So the show opens with a photo shoot and I immediately wish that I was watching Models, Inc. instead of this show. (Sidenote: I loved the opening for Models, Inc, especially the part when Carrie Ann Moss whips that cape on the runway. She was fierce. And had the “wow factor”.) I mean, I love Making the Team, but this season is really no different than last season. Plus I don’t feel a connection to any of the Rookies, like I did last year. I pulled for Julia 2.0, Natalie, and even Loni–she of the pretty hair and poor kicks–yet this year, I just feel like all the girls have long blonde hair and respond to the name “Jordan”.
Anyway, the girls are in uniform getting their publicity stills taken, even though they may be cut from the squad before the film is developed. The purpose of this photo shoot is to see if the girls are photogenic. Apparently, if a girl’s not the best dancer, but she looks great in pictures, she may have a shot at making the squad. Stephanie, a Rookie who I don’t recall ever seeing before, is described by Kelli as being not glamorous. Which means she probably lacks the wow factor. Which means that she’ll probably be called into Kelli’s office. Aww, the return of foreshadowing.
We move on to Sunni, a Rookie, who I recall seeing in a past episode, who interviews that she doesn’t want to be cut. You know on The Amazing Race when someone says something like “We’ve had really good luck with taxis and airplanes and we don’t want that to end” and then later in that episode they’re stuck in a cab with three blown tires and a driver who just wants to take smoke breaks? Well, couple that with the fact that Sunni is prominently featured in tonight’s episode and not only has foreshadowing returned but it’s also smacked us in the face.
Also, what’s up with the poses? Last year, I made fun of the bizarre white ottoman that all the girls were asked to drape themselves on, but this year it’s absent and I miss it. I don’t understand the lack of props; I know we’re in a recession and all, but couldn’t they have at least bought one of those horses kids ride on in front of K-Mart? Or an inflatable cactus? Something. This year, the big thing is posing with your armpits in the air a la Beyonce. There’s also the “I’m going to put one leg in the air and smile really wide” and the “these belt loops are great places to put my fingers”. Of course, winner of the Derek Zoolander School for Cheerleaders who Pose Good Award is Judy, who jumps into her daughter’s photo shoot and starts acting ca-razy! I really think this has been Judy’s breakthrough season. I mean, she’s cried, she’s been nervous, she’s been enthusiastic, and now she’s playfully smacking her daughter’s leg during a photo shoot. If there was an Emmy Award to be handed out for best Professional Cheerleading Choreographer in a Reality Series about Cheerleaders on a Country Station…well it would definitely have Judy’s name all over it.
In a private clinic, Justine helps Rookie Melissa work on her routines. This is pretty straight forward and then all of a sudden, that horrible T.A.T.U “Friend or Foe” song chimes in. Really, this is the best CMT can do? I don’t know how many times this song has been played on the show, but I’m sure it could qualify for retirement on Total Request Live.
In a stunning deviation from the show’s traditional format, we don’t have a fitness segment this week. It’s like my long, national nightmare is over. Instead, the cheerleaders head over to DFW Airport to save goodbye to our soldiers as they head over to the Middle East. It’s a really nice moment that exemplifies the community service that the cheerleaders perform over the year. Plus, no Jay.
At rehearsal, Kelli announces that a special guest judge is in the house! I immediately hope for Linda Grey. Instead it’s Charlotte Jones-Anderson. Seriously though, I think if they invited Linda Grey she would be available. I mean, I hope she’s not sitting around, waiting for the producers of 90210 to call her back to play Ethan’s grandmother. Back to the actual storyline, Charlotte, Judy and Kelli call out four Rookies to dance alongside four Vets. It’s a dance-off! They should have just called David Bowie to judget this. We don’t get any critique afterwards, just a stonefaced look from Kelli. Uh oh. Appearing in her office tonight: Alyssa, Sunni, and Cathie.
Cathie is in first. According to her, she’s surprised since she’s never been called in before. Kelli begins by saying that she’s not in line with the Veterans and that tonight will be her last night. Doesn’t Kelli know that Cathie came in first and therefore should be safe? Although, I guess I like that they’re at least keep something fresh on this show.
Alyssa is second. While I expected the extremely rare, triple elimination, Kelli clears her to dance again after telling her that she needs to work harder.
Sunni is third and I worry about her immediately when Kelli opens up with the “you’re a very impressive lady” speech. Sunni seems to be struggling with stamina issues and therefore will not be moving on.
Next week: The girls get their boots, Jay returns with a lame assignment involving pom poms and a veteran could be cut!
So, I’ve been meaning to comment on one of your Making the Team posts for awhile now, and although Kitty was not a part of this episode, I still think it might be kind of on topic. When I was in high school, I was on dance/drill team and we had a contest during my senior year and you’ll never guess who showed up. Kitty Carter came to speak and they made it into a big deal. She came to speak to us all about Gussie Nell Davis, the founder of the Kilgore Rangerettes and how she invented the modern drill team, etc, etc. Most of us were looking around at each other like “huh? who?” but she was very enthusiastic as you might expect. She was pretty nice if a little cooky and my mom said that she made a big deal about the sweet tea in the hospitality suite, aka teachers lounge. Just thought I would share my brush with greatness.
That is a brush with greatness! Let me ask you: was her hair as many colors as it appears on TV? Did she make anyone cry?
Her hair was kind of wacky, even then. I don’t remember her making anyone cry, but I do remember her telling people to “HUSH UP!” because she had something important to talk about. If only she had made my drill team director cry–I think our whole team would have given her a standing ovation.