Howard and LeKeith Talk About America's Best Dance Crew - Week 6

The crews bring out their best costumes and flair for Lady Gaga Week. How did it turn out? Read on...



Howard: Lady Gaga! The queen of avant-garde evidently, based on how many times JC used that phrase.

LeKeith: I thought I was ready for some Gaga inspired craziness

Howard: Were you not actually ready?

LeKeith: I'm ... still not sure. Can one ever truly be ready for Gaga?

Howard: True, true. Sometimes I think that Gaga is herself not ready for Gaga.

LeKeith: So how to you feel about the decision they made?

Howard: Well, it was the fair thing to do, I think. There was no way for them to send two teams to the bottom two this week. The typo last week was too egregious.

LeKeith: That's true. But how do you feel about the immunity idol? Because I think if ABDC could merge with Survivor, ratings juggernaut.

Howard: HA! Well, it was a good idea in theory because it gave the crews some additional motivation for the week.

LeKeith: So that they would stay hungry.

Howard: But really, the only motivation they needed was the fact that next week was a double elimination.

LeKeith: That was my thinking too.

Howard: And honestly, based on who got the idol, I just see it as a cheap way for the producers to ensure that one team stays in the hunt.

LeKeith: We'll get there

Howard: Let's go there now! What did you think of Fanny Pak East?

LeKeith: I thought it was a well done piece. I'm glad they changed tables from the one they had in rehearsal, although that kinda bugged me. I hate when they show you the process for stuff in rehearsal that doesn't make it into the final piece.

Howard: It does make it a bit pointless.

LeKeith: It's like when there's footage in the preview that's not in the actual episode.

Howard: But I also see it like sketches for a piece of art in progress. It's cool, in a way, to see what wasn't used in the finished product.

LeKeith: I understand that aspect to it too.

Howard: I found the routine to just be kind of... there. It didn't have the usual sense of narrative that I've come to expect from their routines.

LeKeith: No, it didn't have their typical narrative, which I would say is true of last week's routine too. I think it might depend on the challenge, how much of themselves they incorporate. Something that's not a problem for other crews like Poreotix.

Howard: Yes. Also, OG Fanny Pak.

LeKeith: Yes.

Howard: No matter how random their challenge, they were great at working in a story. Which is what I hoped this crew would do more often.

LeKeith: I agree. I did like that they had different Gaga outfits on. Like the one girl in the bubbles and the other one that looked like a Baked Potato in foil

Howard: I love that Lil' Mama had so little of substance to say that her main commentary was on the costuming. "Oh, those bubbles look hard!"

LeKeith: HA!



Howard: Thanks, Lil' Mama. Also, Peter as secret tranny Gaga!

LeKeith: Which one is Peter?

Howard: THE DUDE THAT WAS DRESSED AS LADY GAGA! That was a man, son!

LeKeith: Wait, what?

Howard: Crying Game moment for LeKeith!!!

LeKeith: HAHA! He was a good Lady Gaga!

Howard: He was excellent as Gaga.

LeKeith: He's got a future in SoHo if this ABDC thing doesn't work out.

Howard: Oh, for sure.

LeKeith: I was going to say that when Bubbles was dancing with Baked Potato, they weren't on the same page. Baked Potato had a lot more dramatic flair while Bubbles was kinda going through the motions.

Howard: Well, you know - those Bubbles are Hard!

LeKeith: HA! Wait. That was a Man?

Howard: Yes!

LeKeith: I definitely missed that one.

Howard: Before you spend too much time dwelling on that and your confused feelings from last night, let's move onto Team Canada.

LeKeith: I love Team Canada! Although when that one girl mimed hockey, her shot was terrible. Maybe she should stick to being a Canadian Dancer.

Howard: I enjoyed their routine, but I would not call it the best of the evening, much less the best of Season 5.

LeKeith: I don't think it was the best of Season 5. Best of the night? I thought it was way too early to make such a comment. If it in fact was only the SECOND Routine of the show.

Howard: This is why I call shenanigans on you JC Chasez!

LeKeith: Although I do agree that the routine was 'Gaga' from start to finish. I liked the lifts and that air breaking, I guess we'll call it.

Howard: Sure.

LeKeith: It was a lot more intense than the Fanny Pak East Routine. Not in a dramatic way but in a “we're hitting our moves” way.



Howard: It definitely captured that Gaga spirit. And brought a lot more fire than the FPE routine.

LeKeith: Right.

Howard: Plus, to the extent that the crews are responsible for their own costuming, they did a great job with that.

LeKeith: Yeah, I'm starting to wonder about that

Howard: But really, how hard is it to make a Lady Gaga costume? You just have to pretend that the costume designer for Mad Max 4 went colorblind and that takes you about 90% of the way.

LeKeith: HAHA! Grab some curtains off the wall, pick up a garbage bag of peanut foam and go to work!

Howard: Exactly! In all honesty, the routine was entertaining and there was some cool choreography in it. I especially liked the ending neck snap and the fake choke slam.

LeKeith: me too!

Howard: But my feelings about it are ultimately kind of colored by the excessive fawning by JC. Especially when it felt like the judges were going out of their way to knock down some of the other crews. I get that they're trying to get some parity among the groups. But when it's so blatant, it's just ridiculous.

LeKeith: You're right. They're definitely not judging evenly. But for Team Canada, I knew I liked their routine before the judges started speaking. I even said, “That was ill,” which is not a phrase I utter.

Howard: HA!

LeKeith: Team Canada definitely knows how to put routines together which has been giving them favour in the eyes of the judges. But next crew! Double Double Animal Style

Howard: Oh, so sad this week. They're back to being called Jungle Boogie.

LeKeith: I concur.

Howard: They only get to be DDAS when they are awesome. But they were real sloppy this week. Not even counting BeeJay, who was waaaaaay off of everyone else.

