When opportunity knocks you have to be ready.
That's part of your training at the Abby Lee Dance Company.
So, this is your opportunity.
I thought all of our soloists were going to be here,
and they're not.
You will be going in for Kalani You'll be going in for Kendall.
Big shoes to fill.
Make sure you're nice and stretched.
I think we're going to enter Nia's solo, "Never Knew."
WOMAN: OK.
And probably have JoJo improv.
It's unfortunate that Kalani and Kendall won't be
here in time to do their solos.
Can you get in your improv costume?
But it's a great chance for Nia and JoJo
to step up to the plate.
These guys understandably are mad that the group
may be scratched because the kids stayed.
They love that-- the group number this week.
Like, they want to do it.
Like, they love it.
Right now they're representing the Abby Lee Dance Company.
And since Abby Lee is not dead yet and she's still living,
I'm telling them what to do.
The moms don't understand.
My kids had to be [inaudible] Period.
It employs some of the most knowledgeable teachers that
work in the industry today.
It's a big deal.
This is my reputation on the line.
So by them walking out the door, it's like, there you go.
And that's what it's like, and they're not going to do that.
I don't want to say, well, we're special,
so my kids have to just leave.
I understand that, but then we should have
made a big effort to come here.
This should have been at 6:00 PM, yes.
Right, then.
Well, whatever, like, we should not put this--
all of these kids in this situation,
because it's just not right.
Because of Abby's mistake, now Nia and JoJo
have to go against our biggest rival,
Ava, totally unprepared and unsupported by their teammates.
It's not fair.
[music playing]
OK. Can I judge?
Can I judge?
If she's going to do it full out, you can judge.
If she's just going to mark it, no.
Well, you should say, "Thank you.
Yes, Abby, so that we could get the corrections."
Because she might not do the same thing the next time when
she does it full out, so I'm trying to correct
her on technical things.
You need to be more open minded, Jess.
Abby has no business correcting JoJo.
She should be thanking her lucky stars I'm even letting
JoJo do this improv solo.
Sickled foot. Close your ribs.
Close your ribs.
Right.
Much better.
Don't sit back on your supporting heel.
She can't do that.
Are you getting ready to be a soloist?
WOMAN: Really?
You mean she's going to bless you with something?
WOMAN: Yeah, absolutely.
Oh, and Nia, too.
Oh, Abby.
How generous of you to give Nia something.
Of course then it's probably because you know that her video
was glorious and you can't have any credit
except for that fake smile that you do.
Good luck, Nia.
And you too, JoJo.
Keep that hip down and under on that fan.
Don't let your hip lift up.
Slow and confident.
The longer you are on stage, the better it looks.
All right, girls.
Let's go.
Why does Cathy know our business?
Cathy, for whatever reason, she was talking as a mother.
And she was looking at how Nia is treated.
It's wrong.
We didn't exclude her.
Abby didn't exclude her.
The only people Abby care about are sitting right there.
That's-- I disagree.
She just gave your two kids solos.
There's no one else on the team!
Holly, why can't you just admit
Abby just gave your kid a solo?
That there's no one else here.
She's gonna get the empty chair?
Empty chair, do a solo!
My gosh.
There's no one else left on the team today.
I thought JoJo's dance with the straitjacket
was her toughest dance.
But considering she is being put in at the last second
improvising against Ava, who totally nailed it,
I don't know if JoJo can pull this off.
[music playing]
[music - "electricity"] I was weak when we connected.
Drank the power.
Charge my blood with your fire.
You conduct my desire.
Reunite.
Spark.
Ignite inside our hearts.
Electricity inside your touch.
[applause]
I'm in between a rock and a hard place.
Luckily JoJo and Nia did a great job with their solos,
but I'm worried about the group number.
WOMAN: Well, I thought JoJo did amazing.
Thank you.
I think it was good.
I think you got to be yourself today, and that was nice.
