Tag: Dancing with the Stars

Fall Premieres – The Main Course Day 1

Hopefully we’ve all gotten enough rest this weekend, TV lovers, and cleared schedules and a large amount of digital space because tonight begins a veritable onslaught of premieres. So pace yourselves, kiddies, this is a marathon not a sprint.

COMEDY? ON CBS?

Neil Patrick Harris in How I Met Your Mother, Mondays on CBSNot to be a snob…oh who am I kidding, let the judgment commence! CBS’s Monday line-up cannot tickle my funny bone even with the natural powerhouse of hilarity NPH. I’ve given both How I Met Your Mother and Big Bang Theory a look on multiple occasions and while they obviously do it for some sect of TV viewers (the former in its fifth season, the latter its third) neither have won me over in the consistent laugh department. And I can’t even stomach flipping past Two and a Half Men in syndication. Perhaps it’s the live studio audience, multi-camera aspect that throws me (not since Will & Grace have I been an avid fan of such a series) or maybe it’s the seemingly average (aka safe) situation comedy that turns me off. Either way CBS’s two-hour block on Mondays has never made it onto the must watch list so I expect the newest series joining the party, Accidentally on Purpose, will follow suit.

Over to the short list of shows that continue to receive my attention, as long as they don’t disappoint (I’m talking most specifically to you Heroes). Dancing with the Stars has an intense three day premiere starting tonight so those sequins and sparkles have a lot of work to do. Heroes will premiere in just one night but with two hours introducing us to volume 5 “Redemption.” Coming off a lackluster finish last year, the only thing that kept me on board was the fantastic possibilities seen in the trailer, including a circus storyline and bringing on board Robert Knepper (aka the man who breathed life into Prison Break‘s memorable T-Bag) as the key villain.

SERIES THAT HAVE A PLACE ON THE DVR

  • 8/7c – Dancing with the Stars, ABC
  • 8/7c – Heroes, NBC

SERIES I’M RECONSIDERING

  • 10/9c – Castle, ABC

SERIES THAT HAVE YET TO IMPRESS

  • 8/7c – House, FOX
  • 8/7c – How I Met Your Mother, CBS
  • 9/8c – Big Bang Theory, CBS
  • 9:30/8:30c – Two and a Half Men, CBS

SERIES I DON’T EXPECT TO IMPRESS

  • 8:30/7:30c – Accidentally on Purpose, CBS (series premiere)

SERIES TO INDUGLE IN WHEN BORED (OR FEELING THE NEED TO MAKE FUN OF DAVID CARUSO)

  • 10/9c – CSI: Miami, CBS

Never too Old to Rock the VMAs

With the post-event media storm of Kanye/Taylor/Beyonce “drama,” it wasn’t the totally-expected a-hole actions of Kanye during yesterday’s MTV Video Music Awards that caused me to stir in my seat. That happened during Lady Gaga’s performance as right in the middle of her spectacular spectacle it was a backup dancer who, thanks to So You Think You Can Dance is now of rock star calibar status, made me immediately jump up and giddily exclaim, “Season 4 Mark!”

Mark from SYTYCD Season 4

Unlike the practically-guaranteed recording contract given to any top 10 American Idol contestant (those that can carry a tune, that is – Sanjaya, stick to the celeb-reality shows), the dancers on SYTYCD aren’t afforded as much opportunity to gain wide exposure, and usually never seem to have a forum bigger than the brief national tour held post-finale each year. So it’s exciting to see a contestant, especially one who had such a quirky style and stood out in several memorable pieces, have such prominent placement on a big stage like the VMAs.

Some have returned during the audition process and competition rounds to choreograph routines for subsequent seasons’ contestants (Travis and Dmitry are stellar examples of success) and some have shimmied their way over to ABC as pro partners on Dancing with the Stars (Lacey and Chelsie) but more often than not I wistfully wonder, “where are they now?” It’s most likely the nature of the profession, not having a dance equivalent of radio or iTunes to further their careers makes it tougher to follow a favorite, so to give their fledgling hoofers a boost the show should give a shout out every so often to those who have found dance employ, backup or otherwise, after finishing the competition.

Mama Loves Mambo

Actually mama really loves samba but either sexy latin flavor will do the trick, and I’m so looking forward to a bit of both this fall from dueling dance shows, Fox’s So You Think You Think You Can Dance and ABC’s Dancing with the Stars.

While ravenous for all-new episodes of SYTYCD that just ended its summer season recently, I fell behind in viewership of DWTS during its spring cycle, due mostly to a conflict of interest with other Monday and Tuesday night shows (the DVR Gods demand a sacrifice!), but with the names of this year’s “biggest cast ever” released I find myself, although somewhat confused — Tom Delay, really? Methinks he’ll be joining the ranks of Tucker Carlson as the first trainwreck to depart rather than surprise like a Warren Sapp hoofing it all the way to the finals; it’s the teddy bear appeal, the avid granny viewer eats that up — mostly intrigued and shall make an attempt to watch even though no “star” stands out for me to put my fanship behind at present. I do, however, always anticipate rooting for some gloriously incomprehensible and/or inappropriate comment from judge Bruno. It’s worth tuning in just for that Italian imp and all the agita he must give Disney censors.

Season 9 premieres September 21st.

Meanwhile Uncle Rupie’s Fox will premiere SYTYCD‘s first fall cycle on September 9th, coupled with new darling Glee (will save more giddy musings on that one for a later post). Coming on the heels of its fifth and most successful season to date SYTYCD may not be equal to American Idol in the ratings as yet, but give it time as each year continues to build huge viewer numbers as opposed to the Idol which only seems to be slipping in the ratings. SYTYCD has also never disappointed with the levels of contestant talent, and thereby makes this competition feel more legitimate rather than one that finds pleasure in so-bad-we-have-to-watch-to-see-what-they-do-next entertertainment (aka, no Sanjayas).Sanjaya

Showcasing not only talented dancers but also an amazing and varied group of choreographers, SYTCD garnered 5 Emmy nominations this year adding to its 6 previous noms and 3 wins, and for those of you unimpressed by such numbers I dare you not to be affected by some of the outstanding performances over the past 5 years most recently with “This Woman’s Work” from Emmy-nominated Tyce Diorio.

Other impressive routines run the gamut in flair and emotional response, from Wade Robson’s visually-arresting gothic, undead group number “Ramalama (Bang Bang),” Mia Michael’s love story on a bench “Calling You” and a heartbreaking hip-hop in Tabitha & Napoleon (or, NappyTab)’s “Bleeding Love.”