dmmetler

I think it says something that on Dance Moms, the parents claim to be stuck and unable to escape, but in Kim of Queens, on the same network, parents are choosing to leave if they didn't like the edit or felt it was too ramped up for drama. I can also understand leaving the show if you were used to your little group being Kim's priority, since the show tended to bring in a new girl and mostly focus on her for a week.

I guess they forgot that the Warblers are member-led and don't have an outside director. If Kurt had been attending a more traditional university within Ohio (and University of Cincinnati has a great progam), it wouldn't be unreasonable to get teaching certification along with a performing arts degree and to do a semester of student teaching-but he would have needed to do that under Will, who actually IS a certified teacher, not under Rachel, who has less formal education than he does. Sadly, I'm sure I'm going to end up watching this mess...

On Finn's speech/accent, Finn's speech is a lot like mine (after 14 YEARS of speech therapy), and often you do have an easier time getting those sounds in a foreign language, when playing a character role, or while singing. The reason is that usually those sort of long-standing articulation disorders are motor control disorders and when you learn to speak a different language or sing, you're using slightly different parts of the brain in different ways, which is enough to sort of reset the system, and you're actively listening to yourself to provide feedback. When you are speaking normally, it takes concentration to not fall into the pattern that is normal for you-and you cannot hear the difference when you slip. So, the first time you do a Southern Accent, or even the first 100 times, it sounds good. But if you were ever in a situation when you're playing that role all day, every day, you'll eventually lose those sounds within that accent, too. I almost wonder if Rachel suggested the accent thing for Finn's benefit. Because, honestly, that's probably his best bet to come off well.

Maddie has more expression and personality on stage than Nia? really? Nia isn't the best dancer, but when it comes to performing, she's got a lot more personality and life than Maddie, who always looks/acts the same. Does Sarah go to school? I don't know many kids who would rather sit with mom than other kids even at 4-5.

One thing I wonder is why they allow such a variation in team size in competition. It seems like it would be impossible to compare 20 kids to 2.

It was a bit chaotic for me, but overall, I liked it. I liked the fact that to the doctor, things like Madame Pompadour, which were so significant for the audience, just were enough to bring on a sense of déjà vu. I like Vastra, Jenny, and Strax. And I think that Capaldi has the opportunity to become a great doctor. I do wish they hadn't killed the dinosaur, though. I kind of mentally wanted her to stay with Vastra-after all, if a lizard woman can get by in Victorian London without comment, surely she could keep a pet tyrannosaurus in the garden :). I wish "Missy" had been River Song in the library. the doctor is married, darn it! He is NOT supposed to have a sweetie somewhere (I didn't like him marrying River, either, but at least I want him to be faithful!). Similarly, the idea that 12 missed by Clara not being his girlfriend really bugs me-because 12 is the form that actually MARRIED River, and she popped up all over the place in his timeline. Best part for me-the preview. Gotta love Daleks :) I do think. I'll be watching later episodes delayed, though-having to sit through all the commercials on the BBCA first broadcast was painful.

One reason why I love sharing this with my DD is both the good sportsmanship and the fact that, ultimately, almost everyone (everyone, so far, out of the US competitors) will fail at some point, so success is defined as improving, getting past that obstacle you fell on last year, finishing the finals course when last year you were a wildcard, and so on. And hubris usually leads to a fall.

I think they were in the intramural gym at Tennessee State University-if so, it's not a huge gym (although it does have more seating than most high schools would). The layout and parking looked right, and I know TSU does rent that building for community events (my DD cheers at a rec level, and their state competition is usually in that building). I do have to ask-do they not sell tickets for these competitons, even a limited spectator fee? One major reason for doing so is to avoid going over capacity. It just seems strange that the competitions are so poorly organized.

I think that Asia's invite to Planet Hollywood has a lot more to do with Lifetime TV's cameras than with Billy OR Anthony.

I had a flashback to "Gypsy" (the musical based on the life of Gypsy Rose Lee), when her stage mom/manager "accidentally" book her into a burlesque house and then actively pressure the teenager into stripping, Of course, Lee, even in the height of her career, performed more covered and in less explicit ways than Asia does at age 8-her "gimmick" was that she actively talked and interacted with the audience, without actually taking off much. Just like Rose, Kristy seems willing to do whatever it takes to get her child to be famous, whatever the cost.

I notice that Abby still can't seem to see beyond a child's skin color/facial structure in planning dances for them. I like Loree and she seems very calm and stable-which means Jade probably isn't long for the show. Mackenzie is what, 8?, 9? That's a pretty self-conscious age, She needs support, not ridicule. And I can't blame her for being less than confident with improvising not just in front of a group of girls where she's the youngest and a hyper-critical teacher, but in front of a camera. Poor kid, and her mom didn't help at all. I've been rewatching the first two seasons since they're on Amazon Prime, and it strikes me just how much more life all the girls had at the start of the show. They really seemed to enjoy being there most of the time, and to take Abby in stride. It's not just Chloe, although she's one of the most changed. Part of it, I know, is getting older, but I think they're all burned out and have been hurt, badly, by this experience. I really hope this is either the last season entirely, or the last season for this group of girls.

