Summer’s Guilty Pleasure, Dance!

By and large, I hate reality shows. I don’t care how Tori Spelling changes her kids diapers, or who the fuck the bachelorette is going to choose only to break up with eight months later. I hate American Idol because they generally don’t feature music that is good…and how, precisely, is a singing competition in any way representative of “reality.” With one exception, if all reality shows disappeared tomorrow I would not be affected in the least. But what is that exception, kilian? I’m glad you asked faceless reader. The only reality show I watch/follow/care about is So You Think You Can Dance.

Hey, I know explanations are in order, but just stay with me for a minute.

First off, my reasoning for not watching Dancing With the Stars is two fold:

1. While dancing “occurs” on the show, I was under the impression that in a competition show, one was looking for people skilled in the area the competition is centered around.  Last I checked, at least one member from each team on Dancing With the Stars wasn’t actually a dancer.  I don’t care how “hard” the stars work to get the steps.  Hell, I work hard at the bookmines, it doesn’t mean someone should watch it for two hours on a Wednesday.
2. Using the word “Stars” in the title denotes that actual stars are in the show.  When Tom Cruise, Meryl Streep, or Bono sign up to do it, come get me.

So You Think You Can Dance may not have “celebrities” dancing, but everyone on the stage actually knows how to dance. That’s what makes a good competition show, contestants who are proficient and/or gifted. Yes, the contestants are forced to dance styles they have not trained in, but that, actually, is how the dancers are truly tested and judged. If every contestant simply danced in their preferred style through the whole thing the show would be boring.

I’m still sensing skepticism. Very well, you leave me no choice:

By the way, the two dancers in the above routine were dancing completely out of their own styles.

Still skeptical about the total awesomeness of the show? Well then, doubty mcdoubter, take this:

Even if you don’t know a think about dance, the show presents so many different styles/choreographers/dancers, that you will not have to watch long before seeing something you enjoy. And this season (the fifth) is your last to catch the show in the summer as season 6 starts up in the fall.

So hey, go ahead and check it, I bet you’re not disappointed.

whip cracker