115 replies to this topic

[TWoP Roxy]

From comcast.com:

The ninth season begins with auditions in Dallas and New York.

[aps817]

So happy to have this show back!

[callie lee 29]

Two hours into the new season, already have some favorites and already hate Fox promo monkeys.

[BooNasty0121]

I think Hampton was wonderful. Damn him for making me cry along with Mary though...

[isiscloud]

What's up with Nigel being so nice and family friendly??

I'm surprised we didn't see more of the choreography session.

So far totally agree on the Direct-to-Vegas group. There seemed to be very few female dancers profiled. The woman with the adorable kids. Yum to the Australian male ballet dancer.

Summer is HERE!

[lucindabelle]

I think that was much better produced thatb the bloated auditions last year. It was so much more effective not to know Jarrell's mom was going blind in advance, for example-- very smart. Last year we would have had a few minutes of promo. Also I liked the way they primed us to think Sam Shreffler was going to be weirdly bad, then he turned out to be interesting and not untalened. I am a little disappointed we didn't see any ballroom dancers or Broadway dancers, even though they never ever ever ever win...

[Bleeding Love]

Luke and Stella were adorable.

[Indy1]

Hampton and the Swedish ballet dancer guy (whose name escapes me but I'm sure I'd butcher it even if I remembered it) were by far my favorites. Swedish guy was amazing and gorgeous. I want to watch him more. Hampton was freaky and creepy and every inch of his body moved like music.

Also, it might be because I"m totally hormonal today and want a baby, but that woman's little girl dancing was the cutest thing I've seen in a long time. Forget Hampton, she made me tear up.

What's up with Nigel being so nice and family friendly??

Seriously! I like it but it's also slightly unnerving. Maybe because it's the beginning of the audition season and he's not tired of bad dancers yet but it really seemed like someone removed the cranky, stodgy stick from his ass tonight. Maybe it really was vodka in his water glass....

Edited by Indy1, May 24, 2012 @ 9:14 PM.

[Mckeanna]

Blonde, half naked, Australian ballet dancer.... yes please! (shallow me is ok with this)

My only complaint was that to me, these auditions seemed a little guy heavy. I missed the first half hour but the only woman I can remember getting the full feature "story arc" was the woman with the two little kids, which was adorable.

[FathomsBelow]

I forgot how little actual auditions we get to see in these 'audition episodes'. I did like quite a few of them though, particularly the Swiss ballet lad (Chehon)? Yes please.

That hamster guy was a genuine asshole; while I respect where he's coming from, how he chose the borderline autistic guy to single out....how repulsive.

Edited because he's Swiss, not Swedish. Whoops.

Edited by FathomsBelow, May 24, 2012 @ 10:19 PM.

[svimouse]

Yum to the Australian male ballet dancer.

Daniel Baker was a repeat auditioner (a friend of Alex Wong) from Alex's audition year. He was shirtless in that audition too! Missed Cat, happy to see the show again.

Swedish guy was amazing and gorgeous.

Do you mean Chehon Wespi-Tschopp? I think he's Swiss.

Edited by svimouse, May 24, 2012 @ 9:17 PM.

[Actionmage]

That was mostly fun! I hope McKinney Mom( of the two adorable kids) gets further than Vegas.

If you would rant against a show "everyday"; you don't get to audition. Can that be a rule?

The first spooky guy was okay, but I really enjoyed the second gent.

20's girl was a bit schticky, but no big objections.

Even though I want a moritorium on dead family/friends, the gents who danced for his mom and friend (who died in 9/11) were very expressive and lovely dancers.

[Canadian Bakin]

Yes, the show is back, and I am too. (even as I complain about what is wrong with it every season)

Loved the Swiss ballet dancer, I felt like the Aussie guy was ripping off Alex Wong's audition (first one?) a bit, and then I saw this, so maybe that explains it.

Daniel Baker was a repeat auditioner (a friend of Alex Wong) from Alex's audition year. He was shirtless in that audition too!

I liked the two creepy dancers. The second one was quite amazing, though.

Last guy with the rhyming name that I've already forgotten I thought was a total cutie, and his dance made me smile. Even without the storyline, he was a winner to me.

[Lila82]

Chehon Wespi-Tschopp gets bonus points for:
- dancing to a rock/indie/pop/electronica song. So, so, so sick of the blah, boring instrumental and adult contemporary music choices
- looking like a hotter, buffer Bruno Mars but with just as much talent

He and Hampton were the best because they connected with their music. They didn't just choose pretty songs they could move well to, but songs that inspired emotional resonance, both in the audience and in themselves.

I really liked that Mom and Hampton danced to the same song but I FFed her and rewatched him. She was proficient and adorable (and really, those kids!!!), but halfway through his performance I forgot how much I despise Evanescence.

