Once again, Dance Moms nation, we have ourselves an episode that had a splendid opportunity to leave viewers with something positive and lovely for a badly needed change … and blew it resoundingly. We had support for patients and families living with cancer. The power of forgiveness (yes, I know Christi and Kelly aren’t really fighting, but still). The rewards of good sportsmanship and fair play.
All shot to hell because whomever is in charge just had to manufacture some drama that makes one little girl seem what I’m virtually certain is unduly insufferable and another, once again — perpetually, really — relegated to also-ran. Is it possible that the results of the competition actually went down the way they did? Could be. Is Abby’s reaction to them appalling either way — tediously, tiresomely, predictably so? Unquestionably. And that is the problem.
This episode was clearly — I think — intended to honor cancer patients and the strength required by them and their family members to make the best of the course of an awful disease, whatever the outcome may be. And it did that in admirable little fits and starts throughout the hour. So did we really, really need to end the way we did? Would the episode have suffered even a little if we had just skipped the last five minutes? If we needed to create a feud between Christi and Melissa and/or Chloe and Maddie and/or Abby and everyone for the purpose of storyline, could the revelation of the “true” results not have waited to the start of next week’s episode so as not to dilute that message?
Apparently not. And that is sad. Here’s how it all shook out.
We start with Abby, headphones in ears, getting down with her bad self behind the front desk as the Pitt Crew arrives.
Christi says the apocalypse has arrived because Abby smiled when they walked in. Must’ve been a good tune.
Once everyone is in place, Abby says her good mood is actually because we beat the Candy Apples last week. Everyone celebrates a little, and then Kristie and Asia reappear and we get to the pyramid.
Asia is bottom of the bottom because she was off in L.A. being a celebrity. She was left off the pyramid altogether last week for that, but not this time. Abby says the placement’s not a punishment. In seventh place — Nia. Abby says she lagged in the group and Abby doesn’t want her to be the weakest link. Kendall is next — she was good in the group but bad in rehearsal. Then Paige — Abby says that while second place is usually the first to lose, this time Paige should be proud of herself.
Last in row two is Big Mac. Ostensibly she didn’t dance last week either, but Abby says she has big plans for her this week, so she’s setting expectations by putting her there. Abby’s voice-over doesn’t quite match up with Melissa’s and Mackenzie’s reactions, though, nor Abby’s in-studio conclusion that, “you’ve got to give me more.” But whatever. That’s why Mac’s where she is. Then Abby uncovers Chloe’s and Maddie’s photos at the same time. She says they danced like professionals.
Brooke’s adventures in dancing with the senior company earn her the top spot. Not another chance to dance with the seniors, but the top of the pyramid, anyway. Abby said she was outstanding. Banner day for Brooke.
This week we will be attending the Powerhouse Dance Competition in Fort Wayne, IN — yet another “Here’s your chance to see the cast of Dance Moms” in10sity Dance deal that has encompassed this entire season and is most likely the reason that the emphasis is no longer so much on our little dancers, because these competitions are basically the traveling set of the show rather than an actual competition, and that’s about that.
The group routine this week is called “Living With the Ribbon” — it’s the aforementioned cancer dance. Melissa immediately gets choked up, because her mother died of an aggressive form of the disease years before. Both of Kelly’s grandfathers died of cancer, too, and her dad is currently battling prostate cancer. Abby says the choreography of the dance is very intricate; therefore, Mac and Asia will not be a part of it and will be performing solos instead. Asia’s will be called “Too Hot to Handle.” Mackenzie will be doing something called “Old West.”
Maddie will be doing a solo called “Be Anything.” Chloe gets a solo, too, called “You Can.” Because she can be better, says Abby, if she just listens to Abby instead of her mother. Christi rolls her eyes.
Abby dismisses the mothers to the loft with the warning that if anything like last week’s F-bomb Olympics occurs this week, both offending mother and collateral-damage child will be expelled. Then she tells us that her own dad died of cancer, so the group dance is intended to reflect the hope that modern treatments offer. Kristie notices the change in the seating arrangements in the loft and the mothers discuss whether the feud is temporary or permanent.
Then Abby reveals her secret plan: Maddie and Chloe will be dancing the exact same solo “You Can” + “Be Anything” = “You Can Be Anything.” Get it? So sneaky! Abby says this will, once and for all, shut the mothers up about who is the better dancer and the fairness of the choreography they get. At the expense of the girls, to my thinking, but what isn’t these days?
