Smits hosts the "Nation's Capital Independence Day Celebration" at 8pm on PBS/UNC-TV. Live from the West Lawn of the US Capital, the special features a concert with Aretha Franklin, Barry Manilow, Michael Feinstein, the National Symphony Orchestra, the Sesame Street gang, and more.Macy's Fireworks
Fireworks on the 4th from New York City featuring performances by Rob Thomas, Jewel, and the cast of "West Side Story." NBC at 9pm.Local Fireworks!
News 14 Carolina will broadcast both the NC State Fair fireworks and the Uptown Charlotte fireworks live Saturday night. Starting around 9:15pm, the Raleigh fireworks begin, and then "Red, White, and Boom! 2009" (Charlotte gave theirs a name!! Come on, Raleigh!) will start from the Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte. Avoid traffic, watch 'em both from your couch, and decide who has the best.
Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular
Craig Ferguson hosts the Charles River celebration Saturday night, featuring Neil Diamond performing with the Boston Pops Orchestra. Finale has fireworks accompanied by "1812 Overture." CBS at 10pm.blogs.newsobserver.com | July 3, 2009
Chopping Block (8pm, NBC) - The contestants must shop for ingredients in Little Italy and then prepare a meal for Italian customers, who include Vincent Pastore and Mario Batali (left).
Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? (8pm, Fox) - One of the contestants is competitive eating champion Joey Chestnutt.
Dance Your Ass Off (9pm, Oxygen) - A repeat of the debut of Oxygen's popular new reality series in which twelve plus-size contestants dance to shed pounds and compete for $100,000. The show is hosted by Tony Award-winning actress Marissa Jaret Winokur, who also competed on "Dancing with the Stars." New shows air on Mondays at 10pm.
blogs.newsobserver.com | July 3, 2009
We never get to see Dina's husband Tommy Manzo on "Real Housewives of New Jersey," but he's front and center in the first Manzo reality show, "My Big Fat Fabulous Wedding."
The Manzo family owns and operates The Brownstone, a banquet/wedding facility in New Jersey. Dina and Tommy's wedding was featured on VH1's wedding reality show in 2007. They had over 600 guests and spent more than 1 million dollars.
Dina looks exactly the same, but Caroline is a little thinner. You can watch the entire episode below.
blogs.newsobserver.com | July 2, 2009
If it hasn't happened already, I think controversy should be brewing over the horrendous pop jazz choreography Brian Friedman did last night for Caitlyn and Jason. And the premise, wait 'til you hear this - It's about an alien female coming down to earth to impregnate the last human male on earth.WHAT?
Nigel thought it was "very weird" (I agree), Mary said "it did not sit right with me" (I agree) and Mia Michaels tried to soften things by saying, "This was Brian wanting to have fun" (oh please!), though she did admit it was "out there" (I agree again).
Poor Caitlyn and Jason will most likely be in the bottom three this week and it really has nothing to do with them. Only good thing about this whole segment was Cat Deeley's response of "safety first" to Nigel's comment that Caitlyn's costume looked like a "dancing condom."
Now that I've vented, on to the other six acts of the evening. Best of the night had to be Janette and Brandon doing a France and Jean Marc Genereux Cha Cha. Nigel immediately called it the, "Best damn Cha Cha ever seen on this show," and called the couple "brilliant." Mary gave the routine three "Woos" and two first class tickets on the Hot Tamale Train. With everyone holding their collective breaths, it was on to Mia who had given Brandon such a hard time in the auditions.
Nigel asked her if any of her opinions had changed, particularly about "a small male dancer with the initials, Brandon?" Mia, talking directly to Brandon, said "I'm sure I scared the bleep out of you" (and me too and I wasn't dancing), but I'm always toughest on the real talent. She went on to compliment him on having so much potential and ability. She also said that Janette has "been on fire" since day one. I thought Janette really channeled her "inner Cheryl Burke" with those great hip moves.
Next two couples are probably Melissa and Ade doing a Pas de Deux, as Romeo and Juliet, from Thordal Christensen. This is the first time ballet has been done on the show and these two did not disappoint me or the judges. Nigel said it was beautifully done and that Melissa was "magnificent." Mary loved it, thought their chemistry was "flawless" and that Ade had great strength. Mia was so excited that the time had come to celebrate classic dance on this show.
Next were the new couple, Karla and Vitolio doing the quick step, another France and Jean Marc routine. Now here was choreography and costuming that was the polar opposite of the pop jazz fiasco. Nigel loved the cool "presto-change-o" with Karla's dress and thought the whole thing was really entertaining. Mia called Jean Marc a "genius" and said the choreography really made the dancers looked good. (See, the choreographer can make the dancers look good. Whoops, I'm venting again.)
I thought Kayla and Kupono did a great job on a Sonya Tayeh contemporary number. Only judge's comments I was interested in here were Mia's since she is the queen of all things contemporary. And she said they were "aesthetically beautiful and gorgeous together" and called Sonya's choreography "her best piece ever." She then told Kayla that her "lines were ridiculous" and that she created such "beautiful pictures." Kupono got props for taking all the criticism he has received, applying it and getting better every week - "Definitely growing," according to Mia.
Choreographers, Napoleon and Tabatha, (otherwise known as "NappyTabs") did a very unique routine for Jeanine and Phillip - Hip Hop with a chain. Mary found it "incredibly creative," and praised Phillip for his great "pops" and Jeanine for being "crazy good." Sort of had to agree with Mia here that I got caught up in what she called the "chainography" of the dance - I did find myself concentrating more on the chain than the dance moves at times. Jeanine admitted that the chain was a real struggle and that she and Phillip had been "living with it in our apartment." After a huge gasp from the audience, Nigel said, "TMI" and we moved along.
Thought my favorite "fun" couple, Randi and Evan, had a little bump in the road with their Broadway routine from Joey Dowling. The judges mentioned something about their wrists being wrong at least twice. I certainly didn't know the thingie about the wrists but I'll watch closer next time. Mia's comment that, the choreography was there but the dancing didn't match up to it, was probably right on, though I don't think either Randi or Evan had a real good grasp of what the 6-foot tall choreographer had in mind for them (whoops, that was my very last vent, I promise). I do agree with Nigel that this couple should still be good for the Top 10.
I'm not choosing a bottom three this week since I think, in at least two cases, the dancers were let down by the routines they were given.
Big announcement last night about the Dizzy Feet Foundation. I'll have more on this on my results recap Friday morning.
blogs.newsobserver.com | July 2, 2009

























