Alex Hermes

9 - Cut

* [Not a typical biography, as she is talking more about her current experience] She says it is the second week of training camp and her life is crazy. She had to relocate from Louisiana and stay in a hotel room. It’s the first time she’s really been away from home and she feels lost 90% of the time. Having to live out of a suitcase is stressful while also having to maintain practice and rehearsals. The worst part is after the dance has just ended, because then you get to stand there and wait to see what they thought about it. The reason it’s so stressful is because everybody spends every waking minute working on the dance and putting in their best effort. She’s never had another experience where she’s had to sit and hang on someone else’s words. It’s taking 100% of her focus to be a part of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader training camp. She’s nervous, because she knows it’s crunch time and they’re fixing to start making cuts and she knows that everyone’s getting nervous right now.

## **Confessionals**

Total: 39

Season 6: 11 (T9th most)

Season 7: 25 (7th most)

Season 8: 1

Season 9: 2

### **Season 6**

**(6.1)**

* [Invited to semifinals] "I was frantically looking. I was counting every single number, going through the list trying to find mine. And once I saw it, I just wanted to cry. It’s unbelievable."

**(6.2)**

* [Semifinals routine] "I don’t think I’ve ever messed up on kicks ever. I guess the nerves got to me once I walked out there, and I just lost my mind for a second."

**(6.4)**

* [Uniform fitting] "Today will be the first time I’ve ever even thought about trying on the uniform, so I’m excited."
* "It’s killing me not being able to take pictures and show my friends and my family. I would give anything to be able to just run out the door right now with (the uniform) on."
* (*Biography*)

**(6.5)**

* [Makeovers] "I know nobody comes out of here looking worse, so I’m excited to see what they’re going to do."
* [Before office] "I think that (Kelli and Judy) are calling me into the office tonight to tell me that I need to practice a little bit more and work on the choreography. So, I’m a little nervous to see what they have to say."

**(6.7)**

* "I actually feel really good right now. I’m just glad that it’s coming to an end with all of this, and we can actually go one way or another."
* [Rehearsal] "I’ve been practicing a lot, and I’ve had them all whenever I’m doing them by myself, but I guess it’s totally different whenever I get in this little room with Kelli and Judy and the veterans, and it’s a lot of pressure, and you just freak yourself out."
* [Before office] "It’s kind of mixed emotions right now. You can’t get excited. You can’t get too upset, because you really don’t know right now. I kind of want to throw up right now, honestly."
* [After cut, teary] "I’ve had so much support from everyone. Everyone back home, my mom, my whole family, friends, everyone’s just chomping at the bit waiting for me to tell them what happened. So, I’m going to call my mom first. She’s been with me…" [*starts crying*]

### **Season 7**

**(7.1)**

* [Prelims] "I tried out for DCC last year and made it into training camp until the very last night. [*Flashback*] But, I’m feeling really confident this year. I’m feeling like my work and my preparation’s really going to pay off."
* "When we step out on that stage, that’s going to be the very first impression the judges get of us, so we have to look our absolute best, because this could make or break us."
* [Invited to semifinals] "I’m glad I made it past round one, but tomorrow’s really the hump that I have to get over. That’s the hardest part for me."

**(7.2)**

* [Moving in with Chelsea] "Having a roommate is going to help tremendously. I’ll have somebody else to share the journey with because a lot of people you can’t really talk to about this because you don’t understand unless you’ve gone through it."
* "Today is our first night of training camp, when we have our first rehearsal and learn our first routine."
* "I can never be too confident because I’ve got memories from last year in my head, but I feel really good about it. I don’t want to jinx myself, but I feel good."
* "I’m excited to perform the routine. We’ve been practicing all day as a group, so I think that I’ll do good tonight."
* [Office visits announced] "I don’t know if I did something wrong. I’m kind of lost right now, so I’m just eager to get in there and see what (Kelli and Judy) have to say, so I can know what to do and what to fix."
* [Before office] "Well, my name just got called in to go to Kelli and Judy’s office, so I’m a little bit nervous. I don’t really know what they’re going to say tonight. I don’t know. Just waiting to find out."
* [After office] "It feels amazing to get positive feedback. The last time I was in that office, I was getting cut and it was completely negative. So, it felt so much better to come back strong."

