Just a Simple Girl with a Dream

Let me start off by saying that I am originally from Florida, born and raised; a Native if you will.  Therefore, I remember the Bucs of yesteryear.  The Orange and White, The Sombrero, the losing streaks. In elementary school, it was an insult to call some one a Buccaneer. Then sometime in the Nineties all that changed.  The Buccaneers went through a massive revitalization and it was cool to be a Bucs fan.  The colors changed, the stadium changed, they even won a Super Bowl.

I mention all this because the very first shot of this episode is the old school cheerleaders wearing hideous orange and white leotards and orange hats with white feathers.  Oh Seventies and Eighties, how cruel you were!  The narrator explains that the cheerleaders revamped their image in 1999.  Thank God.  Let me be first to tell you how cute their little halter top and skirt uniforms are.  I am also a fan of the black arm band.  With all that being said, let’s begin:

This opening is set to generic music, featuring flashes from the upcoming series.  We learn that there are 300 hopefuls, 51 finalists and 1 chance to fulfill a dream.  It’s kind of like SurvivorI guess.  I wish Jeff Probst would host these.  “Cheerleaders Ready! Go!” Preliminary Auditions are held at the University of South Florida. I find this interesting, but we’ll get to that later.  (By the way, I totally called the fact that USF would lose steam this season.  Unless you’re a Boston College fan this is like the worst season ever.  I wish they would just cancel the rest of the season and regroup until next year.)

Sandy Chaboneau is the Cheerleading Coordinator.  I’ve watched this entire series and I really enjoy her.  I think she’s good at what she does and the auditions happen in a farily logical timeline and manner.  She talks a little about the first round of auditions as the girls check in at the registration desk.  Inside the USF gym, the girls stretch out in preparation for the big day.  Veronica, a petite brunette, explains that she drove to Tampa all the way from Dallas to try out.  Interesting.  If she makes the team, she’ll move to Tampa.  This is in direct contrast to Making the Team wherein all those girls move to Dallasfrom other parts of the country.  Veronica explains that she is formerly of the Dallas Desperados.  The Desperados are the Arena team that affiliated with the Cowboys.  Here’s what I wonder: did she try out for the Cowboys and not make it and then drove to Tampa?  Or did she bypass the Cowboys completely?  I just find it odd that she was previously in the same corporate family as the Cowboys yet leaves that to come to Tampa.  Not that Tampa or the Bucs squad is bad, it’s just odd to me.

At 9 am the auditions begin.  The girls start by learning the kickline.  See, this is perfectly logical since most of the girls probably won’t be able to do it so it’s best to weed them out early.  After seeing the girls in groups of 4, Sandy comments that there were “tons of short, dark haired girls”.  Apparently we’ve stumbled upon a casting call for the role of Jason Morgan’s next love intereston General Hospital. Sandy says that she’ll have to go blonde with some of them.  Where was Sandy whenever I tried to convince my old hairstylist to let me go blonde?

Sandy explains a little bit of the judging process as some guy in the back of the room on a laptop calculates the scores.  This guy is great, he’s just chillin’ in the background on laptop.  I love that they do all their tabulating by Excel spreadsheet; it’s quite a departure from the “Yes” ”No” and “Maybe” cardboard boxes that other squads use.

The second round begins and the girls work on a short little routine.  When they come in front of the judges, some of the girls are visibly nervous and make lots of mistakes.  Veronica gets really flustered and freezes for a second.  Luckily, Sandy lets them do it again and she nails it.  Back at the tech booth, Sandy and the Tech Guy figure out the next round of cuts. 

Semi-finals are held the next day.  The Veterans arrive for this round in their matching track suits and perfect hair and makeup.  We meet a few of the Veterans: DeShay, Kayla (who looks like one of those Southern Beauty Queens), Monica, Lauren, Erica (who Sandy notes needs some improvement) and Tomoko (who is from Japan and originally tried out for the San Francisco Gold Rush).  Tomoko has to make the squad each year so she can stay in the country.  I’m not kidding.  Can you imagine if your immigration status depended on whether or not you made a cheerleading squad?  Only in America! One of the Veterans, Kristen, arrives to the tryouts a little out of shape.  Sandy realizes this immediately.  Rachel is a Veteran with a short bob.  She will become the star of this series.  Apparently Rachel had blonde hair last year but switched up her color in the offseason.  Sandy says that Rachel is a fan favorite and if she makes the team again, she’ll have to go back to blonde.  Again, Sandy, where were you when I needed you?

