First of all… clam shells. The Flintstones used clam shells as currency. Not pebbles. Clam shells. Pebbles was the name of their daugh- *deep breath*
The end of that episode really bummed me out, you know that? Really. Bummed me the hell out.
I mean, I get it. Craziness. Craziness happened to the opening of this season– Look, it happened here at the FDL too, I know how it is! And I understand, from the producers standpoint there needed to be a quick, clean strategy for getting things back to normal again… but come on. Just give it to us straight, man. This wasn’t a real show, was it? Hmmm? Was it now?
Brandon wasn’t a competitor. He was another Melanie. He was a one-time replacement, and that’s why he went home. Like Melanie went home. And that’s why he’s gonna be “allowed” to audition again. Because he wasn’t actually a competitor. He never had a chance.
*sigh* I guess, I’m sort of mad at myself here. I should have totally expected this from the show and accounted for it in my picks. I totally blew it.
But you know what made it feel so weird? To me at least. And a bit like adding insult to injury?… was having Russell down there too. Sure, Russell’s Fox Trot wasn’t technically great. He had that very “steppy” area of the piece… but it was nowhere near as painful to watch as that labored pretzel thing in Keven and Karen’s Cha Cha…
I thought there were several male doozers, actually.
But even if it was the night’s weakest piece of technical dancing, it was a great moment of dance. A guy who you’d never expect to dance that well in a style so foreign to him… holding his own the way he did? With a brand new partner? A world champion? What?! That’s never been “dance for your life” material on this show. Those are the kind of stories this show is built on… they fuel its pop appeal… its ratings!
And whether great “moments” should be rewarded over great “dance” is irrelevant here… Nigel has said it before, “this is a competition for America’s favorite dancer”, and that says to me he understands the value of a contestant like Russell.
So why make him dance for his life? Well it seems fairly obvious to me. Tell me if I’m crazy to think this. The judges put Russell in the bottom, not because they thought he deserved it… a guy who continues to defy their expectation, and who appears to have a huge growth potential… no, they put him there because they needed him there for one reason and one reason only…
so that we could see his solo.
So that we could judge it next to Brandon’s and say… “yup… Brandon needs to go,” and then the judges could say back to us, “yes, glad we all agree on that. Brandon, you’ll be leaving us tonight.” Nigel couldn’t have gotten that phrase out faster, huh?
*Hmmpf*
Let’s imagine for a moment what it might have looked like, sounded like, if oh… I don’t know… Peter had been in the bottom. He was, after all, the other half of the dance that landed Ariana there. And I don’t know about you, but I didn’t see her dropping the ball that much more than he was. The piece, in general, wasn’t very strong.
So imagine him tapping for his life. With that strange floor mic that drowns out the music, a couple of toe hops (what are those called, again?), a split. How then might we have felt hearing…
- “Brandon, you will be leaving us tonight.”
- “Oh REEEEAAAALLLY???!!!”
- “BUUUUUUTTTTT… we’re gonna talk to Fox and see if MAYBE…. they’ll let you audition again next year.”
- “Yaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” *tears* *crowd* *applause*
Okay, this is a bit of an angry post, I admit. But again, I’m mostly just mad at myself…
…for believing in you Nigel.
Oh well, this Cave Man Dance should cheer me up.
The videos were found at machronicles.com, where you can see the rest of the dances from the evening. Check them out, and then tell me I’m a total conspiracy theorist. 
October 28, 2009 at 3:48 am
I think it was also about doing something they rarely do this early on… keeping half of a couple. Of course, we all knew Russell wasn’t going anywhere. Just look at what they said to him at the end of his dance!! Based on those comments, there’s no way we’d have picked him to have to dance for his life.
It’s kind of nice to hear that you weren’t as cynical as me. (Altho, it worked out in my favor because the dancer I didn’t like Monday night got lucky enough to get contemporary tonight.) I had no faith that they were going to keep Brandon. They didn’t pick him for the Top 20 and he was going to have to do something so great that they couldn’t cut him to keep him on the show over the guys they did want. I really think they should have just called this week a draw. Still make them do their dances, still critique them but knock Billy and Noelle out and move on.
