Category — So You Think You Can Dance Australia

Cleo’s list of Top 50 eligible bachelors was announced last week, with some of the hottest contestants on reality TV in the running, including Nic and Rosso from My Kitchen Rules.

The list of 50 bachelors is a good mix of actors, athletes, comedians, musicians and everyday Aussie men making the cut. Among them this year, is a good number of reality hopefuls who now have a real chance of winning something more than a TV competition!

Some bigger names in the running are comedian Matt Okine, Packed to the Rafters actor Ryan Corr, Home and Away and Underbelly actor Richard Brancatisano, politician Wyatt Roy, Rugby Union player James O’Connor, AFL player Israel Folau, Neighbours actor Chris Milligan and Channel Ten news presenter Matt Doran.

I also want to mention NRL player David Williams from Manly, because on his bachelor profile on the Cleo website, he was asked what pisses him off and he said reality television!

Who will you be rooting for? Check out the hunks of reality TV below!

Nic Mazzone and Rocco La Bella – My Kitchen Rules

The two friends are teamed up on Seven’s cooking show, but Nic and Rocco are going head to head in this beauty contest!

While the Cleo competition is for unmarried bachelors, project manager Nic says he’s ready to settle down and get married! His big life goals are to get hitched, start a family and earn enough money to retire!

When asked about what he thought of making it into the Top 50 list, the 26 year-old’s first thought was: “They’re scraping the bottom of the barrel this year!”

Meanwhile, Rocco is already offering to bake cakes in exchange for votes!

The 29 year-old finance manager admits that his first celebrity crush is actress Alyssa Milano, but claims his idea of a perfect date doesn’t exist because it can be anywhere or anything, as long as it’s with the right girl.

Johnny Ruffo – The X Factor Australia and Dancing with the Stars

The Dancing with the Stars hopeful is definitely in for a chance to win, with participation in two high-profile shows. And he certainly had enough votes from the teenage girls when he was competing on The X Factor.

The singer and dancer says he deserves to win the Cleo Bachelor title because he’s “cheeky, down to earth and lots of fun.” But maybe those qualities weren’t enough to get him into the Top 50, as Johnny jokes about sleeping with the editor to get a spot!

Nathan Jolliffe – The Amazing Race Australia and The Celebrity Apprentice Australia

Having won the first season of Australia’s version of The Amazing Race, 26 year-old model Nathan is now eyeing both titles of Celebrity Apprentice and Cleo Bachelor of the Year!

The former beau of Miss Australia Erin McNaught sure is confident about his chances. When asked about why he deserves to win the Cleo Bachelor crown, he says because “I really like winning?”

Tim ‘Timomatic’ Omaji – Australia’s Got Talent and So You Think You Can Dance Australia

The 24 year-old singer and dancer is currently single after a split from girlfriend and SYTYCDA winner Talia Fowler last year. The couple attributed the break-up as due to work commitments and time apart.

He is currently focused on furthering his music career, and says that his drive and ambition should appeal to the ladies. When it comes to qualities in women, Timomatic likes girls who know how to ‘get down’, and is turned off my cockiness.

Hayden Quinn – MasterChef Australia

The aspiring foodie didn’t win the title of MasterChef in 2011, but he now has commentating gigs on Network Ten across a number of sporting events. The 25 year-old surf lifeguard seems quite comfortable with his masculinity in his interview answers on the Cleo website. He talks about his secret knitting talents and crying during the romance film, Dear John.

For Hayden, the biggest turn-off when looking for a potential partner, is too much make-up. And when asked about how he is in the bedroom, he says he’s “usually asleep”.

Lachlan Cosgrove – Beauty and the Geek Australia

While Lachlan’s reality TV relationship with beauty, Jordan Finlayson is going steady, the 23 year-old geek is still eligible as a ‘bachelor’ as long as he has no plans to wed in the near future!

Lachlan hasn’t always had luck with the ladies, as it wasn’t until Beauty and the Geek Australia that he found confidence is speaking to the opposite sex.

David Cardamone – The Family

Last on the list is the eldest Cardamone brother, David from SBS’s The Family. The 21 year-old university student is in a long-term relationship with girlfriend Jess, who also appeared on the reality show.

What David likes in a girl is the confidence in being comfortable in one’s skin and not having to hide behind too much make-up.

