Cue that theme music...

Posted: Tuesday, August 31, 2010 by Travis Cody in
14



Woops! We're not live from Hollywood yet.

But we will be on 20 September!!
 

In the meantime, here are the celebrities participating in Season 11 in alphabetical order:
 

Audrina Partridge was featured on the MTV series The Hills. She has also acted in the films Sorority Row, Into the Blue 2, and Honey 2.



Brandy Norwood is a platinum-selling R&B singer, actor, and songwriter. She knows her way around the music business and Hollywood, and is also involved in Make-A-Wish Foundation and her own The Norwood Kids Foundation to support music and the arts in public schools.


Bristol Palin is best known as the daughter of the former governor of Alaska and 2008 Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin.


David Hasselhoff is an actor, singer, and writer.  He is best known for his roles on the TV programs Knight Rider and Baywatch.  He has also starred on Broadway and in films.


Florence Henderson is an actor, singer, and author.  She is probably best known for her role as Carol Brady on The Brady Bunch.  But her career spans decades and genres, from recording artist to film actor to TV talk show host to Broadway performer to writer to philanthropist.



Jennifer Grey!!!!  Oh...uhm...sorry.  I got carried away.  Jennifer Grey is an actor best known for her performances in Dirty Dancing and Ferris Bueller's Day Off.  "Nobody puts Baby in a corner."  I'm jazzed!



Kurt Warner won Super Bowl XXXIV as quarterback of the St Louis Rams, and led the Arizona Cardinals to the first Super Bowl in franchise history in 2008.  He is a two-time NFL MVP who retired from football after last season to focus on spending more time with his family and working on his non-profit foundation.



Kyle Massey is an actor, currently starring as Cory Baxter on the show Cory in the House on Disney Channel, a role he originated on the Disney program That's So Raven.  He devotes his spare time to working with Feed the Children, and is also an avid and accomplished golfer.



Margaret Cho is an accomplished comedienne, an actor, and a best selling writer.  Her comedy plays in any medium, be it TV or clubs or on the off-Broadway stage.  She devotes her time to advocating for equal rights, and is a vocal activist.



Michael Bolton is a Grammy winning vocalist and songwriter, with more than 53 million records sold.  His Michael Bolton Charities Inc organization has raised and dispersed more than $6m to support at risk women and children.



Mike Sorrentino is featured on the MTV program The Jersey Shore.



Rick Fox is a former NBA player who starred at North Carolina and then was drafted by the Boston Celtics.  He then went on to win three NBA championships with my Lakers.  After retiring from the NBA, he became an actor and producer.


There they are!  I think it's an interesting group, and I've already got a couple of pre-show favorites with Ms Grey and Mr Fox.


And if I may so advise...pay no attention to all the negativity you're likely to read about this cast.  The fact is, nobody knows how good or bad the celebrities are going to be until they step out on the floor. 


I think the pro pairings will be announced later in the week.  You know I'll tell you about it as soon as I find out, so check back!


And don't forget to tune in for the premier on 20 September!  Or check in here on 21 September and I'll tell you what happened!


What?


Of course I'm excited!!!  This announcement is worth breaking hiatus.


Later gang!

Send your Peace Globe into space - NASA is calling

Posted: Monday, August 30, 2010 by Travis Cody in
7

Mimi of Mimi Writes, the founder of the Blog Blast for Peace movement, has found another way for us to spread the peace message.

Here's the word directly from Mimi...


I just launched my face into space on this peace globe via NASA's program called "Face In Space." NASA has invited the public to send their images and names into space on the remaining two final Shuttle Missions. It was fun! The Endeavor launches November 1, 2010 just three days before peace globes fly. Perfect! Once the astronauts return to Earth, you will be given a flight certificate signed by the Mission Commander that is printable from your computer. You can choose which flight you'd like to participate in. The second launch is in 2011. I chose to fly on the Endeavor Mission.