LeKeith: It's true

Howard: The remaining four dancers were never totally in sync with each other.

LeKeith: Did you notice when they spun the chairs? Everyone spun it in the same direction but one guy. I want to say Zebrahead but I'm not sure.

Howard: It's those little details that make or break a performance.

LeKeith: Absolutely.

Howard: Also, their choreo was not great for the first half of the performance.



LeKeith: They singled out Beejay for being off but someone messed up before he did.

Howard: It's true. I thought the judges were still way to soft on them. I want Omarion to be the new Shane, not the Ellen of ABDC. He needs to show some teeth.

LeKeith: I agree. this is actually a point when I wanted Shane on the show. Two reasons: (1) That routine was CRAZY sexual. (2) That routine was CRAZY sloppy. He would have applauded them for one and criticized them for the other.

Howard: Exactly. Perv-o-Tron 9000 would have shown up for a minute. And then put back in the box.

LeKeith: I did get a little freaked out by that torso turn though.

Howard: Yeah, that's was some craziness. That moment and the... um, male explosion at the end saved the routine from sheer tedium. But I still foresee Jungle Boogie in the bottom two or three next week.

LeKeith: I honestly kept thinking, “How are they showing this on TV?” Remember when Shane was shocked by Afroborike?

Howard: Yeah. Though to be fair, Jungle Boogie was not mouth raping each other. Or pantomiming it.

LeKeith: I dunno, Raqi doing a headstand on some dude's lap made me a little uncomfortable. Maybe it freaked Beejay out too and that's why he fell.

Howard: I chalk that to your personal experiences. But we don't need to talk about that Vegas trip here...

LeKeith: We definitely do not. Moving on!

Howard: The Phat Boys! And their awesome pimp cane/disco stick!

LeKeith: I liked the cane but they were kinda just okay for me this week.

Howard: Yeah, their routine was not mind blowing this week.

LeKeith: Troy Polumanu looked more like a member of KISS to me. He was the Star Child.

Howard: HA! That middle grooving section was pretty solid and the opening bit with the two members on the bench was a great visual.

LeKeith: It was.

Howard: But overall, it felt... insubstantial? The botched flip also didn't help matters. Though his awesome push-up recovery earns him some extra credit.

LeKeith: That's what you do when you suddenly end up face down. Push-ups!



Howard: I can't tell if Lil' Mama was just dense or whether she was being cruel, but it was kind of fucked up to show a slo-mo of the flip and frame it like it was going to be awesome.

LeKeith: I know! I think she meant to point out how he recovered so quickly because you know how much she likes to say you have to “keep going.” But it was mean. Also, JC, your comment on the “little lift” was not nice.

Howard: Yeah.

LeKeith: Don't be that guy, JC.

Howard: Also, I want to install some kind of remote punching device. So that I can punch the judges every time they make mention of how surprisingly agile the Phat Boys are. We've seen them dance 4 times now! It's no longer surprising!

LeKeith: That sounds like a drinking game to me.

Howard: You know I can't drink enough to keep up with the stupidity of the judges.

LeKeith: I do. and I imagine, like me, you like watching TV sober.

Howard: Sometimes.

LeKeith: Well, ABDC.

Howard: Sometimes.

LeKeith: What did you think of the pole tricks? Done by men?

Howard: Always a little weird to see, but still an impressive physical feat.

LeKeith: I concur. I'm ready for it to be an Olympic Sport.

Howard: Right after dodgeball.

LeKeith: That would be so awesome.

Howard: I concur! But you know what was not super awesome? The Kona Krushers.

LeKeith: Yeah… Like Jungle Boogie, the little things bothered me more than the whole routine did. Their slide across the stage? The hand movements for the heart beat? Those were all over the place. Really annoyed me.

Howard: I could see what they were trying to do with the choreography. And it was glorious in my mind. But the execution was just terrible.

LeKeith: that's how I felt about their whole routine. Like the giant Gaga in the flowing Pink Dress? Could have been awesome.

Howard: Yup.

LeKeith: Instead… Surprise! Nothin'.

Howard: The reveal felt like, "Here we are, I guess."

LeKeith: Exactly



Howard: I think they should have done a routine that was just the four guys dancing around the two girls making out.

LeKeith: HA!

Howard: Because really, they blew that load on a week where the votes didn't even count.

LeKeith: Thanks, MTV.

Howard: Yup. But definitely in the bottom next week Unless Hawaii comes through for them again.

LeKeith: Well, we know Canada can't vote.

Howard: As well they shouldn't.

LeKeith: Knowing MTV, they just found out Hawaii's a state

Howard: HA! OK, I can't be bothered to talk about the mediocrity of the Kona Krushers any more. Kids, if you make it another week, step yo' game up, as Lil' Mama would say.

LeKeith: I concur. Also, you can't go from making out with each other to wearing Gaga faces on your clothes. That was weird.

Howard: Those outfits were terrible.

LeKeith: Maybe the costume designer was like, “I have Pipe Cleaner, Cotton Balls, and old t-shirts. I can work with this.”

Howard: Lil' Mama's commentary was even worse. “You're wearing those blond Gaga wigs on your shirts!” Really? Someone wrote a check that paid for you to say that?

LeKeith: Lil' Mame was Our Lady of Pointless Observation this week.

Howard: So next was Poreotix.

LeKeith: You know what I liked alot in their package? When the one guy mimed hammering a nail while the other guy talked.

Howard: Yeah, that was pretty fantastic. You know what I liked about their routine?

LeKeith: All of it?

Howard: Well, yes.

LeKeith: HA!

Howard: But also the fact that they clowned the shit out of EVERYONE. Judges. The other crews. Everyone.

LeKeith: You mean with JC and Omarion making out with each other?

