OMG. The 30 Rock pictures with Cheyenne Jackson are out. I almost jizzed in my pants with this first one of him in full football uniform (it's like my porn fantasy comes true! No thank YOU Tina Fey!).
Cheyenne's having a great day isn't he? He's great in Finian's Rainbow (I'll have my review out soon) and the reviews from last night have been pretty great. And he's moonlighting (or is it daylighting in this case) on 30 Rock in what is apparently a re-occuring role. YAY! His double duty makes me forgive him for forgetting a line in Finian's Rainbow last Saturday. Plus he covered really well (there was a pause, then he looked into co-star Kate Baldwin's eyes and said "Your skin is so beautiful that it's made me forget what I was going to say", then asked for his next line. It was smooth!)
And now he gets to reunite with his Damn Yankees co-star Jane Krakowski on 30 Rock starting on the November 12th episode!
Okay, so while this season hasn't been its best season, even mediocre 30 Rock is still better than most shows.
30 Rock - Season 4, Into the Crevasses, Stone Mountain - Eps. 401-403
So because I know Cheyenne Jackson must be the new actor Liz will eventually hire to fulfill Jack's wishes for a "REAL AMERICAN" to join the show, I've been kinda loving this new shakeup on the show and the reactions Jenna and Tracy have had. It doesn't always work, and isn't quite as sharp as previous seasons, but it's still a lot of fun.
What worked better was the twisted satire on labour unions when Kenneth goes on strike much to Jack's ire, but possibly the most disturbing thing (other than Kenneth's union leader being easily satisfied and bought off) was him in drag playing Meemah (?) when Jack and Liz go to Stone Mountain to find a "regular" American to join the cast. Anyways, after some disturbingly funny images of Jack ripping off a dummy's head off, I'm ready for Cheyenne to join the cast.
I would say it would give Jenna a good counterpart but I'm kinda loving her with Tracy and her and the gays, so it would just be more awesomeness!
Here's some more promo photos from Cheyenne Jackson's first appearance on 30 Rock: Plus, Padma Lakshmi (Top Chef) guests on the same episode.
So You Think You Can Dance - Top 20 Performance and Results Night - Ep. 611
Judges: Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy, Adam Shankman
There still is a chair for Paula Abdul which already is annoying me.
In the meantime, Billy Bell AND Noelle Marsh have both been sidelined by injuries and illnesses but Billy is out permanently while Noelle is taking a week off for now, with Melanie LaPatin stepping in again. Noelle gets to come back next week if she's better. Meanwhile, Brandon Dumlao takes over Billy's spot. Lucky for all the other dancers, since Billy was probably near the top of the list.
And while I'm at it, I realized what else I don't like about this new huge stage set up, other than the distracting video wall and enormity of it all. The stage is now set up as a proscenium stage and no longer has a in-the-round feel with audience members on 3 sides, giving us even less of an intimate feel, thus distancing the dancers even further. Plus it doesn't give anywhere for Cat to run and hide when the dancers perform.
Oh well, I'll stop my griping for now and let the Season 6 dancing begin!
Channing Cooke &
Phillip Attmore Style: Jive
Choreographed by: Jason Gilkison
Song: "Rockin' Robin" - The Jackson 5
Grade: C
At this point, I'm trying to give these two a clean slate, but I was losing favour for these two, so it's strange that they've been paired together.
On top of that, they get the Jive set to "Rockin' Robin"? Seriously? I thought they did an admirable attempt but it lacked the pop and pizzaz needed and their lack of chemistry was palpable. Their connections were fumbly and awkward and as some of the judges mentioned, they looked tired out halfway through the dance.
Not a great start for a couple that really needed to wow me to earn my love, instead I thought it was easily forgettable (with no help from the song choice either).
So You Think You Can Dance - The Top 20 Showcase - Ep. 610
Judges: Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy, Adam Shankman, and an empty chair for Paula Abdul (groan)
Just as SYTYCD Canada wraps up with it's finale on Sunday, SYTYCD starts up again with a new episode to showcase the Top 20 in their own styles before they go into the Top 20 Performance voting episodes. And Canada may have gotten to see one of Mia's last choreography for the show.
So let's first start with Canada:
So You Think You Can Dance Canada Season 2's Top 20:
Man, it's good seeing Austin, Nicolas, Danny, even Taylor looks great! And Natalie and even Mel B and all!