Once you've uploaded the image you will need do a little cropping to fit it inside the shuttle window but the tool is right there on the site for you. I sent this image and cropped my face into the window (see graphic above). How cool to have little blue wishes of peace floating in orbit from all around the world. IMAGINE!

Go here to upload your image to NASA. It's easy! It took about 10 minutes to complete. You even hear a simulated lift-off announcement and see the launch with your face in the shuttle window. Soooo cool and pretty amazing.

https://faceinspace.nasa.gov

You must be 13 years or older to participate.

PLEASE let me know when you do this so that I can keep count of how many peace globes there are in space.

How awesome to know that our peace globe presence will be soaring through the atmosphere at the same time we're launching BlogBlast here on Earth.
It's us.
Totally.

Yup.  It's totally us.

I uploaded this Peace Globe from Nov 2008.




Won't you take a few moments and upload yours? 

Five on Friday Set 31

Posted: Friday, August 27, 2010 by Travis Cody in
14



There's always been something about the sound of The Mamas and the Papas for me.  The harmonies sound perfect to my untrained ear.  

Mama Cass Elliot (1941-1974) was taken much too young, dead from a heart attack at 32.  John Phillips (1935-2001) died of heart failure only days after finishing a new album called Phillips 66.  Denny Doherty (1940-2007) died from an abdominal aneurysm.

Michelle Phillips is the last surviving member of the group.

So Set 31...The Mamas and the Papas.



Get a playlist! Standalone player Get Ringtones





As always, if you'd like to join us in the musical fun, the guidelines are basic and simple.

1. Grab the banner, make your post title Five on Friday, and be sure to link back here.
2. Go to Playlist.com to make your play list of five songs. You may choose a particular theme to share with us, or post random tunes if that's your vibe for the day. You can simply post the play list, or you can add a little summary about what you are sharing.
2a. Don't feel restricted by the tracks listed on Playlist.com. And don't be discouraged if the Embed code won't work. You're welcome to use any type of media to share your Sets.
3. Be sure to sign Mr Linky so everyone can visit your Set.
4. No tags, but feel free to invite your friends to play along if they need a post topic on a Friday.

Go forth and enjoy music!


Congrats to Auburn WA Little League

Posted: by Travis Cody in
3

Just wanted to do a quick shout out to the kids from the Northwest Little League Champs from Auburn Washington.  They were eliminated from the 2010 LLWS championship last night as they lost to the kids from Pearland Texas.

Well done fellas!


I wanted to post a picture of the kids, but for some reason I'm not able to upload any photographs.  I keep getting a "server rejected" message...even for pictures I actually took with my own camera.


So YAY for the kids and BOO on Blogger.

Please consider

Posted: Thursday, August 26, 2010 by Travis Cody in
10

On the turning away
From the pale and downtrodden
And the words they say
Which we won't understand
Don't accept that what's happening
Is just a case of others' suffering
Or you'll find that you're joining in
The turning away

It's a sin that somehow
Light is changing to shadow
And casting its shroud
Over all we have known
Unaware how the ranks have grown
Driven on by a heart of stone
We could find that we're all alone
In the dream of the proud

On the wings of the night
As the daytime is stirring
Where the speechless unite
In a silent accord
Using words you will find are strange
Mesmerized as they light the flame
Feel the new wind of change
On the wings of the night

No more turning away
From the weak and the weary
No more turning away
From the coldness inside
Just a world that we all must share
It's not enough just to stand and stare
Is it only a dream that there'll be
No more turning away


On the Turning Away
Written by David Gilmour and Anthony Moore
Recorded by Pink Floyd, released in 1987 on the album A Momentary Lapse of Reason


I believe that words have power, so messages like this matter.  Please consider joining us on 4 November 2010 for the 7th Blog Blast for Peace.  

No more turning away.

Dona Nobis Pacem.


Five on Friday Set 30

Posted: Friday, August 20, 2010 by Travis Cody in
9


Of course I'll interrupt my hiatus for Five on Friday!  I always reserve the right to post while I'm taking a  break.