Howard: And the scream of terror for Lil' Mama.

LeKeith: Oh yeah!

Howard: The jump rope tricks using the crutches.

LeKeith: Keep going. I like your analysis.

Howard: The middle choreo section that JC called "boring"? They were aping moves that the other crews do in their routines. Except their parody was better than what's usually done because they were adding levels in addition to the moves. They were dropping the gauntlet. And I think that's why the judges couldn't really say anything about it.

LeKeith: Yeah, I think you're absolutely correct. Pointing again to the uneven judging.

Howard: There's such a gap in the raw talent between the groups.



LeKeith: It's true. But your analysis aside, the thing I liked most about their routine is when they did the magician hand movement on their faces to correspond to that shutter sound in the song.

Howard: Yeah, they had a lot of fantastic little touches which complemented the narrative that they were building on stage.

LeKeith: They don't waste any part of the song and in fact highlight parts that are taken for granted.

Howard: And I think it's sad that the judges, whether because they're missing it or because they don't want to stack the deck, decided to highlight the exact same move with two separate slo-mos. WE JUST SAW THE BACKWARDS SECTION, OMARION. This is when I miss Shane the most.

LeKeith: Also, way to be dismissive of something incredibly difficult, Judges. I think the show definitely needs a judge with a big choreography background. Because aside from Shane's Perv-o-Tron moments, his assessment of the routines was seen through a choreographer's eye.

Howard: Exactly.

LeKeith: He could see what was intended and what was executed, how they differ and how to improve. Then he'd talk about bootys.

Howard: And let's move onto the Hotsteppers.

LeKeith: To be fair, I understand that they wanted to dance without the jumpropes but they should never be allowed to take the ropes out of their hands.

Howard: HA! I think BreakSk8 took their skates off once or twice.

LeKeith: Yeah but Br8kSk8 sans Sk8s were still very competent dancers. I just want to see shots of Hotsteppers jumping rope and drinking G2.

Howard: Before their routine started, I predicted that they'd play it safe. And they did. But the end result is that the glory of the gimmick is starting to wear off.

LeKeith: Yup.

Howard: Especially when other crews do your shit USING CRUTCHES.

LeKeith: Also, considering that they planned this routine thinking they'd be in the bottom two, I would have opted to go harder. But that's just me.

Howard: I totally agree. But I think after the Jump-ocalypse last week, they needed to get their confidence back.



LeKeith: And yeah, we've seen behind the unnecessary curtain now. We didn't need that metaphor at the beginning of the routine.

Howard: HA!

LeKeith: Although their double handspring back tuck while jumping rope was damn skilled.

Howard: Oh definitely.

LeKeith: I learned that term in BRING IT ON.

Howard: One of the greatest movies of our times.

LeKeith: Absolutely!

Howard: There were moves in the beginning and middle that would have blown me away a week or two ago. But at this point, it's just the same old, same old.

LeKeith: I agree. And going with rope-less moves isn't going to bring me back into the fold.

Howard: Yeah... Anyway, I predict that they'll just escape the elimination round. Assuming they do with a bottom 3. I'm guessing that'll be Kona Krushers, Phat Boys and Jungle Boogie. Based purely on performances.

LeKeith: Interesting.

Howard: If I have to factor in voting blocks and whatnot, it changes the analysis.

LeKeith: I agree with all 3 of those choices but wouldn't be surprised to see Hotsteppers in there.

Howard: Yeah, I wouldn't either. But I think their routine was at least coordinated. Which gives them a slight edge over the other three.

LeKeith: That makes sense. Even though Mario didn't say any of the phrases I said for him, I am glad that they gave me so much Layla Kayleigh!

Howard: They did! I was like Christmas for you!

LeKeith: Well they threw in the DJ too!

Howard: It was like a LeKeith Wishlist episode.

LeKeith: They got my letter!

Howard: Speaking of letters, let's close by answering a question from one of our readers. TeXavier asks, “I'm very curious as to who you two think will be the final 3, any thoughts?”

LeKeith: First off, that is a great question and thank you for reading. I've had a harder time figuring out who will be the Top 3 this season than in previous seasons. The first week's voting kinda surprised me. But I think Poreotix and Team Canada will be 2 of the 3.

Howard: I concur.

LeKeith: I'd like Fanny Pak East to be the 3rd but they don't seem to be all that well liked. Unless this week's order was based on the voting tallies.

Howard: I'll be honest, they lack the spark that made the original Fanny Pak stand out to me. They're like a really awesome cover band version of Fanny Pak.

LeKeith: They are!

Howard: Neil Cubic Zirconium, if you will.

LeKeith: Where Fanny Pak had enthusiasm, they have seriousness. But what they need is Enthusiasm!

Howard: Spirit Fingers!

LeKeith: HA! Who do you think will be the 3rd?

Howard: If Jungle Boogie goes back to be DDAS, I could see them making it to the Top 3.

LeKeith: Yes.

Howard: But otherwise, from a pure talent perspective, I feel like FPE will take it.

LeKeith: I feel the same way.

Howard: Then again, Season 4 taught me to never underestimate the voting power of an island population. So the Kona Krushers might float through to the top.

LeKeith: Puerto Rico! Where you at?

Howard: Continuing the ABDC tradition of letting a less talented group into the Final Two.

LeKeith: Also, a lot of the crews have been showing 2 levels of performance. The DDAS v. Jungle Boogie dichotomy if you will. The first one of those to become consistent at the higher level - the DDAS level - will be the one to make it to the Top 3. Hype 5-O, Jungle Boogie and Static Noyse all have the potential to do that. So do Heavy Impact but less so.

Howard: Agreed.

LeKeith: But what we do have to look forward to: Bell Bottoms, Disco Balls and more Layla Kayliegh!

Howard: Groovy.

LeKeith: Funkadelic even.

