EricaShadows

As a fellow refugee from TWOP-land, I say hello. Though I haven't posted in this particular forum at all (due to something called Real Life and Lack of Cable), I'm just now catching up on Sleepy Hollow season two. Fortunately for me, it just started. I'm way behind on my Doctor who and have only made it through the third episode of that one so far and it started back in August. Why mention Doctor Who over here when it's a COMPLETELY different show? Three words. "Lost in Austen" I imagine some of you are wondering "What in the WORLD is she talking about?" It just so happens that the worlds of Doctor Who, Sleepy Hollow and even Davinci's Demons collided because Tom Mison (Sleepy Hollow), Alex Kingston (one of THE best actresses out there, I think and Doctor Who alum) and Tom Riley (Davinci's Demons and guest starred in Doctor Who) are ALL in "Lost in Austen". That was a really random occurence for me. The only reason I found this out was that I was watching the Doctor Who episode "Robot of Sherwood" and wondered who was playing Robin. I went to look him up on IMDb and there found out he was in "Lost in Austen" along with two other names I know. A lot of roads lead to "Austen".

Thanks for all the info about cheerleading. I'm not much into that type of stuff unless it's about the pro/semi-pro teams as I'm more of the dance type. I didn't know about HOW popular it was in Texas though I knew it was fairly big. I wish that the DCC could get to the level of precision shown by the University of Minnesota dance and pom teams (dang those girls are good!), but, given the sheer numbers of dances the DCC have to learn, it wouldn't be realistic in my mind, especially in the short amount of time they have to learn those dances. If they got there over the course of the year, however. . . The only thing that should be absolutely perfect and completely in sync from the beginning is the kickline. I noticed that the "game ready" kick line was not as precise as it could be, but that could be because it was the first game.

Rewatching this episode, I'm noticing things that I missed before. Pretty much all of the cheerleaders/teams/etc who won those WOW awards (and was that thought up for this season or has it always been there?) were from Texas. I seriously doubt that the best cheerleaders/teams/etc. in America are all in Texas despite what they think. It makes me wonder if the only submissions for that "coveted" award were from Texas or if there were other groups involved. However, I did like Kelly's blue dress at the Friends and Family show. It was really pretty, flattered her figure, and was a good color on her. Judy's dress, however, didn't look as good. If she's going to wear black, it's shouldn't be full-length. If it had been to her knees, that would have been better, but not full-length It was just too much black. She should also have gone for a different, softer color in maybe a lavender or a green, something along those lines and stay away from the blacks, the grays, and anything orange or yellow. At the gameday practice, Kelly was more than a bit harsh with Caila. Dang Kelly, if you didn't want her on the squad, why didn't you cut her before you announced the team? You had plenty of opportunites and if you weren't sure of her, you didn't need to say out loud that you thought she wasn't deserving to ever set foot on the field again! That was just downright mean and yet you criticize the general public about how harsh we are. There's constructive criticism and there's downright rude and mean. You crossed the line with that comment about Caila. I can't remember if this is the first time Caila's had issues with rushing. If it is, I'm chalking it down to first game nerves and I would rather she screw it up in practice and get it out of her system then do that kind of thing during the game. If she has had issues with timing, then she's likely to get hints that she's not to try out again and will likely get cut if she does. I noticed that Breelan has calmed down a bit and found that confidence everybody was telling her she needed. I think that she just needed to get out of Training Camp and onto the squad. If Breelan's anything like me (and I suspect that she is, at least a little), we show everything on our faces. If I'm scared, hurt, nervous, upset, it all shows up on my face and in my shoulders. Sometimes it even makes me blank out and forget things. Whether or not she stays on the squad for next year, however, is another thing altogether.

I love Ashley's look and, while she makes some mistakes, I hope she stays longer than a year. As for Caila and Breelan, if they continue to dance like what we've been seeing this entire time (and if what we've been shown isn't JUST the mistakes), then they'll likely be cut at Finals next year or encouraged not to re-audition. They may be the Morgans of this year's team. I don't know what they go through during the season, but I hope that, if they get enough "hints" that they decide to move on and not deal with re-auditioning instead of going through it all over again and possibly be cut at Finals. If they improve over the season to confident, beautiful performers, then they'll likely come back. I know I've seen girls make the team the first year and wonder what the heck Judy and Kelly were thinking turn out either to be amazing performers who stay on the team for many years (and go on to do Show Group, be 2nd's and Group leaders, etc) or don't come back due to either their own choice or being cut for not living up to their potentials.