I'll return to a complete blogging schedule by 20 Sept.  I might be back sooner than that, but certainly not any later.  Why no later?  Because 20 Sept is the premier of Dancing with the Stars!!  You know I'll be here for that.

So to recap...Travis is on hiatus until 20 Sept, except for Five on Friday posts and the occasional drop in when he needs to speak up about something.

OK?

Here's Set 30...a tribute to bubblegum pop!


Get a playlist! Standalone player Get Ringtones




As always, if you'd like to join us in the musical fun, the guidelines are basic and simple.

1. Grab the banner, make your post title Five on Friday, and be sure to link back here.
2. Go to Playlist.com to make your play list of five songs. You may choose a particular theme to share with us, or post random tunes if that's your vibe for the day. You can simply post the play list, or you can add a little summary about what you are sharing.
2a. Don't feel restricted by the tracks listed on Playlist.com. And don't be discouraged if the Embed code won't work. You're welcome to use any type of media to share your Sets.
3. Be sure to sign Mr Linky so everyone can visit your Set.
4. No tags, but feel free to invite your friends to play along if they need a post topic on a Friday.

Go forth and enjoy music!

Hiatus Interruptus

Posted: Thursday, August 19, 2010 by Travis Cody in
7

We briefly interrupt this hiatus, because I wanted to speak.

  • I support marriage equality.
  • I support the Cordoba House/Park 51 community center in Manhattan.

That is all.  Carry on.

Hiatus

Posted: Monday, August 16, 2010 by Travis Cody in
14



Hey gang...I need a break.  See you soon.

Five on Friday Set 29

Posted: Friday, August 13, 2010 by Travis Cody in
10



Welcome to Set 29!   This week I thought we'd get our groove on to a bit of Doobie Bros.

If you're here for SYTYCD results, scroll on down.  I've got a post full of links to some incredible dances from Season 7.


Get a playlist! Standalone player Get Ringtones



As always, if you'd like to join us in the musical fun, the guidelines are basic and simple.

1. Grab the banner, make your post title Five on Friday, and be sure to link back here.
2. Go to Playlist.com to make your play list of five songs. You may choose a particular theme to share with us, or post random tunes if that's your vibe for the day. You can simply post the play list, or you can add a little summary about what you are sharing.
2a. Don't feel restricted by the tracks listed on Playlist.com. And don't be discouraged if the Embed code won't work. You're welcome to use any type of media to share your Sets.
3. Be sure to sign Mr Linky so everyone can visit your Set.
4. No tags, but feel free to invite your friends to play along if they need a post topic on a Friday.

Go forth and enjoy music! 

And cue music...

Posted: by Travis Cody in
9


Welcome to the finale!

We've got our fru-fru finery, our wine and cheese, and our CAKE.  We are ready to find out who will be named America's Favorite Dancer for Season 7.

Will it be Kent Boyd?  Will it be Lauren Froderman?  Will it be Robert Roldan?

Let's have a final round of encores, shall we?  These are our favorite routines from Wednesday's performance finale.  It looks like the embed police got to these, so I'll just give you the links.


We liked the contemporary piece from Lauren and Robert.  Click here...the dance begins at about 0:52.


We liked the Cha Cha Cha from Lauren and All Star Pasha.  Click here...the dance begins at about 0:53.


The Broadway piece from Robert and All Star Kathryn could have been our choice dance of the night.  Grrrrrrrr...could not find a clip of this dance.


We gave dance of the night honors to the contemporary piece from Kent and All Star Allison.  Rats!  This clip is also missing.


Season 7 Top 3 - Robert, Lauren, Kent


Best of luck to all three finalists...here we go!


The group number features a combination of our All Stars and the return of our Top 11 dancers.  Yes, I said the Top 11...including Alex Wong, who makes an appearance on stage in a chair.  The stage is full of dancers and the piece finishes with our Top 3, front and center.  It was choreographed by Christopher Scott.

Cat is looking stunning with the free flowing hair and a soft peach colored frock.  LEGSSES for the last time!