I'm not really impressed with any of the girls we saw, few of them as there were.

[Pache]

Although the auditions were female light, I can't complain. I really got contempo girled out over the last few seasons. There are only so many flailing arms and falling on the floor that I can take. The two women they focused on didn't flail much, so I liked them. It looks like they are finally branching out to pull in more male ballet contestants. Maybe now they will expand the female pool, especially with there being a guaranteed female winner. I love ballet but I don't want a female that requires a male forklift for the season. I want one who can show her talent and enrich a pairing. I would love more ballroom dancers too.

[Streya]

As much as I love good contemp dance, I was seriously jonesing for some ballroom, some tap... something different.

Hampton (2nd creepy guy?) just gutted me, it was stunning. I think that might be one of the only times in SYTYCD history (I didn't catch all of Season 1) that I know of where Nigel let the dancer dance the entire song to the end, he didn't cut Hampton off. That audition will haunt me.

[trojan69]

I am so over Nigel appearing to be the most aware of all causes man in the TV universe. Autism dude had no business on that stage. Does that statement make me guilty of autismism, or perhaps of being an autismist? Let's see Uncle Nigel put his money and reputation on a pure dance show filled only with those who are most sincere and who will never make it as a pro. He can call it "So You Love to Dance." Cat would be, of course, the ONLY choice to host.

I wish the best for that dude and for anyone who struggles to improve themselves. It takes courage and moxie and they are to be applauded; just not on the pinnacle of dance on American TV. Every frame used for autism dude was one less frame for a worthy contestant who may miss out because Ameriker did not see them until it was too late. My deeply held and very strong suspicion is that the entire effort was made to make the jidges, Nigel in particular, warm, human, and likable.

While complaining dude was annoying, I wanted to kiss him for exposing Nigel's little game. He was invited to take the stage AFTER Nigel knew of the dude's antipathy for the show. So, dude plays it straight. What happens? Nigel jumps all over HIM! The guy truthfully protested that he was there to dance, and only to dance. And Nigel tells HIM to shut up! Beautiful. Full marks to the dude. He took on 19 and Nigel and beat them at their own game. Rare, indeed.

[scruffy73]

Hampton killed it...and me. I was totally engrossed and when it laid on the floor at the end, I was near tears. I thought he was amazing. I don't care what he does in the show; he has blessed everybody tonight.

Sam - the autistic guy - was positive and I enjoyed him. I love how C, Mary, and Nigel validated him. Everybody needs that. Von Kipper is an asshole for calling him out for not deserving to be on stage. Somebody should have punched him in the face on his way out.

Bree and the kids tickled me. She was GREAT and that little girl made me smile like you wouldn't believe. She has showmanship already! I loved every second of it. She clearly watches her mommy practice and enjoys it.

I loved the little guy who said he game home to his mother having attempted suicide. What a burden for a child regardless of age. I can't imagine. His talent is amazing. I hope she is proud of him. He had me wanting to dance.

So did Jarrell Rochelle ("It rhymes"). He was great too.

The one who reallllllllly made me dance though was the one who did the "wiggle". I was wiggling all over the couch. I'm sexy and I know it...wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle... LOLLLLLLLLLLLLL

[Shant]

Full marks to the dude. He took on 19 and Nigel and beat them at their own game. Rare, indeed.

But this isn't a live show. 19 chose to air this audition. If they were in the slightest bit bothered with what he said, this guy would not have gotten a second of air time. I really don't think they give a crap about the guy and his overactive mouth, so the only one he beat was himself.

[JasTurtle]

I really liked the guy from Philly. His movements were beautiful. The mom too.

I actually enjoyed every dancer they sent through to Vegas. There was a lot of talent and joy tonight.

[trojan69]

But this isn't a live show. 19 chose to air this audition. If they were in the slightest bit bothered with what he said, this guy would not have gotten a second of air time. I really don't think they give a crap about the guy and his overactive mouth, so the only one he beat was himself.

Nigel thinks he "won." I say it was a profound indictment of his, and 19's, conceit. That they aired it oblivious to what really happened makes it all the more awesome. YMMV.

Edited by trojan69, May 24, 2012 @ 10:39 PM.

[aps817]

Nigel thinks he "won." I say it was a profound indictment of his, and 19's, conceit. That they aired it oblivious to what really happened makes it all the more awesome. YMMV.

I didn't get that at all. The kid just looked like an idiot to me.

[ElectricBoogalo]

The first thing that made him look like an idiot was saying that he was against auditioning for the show. If that's true, then DON'T AUDITION.

You can see the brief bit of Daniel Baker's 2007 audition here. He isn't listed as a member of the SF Ballet corps anymore.

I don't know how excited the producers expect me to be when they show dancers bursting through the doors with Vegas tickets when I haven't seen them dance (especially the ones who were sent to choreography since I didn't see their solos or their performance in the choreography section). I mean, yay, but I can't care too much since I can't tell if they are good dancers or have any personality.