I generally dislike sports, especially football, but I do actually know the teams, just not anything specific about them. I'd say the Seahawks, the Ravens and the Cowboys are the teams I like and primarily because watching the cheerleaders are infinitely more interesting then the players though sometimes I'll watch the game if the players are actually doing a good job of it. I actually got to watch a Seahawks/Eagles game from the sidelines one year. I REALLY wish I could remember more about that, but it was about 20 years ago.

It should be a requirement for the show to let us know how they choose group leaders/seconds and show group. They should also show us how Judy "choreographs" (or in at least one memorable case, "borrows") dances. I think they should bring in new choreographers (who at least specialize in dance/cheer teams) to "freshen" up the dances.

Unless I'm missing something (wouldn't be the first time), didn't we have a poster on here (or someone who knew someone) who made it to Training Camp? If so, how's she doing there? I remember no real names were mentioned, but I think a screen-name was mentioned at least once.

Even if Judy and Kelly didn't explicitly tell Vivian "Tonight will be your last night", it was obvious even to Vivian that she was cut. She might have been clueless and oblivious to a lot of things that Judy and Kelly were telling her, but that wasn't something Viv could have overlooked (though it really SHOULD have been said explicitly to leave no doubt in Vivian's mind). It was Vivian's behavior immediately after that made me wonder. She had stood up, shook their hands and walked out, telling the camera what she should have told Judy and Kelly (though she really should had brought THAT attitude to Training Camp and a lot sooner). If Vivian had performed in Training Camp at the level she brought last year and dropped the attitude, she would be on the team by now. I still can't believe that she threw other TCC under the bus. I'm glad Judy and Kelly called her on that and pointed out that, unlike Vivian, this is the first time for most of the rookies to be there. WIthout saying it in so many words, Vivian was told "You should have been better than they were at that point. You've had more time than they did to improve and correct." If Vivian had been warned repeatedly before last episode (and I'm fairly certain she had) about looking in the mirror too much and not dancing up to her known ability, then Vivian KNEW she wasn't dancing at the level needed to make the team and didn't seem to care. We've heard time and again that both Alexandra and Chandler made corrections (when they knew what was meant in those corrections) and improved. Vivian was also given instructions (and most of the corrections I remember Vivian receiving were direct and to the point), but didn't correct them. She didn't seem to feel the need to. She seemed to feel that she was going to walk straight onto the team regardless of the corrections received.

Dear LAWD was this episode brutal. Still, I can see why all three girls were cut. If Alexandra comes back next year stronger with both her splits and flexibility improved, girl is GOLDEN (especially if she stays a lot like she was this year, articulate, beautiful, and willing to put in both the hard work and effort). I don't see that being told she's practically perfect for the team if she improves on a few (reletively minor) things will go to her head. She seems mature enough to handle it. Sadly, for Chandler, she'll need to mature more as a performer before she'd be even close to the field. I don't know whether it's fortunate or unfortunate that Chandler's so expressive with her face. She'll really need to work on things like smiling without showing so much gum (which might help with the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes as well), etc. When she's natural, she's gorgeous. However, there are times when it's really . . . off and not just when she's performing. I don't know if she'll return or make it back to Training Camp if she does. I really hope she doesn't go in for plastic surgery however. That wouldn't help her and could possibly really mess things up for her. Vivian, Vivian, Vivian. You've been told so many times in so many ways to stop screwing up. I can understand being tired and frustrated at being picked on all the time (especially when learning the field), but Vivian didn't even seem to be fixing anything, much less even LOOK like she cared enough to fix it.. Every time we saw her, she was always too early or too late on the counts, both with the arms and with the feet, while most of the other girls were picking it up enough to not have the same things repeated over and over again. She's been told numerous times that she's inconsistant when dancing which I don't remember her EVER being told that last year. I wouldn't be surprised if she had thought she was already on the squad and didn't have to work so hard or put in the effort the other girls did (including the vets) to get there. After the poetry reading, being told that she had two years to work on this when the others didn't, etc. I don't think that Vivian will be back. I think she's so over this and doesn't want to put herself through it again. Even if she does try out again, I don't think she'll be invited back into Training Camp. She didn't seem defeated so much as pissed off that Judy and Kelly weren't as wrapped up in the glory of Vivian as Vivian herself was.

