268 replies to this topic

[TWoP Dietrich]

Broadway

[ByTheWay]

Video > (GMMR) Meet The Top 20: Jess Leprotto

[OwlsGo]

Didn't notice him at all in last night's routine; it was all about Nick for me. With the two of them around and Nigel forcing that "specialty" crap down everybody's throat, I don't think he'll make it to the top 10 if Nigel has anything to do with it.

ETA: as somebody who lives 15 minutes from his home town (Little Falls, NJ), it is the driving asshole capital of the world. Something tells me that's relevant to his personality somehow...

Edited by OwlsGo, Jun 10, 2011 @ 7:53 AM.

[ByTheWay]

Video > (Danceplug) At The SYTYCD S8 Photoshoot: Jess LeProtto

[Zazreil]

I like him, I think he is a fantastic Broadway dancer, not the best Tapper but he never claimed to be. I also sympathize with him, when he started out and was talking to Kat he spoke about being really humiliated by having braces so he trained himself out of smiling when he danced, and now when he dances his most common problem is his facial expression. This was even before he danced his solo, and probably what Nigel and Mary were talking about when they felt he did not enjoy himself. He also has an underslung jaw which gives his face an arrogant cast. I don't know that we have seen enough of him to know if he is arrogant or not. it may just be Nigel being Nigel. He did that to Danny too, and then embarrassed had to back track when the boards were slamming Danny left and right because of a stupid comment Nigel made

[LostLostLost]

Just had to say that Jess killed it in Sonya's top 20 number tonight. Surprised me a little. I thought it was Marko at first, until they actually cut to Marko for a close-up and I saw where Jess was positioned. Actually, he surprised me a lot.

[forensicshick]

I was pretty ambivalent about Jess until tonight. He did an amazing job in the group number and I loved his solo. I think I will be joining the Jess love train.

[ScampKid]

I never left the Jess love train. I've liked him since I first saw him (despite Nigel's lame attempt at calling him arrogant). I think Jess is still a little uncomfortable in front of a camera and hasn't quite figured out how to act in front of one which might make him come across as a little fake.

But when he dances I see no flaws. For such a little guy he has wicked control of his body. His center is phenomenal, his extensions are great, he has a lot more strength than I would have given him credit for. I think he's great.

[WelcomeStranger]

I LOVE that he hand-doodles full orchestras. That's so cool and not at all "embarrassing," as the producers wanted all these little quirks to be.

[OnceSane]

I thought that was cute too. And I liked him teasing Clarice about sleeping with her eyes open.

[Xazeal]

I LOVE that he hand-doodles full orchestras.

That was freaking epic, and random, and totally endeared him to me. And I already liked him.

I'm really worried for him tonight, though. They had a forgettable routine, they don't have a strong fan base, and it is way too likely that they'll land in the bottom with someone like Wadi (who sucked) or Tadd (who has gotten more fans recently, but let's face it, he did a ballroom routine) and both of them are so totally safe with the judges because anything else would be stupid.

The judges can only "save" one guy, and if he's up against anyone else than Alexander, Robert or Mitchell (possibly Chris, but Nigel seems to be a fan now) then I think he's a goner.

[ScampKid]

I'm super happy that Jess wasn't in the bottom three this week. I know he had sort of a rotten edit at the beginning of the show but I really, really like him. I think the way he's still figuring out how to act in front of a camera is totally endearing. He's also, to me, one of the most solid male dancers on the show. For being a little guy he has a lot of power in his movements. He has such wonderful control of his body that some of the other boys are missing.

[LittleBunnyTutu]

I'm happy, too. I don't find his personality off-putting. He seems like a lil' ole nerd to me. He has impressed in a couple of the group numbers. Last night's outing wasn't any worse than several other performances, which was a night filled with duds. Even the "golden couple" had a less than stellar night. I hope he at least stays in long enough to make top ten. The tour could use someone as skillful as he is. I have a feeling Nick will be the "alternate", so I'll just have to vote for Jess, do what I can to get him at least that far.

[YouTwitFace]

I am shocked as all hell that Jess wasn't in the B3 in the second elimination round. From the various corners of the internet that comment on the show, the general sense I got was that most people hated Smarmy the Dwarf. And if they can't be arsed to vote for him after an amazing Broadway routine, why would they vote for him after a vapid royal wedding piece filled with lumbering lifts? But they did! So he lives to smarm another week. Huzzah!

[ScampKid]

I never got the 'smarmy' vibe from Jess. As much as Nigel tried to shove it down our throats the worst I've gotten from Jess is that he is a little awkward in front of a camera.

[legaleagle44]

I loved how one of the other saved guys scooped Jess up into his arms as soon as Jess was declared safe. Poor Jess looked as though he wanted to cry at that moment. To me, that says that the other dancers don't see anything egotistical or insufferable about him. He's just an adorkably cute, hard-working kid who takes his craft very seriously -- and he and Louis Van Amstel's upcoming choreography are the only reasons I'm sticking around now that Nick and Iveta are history.

[Reia]

He also effectively hug mauled Ricky as soon as he was declared safe and stepped into the pit. For all my irritation with him, I couldn't help but chuckle at this; it was kind of endearing in its over the topness.

[imthatguy]

And if they can't be arsed to vote for him after an amazing Broadway routine, why would they vote for him after a vapid royal wedding piece filled with lumbering lifts?

From a half-arsed authority on the subject...two reasons. First, group numbers: he was stand-out amazing in the last Sonya number and was impressive in Chris Scott's top ten routine. He was as good as the others in Tyce's messy top 20 group number, which did no favors for anyone.