Top 20 Group Dance Style: African-Jazz
Choreographed by: Sean Cheesman
And with that, I'm reminded how great the Season 2 Canadian Top 20 was (and how great Sean Cheesman is), so the Season 6 Top 20 will have a lot to live up to, but so far, it seems like this new group may be one of the best (though sadly, there is news that Billy Bell (one of, if not THE early fave of mine) has had to drop out due to illness and that Brandon Dumlao will replace Billy)
The Canadian judges get to pick their faves from the season (although you know it's more a general pick that gets spread around so each of the Top 10 dancers get to be featured at least once)
Kenny's pick:
Tara-Jean and Everett's Theatre (Sean Cheesman) from Top 12 Week JM's pick:
Amy and Vincent's Jive (Tony Meredith and Melanie LaPatin) from Top 12 Week Rex's pick:
Jayme Rae and Everett's Mambo (Gustavo Vargas) from Top 8 Week Blake's pick:
Kim and Cody's Hip-Hop (Luther Brown) from Top 8 Week Jean-Marc's pick #2:
Tara-Jean and Vincent's Rumba (Eric Caty) from Top 8 Week
Tre's pick
Kim and Emanuel's Jazz Funk (Blake McGrath) from Top 14 Week Tre's pick #2
Jayme Rae and Vincent's Contemporary (Stacey Tookey) from Top 4 Week Luther's choice
Tara-Jean and Everett's House (Sho-Tyme) from Top 14 Week Kenny's pick #2
Melanie M and Vincent's Paso Doble (Natalli Reznik & Francis Lafrenière) from Top 10 Week Jean Marc's pick #3:
Corynne and Austin's Contemporary (Stacey Tookey) from Top 16 Week
Leah's (or producers) pick:
Melanie M and Cody's Krump (Lil' C) from Top 18 Week Blake's pick #2:
Kim and Everett's Jazz Fusion (Sean Cheesman) from Top 10 Week
Rex's pick #2:
Tara-Jean and Vincent's Contemporary (Stacey Tookey) from Top 6 Week Luther's pick #2:
Jayme Rae and Daniel's Dance Hall (Jaeblaze) from Top 18 Week Leah's (or producers) pick #2
Tara-Jean and Vincent's Salsa (Gustavo Vargas) from Top 6 Week Leah's (or producers) pick #3
Jayme Rae and Everett's Jazz Funk (Nico Archambault & Wynn Holmes) from Top 8 Week
Top 10 Group Dance Style: Contemporary
Choreographed by: Mia Michaels
Song: "This Moment" - Nic Chagall ft. Jonathan Mendelsohn
Oh man. this is Mia's piece in response to her quitting the US show. OMG.
So that may have been the last choreography we see from Mia for some time, though it seems like she only quit the US version and she gets to vent it out in Canada, so hopefully she will be back in Canada for more next season!
So before we get to the winner, in case people still don't want to be spoiled (is that even possible these days?), I'll continue on at the bottom of the post and get to the special episode of So You Think You Can Dance and their showcase of the Top 20 on their new stage (which I am NOT digging. It's too big and makes the dancers look small and lost on the stage and the video graphics in the back competes with the dancers).
Plus, that chair for Paula is almost like a FU to Idol for stealing the Ellen idea (apparently Nigel has been pissed) and to Mia who didn't get a permanent judges chair like Adam did.
Top 20 Group Dance Style: Wade Style
Choreographed by: Wade and Amanda Robson
Song: "Comanche" - The Revels
Well, Nathan sure got showcase. And my eye led towards Billy Bell right away... sigh... I also noticed Jakob and Russell. What a great first group routine! But I will admit freely, I watched the boys more than the girls at this point. I'm not sure if they are better dancers or just a hot bunch of boys this season. That said, what a great Wade routine!
Legacy Perez, Russell Ferguson, Kevin Hunte Style: Hip-Hop
Choreographed by: Napoleon and Tabitha D'umo
Song: "Beggin' (District 78 Remix)" - Madcon
Very very awesome and the first Krumper on the US show! (But ha! Canada beat you by a few months when Natalie became the first Krumper on the Canada show (plus a girl! From HALIFAX)). That said, Russell is awesome and one of my faves. Him and Kevin seem to have a great rapport. I'm still unsure about Legacy in general but he mixed well here and looked great.