October 28, 2009 at 3:57 am
Ack, somehow managed to submit that as I was still typing! Anyway, what I was still adding to my last paragraph was that calling it a draw would’ve made the whole thing feel less dirty. I mean, it’s not like the audience got to vote anyway so it’s not even like they’d have to find a way to fill an hour of show the next night. Instead what they did was SO obvious that now everyone’s calling bullsh*t on that judging and the season feels a bit tainted and we’re only one “competition” episode in…
And, yes, it’d suck for Noelle but injuries and illnesses happen. If you can’t compete, you can’t compete. Except, of course, they set a bad precedent during auditions when they let the same thing happen and they still chose the girl for the Top 20. I can see why they’d feel they’d have to give Noelle the same treatment.
October 28, 2009 at 6:45 am
So angry about how everything shook out at the end of the night. And after I was totally believing that this would be the best season since season 3. I even loved that all the notes by the Judges were pretty spot on and included some nice notes on what they should be working on. (the one thing that it seems these kind of shows never do).
Ugg!
October 28, 2009 at 9:39 am
Completely agree! I got home late and was shocked when I turned on the TV to see Russell dancing for his life (even though I love to see him krump, but that just proves your point, John, about why the judges would want to put him there). And when I watched the whole show, I still didn’t understand why Russell was in the bottom 2 guys. That show was just weird. I really hope that the World Series is done soon and SYTYCD can go back to normal where the audience has some say.
On another note, I’m totally eating humble pie after my lengthy bonus picks comment. I really thought Legacy was going to go home, and then he picks hip-hop (which, of course, he is amazing at) and has the best performance of the night.
I was positive it would be one of the hip-hop boys though, since when has SYTYCD had 4 of them in the Top 20? This will teach me to be smarter and keep my pick comments shorter in the future though, like most other people did. 
October 28, 2009 at 1:29 pm
I don’t watch SYTYCD on a regular enough basis to agree or argue with what you’re saying… but thanks for introducing me to that caveman dance. That totally rocked.
October 28, 2009 at 1:30 pm
I was really disappointed too, by the whole thing really. I knew right away that my picks were bad too, which put me in a bad mood from the start. I thought Brandon’s Smooth Waltz was actually kind of lovely for a Hip-Hop guy and their chemistry was great. Incidentally, that piece made me like Paula much more than I had and move her up a bit on my list.
I hope the show is redeemed next week, because right now I’m bummed right along with ya.
October 28, 2009 at 1:35 pm
Right there with you in thought… including the favorite!
October 28, 2009 at 3:02 pm
I said almost the same thing to my husband…the ONLY reason they picked Russell for bottom 2 was so that people like me would be like, “Whew, they kept Russell! What a relief!” at the end instead of being all up in arms about the obviously rigged, unfair treatment of Brandon. Nice try, but I am still up! In arms! I thought he handled himself REALLY well despite the raw deal he got. “You’re cut! Just kidding…you’re on the show! But we’re not going to give you enough time to do your best on national TV, and so you’ll be at a disadvantage and before you can blink, you’re cut! Again! But we’ll change the rules so you can COME BACK!!!…maybe. Fingers crossed for ya, old chap.” And maybe people will say well, that’s show business, but still, poor Brandon.
Sorry, I still have a lot of feelings about what happened last night.
October 28, 2009 at 3:35 pm
That was hardly an angry post John. More cross than angry. A bit miffed maybe.
I don’t play in the league, I’m english, but I do enjoy your blog.
C.
October 28, 2009 at 4:42 pm
Ugh. I meant Pauline in my earlier comment. I guess I’m still sad about Paula not being in the Top 20. Her and Billy were my faves of the audition part, so…
Also, I wanted to say I’m totally with you on the conspiracy theory. I immediately knew they put Russell in the bottom to justify sending Brandon home, since from everything I’ve read, they’d have to know he’s a fave.
And one more thing, I’m glad we have until next week to make our picks. I definitely needed more time.
October 28, 2009 at 9:04 pm
I kind of feel like this first show was a joke. The Brandon thing pisses me off, and I hope they will allow Billy to audition again next year! What “illness” did he get I wonder? Yeah my bonus pics were way off too. Oh and the Dilello couple- they bug me for some reason. My new nickname for the husband is “Bowflex.”On a more positive note, how amazingly awesome is Jacob? Wow.
October 28, 2009 at 9:33 pm
LOLOLOL!!!! Bowflex!!!!!!! I don’t feel bad laughing at that, because my gut tells me he would love the nickname.
