So You Think You Can Dance: Winner Winner

After a long summer season, America's favorite female and male dancers have been crowned. Amy and Fik-shun emerged victorious over Jasmine and Aaron and I can't day I'm surprised. I had definitely been rooting for Aaron...but it seemed that Fik-shun was established as a fan favorite early on. As for the girls, I'm happy for Amy though I would have been fine with Jasmine taking home the title as well.

And my apologies of course for the delay. Surgery tends to put a damper on blogging.

Looking forward to the shows to come though.  The X Factor has already made it's fall debut and The Voice will return shortly. Til then!

So You Think You Can Dance: And Then There Were Four

The Final Four were revealed during the most recent episode of So You Think You Can Dance, and we are soooo close to the finale.  Jesse Tyler Ferguson was the guest judge for the week and I just adore him. He gets so excited about the performances and the dancers, and I found myself worrying  that he would literally burst with joy.  I imagine the producers had medics on standby.

 

The two hour slot was well used as each contest performed a solo, a dance with an All Star, and a dance with a fellow contestant. The show featured minimal filler and maximum dancing, which I always appreciate. Here are some highlights:

Amy and Alex Freaking Wong performed my favorite Bollywood routine ever on this show (sorry Joshua and Katee). It was fun, it was in sync, and it told a pretty convincing story…which I followed even though Alex Freaking Wong’s abs were out of control.

Amy actually had a hell of a night. She and Fik-shun performed an awesome hip hop routine as well. As much as I love Tabitha and Napoleon, it's nice to see Dave Scott featured as well. Fik-shun owned this routine. And Amy? Was Amy channeling Comfort? Probably not. But she left it all out there and did an amazing job. Good for her.

The best routine of the episode for me was the jazz number choreographed by Sean Cheesman.  Aaron and Jasmine rocked my world. They were a wonderful pairing at the beginning of the season and they remain so as the show comes to an end. No one should be able to bend the way Jasmine did, and no one can ever say tap dancers aren’t versatile. Aaron is living proof that SYTYCD shouldn’t just be obligated to put a tapper through each year – they should be giving the tappers the same “this isn’t your background but we love you” praise they give to the hip hop dancers, animators, etc.   

Not so honorable mention – am I the only one that was completely baffled by Tyce DiOrio’s “storms are bad” piece? Don’t get me wrong…I love Neil. I would catch a grenade for him. And Jasmine gives me the chills 90% of the time. But I just didn’t get this one. They danced beautifully, but Tyce’s explanation of the effects of tornadoes, hurricanes, and tsunamis felt strange to me.  It got a standing ovation anyway, as did the majority of the performances, but the emotional aspect of this dance never reached me.

Results! With the judges having no say this week, and after America’s votes were tallied, Paul and Hayley were eliminated. I’m realllllllllly bummed about Paul. I think he has been an absolute stand out all season. I think Hayley’s elimination was the right call though. Amy and Jasmine are in a league of their own...not to be confused with the movie...which is amazing. What ever happened to Geena Davis? 

Anywho, it’s crazy how quickly this season has passed by. Tonight the Final Four compete in part 1 of the finale and next week the winner will be crowned. I’m definitely pulling for Aaron to win at this point, but it’s going to be difficult for me to side with either Jasmine or Amy.  I think I’ll need to wait to see their finale performances to decide. Til then!

So You Think You Can Dance: Wicked Game

I have two words for the “All Stars are the choreographers” edition of SYTYCD: Travis and Mark. Setting aside Cat Deeley’s new Mystique hair stair, this episode was fantastic. Even guest judge Dharma Jenna Elfman admitted to having a life changing experience. Some highlights…

The show opened with a group number by the fabulous and greatly missed Mia Michaels. I wanted to sprint through my tv screen and hug her when she appeared on camera. Don’t get me wrong…this show has some pretty stellar choreographers, but Mia Michaels will always be at the top of my “favorites” list.  

