Kayla and Kupono

[jducoeur]

[Yes, the two of us have a fondness for a few of the contest shows. For ages, ladysprite has been extolling the virtues of So You Think You Can Dance -- since she's someone we trust on the subject of dance, we actually paid attention and started recording it from the beginning this time around. I now understand what she's been talking about: the reality-TV aspects aside, this show features an astonishing variety and quality of dance. To get into the competition, you basically have to be as good as the professionals on Dancing With the Stars, and you have to get better in order to survive. By this point, halfway through, the dancing is pretty much as good as I see anywhere, and it's delightful to see such a willingness to try *every* dance form, not just the traditional or fashionable. So, with that said:]

Yes, yes -- it's unambiguous that Janette and Brandon are the best couple: they are rarely short of perfect, and were certainly excellent tonight. But damn: that "addiction" piece had me downright teary-eyed with its sheer power. So Kayla and Kupono get my call tonight: I want to see them get a chance to continue, and I'm not especially worried that we're going to lose either Brandon or Janette. (Indeed, at this point I think they have pole position to win...)

Comments

[ladysprite.livejournal.com]

I will not criticize you for keeping those wet rags in the competition, because... well, yeah, that was an absolutely awesome routine.

Instead I will just froth at the mouth for a moment about the blatant attempts to kill Phillip and Jeannine. I hate to cry conspiracy theory, but... the Jive and the Mamushka? The hell????? That's murder.

[tashabear.livejournal.com]

THANK YOU. They danced the hell out of that Russian... thing, and they deserved better. Even Nigel said something to the effect of "Huh. That was lame, and it's not your fault." I love watching those two together.

[jducoeur]

Yeah, have to agree -- the Mamushka was the first case I've seen of choreography that just plain didn't belong on this show, and the Jive was weak. (Although I thought she did a damned good job with what she was given, in both cases -- she's probably my favorite of the ladies on the show...)

[anastasiav.livejournal.com]

Phillip and Evan had significant online fan bases prior to the start of the season, both due to their auditions last year (Phillip was actually a featured dancer last season after he was sick and couldn't make the Vegas "final cut" auditions).

Remember this is America's Favorite dancer, not the best one.

I tend to think that Evan and Brandon will be the last two men standing. We'll see. (I haven't watched tonight's yet)

[meranthi.livejournal.com]

I love watching Evan and Phillip in their own styles. But I don't think either one is really getting it as much as they should. If Evan makes it that far I will be amazed.

[jducoeur]

Remember this is America's Favorite dancer, not the best one.

True, but I think the judges do a reasonably good job of steering and weeding for the most part. At least so far this season, I haven't seen any Steve Wozniaks -- clear no-hopers who were surviving *solely* because the audience was skewing things. There were some votes I disagreed with, but none utterly violently. (And it's notable that I *had* written Kupono off once or twice, but he demonstrated last night that he does have his moments.)

I tend to think that Evan and Brandon will be the last two men standing.

Hmm. Brandon I definitely agree with: while he could yet screw up, his talent is remarkable. I don't think Evan has quite such insane skill, but he *is* quite appealing, more adaptable than I originally gave him credit for, and he's fighting hard. So I certainly *hope* you're right...

[meranthi.livejournal.com]

That addiction piece was.....unbelievable. Just unbelievable. I have a love/hate relationship with the stuff Mia does, but that one was one of the best things I've ever seen and I've been watching this for 5 seasons now.

I rarely vote because I just love watching the dancing. But I was seriously tempted for Kayla and Kupono. I don't like them terribly much over all (if only because no one can ever say antyhing other than "you were great, Kayla"), but that was worth calling for. The other one, not so much, but the addiction piece more than made up for it.

I really don't know how they are going to narrow it down to 10 this week.

[isisofcool.livejournal.com]

Its about time you joined the cult:)

I desperately wanted Kayla to stop flinging her hair around so much, and its not the first time I've felt that way. Other than that, its probably the breakaway Mia Michaels piece of the season.

I fear that Brandon may fall to the curse of the overtrained black male dancer, and not win (as has been the case the last 2 seasons), but I'm crossing my fingers.