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Howard and LeKeith Talk About America's Best Dance Crew - Week 5

We're down to eight crews. How did they fare when trying to imitate today's "hottest" video hits? Read on to find out.



Howard: ABDC! The Video Challenge! Normally, one of my favorite ABDC episodes each season.

LeKeith: Yes. It was random like... Manny Pacquiao.

Howard: That was the most random celebrity insertion ever.

LeKeith: I know! More than Lisa Ling.

Howard: I want ABDC to up the level of randomness next week. Like Verne Troyer or something.

LeKeith: I'm telling you, Christopher Walken is a phone call away

Howard: Or Cal Worthington! And a tiger!

LeKeith: HAHA!

Howard: Dude, a Christopher Walken week would be amazing.

LeKeith: I KNOW! You know what else would be amazing? Seeing Layla Kayleigh again. But I digress. back to the challenge

Howard: I was really disappointed with the set-up this season.

LeKeith: I thought it was lackluster.

Howard: I think having the video screen behind the crews was about the worst idea they could have done.

LeKeith: Oh man, yes!

Howard: Because it totally changed the tenor of the challenge. It went from being "capture the tone of this signature moment" to "copy this 30 second snippet of the video as closely as you can."

LeKeith: Exactly what I was thinking.

Howard: And with the exception of a few crews, their performances generally lost all momentum and fire when they got to the copying segment.

LeKeith: I don't mind when they have a "Master the Move" challenge. But it's a distinct challenge from the Music Video Challenge.

Howard: Exactly. But let's get into the crews.

LeKeith: So Poreotix.

Howard: I have to say that the boys let me down at bit this week.

LeKeith: I see what you mean.

Howard: I think they were still reeling from the comments last week.

LeKeith: I think so too. Plus, I thought they were unfairly judged.



Howard: The opening was strong, I thought. It showed some interesting choreo and that peel-off looked sick.

LeKeith: That peel-off was sick. I guess my overall feeling with this performance is that I could see where they could have done more and was half expecting it.

Howard: Yeah.

LeKeith: To be honest, I wanted to see a ticking section when they were holding the umbrellas. The music almost called for it. And I thought they were going to do more, but then the routine just ended.

Howard: I think that's where the video screen became their enemy. Without it, they could have used the umbrellas to throw their own flair in.

LeKeith: Exactly!

Howard: But with the screen, I think they felt compelled to stick to what was being shown. Which they did a decent job of, I guess.

LeKeith: That and the comments from last week made them stay very safe

Howard: Though one guy was way off sync after he did the water gun gag.

LeKeith: Yeah. I noticed the timing with the umbrellas in a different section than the one JC pointed out.

Howard: It's true. I really miss Shane at this point. Not just for the pervy comments.

LeKeith: I know exactly what you mean.

Howard: He'd work in slo-mos of impressive things. Which Lil' Mama and Omarion do not do nearly enough. They're just random platitude machines.

LeKeith: Pretty much.

Howard: I think i'm going to script a Lil' Mama Comment Generator for next week.

LeKeith: HA! I feel like one should exist already.

Howard: "Y'all are ! Dance like that!"

LeKeith: "Y'all did you thing!" "That was tight!"

Howard: "I needed more swag!"

LeKeith: "This is a competition. You have to remember that."

Howard: "I agree with JC."

LeKeith: HA!

Howard: Anyway, I think going first was a pretty big disadvantage for them. Because by the time we got to the last crews, I was accustomed to the video segments being lackluster. But at the beginning, I was expecting big things.

LeKeith: I think they're going to have to get used to it. Unless something weird happens, I see them going first a lot.

Howard: Yeah. Hopefully they'll wake up for next week.

LeKeith: They will. They'll do it for you.

Howard: Next came Double Double Animal Style.

LeKeith: I gotta say, I didn't like this performance too much either. And I think it's because of the video like you mentioned.

Howard: It felt very "by the numbers".

LeKeith: There was one part where Raqi was doing a snap and bend ala Legally Blonde. Y ou could see Shakira doing it in the background with more snap and more bend.

Howard: And the big moment where they raised Raqi on the platform did not look nearly as cool as the pyramid from last week.

LeKeith: Yeah, I didn't understand why they did that.



Howard: Unless you're going to top your previous performance, don't throw (essentially) the same trick at me twice. The ending was tremendously hilarious though.

LeKeith: I did like when Zebrahead did his howl.

Howard: YES! Also, the stepping brothers were awesome.

LeKeith: They were! I like how the montages are sometimes like secret reveals. "Oh no! A Stepping Challenge" "Actually, my brother and I are National Stepping Champions" It kinda cracks me up.

Howard: HA!

LeKeith: But I'm with you. I want more of last week's Double Double Animal Style, not Sectionals' Jungle Boogie.

Howard: I thought it was decent overall. With the stepping segment and the ending pose bringing up the score.

LeKeith: Agreed.

Howard: But again, the video section just killed the routine for me. I think the key for their future success if more ZebraHead. That dude cracks me up.

LeKeith: I know! Me too! He's so animated.

Howard: Oh, and can we clown Lil' Mama again for a second?

LeKeith: Sure.

Howard: She gave Raqi props for getting into the formation when ZebraHead climbed on top of the entire group? Seriously.

LeKeith: Yeah, that didn't make any sense.

Howard: "Hey, you made yourself part of a giant rock! Good job!" What did she expect her to do? Just stand there awkwardly?

LeKeith: I think she just wanted to have girl time on national TV. And show off the extension.

Howard: Next came Fanny Pak East. With their hobo dance.

LeKeith: I didn't think they'd use actual shopping carts. I guess they were keeping it HoboCore.

Howard: Yeah, I was impressed by that. And the backwards flip.

