Monday, March 7, 2011

Teldon's ABDC Rewatch Review: Season 5, Episode 4 - Chart Topper Challenge

The main guideline I am using for this challenge: Did the routine bring the song to life?

WEST COAST

Hype 5-0 dancing to "Imma Be" by Black Eyed Peas
Was it clean/Was it Difficult? Much cleaner and on point than their audition set.  The power levels were still there; they were just more evened out this time around.  Stunts were set up nicely, framed well and done just enough to add spice to the routine to where they did not take away from it. Only thing that got them was Jonathan was bit too slow in getting back into formation. 9 pts
Was it well thought out/How well did they handle the theme? Againm they did really well here.  They set up their formations up nicely and each one set up the next part of the routine.  Adding in big moves to the added sound effects helped things to stand out.  Only thing that truly hurt them was the cheesy ending.  It had no real place in the routine and took away from the great performance they just did. 8 pts
How well did they do the challenge? All in all I got a free spirit vibe from this routine which matched the song well.  It was a tough song but they did manage to make it work.  Nice job. 9 pts
What were the highlights? The wind-up toss
What, if anything, took away from the performance? The ending
Total points- 26 pts

Note- Please dear God quit letting Omarion speak.  Honestly I feel like I was watching a different routine then what the judges were watching.  I am getting the feeling this season is ot going to be fair at all.

Heavy Impact dancing to "Say Aah" by Trey Songz featuring Fabolous
Note-good lord just shut up about being big already.  We get it.  Artistry in Motion gave us the same spiel last season.  Plus I liked their name better as Heavy Hitters.  Just saying is all.
Was it clean/Was it Difficult? No, it was not.  Most of the routine someone was either hitting a move too soon or too late.  Also, someone was out of formation at all times.  They were much better than this last week.  Not sure if it is nerves or what, but the whole thing looked
liked a routine the junior dance squad would do. 4 pts
Was it well thought out/How well did they handle the theme? I could see where they were going in this one but just about everything in it looked the same, just in a different place on the stage.  There was no passion in this set at all. 3 pts
How well did they do the challenge? I think they were going for slow, sensual, and seductive.  It worked to a degree like in the song but when you focus just on one aspect of your performance like that it takes away from the rest. 6 pts
Total points- 13 pts
note- again can I please have a drag off what the judges are smoking?  I mean this is what two weeks in a row where Lil Mama is making the most sense.

Poreotix dancing to "Day 'n' Nite" by Kid Cudi
Was it clean/Was it Difficult? Not quite as clean and together as last week's routine. There were a few formation errors in the transistion up to the middle section and at the end.  Like last week, they were on point and together. 8 pts
Was it well thought out/How well did they handle the theme? They made a decent routine with this.  The beginning was superb, but the middle part with the twinkle toes and the shirt lifting didn't work for me.  The finger tutting was together, but over all it was weak. 7 pts
How well did they do the challenge? I can see what they were going for with this and the alarm clock reference was a smart move on the part of the crew. 9 pts
What were the highlights? the opening formation and the ending formation.
What, if anything, took away from the performance? The finger tutting.
Total points- 24 pts
Note- The judges nailed it on the head with their critique of them. SSDD (same s*** different day)

Did the judges get it right? Seriously, they put Hype 5-0 in the bottom again?  I can see Poreo being safe, but Heavy Impact needs a kick in the ass to get better on this show.
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THE SOUTH


Swagger Crew dancing to "Hard" by Rihanna featuring Young Jeezy
Was it clean/Was it Difficult? I need a moment. That was just, just, just....bad.  It was sloppy, no one was together, and it was simple. 2 pts
Was it well thought out/How well did they handle the theme? I honestly thought they were gonna save the routine when they went to the middle of the routine, until Liz broke out some of the wackest finger tutting ever done on the show.  Nothing was linked well into the routine. 2 pts
How well did they do the challenge? There was nothing hard about this routine.  Nothing that did the song any justice. 2 pts
What were the highlights? that it was over
Total points- 6 pts

Jungle Boogie dancing to "How Low" by Ludacris featuring Shawnna
Was it clean/Was it Difficult? Really good, this crew seems to have borrowed Hype's energy and improved on it.  Only problem here were formation errors that happened almost throughout the entire routine. 8 pts
Was it well thought out/How well did they handle the theme? This was the first truly well-executed routine of the night.  The most energy seemed to be put into their transistions and I have never seen that before on the show.  Some of the stunts could have been handled a bit better, but it was very nice. 9 pts
How well did they do the challenge? They kept true to themselves and to the spirit of the song.  They got low in every formation and transition in the routine. 10 pts
What were the highlights? When Raqi was on the other guys legs in formation when they went low.
What, if anything, took away from the performance? The first two stunts were not as strong as the ones did in the auditions and looked hella weak compared to the third one. 

