Viewers no longer have to put up with insipid summer television. Many networks began airing their fall television shows this week. The CW introduced a few new vampires to its programming with the pilot of Vampire Diaries. Meanwhile, old favorite So You Think You Can Dance returned to Fox for a sixth season, back-to-back with the season premiere of Glee, one of fall’s hottest new comedies.
Caution: Spoilers ahead!
So You Think You Can Dance
Commercials for the sixth season of So You Think You Can Dance have called it the show’s “biggest season ever.” Accordingly, the talent seen in just the first round of auditions in Los Angeles made it so.
Throughout the past five seasons, a tap dancer has never made it to the top 20 dancers of the show. But that did not stop tappers Bianca Revels and Ryan Kaperzak from attempting chances at the title of “America’s favorite dancer” for the second season in a row. Kaperzak delivered a winning, precise tap routine that judge Adam Shankman called the “best audition [he’d] ever seen.” Later, Kaprazak returned to the stage for a “tap battle” with Revels. The two were entrancing as they tapped their hearts out together.
Rounding out the phenomenal tap talent was Phillip Attmore. From Gene Kelly to Sammy Davis Jr., Attmore managed to pay homage to many famous hoofers in his routine. He lit up the room with his great technique and fun style. This certainly is, as judge Nigel Lythgoe put it, “the year of the tappers.”
Of course, not all of those auditioning tap danced. Auditioner Christina Santana delivered a sharp, thrilling salsa routine, and both smiley Mollee Gray and light-footed Amber Williams performed beautiful, fluid dance routines in their respective auditions.
All of these dancers embody a great potential for an entertaining season. It will be interesting to see who makes it to the top 20, especially given this new tap talent.
Glee
After waiting for months after the pilot aired in May, Glee fans were finally treated to a wonderful season premiere.
The show about a Glee club filled with misfits has been generating quite a bit of hype, as songs from the show have become best-sellers on iTunes and fans eagerly anticipated its return. All of this excitement is well deserved; Glee has a great cast, romance and plenty of music.
The show’s cast dazzled. Jane Lynch, as Sue, an evil cheerleading coach, proves a delicious villain. She delivers lines like, “That was the most disturbing thing I’ve ever seen in 20 years of teaching, and that includes an elementary school production of Hair,” with hilarious but ominous gusto.
Budding romance filled the storyline of this episode. Sparks fly during a rehearsal between the stars of the Glee club, Rachel Berry (Lea Michele) and Finn (Corey Moneith). Unfortunately for Rachel, Finn’s cheerleader girlfriend, Quinn Fabray, joins the Glee club and puts out the flames.
Emma, the school’s germophobic guidance counselor, and the married Glee club director, Will Schuester, also have feelings for each other. However, Will’s wife forces him to become a janitor to earn extra money. One cannot help feeling bad for Will and wishing that he were married to the adorable Emma instead.
Hip-hop music by artists including Salt N Pepa, Kanye West, and Rihanna filled this episode of Glee. These examples prove that Lea Michele and Matthew Morrison can sing more than just the show tunes they performed on Broadway. Michele’s rendition of Rihanna’s “Take a Bow” was lovely and poignant. Morrison brought real sparkle to Kanye West’s “Gold Digger.” Michele and Morrison’s renditions could win over even those who are not fans of the original artists of these songs.
If Glee maintains the high standards of the first two episodes, this show is a surefire hit!
Vampire Diaries
CW has bought into the recent Vampire craze originating from movie mega-hit Twilight with its new show, Vampire Diaries.
This dark show follows Elena (Nina Dobrev), a recent orphan, and her relationship with a vampire, Stefan (Paul Wesley), who she meets in her mourning.
While the cast is certainly filled with attractive people, the allure of a smoldering vampire can only carry so far. Clearly, watching Stefan and his brother feed on people diminishes their appeal.
A significant failure of Vampire Dairies is a noticeable lack of likable characters. Elena and her brother, Jeremy, come off as pathetic. In addition, the vampires, unlike those of Twilight are excessively frightening. Stefan’s intense stare can become unsettling and makes it hard to root for his relationship with Elena. The contortion his face makes when he needs blood has a distinctly chilling effect.
However, Vampire Diaries provides a perfect show for those who found the murderous vampires of HBO’s True Blood too friendly.