Oh you KNEW this post was gonna happen.
Oh YouTube, you are the best thing ever. I know these clips are all easily accessible on teh intarweb, but I thought that they should be collected here, in all its Benji-fied glory, all in one cozy, obsessive little spot. Because what kind of future wife would I be if I didn't do this? Ya hear that, Benj? Not only will I keep your sock drawer organized, I'll curate your internet museum of video clips too! As if this were a Benji Schwimmer Memorial. Or shrine. Or psycho fan page. Whatever, just watch, enjoy, and admire. Over and over and over again, just like I will.
I'll make a link to this post over in the sidebar, and will update with new videos as I come across them. Without further ado, here is the darling and luscious boy himself, starting from the most recent vid I could find:
[EDIT 07/07/06: Oh booo! YouTube got all 'copyright' this and 'without permission' that, and took down a lot of the videos. If you can't see them anymore, hop on over to the most fabulous Vixen's site, from which you can download a whole lotta Benji love. Lots of non-Dance footage too! Thanks for being the enabler to all us Benji-addicts out there, Vixen!! :) ]
Dr. Evil would be jealous of that ass: -- Benji's solo from the July 19th show. He shimmies and shakes and bends and points out his Benji-bum. As IF we weren't already fixated on it.
You cannot stop the Motion of Benji's Ocean! -- July 12th show. Benji makes Leave it to Beaver chic again, and Donyelle shakes her fanny muscles. I decide that the choice of song for this number is Benji's personal, secret, LUSTY message to me, much like the Bill Clinton/Monica Lewinsky/Secret Necktie affair. Oh, except I am not quite as trampy as she is.
Benji is Footloose! -- opening sequence from the July 6th results show. I was a bad bad fangirl and didn't watch it, but here is the clip anyway! Hurray for all dem tricks! I wonder if Benji & Heidi helped choreograph it?
BENJI is the new Dimitry, bitches! -- July 6th show. Benjyelle kick the
Benji buries his geek and brings out the chic! -- June 28th show. Benjyelle do a Pop-Jazz number and explore their urban/emo sides with copious amounts of eye-makeup and hair product. It's like the 2 reasons for this blog's existence, joined in holy matrimony!
Benji & Donyelle cha-cha to Cuchi -- June 22nd show. I'd comment on that tender lil' peck Benji placed on Donyelle's neck, but I'm too busy gaping at the stunning, rippling, toight... um, musculature... that he displayed in those last precious seconds. You know, when he was crawling on the floor. Aw Benj, now you're just teasing.
Benji & Donyelle are pronounced SAFE after Too Much Booty -- No one is surprised. Benji's open-to-the-navel shirt gives me the tingles. And, not that it'll ever HAPPEN or anything as I got dibs on dem genes, but if Benji and Donyelle were to ever have kids, I think they'd be just beyond gorgeous.
Opening routine from June 15th -- This was the show starter for the June 15th show, in which Stanislav (unfairly) got the nix. Not a whole lotta Benji action, but it's a great group number. And it is much more entertaining than all that posturing of Nelly Furtado's that happened later on. Leave that weave alone, lady!
So much booty! TOO MUCH BOOTY! -- Oh hells yes. Benji & Donyelle RIP IT UP during the first Top 20 show. The judges are very impressed. Includes the rehearsal footage for the routine, where Benji tells the world that he doesn't "really get close to girls in that way. Or at least not yet, 'til [he's] married". I'm waiting, Sunshine. I'm waiting:
Benji has rock hard abs! -- Yipiee! The Top 20 Intro sequence, where each dancer briefly showcases their own thing before the first Top 20 show. Includes coveted glimpses of Benji's abs! Watch at your own risk, may result in overzealous squealing:
Benji is RRRRRussian -- Short pre-show clip. Benji gives a shout out to his Russian Homies, and Travis Wall plays a prissy bitch:
Benji's gonna be bigger than Celine Dion! -- This is a video from Access Hollywood of all the Top 20 contestants. Benji appears about 45% of the way through the clip, after Nigel is done being mean to everyone. He mimicks an English accent, causing me to almost immediately drop out of grad school and hop on the first flight I could find and book it on over to Hollywood. Sigh. Also, Benji is apparently David Schwimmer's cousin. Who knew that I'd be marrying into such a diverse and famous extended family!