LeKeith: Which there should have been an overhead camera shot for. The one time I want to see that damn angle, they don't use it



Howard: I wanted one of them to go flying off the stage, Jackass-style. Cross-promotion, MTV!

LeKeith: HAHA!

Howard: "I'm Johnny Knoxville. And this is America's Best Dance Crew."

LeKeith: Does that mean that Mario Lopez will get shot in the crotch by a Paintball gun?

Howard: I thought they did one of the better jobs with the video section, but that's probably because they didn't follow the video all that closely.

LeKeith: Yeah, also, it was kind of an atypical dance video.

Howard: It's true. There was a lot of cuts in it where you didn't see the group of dancers. Unlike, say, "Umbrella" where it's a pretty constant wide angle on the entire group.

LeKeith: Right. And I know it's a minor point but I would have liked if they had used some of the other crews' logos on the shopping carts.

Howard: That would have been a nice shout out.

LeKeith: One of the things I liked about Fanny Pak is they acknowledged the other crews.

Howard: Or maybe just Sadness Crew’s logo.

LeKeith: Yeah! that would have been perfect

Howard: No wait, that would have been kind of fucked up. Since that one dude's Mama's house burned down.

LeKeith: Oh. True. I thought only that one part got messed up?

Howard: Maybe. I kind of glaze over during those segments.

LeKeith: Also, I thought you meant that Swagger crew was reduced to living in the streets. Which is also messed up.

Howard: That too. But yeah, it would be cruel to basically say, "HAHA! Now you're doubly homeless!"

LeKeith: "You're Homeless AND You Can't Dance!" Yup, not cool.

Howard: Good call, Fanny Pak East. We salute your sensitivity.

LeKeith: Salute! Onto the next crew

Howard: Oh, the Hotsteppers. You are probably not stepping so hot today.

LeKeith: Hotmesssteppers. Oh snap!

Howard: HA!

LeKeith: I kid because I care. But I kinda wish MTV would post the rehearsal footage because I don't know what they were going for.



Howard: I'm really curious. Was that bigger girl going to jump rope while spinning the other girl around like a hula hoop? Because that would have been amazing.

LeKeith: I think so. I thought they were going for some lucha move or something.

Howard: Maybe.

LeKeith: Maybe an assisted cartwheel?

Howard: We'll never know, sadly.

LeKeith: I need to know! But once that happened, you could see them fall apart.

Howard: Yeah, that had to really throw them off.

LeKeith: Definitely.

Howard: I imagine that this will continue to be a problem in the future. Because whenever they have to go outside of the set moves they've rehearsed in the past, it's going to get messy.

LeKeith: Right. I agree.

Howard: It's hard enough to set up choreo for a whole routine in a week.

LeKeith: Let alone time it to jumping rope.

Howard: Yup.

LeKeith: Also, their dancing away from the rope was not good

Howard: No.

LeKeith: I wanna say, lithe, even

Howard: But we knew that during the West Regionals. When they came back from a commercial break, they showed Saltare dancing in the front row of the audience. It was not… awesome.

LeKeith: Oh. I missed that. I was searching for Layla

Howard: HA!

LeKeith: But we'll see how they recover, if they can.

Howard: If you look at the portions of their routine that worked the best, they were all variations on tricks they've done before. Diving/flipping through the long ropes and whatnot.

LeKeith: Yes, absolutely. They're more comfortable doing those moves. Oh well, hold a press conference, say you're sorry and we'll see you next week. This is America.

Howard: So the Phat Boys, a.k.a. Heavy Impact.

LeKeith: Heavy! Heavy! You Ain't Ready! I loved that.

Howard: HA! Another decent routine. Nothing that really wowed me. But they were nice and fluid, and did a decent job with the popping. Their facial expressions are amazing though.

LeKeith: I thought so too. It's them and Zebrahead.



Howard: I actually would have liked to see them do "Umbrella" and Poreotix do this video.

LeKeith: That would have been good.

Howard: But that would have been a little too much in their respective comfort zones, I suppose. I did find it hilarious that one of them noted that it was harder for people to pick up smaller movements on them because of their girth. And then the judges chastised them.

LeKeith: Yeah, I thought that was stupid.

Howard: "Don't ever talk about how big you are! That's our job."

LeKeith: Also, he wasn't complaining. He was talking about having moves read bigger. Way to pay attention Omarion.

Howard: HA!

LeKeith: Then we went to the Kissing Kona Krushers!

Howard: I am honestly shocked that they weren't in the bottom 2.

LeKeith: Oh wait. Too many K's. My bad.

Howard: HA!

LeKeith: I was pretty surprised too, actually. Apparently America is really xenophobic or something.

Howard: Yeah, take that, foreigners! Anyway. I think it was probably their best performance to date.

LeKeith: I think so too.

Howard: Though the dismount from the human pole was really really ugly.

LeKeith: It was!

Howard: But hey, that dude held the splits for an inhumanly long time. So, I'll give them a pass.

LeKeith: Also, the transformation into the pole was very smooth.

Howard: Yeah.

LeKeith: So win some, lose some.



Howard: You might call the kiss at the end pure pandering. And you might be right. But I choose to look at it as a tribute to Britney's VMA performance with Madonna.

LeKeith: I like your rationale.

Howard: Thanks.

LeKeith: I see it as a tribute to the constant plight of same sex marriages across these united states.

Howard: Very true. Way to get political, Kona Krushers!

LeKeith: Keep fighting the good fight.

Howard: I think they should be OK next week. The performance was solid and the kiss was the cherry on top.

LeKeith: I agree. And it was here and with Raqi that Omarion started to put on his pervy shoes. And it was appropriate

Howard: Yes! PERV-O-TRON 5000 - ACTIVATE.

LeKeith: HAHA!

Howard: OK, so Card Sharks finally landed in the bottom 2.

LeKeith: I was kinda annoyed at the Card Routine.