You can check out the rest of the Bachelor hopefuls on the Cleo website, where you can also vote for your favourites!

(Source: Cleo)

It is about time So You Think You Can Dance Australia returned to our screens so hopefully the rumours in the Daily Telegraph about Sarah Murdoch hosting a new series on TEN this year are true.

At the moment there are no dance reality TV shows on our screens. Fox 8 have announced Got To Dance more times than Carl Scully announced the Parramatta to Chatswood rail link, and we know what happened to that!

Basically I will not believe Got To Dance has got the green light until it is on my screen.

So You Think You Can Dance Australia should be a ratings winner for TEN as it has been a few years since it was last seen on our screens and a new batch of talent will be ready to audition.

Sarah Murdoch who has a knowledge of dance will make a great host, and really she has the runs on the board to be able to easily handle the live shows.

Also I would only keep Matt Lee as judge from the first incarnation, he really hit his straps in the final series giving good critical advice that the viewers who are non-dancers could understand. Also he has the recent experience as a professional dance and performer in his recent role in Mary Poppins.

Also after Jason Coleman’s turn on Celebrity Apprentice Australia, he kind of damaged his brand and came across as a egomaniac. Also I found him to be saying the same thing series after series. And well I have nothing to say about Bonnie Lythgoe that was just wrong.

So fingers crossed we see So You Think You Can Dance Australia back on TEN in 2012.

Late last year Jason Coleman was saying So You Think You Can Dance could be back on one of NINE’s digital channels, well todays rumour is saying Sarah Murdoch will host the show on Channel Ten.

Maybe they are thinking of putting it in their schedule in the latter part of the year. What is known that if Channel Ten don’t bring back The Renovators they have a huge gap in their  programming schedule, and SYTCD would be replace a few hours of that.

It would be great if they could get Jason Gilkison on the judging panel as he is doing a lot of work on the US version. Also bring back Matt Lee and Kelly Abbey to join him.

Channel Nine is getting its reality TV mojo on with rumours it might be bringing back So You Think You Can Dance.

Well that is what Jason Coleman is telling the Herald Sun.

He says:

Nine has shown interest in breathing new life into the popular dance contest – possibly for one of its digital channels.

If it does return, it is unlikely to be hosted by Natalie Bassingthwaighte, who now judges Seven’sX Factor Australia.

Instead, rumour has it US SYTYCD host Cat Deeley may be lured Down Under to take the hosting gig.

“I would love to see it back – I’ve spoken to (judge) Bonnie (Lythgoe) a few times and she’s also keen,” he said.

I think Jason is making an assumption that if the show is brought back he will be on the judging panel, along with judge Bonnie Lythgoe. Normally when shows like this return there is some personnel changes.

Personally out of the judges Matt Lee was the only one that popped in Season Three, Jason just gave his same old schtick that he had for the first two seasons.

Also please no Bonnie. Give us Kelley Abbey who was a great judge when she was a guest. Or what about Jason Gilkison who is now so ensconced in the US version of the show he was in the official marketing picture for the current season.

Would love to see Cat Deeley host, but considering she hosts UK SYTYCD, and the US version might have a full plate. Also I would have thought she would be far too expensive for a show to be shown on their digital channels. Having said that I hope Jason Coleman is correct.

Nigel Lythgoe has said he will take So You Think You Can Dance Australia off Channel Ten if they are not going to show it.

According to the Herald Sun Nigel said:

…. he wanted to see the show back on Australian television, and was prepared to draft in MasterChef producers Shine rather than Fremantle.

“If the Ten Network don’t want it we’re going to have to take it off them and take it to Seven or Nine with another production company,” he told Dance Informa magazine.

I would love to see it back on TV but with some casting changes. However I suspect one of the reasons Nigel wants it on again is so his former wife Bonnie can be on it.

I would keep Matt Lee as a judge as he was the only one actually giving considered advice last year. I would flick both Jason Coleman and Bonnie, but would replace with Kelly Abbey and Jason Gilkison. Or rotate different judges through to get different perspectives and discover new talent.

I don’t care either way if Natalie Bassingthwaite is host she was OK in the last two seasons, not memorable but not disastrous.