And I liked it.
And for your two girls to go out there really--
I don't want to say they weren't prepared, because they
didn't look not prepared. - Right?
They really weren't.
They weren't prepared.
You couldn't tell.
In third place, is "Electricity."
JoJo!
[applause]
JoJo is in the top 3 with an improv solo.
It is time that Abby Lee Miller starts
to be impressed with JoJo.
Do the face now.
Get into character.
Be method dancers.
Kendall and JoJo's duet has a Freaky Friday theme.
They switch personalities and act like one another.
[music - "play to win"] Easy, to cheat.
Easy to lie.
ABBY: Grab it and then turn around yourself.
Right.
[music - "play to win"] Easy to run.
Easy to hide.
ABBY: Turn, turn, turn, turn, turn.
[music - "play to win"] Everybody's fighting
and fighting about it.
Kendall looks like JoJo today.
That's hilarious.
[laughs]
She's like, Oh, I have this really big bow.
And I'm like,
[laughter]
All right.
Come on.
Let's go.
[music playing]
Oh, it is cold.
Yeah.
Oh, my god.
It's like a jack in the box.
[laughter]
Uh oh.
Uh, moms.
You weren't supposed to do that.
Do you want to be on this team?
- I want to be on your team. - Yeah.
OK.
Do you want to be on this team, Renee?
Yeah. OK.
So--
Of course they want to be on this team.
They're not on your team.
Just goes to show you make mistakes.
Cathy?
She has to be an idiot if she thinks that this new team
is going to be loyal to her.
These girls are so desperate to be on my team,
they would come running to me at the drop of a hat.
Do you guys want to touch JoJo's jacket?
It might be the closest you'll ever get to an Abby Lee jacket.
Your daughter will never be a star.
You dream of being on.
Actually, no.
I don't want to be on your team.
I'm here with Cathy's team.
Right.
That's why you were at the audition?
Right. - OK.
OK.
These Candy Apple moms want to prove that they're better
than the ALDC, but you're not.
I mean, if you were, you would be where we are.
Five, six, seven, eight.
OK, guys.
I love you.
MAN: Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome to the stage,
"Play to Win."
Kendall has to role play and act like JoJo.
She's got to prove to Abby that she can act
and that Maddie is not the only one.
[music - "play to win"] Easy to cheat.
Easy to lie.
Easy to break.
Easy to cry.
Easy to run.
Easy to hide.
Everybody's fighting and fighting and fighting.
I want to be angry.
I want to be diving in.
I want to go crazy.
I want to fight.
I want to play to win.
It's coming to a head, but I'll regret nothing.
[inaudible] Because I would rather be a light for you.
[applause]
I think Kendall and JoJo's duet is cute.
I think they're adorable.
Does cute win?
We'll have to wait and see.
[applause]
[music playing]
MAN: Hope everybody's feeling all right!
[cheering]
MAN: All right.
We're going to get right to it.
The duo, trio, overall third place, entry 28, "Play to Win."
[applause]
The fact that Kendall was third, I thought she was great,
but she'll do better next time.
I'm sure of it.
Yes.
My grandma is coming into town,
and I don't know if you know, but she is sick.
She has stage four colon cancer, and I really would
like to dance for her, and--
Sorry, it's just hard--
ABBY: Take a deep breath.
I just really want to dance for her when she comes here,
and I would just love to have a solo this week.
I'm not asking to, like, give me a solo, give me a solo,
but I just want to dance for her while she
has the opportunity to be here.
JoJo, I understand what you're going through.
And I think it's very admirable that your grandmother flew all
the way out here to California, and I would love for her
to see you perform as well.
So I will definitely do a solo for you.
Thank you.
I am beyond excited that Abby is giving JoJo a solo.
I think Abby knows in her heart of hearts
that it's the right thing to do.
It's kind of beautiful here.
Yeah.
