Mal: You were dead! Tracy: Hunh? Oh. Right. Suppose I was. Hey there, Zoe.

'The Message'


Non-Fiction TV: I Reject Your Reality and Substitute My Own

This thread is for non-fiction TV, including but not limited to reality television (So You Think You Can Dance, Top Chef: Masters, Project Runway), documentaries (The History Channel, The Discovery Channel), and sundry (Expedition Africa, Mythbusters), et al. [NAFDA]


quester - Jul 17, 2009 9:55:28 am PDT #9861 of 23273
Danger is my middle name, only I spell it R. u. t. h. - Tina Belcher.

Wow, the Canadian version rocked! And the camera work was so much better, and the music.

Randi has zero sex appeal!


megan walker - Jul 17, 2009 10:34:28 am PDT #9862 of 23273
"What kind of magical sunshine and lollipop world do you live in? Because you need to be medicated."-SFist

So, does the Canadian version 1) not have the budget and/or 2) not see the need of using pop songs for the ballroom dances? Because that paso doble music actually sounded like paso doble music.


flea - Jul 17, 2009 10:36:08 am PDT #9863 of 23273
information libertarian

I find that removing the sound rarely damages a good performance, but it often shows up the flaws in a not-so-good performance that can be disguised while I'm into the music. For example, leg flicks may look sharper than they are when they are synched to music; without music to guide you, you notice the floppiness.


le nubian - Jul 17, 2009 10:48:06 am PDT #9864 of 23273
"And to be clear, I am the hell. And the high water."

the first couple of seasons of US SYTYCD had paso doble music that sounded like paso music. So I give SYT Canada 1-2 more seasons to start "Dancing with the Stars" with the music.


megan walker - Jul 17, 2009 10:48:48 am PDT #9865 of 23273
"What kind of magical sunshine and lollipop world do you live in? Because you need to be medicated."-SFist

I know I'm definitely influenced by the music, both positively and negatively. For example, I think I thought the group dance last week was cooler than it probably was because it was to "Seven Nation Army".

And I just hate all the contemporary music that they use for ballroom. Once in a while it's cool, but not all the time. I feel like the first seasons they used music that was more in line with the style of dance, but maybe I'm misremembering.


meara - Jul 17, 2009 11:24:14 am PDT #9866 of 23273

Thoughts on the emmy nominations for choreography?


megan walker - Jul 17, 2009 11:33:02 am PDT #9867 of 23273
"What kind of magical sunshine and lollipop world do you live in? Because you need to be medicated."-SFist

Thoughts on the emmy nominations

Cat was robbed yet again? Otherwise happy I suppose. A little surprised by the tango. Had forgotten that NappyTab had done "Bleeding Love".


meara - Jul 17, 2009 11:44:56 am PDT #9868 of 23273

I was surprised by the tango too--had forgotten completely about it. I adored "Bleeding Love", and it's one of the reasons I continue to hold out hope every time, for NappyTab. I like the other two dances a lot also, but have a shaky grasp of the last season, so am very forgetful if there are other dances that might've deserved it more (especially if there were group dances, or what)

And definitely sad that there weren't noms for best reality show or host.


kat perez - Jul 17, 2009 11:47:27 am PDT #9869 of 23273
"We have trust issues." Mylar

I hate that Mia's door dance snagged an Emmy nom. I thought that dance was crap and it clearly was choreographed to cover up Twitch's many, many weaknesses outside his own style. Grr. Argh. If they wanted to choose a Mia piece, they could've gone with her dance for Joshua and Katee which was all over awesome and incredibly technically demanding or her piece to Beautiful for Mark and Chelsie which was simply gorgeous and quiet and romantic. And I love Dmitry, but Mark and Chelsie's tango from that same season was far superior to the Joshua and Chelsie tango. I'm just all over mad about that Tasty nomination. I did like that piece he set on Jessica and Will, but they had Desmond Richardson's gorgeous pas de deux for Will and Katee and they completely overlooked it to give the nod to Tasty Oreo? I don't think so. I was also miffed that Mark and Courtney's Secret Garden piece got passed over. I'd have picked that one over anything NappyTab did last season.

Cat's omission from the Best Reality Host competition was a shame, especially when you consider that Padma got a nod. Ridiculous. And I don't even know what to say about the make up people getting an Emmy nomination. Half the time, these kids look like they got trapped in a closet with an insane clown, a tin of pancake make up and a spray gun. Honestly.


megan walker - Jul 17, 2009 11:49:41 am PDT #9870 of 23273
"What kind of magical sunshine and lollipop world do you live in? Because you need to be medicated."-SFist

I think there were interesting other dances, Sonya's garden piece comes to mind. I'm happy that sappy waltz wasn't included.

ETA: Once again kat says it better than I ever could.