We have a packed judging table with Nigel Lythgoe, Mia Michaels, Adam Shankman, Tyce Diorio, Stacey Tookey, Kenny Ortega...and the return of the fabulous Mary Murphy.  I have missed the Hot Tamale Train!

Let's begin the parade of favorite dances from Season 7.


Kenny Ortega selects the Shoeless Joe number choreographed by Tyce Diorio, danced by Kent and All Star Neil.  Click here.


Billy Bell, Top 6
Nigel selects the amazing Mad World number choreographed by Stacey Tookey number, danced by Billy and All Star Ade.  This piece competes for my "moment" of the season.  Click here.


Special guest...Quest, featuring SYTYCD alums Ryan and Hok.  Wow!


AdeChike Torbert, Top 4
Mia selects the emotional Fallin' piece choreographed by Tabitha and Napoleon, danced by AdeChike and All Star Comfort.  This is basically hip hop theatre, and another competitor for my "moment".  Click here.


Kent and All Star Anya recreate their Cha Cha Cha, danced to My First Kiss.  Click here.


Tyce selects the Scars number choreographed by Tabitha and Napoleon, danced by Robert and All Star Dominic.  This is the scary clown number, and another piece of hip hop theatre.  Click here.

Now we have some footage from National Dance Day, which was 31 July.

Special performance...it's Nigel, but he walks out on a pair of crutches with a huge bandage on his foot.  That's a reference to the horrible injury luck we had this season.  This cute little guy comes out and says he'll fill in...he's 7 and his name is Luke Spring.  And he's a ringer!  He's got every tap step you can name. 


Special guests...the Manzari Brothers, a pair of outstanding tap dancers from National Dance Day.  Click here.


Nigel selects the Argentine Tango choreographed by Miriam and Leonardo, danced by Lauren and All Star Pasha.  Sorry, couldn't find the clip.


Russell, Season 6
Adam selects the Fix You piece choreographed by Travis Wall, danced by Robert and All Star Allison.  Click here.


Season 6 champion Russell Ferguson returns to krump with Lil C.  I don't generally like this style of dance, but this young man is stunningly talented.

Jose Ruiz, Top 6
Mary Murphy selects the Battle for the Beat hip hop piece choreographed by Tabitha and Napoleon, danced by Jose and All Star Dominic.  Click here.


Special guest...Charlie Bruce, winner of SYTYCD Great Britain, dancing with All Star Neil in a piece choreographed by Mandy Moore.  She is tremendous.  Click here.


Oh...it's the first elimination.  The third place finisher is Robert Roldan.  He flirted often with the bottom three, and the judges rewarded his potential each time by selecting him to stay in the competition.  He finally started to connect with voters and I'm glad.  I think he has grown so much over the competition and should look forward to an amazing career.  



Now it's down to Kent or Allison.  

Adam selects the My Chick Bad number choreographed by Tabitha and Napoleon, danced by Lauren and All Star Twitch.  Click here.  


Alex Wong, injured
Cat picks a favorite...it's the Hallelujah routine from the first week, choreographed by Sonya Tayeh and danced brilliantly by Alex and All Star Allison.  We get it on tape because Alex is still unable to dance due to injury.  Yet one more candidate for my "moment" of the season.  Click here.


Stacey Tookey selects the Bollywood piece choreographed by Nakul, danced by Billy and Robert.  Click here.


Mia selects the How It Ends piece choreographed by Travis Wall, danced by Kent and All Star Neil.  There are so many amazing moments from this season.  One more candidate for my "moment" of Season 7.  And it was even better this second time.  Click here.


Special musical guest...Black Gold performing the exit song Shine.


Now it's the big surprise...remember the fantastic hip hop number danced by Alex and Twitch?  Well guess who recreates it?  Twitch and...Ellen Degeneres!  HA!  Don't kid yourself.  The gal can get it done.  She's no Alex, but she was doing her thang.  Here's the awesome original version.  Yeah...that one's on my list of moments too.