Robbie Kmetoni the 18 year old from Sydney who won Season 3 of So You Think You Can Dance Australia has decided to take the prize of touring in the US with Jason Gilkison’s Burn The Floor.

Robbie, 18 from Allawah NSW, has chosen “Burn the Floor”, saying he “couldn’t resist the idea of travelling overseas and learning from the master himself, Jason Gilkison.

The Australian Dance Theatre would have been a better fit for his contemporary style, but really who could resist going on tour.

He also has won $200,000 in prize money and he is being very lovely to his family.

“I will give more than half to my family and use the other half to go to America to do workshops for about three months. I’d also like to buy a hot car, a Jeep Wrangler I’m thinking…”

A great result for everyone.

The Daily Telegraph had a story today that indicates that Phillipe is the favourite to take out the title of Australia’s favourite dancer on Season Three of So You Think You Can Dance Australia.

Now this is got to be bollocks I thought Robbie was the absolute favourite to win. Also I thought Phillipe would be eliminated in fourth position. But then take no notice of me I thought Ivy would struggle to make top ten…

Are the kiwi expats voting in a bloc, or is there going to be pec gate scandal, where people are voting for him because of his amazing six pack. For the record I have not. I thought he deserved top four ahead of Nick however I don’t think he deserves the title.

Also this would mean both Australian Idol and SYTYCD winners would be from New Zealand!!!

Anyway I am sure this story was planted to make sure fans keep on voting. Ker-Ching.

I believe I am fairly fluent in WTF but most of the time tonight I had no idea what guest judge and choreographer Tyce Diorio was on about. I suspect the same goes for the dancers who started just given Tyce polite smiles.

For those who have never seen him he is a choreographer and sometimes judge on the US show. Also for Broadway nuts you may have seen him in a documentary which filmed the making of the production of A Chorus Line. He manages to to portray a very good sense of self in the few scenes he is in the film. By the way when are they going to produce A Chorus Line again in Australia again. There is enough talent here, and the set is pretty low cost. Just a ballet barre and a few mirrors.

However I did love Tyce’s top four group routine, and the judges could not stop vomiting superlatives about it and Tyce.

The top four show for me is normally the best episode of the season, and tonight was no different.

Ivy and Robbie were good in the Rhumba, as Jason Coleman highlighted Robbie was doing a great job with the lifts considering he was shorter than Ivy.

Jessie’s and Phillipe’s  jazz number by Adam William’s was really great and I thought Jessie really shone.

I think Tyce was also thinking that , but I am not sure what he meant when he was talking about Jessie taking it far far away?

Robbie and Phillipe’s hip hop routine was good I am still not convinced about Robbie as a bad arsed hip hop dancer.

The end of the routine was more enjoyable then the first half, yes girls you know what I am talking about.

Robbie and Jessie danced a contemporary routine choreographed by their former teacher Jacqui Howard it was based on Avatar, now me and Bonnie Lythgoe are the only two people in Australia who has not seen the movie, but clearly it cannot be better then that routine it was mesmerising. Matt Lee was so overwhelmed by his fellow Brent St alumni he wept.

Phillipe and Ivy’s routine choreographed by Ludwig was enjoyable, however Jason Coleman did not think it was Phillipe’s best performance.

The Squared Division routine for Jessie and Ivy  was apparently set in 3010, I was a bit depressed that even in 1000 years time that girls still dressed as hoochies. Maybe the next feminist wave had come and gone. Hoochie or not the girls did dance it well.

I found Jessie’s solo irritating with the one pointe shoe on and I thought this made her look a bit clunky. I loved Robbie’s routine and thought it had the right balance this week of emotion and tricks.

Phillipe solo was ok but I thought he needed a bit more wow factor. Considering he is going to struggle to come above fourth place I thought a few tricks may have made him stand out a bit more from the pack.

Ivy has been consistently good throughout the competition, and her solo was no exception. However I just am not sure she will have the following to take out the prize. But then I said in a post at the start of the series that she would not make top 10, how wrong I was.

I think the title is between Jessie and Robbie. I think Robbie has the edge but it should be close.

Were people going to vote for the dancing or the dancer’s tonight? If the Australia vote for the dancing this will mean Jess S should be in the top four based on last night’s show.

I thought the girls solo’s were much stronger than the guys. They were all still in hoochie mode as they wore underwear as costumes.