Howard: One card trick would be OK. Maybe. But two? Nope.com.

LeKeith: Exactly.

Howard: I did love the fact that it highlighted Secret Pakistani.

LeKeith: For a second there, I thought he was going to windmill after he made the card disappear. Which would have been kinda awesome and a good way to justify his hand movements.

Howard: Totally.

LeKeith: Oh, you know what I actually liked? That one of the guys did the booty shake. Because it was different.

Howard: Yeah.

LeKeith: I though they were going to do a whole gender switch in the video, which would have been really clever.

Howard: And he did it better than the girl from Sadness Crew last week.

LeKeith: Oh… She had a nice booty shake.

Howard: I found it a little lacking. It's not a commentary on her booty, per se. Just the shake.



LeKeith: I know what you mean. I can't disagree. But back to the Card Sharks… This was again where I saw a routine that could have been more but it wasn't, either because of the challenge restraints or another factor. Also, kinda random: when Secret Pakastani did the Card Trick, I wondered if they were all magicians…

Howard: That would be awesome.

LeKeith: I would have called them AbraCaDancers.

Howard: HAHA!

LeKeith: Just to see Mario Lopez say it.

Howard: They were all just praying that they'd survive until Magic Trick Week.

LeKeith: I really hope that never comes back.

Howard: Though now I really want to see a group called AbraCaDancers.

LeKeith: Me too. This is what I've been thinking about

Howard: Alright, so Team Canada. A surprise entry in the bottom.

LeKeith: Yeah. Xenophobia.

Howard: But I started wondering whether MTV airs ABDC in Canada. Or do they Canada's Best Dance Crew? CBDC!

LeKeith: HA! That's a good question actually. Do the winners get a lifetime supply of Timbits and a spot on the Juno Awards?

Howard: Season tickets to see the Canucks.

LeKeith: A walk on role on Degrassi? Ah Canada, such a wonderful place in my mind.

Howard: It had to suck to do Omarion's dance. Not just because he was judging, but because it involved such insane moves.



LeKeith: I liked that when the girls fell out of the headstand, they had a pose to strike until that part was finished. A Contingency Dance.

Howard: Yeah, that was good forethought. Also, the b-boy's floor slide was insane.

LeKeith: The first section with the arms was crazy too. They were so together, probably more than any other crew this week.

Howard: Yeah.

LeKeith: Also, is "I Get It In" about submitting your college applications, because that's what it should be about.

Howard: Um... Let's say yes. For you.

LeKeith: Who do you think will be in the bottom next week?

Howard: I'd predict Saltare and Heavy Impact.

LeKeith: I see that.

Howard: Saltare was the only group with a "bad" performance. Everyone else was just OK. And of those, I felt like the Phat Boys were the most "meh."

LeKeith: I agree.

Howard: What's the theme for next week?

LeKeith: Lady Gaga

Howard: That should make for some really interesting routines. I wonder if she will be around to guest judge like Missy Elliot did.

LeKeith: Will the crews "Just Dance" through the competition or will the flash from the "Paparazzi" cause a "Bad Romance" between them and the Judges? So says Mario Lopez.

Howard: HAHA!

LeKeith: Can the crews keep their "Pokerfaces" on or will they trip on their "Disco Stick?" That's all the Gaga I know.

Howard: If Mario actually says any of those things, I will buy you In-n-Out the next time you're in town.

LeKeith: Oh please say them, Slater! I love you, In-N-Out. Almost as much as I love Layla Kayleigh!

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Saturday Matinee - Dwarf Punk

This takes me back to watching MTV AMP in college and staring at music videos made almost entirely of public domain cartoon footage. Good times.

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Howard and LeKeith Talk About America's Best Dance Crew - Week 4

It's week 4 of ABDC and we're finally at the Nationals. How did the crews handle the coast-to-coast face-off? Read on to find out.



Howard: ABDC! Nationals!

LeKeith: Yes!

Howard: I'll be honest with you, I left it on the Tivo until Men's Figure Skating was done.

LeKeith: HA! That's fine. It is the Winter Olympics after all.

Howard: Since we won the gold, I think I get a pass.

LeKeith: We did?

Howard: U-S-A! U-S-A!

LeKeith: HA!

Howard: Anyway, let's go through the crews.

LeKeith: They started with the West Crews and the Kona Krushers

Howard: They were... OK. Nothing too great, but nothing too terrible.

LeKeith: I agree. I felt that their energy was really low. I didn't get that same sense of enthusiasm they had in the Regionals.

Howard: I'd like to call for a moratorium on the move where 2 or more people grab someone by their arms and legs unless the result is going to be (1) incredibly smooth and (2) mind-blowingly awesome.

LeKeith: I second it. Although, I did appreciate the Lady Krushers miming the motion. I wished they had jumped with the leap, though. It would have made a nice visual.

Howard: Yeah. Also, the scuba ending? Lame.

LeKeith: Yeah...

Howard: I expect better from you Kona Krushers.



LeKeith: Do you think there was a requirement to do something for that one camera? The half track camera, I guess it could be called.

Howard: Eh, I think crews just want to play up to it because they think it's a dynamic finish. And it can be, but just not that routine.

LeKeith: I'm not calling the Krushers out for it but I noticed that almost every routine had that shot in it. But I digress.

Howard: I will give them points for being shirtless under their jackets.

LeKeith: Okay.

Howard: Way to represent the island styles, gentlemen.

LeKeith: Oh! Now I know what you mean. The judges were right about the Krushers' routine.

Howard: Yeah, the judges hit the nail on the head.

LeKeith: Also, that was a giant tattoo.

Howard: Yeah, they're going to regret that in about two to three years. Also, not going to college.

LeKeith: HA!

Howard: I think there's a lucrative market in selling "I Should Have Gone to College" shirts to ABDC contestants.

