So you think you can Ellen?

Surprise Surprise - 2 blogs in one day (like it or not :P) - I clearly have too much time on my hands and watch too much tv!!

Tonight saw Ellen as the celebrity guest judge on So you think you can dance so naturally I had to blog since I love both shows - so it was a nice treat to see Ellen on my favourite reality tv show after American Idol. But before I forget, tomorrow's show sees the return of past contestants and dance numbers that took us by storm. It will be awesome to see what past contenders have been up to.

The show opened with a number by past contestant Travis - it was a back to the future kind of a number with all dancers - am not sure what to make of it - I'm still deciding if I liked it or not.

So, without much ado, let's look at the partnerships of the night:
Evan & Jeanette - Sonia strikes again - this choreographer is just brilliant. She gave them an awesome jazz number. For the second number, they had the rumba (I think - my DVR was acting up this evening - probably the overload - poor thing!!) - super hot. Jeanette was not my favourite contestant when the show began but I must say that she can do anything she is asked to - she's growing on me. Evan is good but he doesn't have the 'It' factor.
Brandon picked Jeanine - They had a waltz by Hunter Johnson. Not the smoothest lift I've seen on the show - its like his hand got stuck at her butt among the ten thousand folds of her dress - but all in all, as waltzes go, it was a dreamy, magical dance though the judges didn't quite like it. They redeemed themselves with their second routine - pop jazz. They were goooooood.
Melissa and Ade - Can they recreate the magic of past episodes? Suffice it to say, they did!! The cha-cha was a little slow but super sexy. Mia was not too complimentary to Ade. Actually, I think the judges are a little more harsh on the contestants since it is the top 8 now. Their second number was emotional - the judges were visibly moved. Tyce is good - can't believe he is the same choreographer that thought up the first Broadway routine that Jason and Kayla did.
Jason and Kayla - Broadway - liked the theme - I liked this pair - couldn't take my eyes off them - Fabulous!! Their second routine was a Shane Sparks hip-hop routine. I personally think that the night belonged to this couple.

Solos: Liked Jason, Kayla is getting repetitive (though the judges love love love her), Ade was repetitive too, Jeanette is still awesome, Melissa's solo was not fiery for me, Evan - cute and goofy but was it enough to keep him in, not sure, Jeanine's solo will keep her in and Brandon - superb technically but he is the guy I keep forgetting - not sure if that is the general reaction to him.

Loved Ellen on the panel - she kept the entertainment quotient up :) Host Cat Deeley looked great in gold. Mary Murphy, when she is not screeching, actually makes sense - how I wish she did not yell all the time! Mia was her bitchy self most of the time, Nigel was um.. same old same old.

My picks to leave tomorrow - sadly, I think its Evan and among the gals I think it might be Melissa and not because they don't dance well but because someone just has to go.

Mia Michaels is a genius

So I wasn't going to blog about today's So you think you can dance episode but this dance routine choreographed by Mia Michaels was simply fabulous and I had to comment.

This week's episode began with Melissa and Ade dancing the disco - now this is one couple that I have always liked - they've done a great job so far but today's disco left me feeling a bit blah! Not that they weren't good but they were not great! This boy can move!!

The second routine by the afore-mentioned Mia Michaels left me speechless (but thankfully not wordless because I am still writing - okay poor attempt at a joke - ha ha). The dancers did a great job portraying Addiction which was the theme of the piece. Now I am not a fan of Mia Michaels, the person (she is always so high-handed and bitchy while giving her feedback) but have always been a fan of Mia, the choreographer (viewers of the show cannot forget the routine she put together last season with Twitch and Kherington and a bed - yes you read right - a bed - you can watch it here)

The third couple, Caitlin (my nickname for her is Britney Spears because I swear she looks like the songstress with certain camera angles) and Jason were doing the fox-trot. These guys have consistently been in the bottom 3 for a few episodes now - I actually like their dancing usually. Today was no different but I am not sure that they will be safe.