I thought Robbie’s solo was particularly disappointing (RR expects to be flamed for this comment) but it was all tricks and not a lot of dancing.

Channel Ten decided to maintain the suspense of the top four by putting Robbie and Jessie through first. Ivy was the second girl through, I thought Robbie and Jessie did not look real thrilled by that.

Great news that Phillipe got through to the top four, and Nick was eliminated. Was the blonde girl in the audience they flashed to his fiance? I think it was as she had a diamond ring on the appropriate finger. Though she won’t be too thrilled that he did not really thank her in his speech. However he gave God a big thanks – but why does he presume God is a male?

Anyway the right top four occurred. Next weeks episode is going to pop as did that fantastic routine the Sydney Dance Company did tonight.

Tonight it was top six and one thing I thought was lacking was the choreography. There were just a few too many routines which were just not going to get me to pick up the phone.

The Anthony Ikin/Paul White routine was one example of an uninspiring routine, and got me wondering why Marko Panzic only got to choreograph one dance this season. I thinkt his work to be quite strong and original.

The other thing that annoys me is the judges gushing over how pretty Ivy is. What are they subliminally saying to the other girls that they are unattractive. It made me feel very uncomfortable when the three girls were standing on stage together.

Speaking of the girls routine by Juliet Verne it was a bit disappointing. Just like something out of  video clip. It did not extend them, and was a great routine for Jess S. I thought Jessie was the weakest.  Bonus points given for the fabulous fake eyelashes.

I think Ivy and Jessie will be the two girls going through to the top four, even though I thought Jessie was not fabulous in two of her three routines.

But with the boys it will be a bit more difficult. I would like it to be Robbie and Phillipe. Watching Nick tonight I feel his technique is not as strong, even in his own genre. In all of his routines tonight I noticed flaws. And really it should have been Keiran in the top six. But obviously he is popular, and Phillipe will be struggling to survive.

Ivy and NIck – Contemporary – Debbie Ellis – The Flower Duet

Who would have thought live Opera on TV playing to one million viewers, what do you think of that Meryl Tankard? Considering previously she thought So You Think You Can Dance Australia as the MacDonald’s of dance, maybe this routine could be considered the more upmarket Angus range.

I thought it was stunning, and particularly loved Ivy’s costume.

Jess S and Robbie – Jesse Rasmussen – hip hop

The move where Robbie’s head landed in her clevage was hilarious due to the height difference between the pair.

Matt Lee liked it but wanted a bit more groove.

Jason Coleman thought he would have liked more light and shade.

Jessie and Phillipe – Tango – Fabio Robles

Phillipe did not expect to get this far, but funny where a good six pack can take you. Having said that I do think he is one of the better performers in competition. However I must say it was a just competent tango with no great highlights or low lights. I thought the footwork was a bit off at times, and Jessie was a tad stiff.

Jason Colman was underwhelmed by it.

Ivy and Nick – Lyrical Contemporary – Paul White and Anthony Ikin – The Soul Sister – Train

I thought Nick struggled a bit with this routine, a few of his jumps (later found out it was called a corkscrew, thanks Matt) were sloppy, as was one of his lifts. I thought the choreography was not ground breaking. Does it make me want to pick up the phone? No.

Jason did not like it all due to a skipping phobia

Robbie and Jess S – Project Moda – Hearts A Mess

The clown routine was original, engaging and evocative. At first when I heard it was going to be Project Moda and clowns my head screamed NOOOOOO. Thankfully I was proven wrong. I think I have to agree with some of my readers when they write Robbie makes any partner look good. I think Jess got lucky this week to be dancing with him, as she was looking the best I had seen her in the show.

Phillipe and Jessie – Contemporary – Jason Winters – Tori Amos – Total Eclipse of the Heart

My favourite of the couples tonight. Jessie is a beautiful dancer, and Phillipe wins the 2010 So You Think You Can Dance Australia transformation award. I agree with Jason you would not be able to tell he was a hip hop dancer.

The final routine of the night was the three boys dancing to a Sarah Boulter piece. It was sensational, and I am not just saying that because I loved their costumes or the lack of them.

Overall I hope the routines are stronger in the top four week so the season ends with a bang rather than a whimper.