Reality TV - Cheerleader U (March 21)

jennarose · 03-15-2007, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Cheerleading is not just pom poms and megaphones. It's a physically demanding, high-pressure sport. From team tryouts, to the big homecoming game, countless competitions, and a few tears along the way, WE tv follows the cheerleaders at the University of Kentucky on their quest for the National Championship.

I noticed this in TV Guide last night when I was looking through for next week's shows. It's going to be on WE starting March 21.

The head coach is named Jomo. Wasn't he Saleem's roommate from Cheerleader Nation last spring? I hope this show is as good as CN was.

Moochie · 03-15-2007, 09:23 PM

Ooh, yay! I hope this is as good as Cheerleader Nation was too. That show was great.

Yup, Jomo was Saleem's roommate. Maybe Saleem will make a couple of appearances like Jomo did on CN.

jennarose · 03-16-2007, 04:12 PM

I know, I was so excited when I saw it. I'm hoping that one or two of the seniors from Cheerleader Nation will be among the ones trying out. Surely some of them stayed local for college.

jennarose · 03-21-2007, 08:25 PM

I'm going to have to record a later airing because I had too many other shows at the same time tonight.

'Cheerleader U' shows the highs and lows of UK's teamsquad

Quote:

'Cheerleader U' shows the highs and lows of UK's teamsquad
Tom Dorsey

The University of Kentucky men's basketball team has won seven national championships, second only to UCLA, but the UK cheerleaders have taken home a national title 15 times, more than any other major college.

Tonight they get more national exposure when they are the focus of a "Cheerleader U," a six-week Wednesday series starting at 10 p.m. on WE -- Women's Entertainment (Insight 125).

"Some of the most spectacular athletes compete on the sidelines," says the channel's press release, and as you watch them cartwheel across the UK gym in a blur of back flips and handsprings, you'd have to agree. The program also says charisma counts for nearly as much as being able to throw your feet over your head.

The TV series begins with 37 young women and 27 men being invited to try out for the school's Blue team, which is the varsity squad you see performing at football and basketball games.

Everybody has to try out every year. There's no guarantee that some terrific freshman might not be good enough to bump an upperclassman from the team. One young woman does lose her place in the opening chapter.

The women literally place their safety in the hands of a guy who catches and holds them standing upon the palms of his hands in a gravity-defying act.

The tryouts are held under the watchful eyes of coach Jomo Thompson and adviser T. Lynn Williamson. They seem to be aware of the fact that what they decide will result in emotional highs for some and heartbreaking lows for others. They make the cuts by posting numbers -- not names -- on the gym door.

One mom says she has always been high on her daughter's skills but confesses to being a little concerned when she sees the quality of competitors. Her daughter looks even more worried.

Just before the cuts are posted, Williamson reassures those trying out that there are no losers and that they are all good enough to go to some other school and make the team.

In next week's episode the surviving competitors perform before an audience and judges composed of former UK cheerleaders. The final team members are announced for the Blue squad and the White backup squad. Then it's off to a cheerleading camp, where they face off against other schools.

Future programs follow the students back to school where they balance practice with classes. We watch them at a football bowl game and into basketball season before they head out to compete for the national title again.

Moochie · 03-22-2007, 03:29 PM

I'm disappointed to see only one familiar face, Ashley. I hope she at least makes the team although I don't think I liked her much on Cheerleader Nation. It's fun to have someone to root for though. I guess the other seniors chose to go away to school.

I like all-girl teams more than co-ed but it's fun to see big burly guys doing back flips.

CourtneyS416 · 03-23-2007, 07:18 AM

This sounds like a fun show. But I missed the first episode. I wonder if they'll replay it.

Moochie · 03-23-2007, 10:55 AM

I think there will be at least one rerun this weekend. My DVR cut off the last couple of minutes so I found another airing to record again. I think it's on Sunday but don't quote me on that.

jennarose · 03-25-2007, 09:51 AM

My TiVo cut off the end too. I guess I'll have to set it to run a little long next time.

I didn't recognize Ashley from Cheerleader Nation. I liked that show better but this one could be good too. I saw on WE's website though that there are only 6 episodes. That's not very many, hardly enough to get started.

Moochie · 03-26-2007, 08:18 PM

Wow, only 6 episodes? I think Cheerleader Nation only had 8 and that already felt super short.

Moochie · 03-29-2007, 04:35 AM

Yay, I'm glad Ashley at least made the White Team (squad? I never know what to call it) but I guess that means we won't be seeing much of her. It was cool to see some of the Dunbar girls in the stands cheering her on. I think I saw Ryan, Megan and Alexa.

I set my DVR to record a little early so I could catch what I missed last week and one of the girls who got cut looked like Katie from CN. She never got interviewed but you saw her being comforted by a guy and then she turned and walked away.

jennarose · 03-30-2007, 08:42 PM

I saw Ryan too. I also saw the other girls but didn't remember their names. Were Megan and Alexa the sisters? I thought it was funny that they showed Ashley's friends twice and didn't really point out anyone else's friends.

I was impressed by the ones who made Blue Squad as incoming freshmen.

The one guy who quit because of family issues? I'm so nosy I wanted to know what they are. Come on, it's reality TV! You have to tell all.

Moochie · 03-30-2007, 10:07 PM

Yup, Megan and Alexa are the sisters.

I was impressed by the incoming freshmen making the Blue Squad too. I thought there'd just be one or two of them but there were quite a few.

I was curious about the guy's family issues too. It's not nice to tease us and not tell us more!

Moochie · 04-05-2007, 01:24 PM

Again, they teased us with why Dustin couldn't be on the team anymore! I want to know what these responsibilities were that he failed to take care of.

How many episodes have aired now? 3? The season's half over.

jennarose · 04-08-2007, 05:27 PM

I'm guessing Dustin's problem was grades but I don't know why they wouldn't have known about that earlier. Maybe he took some summer classes to try to get his GPA back up and wasn't able to do it.

I can't think of anything else it could be.

CourtneyS416 · 04-08-2007, 06:39 PM

This show is great. So entertaining.

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