Every time Lil C says "buck," I want Regina George to tell him to stop trying to make it happen.

What was with using the ANTM music when the Jerrell kid got his ticket?

Edited by ElectricBoogalo, May 24, 2012 @ 11:59 PM.

[RachelKM]

I kinda love that Daniel Baker said her "transformed [him]self into a dancer" of a caliber to dance of the SF Ballet (and Miami too?) no less because it would afford him an opportunity to come to the US as if he said he studied real hard and got an A on a math exam. Shit, I wish I could transform myself into a professional ballet dancer as a means to a goal... or you know, as a means to be a ballet dancer.

I really enjoyed the Swiss Ballet dancer. As mentioned above, he gets credit for interesting music as well as being a beautiful dancer.

I really enjoyed Bree and her kids. That little girl is actually pretty skilled, cuteness has some moves. She looked to be about 18mo maybe 2yr.

Hampton was beautiful to watch. When he was done I took a deep breath and realized it was because I'd forgotten to breathe for most of the time he was moving. I don't generally like that song much, or rather I'm tired of it, and didn't even notice it while Bree was dancing since I sorta tuned it out. But when Hampton was dancing, the movement and music worked together so well I actually heard and enjoyed the song.

I also like Jorell (sp?). Lovely dancer and he exudes a really nice energy and personality. I hate to agree with Nigel about anything, but his smile really does make you want to hug him.

As for 20s chick from the beginning was equal parts impressive and irritating. She really was fairly talented and her performance in the package being affecting a silent film star was actually quite good. And yet I found her bordering on tiresome which seems a bad sign when she was one one screen for less than 5 min.

[unspeakable]

While complaining dude was annoying, I wanted to kiss him for exposing Nigel's little game. He was invited to take the stage AFTER Nigel knew of the dude's antipathy for the show. So, dude plays it straight. What happens? Nigel jumps all over HIM! The guy truthfully protested that he was there to dance, and only to dance. And Nigel tells HIM to shut up! Beautiful. Full marks to the dude. He took on 19 and Nigel and beat them at their own game. Rare, indeed.

I agree. While somebody mentioned it was wrong for complaining dude to call out the autistic person (which it might have been), complaining dude may well have been on the spectrum himself, by the looks of it. Nigel indignantly ejected him from the stage (inviting others who shared his "attitude" to go with him) after lecturing him about his bad on-stage attitude in response to questions elicited by Nigel. But Nigel already knew what his opinions about the show were before coming up, and then Nigel engaged him in them. It was Nigel who used him for drama. It seemed to me that Lil' C was uncomfortable with the whole exchange, which is why his response to the dancer was not critical. I think that uncomfortableness was warranted, given the possibility of racism (however unintentional) at play in the whole exchange. I also think Nigel understood this, which is why he went to Lil' C first for comment, hoping he would be critical of the dancing.

Edited by unspeakable, May 25, 2012 @ 3:40 AM.

[Chavin]

Every time Lil C says "buck," I want Regina George to tell him to stop trying to make it happen.

LOL

I totally said (and thought) the same thing tonight, "STOP trying to make "buck" happen!"
There were several real surprises. I re-wround Hampton's and watched it again. Really amazing.

[Nume]

Very enjoyable first episode. The little girl was almost unbearably cute :D. And then followed immediately by the zombie guy who I enjoyed thoroughly, and then Hampton who managed to make me like a song that I formerly despised :P.

ETA: Just wanted to add that Hampton's was the first audition to ever make me actually cry, and it was funny because early in it when I saw Mary cry I thought, "Oh boy, one of those mary cry dances" but by the end of it I found myself crying too :P.

Edited by Nume, May 25, 2012 @ 5:00 AM.

[dramawitch]

I don't know, or care, who won in the "calling out" of Nigel and the show...at least between Nigel and the complaining dude. I think Cat won in the whole exchange because it simply showed what an amazing host she is. She tried to elicit some understanding in the apparent hypocrisy of the "I don't agree with the process and won't be upset if they cut me" argument. Cat seemed as charming and personable with the guy as she is with others even though she appeared to be somewhat confused of the whole thing. I love Cat Deeley. I'll overlook the fact that she's hosting The Choice because she is just so awesome!

[headoverhills]

Yay! My favourite show is back! Great auditions, liked everyone that got through. Hampton made me cry too, he was amazing. Anyone know what music the Swiss ballet guy danced to? I would love to get my hands on that!

[Purplex15]

I have never watched more than a few minutes of this show, but recorded it since there isn't much else on tv right now. I have to say, I was impressed. Hampton blew me away. I have always loved that song, and I'm glad others felt the same. I was beginning to think the late hour was making me more sensitive than usual ual