Ok, so I don’t normally post about whatever wonky stuff I’m watching on tv.  However, I’ve been a bit peckish ever since last night’s So You Think You Can Dance episode and I just can’t seem to get it off my mind.

I’ll be up-front: I think Melinda should have been sent home last week, ignoring the fact that I don’t feel she even deserved to be in the show, to begin with.  Having said that, my blood is STILL boiling-ish over what Mia Michaels said to and about Melinda.

Last week, Nigel wanted to vote Melinda gone, but Mia and Adam wanted her to stay and sent Cristina home.  This week, it’s painfully obvious Melinda is struggling. 

So, in front of x millions of viewers and y hundreds of members of a live audience, Mia tells Melinda that they sent the wrong girl home last week.  Adam agreed, making sure to rub that salt in firmly.

Mia: It’s called “constructive criticism”.  I’m not saying lie or sugar coat.  I’m saying don’t be such an out-and-out BITCH.  Humiliation is neither necessary nor appreciated by the viewers, and I can’t even begin to imagine how Melinda felt.  Shame on you, Mia.  You were once young and inexperienced (or perhaps less formally trained, is the proper phrasing).  Shame on you.  Last night, on the 06/30/10 airing, you were little more than a schoolyard bully.

It almost makes me wish that loudmouthed, spastic, overtanned screaming shrew Mary Murphy were back.  Her voice and screaming always made me want to stab small, furry things (stuffed animals, thank you very much!) but at least I could mute her when she was going off the bend and when she DID give criticism, it was tempered with positive notes and reinforcement.  She told them what was off and how to work on it, even when she really didn’t like the routine.

Ad while we’re here..I really dislike the new format this season.  Let’s take this point by point, shall we?

• By only allowing 10 (oopsie! we’re going to make it 11 because we just oh-so-love Billy Bell – /gag) into the finals for the show, they crushed (more so than usual) the hopes and dreams of 10 wonderful dancers. 
• They announce that only 10 dancers (5 girls, 5  guys) will be allowed in the competition this year, putting extra freak-out mojo to everyone during auditions.
• Then, for not discernable reason, they change it to 5 girls and 6 guys.  I still don’t quite know why Billy Bell was allowed in.  It begs the question, why did they then NOT even the playing field and add a sixth girl?
• The chosen 11 pair up each week with a random-from-a-hat “All Star”, who by virtue of their training and abilities have a tendency to overpower the actual contestants’ moves and skills.

And lest I forget: someone for the love of all the merciless and unholy Gnomish gods, PLEASE teach that stupid Cat Deeley:

• how to dress in something other than a JiffyPop foil or potato sack
• short skirts + raised stage = nightmares
• how to freaking pronounce names ending in an “ah” sound, such as America, Melinda, Cristina, etc.  She’s better at it this year than ever before, but goddamn, woman!  Show the performers the basic respect of pronouncing their NAMES properly!

Oh, and Nigel?  Less tooth-whitening on those chicklets, my man.  In case of a power blackout, the man could simply smile and light up several counties at once.

~watergirl~

Note: As I am no longer able to dance, I am an armchair-dancer.  You have your football and are allowed to be an armchair-quarterback.  I don’t invade your living-room-cum-locker-room.  As such, kindly get the hell out of my bedroom-cum-dance show. 

Hrm.  Bedroom dance show. 

Thought derail ahead.  Danger, Will Robinson!  Danger!

Secondary note: do not email or message me about the use of “cum”.  It’s (mostly) proper English.  Taken from Dictionary.com

cum
–preposition
with; combined with; along with (usually used in combination): My garage-cum-workshop is well equipped.