Meagan Flaherty. I seem to remember that Kelly and Judy seemed to say that there were only three more cuts to be made, but there are four girls who don't seem to make the team (unless I'm missing a name when I look at the squad picture). Don't get cut somewhere between now and the last episode?

I seem to remember that Kelly asked that the group leaders with "their" rookies when each girl was called in. I also don't think that the groups are set in stone until after Training Camp in order to both get the TCC's used to dancing in groups and to be able to shift things around should a particular group get unbalanced. I wonder sometimes if Judy and Kelly assign "problem" TCC's and rookies to a certain group leader in the hopes that she'll help that person get better or if it's just random. If a leader shows talent in that direction, it could be an asset, but if a lot of "her" girls wash out or get cut, it could also show that the group leader might not be as strong a teacher as Judy and Kelly thought (or at least it could be construed that way).

I would bet there's other moves in that routine of Melissa's but I do recognize a few of them so I wouldn't be surprised if she kept the costume and some of the showier moves, revamped the rest (because there was a LOT of walking in that first piece which isn't going to over well with the DCC judges) and put it out there. Her routine from 2012 must not have wowed the judges enough so she might have pulled this one out of the closet and reused it.

If I had been in Vivian's place (fan vote the first time and then coming back the next year), I would have amped everything UP instead of just trying to fix the weight for the next year. That way, I could show Judy and Kelly that I deserve getting into Training Camp without having it handed to me via the fan vote. I would also want to show them that, not only do I deserve to be in Training Camp, but that I deserve to be on the squad. I think that, at the beginning of Training Camp Kelly and Judy really wanted Vivian in camp. At auditions, she had the power, the dance, and the looks, but as the show has gone on, we've seen Vivian become more and more self-absorbed, always focusing on herself, wondering where the cameras (and the mirrors) are, etc. That, and slumping dance technique (and not maintaining/picking up the power) is going to get you kicked out of training camp nearly as quickly as having attitude/weight gain/missing practices/etc.

I rewatched this episode and Vivian did NOT look at all happy to have been called out about ANYTHING. One thing I've noticed about Judy and Kelly (and, if anyone knows better, please correct me) that is consistant acrosss a lot (if not all of) the professional dance world regardless of flavor is that if you get told to correct something the first time, correct it, make sure it sticks and move on. If you have to be corrected about the same thing a second time, it means you most likely weren't paying attention. Anything more than two corrections and you are more than likely out of whatever show/performance/dance company/etc. A lot of people take it that seriously. I've noticed a lot of dancers have trained not only their muscles but their minds in terms of movement. You might squeak out of an issue a time or two or blame something on a bad day, but, if it becomes a habit (as is showing with Vivian), then it can get more than irritating. I agree with whoever said that Vivian thought that she could walk right onto the squad this year without trying nearly as hard as last year. She's not focusing, not taking corrections well, and has lot of things slide, including her dancing. I think Judy and Kelly could forgive the sloppy dancing a time or two, but I think they're noticing that Vivian is doing it a LOT more than what we're seeing on tv. I wouldn't be surprised if they've mentioned it at least once or twice that we didn't see when the girls are in the studio (and I seem to remember seeing at least one in-studio correction on this) so the fact that Vivian doesn't seem to be paying attention to, and remembering, the corrections concerns me. In addition, she seems a little PO'd that Judy and Kelly are even mentioning it to her. She probably doesn't think she messed up as badly as they are telling her she is.