Before the rest of the performances began, Cat revealed the bottom 4: Fik-Shun, Tucker, Haley and Jenna. My first thought was…Jenna again? I’m surprised Nigel didn’t book a flight back to the U.K. right then. All four contestants danced solos, mostly because we only have eight dancers left with two hours of show time. Upon conclusion of the solos, each contestant paired up with an All Star/choreographer to get the party started.

Mark Kanemura returned to the SYTYCD stage sans Lady Gaga to put on one hell of a jazz routine with Jenna. He told her during rehearsals: “I’m totally not a vegetarian when it comes to dancing. I literally want it bloody.” I’ll be honest – I haven’t the slightest idea of what this routine was about. Not a clue.  But it was quirky, it was fun, and it was borderline psychotic…and I loved every second of it.

The routine of the night, however, was Travis Wall’s performance with Amy. This guy is just brilliant and it was SO great to see him dancing on that stage again! Their contemporary piece was full of emotion, but overall it was pure beauty. I watched the performance with my mouth agape, lost in their movements, and I have watched it several times since with the same reaction.

Honorable mention goes to Paul for even being in the realm of keeping up with Comfort during their hip hop routine. It’s impossible not to keep your eyes on Comfort and her insane abs, but Paul hung in there surprising everyone and earning rave reviews.

As the show came to a close, Tucker and Jenna were sent packing….right after Nigel told Jenna she had just given the performance of her life. Sooo the judges really do have their minds made up before the show airs.  Interesting. I had been really rooting for Jenna throughout the two hours, so the results of this episode bum me out.

Tonight the remaining six dancers fight for a spot in the two-part finale. I’m pulling for Aaron, Paul, Jasmine and Amy to make it through, but we’ll see if Haley and Fik-Shun can win America over. Regardless, we get more All Star time which is awesome. Til then!

So You Think You Can Dance: I Can't Make You Love Me

DEBBIE ALLEN!!! Okay. Got that out of the way. This So You Think You Can Dance Top 10 performance episode became one of my favorites of the season based on the judges’ introductions alone. And just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, the All Stars returned to the show and they were beyond wonderful. Here are the highlights:

Cat revealed the bottom 4 (that’s right, it’s just 2 guys and 2 girls now) to be Jenna, Makenzie, Nico and Tucker. If you recall, Tucker couldn’t dance the week before…except for when he had to dance for his life. Then he was okay. I was both sad and anxious to see Makenzie and Jenna in the bottom 4 though. On the one hand I think they are both very talented, but on the other hand the judges have saved both of them and called America crazy on a few occasions now, so which one is the right one to boot?  I thought it would come down to how well they would dance for their lives…except for the part where the judges didn’t want to see any of the 4 dance for their lives. Okay then. On with the show!

I keep forgetting Aaron is a tap dancer, and I just love him so much. His Stacey Tookey number with Kathryn (oh how I’ve missed you) was emotional, breathtaking, and just about perfect. I genuinely believed that Kathryn pushed Aaron beyond what he thought he could do, and I was so touched by how proud she was of him. Good for him. I know everyone is gushing over Paul, but Aaron is my favorite guy this season.

Speaking of Paul, he did do a pretty fantastic cha cha with Season 9’s Witney…and Witney’s boobs. Good God. I realize Jenna has been dominating ballroom this season, but she doesn’t hold a candle to Witney. Good luck on Dancing with the Stars, kid. You’ve earned it.

Mandy Moore also graced us this evening, choreographing a jazz routine with Fik-Shun and….MELANIE! Oh man. Melanie is more amazing now than when she was crowned SYTYCD champion in Season 8.  Fik-Shun really might as well have stayed offstage. He did very little in the routine anyway, but I can assure you all eyes were on his partner. But hey, this isn’t his style of dance so he got the “we love you – keep growing” critique that I’ve grown quite tired of.

**Side note: The very sight of Neil makes me feel like I’ve just received the best hug ever.**

Nico showed some badassery when he had to keep up with Comfort during a NappyTabs hip hop routine. I was pleasantly surprised with how great he did. I feel like he got lost in the shuffle this season. I’m glad he got to show off a little bit here.