New Candidate Anna gets nervous when she performs in front of the judges but Sandy thinks she’s cute.  Sandy proclaims that Tiffany is her “new favorite”.  Kymberli and Veronica perform really well.  Mily loses her place in the routine but works through the dance.  Veteran Kristen messes up her routine and Sandy is not pleased.  I think there is certain leeway that is awarded to a Rookie candidate but Veterans are held (rightfully so) to a different standard. 

Sandy and the Tech Guy calculate the Top 50 candidates and discover that there is a tie for 50th place so Sandy decides to take 51 girls.  She calls out their numbers and Veronica, Kymberli, Tiffany, Mily and Anna make it.  Veteran Kristen’s number isn’t called.  She leaves immediately.  Last year she was on the cover of the swimsuit calendar and this year she was cut before finals.  That’s rough.

Interestingly enough, Tiffany is still in high school.  I would never have known.  We follow her to school as she attends wood shop.  She definitely looks a lot younger out of full makeup. 

It’s Interview Time! One by one Sandy and another lady interview the candidates in a conference room somewhere on Buccaneer property.  Sandy asks Anna how she will fit in the demands of cheerleading with school, her sorority and her job.  Just as Anna is answering, her cell phone rings.  Thankfully for Anna, Sandy understands and her ringtone isn’t something by the Ying Yang Twins.  That would have been really awkward.  Sandy remarks that Anna wasn’t as memorable during Semi-Finals but really brought it during the interview.

Sahara, who I thought was at least in college, is also in high school.  Where were these girls when I was in high school?  I could have used their makeup tips.  Aubrey doesn’t have a suit for the interview and goes to Dillards.  I believe this is 2006 so that means that the Burdines stores were all converted into Macy’s.  That’s a shame because Burdines was “The Florida Store” and it would have been nice to see it again.  Aubrey picks up the Elle Woods torch and wears a pink suit.  It’s really a lot better than it sounds.

Veronica impresses Sandy when she tells her how she drove from Dallas to try out for the team.  Well, yeah!  I wonder how many girls travel that far for this team.  Again, I like the Bucs, I’m just saying that it doesn’t have the same cache as the DCC…yet.  Kymberli is 25 minutes late to her interview.  It happens.  I think we’ve all been there but it still looks so bad.  Sandy is also concerned with Kym’s weight and is unsure about picking her for the squad. 

Veronica hits the gym so she can practice the routine for the final auditions.  By the way, she is the only person in there, so you know you’re watching a reality show.  I mean, come on, there has to be at least one overly muscled gym guy walking around at all times, right?

Back at interviews, Mily says that she will bring her age and experience to the squad if selected.  Aubrey shows up in her pink suit and Sandy asks if she would be comfortable with changing her hair color.  Aubrey is totally cool with the makeover.  While I love watching makeovers on TV shows, I would be totally scared to actually have one (I mean, without my own creative input).  For instance, if Tyra Banks and Mr. Jay were all like “Girl, we’re going to give you a pixie cut and dye your hair platinum with blue highlights!” I think I would die.  I would also quit the show right then and there since I don’t trust either of them.

Now it’s time for the “Cheerleader at Home” segment.  We focus on Lauren who is a single mother.  Her daughter is nineteen months and wears little pink cowboy boots!  Adorable!  Start the kids wearing boots early, I always say.  Then it will be easier to dance in them! 

We’re back at USF for the first day of a two day training camp.  Two days!  The DCC camp is like two years long! The Rookie candidates intermingle with the Veterans before camp begins.  Rachel remembers when she was trying out last year and tries to talk to the new girls to offer them support.  I’ve noticed that in these Making the Squad shows the girls tend to wear the same outfit for every round of auditions. I hope this is done purposely so the viewer can remember who is who.  The girls begin by working on their kickline.  Let me guess: it’s a signature move. 

The girls pose for individual photographs.  Sandy instructs the girl to come up with their own pose in the photographs.  Some girls are really good at posing…others are not.  This is important since as cheerleaders, the girls will be photographed all the time.  As Tomoko is about to pose, Sandy realizes that she’s not wearing enough makeup.  Tomoko explains that in Japanese culture, pale skin is prized.  Sandy counters that she looks washed out in her photos and needs more makeup for the next night.  The first night of camp winds down and Sandy reminds the girls that they are still auditioning.

Next time: More dancing! More interviews! The squad is announced!