Gia tries to muster up some enthusiasm for this plan.
Well, somebody’s proud of herself, either way. Very, very proud.
While the girls practice, Jill and Christi decide to go see if the other children are doing their homework, which handily affords us the chance to let Kristie get the scoop on what’s going down between Christi and Kelly with only one of them present. Downstairs, Christi and Jill have wandered off the mission they weren’t really on in the first place to take a load off and gossip about the tension, too.
Next day, in the den, Maddie and Chloe decide to compare notes on their solo music and — lo and behold — Abby’s secret is out. It’s the same solo.
The what now?
The same solo. The selfsame one.
Christi says she understands the real motive behind the maneuver. The girls are amused and begin dancing identically. Kelly wants to know if Chloe and Maddie learned their solos on the same day, too. That would be foreshadowing. Holly does her characteristic job of trying to put a life-lesson spin on the situation and point out its dubious merits.
In the studio, Asia is watching Mac run her Old West solo — your basic, skippy-posey-tumbly-cutesy Mackenize Zeigler performance with a couple of booty slaps thrown in, I’m guessing to bring to mind the whipping of a trusty steed. She’s the horse and the cowgirl.
Then Mac gets to forlornly watch Asia flying around doing dynamic choreography that trounces her own. I look forward to the day when these two do the same solo, too. Just to see. The mothers think the real injustice here is that Kristie got to go watch practice right down in the studio. Well, Jill does anyway.
Speaking of Jill, what’s this now?
This is Jill and Christi deciding to don their shades, dress all in black —that should camouflage them nicely in broad daylight — and go spy-teching to see if Maddie is getting extra private lessons to give her an edge in Solo Wars. They even plan to videotape the evidence so it’s irrefutable. And if you still cling to the belief that even a fragment of what happens on this show is organic, I pity you.
Sneak! Sneaky-sneak along the perimeter of the big cement building that is so completely windowless you could be buck naked and doing the Electric Slide out there and no one inside would notice!
First the spies note that Gia’s and Janine’s cars are here! Oh no! Wait, who’s Janine? Oh. Mac’s primary choreographer. Well that proves it! Melissa is Dirty Player of the Week! Now go right in there and prove it, Jill. Christi and the cameraman will serve as lookouts.
AND RUN! APPROXIMATELY 3 FEET! IN YOUR SPY-READY SPIKE HEELS!
Which is exhausting.
AND RUN SOME MORE!
That was exciting! Safely in the confines of Command Center One — OK, of Christi’s white SUV — Jill reveals the mission was partially successful. She has video of Maddie working on her solo.
Next day, Abby meets with the Samesies Soloists and says she knows they’re onto the part where they’re doing the same dance. She explains that it’s intended to mimic a real-life audition and will better prepare them for a professional career and is, therefore, good for them. Also, it will shut Christi up about Maddie getting superior choreography and is therefore good for her. Then she sends Chloe to the corner, so she cannot see how her rival is dancing her dance. The mothers discuss. Then it’s Maddie’s turn to take to the corner while Chloe dances. The mothers discuss. Abby says both soloists are dancing well. Her evil plan is working.
Time to rehearse the group dance — except the pink ribbon prop is not ready. Abby decides to have a little fun with the undone task and makes Gia tell Christi and Kelly it’s their job to dye the elastic pink. Right this minute. In the women’s room sink. A little team building exercise if you will.
Christi and Kelly will not. They dye in silence. It’s a messy job.
When they return, Abby summons everyone for a little costume try-on and discussion of the seriousness of the group dance. She asks for a show of hands on who knows someone who has died of cancer. Asia pushes her way to the front to help us see that it’s unanimous.
Abby asks if it’s a painful thing. Everyone nods. She asks if it’s a loss of dignity, because you’re not in control of your body and you feel this-small. Well, I don’t know about that. I get the message she is trying to give the girls, but the idea that battling cancer means losing your dignity is hardly the right one.