The night ended with a Travis Wall routine about one brother pulling another brother out of rock bottom. This was apparently inspired by Travis and his own brother, Season 3’s Danny Tidwell. I’m not entirely sure what happened to Danny or why Travis had to help him, but I do know that Danny is a soloist with the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet (thank you, Wikipedia), so he must be doing better now. Tucker and All Star Robert gave their all in this performance, pulling from their own life experiences. I hope this dance was healing for both of them.

And with Tucker being the closer and having a standout performance, we said goodbye to Nico pretty quickly. The votes on the girls were a tad more spilt with a 9-6 decision sending Makenzie home. Nigel made sure to mention he was out-voted.

Tonight the All Stars are not only dancing with the contestants, they are choreographing the routines too! Our remaining 8 dancers will partner up with Mark, Travis, Allison, Chelsie, Courtney, Dmitry and Twitch, and Comfort for what will most likely be one hell of a night. Til then!

So You Think You Can Dance: I Won't Dance, Don't Ask Me

The Top 12 episode was a big one for the So You Think You Can Dance contestants as they were all vying for a spot on the Top 10 tour. As the episode began Cat informed us that yet another contender was injured, revealing that Tucker was unable to dance…except for the part where he was. More on that later.

 

The evening’s guest judge was Kenny “This Is It” Ortega, and I always enjoy his presence on the show. He didn’t bring much humor, but he has a genuine deep appreciation for the show and the dancers. He also speaks in complete sentences and knows a lot of words. Can’t complain.

 

Onto the Bottom 6: Alan, Nico and Tucker were the guys in danger and Jenna, Amy and Malece received the least amount of votes for the ladies. The judges sent Jenna and Nico to safety right away leaving the remaining four to dance for their lives. So…of course I sat there thinking “Tucker can’t dance because of his knee infection, so Alan’s got this, right?” Well, I would have been right if I wasn’t entirely wrong. Tucker was able to dance a solo, just not any of the episode’s routines. Color me confused. Alan, Malece and Amy, meanwhile, gave it their all in their solos, and I figured Tucker would be goner for sure. But then we got to the performances.

 

The night was actually full of awesome routines from start to finish and pretty much everyone was praised and adorned and practically worshipped. Everyone except for Alan and Malece. Those poor souls could not have been told they sucked more, and their performance wasn’t really that bad. Alan was even told he sucked in the group routine at the end of the show. So who went home? Oh, that would be Alan and Malece…with “I can sometimes dance” Tucker safe for the week. Grrrr.

 

Anger aside, it was a good episode. Alex Freaking Wong returned to dance in “I can sometimes dance” Tucker’s place. Makenzie and Paul rocked my world with their contemporary piece set to Lady Gaga’s “Edge of Glory.” Oh how I love Mother Monster. And finally, Jasmine and Aaron’s NappyTabs routine had me wishing I could pop and lock. Or pop n lock. Whatever it is. Clearly I’m not destined to be in anyone’s crew.

 

So now we are down to our Top 10 and we can look forward to the return of the All Stars in the next episode. I’m interested to see how the judges’ favorites fare with these disgustingly amazing veteran dancers, and we have now hit the most exciting portion of the season (in my opinion). We’ll see who rises to the challenge and who gets lost in the shuffle soon. Til then!

So You Think You Can Dance: You're Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone

After a questionable Top 14 show, this past week’s Top 12 episode of So You Think You Can Dance was exponentially better within the first few minutes. Anna Kendrick replaced Carly Rae Jepsen as the guest judge, and man was she a breath of fresh air. I was not sure what to expect given her extensive musical background in…um... Pitch Perfect. But she can call herself “Academy Award Nominee, Anna Kendrick” so I imagine she tells the other cast members of Twilight to “suck it” on occasion. Regardless, she added some much needed humor to the show while also giving feedback that had substance. Bravo,  young lady.

