Tuesday night’s Dance Moms Season 5 Episode 14 saw Lifetime shot-caller Abby Lee Miller and company return from Pittsburgh to the promised land.
Hollywood, that is. How did they fare in Tinseltown this time around?
Those of us who watch Dance Moms online know that Abby Lee is a beast who isn’t afraid to cause controversy and make enemies, but one that delivers.
Woman wins competitions, end of story … that is, until she doesn’t.
Lately, her vice grip on titles has been on somewhat shakier ground, and she sought to reestablish her dominance in Dance Moms Season 5 Episode 14.
She was not about to put up with any crap from her charges, either.
“You’re representing me. If the resume is wrong, if the pictures are 8 X 11, I want to crawl in a hole and die,” Abby warned her students as only she can.
“You are responsible for the integrity of my business and my livelihood and what I have created," Miller went on, and well, we cringed because obviously.
The team is trying its hand at acting, and there’s a learning curve.
Seeing Maddie Ziegler in Sia’s "Big Girls Cry" video may have impressed Dance Moms fans, but Abby’s protege wasn’t knocking the socks off Dallas Lovato.
Dallas, 27, is an acting coach and the sister of Demi Lovato.
She told Abby’s girls to be prepared before going into an audition, not just for the part, but with facts about themselves, like what their favorite film is.
Maddie Ziegler failed to deliver on that particular assignment.
“You’re an actress. If you want to be an actor, you’ve got to know these favorite movies,” Dallas said. “You’ve got to be able to pull these things out very quickly."
"You have to think on your toes. This is not an easy industry."
Maddie’s mom, Melissa Gisoni, and Abby were flustered at Dallas calling her out, but rival mom Jill Vertes said it was high time someone did exactly that.
After an improvised performance, Dallas kept at it, too.
“Maddie, are you tired today?” Dallas asked, saying the reality star appeared to be “lacking a little bit of energy. I would just like to see you sparkle more."
“It just seems like you’re just going through the motions.”
Dammmn. Fortunately for Maddie, once the dance competition came around, she was on point, delivering Abby her first win on the West Coast in Season 5.
Maybe a little tough love from Lovato and getting knocked off her high horse briefly lit a fire under the rising star and made her hungrier to prove herself.
Food for thought, Abby Lee.
Meanwhile, the rest of the team stepped up big time as well. Kendall, one of Abby’s two competing soloists, also placed first in the pre-teen division.
Basically, it was Miller Time. Abby Lee Miller Time.