But Abby tears up and goes on to explain that as her father’s body failed from brain cancer, she had to lift him off of the bathroom floor after a seizure. She says cancer is not pretty; the dancers are pretty. Then, though everyone is in tears, she whispers, “Come here” and reaches for Maddie alone. Then she wants to know why Asia is crying — is it because Miss Abby is so sad? Asia nods. Abby asks who it was that Asia knows who passed of cancer. Well, it was actually before Asia was even born. And it wasn’t exactly cancer. Also, it was also her dad’s dog, Diablo. Abby says it’s still horrible when pets get cancer. Yes, it is.
Abby says enough crying now. Chins up and maybe if we win the dance, we’ll win the cure for cancer. Oh, you get her drift.
Come competition day Abby says she can’t explain how important it is for them to win. That’s because it isn’t. It’s their invitational, there are no national titles on the line this year because of the in10sity Dance deal, and Cathy is nowhere to be seen. It doesn’t matter one way or the other, really. So let’s just enjoy the girls dancing, shall we? That sounds good.
Mackenzie runs her solo in what looks like her Lovely Day for Play costume from a while back. Kristie wants to know how long she intends to milk this cutesy thing. I mean she is eight now. Almost has all her teeth, too. Adulthood is right around the corner. Then Asia comes out dressed like a can-can girl and shimmies like one, too.
Kenzie’s performance is adorable. She boopsy-doos her way off the stage into Kendall’s waiting arms.
Kristie says Big Mac’s no match for Asia or her dance, and she isn’t. But that isn’t her fault.
Asia’s music is about everyone in the club wanting to come get wit’ her.
Yikes! Right, Kristie? Yikes about your 7-year-old dressed like that and dancing about being in a club where people want to come get wit’ her!
I guess not.
And now there’s another breed of fish to fry, because Asia’s doing a no-no from her Abby’s Ultimate days and singing along lustily to her music as she dances. I don’t think she’s supposed to be, but maybe. Nope. She’s not. In the get-ready room, Abby hands Asia her arse for lip-synching. Abby says the kid is one goal forward and two steps back. Asia says Abby can yell at her all she wants — she’s not going to make her cry.
Abby wants to know if Mac watched Asia from the wings. She did. And what’d ya learn, cowpoke?
That’s right.
Time for the Dueling Solos. Both girls are dressed in sunflower yellow and look thoroughly miserable.
Chloe goes first. She doesn’t have Maddie’s unrestrained style of dancing or intense facial expressions, but she does have the long, lithe body and grace that make the more balletic parts of the dance exceptionally lovely.
Maddie goes next. Her version of the dance is lovely, too, except she seems to stumble slightly in her final turn. Abby and Melissa cheer vigorously, anyway.
What happens next is just plain weird. Mackenzie comes to congratulate her sister and Maddie scoops her right up and says thank you. Then she suddenly drops the kid like a bad habit and shoves her hard in the chest. Mackie smacks her sister back, then smacks her again, grinning the entire time. Maddie smacks again, stalking away. Mackie lands the final blow. Someone ventured off script there for a minute until she remembered she’s supposed to be very very mad, or what?
Kendall follows Maddie out the door and ask what’s wrong. Maddie says her turns were bad. All of them. Every single one. Melissa says Maddie could have done better, as well.
Given this turn of events, when Abby returns to the get-ready room, Kelly asks if her little experiment went the way she planned. Abby retorts that she’s amazed Chloe could even remember the dance. Jill asks her who she thinks will win. Abby says it’s in the judges’ hands. Well, that’s boring. So no time like the present to reveal the fruits of the spy mission, eh Jill?
Melissa flips out. Christi calls Melissa a liar. Abby screams that it makes no difference because every single one of us knows Maddie can learn a dance in an hour flat. (Anybody else besides me love how Kelly is so inured to hollering that she calmly touches up her eyeliner in the throes of the most heated arguments?) Abby says it’s all old news anyway and we must focus on the cancer dance. Kelly reminds her daughters to think of Papa Kuhn.
Living With the Ribbon is a very moving dance and since I’m a pretty recent breast cancer survivor myself, it puts a genuine lump in my throat.
In the get-ready room afterward, Christi says it made her realize that life’s short, people can be gone from your life at the drop of a hat and it really does hurt her to see Kelly struggling with her dad’s diagnosis. She goes over and gives her erstwhile bestie a squeeze and a smooch on the cheek.
Aw! Nice! Let’s just end the episode here. ‘Kay? Hope for a cancer cure! A friendship restored! Someone? Cut! The end!
