Practice time. The girls are shown stretching and trying to learn the dance moves. The camera lingers on Victoria. You know what that means: foreshadowing. Jay interviews that “Victoria was counseled over her weight. That was last week. She hasn’t come to me yet and talked to me about it.” First of all, there are lots of things that I personally wouldn’t talk to Jay about, so I understand why Victoria is allegedly avoiding him. Secondly, while the DCC Fitness Coordinator, Jay is not the only fitness professional in the world, let alone the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area (I hope). Thirdly, I wouldn’t want to spend any more time running obstacle courses and doing situps than I had to.
Victoria says that she’s been working on her weight on her own terms. She’s been avoiding certain foods and eating healthier, including cutting out soda. Soda is my vice too. I tried going on both caffiene free Coke and Coke Zero but I just couldn’t deal with it. Still, I don’t really think that Kelli and Judy are going to fall over themselves about Victoria’s soda sacrifice.
Loni has been working on her flexibility and stretching since her kicks are bringing the line down. Again, I understand, because I am like the least flexible person ever. Plus those kicks look painful and I don’t know how no one hurts themselves after the jump split. I think Loni’s kicks can be a little higher, but don’t worry, she’s still pretty so she’s still in this.
Abigail has been working with Big Sister Nicole on putting more “power” into her steps. Out of all three girls put on notice last week, Abigail definitely improved the best.
In the most gratuitous segment of the show, the Veteran cheerleaders try on swimsuits for their annual calendar. Only Veterans are allowed on the calendar trip and it’s a big honor to be selected. Kelli says that the calendar is one of their “signature products”, but I’m pretty sure most, if not all NFL cheerleading teams have calendars. Anyway, the girls try on one suit after another, trying to find the right look for the calendar, while Kelli takes polaroids. Melissa, a 2nd year veteran, has trouble posing in her suit, but gets it together later in the shoot.
Auditions for Show Group! Basically Show Group is a smaller squad of girls that will perform at corporate events and USO shows. I find it odd that they are picking the Show Group before they pick the squad, but I’m not a producer on this show, so whatever. Brooke, arguably last season’s standout, explains that she was one of three rookies on Show Group last year. Meredith, the legacy, explains that it’s hard to audition against the veteran Show Group members since they’re the “best of the best of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders”–I won’t disagree, but I will point out, that they also seem to be the girls with the most flexible schedules. I read the Professional Cheerleaders Blog and they are always showing some squad going to South Korea for a week, or London for 10 days, or the Middle East over the holidays. I don’t pretend to know what most of these girls do for a living (although I am betting some are students) but not all jobs are going to be like “Oh you’re going to Cuba for 15 days? Fantastic! Don’t worry about checking emails but bring me back some cigars!” Seriously, there must be at least one really awesome DCC that can’t be on Show Group because of work commitments.
Judy says that Nina is struggling and Kelli agrees. This is not good, Nina. Nina says that she is not a “technical dancer” and I am going to call it right now that she’s not technically going to make the team. Kelli thinks Victoria is a good dancer, but her weight is still an issue. Now, I don’t really know much about diets, but if they all just talked to Victoria about her weight last week, exactly how much is she supposed to have lost this week? Is it possible to really tone up in seven days? While watching her dance, someone in the judges’ corner whispers “that girl’s big, isn’t she?” Ouch.
Kelly Jo, who I want to say I have never heard of or seen before, has apparently lost her kick technique. Expect to see her in Kelli’s office later in the episode. By the way, what is with reality shows and people named Kelly Jo? The only other Kelly Jo I have ever heard of in my entire life competed for a rose from Bachelor Bob.
Fun with Jay! Or not. Now is the fitness boot camp just for Rookies? I see a few Veterans but where are the rest? If its optional for the Veterans, why do they come back? It can’t be because of the T-shirt, right? God, I hope not. Also, where is Julia 2.0? Filming Ocean’s Twenty-Five? Today’s exercise in futility will involve four teams of five. Each team will select four girls to pull an inner tube carrying the fifth girl. Which ever team can run around a “dummy” and back will win “great prizes”. Cash and prizes? Tank tops? Help me out here.