**(7.3)**

* [Uniform fitting] "After I was cut last year, I knew it wasn’t the end. I knew that I was gonna go do what I had to do to get back in this uniform, and I’m not giving it back, because I’m going to make the squad this year."

**(7.5)**

* [Kitty Carter enters] "Soon as I saw her walk through that door, my heart sank and I was like, “Oh great.” Been dreading it."
* "You just hear (Kitty) yell your name and it’s really nerve-wracking, and the whole time, you’re just thinking about the footsteps and thinking about your face and trying to think about what she’s gonna say to you, and then…" [*Clip of Alex being criticized followed by Alex back in confessional, just laughing*]
* [Cameo shoot] "I feel like a superstar. I have all these people that are making sure that every piece of my hair is in the right spot and that my makeup looks right and that my body angles are right. Makes you feel really special."

**(7.7)**

* [Makes team] "It’s just, it’s so worth it to finally have this moment."
* [Uniform] "And the only problem I ever have is trying to tie this knot. It’s the most complicated knot, for some reason. It’s like trying to tie a tie."
* [Game Day] "I’ve dreamed about this day I don’t know how many times. And it’s just a dream come true to be in here and be among all the hustle and bustle. I feel like it’s not gonna fully hit me until I’m walking out of that tunnel and I hear the roar of the crowd. And I can’t wait for that moment."
* [After the game] "Whew. Exhausting."

**(7.8)**

* "I, along with everybody else, just want to prove to Kelli and Judy that we deserve to be here and that they picked a good squad and that we can actually do this, and we’re gonna pull through."

**(7.10)**

* "You think that once camp’s over that it’s all just going to be really easy, but it’s not. It gets a lot more intense. (Kelli and Judy) expect you to do what you showed them in training camp."
* "I’ve noticed a big change in the rehearsals lately. We’ve gotten a lot more intense. They expect so much more out of us right now. And there’s really no more excuses at this point."
* "We had a lot of last-minute things that were thrown at us that we have to just really be on our toes and ready for."
* "I’m starting to feel the pressure and let it get to me. And so, I’m thinking about the moves, which is the worst thing that a dancer can do because you’re bound to make mistakes."
* "I’m feeling really anxious and nervous, so I can already tell that the regular season is completely different, just like all the girls have told me."
* "I’m really nervous this week because the pressure’s kind of been on for everything to be perfect, so I’m just really hoping that I don’t let it all get to my head today."

### **Season 8**

**(8.8)**

* "I don’t know if I’m tired, or what’s going on, but (Kelli) said the rookies around me were out-dancing me, so, kind of gives me a little competition to try to step it up."

### **Season 9**

**(9.2)**

* [Finals] "I’m praying that I’m going to hear (Kelli and Judy) call me up there for training camp again. I’m not ready to leave. My heart’s still here, I’m still here."
* [Not invited back to training camp] "There’s more life to live, so that’s what I’m going to do."

## **Commentary**

### **Season 6**

**(6.3)**

* "I saw two girls that got thick tonight… and Alex. I hate to say it, but she definitely has those arms." – Kelli/"Yeah." – Judy
* "Alex, you are kind of a mess right now. If I could correct you, it would be every other count. So, you got a lot to clean up right now." – Judy

**(6.4)**

* "Alex has a really bad memory. She’s gonna start losing me. She’s got power, but she just didn’t practice." – Judy
* "Alex is struggling a little bit more in training camp than I thought she would. She doesn’t remember the choreography exactly as it was taught, and she rushes her counts." – Judy
* "You make way just non-rehearsed mistakes. Later, on your own, maybe a veteran can explain it and show you what looks weird and what looks right." – Judy