No? We have to hand out awards? No, we really don’t. Oh fine.
The announcer is dressed in a pink tie. What a coincidence.
Living With the Ribbon wins.
Mackie’s solo gets second. Asia’s solo gets first. She has to set down one plaque to go get another one, but whatever.
Maddie gets second place. Chloe takes it. A wise Paige opines that they both did fabulous so it doesn’t really matter who won. Oh, but it does, little sparrow.
This happens.
Then this happens.
With Jill and Christi just a pair of seats away.
Nonetheless, in the get-ready room, Abby comes in beaming … with the pink-tied guy who runs the competition at her heels. Pink Tie Guy says we’ve had a little whoopsie. One of the judges is so bad with numbers that Chloe’s 99.10 should actually be a 96.6, because said judge gave her a 27.5 in a category that only had 25 points to award. That means that the overall winner is actually Maddie, he says, without saying what her final score was for the sake of comparison.
To her credit, Chloe’s the first to applaud the new victor. Abby congratulates them on being great sports and then changes the subject. In a heartbreaking aside, Chloe’s voice breaks as she explains her disappointment but her happiness for Maddie.
Christi smells a rat. A big one. Dressed in black with green accents. Jill asks Abby how she found out about the mixup anyway, and Abby says the judges came to her with the news. Cue Pink Tie Guy, who magically reappears to return the score sheets to Abby and thank her for bringing the error to his attention. The mothers look perturbed. Abby looks smug. And that, ladies and gents, is how we close. Because, in the end, Maddie winning is what matters most of all.
Next week on Dance Moms, Cathy continues to populate her Home For Wayward Abby’s Ultimate Cast Members by taking in Yvette and Hadley. Plus two other girls and minus Gino and Mick. Abby takes a step toward completing her West Coast relocation — and furthering her education on working a stripper pole. And the incurable rash that is Kaya puts her finger on the end of Jill’s nose. I am making none of that up, I swear.
So what say you, Dance Moms nation? Was there legitimate method to Abby’s dual solo madness, or was it just a particularly squirmy attempt to build in some story? Were you touched by the personal cancer stories and Living With the Ribbon? Do you wish, too, that we could’ve ended on a happy, hopeful note? Are you buying the “results”? Sound off in the comments section below.
New episodes of Dance Moms air Tuesday nights at 9/8CT on Lifetime.
Abby is a terrible person, she’s a bully and a cheat, and a big fat liar. Chloe deserves better, I agree get her out of that place Christy.
I always knew that Abby hated Chloe, but the truth came out in such an awful way. I can’t help but wonder what the heck Chloe could have possibly done to make Abby hate her so much at such a young age (maybe she hates her because she won the Joffrey competition a few seasons back when it was set up for Maddie to win and Chloe ‘ruined’ it by being the better dancer that she is, or for twice winning ‘national champion’). If it is truly about Abby hating her Mom, then double shame on Abby. I just can’t say enough bad things about Abby and the way she treats Chloe. But really…I can’t say enough bad things about her mother who allows it. If it’s really all about getting Chloe on TV, then shame on that, too. Enough already! Get Chloe to Joffrey where she belongs. Get her to ABT where she belongs. The thing that really worries me is that Abby will forever sour Chloe on dance and her beautiful talent will be lost. Now, don’t get me wrong…Maddie is a great little dancer, too. But I am so sick and tired of the same dance week after week. She can do these routines in her sleep because they are almost all the same. Meanwhile, back to Chloe. Even Abby’s comment about how she ‘thought it was amazing that Chloe even remembered the dance’…WHAT??? What the heck is really going on here? Is Abby being as horrible as she can be hoping that she will break Chloe down enough that she will quit herself, or is she hoping she will push Kristy (or however you spell her name) so far that she will pull Chloe from the group? I don’t think that it will ever happen in that Kristy has proven that she doesn’t care how beaten down her kid is. The way Chloe’s voice broke when she was saying it didn’t matter, broke my heart and I cried for her. I think that Maddie was set up to win from the beginning and when she didn’t Abby went raging back to the judging saying ‘what the heck, guys…Maddie was supposed to win’ and they came up with that convoluted ‘mistake.’ Chloe danced it better. Maddie did flub a couple of the turns. The fact that she supposedly really won after that is double proof that she was set up to win from the beginning. I think the show was supposed to originally be all about Maddie and oops, Chloe and Brooke are superior dancers, too. But..every kind thing that Abby has ever said about Chloe to mitigate the hate mail she must get about it, was ruined during her ‘candid’ moments when she said that about her being surprised Chloe could remember it, and her ‘outrage’ about Maddie not winning. Poor Chloe. I pray her love of dance isn’t squashed forever.