I think you get the idea...this was a great season driven by outstanding choreography and an incredibly talented group of dancers.  It's a shame that there were so many injuries that cut short the time for two promising dancers.  But that's part of the game, and I say it takes nothing away from what turned out to be an excellent summer season of dance.


Oh...it's time.


Second place is Kent Boyd.






That means America's Favorite Dancer for Season 7 is Lauren Froderman!




Lauren joins former champions Nick Lazzarini, Benji Scwimmer, Sabra Johnson, Joshua Allen, Jeanine Mason, and Russell Ferguson.


Well done young Lady!!







And cue music...

Posted: Thursday, August 12, 2010 by Travis Cody in
2

Welcome to the performance finale of



That's right friends and neighbors...it's the Top 3 and one of them is going to be crowned America's Favorite Dancer for Season 7.

Huzzah!

I must first tell you that Cat is looking splendid in basic black with hair in long, loose, ringlets.  Have I said this before?  The woman has LEGSSES and is gorgeous.

I must next tell you that it's just the normal judging trio of Adam Shankman, Mia Michaels, and Nigel Lythgoe.

And one more thing...I must tell you that I have enjoyed this season.  I liked having the All Stars.  I liked going straight to a Top 10/11.  I think it was wise for the judges to have elimination control for as long as they did.  I found the level of talent generally to be superb.

In short, despite a wealth of media complaints and negative reviews about Season 7, I am quite satisfied with the program.  I think whomever emerges victorious will have earned it, and will be a worthy champion.

Now let's have some finale dancing!  It's four individual routines plus a solo for each dancer.  That's a lot!


Kent is paired with All Star Lauren for Bollywood choreographed by Nakul.  This dance had a ton of energy.  It was cheeky and a bit silly, and a lot of fun.  I thought the choreography had a distinct hip hop flavor to it.  The music didn't sound like typical Indian fare for Bollywood.  Maybe it was Indian hip hop?  I don't know.  I do know that I enjoyed the performance.  Nakul captured Kent's essential "Kentness" and made excellent use of it.  I'm not an expert in this style, but I thought the routine was well danced.  Kent never lost his energy and he played the character right through the entire piece.  An excellent start.

Lauren is paired with All Star Twitch for hip hop choreographed by Tabitha and Napoleon D'Umo.  She held her own the first time she danced with Twitch and I expect nothing less this time.  However, she had some trouble maintaining synch during some of the side by side work.  This dance required more hit and rebound.  It wasn't the lyrical style that I prefer from Tab & Nap.  The dancing felt a little bit sloppy to me.  I did like the concept of a debate between the two of them, but I think it could have been performed much better.  Lauren has the skill and I like her strength, but it's probably a good thing that she danced this routine first because I don't think this was her best foot forward.


Robert is paired with All Star Mark for jazz choreographed by Tyce Diorio.  This is an intriguing partnership because both have a quirky groove about their dancing.  But right off I can say that this is not my favorite choreography.  There's too much stopping and starting.  I didn't really like the jerkiness in the movement.  Because of that quality, it was hard to get into the dancing.  I thought Robert matched Mark movement for movement, but I thought that there were moments when they were out of synch and not really connecting with each other.  I didn't really care for the piece, but that is no reflection on Robert or Mark.  My dislike was about the choreography.  I'm often hit or miss with Tyce and this time was a miss.


Kent dances solo after his interview with Cat.  Such a talented young man.


Lauren and Robert dance contemporary choreographed by Dee Caspary.  Dancing with a prop can be dicey...they have to manage a pillow throughout the piece.  Sometimes a prop like that overwhelms the dancing.  But they made it look effortless.  The pillow simply became a part of the whole.  I didn't really understand the purpose of it though.  I thought the dancing was beautiful, with or without the pillow, and perhaps that was the point.  Lauren and Robert demonstrated technique, athleticism, strength, and artistry.  And Dee Caspary has been an outstanding addition to the show.  He made another wonderful dance, and Lauren and Robert interpreted it with drama and passion.  That was really well done.