**(6.5)**

* "Is Alex gonna look big?" – Kelli/"I think so. I mean, even her thighs and everything." – Judy

**(6.7)**

* [Field entrance practice] "Stephanie and Alex, think! On your toes, Alex." – Judy
* "Alex is having a hard time learning our entrance. It’s not coming easy to her. And she just doesn’t look comfortable." – Judy
* "Who are you guiding with, Colleen and Alex? Look at the rest of the line. Did y’all see how you were way ahead of them?" – Judy
* [Kickline] "Wow! Alex is tight." – Kelli
* "Watch Stephanie, Alex, and Marie." – Kelli/"Alex just missed a kick." – Judy
* "Marie and Stephanie look better than Alex, side by side." – Kelli/"Marie didn’t look good at all." – Judy/"She looks better than Alex."– Kelli/"Alex, you need to get your kicks higher." – Judy
* "Man, I can’t even believe how many mistakes she’s making." – Judy/"Who?" – Kelli/"Alex." – Judy/"I like looking at her, but she’s clunky." – Kelli
* "Alex is dancing like a little girl." – Judy/"Yeah." – Kelli
* "Like every other step you make mistakes, and you don’t even know. I don’t think you know it. Either you’re practicing wrong, or you don’t know the first dance we learned. ‘Cause it’s, I couldn’t even, I can’t keep writing on how many mistakes you made. You really scare me." – Judy

### **Season 7**

**(7.1)**

* [Preliminaries judging, immediately after they criticize Karissa Lynae] [*Kelli pulls out Alex's photo*] "The difference to me in these two was night and day with her. To me, (Alex) came back looking better."– Judy/"I thought this was a good step for her. I thought she was very strong, and she looked like she was determined."– Charlotte Jones

**(7.2)**

* [First training camp rehearsal] "Very bright and fun to watch." – Kelli
* "Good smile." – Kelli

**(7.3)**

* [Uniform fitting] "I don’t say this much, but your rear end looks good." – Kelli

**(7.5)**

* "What are you doing?! Come on!" – Kitty Carter
* "Go back, go. Just saying, you have to go back and do it again." – Kitty

**(7.7)**

* "C’mon Alex, slow down." – Judy

**(7.10)**

* "You did “four, five” late." – Judy
* "Who is this?" – Kelli/"It’s Alex." – Judy/"It’s stupid, but it was just in her hands." – Kelli/"Yeah, it looks bad." – Judy
* "You’ve been so strong, and now the past couple weeks, you’re losing your head a little bit." – Judy

### **Season 8**

**(8.6)**

* [*Kitty Carter calls her name (among others) to step forward*] "Every one of you either need to tighten it up or tone it up. Just, you look heavy. And that means not fat, obviously, but you look heavy. And I think you need to do something about it." – Kitty
* [About veterans called out for weight] "I think Kitty’s concern is valid, and this is, are you guys getting lazy or complacent just because you’re veterans? Because if Kitty had been the only judge in the room, several of those veterans wouldn’t have made the team." – Kelli

**(8.8)**

* "I see Alex dancing weaker than the rookies." – Kelli
* "You’re dancing softer than the rookies next to you. Dial it up. Bring it more." – Kelli
* "Fourth quarter, you had, like, five mistakes in the first two eight-counts, and then they kept coming. I’d rather you pull out of a game if you’re feeling bad than look like you looked. It was really bad." – Judy

### **Season 9**

**(9.2)**

* [Finals deliberation]" Alex looks thick." – Kelli/ "That’s what they’re all saying." – Judy/"She looks thick out there." – Kelli/"I didn’t think she looked so thick in her solo." – Judy/"I didn’t either, but on this she does."– Kelli
* [Finals deliberation] "How do you think she looked, Jay (Johnson)?" – Kelli/"She was kind of thick." – Jay/"We cannot go into training camp talking to her about her weight, so you’ve got to like the way she looks today." – Kelli/"There’s no way. There’s no way." – Jay
* [After making training camp decisions] "It’s very hard to cut a veteran. It’s heartbreaking, it’s final. Morgan, Alex, and Courtni were hard realities to accept." – Kelli