Paula, I agree. As a Mom, grandmother and long time educator, I want to know why any Mother would want their precious child under the intense stress in the ALDC. They must be receiving $ for their part in this show, and their girls are receiving national attention, but they are learning such negative life lessons. I would never trade my child’s emotional safety for $ or fame! If they truly hated horrible Abby and how she was skewing their daughter’s moral educations, surely they all could get together and interview potential dance teachers for their talented children! They could actually compete against ALDC and form their own studio without horrible, hateful, spoiled Abby, and save them and their Moms the tremendous stress!!
Abby will never let Chloe shine. I read that she is giving her a solo doing hip hop. That style Abby knows Chloe can not win. Not one of the girls can do hip hop. This setting her up to fail is getting old.
Um, am I THE ONLY ONE WHO THNKS that Brooke purposefully, half-ares her JR. routines? Abby really needs to put and keep her into the SR. Group and take them to every competition in 2-hour episodes…to see why BROOKE IS THE VERY BEST Abby has…and shouldn’t Abby be HELPING ANG PROMOTING Brooke’s Singing Talents, which are equally matched perfectly to her ACTUAL AND REAL Dancing Talents? I watch the show WHEN I ‘specifically KNOW it will be a BROOKE EPISODE!
If, Abby would let me (in trust me, I can choreograph a 2-1/2 minute routine as well as Abby, and let Gia clap-it out for me) have me a pick of the dancers for an Elite Team…Brooke would without a doubt be my Team-Leader…then, Kendall, MacKenzie, Nia, Chloe, Nick (I think, Jr. Boy, always paired with Brooke) and I would keep Brooke dancing as a SR. Member of The ALDC of Pittsburgh (If, Abby really wants to move out to. LA) and I already got a superior number Brooke (that is immensely superior, a little dangerous, but would befit Brooke’s 1st number away from Abby) would make Abby regret ALWAYS OVER-LOOKING Brooke and her superior dancing-skills whilst keeping pinned-down to theJR. GROUP…the Acro-Stunt-Perfomances are where Brooke ABSOLUTELY STANDS-OUT…and NEEDS THE GREATER RISK FOR THE GREATER REWARD…numbers…because won’t allow Brooke to be CHALLENGED enough….Crique de Soliel, indeed…they should have have Brooke AUDITIONING EVERYTIME…as she is the oldest, and AUDITIONING is TRULY THE MOST CHALLENGING OF ALL PERFORMANCES…Brooke DESERVES THAT AT THE VERY LEAST…EACH AND EVERY WEEK! ;9P
I have a couple questions for Miller. One, if, as you say, Maddie can learn a dnace in an hour and perform it, why all the sneaking/hiding private lessons? Two, if one judge scored Chloe on a mistaken scale, how come said judge did not make the same “mis-judged scale” on all the dancers?
I cannot endure anymore. I cannot look at Miller without needing to vomit. The woman acts like a 12 year old trying to be sexy and hip. I detest her.
Christi, please, contracts be damned, move sweet Chloe to a decent studio. She is being destroyed by that vile beat.
Melissa, Miller, you are not doing Maddie any favors. And poor sweet Mackenzie, an afterthought. It makes me ill. I cannot, ever, endure more of this.
Lori, your blog is wonderful as always!!
can’t edit to fix my typo. “beast”, not “beat” 🙂
They can’t just quit or they owe Abbey $100,000 per their contract they signed. Who even knows if
it’s true.
I must admit, every single one of these girls have improved from the first season. At that time, Mac
was a baby and was dancing with Cathy’s daughter and Nia. Chloe and Maddie were the same height
I’m always appalled to see Abby’s blatent favoritism towards Maddie. Unlike some of the other commenters, I don’t see that same attitude towards Mckenzie. I believe Abby would throw her under the bus if it would benifit Maddie. Mckenzie gets the short stick –from Abby and her mom. Asia doesn’t really fit in the group but she wins which is all Abby cares about. If Abby truly professional she would not get so freaked out by Cathy’s little group.