Total points- 27 pts

Royal Flush dancing to "Down" by Jay Sean featuring Lil Wayne
Was it clean/Was it Difficult? Much better than their audition round, though they were off in the first few seconds of the routine and out of formation almost the whole routine.  With that said, they were more together this time around.  8 pts
Was it well thought out/How well did they handle the theme? You can tell they did not sit on their butts during the two weeks after their audition show.  They may not have known what song they were going to do, but you can see how well they thought everything through in this routine from the little things like the duo back flip at "I'll fly away" and the threading at "great escape".  Also I noticed that in each routine they let everyone have a few seconds to be the center of attention. 10 pts
How well did they do the challenge? This is another crew that understood thier song.  They brought thier personality into it and made the song seem like an extension of themselves. 10 pts
What were the highlights? The dup flip followed with the threading
What, if anything, took away from the performance? the first few seconds of the routine.
Total points- 28 pts

Did the judges get it right? This was a no brainer.  You have Jungle Boogie wake everyone up and then you have Royal Flush do a 180 and redeem themselves.  Sorry that you landed in the bottom. Swagger Crew.
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EAST COAST

Saltare dancing to "Hotel Room Service" by Pitbull
Was it clean/Was it Difficult? This was  better than the first time we saw them.  They added in more dancing that was a touch more difficult and that worked with their style.  The only thing that hurt them was poor floor work. 6 pts
Was it well thought out/How well did they handle the theme? Very well thought out.  When this crew is going well on the stage, they are very fluid with their movement into formation, lines and partner work. Each section (except the floor section) was stronger then the last one. 8 pts
How well did they do the challenge? I really did not get a feel for what they were really trying to do with this song.  It looked nice but even a year later I am confused. 7 pts
What were the highlights? the partner work
What, if anything, took away from the performance? The floor work
Total points- 21 pts

Static Noyze dancing to "Whatcha Say" by Jason DerĂ¼lo
Was it clean/Was it Difficult? Wonderful routine!  For a low key routine, every move had an amazing amount of power and passion put into it. The formations were good, the lines were great, the levels amazing. (10)pts
Was it well thought out/How well did they handle the theme? More than any other routine tonight, you knew they thought this planned out.  There was a clear story from beginning to end that was easy to follow and relate to. 10 pts
How well did they do the challenge? Again, simply flawless storytelling made the routine and the song stand out.  The still frame at the beginning and how they got back to it at the end was one of the best things ever done on that stage. 10 pts
What were the highlights? The whole thing
Total points- 30 pts

Blueprint Cru dancing to "That's Not My Name" by The Ting Tings
Was it clean/Was it Difficult? Difficult and hard hitting -- yes.  A touch sloppy in some parts toward the end. 9 pts
Was it well thought out/How well did they handle the theme? This was really well thought out.  You have to watch it many, many times just to get all the things, big and small, they threw at you out of the blue.  Great formations and transistion as well. 10 pts
How well did they do the challenge? They definitely made everything pop out for this routine.  Each beat seemed like it was getting something special. 10 pts
What were the highlights? EVerytime they threw out a surprise move.
Total points- 29 pts

Did the judges get it right?  Only reason I can agree with this is I do remember the first time I saw that Saltare routine and was blown away. Yes, it may not have been perfect but it was exciting the first time.
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SUDDEN DEATH:
Hype 5-0, Swagger Crew, Static Noyze dancing to "TiK ToK" by Kesha

Hype 5-0 - errr that was just sloppy work all around.  This was nothing like the last two routines they showed us or their last battle routine. Sure, the car was creative but you really had to look twice to even make out that that was what they were going for.
 

Swagger Crew- While it was clean and together, it was also boring.  There was no one moment in their battle section that stuck with me.

Static Noyze- Holy crap!  How do they keep managing to give us battle routines that damn good?  All four times they have danced now they have murdered it and this was no exception.

Who should win and why- It should be obvious who will be saved first.

Did the judges make the right choice?  Yes they did, though I think Hype 5-0 just barely survived this battle.  If Swagger would have been a bit harder in it,  they would have been saved.
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Thoughts on the eliminated crew- I know you guys had to change most of your routine at the last second and you had nothing ready for the show.  That is no excuse for this mess.  I respect the hell out you guys and know you work your butts off.  But let this be a lesson to the ten crews coming to the show for season six. Have a back-up routine ready to go at a moment's notice and if you feel like you are not going to be that strong on a Sudden Death, then put all your energy in the Sudden Death routine.
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Rankings (based on tonight's performances)
1. Static Noyze 30 pts
2. Blueprint Cru 29 pts
3. Royal Flush 28 pts
4. Jungle Boogie 27 pts
5. Hype 5-0 26 pts
6. Poreotix 24 pts
7. Saltare 21 pts
8. Heavy Impact 16 pts
9. Swagger Crew 6 pts
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Thought on the episode as a whole- I just want some of what the judges are smoking.  Most of their comments were coming out of left field tonight and itsent mixed signals to the crew.  Overall, a great Week One.  I consider any routine over 20 points to be good and anything over 25 points to be very good. We had a night where over half the crews were very good.  Not a bad way to start things off.

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