Today JoJo and I are meeting my mom for lunch,
and my mom's chemo schedule has been rearranged
so she could come here this week and she could see JoJo dancing
and see what she's been doing.
This is huge for us.
I'm excited for you to be here.
I'm excited to be here.
Do you feel good?
I feel good today.
Was the flight bad?
Yeah.
I had a treatment, a chemo treatment,
so that made it worse.
I'm on a good week.
I'm grateful, and I do believe I'm still lucky, though.
- You have to believe. - Yes.
- You have to. - It's a thing.
You just got to believe.
I do.
Not many people can say that they have two kinds of cancer,
and they're in the middle of chemo,
and they're going to go to California
to see their granddaughter.
And I don't know if you know, but I have a solo this week.
Thank god.
But I'm not in the group dance.
Oh.
But at least you get to see me do a solo.
I know. I can't be too picky, right?
Because even if I was in the group,
I get in the back corners, so--
I don't care.
I watch the back corner.
The back corners are the best.
[laughter]
It's just awesome that my grandma gets to watch me dance,
because she loves to watch dance and she
loves to watch me dance.
Are you good?
Just happy.
I'm happy that you're here, and I'm happy that you're good.
- Yeah. - Just happy.
I'm happy, too.
Now, JoJo.
Before we start, fifth position hits fifth position.
Not kind of sort of fifth.
OK?
Go, JoJo.
[music - "faith is all i need"] Starlight, star bright.
JoJo is dancing to a beautiful piece of lyrical music
entitled "Faith Is All I Need."
Faith is relating to her grandmother
to keep the faith alive.
What's your face doing?
JoJo just is not a lyrical dancer.
She doesn't have long lines.
She doesn't have gorgeous feet.
I hope that with this solo for her grandmother
that she really digs down deep inside
and comes out with a winning number, a number that really is
a tribute for her grandmother.
Actually, I think it's really refreshing
that JoJo is not doing, like, a fierce jazz stance.
Thank you.
I'm glad JoJo's able to show Abby she's
more than one kind of dancer.
WOMAN: She is.
I mean, does JoJo like jazz?
Is it easy for her? Is it fun?
Yeah.
But, like, she can do this.
Like, I know she can do this.
I don't want to get teary-eyed or sad today,
but it could be one of the last times my mom sees-- you know?
And I-- like, it very well, realistically, you just never
know.
OK?
So JoJo needs to give it all she's got.
ABBY: Let's go.
[music playing]
ABBY: Hey.
[music playing]
You look beautiful, JoJo.
JOJO: Thank you.
Yeah.
I will.
OK.
[inaudible]
All right.
So, listen to me both of you.
Make me proud of you.
I want to sit in that audience and say,
I'm glad I chose those two kids to do solos today, because they
are our best representatives.
They're winners, all right?
OK.
Let's go.
[music playing]
It's hard to know that your grandma's sick,
but dancing with the ALDC has been one of my dreams.
And so now that I'm here dancing with them
and my grandma is here to watch, it's an even bigger dream.
I got to go out on the dance floor
and just let loose and dance for my grandma.
MAN: Next up, number 19, "Faith Is All I Need."
[applause]
JoJo, go!
[music - "faith is all i need"] Starlight, star bright.
Make them realize.
And though I'll work long and try my hardest,
parts remain unfulfilled.
I'll wait with haste.
Now I see that faith is all I need.
It's always there for me.
I finally see that I can trust the flow.
I know, I know, 'til it goes.
[applause]
I thought JoJo was beautiful.
It's been an emotional week with JoJo.
There's been lots of ups and lots of downs.
I was just happy to see JoJo get through the number
without crying.
MAN: In first place--
[music playing]
MAN: Number 18, "Secret Place."
Give it up!
[cheering]
JoJo's solo takes on a whole different meaning.
It's not about the competition.
It's about honoring this dear woman, and she did that.
I just really wish she would have won.
That would have been the icing on the cake.