LeKeith: HAHA! It's funny but sad and true.

Howard: Unfortunately, the Phat Boys didn't turn up the heat either.

LeKeith: No, they didn't. I was a little disappointed. I wanted the full Troy Polumanu experience. I only got some of it. I would also call him the Samoan Dancing Machine but I'm not sure if Isaac is Samoan.

Howard: HAHA! Also, we get that they're big boys, ABDC. Not every comment has to be some kind of double entendre about their weight or how light they are on their feet.

LeKeith: Yeah... Slater is not light on his feet when it comes to quips.

Howard: I was half expecting Lil' Mama to give them props for going through the whole routine without eating a cheeseburger.

LeKeith: Although, if they did have a cheeseburger hidden somewhere, that would have been awesome. Provided it was consistent with the musicality.

Howard: HA!



LeKeith: But yeah, Heavy Impact weren't great but they lived to fight another day.

Howard: It's true.

LeKeith: I did like the cartwheel handspring move, though. But again, the judges were on the nose in their critique. It needed to be cleaned up.

Howard: Yeah. Though they were definitely cleaner than the Kona Krushers.

LeKeith: Oh! The bridge footwork thing? That was pretty cool except it didn't look as good as I think they wanted it to.

Howard: Agreed. OK, this brings us to the JC Hateration Showcase.

LeKeith: HAHA!

Howard: Seriously.

LeKeith: Another Great Routine by Poreotix I'm not joining in the hate on that one. Also, kudos to Lil Mama for picking up on that one point in the slo-mo.

Howard: Yup. And when they were doing the sound levels using their fingers? Ridonc.

LeKeith: Yeah, I thought that was cool. It took me a second to get it though. There's a lot of subtle moments in their performance that you have to find and appreciate. Probably even more so than Kaba Modern's routines.

Howard: I kind of get what JC is saying. But this is not like early Sup3rCr3w where it was trick-walk-trick-walk-trick. There's musicality and choreo to the transitions between their big spots.

LeKeith: Yes. there is.

Howard: To say, "You did a great job of dancing your style, but you didn't dance other styles," is a ridiculous commentary.

LeKeith: Although, I'm not surprised that it was said.

Howard: They needed to bring them down from the strong finish of last week. I call shenanigans!



LeKeith: I mean, it's the kinda double talk that ABDC has used in the past.

Howard: True, true.

LeKeith: Their thought process was, "We need something to criticize you about. I know. Let's tell them they're too good at what they do. That's like a criticism!"

Howard: HA!

LeKeith: But they were the first saved crew so I don't think it hurt them too bad yet. We won't know until the voting.

Howard: It just annoys me that if they threw some flares into the middle of that routine, it would have been legit all of a sudden.

LeKeith: Or it would have been held against them for not being “true to their style.”

Howard: And unfortunately, now that JC is the only coherent judge left on that show, Lil' Mama and Omarion just nod like puppets. I think that was the only time all night that they went to him first.

LeKeith: Jungle Boogie, I think he went first there as well.

Howard: Ah, yes.

LeKeith: Who are conveniently the next crew

Howard: Nice segue!

LeKeith: I have to say, they shut me up.

Howard: They definitely hyped up the energy level.

LeKeith: That was a different crew than their regionals performance.

Howard: I wanted to hate them, but they are not the new... What was that crew from DC last season?

LeKeith: Beat Ya Feet Kings!

Howard: Yes! Yeah, Jungle Boogie came out with some fire and a cool routine.

LeKeith: Also, they were a lot more organized.

Howard: Yup.

LeKeith: I finally understand what the term controlled frenzy means. They had it.



Howard: They had some great spots - the throwback and the pyramid.

LeKeith: Absolutely. I liked both those spots. And the throwback I didn't see coming.

Howard: Yeah, that was the spot that really made me sit up and pay attention.

LeKeith: The pyramid is on its way to being on the moratorium list though. But I appreciate how Jungle Boogie's was very well done. One other thing: when they were talking about their animal styles or whatever, all I could think about was getting an In-N-Out Burger

Howard: Oh, delicious In-N-Out...

LeKeith: So I think I will call them Double Double Animal Style from now on.

Howard: I am convinced that Lil' Mama wrote out a cue card that had as many animal puns as possible on it. With a column for a good performance and a column for a bad performance.

LeKeith: HAHA! I didn't notice. Were there really that many? And do you think they have one for the Phat Boys as well?

Howard: Probably. "That was a HUGE performance!"

LeKeith: oh. actually, we skipped a crew. Swagger Crew went first.

Howard: Oh right, Sadness Crew. Seriously, that dude looked like he was going to cry.

LeKeith: Yeah...

Howard: I mean, he has a really sad story with his Mama's house burning down. But don't cry, dude

LeKeith: He just had so much passion, it was coming out of his eyes.



Howard: I think their downfall - aside from general sloppiness - was relying on their Fergie too much. (I've decided that on any crew that has a token female member, that woman will be known as Fergie.)

LeKeith: I agree. But they did give Fergie her moment, which I appreciated.

Howard: I don't really have much to say about Sadness Crew. Other than the sad little fireball that they threw out.

LeKeith: Well, I think we said it all when we accidentally skipped them.

Howard: True. So let's complete the Southern Sadness Tour with the Card Sharks.

LeKeith: I like that the South kinda has Dueling Fergies.

Howard: It's true. Well, now only one Fergie is standing.

LeKeith: I thought their routine was fine.

Howard: It was like the Kona Krushers. Neither here nor there.

LeKeith: I remember the card trick at the end...

Howard: Also, Secret Pakistani. The greatest ABDC contestant of all time.

LeKeith: I really like that dude's hair.



Howard: Agreed! I think the judges made the right call by sending Sadness Crew to the bottom.