Lauren and Kent dance jazz choreographed by Mandy Moore.  Three minutes to catch her breath and change her costume?  Now that's a taste of what it's like to dance on Broadway.  This was all about personality...the goofy and geeky kind.  But I'm a little disappointed in Mandy because I didn't think the choreography lived up to a finale performance.  The kids did what they were asked to do, but it looked more like a high school cheerleading routine than a dance for two kids trying to win $250k.  They played through it and showed off their personalities to good effect, but I wanted a lot more from it.  The best I can say is that it was fun and enjoyable and they danced great, but I just didn't think it was right for the penultimate performance.


Robert dances solo after his interview with Cat.  He's had such a terrific journey through the show.


Kent is paired with All Star Allison for contemporary choreographed by Stacey Tookey.  I've come to expect tremendous dancing from Kent, and he certainly delivered that.  But what was captivating was his emotional depth.  Allison is a stunningly expressive dancer, putting her soul into everything she does.  Kent matched that, reaching down and continuing to mature.  He was within the movement and the music and the story, and the moment with Allison.  Both of them invested in each other and the relationship between them in dance.  There have been so many extraordinary moments this season, and this was another one.  I say artistry in dance is achieved in that moment when you forget you are watching a choreographed performance.  I thought there were parts of this piece that reached that pinnacle.

Lauren dances solo after her interview with Cat.  She is pure joy to watch.


Robert is paired with All Star Kathryn for Broadway choreographed by Spencer Liff.  I love how Spencer incorporated so much of the Jerome Robbins style of movement in this piece, updating it but still respecting the brilliance of the original.  It's wonderful to watch classic musical theatre...Cool from West Side Story...interpreted with a current eye.  And I thought Robert did a fantastic job of acting through the opening bars.  This routine was stylish and incredibly well choreographed.  The dancing was tremendous, and showed Robert's versatility.  He seems to be at home in nearly any style he's given.  If Robert doesn't win, I can see him returning to SYTYCD in the future as an All Star...if he's available.  I suspect he's going to work fairly regularly. 

Lauren is paired with All Star Pasha for Cha Cha Cha choreographed by Tony Meredith and Melanie Lapatin.  That was HAWT!  Wow!  I didn't see her take a wrong step.  The choreography was amazingly difficult, with tough tricks and lifts plus just about every step you'd find in a competitive Cha Cha Cha routine.  I was watching her legs and hip positions, and I thought she was solid.  She looked like she's been dancing with Pasha forever.  All those great little details...the looks, the winks, the head bobs and tilts...all of that was there and enhanced the performance.  Lauren played off Pasha.  She connected with him in the piece, and she invited the audience into the routine with them.  Sexy, cheeky, powerful, energetic.  And she makes it look effortless.  Absolutely outstanding.

Kent and Robert dance Malevos fight routine choreographed by Miriam Larici and Leonardo Barrionuevo.  This is a first for the show.  The footwork was so intricate and they both handled it quite well.  I thought they really captured the aggression in the mood of the piece.  The choreography was dynamic but also sophisticated.  And both dancers interpreted the menace inherent in the piece, while also maintaining an elegance.  I think the overall performance and flavor of the routine trumped any lack of precision.  I really enjoyed the performance and appreciated how difficult that routine was in the short time they had to learn it, particularly after all the varied dancing they did just this week. 


Call the competitive performances well and thoroughly closed for Season 7.  Bravo Robert.  Brava Lauren.  Bravo Kent.



Can they all three win?  Seriously, I'm OK with any of these outstanding dancers as our champion.  So guess what?  We took a pass.


That's right gang...we did not vote!  We just couldn't choose.


So we shall let the rest of America decide, and be happy with whomever is proclaimed favorite.


Tune in tonight for results.  We'll expand the judging panel and certainly see some of the favorite routines from the season.  There will be special guests.  


And eventually...at the end of two hours...we'll find out who is America's Favorite Dancer.


Later gang!