Team 2 wins the first heat. It consists of Ally, Meredith, Deryn, and two other girls who I don’t know. In the second heat, Team 4 wins by a large margin. Team 4 consists of Tia and Erica who has the longest red hair ever. She’s definitely making the squad because she has great hair. Team 2 squares off against Team 4 with Team 4 bringing it home. Jay announces that each team member will receive a free gift certificate for a facial. Finally, something appealing. Afterwards, Jay interviews something about how “the legend continues”. The legend of what? Zelda? Sleepy Hollow? Girls running around in short shorts and pantyhose strapped to an inner tube?
Later at rehearsals, Kelli wears a J. Lo-inspired hot pink top and white pants. As the girls sit on the dance floor, she announces the new Show Group members. Again, here is my problem with this: the final team hasn’t been decided yet, so aren’t we putting the cart a little before the horse? Brooke makes the team again. Erica, a Veteran, dissolves in tears upon learning she’s made the group again. Lots of rookies make the team including Erica, Abigail, and Christina Murphy. Then its business as usual as Judy and Kelli evaluate practice. Julia 2.0 finally makes an appearance and a mistake in front of Judy. Better get those books read, Julia. Kelly Jo is still having trouble with her kicks. Apparently shes’ the center person in the kickline and her kicks need to be the highest. The camera focuses on Abigail’s kickline and she seems to be having the same problem. Her kicks aren’t high at all. Judy goes into full on intervention mode and is all “Abigail, I don’t even know who you are tonight. You’re not the girl who tried out last night. If you looked like that, you wouldn’t have made Show Group.” This is why I don’t think Show Group auditions should be held before the final team is selected. Abigail hopes that Judy and Kelli won’t give up on her.
At the end of rehearsal, Kelli breaks out the Trivia Binder. She asks Brittany who the quarterback for the Cowboys at the end of the season was last year. In the grand tradition of girls being prepared, Brittany has no clue. How do you not know about The Romo? The Jessica Simpson rumors? The moments of brilliance? The bad snap? The whole Carrie Underwood thing? Her poor father must be in agony over this. Kelli is not pleased and for once I agree with her. Is it that hard to sit on the Cowboys website for five minutes? Look at a newspaper? Watch SportsCenter?
Kelli announces that cuts need to be made and that they’re going to start tonight. Kelly Jo, Victoria, and Loni are asked to stay back. Kelly Jo is up first. Kelli explains that they think she’s really pretty but that she seems awkward dancing. Kelly Jo explains that she hasn’t been dancing for four years as she’s been in the workplace. Kelli and Judy will give her time to improve, but she’s on the bubble. Victoria is next. Kelli likes Victoria’s dance technique but the weight is still an issue and that there just isn’t enough time. Kelli says that Victoria can’t wear the uniform and that tonight is her last night. Judy says that Victoria should take this time to work on her weight–safely–and then come back. Loni’s turn. She’s not going to get cut tonight, but they are giving her some more time to work on her kicks.
Next week: It’s all about the shorts, there’s another ridiculous boot camp segment, and more cuts are made!
[...] October 14th, 2007 · No Comments Previously, some of the girls were selected based on looks as opposed to dancing ability and the kic…. [...]
[...] she knows the routines but her body looks “loose and disjointed”. Remember all the foreshadowing in earlier episodes about Nina’s lack of technique? Well here’s the payoff. We are treated to a [...]
[...] in sheer stupidity, but then again, so does rolling around a huge tire across a football field, fun with inner tubes, and the Combat Crawl, an exercise so ridiculous it gets its own name. After careful [...]
[...] For this week’s boot camp exercise, the girls must complete an obstacle course that includes a wall, crawling under jump ropes and running through tires. See, this makes more sense than running around with your fellow cheerleder in an innter tube. [...]