Benji is in the Top 20! -- A montage introducing all the Top 20 dancers. Benji only makes a brief appearance, but it's still awesome. Plus, it's set to Canned Heat, which is such a great song:
I'm like a beauty pagent person right now -- The judges play a mean, mean joke on Benji Schwimmer, before revealing that he will be going on to the Top 20. Benji captures hearts the world over when he talks about his ex leaving him while he was in a mission. (He still calls her an awesome person though! What a guy.) Featuring exclusive (well, not really) footage of him modelling mismatched skeleton socks and hugging random members of the very very fortunate camera crew. I screamed out loud a little when he did the hip thing. And I'm at work right now:
Benji's audition -- Benji dances for his life, with assistance from his lovely cousin Heidi Groskreutz. And I'd like to add, as a fully hetero female, that her ass looks utterly amazing in that costume. (The first half of the clip is the dance part of his initial audition again, sorry for redundancy.) It was at that moment, when Benji stakes his claim as the US Champion of West Coast Swing, that I decided he was to be my betrothed:
2005 US Open Swing Dance Championships -- Not from Dance, but this is like an extended version of Benji's "Dancing for your Life" routine above, with a KILLER ending move. I love how fluid Heidi looks here. Also, I thought the Donut Drop on this was even better than the one they did on Dance. Because clearly, I know so much about swing dancing.
I'm Luke Skywalker, baby -- Benji's audition, including his tearful reaction to being invited to Las Vegas, and some ridiculously charming banter about his father. (Do I even need to make a lighsaber joke. I mean seriously.):
Labels: media
posted by The Glitterati @ 10:46 p.m.
53 comments
53 Comments:
Haha, this is funny. I went to middle school with Benji, and he used to always say that he was David Schwimmers cousin, but I didn't believe him. Guess it was true all along....
Crazy! I'm not sure that being David Schwimmer's cousin is something I would *brag* about, but then again, what do I know? None of MY cousins, wonderful as they are, have made out with Jennifer Anniston.
Thanks for stopping by! :)
You are so fabulous for posting these all here!
I have to tell you though, that Benji is all mine. You seem adorable and cute and all, but I'm more his type -- no glitter. No frills. I work for a non-profit. He's mine, girl!
I also saw these little videos of him and Heidi at the Swing Dance Championship. Thought you might like them, if you haven't seen them already.
Thanks again!
* Benji's Real Girl
oooohhhh! I feel an epic smackdown coming!!! I've got your back G! Bring it, anonymous, BRING IT!!!!
Roomie: Hey, thanks for the back up! But you know that I don't do violence anymore... it's not the Benji Schwimmer way. Besides, I don't think the charming Anon has witnessed the depths of my manic devotion.
Anon: Thanks! And thanks too for the linkage! I saw them a while back, but forgot about them... what shame! But I don't know what you're talking about... Benji is ALL about the glitter. He is the sparkliest most loveliest person in HISTORY. Have you seen his costumes? GLITTER ALL OVER HIM, if ya get my drift. ;) And I think that being in academia qualifies me as 'non-profit', at least in the most literal of senses...
At any rate, I'm pretty sure Benji will never ever EVER have to worry about finding a date, ever again! Thanks for visiting and for the comment! :D
Yes, Yes. I see that you have a small obsession going on. But what I'm talking about is true devotion. The glittery costume thing is all part of the showmenship. I'm talking about the real Benji when we're at home in Mexico watching the sunset as young orphans run and play at our feet.
Did you see this quote:
"People in America attend to 99.9% of things that don't hold anything of true importance, whereas the people in Mexico are a little more in-tune with what is really important. While we Americans get lost on money, jobs, fashion, technology, I find that very few ever take the time to even be with their kids. Our worries are so focused on selfish needs and I felt it immediately when I returned and passed through the Dallas airport - my first step on American soil in 2 years. The conversations and magazines were different. It was an entirely different feeling."
You go ahead and chase after glittery showbiz guy. I'll take the real Benji. ;)
*Benji's Real Girl
Oh but you see, I am Canadian. I am exempt, duty free, customs cleared, baby! (I mean, have you seen CNTM? They shoot in a frickin' barn! We're in tune with the dirt and manure and whatnot, you betcha.) But we are all about compromise here... we can divide him up by hemisphere, or continent, or whatever. Benji for the gold!
So I actually do West Coast Swing, and I've seen Benji perform in person, and he *is* awesome. Haven't quite worked up the nerve to ask him to dance with me... Urk! Scary!! I was entirely un-surprised that he can do hiphop like he's not a white boy, and I won't be surprised when he can bust out the Latin dancing. As a performer, WOW. As a fellow social dancer, extremely rude, so is the whole family. But maybe you'd have to dance a little to understand? When there are 100 couples on the floor around you, elbow to elbow, you don't throw your partner into the Donut fall or do flying aerials, even if you are Schwimmer royalty...
Anyways, adorable as anything, amazing performer, fantastic person, I wish him luck!
