Is this possibly the worst season of SYTYCD?

Maybe I'm asking myself this question too early into the actual performances because last season I was asking myself the same thing around this time, only to eat my words by the end and go, "Okay, fine, this season didn't suck THAT hard." I was even excited at the prospect of having two SYTYCD seasons so closely back to back.

Man, was I naive.



It WAS too soon. Way too soon. Jeanine had barely been crowned the winner for two months when season 6 premiered this fall. And, instead of cramming the audition process into a mere three weeks, Fox dragged it on and on and on and on for months, only showing one episode a week. It was exhausting, and, by the time they actually got to Vegas week, I hardly cared anymore.

No one is particularly interesting, save for Russell, the krumper. There are no interesting back stories, no overcoming adversities, nothing that makes me want to root for people. Sure, maybe Legacy has the whole b-boy, street cred thing that Ivan had, but he's definitely lacking the joy and personality that he had way back in season 2. Remember when Ivan and Allison performed their contemporary to Annie Lennox's "Why?" It was mesmerizing. Compare it with Legacy's contemporary piece just last week.



VERSUS



No contest.

On top of the lack of interesting personalities, again, save for Russell, who is perhaps the only dancer I remotely like, everyone seems to have the personlities of cardboard. It's one thing not to have a great back story, but it's another to just be so boring I almost forget your name. Ah hem...Channing.

Also, frankly, there are just TOO many contemporary dancers. It's absurd. Minus the three tappers, who have already been booted off, so whatever.

I miss the guest judge format. At first I was excited for Adam "I Suck at Directing Movies" Shankman to be a permanent judge. I always found him extremely helpful to the dancers because he actually seems to offer constructive criticism, but now I just feel like he blathers on and on just to hear himself speak. It's a little long winded.

I refuse to accept that it's "just too soon" into the season to tell its potential. I have been completely underwhelmed by practically everyone, even the supposedly really talented ones (Nathan). There have been past seasons that have offered great pieces, even in the early, early weeks. Check out the videos below.

Season 2
Week one:


Week two:

Heidi & Ryan - Cuban Rumba

Eric | MySpace Video

Season 3
Week one:


Week three:


Season 4
Week one:


Week two:


Season 5
Week one:


Week three:



Main Site

See how much better the first three weeks have been in past seasons? I feel like one of my favorite shows is being ruined, and I'm not happy. Although, it was harder to pull videos for Season 5, so maybe, just maybe there’s a chance for this season still. Please get better soon, mmmm'kay, SYTYCD?