I absolutely agree, McKenzie doesn’t get put on this pedestal where she HAS to win no matter what, which I think is good. But bringing in Asia to throw it in Kenzie’s face that there may be another 6 or 7 year old that’s better than she is, that’s just wrong. And for me, I’d MUCH rather watch Kenzie grow and mature as a dancer and come into her own, than see that little girl compared to her big sister all the time.
Frankly, I too am tired of the made up dramas and the self-centered nastiness of Abby toward the kids. I basically am not interested in watching unless Abby behaves herself. Unfortunately that isn’t going to happen as long as Abby gets some TV ratings. So it will so long from this former fan.
I was so happy when Chloe was given the win and so disappointed when it was taken away. Abby is evil to do that to children. I wouldn’t want her to teach my kids anything! Maddie knows by keeping the fact that she is getting extra lessons a secret, is like cheating. Her and her mother should be ashamed. I wonder if they pay for those extras and if Chloe could do the same thing?
For awhile there, Melissa was working with Abby and booking all the private sessions. I’m sure that she arranged it so that Maddie has as many as she could get away with, and yes the private classes are extra cost. I don’t know why Chloe wouldn’t want the extra help, unless it would make it seem as if she and her mom were kissing Abby’s butt. I’m sure in Abby’s eyes, all of them could have the extra time, if they’d only “utilize it” properly.
I was so appalled at Abby we all know she favors Maddie but last night she just carried it to far! How can you do that to children or even to adults for that matter, and that judge talk about bad acting this was fixed. Can we not enjoy both of these beautiful dancers for the talent they BOTH obviously have! I would not put my child with that immature and mean vindictive women get her in another dance studio!!
Thank you, Courtney. I absolutely do think Maddie — whom we all know has acting aspirations — was told how to behave once she came offstage both after her dance and after awards. Her suddenly throwing Mac down seemed to be such an obvious “Oh wait, I was supposed to this …” moment that it made me laugh out loud. Except for the part where the Zeigler sisters then commenced with walloping each other. Then I just wanted to ground them both.
Lori – Do you think Maddie really acted like a brat, or do you think it was scripted? By the way, I hardly watch the show anymore because I just read your recaps and feel SO much better afterwards. Thank you!
Unfortunately, I think that by stripping all of the warmth and humor out of the show and by trying to make the children part of the villainy as well, they are turning plenty of us off to the show as well — even as the most guilty of guilty pleasures. Which is confounding.
I think both girls did a great job. I know that if Maddie’s score had been wrong (favoring Chloe), Abby would not have said a word to the judges. I agree with some of the other posters….Chloe should find another studio if she is to get the encouragement and development she needs to progress. She will never be treated fairly with Abby no matter how great she is.
Abby’s attempt in giving them the exact same choreography to see who actually danced it better was voided by Maddie getting a private on the side. Maddie and Chloe’s reactions were very telling. The show is making America not like Abby,Melissa, or Maddie with all the lying and bad sportsmanship. They are doing Chloe a huge favor.
Great episode, the group dance was absolutely stunning and beautiful. I still think that something else is going on with Kelly, it’s more than the fight with Christie…Asia ALWAYS lip-synches her music, she has from day one, it’s part of her “facials” that Abby and the judges were so crazy about during AUDC. I kind of agree about Kenzie though, the cute little shake your butt, cartwheel thing will get old, the kid needs to be challenged more and given different material. She already proved that she could do lyrical with her duet with Maddie. Asia is definitely a performer, but her facial expressions distract from the fact that her technique is gawd-awful, that too will only get her so far. I was actually starting to have some empathy, or sympathy, for Abby with her reasoning for the group number – until she flat-out lied to the mothers about the “mistake” during Chloe and Maddie’s solos. Really Abby? Did you seriously think anyone would fall for that? I was sooo disappointed in Maddie’s reaction though when she thought Chloe beat her, I think both girls did the solos well, but it was more suited to Chloe’s style. And what was with Maddie roughing up Kenzie like that? I’ve always suspected that Maddie could be a rotten little brat, I just had never seen it that bad before. Next week is going to be CRAZY – Yvette makes Abby look like an angel, and teaming her up with Cathy??? Holy crap, now THAT will be a showdown – MEEEOW!!!