Hi Jennifer,
That's really cool! Here's to hoping that you snag a dance with The Benji one day! It must be so intimidating, but so so awesome to dance with someone that skilled. Personally, I can't wait to see him do some lyrical stuff. All those flowy limbs would be pretty different from the sharp tight moves we've seen so far.
Yikes, I can imagine that the tricks wouldn't exactly go over too well on a crowded floor.... I remember doing some really simple show-choir stuff on a riser with like 125 other people. Restraint was definitely called for, even when you're just extending an arm. But when you're Royalty, I guess it's hard to resist doing the showy stuff. I've heard that they have hoardes of relatives who all do dance in some way. Can't imagine what their family reunions are like! (Or maybe dance shows ARE their reunions...)
See what image this brings to mind... Heidi: Yellow (and I'm talking CANARY Yellow) fringe pants, Zebra print halter top. Benji: Black pants, Zebra print shirt with yellow collar, and Yellow vest.
1999 US Open Swing Dance Championships, Young Adult, 3rd place. Unfortunate costuming decisions.
Just about the whole family dances, Buddy Schwimmer (dad) invented Night Club 2-Step (related to country 2 step, but waaaaay better) and almost every cousin, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, dances. They're all really good. So yeah, I imagine their family reunions are big dance parties!
Check out West Coast Swing, I mean after all, if you're marrying the guy... (grin!)
Yeeeowtch, my retinas! :)
What's the diff btw West & East coast swing? (I assume there must be a difference...) I have a plan: It is to become the East-Coast champ of West Coast Swing, and meet Benji across a crowded dance floor. (Werein our fiery competition will turn into fiery passion.)(Sorry about that, I shoulda warned you y'all were about to projectile-vomit. I'll pay for the dry cleaning)
I'm sure the fact that I don't dance, and that I routinely walk into walls and doorframes and stuff won't hamper my plan one bit.
West Coast is fun and cool and smooth and funky and sexy, and East Coast is kind of lame and dated. But I'm not biased or anything! Not at all...
Benji and Heidi compete in Showcase, which means a choreographed routine with lifts. Classic is a choreographed routine without lifts, so closer to dancing you might see on the floor. My heroes of Classic are Jordan Frisbee and Tatianna Mollmann, and there's a clip of them on YouTube. LOVE them. Another great couple, *way* fun to watch, and hang out and get drunk with, Myles Munroe and Tessa Cunningham. They're from Vancouver, BC, and they compete in showcase as well, and travel and teach a lot.
Hmm. Some of the less graceful people I know are dancers. Being able to dance doen't keep the Concrete Monster from grabbing your foot as you walk by - I couldn't have tripped, there was nothing to trip on!! And late-night dancing is great for fiery passion. What happens at dance conventions stays at conventions... (think Vegas!)
Jennifer m'dear, you are better than google!!
Aw, I miss hanging out with dancey people. I mean, I felt inadequate (I can barely balance on one foot, never mind pirouette!) but they are super people. I mean, you figure that they're pretty, talented, fit as all hell... they've got to be stuck up biatches, right? But no! Almost every one I met was just fantastic. And totally completely fun to get drunk with (word up Van city!!!)!
But what about dance shows IN Vegas? That must be insane! No wonder the final 20 got to know each other so well! ;)
Hey!!! Just wanted to say thanks for posting all these lovely videos of Benji!! I love him in the show and is one of my favorites along with his cousin Heidi!! I wish you and him all the best!!!
P.S. If you meet him or marry him tell himHannah from Vancouver said hi!!!
Hi Hannah from Vancouver!
Thanks for stopping by! Do come back and visit any ol' time. If I ever meet him (ha!), I'll try my best to form complete enough sentences to pass on your greeting. ;)
just thought that you guys would appreciate this little bit of randomness... i was just rewatching the first season of Full House with some little girls that I babysit and I noticed in the credits of the episode Joey's Place a name that caught my attention. Little 3 or 4 year old Benji was in this episode. He is adorable. Anyway i verified it with TV.com it was definitely him...
Ahhh! Joey's Place!!! You have no idea the flashbacks you just brought on! Oh those crazy Tanners...
Thanks for the tidbit!!
Hi Savannah,
I'm not sure what you mean... those videos are streamed via YouTube, I don't actually have them downloaded. I'm not sure if you can save clips from YouTube onto your hard drive (I seem to recall that you can't), but if you click on the video image, it'll take you to the YouTube site directly. Maybe you can get it to download from there?
Sorry I couldn't be more help.
