Instead of reviewing what I consider "the first real" episode of Season 6 of So You Think You Can Dance, I would like to dedicate this time and space to encouraging everyone who's not watching this show to give it a try. I've been watching this show since its second season and, all hyperbole aside, this season really promises to be the best season yet.
I say this as someone who's never seen a full episode of American Idol, Survivor, Fear Factor, or 90% of the other "reality-based television" shows. I say this as someone who's seen every episode of Lost at least twice. I say this as someone who's finally saved up enough money to buy the complete Battlestar Galactica box set on blu-ray. I say this as self-confessed comic dork who owns ever issue of Ultimate Spider-Man, Runaways, Fables, Y: The Last Man. Most importantly, however, I say this as a fan of rich story-telling and as a general fan of art and music.
On its surface, So You Think You Can Dance is cut from the same mold as American Idol. We have the three-to-four judges (including but not limited to a snippy Brit and an exhausting woman). We have the weeks' long "so-awful-it's-good" audition process. And we have the competition, the eliminations, and the drama. But So You Think You Can Dance offers so much more than American Idol or any of the other reality TV I've had the displeasure of catching glimpses of. Every week, we're treated to fresh and original choreography.
Some of the dances tell stories. Everyone last season was blown away by a dance that honored breast cancer survivors (perhaps now is a good time to say no subject or story is off limits). Some of the dances convey a mood or a feeling. And sometimes, it's just dancing for the sake of dancing (disco, anyone?). But it's good dancing. It's not some pop star wannabe covering a best-forgotten 80's power ballad. It's young and powerful dancers offering you, the viewing audience, something new -- something challenging and sometimes something profound.
I personally show up for the stories. You'd be amazed at some of the simple, yet profound, stories that can be told in two or three minutes of dance. Sometimes they're as small and heart-breaking as a failed relationship, others times they're as epic as the Norse gods themselves. Music, so often, can convey things that words cannot. Dance, coupled with compelling music, can express things in three minutes that two hour movies would have a hard time scratching the surface of.
Something magical must have happened at Fox during Season 5. Because it seems So You Think You Can Dance was finally given some money to play with. The stage is bigger, prettier, and generally more impressive. The new opening title sequence is appreciated, and Nigel (said snippy Brit) keeps saying Paula Abdul may be joining the show. But the best addition to Season 6 so far was the Top 20 Dance Show.
Usually we're treated to the coast-to-coast auditions, which culminates in a week in Las Vegas where the judges pick the Top 20. In the past, they jump right from Vegas to the show's first competition episode. This season, we were treated to an episode in which the Top 20 were able to meet with the show's choreographers and give us an extra hour of dance. It was nice to be able to meet everyone and see why the judges selected them, something that sometimes gets missed in the hustle-and-bustle of Vegas Week.
I know I'm doing nothing but singing its praises, but I'm willing to be honest and say that it's not all good. Judge Mary Murphy is unable to speak her thoughts. The poor girl must have been dropped one too many times or had one too many botoxes, because her communication setting is set permanently on "scream." And some of the dances are awkward, confusing, or horrifically boring (I'm looking at you, Peasant Russian Folk Dance!). But when it's good, it's the best hour of programming on television (this coming from a since-season-one fan of House).
Give it a try. Open your mind, relax, sit back, and let some of America's best dancers show you a new perspective on life.
The first episode aired tonight. So the first two dancers were eliminated. But it's so early in the competition, we've barely met any of the dancers. Now's your chance to jump on.
