So Fox thought they could design a reality dance show just like “American Idol” and launch a smash hit.
So they thought wrong.
In its fifth week, “So You Think You Can Dance” has dropped viewers like it’s dropped dancers. This Wednesday, the final 16 charge the stage for their first live studio audience performance to get votes from viewers tuning in at home.
The dancers specialize in everything from hip-hop to modern ballet to krumping, although some just specialize in pearly whites and blond highlights.
Executive Producer Nigel Lythgoe made it clear during auditions that Fox was looking for talent, but more importantly, he was casting for a TV show and needed unforgettable personalities. Some of the best talent got booted before they ever got to booty-shaking.
After taped auditions in Chicago, L.A. and New York City, Lythgoe cut the competitors to 50 semifinalists, who were then subjected to a week of intense choreography classes in hip-hop, ballroom and salsa, among other styles.
As personalities–and mediocre moves–clashed with the five choreographers who doubled as judges, the dancers were slimmed down to 24, then 16. The winner dances his or her way to $100,000 and a luxury high-rise apartment in New York City.
The show had all of the potential of “Idol,” but Fox blew it by forgetting these words of wisdom: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
“Idol” capitalized on two successful things early on: First, viewers love watching bad auditions, and, secondly, viewers love watching Simon Cowell crush dreams.
The first two weeks of “Dance” featured exhausting shows of both good and bad auditions, but the show dragged with too much break dancing and not enough fake dancing. Lythgoe also couldn’t pull off Cowell’s no-bull personality, though not for lack of trying. Luckily, it looks as though he won’t have as much air time in upcoming episodes.
But if there’s one thing Fox knows how to exploit, it’s an amazing success story. Finalist Jamile McGee was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at a young age and told he wouldn’t be able to walk, let alone dance. So he’s a dance version of “Idol’s” medical miracle Anthony Fedorov?
“Dance” also conveniently kept around Allan, a decent dancer who packs a few more pounds with his plies (although ballroom dance choreographer Mary Murphy said he moves like an elephant). Just one more way Fox is ignorantly showing America that overweight people can sing (Ruben Studdard and Scott Savol) and dance, and ignorantly showing overweight people that America might actually vote for them.
The final 16 do boast some talent: Blake, a pretty boy with a pooch, is already a professional dancer whose moves should get him far if he tones down the attitude.
Ryan’s head-spinning also is impressive–almost as much as his Sonic-the-Hedgehog spiked coiff. And watching someone else do what you wish you could will always generate appeal.
At least the show gives dancers a workout while viewers exercise their channelsurfing, hand-to-remote coordination.
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Megan’s picks
– Who wouldn’t watch a show about smoking joints? Check out “Weeds” at 9 p.m. every Monday on Showtime, with repeats Wednesday and Friday.
– We can’t believe it either. “Tommy Lee Goes to College” debuts at 8 p.m. Tuesday on NBC.
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Edited by Curt Wagner (cwwagner@tribune.com) and Kris Karnopp (kkarnopp@tribune.com)