## **Office Visits**

### **Season 6**

**(6.5)**

* [End of episode, first of three] Kelli tells Alex that she’s still where she was at auditions: she’s just a maybe in the room because she’s just performing with mixed signals. Including her figure, which she calls weird. For Alex’s height, she’s heavier than the other girls on the squad. When they’re looking at the making squad 40 or less, she’s still not at the top of the list in terms of dancing and performing in the room. She continues that now she really has to get her arms around the choreography so that her performing is bullet proof. She tells Alex to take this as honesty, a kind of “where you are.” Alex tells them she appreciates the feedback.

**(6.7)**

* [End of episode, fourth of five] Kelli says that after seven weeks of watching her and hoping for her, she thinks Alex is just an undeveloped dancer. Tonight, she was probably the weakest dancer in the room, in terms of memory. They like the bold parts of her dancing. The fact that she’s not making through a whole routine without mistakes is what they’re up against. They’re out of time. If they had more time, they’d give her more time. The conclusion is that tonight will be her last night. Alex gets teary and says she feels like she let herself down. Kelli disagrees and says she made it a lot farther than her dance background would have suggested. She should be proud and use that as fuel. Alex says she is really proud that she made it this far; she’s given it everything she can, and that’s all she can do. Kelli says she could go farther if she can get more dance. Judy says its worth taking another chance on her, next year. Alex says she can work hard and it’s not the end. She shakes their hands, apologizing for her wet hands. Kelli comments that if she means what she says, then they’ll see her next year, but don’t come back without dance classes. Alex says that she won’t, and that she’ll be ready and that they should be ready for her. [*Alex leaves*] Judy says Alex is adorable. Kelli says she hopes they’re not making a mistake (before saying they’re not and know what they are doing), but if they had more time with her…

### **Season 7**

**(7.2)**

* [End of episode, first of three] Kelli asks how she feels, and Alex says she doesn’t like being in the office. Kelli says she called her in to tell her she’s doing a very good job, and wants her to know that because she wants her to be successful here and don’t want her to be scared. She knows she’s probably more scared because she’s gone through the process and knows what’s to come. They don’t want to cut her again. So, she shouldn’t be timid. She came in strong in auditions, and stay strong in there. And know that they’re pulling for her. Alex thanks them for the positive feedback. [*Alex leaves*] Kelli says she likes the Louisiana in her. Judy says it’s just sweetness.

## **End of Journey**

### **Season 6**

**(6.7)**

* Cut from training camp at the end of week seven (10th out of 11, 35 left after cut)

### **Season 9**

**(9.2)**

* Not brought back to training camp for a possible third season as a DCC

## **Other**

### **Season 6**

**(6.1)**

* Fourth-to-last shown being invited to finals

**(6.7)**

* After she is cut, and is leaving the office, Mackenzie (who is waiting for her office visit) mentions Alex looks sad. Alex says she got cut, and the two hug, as Mackenzie tells Alex she did a good job.

### **Season 7**

**(7.1)**

* Shown (with Marie Lynne) when Kelli mentions recognizing a few familiar faces during her introduction speech at preliminaries
* Shown being invited to finals
* Shown being invited to training camp

**(7.2)**

* She is shown moving in with Chelsea Elizabeth before the opening meeting of training camp
* Introduces herself first at the opening meeting
* She’s one of the rookies at the Verandah Club practice
* After the Verandah Club practice, Carla Ann asks her if anyone will get cut at the week 1 rehearsal that night, and Alex says that no one will get cut (which is later proven wrong)

### **Season 8**

**(8.6)**

* She’s shown singing the national anthem for show group auditions. While she's not bad, Kelli and Judy appear fairly unimpressed