I'm duplicating a lot of what has already been said. How do they choose the groups/group leaders/2nd leaders? Why were these girls chosen? Are all names from a certain year and up put in a hat and chosen or are they nominated at the end of the previous year and Judy/Kelly keep an eye on those who decide to return? Are the girls voted on by their peers or by Judy/Kelly? If they are voted on, how is it done? By unanimous voting or by private votes? As for auditions, I'd like to see more discussions that are actually linked to the girls they're talking about. The whole jumping around thing is distracting. We don't know who they're talking about because the conversation is about one girl and the picture is of another. I'd also like to see the website updated more often. If the DCC is such a moneymaking squad, where does the money go? Some of it should be routed to keep the website updated, which should include videos of the solos. This is something I would LOVE to see, especially this year, when there were some REALLY good ones.

According to what Kelly and Judy have been saying the past two or three years, most anyone who wore the uniform before 2011 wouldn't even make it onto the squad. They would have been too heavy. That includes both of them AND Kitty (though how Kitty had made it onto the squad in the first place is beyond me). I wouldn't be surprised if, in their own minds, they would be the exceptions and not the rule (even though, given the pictures from around then, they would have either been cut or not allowed into Training Camp at all).

I rewatched this episode and, while Megan's exit was sad, I think she knew it was coming. When she was shown as being called into the office the first time, it was a shocker and then to hear that the body shape (and, to an extent, style) was possibly going to be an issue, that's got to hurt. She looked resigned when they told her it was a no-go after the fitting. I liked her response in that "was the body God gave her". It makes sense that she wished they had told her about something they could fix, but it sounded like Kelly and Judy were on the fence about her and would have kept her if her body looked better in the uniform. She looked good, but something was off about the way she did look and I don't know if it was her body or the way the uniform fit her body. I do wish they'd kept her until she gor a chance to put on the boots, but that might have been a worse time to go than now. As for Hannah, I think all three were so over "it", whatever "it" was. Judy and Kelly looked to be sick and tired of Hannah's excuses, her weight, and her lacksadaisical attitude about the whole thing and we're probably not being shown the whole picture here. We only saw what was put out there and (though I could be misconstruing this), I thought Hannah just didn't care enought to try, not in practice and not in her "normal" life. She was putting in minimal effort, both in dance and in exercising, and hoped that it would get her by. The dancers I know are performers. The moment there's someone watching them dance, they put on a show regardless of if it's practice, rehearsal, or the real deal. That's how I saw the other vets acting whenever they were asked to dance during rehearsal but that's not what I saw Hannah doing. Plus, if it's true that she was on multiple weight warnings last year, asking about a timeline THIS year was the kiss of death. The moment she got put on weight warning, she should have gotten it into gear and done something about it even if it meant doing something during study breaks. It's better than doing nothing and might even help relieve stress. Based on what I saw (and this is opinion here), but Hannah deserved the cut. She shouldn't have come back if she couldn't give it her full attention.

I was, a long time back. Posted some, but not much.

I see a lot of people stating that a month wasn't long enough to get the weight off, but did Hannah even TRY to do so? We know she had multiple weight warnings last year and, on this squad, even ONE weight warning should be one too many. Going by what I saw on the show, Hannah didn't seem to really care about the weight, the bad dancing or the attitude. If you're a vet and you actually CARE about the squad, you get your butt in gear and actually DO something about it. There are some things you can't do anything about like build, there are some things you can do only so much about like memory issues, but weight, for the most part, is something you CAN do something about and Hannah wasn't doing it. I think Hannah just didn't care anymore or was just too tired to care. She had multple weight warnings last year. I would suspect that Kelly and Judy were hoping that Hannah was just overdoing it with everything else and would get with the program, but, when she didn't, she got cut. There might have been other things going on, but I think the weight was, ahem, the biggest problem or, at least, the one that tipped the boat over.

Rather cute picture though I'm not too sure about the denim shirts over dresses, but to each her own. Besides the shirts-over-dresses thing, the first (and funniest) thing I noticed is that all four of the people (the ones facing the camera) have a weird light in their eyes, making them look possessed, especially the guy off to the viewer's right. I know that's the light from the camera flash, but still . . . at least it's not red. Still, if that's the priest who looks like that, should I be worried? (If I'm the only one who thinks this is even slightly amusing, let me know and I'll rewrite/reword it).

