ABDC 3: Episode 2

January 26th, 2009

HAY. If you missed the latest episode yesterday, you can watch the dealie right NOW, as in nnnnnOW.

Last week: New crews! Girl breakers! Freaks! G.O.P. eliminated!

This week: Tough physical challenge, JC is back!

The show is just getting started and already I feel like I’ll be sad to see any group leave. Alas. All 8 of ‘em are brought to the stage and Slater announces the first two crews saved by America’s votes: Quest Crew and Fly Khicks (not a surprise). Quest will be the first to perform.

Oh so the theme this week is “grueling” physical skills that each group must work into at least half of the routine. Quest Crew pulls kick boxing; as a plus, crew member Steve has a martial arts background. They perform to Kevin Rudolph’s “Let It Rock” and I’m like, *gape*. If they don’t win this thing, I’ll eat… uh.. my words? Anyway, some crazy cool stunts and a standing O from the audience. And then JC is like, “meh. It was ok.” And I’m like, “Excuse you!!!” And then Mama is all, “yeah, I agree. Great moments but you need to work on choreo.” (Me: stink face) And then Shane wonders if they’re all watching the same show, cause he thinks they KILLED IT. Which, they did.

Fly Khicks are up next, and their physical challenge is “spring back” (jumping, bouncing, posing). What a great opportunity for their …assets. Crew member Karelix landed on her neck during rehearsals and missed a bunch of practice, WILL SHE SCREW THE TEAM UP? Naahh. Performing to Pitbull, they’re good, but not great. Mama loved harajuku theme but thought it felt cheerleader-y at times. Shane says they could get a little more creative with the pieces and JC is all, “it was ok.” Wow dude, JC is HARD.

Two more crews are announced as safe: Strikers All Stars and Beat Freaks. I wonder how they decide how to reveal these? Anyway, Strikers All Stars are up next and one member tells us that he was invited to perform at Obama’s inauguration. But he chooses to stay here with his stepping team, and all rejoice. Their physical move is a “monkey roll”, where one person dives over a second person rolling on the floor. At first the routine is ok, but then they pull out the rolls and it’s like, OH MY GOD. Craziness. They stop the music for a bit too, to showcase their stepping. Shane states that they just became his fave group and JC says their performance is a game changer. BOLD.

The Beat Freaks are given the “side plank” (yoga core strengthener). What kind of wackness is that?! Anyway, they still pull it out pretty well to Webbie’s “Independent”, and enjoyed by all three judges. Mama applauds them for being so strong, and Shane calls them “seven superheroes.” JC is surprised cause he thought they’d be screwed with “side plank” as a move. Instead, they rocked it and now have stronger abs. Win!

Mario calls two more teams that are safe from elimination: Dynamic Edition and Ring Masters move on – which means that Millennia and Boxcuttuhz are up for elimination. Two of my least faves, so that’s cool. I accept, America.

Dynamic Edition get “high knees”. LAME! What’s with these moves, anyway? Although, I guess it is a real challenge to incorporate these into a routine. Anyway, they dance to Eminem’s “Shake That” with huge smiles on their faces, which I assume is a clogging thing (like synchro swimming). They were worried about being more “hip-hop”, but this is not the way to do it. But then JC says something so true, that this is not America’s best hip-hop dance crew, and he loves that they’re doing something different. Shane stresses that he didn’t say that had to be “more” hip-hop, they just had to do it better (if they are trying to incorporate it, which they are).

Whew. Next up the Ring Masters, who are challenged with the “soldier crawl”. Yes, crawling on the ground with your elbows pulling you forward. Young Jeezy’s “Put On” sets a bit of a slow pace for them and the performance is ok with some crazy highlights. Shane says he loves what they do and suggests that they enjoy their youth cause at 40 they’ll HURT. Mama wants them to step up cause she’s rooting for them, and JC says they need a bit more choreo.

It’s “do or die” for last 2 crews, Slater announces. Team Millennia get “leap frog” (ha!), and they wonder how the heck they can make it look cool. They perform, it’s pretty decent, and then we switch to Boxcuttuhz. Their move is the “mountain climber”, which is a knees-up action done on all fours. The girl in the crew feels pressured, and in the performance doesn’t really pull it out.

The judges offer critiques on both teams at once, which is kind of a weird way to do it. Mama likes Millennium’s unique style, Shane enjoyed Box’s routine and JC appreciates both crews’ use of choreography. But who will go home?

Break for us, and judges deliberation: Boxcuttuhz go home. That’s cool, cause I’m kind of over their lensless frames and weird spelling.

Posted on Monday, January 26th, 2009 at 3:48 pm by Wendy and is filed under America's Best Dance Crew, Blog, We <3 TV.