McKynleigh is eliminated this week.
My cable guide says Darren Criss comes back to mentor next week for the Duets episode. HOORAY.
The remaining 9 contestants of The Glee Project got their “DanceAbility” on tonight with a little help from Harry Shum Jr., who plays football player and dancing machine, Mike Chang on Glee.
None of the contestants dance, so the week proved to be challenging for each one in different ways. Some found a way to make it work, and others not so much.
The week’s homework assignment features The Worst Song In The World. Yes, you all know it as My Favorite Song /not “Hey Soul Sister”. If I were king of the world, I would put every fiber of my being into wiping this horrific piece of tripe off the face of the planet. Now that I’ve go that off my chest…
Harry judges the contestants performing a little dance routine each created, and offers up constructive critiques for everybody. The little kid Matheus is creepy as hell writhing around to the beat, for some reason, Harry likes that–something about owning it. Owning it, even if it’s gross? Harry even mistakenly assumes Matheus has had a little dance training. Geeky Cameron is nicely called out by Harry for being a show-off, and to Alex (who fancies himself the best dancer of the bunch) Harry says that his moves didn’t fit the song. He ultimately chooses dread-headed hottie, Samuel, as the challenge winner, because he thought he sold his cool moves. Later, Samuel will get some one-on-one time with Harry.
When Sam is chosen as the challenge winner, Alex goes on this totally disingenuous rant about how he’s obviously the best dancer there, but he’s going to let the others shine this week, because, well ya know, he can’t be the center of attention all the time! Alex’s attitude evokes massive eye rolling from pretty much everybody, and it bites him in the butt in the end.
The kids learn that for the week’s video assignment, they will not only be dancing–but rapping as well–and to another really stupid song, “U Can’t Touch This” by MC Hammer. Nobody seems to find this piece of news ridiculous.
gleeproj-harry-dance by mjsbigblog
In the recording booth with Nikki Anders, Samuel pulls a totally dick move, swiping a signature bit from red-haired “big” girl, Hannah. Sam never credits Hannah with the move, even after Nikki praises his originality. When Hannah learns this she is understandably pissed off (I would have kicked his ass personally. UGH).
gleeproj-ripoff-dance by mjsbigblog
As choreographer Zach Woodlee teaches the kids the steps, it becomes apparent he’s got a roomful of Cory Monteiths. Yes. Tragic. But Zach stresses that dancing well isn’t the point–they are looking for good performances that reveal the contestant’s personality.
The kids who seem to be getting the lesson are Damien, the Irish cutie (Zach calls his moves “genius”), the gorgeous, Marissa, (who advances every week without hitting bottom, yet she’s barely featured), Samuel, Lindsay (the chick everyone hates, but not so much this week) and Hannah.
Matheus impressed on his homework assignment, but has an unfortunate meltdown during the video shoot–lashing out at Damien and making demands. He becomes completely freaked out when the video director, Erik White, makes last minute changes. Not a good thing to happen if he was actually on the Glee set.
Cameron is extremely self-conscious about his lack of danceAbility, and is unable to muster the confidence to power through. McKynleigh is as boring as she always is. Maybe even more so. And Alex, with all his bluster about what a great dancer he is–completely withers in front of the camera.
gleeproj-vid-dance by mjsbigblog
After the video shoot, it’s time to pick the bottom 3 and the choices are predictable. A relieved Cameron is put on the call back list, leaving Matheus, Alex and McKynleigh to sing in front of creator, Ryan Murphy, choreographer, Zach Woodley and casting director, Robert Ulrich.
The trio are assigned songs to learn. Matheus is given “Down” by Jay Sean, McKynleigh, “Last Name” by Carrie Underwood and Alex is assigned a big song–“I Will Always Love You” by Dolly and Whitney.
gleeproj-b3-dance by mjsbigblog
McKynleigh sings first. Robert says she isn’t “popping” like she did in her first audition, but Ryan is impressed after she vamps through a rendition of “Last Name”. It’s true–a personality finally emerges. Ryan thinks she needs a little more ferocity, but that he could see her filling the country music singer he’s been looking to cast on Glee. All three think she took the notes given to her and improved.
Ryan has cut several contestants based solely on a bad attitude, which means divo Matheus is in trouble. The last time Matheus hit bottom, Ryan had asked him to not let his short stature (he’s only 4’9″) get in the way of his sexiness. So, the little guy goes completely over the top, writhing, grinding and stripping. It’s actually pretty horrifying, but Ryan loves it. Unfortunately, the attitude is still a problem.
Last is Alex who sings “I Will Always Love You” in that gay boy diva way that’s all about channeling the singer he adores, rather than conveying real emotion or making the song his own. In other words, it’s the EXACT OPPOSITE of what Chris Colfer does when his Kurt character takes on his beloved “girl songs”. Alex was terrible. What might have saved him was the story he told the panel about how he’s come out, but only to his mother, who accepted him on the spot. Ryan calls him out on the whole “I’m going to throw the competition so others can shine” bull crap, and says that when he sings, he wants to see Alex’s pain.
gleeproj-lastchance-dance by mjsbigblog
Nevertheless, when the call back list is put up, Alex is on it. So is Matheus. McKynleigh, who arguably gave the best performance this week, is eliminated. And the decision appears to be unanimous. I really wish the panel would explain their decisions, but they don’t. I suspect the reasoning is based on a combo of what will be good TV for the reality show, and what Ryan feels he needs in order to cast Glee.
When McKynleigh says goodbye, it’s obvious she’s really well-liked by her castmates. In the long run, she and her hard-to-spell name aren’t really much of a loss.
