SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE- Page 2

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 5/21/09 at 11:18pm

I can certainly see how Mary Murphy could strike someone as utterly strange and annoying. As I've watched since day one, I've just grown to accept her as part and parcel of the show.

[Amaranth9]

Posted: 5/21/09 at 11:42pm

It was great to see Natalie again; I was sad when she was let go last season. The authenticity the judges noted really struck me in both of her auditions. I also really like the first girl from New York.

As for Mary, I used to get really annoyed by her- still do, sometimes. But she grew on me and she really knows her stuff when critiquing ballroom.

[blondebaby589]

Posted: 5/22/09 at 8:02am

I agree about Mary. She can be a bit much, but she knows what she's talking about. I guess I've learned to accept her antics.

I was extremely happy to see Natalie and that other guy (Brendan?) come back too. They both have such unique styles.

[Jane2]

Posted: 5/22/09 at 8:56am

Well, I'm pretty sensitive to sights and sounds. At this point, I still don't want to hear her, so I may just mute the tv when she's on, because I do like to watch the dancing.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 5/22/09 at 11:55am

Mary makes my skin crawl, as does the homophobic Nigel with his bad teeth. But usually the guest judge is fun.

I may not be able to watch this season after the way the network decided to treat the two men who auditioned together. They were ridiculed by the judges who should know better, and I was surprised at Mary Murphy and the guest judge, whose choreography I respected last season.

Nigel at least was clear saying "You'd alienate too much of our audience..." paraphrasing of course...knowing that they'd never dance together again while on the show unless they were the last two men standing.

I thought the two of them were brave and, though I didnt think they were talented or ready enough for the show, should've been given the same respect as others.

They gave more respect to the woman who did a light sabre dance dressed as a lion.

I think I'm done...and sad about it.

[blondebaby589]

Posted: 5/22/09 at 12:03pm

I agree doodle. The judges definitely could have handled that much better. Laughing in their faces was completely unnecessary. The only good point I heard came from Mary when she said that she was confused and distracted when they kept switching the "male" and "female" roles of ballroom dancing. I think that was a perfectly acceptable thing to say since that's the type of thing a ballroom choreographer looks at.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 5/22/09 at 12:18pm

Meh...I still think it was snarky. How much imagination does it take? They were apparently good enough to go through to the choreography round...oh wait, that was just to "see if they can dance with girls..."

Honestly?! Because they are so gay they could never have danced with a girl before?! What was that? Mary's an idiot, but I definitely expected better from the guest judge who was confused by the "woman's gesture". Guess what...it's not a woman's gesture when a A MAN DOES IT, imbecile!

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 5/22/09 at 12:44pm

I love Cat, but anyone who doesn't think that Ryan Seacrest is superb at his job, has no clue what his job entails.

Good or not, I fast-forwarded every time Ryan opened his mouth. I watch and listen to Cat. She is superb. True, she doesn't ogle and practically make out with the contestants, but it's one of the things I like about her.

That human being who sits in the middle with her mouth open in a square shape who just screams bloody murder or cackles like a witch is too much for me to take. Why is she permitted to carry on like that?

Mary is definitely an acquired taste. She annoyed me a bit at first, too. But then I listened to her comments and critique and she is really fantastic. She (as well as all the judges) are incredibly constructive and supportive. Her reaction to the last auditionee last night (I forget his name, but he got booted at the end of the Vegas auditions last season).

Yes, I agree Nigel handled the male/male ballroom couple poorly, especially when he said it would alienate some audience members. I think he was rather out-of-touch and short-sighted. I do not believe he is homophobic, however. I don't think this show has as strong of a Christian conservative demographic as American Idol and the show has strongly supported gay contestants in the past. Had the guys actually watched the show and the audition process, they would have realized how poorly prepared they were for the audition. But it was clear they were there to promote same-sex ballroom dancing and they made it through to the choreography round, despite a rather sloppy performance, and they accomplished their task. If they had hoped to make it to the top 20, then they were simply delusional if they thought the audition was going to get them through.

I really only thought they were treated unfairly, in part, by Nigel. Mary and Sonya were obviously jarred by the performance, as they were by many others, but in their critique, they made some valid points in their difficulty with following the partnership, given their own backgrounds and experience in the traditional form, which was not adhered in the men's performance. I think if both men were strong performers, they could have come up with a better routine (and costumes) that would have wowed the judges and the audience, but they just didn't know how to execute their performance in a way that was moving or effective. The show has M/M performances every season that are strong, artistic and entertaining (and you can't tell me Benji and Travis rolling around in stage with their faces planted deep into the others crotch was NOT homoerotic). These guys just didn't do their homework and for the most part, I reacted similarly to the judges. It was like the ribbon boy from Julliard last season (?) who couldn't believe his wildly flamboyant gestures weren't masculine (though his audition was far superior to the M/M pair last night).