And so do the parents-I don't remember which mom it was who commented that she can tell when a coach has really put in the time with the girls and how good they were, but that stood out to me. There's no trash talking or bringing another team down. Effort and skill is recognized, and the win is never assumed to be in the bag.

One thing I really love is how supportive Dianna is of the girls-not only being OK with missing practice or competition for events in their lives, but setting it up for her boyfriend to ask her. I was also glad to see the lyrical because that is a different style, and one that some of the girls may never have had a chance to learn (as I said on TwOP, I used to teach at a school in Memphis that had a majorette team, and for most of the girls, it was the first dance class they'd ever taken.). Sunjay and Kayla's discussion was neat for the same reason. It's so different from Dance Moms that it's hard to believe it's on the same network-this hardens more back to Cheerleader Nation.

FYI-if you have Amazon Prime, a lot of the Glee albums are available for free streaming or download on Prime Music

Asia could blow out her knee dancing, too, and end her career. I can't see why skating at a birthday party is such a big deal. She's not even 10 yet, so sacrificing her normal "kid" life in favor of a career seems way too early. Sadly, I suspect the photo shoot that had to be at the same time as little sister's birthday was set up for drama.

I'm more closely aligned with Billy-it seems kind of silly to complain about a song sung by an 8 yr old as being "childish". Asia can be pushed into dancing to mature music and in mature costumes, but you can't make a little kid's voice sound like an adult's, so enjoy being a kid.

Yawn...so, the kid that was set up to win won. How surprising...

At 8, she may only have been in 2nd grade when this was filmed, and if so, multiplication was a new skill. Even early in 3rd, it's not out of character for a kid to still struggle with it, so that doesn't bother me too much.

It really seems like Kirstie ought to hire a tutor for school, then step back and let Asia's team of coaches handle it. Asia has a manager/vocal/acting coach and multiple dance teachers and choreographers. Be her mom, be Bella's mom, and stop trying to micromanage the kid. More than almost any of the reality TV kids, It does seem like Asia wants this, and age 8, if she didn't, there'd be pushback. Her mom doesn't seem to realize it.

My conclusion-Asia is probably the most "grown up" person on the show-or maybe Bella is! Otherwise, it's a big bunch of nothing. Asia strikes me as a kid playing a role and manipulating adults who think they're in control.

OK...the mom mentioned like 30 hours/week or more of regular stuff...when is the kid doing schoolwork? I know homeschooling is more time-efficient, but in my state, there's still 180 days a year required and you have to cover the same core subjects.

Abby's book was available for digital check out from my local library, so I checked it out for a trip yesterday. All I can say is that she has a good ghostwriter, because the book actually makes sense as far as training the small percentage of kids who actually want a professional dance career and have the natural abilities to make it a possibility. Too bad what she's done on her shows is so different from what her book is proposing.

I'm really enjoying the teen tournament, though-in large part because while they seem to have cast based on their usual patterns (ie-tear-jerking back stories), the teens don't seem with the process, and are focused on actually cooking.

It's back! Again, I really like that this what they always do, although I'm sure the show got more girls at tryouts (I have to be honest, I would have been tempted to drive my daughter to Jackson to do the clinic, just because). The girls weren't surprised or stressed beyond what is reasonable for trying out for a competitive team. Compare that with the whole last season of dance moms, and it's a whole different world. I still adore Ms. Dianna, and her true enthusiasm and joy in watching the tryout solos was refreshing. The moms seem great through the whole process. They're competitive, but not in a way that breaks down the other girls to make theirs look better. I loved Camryn's mother and how supportive she is. I think Sunjai may just be too fragile looking to be quite as effective at this dance style as, say, Kayla. I've seen that in my daughter's dance studio-often the girls who look best in ballet look downright silly doing hip-hop, even when they're amazing dancers with great technique. I like the girl, but she just seems like a better fit for a more classical program. Crystianna simply panicked a bit. At 11, she has all the time in the world, and she certainly is skilled. Her getting the position is the only thing that makes me think producer intervention. I assume Camryn is taking dance classes elsewhere as well. I wanted to hug her and reassure her that a performing arts school isn't the only route towards becoming a professional. I'm glad she got the co-captain spot.

I know it would be less interesting for TV,but in many respects I wish they'd have everyone run the same course for the qualifier/finals just so it IS comparing apples-apples. Not just for the women, but for the men, too. It really seems like the qualifying courses simply weren't all focusing on the same things this year, and since the first set of obstacles for the finals IS the qualifying course, that carries to the finals as well.