murgatroyd
01-24-2010, 02:02 PM
The first season of the UK version of SYTYCD is running on the BBC. We have Cat and Nigel, but new judges, choreographers, etc.
I've seen comments that the show seems very raw compared to the US version, but that's not necessarily a bad thing, since the US version has become way overpackaged in some respects.
Here are some of the major differences:
1) all the auditions, the 'choreography camp' (=Vegas Week) and the selection show were boiled down into one introductory episode. I'd say it could be easily skipped if you don't like that sort of thing, but I did like the segment where they showed the group numbers from choreography camp (always a favorite of mine).
2) Contestants got a "Top 100" golden ticket instead of an airline ticket. It's a great visual on TV, and could be a nice keepsake for the dancers (you could frame it and hang it on the wall). Of course the downside is that they've locked themselves into only taking 100 dancers to choreography camp -- IIRC some seasons on the US show have fluctuated a bit in the number of dancers they took in.
3) Season one has a top 14
4) no Mary Murphy (a plus for those of us tired of the screaming)
The major drawback so far is that the show features the new set with its overwhelming video screens that are hideous in close-up on the telly.
Over the past few seasons, the obvious has finally dawned on me. Whatever happens during the competition, the show has to produce during its run some routines that people are going to want to see on tour. If you don't have that, you won't have a decent show when you go on tour, no matter how popular or loved the particular competitors are.
The UK version may be 'teaching to the book' a little more than the US version, simply because they're starting with fewer dancers, and by nature will have fewer routines to draw from for the tour. I wonder if only the top 7 couples will go on tour -- we'll see what they announce later on.
One major difference is that they've paired two of the hip-hop dancers together. I can't recall any of the couples on the US show having the same style starting out, except for (perhaps) contemporary because we always have so many.
The first two couples on Ep 02 have come out and given strong performances (the opening routine was fab) so we'll see what happens.
Maybe it is a bit raw, but it has a freshness which has been missing from the US show. So I'm pleased so far.
Jan
I've seen comments that the show seems very raw compared to the US version, but that's not necessarily a bad thing, since the US version has become way overpackaged in some respects.
Here are some of the major differences:
1) all the auditions, the 'choreography camp' (=Vegas Week) and the selection show were boiled down into one introductory episode. I'd say it could be easily skipped if you don't like that sort of thing, but I did like the segment where they showed the group numbers from choreography camp (always a favorite of mine).
2) Contestants got a "Top 100" golden ticket instead of an airline ticket. It's a great visual on TV, and could be a nice keepsake for the dancers (you could frame it and hang it on the wall). Of course the downside is that they've locked themselves into only taking 100 dancers to choreography camp -- IIRC some seasons on the US show have fluctuated a bit in the number of dancers they took in.
3) Season one has a top 14
4) no Mary Murphy (a plus for those of us tired of the screaming)
The major drawback so far is that the show features the new set with its overwhelming video screens that are hideous in close-up on the telly.
Over the past few seasons, the obvious has finally dawned on me. Whatever happens during the competition, the show has to produce during its run some routines that people are going to want to see on tour. If you don't have that, you won't have a decent show when you go on tour, no matter how popular or loved the particular competitors are.
The UK version may be 'teaching to the book' a little more than the US version, simply because they're starting with fewer dancers, and by nature will have fewer routines to draw from for the tour. I wonder if only the top 7 couples will go on tour -- we'll see what they announce later on.
One major difference is that they've paired two of the hip-hop dancers together. I can't recall any of the couples on the US show having the same style starting out, except for (perhaps) contemporary because we always have so many.
The first two couples on Ep 02 have come out and given strong performances (the opening routine was fab) so we'll see what happens.
Maybe it is a bit raw, but it has a freshness which has been missing from the US show. So I'm pleased so far.
Jan