Okay, wow, so I guess I’m really not alone in my anger. I mean seriously, that episode was a joke and a half. Ugg.
Also, am I the only one who cringed when Ellenore said their dance might be one of the best in the history of SYTYCD? And am I alone in thinking that it wasn’t even close to one of the best. Not even in this episode. For me Cave Men and the Travis piece were standout numbers.
Carol, you should consider playing in the future. We have some Germans, Austrians, and some Aussies in the FDL… are there any English men and or women here? I can’t remember.
Casey, yeah, that piece was pretty unexpected. The male dancer’s specialty is B-Boy and actually not this brand of Hip Hop (or so we’re told). Which means that while he’s really proficient at freestyle breakdance moves and showboating, he isn’t necessarily good at learning or executing choreography. In fact, during the auditions he looked really flustered trying to keep up. Which is why I think a few people thought he might go. I guess what I loved so much about the piece, aside from the concept, was seeing him work so well with a partner. So I understand what you’re saying, Vanessa, about him just happening to pick hip hop… but I do think, in general, he came into this competition at a training disadvantage. For me it was genuinely impressive to see him do so well.
That is of course if he really DOESN’T have much hop hop training. Which I suppose is the same question we’re asking ourselves about Russell and Kevin. But that discussion is for another blog post, I guess.
October 28, 2009 at 9:44 pm
OK this is the first time I watch a competition episode and I really believed the judges were super harsh, but no, not at all. Also, why is Mary the judge so loud? I mean it looks fake, but idk, was she like that all seasons?
And damn I thought Legacy was out, but well, he got lucky this time. Some dances were weird, some good, some boring. Looking forward to the next episodes! Hopefully Mary will not scream as much haha.
I love Russell and I agree, it didn’t make any sense for him to be in the bottom 2. Damn I should’ve picked Brandon for the bonus…
October 28, 2009 at 9:54 pm
And Kels, the official word is mono. But originally the rumor was swine flu. I doubt they took him out because they thought he might be contagious. If he was dancing on the Monday night show, he’s already had plenty of time to spread whatever he has to the other dancers. I can’t remember if that show was prerecorded days earlier… but if it was then even more so. I think they took him out because they were worried if it got worse he would have to bow out mid season… and that would disqualify him from competing on a future season. Nigel articulated that point VERY clearly in regards to Brandon’s situation. I think it served two purposes.
He’ll be back.
October 28, 2009 at 10:03 pm
Oh, Itz, that’s right. You were a total SYTYCD virgin last night. Ok, critical advice, (this is for everyone new to this show) you’re gonna need to keep your TV remote next to you at all times with your finger on the mute button. Mary will be screaming like that all season long. You may also find yourself getting seriously annoyed by Tyce’s phony bette midler/mafioso voice from time to time.
October 29, 2009 at 9:32 pm
I really need to watch this episode again, I had a power outage right as they said Russell would be dancing for his life? Which I was pretty sure I misheard, because didn’t they love him. So, when I see the episode in it’s entirety I’ll probably be angry, but right now I’m merely confused.
Thanks again Rae for giving me a recap!
Itz, Mary always screams like that. Some mute her, but I find I’ve built up a tolerance to her screaming. Now it’s like a soothing white noise…that makes my ears bleed. Oh Mary.
I loved the caveman dance, it was so odd because right up until that moment I found both of those contestants really annoying, and then they shut-up’d and danced and it was good. I sometimes have difficulty separating the personality from the talent. For instance I can barely look at “Bowflex”, but I have to admit he does have some moves.
If the Lark Master is angry how can any of us Larkers be happy? You don’t have to believe in Nigel, but you can still believe in dance.
October 30, 2009 at 9:46 am
Ugh I already hate Mary thanks to all her screaming, I mean I also speak loud sometimes, but not all the frigging time. Oh well, I’m enjoying SYTYCD a lot, and I’m trying to get all my friends to watch it, maybe next time they’ll join the FDL
November 29, 2009 at 10:35 am
this is NOT what i wanted soooooo boooo you. but im in a bad mode.this is a bite gay like.sorry but i dont like it. i wasted my time reading this stupid stuff.
November 29, 2009 at 7:09 pm
Umm, okay. Sooooooo… what was it exactly that you “wanted”? Maybe if I point you in the right direction, that will help get you out of your bad mode.