Jeanine and Phillip are also doing good in this competition this far - they performed a Russian folk dance. I wasn't quite sure if they'd be able to pull it off but I was pleasantly surprised. Their costumes were cute and the dancing lively. Boo to Nigel - he gave them some not so good reviews but he agreed that it wasn't the dancers' fault but the choreography.

Randi and Evan had Tabitha and Napolean who choreographed a hip-hop routine for them. T&N are consistently good - I usually like everything they do. Once again it was good - I was not disappointed. This routine reminded me of a dance performance by Allison and Ivan (video quality is not too good but it was the only one I found)- it was hip-hop with an umbrella for a prop.

Brandon and Jeanette did the Argentine tango - Brandon didn't have much to do but provided good support - Jeanette was awesome. They got a standing ovation from the judges. Excellent footwork!!

At the end of Round 1, I must say that Kayla and Koppono with the Mia routine are at the top of my list followed by the Argentine Tango. Noone was bad but unfortunately tomorrow, 2 dancers will have to leave.

Round 2 (I am limiting this to highlights else this post is going to be really really long):
Melissa & Ade - loved loved loved the waltz.
Kayla & Kopono's Broadway - okay for me.
Caitlin & Jason - Their performance BLEW ME AWAY. They've climbed to the top of my list with this routine. Mandy Moore is someone to watch out for - she is consistently excellent in her choreography. I completely disagree with Mary Murphy - there was magic tonight.
Jeanine & Phillip - They're growing on me. Jeanine is the hubby's favourite.
Randi & Evan - Saw the return of Pasha and Anya as choreographers - the dance number itself was HOT but not Randi and Evan's forte unfortunately.
Jeanette & Brandon - a Wade Robson routine - fabulous way to end the night.

The End - Phew!!!!

So you think you can dance is back!!!!!!!!

One of my summer faves - So you think you can dance (Wed 8 pm on Fox)- is back - yay!!!! Maybe its because I have two left feet but I am always fascinated by the dances on this show. Dancing with the stars pales in comparison. I can't wait to see who stands out this season - Loved Katie and Joshua from the previous season and Allison and Ivan from the season before that, Travis and Benji, Heidi and Benji's sister (her name escapes me right now!!) and Hawk. Oh and as a proud desi I must mention that Bollywood found a place in this show last season and it turns out that we have a Bollywood number being performed tonight!!!!!

Some of my personal highlights of tonight's show are listed below:
1. The opening number - a hip-hop routine performed by Janine and Phillip - simply awesome considering Janine is a ballet dancer and she matched Phillip step for step.
2. The cha-cha was also good - but the hip-hop routine is still my #1 at this stage... Adam Shankman is doing a great job judging
3. The Jazz piece was excellent... a joy to watch. Kat Deely looks super tall by the way - especially standing next to these 2. (On a side note, I do get annoyed with the funny faces some contestents make when they ask for votes but I guess one cannot be too serious on TV)
4. Okay - so if I thought the first hip-hop routine was good, this second one simply blew me away. My critique by the way has nothing to do with the guy Tony being, as Adam said, 'the cute guy on the show'. Boooooooo Mary and Nigel!! Bollywood up next...
5. Of course they pick 'Jai Ho' for the Bollywood number which is technically not a song from a Bollywood movie - but who cares right? Not sure that it lends itself to a dance routine though... that said the pair performing it did a good job - they got good reviews from the judges. Jai ho!! On a side note, not sure why they keep referring to choreographer Nakul as Nicole :) Another side note (I know that we're having too many side notes - I never claimed to be a good writer) - no desis (or people of desi origin) in this competition :( Guess we don't have any time left over from the Spelling B...
6. My favourite choreographer Wade Robson is here - yay!! He does completely DIFFERENT things and very well I might add. Once again he does not disappoint - quirky and kinda nice. I like this routine. 2 thumbs up!!
7. There's something so enchanting about a contemporary dance routine - simply loved it!!
8. The samba was hot - I wish they had better music though - but a great way to end the show!!

Until next time...