Jack Wins 'SYTYCD Australia', The Affection Of Hugh Jackman

Jack SYTYCD.jpgGuy Smiley aka Jack Chambers won So You Think You Can Dance Australia on Sunday night, which didn't really surprise anyone, considering the odds were in his favour, though those who were rooting for runner-up Rhys Bobridge were disappointed there was no shock upset.

We were mildly shocked that hoofer Kate Wormald managed to come third ahead of irrepressible B-girl Demi Sorrono, which indicated that perhaps the voting public had decided to vote for talent before personality.

Suffice to say Jack was probably shocked when Hugh Jackman - who, remember, used to be way into musical theatre; your Associate Editor and her mum saw him in Beauty & The Beast in the '90s and knew he'd be a star - admitted he was a fan of the 19-year-old jazz dancer and vowed to meet him on Broadway.

"The fact that he knew my name just gave me shivers," Chambers said.

"I was just standing there and he looked at me and he goes: 'Jack, congratulations man, you're wonderful', and I'm like, 'oh my God, Thank you'."

Chambers said he was blown away by the comments from Jackman, who won a Tony Award for playing Peter Allen in the Boy From Oz.

"He said: 'I'll guess I'll see you at Broadway some time' and I said: 'Yeah, I love it' and he said: 'I'll see you there'."


Jack Chambers, you're going out there a nobody, but you're coming back in here a star! (Bonus points to the Defamer Australia reader who can spotto that quote.)

And what did we all think of the Dance finale? It started brilliantly; the Matt Lee-choreographed opening number was great, and having all the judges dance was inspired (hello, high-kicking Bonnie!). Tap Dogs for once didn't make us psychotic with rage, and Khaly's robot-costumed "futuristic hip hop" routine was stupid/fun, too.

But then, WTF, the "greatest hits" performances (i.e. "your favourite" couples' routines from the season) were, no jokes, the worst of the series. We knew the selections were a little off when they chose that Marko and Stephanie jive (the Veronicas/1976 punk one) and were just about projectile vomiting when they got the worst performance of all - Rhiannon and JD's botched tango - back for a second chance draw. Fortunately our television set was just saved from getting a brick through it by an encore of Jason Gilkison's brilliant African samba for Henry and Vanessa.

Jack and Rhys' vaguely West Side Story-esque routine pulled it all together at the end (and made us feel a bit funny in the pants), and then The Bass confirmed the franchise would be back for round two next year, so here's hoping all the stuff-ups, dodgy "corrie" and lacklustre atmosphere will have been gotten out of the way and 2009 will go straight to 11.

And next year? No more advertorial from Nacho Pop, please. Just stick to dancing like a robot and stop showing us your wicked fresh Sony Handycam.

Defamer Australia Post

9:35 AM on Tue Apr 29 2008
by Clem Bastow

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