Austin360 blogs > Almost Urban > Archives > 2007 > July > 30
Monday, July 30, 2007
‘Making the Band 4’: hot crooning, fly moves and painful cuts
Is it time to start making predictions? Obviously, now that Dan is out, Donnie gets the white boy card, which, save a rerun of last week’s goofball dance routine, should keep him in for at least a few more episodes. I’m not knocking his talent, I’m just sayin’ … Carlos has the hard-luck human interest story and mad heart, and the ladies love him. I’m pulling for my boy Brian A., the good-natured pup-sitter from Houston. Julius is awfully adorable, but he does have the perpetual sob story that’s getting a little old. Robert’s got the lady drama, which makes for good TV, plus he can really sing. And of course, who doesn’t love Big Mike.
At the top of the episode, we’re reminded of Julius’ weak knee, which he busted during Laurie Ann’s training, Donnie’s ridiculous dance routine and last week’s Diddy/Laurie Ann smackdown.
Diddy drops in at the top to remind us it’s almost time to make the band, so he’s bringing in his friends, veteran choreographer Jamal and producer Brian Cox, to work with the crooners.
Dance practice is first, and hobbling Julius is warned that he better move as much as he can, because the show must go on. Then the training begins. In what might be a little passive-aggressive editing, everyone seems to pick up the steps much faster with Laurie Ann’s fishnets out of the picture. Everyone loves Jamal.
In a break, Donnie confides his struggle to internalize the music to Jamal. The choreographer tells Donnie he needs to get past the white boy hangup and really feel the music.
We cut to the house, where frustrated, wounded Julius is comforted by his girlfriend over the phone. Then the crooners are off to the studio to meet with Brian Cox and songwriter Jack Knight. The challenge is to prepare a new song in 24 hours and present it to Diddy. The crooners start rehearsing. Surprise! It’s the ‘MTB4’ theme song.
We cut back to the house, where Carlos is looking at ultrasound pictures. He tells us he’s very excited about being a father. His dad walked out on the family, and he’s ready to stand up and be a better man. He goes home to visit his baby mama Josera, and the two share a touching scene over a pizza.
Meanwhile, Deangelo shaves his braids off. Diddy’s dogged him for his hair, and D is determined to remain a part of the competition.
Back at the studio, the crooners each take a whack at the ‘MTB4’ theme song. Robert nails it. Julius, on the other hand, struggles with his pitch. What with the bum knee, things aren’t looking so good for our boy J. Brian Cox splits up the parts in the song, and Robert and Mike knock their verses out of the park. Our boy Brian A. sounds good too.
We cut back to the house, where Julius acknowledges his rocky standing. We also learn that although sensitive Qwanell was useless on the courts, he’s the best dancer in the house. He coaches Donnie and Carlos with his fly club moves.
Then Carlos is on the phone with Josera. The hospital has called her with concerns about the baby. She has to go in for more tests, and Carlos is shook pretty hard.
Back at the studio, the crooners go into their final rehearsal with Jamal, and everyone has improved dramatically. Donnie’s feeling better with Q’s coaching. Jamal tells him (with a half-smirk) that the he has a style, but he has to learn to own it. Julius tries to dance all out on his leg, and he can’t work through the pain.
Back at the house, Robert tries to give Julius a pep talk, but J’s feeling pretty defeated. Carlos calls home, and his lady’s crying. It turns out the baby might have Down syndrome. Carlos is understandably devastated.
Our crooners have to showcase their skills on stage at Spotlight, and cue the entrance graphics, Diddy’s dropping in. He tells the crooners he’s about to make some cuts. He’s looking at the dance, he’s looking at the vocals, and he’s looking at past history.
They dance first. In the first group, Carlos is distracted, and he gets called out. Then it’s group two, and Donnie’s still got to work on the whole goofball thing, but he’s better than last week. Big Mike cuts up the rug. In group three, Julius is predictably weak.
On to singing. Robert sings the first verse, and he’s still hitting it. Deangelo gets his hair approved by Diddy, sort of, and he drops a solid verse. Carlos gets choked up on his verse, and Julius trainwrecks.
The crooners are sent out of the room, and Diddy does “a little exercise” where each man on the talent team picks his top four. Robert, Willie, Donnie, Brian A., Jeremy, Qwanell and Mike are on the cards that get shuffled around.
Diddy brings back the crooners and lets us know that in four years of doing “Making the Band,” this is the first cut that hurts him. “It’s not going to be a fair cut, but life’s not fair, and the music industry definitely isn’t fair,” he tells us.
The ten top crooners are Qwannell, Big Mike, Willie, Robert, Brian A., Deangelo, Jeremy, Brian H., Donnie and Dyshon.
Ah, man, that cut did hurt. We’re informed that the finalists will be sent home for two months unsupervised, after which they are expected to return as superstars for the season finale, in which Diddy will select the top four.
Naturally, we have touching goodbye sequences from Julius and Carlos. Carlos’ girl Josera comes to help him move out of the house. Whether or not the child has Down syndrome, they’ve decided to keep the baby. And it truly is a tough goodbye. Sigh.
Next on ‘Making the Band 4,’ it’s the season finale, which includes a gig opening for the New Edition. Will Donnie prove he’s not just “the pretty white boy in the house”? Will naggy girlfriend June reappear to throw salt in Robert’s game? Will Qwanell bust with more fabulous dance moves? Tune in; your girl will be watching.
- Episode 8 recap
- Episode 7 recap
- Episode 6 recap
- Episode 5 recap
- Episode 4 recap
- Episode 3 recap
- Episode 2 recap
- Episode 1 recap
