2010 Charger Girl Finals

I think it’s time for another Charger Girls fix, don’t you? Let’s talk about this year’s finals. Better yet, I’ll show you.

This is the first time I got to go to finals, so I was way excited. This did not prevent me, however, from falling asleep behind the wheel. This happens every time I drive to San Diego. It takes Nothing personal against San Diego, but I don’t have the attention span for long drives. It takes about 2.5 hours to get to San Diego. I get bored about 45 minutes into it. At the hour and 15 minute mark, I start nodding off. I’ve tried blasting the radio, rolling all the windows down, chewing on ice cubes, singing to myself. One time I brought a spray bottle and spritzed myself in the face every few minutes. None of it worked. (Although admittedly I only tried the spritzing thing once.)

Now I routinely factor a 15 minute power nap into my trips. I’m so not kidding.I drive for an hour, get off the freeway, find a parking lot somewhere, crash out for a few minutes, and then hit the road again, good as new. I’m not proud of it, but I accept it.

Whatever.

The auditions were in the evening, and I got there over an hour ahead of time. It was time to get down to business.

Note: If I posted all of my favorite people here, we’d be here all day. So I’ll just share a few. Click here to see the full set of photos. (It’s not so bad this time, only a few hundred, instead of a thousand.)

The first two people I ran into were my home slices, Lauren and Jessie, who used to dance for the Clippers. They were both about as nervous as I’d ever seen them.

I, on the other hand, was totally relaxed. Oh please, like they weren’t going to make the team. I had to try hard not to roll my eyes. They’re both great dancers, great performers, smart, kind, funny, and sweet girls. They’ve got the experience, they’ve got the polish, and neither one of them’s ugly, so what’s to be nervous about?

(Sometimes I forget that the entertainment world is an entirely different reality from the one the rest of us live in. You can be the biggest, bestest, smartest, fastest, hottest thing going and STILL not get the job. That really blows.)

I chased down a few veterans: Katie, Jennifer, Lauren O., Natalie, Emily, and Kimberly. Lauren and Jennifer are sisters. Lauren got cut from the team last year, so I was really pulling for her to make it back on the squad.
Correction: Lauren was on the team last year, Jennifer was on hiatus. Neither one of them got booted from the team. (I’m not that bright, so I get mixed up sometimes.)

Retired Charger Girls Vanesa, Lacy, and Tonya helped the process go smoothly. Lacy is part of the Charger Girls organization. I don’t know her exact title. Something to do with marketing, I believe.

A film crew was busy interviewing people.
I don’t know if it was for the Chargers or for tv. Drat! I should’ve asked.

The crew interviewed Charger Girls Director Lisa Simmons

They also interviewed the aspiring Charger Girls…

…And asked a couple of them to do a twirl for the camera

It’s a good thing I can’t do that move, because I’d do it all the time.
I’d be all “Watch me! Watch me!”
And people would be all aggravated like “Okay, we’ve seen it already. Now put your damn foot down”
Then I’d do it a couple more times just to show that nobody bosses me around.

Once the doors opened, someone put the music on, and the girls had a good amount of time to warm up and get mentally prepared.

I must have walked by Heather 4 or 5 times before I recognized her. In my defense, she didn’t just straighten her hair, she also changed her outfit. Ditto for Star.

Several other girls changed outfits. From what I heard, some were “encouraged” to choose something different for finals. Others just decided to change it up on their own. I would like to make an announcement: I do not appreciate these willy-nilly wardrobe changes, ok? All of a sudden, everyone looks different than I remember and I’m running around, tearing my hair out like “Argh, who are you people?”

Well, at least I can count on the veterans to look like themselves (even though Ashlie’s hair seems to have grown several inches in the past few days).

Speaking of veterans, Katie totally busted me. I was doing my usual move of “hey, I’m going to go sit with these veterans and act like I already know everyone here,” It’s the only way I can get through these kinds of situations without getting all nervous and weird about it. So there I was, minding everybody’s business but my own, when guess-who comes over with a big smile. “Hi, I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Katie.” Oh, snap. I forgot for a minute I didn’t know most of those people. Perhaps I should’ve introduced myself…?

(Katie, by the way, is adorable. And I mean that in an affectionate-but-not-condescending kind of way.)

Speaking of adorable…Have I mentioned, by the way, that I am having major problems with Lauren P? She used to be adorable. Lauren 1.0 was all rosy cheeks and girl next door-ish-ness. I was comfortable with that. I was not prepared for the chick who showed up at Charger Girl auditions. Lauren 2.0: Bombshell Edition. This must be what it’s like the first time your little sister wears heels or goes on her first date. I’m not ready for this!

And FYI, not for nothing, but Ashley M is freaking awesome.

I’ve decided that, on the whole, these are my kind of people. I would stalk them more if driving to San Diego didn’t involve risking my life. Highway hypnosis is no laughing matter.

I must say, everyone was looking pretty relaxed.

For the first part of the audition, the dancers performed the combination they’d learned a few days before. They danced in groups of three. Unlike previous years, they performed with poms. It was a good change. I hope they continue to do that in the future.

Everything’s more fun with poms! (Unless you’re sweaty because that plastic can stick to you in a way that is not cute at all.)

Michelle and Jenay

Jennifer

Kylie

Courtney

Kimberly

After that, the judges disappeared and the dancers had time to practice for their solos.

Ashlie was doing all kinds of nifty stuff. I have about five photos of her doing this cool matrix-y thing. Luckily, I don’t think she saw me running around behind her, clapping my hands like a three year old. “Do it again, Ashlie! Do it again!”

Seriously, try this. I bet you can’t do it.

I debated about whether to post this photo. Ok yes, you’d rather see her face, but look at that! This girl is an athlete. I bet she could cartwheel, somersault, and backflip from one end zone all the way to the other without breaking a sweat.

Solo time! Each dancer had to cross in front of the judges, then stop and introduce herself. Those were some of the quietest moments of the day. Everything was dead silent except for the swish swish of the pantyhose as each dancer walked by.

Sabrina

Some memorable moments from the solos:

Katie

Michelle

Ashley D

The judges took some time to deliberate, and then Lisa, Maria, and Lacy gathered the group together to announce the squad.

After the announcement, there were lots of smiles, tears, and texting of loved ones.

I hate hate hate, the part where people get cut. It truly sucks. ESPECIALLY when it’s a veteran. Five veterans got cut this year.

Yes, I know it happens. But I don’t have to like it.

I try to put a positive spin on it by thinking about the girls who tried out last year, got cut, came back this year, and were chosen for the team. There are a bunch of them: Melissa, Kylie, Marissa, Hayley, Maria, and probably a couple others. Look at Lauren O. She was a veteran when she got cut last year. But she came back this year, and now she’s back on the team. Perseverance pays!

One of the first things they do is take their first group photo as the 2010-11 San Diego Charger Girls.

It took some shuffling around to get it just right.

Bam! There it is! Your 2010 Charger Girls team. Nine veterans and 19 rookies. Congratulations, ladies!