Again, we’re in the really hokey contrived drama. I appreciate the focus on the hopes and dreams, and Bruno I’m liking - he’s got the kind of aggressive tone that I always have liked in dance coaches.
It’s kind of like Fame, but live (wait, haven’t they actually got a show like that?). The music is the hardest - good lord, singing a capella? Just with a mic? Holy cow, talk about pressure. It will be interesting to see if the plot of the show improves since there is more talent to actually put into each episode.
The ubiquitous “look how bad it gets” montage again makes you wonder who was planted (such as the valley girl).
Now, when 9009 started…holy cow. Doing that many foutte turns on bare feet on marley? That’s the rubberized material that covers the stage, and it is not easy to just turn like that - as you see by the guy’s foot that they show after “Miss Sparkly”.
She’s an interesting one. Miss Abigail, my viewing companion this evening, commented that “sequins are not your strong suit, honey.” She knew she was a club dancer by the way she dressed, and while I thought that the comment that she was “a Mariah” a little cruel, I thought that Carrie Ann’s statements that “it’s easier to teach someone to dance than to sing” interesting.
Bruno made a good impression on Miss A. “Wow…that’s different than the rest of the chirpers…” Sasha was not as charitably taken “I hate singers like that,” she said. I asked why just as Sasha changed key for the third time. “That’s why!” she said triumphantly. New York also gave me my own favorite: Jessalyn the Waitress. Yes, partially because she’s gorgeous, but also because she’s a waitress trying to make it big, and I really dig that kind of archetype.
Diddy was totally a ringer. (and yes, I did actually write that before his wig fell off). I’m interested in knowing more about him…so let’s go to the website…
A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Drew Lachey is a past winner of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars. He and his dance partner, Cheryl Burke, took home first place, beating out 10 other dance couples in 2006.
OK, so he has some cred…and on we go to California. Skipping the entire midwest, because of course there’s no dance talent out here. Hubbard Street? What’s that? OK, so I’m a little bitter…
The gorilla’s not bad…
Of course, in LA they pull out the sex appeal and off the clothes “Oh, sure, ’some people stand out’ just as the girl with the rack steps forward…nice editing!” wryly commented Abigail. I kind of felt that Casey vs. Sheryn was unfair - I thought that putting the two of them next to each other, and having Bruno decide that Sheryn was “not what we want” while Carrie Ann stated that Casey was “adorable” did not bode well for the rest of the show. I personally am really of that nasally whining tone in pop songs (Gwen Stefani is the exception). Michelle Branch, for example, is not our friend…
(side note: We’re not sure where they came from - but Farmer’s Branch commercials? They’re hilarious).
I also give the show points for using Gene Kelly’s recording of “Singin’ in the Rain”, not some pop version. When Zack came out, Miss Abigail perked up. “Ooooh…he’s good looking.” He’s got some club dancing looks, from watching him - I almost puked when Bruno said “He’s got technique…”
“He does not have technique!” I screamed at the tv.
“He’s got a cute butt,” stated Abigail firmly. and that seemed to put the matter to rest.
We zoom through the “easy ones” - dance teachers, obviously trained and experienced. The North Carolina girl seemed a little too uncontrolled and frantic to me. The last performer seemed to be another ringer, in my opinion - as Bruno said, “He is exactly what we’re looking for.” A little too coincidental. Miss Abigail was also bothered by the Biker Vest on the Beach look sported by Carrie Ann.
Still, the show does its job of making people care. When the Hollywood callbacks were announced, “Yay! Pre-Med Boy!” burst out of Miss Abigail, and I had a moment of panic when I didn’t see Jessalyn there…but I remembered that she was from NYC, and felt better.
Ah, they do hit the midwest…though Nashville is not really representative. It’s about as much representative of the MidWest as Vegas is of Nevada.
(Another side note: If we never hear the Rocky theme again, we will not be sad. At all. Really.)
“He’s weird - and I love it!”
Nashville seemed remarkably harsh - until they show the manufactured drama of the three friends, and end the solos wit the obviously not-talented-enough Mary Alice. I think as I watch these shows, they start to get closer and closer to actually showing that the passion and work involved in being an artist are enough, really, to make an interesting show.
Philip annoys me. He’s too cute looking, and the American flag they threw in at the end of his solo really annoyed me. You know what else really annoys me? A camera shot that has the judges perfectly framed but
Best comment of the night? “What do you do when you’re not dancing?” “…sleep?” Nashville, in general, was a little rushed - they wanted to get to Hollywood with plenty of time.
“Dancing Darwinism” is what Miss Abigail called it, and she’s right. The 2 day call back process is the closest thing to reality that I have seen here - the kind of camaraderie that can really develop. At the same time you get to see the development of individuals - Quantrell’s solo and singing was a triumph, for example.
The actual performance was a good way to show just how hard this process will be - dancing and singing, and for that matter, singing while dancing, is one of the hardest things to deal with. The process of letting people know was handled well, I thought- it was interesting and heart wrenching enough without “You’re….NOT the one that I want” kind of drama.
On the other hand, there is real drama and surprises. Quantrell not making it in was a shock to me. Again, like when the whinyvoiced singer sang, little decisions like that make me think that this show is less about finding “new” talent and more about finding “another” talent just like the talent that has been out there for the last 10-15 years. Quantrell would have brought something fresh, and could have taught as much as he learned; I think the show really missed an opportunity by letting him go. Maybe TruTV will pick him up for a reality show? One can hope.
By the time we got to the live show, Miss Abigail was tattooing “Zack is MINE!” across the back of her hips, and squealing every time he appeared on the screen. “It’s because he’s pre-med! Really!” she said, wiping the drool from her chin. She’s going to be so heartbroken when he runs off with Philip and the two of them open their own dance studio…
The finale was less than inspiring - though Mariel is my new fave (since Jessalyn was left out). Zack looked like he belonged in any old boy band. The one surprise was the blonde from the trio from Louisiana - Miss Abigail thought that she and Elizabeth really seemed to stand out and glow when they reached the live performance.
I’m looking forward to watching these people grow together.
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