Thanks for that, Savannah! I'll be sure to make use of it. The Booty video is here, and I can't find the Top 20 montage anymore, the user took it down. :(
Thanks again for the tip, I'm off to rip some videos! :D
What's up!!! I'm back (if you don't know it's Hannah from Vancouver!!!) Just thought I'd come and visit to see the videos and see if there are any new ones and of course you did not dissapoint!!!!
Best collection of Benji DVDs EVER, hands down!
East Coast Swing vs. West Coast Swing:
Think big band swing, Gap commercials, Jump Jive N'Wail, Forties outfits, fast music, "Swing Kids".. You can dance at Jazz Festivals and dressy dinner buffets...
Versus:
Sometimes smooth, sometimes sexy, always innovative dancing. Blues/Pop/Funk/Soul, never the same thing twice. You can dance anywhere, even normal everyday bars and clubs. Addicting as Hell. So addicting that when you finally stumble out of the ballroom the sun is rising outside of the hotel and it's time for breakfast.
That is the difference between ECS and WCS.
so i feel a little in the dust here. i didnt even know about him till sytycd. i suck... anyways. he's gorgeous. mmhm. i think i'm going to stalk him. :]
Bookluver: Hello again, Hannah! We're always happy to please here at Brain Spam. That is, assuming "pleasing" means new Benji goodness! ;)
Erica: Erica!! Hi! Welcome to the Den! ;) Thanks for your clarification on the 2 types of Swing... I think the stuff comes to mind (pre-SYTYCD, of course) when I think of swing was ECS. This show has become so educational!
Savannah: YOWZA! Did you do that? With a cowboy hat and everything! Yum indeed.
Kristina: Oh, don't feel bad, I too only found out about him because of the show. But anyway, welcome to the club!! :)
Oh mi gawd that shit is awesome!!! Thanks so much Vixen!! (You too, Erica!)
Vixen, I would be most honoured.
And yes, I can't believe they dance so well on the improv! Makes me wonder what Dance would be like if they adopted that as an element of the competition. I guess the pairs would have to be matched up based on their respective genres though. Still, that would be interesting, to say the least!
Sorry,sorry, sorry...I don't know who to ask this question. There is nothing going on between YOUR Benji and Donyelle, isn't there? between YOUR Benji and Donyelle, isn't there? I read some comment about them somewhere, I don't remember...so about them somewhere, I don't remember...so.
Hey Anon, no worries! No, there's nothing romantic confirmed between Benji and Donyelle (at least not that I've heard), but they just look AWFULLY chummy together is all...
That Donyelle. She is a worthy adversary. There will be honour in this showdown. :P
After the Pop Jazz performance what did Benji say to Donyelle? Its the burning question in my mind. HMMM. Donyelle just laughs it off. I been watching it over and over. Ok how about this one! After Kat speaks and there getting ready to cut to commercial why did Benji tell Donyelle to shut up! Its right after he kisses her on the forehead.
WHERE DO YOU GET THESE VIDEOS!? MY GOODNESS! you rule!
Anon@10:25: Hm... I really don't know, I don't have it on Tivo, sadly. Um, because I don't HAVE Tivo. :) But what we need is a close-captioned version of it! If you manage to decipher it, do let us know what kinds of sweet nothings Benji is whispering to Donyelle! ;)
Anon@12:55: Heh, I just grab them off YouTube or Veoh, mostly. But glad you're liking them, and thanks for visiting!!
alright...i feel a little behind...i didn't know about benji until sytycd :( but i'm definitely happy i do now!! i think hes pretty much the best dancer i've ever seen, and lets not forget, hes seriously hot!!
Savannah: Thanks! She certainly did a bang-up job!
Anon: It's never too late to join the fan club! :)
I think benji says "you were great". I'm pretty sure that's what he mouths at the end before the commercial. but anyway...How many others think that Benji and Donyelle have a lil more than just a good partnership? Cuz I def think they have just a lil bit more than chemistry but that may be just me. Donyelle was great tonite with her pseudo-broken toe and Benji was just wonderful. The only thing that irked me were donyelle's shoulders, too tight and tense and raised up. That's about it for the bad things. She and he are the best couple and I wish 2 people could win sytycd!
2kooldancin: Donyelle's such a trooper! She totally didn't show that she was hurtin'. They do look awfully chummy on that stage... either love's in the air, or they're very smart and playing to the public eye! And hey, I'm all for anything that gets them more votes! Thanks for visiting!
well I have to say that when I danced with broken toes or strained ankles or any other injuries, I didn't feel it at all. u have so much adrenaline that u don't even feel anything. She's awesome that she still went out there though and didn't whine like some of the others might have done. Thanks for allowing me to post :-D have fun with more sytycd tonite :-)
hey i was just wondering if there is any way to get the awesome video from the booty dancing week. I missed it and i have not been able to find it. Let me know!