Second, his lumbering routine was no better or worse than that belabored cha-cha, the slow as molasses M. Moore number by Melanie/Marko, the "not much dancing" performance by Chris the truly untrained hip-hop boy, and the Jordan/Robert barely passable waltz. (I didn't see the Catilyn/Mitchell piece, so I have no take on it.) The three routines in the bottom deserved to be there, but the ones which weren't were nothing to brag about.

Thought of a 3rd reason: His well-executed solo on his first trip to the bottom probably confirmed interest for some viewers as well.

Edited by imthatguy, Jun 24, 2011 @ 12:42 PM.

[LostLostLost]

He also effectively hug mauled Ricky as soon as he was declared safe and stepped into the pit

Are Jess and Ricky roommates? I noticed that before he left the stage, he leaned towards Ryan and Ricky and said, "Rip it! You know what to do!" I can't be sure if he's saying that to one or both, but thought maybe the two of them were especially good friends or roommates. Just curious.

[OnceSane]

I don't know if Jess/Ricky are roommates, but it seems they have become friends. And it did seem like it was directed at Ricky, rather than Ryan (or rather than including Ryan).

[Luxx]

Ok, does anyone know how tall Jess actually is?

He seemed even shorter than Clarice when they were standing for judging after the contemporary. I can't see how they could concievably do a ballroom.

[ScampKid]

Well, they just did and it was awesome. I'm glad it wasn't the Samba, though. The Foxtrot really suited both of them. It still is a little weird to see Jess dwarfed by one of the shorter girls in the competition but their movements were so graceful I barely noticed.

[anothermi]

I really enjoyed this dance. It's interesting that Nigel called it "Broadway". Was he trying to pigeon hole Jess? This reminded me of the joyous foxtrot the Danny and Anya did (another Jean-Marc) in S3.

I wouldn't call it broadway but it is more like the Fred Astaire musicals than serious ballroom. And that is fine by me. It is a lot more entertaining that way, and still contained more ballroom moves than most of the other "ballroom" dances we get on this show.

[Cynthia187]

the Fred Astaire musicals than serious ballroom

I think that's why I loved it. I grew up watching Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers movies and I just loved that routine.

[imthatguy]

This routine was fun and made me smile. It felt more like a partnership than in their other two dances, so I suppose they're beginning to figure out how to make the challenges work for them.

I wouldn't call it broadway but it is more like the Fred Astaire musicals than serious ballroom.

It reminded me of how I felt about Danny and Anya's Foxtrot. There were lots of complaints of how their dance wasn't fully ballroom, but it was so darned entertaining, I remember not caring one whit. It still remains my favorite Foxtrot of all seasons, but this one by Jess and Clarice is now second.

[Thirdmonkey]

I am so happy to see that Jess has support growing after the very negative start he had at the beginning of the live shows. The way Nigel called him arrogant and replayed the clip of his audition reaction put him in a big hole with viewers. On a show that rewards "America's Favorite Dancer", I was afraid that there would be no way to overcome that "arrogant" label. I was so shocked when Nigel made the comment that Jess is one of his favorite dancers after the first week performance. I wonder if some of the choreographers told Nigel that the kid was pretty good and Nigel shouldn't shove him under the bus so soon (just speculation because I can't understand the change of tune). To his credit Jess has danced his way out of the bottom three.

I mentioned in another thread that I've seen Jess in our high school plays and musicals. He has a large presence onstage, and I think he uses that persona and facial expression whenever he is onstage. I am so glad that the behind-the-scenes footage shows his sense of humor.

Needless to say, he is our local favorite. I am looking forward to seeing Jess get hip hop and kill it!

[Cynthia187]

I didn't believe the arrogant card when Nigel played it, as we got burned by that during the third season with Danny. I think Nigel realized that he mislabeled Jess AND Nigel has seen that Jess can dance. The group dances and the routines say it all.

I hope he wins the competition. He's amazing to watch. I'm looking forward to the hip hop. I hope he kills it.

[OnceSane]

I'm looking forward to the hip hop. I hope he kills it.

I really hope they get hip hop next...I want to see him just go crazy on it.

[Haberdasher]

I wouldn't call it broadway but it is more like the Fred Astaire musicals than serious ballroom. And that is fine by me.

It's fine by me as well. I love that style of dancing, and would enjoy seeing more of it on the show.

I jumped on the Jess train as soon as I saw his audition because he's the sort of dancer I love to watch- both the genre, and the way he dances. I don't know how far he'll go on the show, but I really want to see him go far with his post SYTYCD career. That's what I'm really looking forward to seeing.

[LostLostLost]

Here's Jess, probably high school production, singing the lead in "Grease". Loaded in 2009, so he'd be no older than 15/16, but he looks about 13, so it could have been filmed earlier than that. He has a nice stage presence for one so young. His part is mainly in the first 2 1/2 minutes:
http://www.youtube.c...h?v=Q6tB3huNkCE

Also loaded in 2009, "Charleston" duet with a slightly taller girl, showing that he could handle a few lifts without much difficulty. Terribly cheesy beginning, but he shows some really nice technique for his age in the rest of the routine:
http://www.youtube.c...nel_video_title

A solo. Terrible film quality on this one, but it shows a great sense of humor:
http://www.youtube.c...h?v=kUxWj_itKIY

I could see him getting a toe in the door for Broadway in the future, especially for parts that read "plucky guy" or have the word "chutzpah" within the character description.