Updated On: 5/22/09 at 12:44 PM

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 5/22/09 at 1:22pm

I disagree. I certainly dont think they should've been cast on the show, I dont think they that good, but they should've been respected, and they werent.

And, I love Cat too. Best reality host, imo. I only wish she wouldnt let the audience say "jidges!"

[blondebaby589]

Posted: 5/22/09 at 1:24pm

I only wish she wouldnt let the audience say "jidges!"

Yeah, it's a little obnoxious.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 5/22/09 at 3:14pm

Maybe I need to watch it again, but other than Nigel's cringe-worthy comments, I just didn't see a level of disrespect given to those guys any more than other dancers who were not well-prepared to audition, especially if they are taking a risk by presenting something foreign to the panel. Like I said, with a good routine, excellent execution and some regular clothes or dance-wear, I've no doubt the judges would have handled it differently. Falling on their asses attempting a lift certainly didn't help. That alone would have sent them home for most other couples. I really think the judges were put in an awkward position of trying to navigate their way through an awkward performance.

[Q]

Posted: 5/22/09 at 4:02pm

Andy Towle was offended - and so were most of the responders to his blog post.
Link.

[Jane2]

Posted: 5/22/09 at 4:09pm

"I can certainly see how Mary Murphy could strike someone as utterly strange and annoying."

Instead of the word "strange", I'd go the other way and use the word "common." When she opens a mouth like that, it strikes me as lacking any civilized upbringing!

Sorry to bring up the topic of Mary again. She turns me off.

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 5/22/09 at 4:57pm

I guess there's no HOT TAMALE TRAIN in your future, Jane!

[Jane2]

Posted: 5/22/09 at 4:58pm

Maybe, what are those?

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 5/22/09 at 4:59pm

Ok, so I read the Towleroad article which does shed some rather damning light on Nigel and I would hope we get a response from Nigel himself on the subject. That being said, the article does have its rather biased inaccuracies to paint Nigel as a villain to the gay community which I simply don't buy. The used examples of his prior "homophobic" comments which included his saying a dancer performed "like someone's taken a broomstick and shoved it up where the sun don't shine". Saying you look like you have a stick up your ass is not homophobic. And the effeminate ribbon-boy again. The kid was quite effeminate and since the competition demands its performers to assume characters and roles of both strong masculinity and soft femininity from both sexes, it was a valid concern. When the kid challenged Nigel on his comment, it totally backfired on him (and "backfired" is not meant as a homophobic comment).

Putting it all into perspective, I find the whole incident, including Nigel's comments FAR less homophobic and disrespectful than the sickening bile constantly spewed by Cowell an Secrest on American Idol purposefully staged to generate buzz and boost ratings.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 5/22/09 at 5:15pm

Oh God, Namo's gonna be all over me for that post. But on the other hand, maybe not.

HOT TAMALE TRAIN!!! WOOOOOOOH WOOOOOOHHHH!!!

PS - Jane, coming from Texas, Mary's behavior is nothing out of the norm. She's a saucy Southern gal who likes to make some noise when she sees something she likes. It's considered a term of endearment and a compliment. It's shrill and alarming, but it's not without its charms.

Updated On: 5/22/09 at 05:15 PM

[blondebaby589]

Posted: 5/22/09 at 6:37pm

I have to admit, I love the Hot Tamale Train.

[StockardFan]

Posted: 5/22/09 at 6:53pm

"Maybe, what are those?"

Jane now it is totally obvious you mute her!

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 5/22/09 at 9:24pm

Nigel is very tough on any male dancer that does anything the considers to be "unmasculine".
Watch for the finals and he will pick apart those guys and say things about the look in their face and the way they moved their hand and stuff like that.

[Jane2]

Posted: 5/22/09 at 9:32pm

Are we talking about the same thing? I'm talking about her screeching on top of her lungs for a loooooong time.

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 5/22/09 at 9:33pm

Jane - That is what she does when she does the train. She goes, "You are BACK on that train.....WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO"

[Jane2]

Posted: 5/22/09 at 9:51pm

oh, we might be talking about different things.

what I can't stand is when she laughs.

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 5/22/09 at 9:54pm

Ah yes. Then it is two totally different things.

[blondebaby589]

Posted: 5/22/09 at 11:26pm

MTVMANN, Nigel gives critiques to the men concerning femininity occasionally because the entire show is about dancing with a partner, and in partnering there is a distinct feminine and a masculine role. But I don't remember him really "picking apart" a whole lot of the men in the top 20 about femininity. The contestants don't usually need that particular critique at that point in the competition.