Guess I have to climb on board the Benji fan wagon -- last night, I taped all his and Donyelle's dance numbers back to back on video -- which I'll take to another undisclosed location to transfer to DVD!
As for who he'll spend the rest of his life with -- well, he's already discovered the power of an African-American goddess like myself (Thanks Donyelle!). And like they say once you go black... so I may have one up on you Glitterati and Benji's Real Girl (but I really don't mind sharing!!)
if anyone knows how to get all of the performances from the very beginning to now, that would be great. I was able to see alot of the earlier performances on you tube but wasn't able to obtain them. Not to mention the fact that I was faaarrr away a week after the show started. I went overseas and was not able to watch any of the audition process. I don't know if they will be selling the season or not and I really want to get the earlier performances. Btw I hate that they went through you tube and deleted all of the videos people were so graciously able to put up.
btw...that is soooo cool jazz bird! :-D
sorry, I'm all over ur blog now, glitterati lol
So I just wanted to say - Benji is in my ward in Redlands. Haha. He's the YSA male rep for our ward actually. Since I just started going to church out here I haven't met him yet but everyone is rooting for him and I'll be excited to meet him when he comes back. SOOO crazy! And, Heidi used to be roomates with one of my friends. Just goes to show how small this world really is...
Benji dancing with ANYONE else after he's danced with THE DIVINE DONYELLE?
Benji has forever stepped away from his goody two shoes be bop whoop de do persona, and has come into the grips of the ONE woman who makes him SEXY.
And Donyelle has acquired a new and simlified elegance and confidence that was wavering before.
Together, they're unbeatable. I hope they keep dancing long after this show.
Anon@11:47 & 2cooldancin: Hey there, try going to Vixen's amazing site. She's got a lot of fantastic Benji footage up for the downloading!
Vamp269: Welcome to the wagon! There's always room for more! That poor boy's going to need treatment for exhaustion after we're all done with him! ;)
Jazzbird: Wow, thanks so much for visiting and for your comment! Very very cool that you've met the King himself. It must be a bit unbelievable to see someone you know (or their family) skyrocket to stardom!
2cooldancin: Any time, any where! :)
Anon@3:41: That's crazy! Benji's victorious homecoming is going to be one heck of a party, I'm sure!! Wish I could be there! :)
Anon@2:38: Benjyelle need to hire you to write their PR material!! I think it's safe to say that this experience is one that Benji will never forget!!
Thanks for welcoming me!
It's so much fun for me to read all this stuff about Buddy being the King and the Schwimmer family being royalty. When I was hanging out with the dance crowd another "famous" dancer was in that crowd. Does anyone know/remember Denny Terio of Dance Fever fame? He was also part of our group. Much more unapproachable than Buddy. Buddy was very sweet and happy to teach us a few dance steps or two. After all, we were all racing to the dance contest by 11 or midnight and might end up with him as a partner. The way they did it back in the day, was to put all names in a hat and someone from the band would pick one guy and one girl to be partners for the contest. I got picked to be with both Denny and Buddy MANY times. It was always more fun with Buddy cause he'd take the time to "practice" with you in the parking lot, teach you a fun trick so that you'd have an edge to win. Fun, fun, fun! These are some of the great memories I cherish. Haven't had the time to call Buddy yet. I know the conversation is going to be a long one.
Sorry about posting under anonymous....
The above post is from jazzbird.
I couldn't post under my name for some reason.
You're welcome here anytime, Jazzbird! Hope you have a great chat with Buddy!
Glitterati, u have saved me because I have been looking everywhere for the jazz with natalie and benji since it was deleted off of youtube. U are so right, vixen's site is awesome. Thanks so much for giving it to me :-)
2cooldancin: No problem! And Vixen is amazing for doing all that work, isn't she? Hip hip hurray!!
Ok, this is REALLY random, but I would really like it if anyone could help me! I watched the Vegas call back episode of So You Think You Can Dance, where Benji has to dance for his life and does that amazing number with Heidi. What was the song that he used?? It is driving me CRAZY!!!!
It's a version of James Brown's "Get Up Offa That Thing", if I recall properly.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
wow that was great... i really like Benji's performance. He is a great dancer and he look really very cute in any costume he wear's.
I really enjoy his performance. Even my kids are a huge fan of Spiderman and Benji.
I enjoyed these videos!
A dance competition is an organized event in which contestants perform dances before a judge or judges for awards, and in some cases, monetary prizes. There are several major types of dance competitions, distinguished primarily by the style or styles of dances performed
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