The Entry That Will Mortify My Husband
August 9, 2011
{Cat Deeley, Host of So You Think You Can Dance? Image from the LA Times website, where you can see more of her fashionable ensembles.}
My husband and I have not had TV in ten years, and this means one thing – when we stay in hotels, we love to channel surf. Not that we find anything we want to watch very often – I feel lucky if we come across an old Seinfeld episode – but we love the game of it. So many channels! So many possibilities! We find it mind-boggling that there is a TV station for every possible niche and interest and passion and curiosity.
Which explains why you would have found me curled up in bed by 8:00pm in a hotel room in New York City this past June with a remote control in my hand. I tagged along with my husband on a business trip, and on the night he had a biz-nass dinner, I decided to indulge in what I cannot indulge in at home – television. Which explains how I happened to stumble across the reality TV show So You Think You Can Dance?, and it happened to be the episode where the top twenty dancers were chosen. Once the top twenty were chosen, it was a dance marathon to one winner, and I was immediately hooked.
I have since been keeping up with the show on Hulu, the only downside of which is that I have to wait a few days after the actual episodes to find out who has made each week’s cut. But I don’t mind – I have loved watching the show late at night when I can’t sleep or when I decide to take a longer lunch break. My husband is shocked and appalled that I have been following a reality TV show, but I don’t even think of it as a reality show, because everyone on the show is just too gosh darn nice. And earnest. And sincere. And crazy talented. And wildly passionate. And generous. I have watched twenty kids – yes, kids – put everything they have into their performances week after week, and, I’ll admit it, I have yet to get through an episode without crying. At least a little bit. There is something about the show that has pulled me in and held me captive. Even though it is a competition, the appreciation and gratitude all of the dancers and judges have shown one another has made the part of me that longs for more kindness in the world to beam.
But the point of this entry isn’t simply to wax poetic about the show, oh no. The point of this entry is to write a fan letter to the anchor of the show – Cat Deeley. Not anchor as in news anchor, but anchor as in the one that keeps everything running smoothly and joyfully. I am writing this here because I looked all over the Fox website and couldn’t find any information about where I could send an actual fan letter, so this is where it is going to have to happen. So here it goes:
Dear Cat Deeley ~
You have a tough job – you have to walk all over stage in ginormous heels, interact with the judges, respond to the audience and take care of the dancers, each of whom is up there full of nervous energy and teary disappointment and unbridled glee – all of which can happen within minutes of each other. You are so good at this, and what I love most is how clear it is you are operating from a place of genuine kindness, humor and support. You are there for those dancers, and they need you. The judges are all lovely as well – no snarky Simon Cowell wannabes here – but you, Cat Deeley, emit a special sparkle with everyone whether the circumstances call for you to be comforting, funny, spontaneous or encouraging. You do it all, and you do it gracefully.
Sincerely, Your Fan, Christine, AKA Swirly
So there you have it – I think Cat Deeley is the Bee’s Knees, plain and simple, and I can’t wait to see the season finale. It’s actually airing tomorrow, but I won’t be able to see it until Sunday. I’m loving the anticipation.
“The body says what words cannot.” ~Martha Graham
Swirly! I would love to sign my name to this fan letter because you just said what I have felt about Cat Deeley all along and put it in the bestest, most Swirliest words and better than I could have. XO
I love it that you wrote Cat Deeley a fan letter…I agree, she is pretty great!
she is aDORable, and her legs might even rival someone else’s lovely legs, (of course hers don’t win), and is she, like a giantess? I love that you posted this! I, who does have tv but has never watched a “reality” show, have watched an episode or 3 of this one… so I guess I really have watched a reality show, funny how that works…
So, now, really the ONLY question that needs, nay, BEGS to be asked is: does Cat wear Yoga Pants?
I haven’t seen the show, but i always smile when I see Cat Deeley mentioned because, being the Brit that I am, i can only associate her with the kids’ shows she used to do over here. I’m glad she’s doing so well in the States. Go Cat!
Oh I love Cat Deeley and the show….one of the only ones I do miss not having TV. They are crazy talented and I wish I had a fraction of their dance ability. If you ever got tired of the writing/painting, I can see you as the next Cat Deeley…high heels and all!
it cracked me up when my stepkids were younger and their mom asked what I do for a living…they replied, “she just talks.” (i was a morning radio co-host). Thank you for recognizing all the work that goes on behind the scenes to make good, seemingly flawless, entertainment!
(like when your pompous co-host falls off his chair and you can’t laugh, although a huge guffaw is flying out of your left tearduct…or when a guest chef makes you eat spicy curry at 6am and your stomach starts to protest but you have to stay in the studio happy-talking about how yummy it is because he just bought a boatload of advertising. or when the snake escapes from the “secure” bag the zoo guy brought him in – just after your co-host ran to the coffee machine, so you can’t leave the studio. yeah, stuff like that that nobody knows about. oh the stories!)
I could not agree with you more. Love the show. Love Cat.
I’ve watched SYTYCD since the beginning. I love how Cat graciously cuts off the judges when they take too much time. I always notice.
Your post might just get me to blog about my current shame…that I’ve been all about reality TV lately and I find it inspiring. Yes, I know there is great editing and they are truly working me up to that cry, but I’ve seen a lot of talent in a lot of areas and it inspires me.
PS to Mr Swirly..if he ever does see this post…yoga pants!
You are so adorable for writing this fan letter. And for saying this is the entry that will mortify your husband. Love it.
I’ve never watched this show! But I hear people rave about it all the time. We don’t own a TV, either, so we have a narrow selection of Hulu shows we watch. For some reason, this one has never been on the list.
But if you like the kindness and sincerity and hard work of this reality show, you might also like the Glee Project, also on Hulu. I’ve only seen one season of the actual Glee show, and my husband has never seen it at all, but we are both totally hooked on and enamored with the contestants and producers of the Glee Project show.
Oh man… I live in England and can’t watch SYTYCD… not even on Hulu. But I have watched Dancing with the Stars and oh boy that made me want to take dancing lessons.
Love that you wrote this. I have a HUGE girl crush on Cat Deeley. Between her amazing personality and talent, and the enormous passion and energy of all the talented youg dancers who dancer their hearts out every week – just LOVE that show! <3
PS – You could maybe tweet Cat a message – she's on twitter too.
that is a good show…but i am addicted to dancing with the stars, altho that is a secret!!!only my kids know the truth!!
Loving this post, your true love confessions and also Linda’s comment about what really goes on behind the scenes. Surf it, girl! In Yoga Pants!