Oh, Lori. I haven’t commented in a while, but as always, I love your blog and read it, regularly.
Wasn’t it just a year ago that we were laughing about buying our self purple fur vests to look like Jill Grr-tes? Well, that and the cold-shoulder blouse, the ubiquitous style choice of Pennsylvannian dance moms?
I feel like this show has taken a rapid departure into really hoaky and cringe-worthy territory. I miss when no one had extensions and no one was being pulled out of school to dance on a stupid television show and Christie and Kelly were probably hiding a flask in their sewing bags, just to get through another day in the dance studio, while trying to get Clara to sit still. Now, there’s a revolving door of moms trying to be on the show and we’re supposed to believe there’s a trend among women who look like porn stars to move from LA to Pittsburg, the kids are selling meet-and-greets and what I think might be Chinese jewelry made with lead paint, and Cathy’s studio . . . I don’t even know what’s going on there, anymore.
The only truly entertaining thing that happens is Cathy’s confessional interviews where it appears her hair and makeup person quit like . . . the first day and homegirl hasn’t seen a blow-dryer, since. I will always watch this show, if for nothing but to see her attempts at “beach curls.”
Jeeeennnnnnn! It’s you! it is, indeed, getting harder and harder to make these things entertaining when I mostly want to crawl through the screen and choke everyone over the age of 15. But we must soldier on. Just in case we wake up in a cold-shouldered, Snuffleupagus-vested world once again and discover the last two season were all just a spray-tanned dream.
I was appalled at what Abby did to Chloe. I think Chloe did a wonderful job, I agree both the girls have their own style of dancing. I think it is ridiculous that Abby favors Maddie. I would like to know the story behind that!! Abby is a mean person. She treats the girls horrible..well everyone except for her favorite Maddie. I think Chloe needs to leave the Abby Lee Dance studio and find somewhere where she will be recognized for her dancing.
Chloe and Maddie are different dancers. I can see Chloe as a ballerina in the future (take her out of this dance company and get her into ballet exclusively!) and Maddie in musical theater. They are both excellent dancers with different strengths and I don’t think saying that one is better than the other overall helps when they’re not really in the same genre. As far as this episode’s dance, I did think Chloe danced it better. If the judges thought otherwise that’s fine but it was incredibly rude of Abby to look so smug and to clap for the change of score. I don’t know if this was all fake but Chloe looked so sad while she beautifully congratulated Maddie in the aside. If that was all for the cameras (i.e. the controversy was fake) then she needs to consider acting as well. But if that was all real, well then poor kid. And yes, Maddie could have handled that infinitely better but she’s also been constantly told that winning is the end all be all, so can you blame her too much?
Last night Chole was truly the winner! She has something that Maddie will never have, elegence and beauty when she dances. Chole does not need to make all the faces and be so theatrical when she dances, her dancing speaks for itself. Abby is running scared, she knows deep in her heart who the better dancer is. Her problem is, that she favors Maddie. This was a terrible way to treat Chole. Maddie knows that Chole was the winner she even knew she made mistakes. The adults are teaching Maddie a very wrong lesson , to win is everything no matter if have you cheat to do it. Shame on Abby and Maddie’s mom. Everyone who watched last night will from now on not trust either of them. It is time to show the children a good example and do the right thing!
You hit it exactly on the head about Chloe, and how her dancing doesn’t need all the facials that other girls’ does. My heart broke for her last night, and was it me, or did the MC seem like he was doing Abby a favor by making excuses so that Maddie won? Seems a little too convenient and shady to me…but then nothing would surprise me about Abby and what she’d do to make sure Maddie wins. And if I were Melissa and my daughter acted that way backstage with the other girls and her little sister, she’d have such a red ass she wouldn’t sit down for a week LOL.
I totally agree with you guy about Chloe’s style vs. Maddie. Chloe is more of a dancer, Maddie is more of an athlete and has a gymnast’s body. I will give Dance Mom’s one more episode and if next week things are not made right for Chloe, I’m outta here (except for reading this hilarious recaps). Abby Lee disgusted me beyond words last week with the way she set Chloe up and then made sure she failed. The level of defensiveness from Abby and Melissa when they got busted out for the secret “private” lessons for Maddie was absolutely an admission of guilt. Period.