Category: Popular Culture

So You Think You Can Dance Canada, Week Two

Why did I title this post “A Force to Be Recognized”? Because one of the four SYTYCD Canada judges, Jean-Marc Genereux, a French Canadian who often guest-hosts or choreographs on Do You Think You Can Dance (U.S.), was apparently criticized for his English after last week’s first SYTYCD Canada when he said one couple were “a force to be recognized” rather than “a force to reckon with.” But, I dunno, I think “a force to be recognized” captures the essence of what this show is about.

In particular, I love this couple! Arassay and Nico. She’s from Cuba, living with her father in British Columbia for under a year, and he’s from Quebec. I’m sure neither of them minds that Jean-Marc’s English isn’t perfect. The video is a little long, because it includes not only the clip of this week’s Theatre Dark Angel dance (notice how I spelled Theatre, because this is SYTYCD Canada) but the preceding interview bit and the judging at the end. But the dance is definitely worth it to watch.

Now, my question. Why are there four judges on SYTYCD Canada when there are only three on the original American version? For that matter, why are there also four judges on Canadian Idol? I’ve never been able to figure that out. The rest of the dance show follows the American format to a tee, more than Canadian Idol follows American Idol actually, because this year Canadian Idol had a top 22 instead of a top 20 and the show also didn’t restrict the finalists to the same number of males and females. As a result, I believe (I only watched one episode of Canadian Idol this year) the male finalists outnumbered the girls from the start. I actually prefer that. I’d rather see the true Top 20 singers (or Top 22) than have them split along gender lines.

What say you?

(P.S. If Teresa E. is reading this, I tried to make the accents above Genereux using your instructions, but they didn’t work. I’m accent-impaired).

I’ve cancelled my Bebo account (for those unfamiliar with Bebo, it’s similar to MySpace). Unfortunately, for the past several months, I’ve received far too many spam messages that I just have to go in and delete. I also found that I rarely used the service after the first few weeks once I set it up. That said, I would have stayed on if not for the spam—especially the aggravating porno comments mass-sent via cell phone—because I loved the template that I found to showcase my profile and books. But the spam wasn’t worth it. So, to my bona fide Bebo friends, bye-bye! If you want to find me on a social networking site, I’m still on MySpace and intend to stay there. I’m also on Goodreads and Shelfari, although I’m thinking of losing Shelfari, too. Adding books there is a PITA. For some reason, the program runs slow on my computer. I don’t have that problem with Goodreads.

For those who use social networks, which ones are you on and which of those do you find worth your time? Which have you left and why? I’ve never joined Facebook, for example, because I’m already on MySpace and I don’t want to set myself up for another Bebo experience. For those on Facebook, would you recommend it? How about Twitter?

Gah, I’ve just let go of Bebo! Do I really want to saddle myself with another social network? Right now I feel social-networked up the whazoo. I need and want to focus on my writing for the next several months.

Any Dexter fans out there? What did you think of last night’s Season 3 opening episode? It’s on my PVR, so don’t give away any episode spoilers before I’ve had a chance to watch it. But I would like to know if you watch Dexter, why does the series appeal to you? Do you think Dexter is a sympathetic character? Or do you just find him fascinating (as I do)? (Not to mention perfectly cast…)

Conversely, have you tried watching an episode or two and turned away in disgust?

I didn’t discover Dexter until partway through the first season. A family member received Season One as a Xmas gift last year, so I watched the entire season in a couple of sittings and tried my best NOT to watch any episodes of Season Two as they were airing, because I wanted to watch the season all at once again. I accomplished this treat a couple of weeks ago. Now, I find the character of Dexter intensely fascinating and complex. However, at the end of the second season I found myself wondering where they could possibly take Season 3 that would maintain Dexter as an interesting and somewhat sympathetic character. So many questions about his past were answered in Seasons 1 and 2. So what does he do now? Just go on his merry, slashing way?

I accidentally stumbled upon this news story about Season 3. Warning, the news story contains the following spoiler, which I’ve quoted in white font, so if YOU WANT TO READ IT, highlight it. If you don’t want to read it, DON’T HIGHLIGHT IT!!

This season, Dexter will make a mistake: He will kill someone who is innocent. The vigilante killer, the avenger of miscarried justice, will be forced to confront his own culpability. That moral crisis will precipitate a potential emotional meltdown, according to Clyde Phillips, Dexter’s head writer and executive producer.

Hmm, velly interesting. I like it! Except for the one unfortunate occurrence in the spoiler, of course. What I like even better is that Jimmy Smits is appearing in Season 3. Yes, it looks like it’s gearing up to be another great season of Dexter. Too bad I can’t seem to find the series on my HD channel (this is Canada, remember, and we don’t get Showtime). I’m hooked on the series enough that I’m willing to do something I rarely do—watch a non-HD channel. Our TV is humongoid, and non-HD just isn’t the same….

Channel-surfing a few days ago, I discovered that So You Think You Can Dance has a spin-off: SYTYCD Canada. Yippee! I adore So You Think You Can Dance. After watching a couple of seasons of Dancing with the Stars and then trying SYTYCD, this spring I didn’t have the slightest urge to watch even one single full episode of Stars, but I watched the entire season of SYTYCD. You see, I decided there was only room in my life for ONE TV reality dance show, and so I had to choose (sorry, Stars, I didn’t choose you).

Why did I choose SYTYCD? Because, to me, it feels more real. I love knowing that, for the most part, these are real dancers with big dreams who just need a break. Sound familiar? It does if you’re a writer. I love watching the dancers realize their gifts…and their limitations. I love seeing them break out of the pack to prove that they do so have what it takes—like Twitch and Joshua from the last season of SYTYCD (although I did love Will and Kherington…very sad when both were voted off). And now I don’t have to get my dance-show fix from Dancing with the Stars, because CTV has seen fit to indulge me with So You Think You Can Dance Canada. Yes, I even get to hear Mary Murphy scream.

How about you? Do you watch reality TV? Are you a fan of Dancing with the Stars and/or So You Think Can Dance? Which show do you like better? Why? Are you jealous that I get to watch another season of SYTYCD while you’re stuck watching another season of Stars?