Has anyone found where we can watch the solos in full? I'd really like to see some of the better ones like Melissa's (red-and-black outfit who did a really awesome "butterfly"-type jump and hand the foot-on-head thing), Jennifer's (who started the whole thing off), etc. I would also like to know how Kelly and Judy decide the order of the solos, at least for the veterans, and do they include the other new girls in that order or just assign the girls just in off semis random numbers in among the vetarns, like veteran/rookie/veteran/rookie or any combination thereof.

I really have to wonder about Hannah. If her heart isn't in being a DCC, then why the heck did she try out again? All she would have had to do was tell Judy and Kelly "Thanks but no thanks" before the deadline of letting Judy and Kelly know if she planned to reaudition. Other girls have done the whole "one-and-done" thing where they've only stayed a year then gone on to other things so why couldn't Hannah? Why go through all of this again, especially when she comes back softer than when she left? She's going into veteran status, she's been there at least one year so she knew the whole weight/fitness thing was going to be an issue with Judy and Kelly. When Hannah was called into the office with Judy and Kelly, I thought her whole schpiel about "making fitness a priority" was just an excuse because she knew the drill and didn't seem to care about it, especially after Kelly said Hannah's weight had flucuated throughout the year. That right there, on top of coming back softer, should have been enough to cut Hannah at Finals. I think that Kelly called it when she told Hannah she thought it was the whole nutrition thing and not just letting the fitness slide. If Hannah hasn't been eating right (or won't eat right), then all the exercise in the world won't get her body back into shape. As for the whole "not seeming to care" thing, the editing monkeys can't work with what isn't there. If Hannah isn't the public speaker that she should be on this team, then that might be part of the concern that Judy and Kelly have about it in addition to the weight. There's going to be times when she's going to have to speak in front of cameras as part of a public performance, regardless of who else is there. If you audition for this squad and don't realize that there's public speaking of some sort involved, then those who are shy in public and/or "performing" alone aren't going to make it for very long. Judy and Kelly (and possibly Charlotte) would likely be watching the girls, especially the rookies, very carefully during their first year to see how they do during such "performances". I wouldn't be surprised if the two would be making notes during the year in regards to the next auditions. We know they tell some TCC not to reaudition again so I wonder if they ever tell a vet that. We know that vets can get cut for just not being up to par despite knowing the rules. Just after Hannah left the office and the assistant was called in/asked to get a list of what was issued to Hannah, I seem to remember that Kelly mentioned that Hannah had been scheduled to go on some appearances. If she was yanked from the uniform for weight, then I suspect she was cancelled from those public appearances and replaced with someone else. Does anyone know (and sorry for the ramble)?

The only time I had a dream anything close to that was that I was in Semis and learning the routine then looking over and seeing Mama June from "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo" there. Don't know how she made it to Semis but there she was (and no she didn't make the team and boy was she mad!). LOL

I hope Leah Jo tries out again. I suspect that Morgan would be on the chopping block as well if she doesn't improve on her memory issues. Danielle would likely be another one on the block depending on if she did gain weight (or if the photographer is just horrible at getting flattering shots of the girls). I'm not too sure about the rest. I'd have to rewatch Season 8.

SleepyJean, they might not pay much attention to a group of anonymous posters on a random website, but they do pay attention to what's being said. A few seasons back (I think it was the one where Cassie made Group Leader), they addressed the charges of nepotism that had been following the team since Cassie joined and that was several years AFTER Cassie had joined as Cassie had gotten Group leader either in her third or fourth year. For such things to be brought up ON the show so many years after Cassie was brought on, I suspect that they would have to be hearing it from a variety of sources and for some time. I do agree that it wouldn't affect a lot of things related to the team, especially with some of the points you mentioned, but I think that, while they were successful for the most part with some of the focus on legacies over the years (Meredith Oden, Olivia and others) failed miserably with Cassie. If there were issues with Danielle, we didn't really hear or see anything related to them beyond speculation and rumors, we only saw and heard about the injury on the show so that was why I brought up the comparison.