LeKeith: I think so too. Both Double Double Animal Style and Card Sharks had shown improvement since the Regionals.

Howard: Yeah. Though Card Sharks less so. I would not object to their departure next week.

LeKeith: Now we get to the EAST, starting with North Carolina!

Howard: Oh, Hotsteppers - why are you so ridonculous?!

LeKeith: I don't know! But that was Crazy!

Howard: It was! I had to watch it twice. ABDC needed to show more slo-mos of their stuff.

LeKeith: And like Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy or Chris Rock, they dropped their mic! And still killed it!

Howard: HA!

LeKeith: For me though, a lot of it has to with not being able to tell what's going to happen next. So it makes it even more exciting on top of the fact that what they're doing in the routine is so awesome. Like the all member jump in the jump rope! What the hell!

Howard: I know! I don't really have anything bad to say about them.

LeKeith: I'm still impressed.



Howard: They usually start off doing something that seems like a drill routine. But they quickly blossom into a full on dance routine.

LeKeith: Yes! I mean, I even hesitate to call them a gimmick crew even though they are. They're just a really damn good gimmick crew.

Howard: Yeah.

LeKeith: I wonder what kind of routine they would construct without the jump ropes.

Howard: What's crazy is that unlike BreakSk8, who mostly did basic dance moves with the ridiculous encumbrance of the roller skates, the Hotsteppers actually do some fairly complicated moves. That pushes them to the top of the Gimmick Food Chain.

LeKeith: I agree completely. Also, I really liked the pairing section.

Howard: Some great ideas there. OK, so Fanny Pak East.

LeKeith: Yes. I didn't like their promo package.

Howard: Agreed.

LeKeith: It came off as kinda pretentious, like saying you're from Cambridge.

Howard: HAHA! "I go to school in New Haven."

LeKeith: Exactly! It was like they were wine and the other crews were Pabst Blue Ribbon.

Howard: Also, I do not like it when people continue to dance with an injury that is pretty severe.

LeKeith: I agree. It's dangerous. And it kinda sends the wrong message.

Howard: Yup. Like not going to college. That being said, that dude did an excellent job. And I enjoyed the story that they were telling.



LeKeith: I feel like they do performances while the other crews do routines.

Howard: Though Poreotix does performances as well, to be fair.

LeKeith: Excuse me while I drink from my snifter.

Howard: HAHA!

LeKeith: Actually, I agree. I think that Poreotix and Fanny Pak East are two performance heavy crews.

Howard: Which is a nice change of pace, I think.

LeKeith: I feel like Poreotix has incorporated the dancing with the narrative a little better though. Part of me felt that FPE let their dancing serve more like breaks between acts.

Howard: Yeah. The dancing was the transition between the setpieces.

LeKeith: exactly! I almost called them interstitials. Taking another sip... But when it's all said and done, a crew needs to be able to just dance, which they’ve shown they could do.

Howard: Yup. So last on the list is Team Canada.

LeKeith: Perfectly fine routine.

Howard: Yup.

LeKeith: (Something Something Tim Horton's)



Howard: There were some cool moments and the group was very much in-sync. Except when they came out at the beginning of the show. One of the girls was waaaaay off.

LeKeith: Yeah! I noticed that. Oh! Moratorium on the explosion bit.

Howard: Yeah. Though theirs was pretty cool. I am fine with it if it's done well. I just think people go to certain "moments" as a crutch.

LeKeith: Yeah, that's a good point. I feel like their routine was a lot different than what I was expecting.

Howard: Yeah. I also kind of hate them for wanting to make it North America's Best Dance Crew.

LeKeith: I know. I know.

Howard: But I know that's irrational. U-S-A! U-S-A!

LeKeith: Can-a-da! Can-a-da! just doesn't have the same ring to it

Howard: It surely does not.

LeKeith: Shrimp Fried Rice! Shrimp Fried Rice!

Howard: HAHA!



LeKeith: Wait. we can't skip the throw.

Howard: Oh yeah! That was pretty dope.

LeKeith: And she got a lot of height. I wasn't sure that guy was going to catch her.

Howard: One day, that's going to happen. Though we will never see it.

LeKeith: I hope we don't

Howard: So let's jump to the battle. I have to admit, it was a toss-up between the Kona Krushers and Sadness Crew as to who was going to go home. And I dislike the use of cheesy props in that final battle.

LeKeith: Yeah, what was that?

Howard: That is not the time to pull rave lights out of your pockets, Kona Krushers.

LeKeith: I also didn't get that they made a police car at first I thought the girl in the front was making bull horns.

Howard: HA

LeKeith: Granted, I'm not familiar with the works of Ke$ha. I think the judges would like to see more of Battle FPE in their routines because they were great there.

Howard: Yeah. That clock move was ridiculous.

LeKeith: It was! And I liked when that one girl hiked up her dress to the do the leg split. Because then she pulled her dressed down later, because she's a lady!

Howard: Though I have to admit that I kind of wanted to see the Hotsteppers in the battle. Just to see what they would do. And this is the only time the judges could force them into that position.

LeKeith: I worry that there may be too many bodies on the stage for a Hotsteppers battle. They toss those jump ropes rather freely.

Howard: True. Who do you think will be in the bottom two next week?

LeKeith: Bottom Two: I think it's between Card Sharks, Phat Boys and Kona Krushers. I wouldn't be surprised if it was Card Sharks and Heavy D Impact. Idol has shown that Hawaii has a strong voter turnout.

Howard: I'm inclined to agree with your choices. We'll just have to see what happens next week.

LeKeith: It's the Video Challenge Right?

Howard: I think so.

LeKeith: Do you think the crews do what I do when I want to watch video on MTV? Watch Fuse or wake up at 5am?

Howard: HA! Probably not.

LeKeith: Oh well.

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