Tapped Out
Well, as some of you might remember I posted a blog a couple weeks ago about my favorite show, So You Think You Can Dance. Well, that enamored post was written before the top 20 announcement on Thursday night.I must say that I seem to have "lost that lovin' feelin'."
Despite a number of amazing dancers who should have been shoo-ins to the top 20 danc-ers to compete for the title of America’s Favorite Dancer, we got Susie Garcia.
http://video.aol.com/video-detail/auditions-susie-garcia/125146154
Garcia is a high school teacher in Florida (need I say more?) who gyrates, it really can’t be called dancing, to a typically Latin beat. I mean come on, is Garcia really and truly a better dancer than Brandon Bryant, Evan Kasprzak or Kelli Baker?
Bryant, a contemporary dancer, showcased his skills in a routine that proved he was the one to contend with, but after that first audition, the producers never showed Bryant’s talents again, leaving viewers to wonder what he could have possibly done wrong enough to lose a spot in the top 20 to someone less talented.
http://video.aol.com/video-detail/brandon-bryant-audition/1843209910
Kasprzak was a throwback to the days of Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire with his effortless dancing and powerful tricks. He made his routine look as though he just floated through it without any effort. It was fantastic. But did he make it into the top 20? Of course not. They weren’t looking for the best dancer, they wanted dancers who America would either love or hate, no in between.
http://video.aol.com/video-detail/evan-audition/3856457243
And Baker, the adorable daughter of famed choreographer of the High School Musical series of movies, gave a stellar, and heartfelt, performance. Everything she felt during her audition was plastered on her face for the world to see, but the wonderful (sarcasm here) judges of SYTYCD said she didn’t have enough “personality” to make it into the top 20!
http://video.aol.com/video-detail/kelli-audition/1625807638
When are they going to realize that those of us who love the show don’t watch it for so-called “house drama” or catfights and bar brawls. We watch to see amazing performers and fantastic choreography showcased in a competition setting. I could care less which dancer doesn’t like the other. I just want to see them dance.
It seems however that the competition is slanted to force America to pick the winner the judges want. It seems that contemporary dancer Kourtni Lind is already the heavy favorite among the judges.
http://video.aol.com/video-detail/auditions-kourtni-lind/1400949034
Most of the other dancers appear to be nothing more than filler to ensure her survival throughout the competition.

Jamie-
I am glad that someone else has this guilty pleasure. I only started watching American Idol the past couple years (I had to take this one off) since I fell in love with So You Think You Can Dance. I must admit, I liked the old format better when the dancers switched partners each week. I hope they go back to that this year. But I did miss the announcement of the top 20 on Thursday. I’ll have to wait and see- but we’ll have to keep comparing favorites!!