Here's the video of the Hip-Hoppers:
Nathan Trasoras, Ariana Debose, Jakob Karr, Channing Cooke Style: Contemporary
Choreographed by: Tyce DiOrio
Song: "Crying)" - K.D. Lang
The dancers were lovely. Already love Jakob and Nathan but Ariana was quite impressive and expressive. But wasn't loving the choreo and yet again, I think Tyce is so overrated. There was barely any cohesion between the 4 dancers and they basically just danced separately for most of it.
Here's the video of my new SYTYCD boyfriends and Ariana and Channing:
Peter Sabasino, Bianca Revels, Phillip Attmore Style: Tap
Choreographed by: Derrick K. Grant
Song: "Take The "A" Train" - Ella Fitzgerald
Peter really doesn't look like a tapper so watching him on his fancy feet is kinda funny and nice to see. It's great to see 3 tappers finally in the Top 20 (though again, Canada got in Everett already and who made it to Top 4!)
Here's the video of the Tappers:
Pauline Mata, Mollee Gray, Ellenore Scott Style: Jazz
Choreographed by: Sonya Tayeh
Song: "On ACloud" - PPP
I'm not sure I could take Mollee's cuteness but was it me or did she seem all grown up here? I have to admit, my eye ended up drawn to her and maybe the straight hair helped, but Mollee was fantastic. I liked Pauline as well and Ellenore's spunk but I think I was most surprised by Mollee so far (prob. because I was ready to hate her).
Here's the video of the Jazz girls:
Victor Smalley, Noelle Marsh, Kathryn McCormic, Billy Bell Style: Contemporary
Choreographed by: Mandy Moore
Song: "Viva La Vida" - Coldplay
Now that's how you choreograph a contemporary piece that still shocases the individual dancers and lets them interact with each other. Boy girl, boy boy. girl girl. THAT'S PROGRESS.
On a sad note, that's the last we will see of Billy Bell this season. Sigh...
Ryan Di Lello, Karen Hauer, Ashley Di Lello Style: Samba
Choreographed by: Jason Gilikson
Song: "Everything I Can't Have" - Robin Thicke
A husband, a wife, and Karen. I give props to Karen for openly moving on Ashley's man, especially since said man is Ryan and his guns.
So before the actual competition for So You Think You Can Dance Season 6 begins with the Top 20 Performances on Tuesday, let's get back to So You Think You Can Dance Canada which finally narrowed it down from the Top 20 to one of the best Top 4 I've seen.
While I predicted: Should Be: (#position from Top 6 week in parenthesis):
Fourth: Everett (4)
Third: Tara-Jean (2)
Second: Jayme Rae (3)
First: Vincent (1)
Will Be:
Fourth: Everett
Third: Jayme Rae
Second: Vincent
First: Tara-Jean
And alas, Everett Smith and Jayme Rae Dailey were not in the Top 2 (with Everett being told first, so make of that what you may). And with Vincent Desjardins and Tara-Jean Popowich in the Top 2, both win a car, but alas, Vincent comes in second as I predicted.
Which means the Season 2 winner is Tara-Jean Popowich!!! Who looked so happy and shocked! Very cute! And still totally deserving even though I voted for Vincent and Jayme Rae.
And there you have it! The end of Season 2. Auditions for Season 3 start in November. And Season 6 of the US edition now really begins. It's non-stop dance!
The Good Wife (Season 2) CBS/Global 10pm ****1/2 (Low: 4)
Mondays
Tuesdays
Wednesdays
Thursdays
Fridays
Saturdays
Tapeworthy Shows On Hiatus
Grade system
***** - 5 Stars TAPEWORTHY AND WILL watch it LIVE for fear the recording will mess up. Do not attempt to call or try to make plans during this time.
**** - 4 Stars Tapeworthy and I will TRY to watch it LIVE
*** - 3 Stars Tapeworthy, will watch it live if I'm around but if not, will catch it later in the week.
** - 2 Stars Might tape it to watch later as long as I have space and no conflicting shows that have higher priority.
* - 1 Star Won't tape it but if I need something to watch while I fold my laundry (and I'm done all my tapes), I will watch it (ie. Reba).
0 - 0 Stars Will NOT turn on the TV for fear of coming across this show. (ie. According to Jim).
Grades only reflect current new airings. Does not necessarily apply to previous seasons. Grades are subject to change at any moment. Apologies to TV Gal for half borrowing her system.