 

Before we could even get going though, Cat notified us that Curtis had injured himself and was unable to dance. That’s a shame for him because he was also in the bottom 6. Not looking too good there, buddy. Also joining Curtis in the danger zone (where is Kenny Loggins these days?) were Alan, Nico, Mackenzie, Alexis and Jasmine. Mackenzie was once again sent to safety immediately, with Nigel essentially telling America they get it wrong every week and he’s never going to send this girl home. The judges also decided that none of the guys needed to dance for their lives, so Curtis was probably back stage prepping for his “goodbye” video package. In the end, only Jasmine and Alexis had to dance, with Alexis and Curtis leaving the show.

 

The evening did have some stellar routines though. I especially enjoyed Jasmine and Aaron’s contemporary routine based on The Giving Tree. I was very moved by their performance right up until the time Nigel decided to bestow upon us what The Giving Tree is about. We got it, Nigel. The choreographer explained it during the pre-performance video and they just danced it beautifully. Geesh.

 

My favorite routine of the night though was Amy and Fik-shun’s (there’s nothing you can do about this, spell check), sexy hip hop performance set to “Let’s Get It On” by Marvin Gaye. Fantastic. Sure, Amy just about ate the floor when her chair slipped in the water, but I was greatly entertained by the whole thing and smiled for quite some time afterwards.

 

Quote of the night, by the way, goes to Ms. Kendrick: “I don’t always get ballroom, but that just made me want to take lessons and have an affair on a tropical island….well, maybe just the second part.”

 

Tonight the dancers will go from 12 to 10 as we creep toward the end of the season. Will Mackenzie sail through this week or will she need another free pass from the judges? For the record, I really like her. I’m just not sure that she is so superior that Nigel would call out Ameriker on the voting, Is Fik-shun destined for the Final Four? Will Paula Abdul puulllleaaaasssee come back and guest judge again? Time will tell. Til then!

So You Think You Can Dance: And This Is Crazy

So, Carly Rae Jepsen was last week’s guest judge. I almost wanted to end my commentary and turn off the episode when I saw her on the panel, but I pushed through it. I assume this is just FOX’s way of trying to draw in a younger audience (those rumors about Selena Gomez as an Idol judge are still swirling).

 

Before we get to the competition, it’s worth noting that SYTYCD has recently racked up some Emmy nominations. Aside from the show’s overall nomination and Cat’s (she better win, damn it) nod, several choreographers were recognized as well: Sonya Tayeh, Mandy Moore, Tabitha and Napoleon, and Travis Wall. Nicely done. I’m hoping that the show’s continued recognition might keep it going for another season amid declining viewership…

 

Results! Mackenzie, Mariah and Jenna found themselves in the bottom 3, and the guys up for elimination were BluPrint, Alan and Curtis. The Judges sent Jenna to safety right away but the others had to dance for their lives. Why just Jenna? Did we only have enough time for 5 solos so they picked Jenna’s name out of a hat? Seems strange to me.

 

After the dances and solos were complete, it was decision time. After a lackluster jazz routine that greatly resembled a kinda/sorta hip hop dance (seriously, I’ve missed Brian Friedman but have no idea what was going on in that performance), BluPrint and Mariah were sent packing. At this point in the competition I do think that was the right call. And hey, we still have Fik-shun to ruin our spell check feature.

 

Tonight the Top 14 will be back at it as we move one step closer to welcoming back the All-Stars. As of now, I do not have a favorite…or even a few favorites. That all may change in the coming weeks though. Til then!

So You Think You Can Dance: Forever Your Girl

Okay, so I have seriously missed Paula Abdul. Say what you want about her antics and possible sobriety, but I just love her. She was a welcome guest judge on this week’s episode of So You Think You Can Dance. I thought a Mary/Paula combination might make the stage explode, but all seemed to be well in the end.

The bigger news of the episode, however, was the eliminations did not happen at the very beginning of the show (thaaaaaank you). They did announce the bottom three guys and bottom three girls when the episode started, but they at least allowed all of the performances to happen before delivering the news. For the guys, Jade had to say goodbye due to an injury, leaving BluPrint and Curtis breathing sigh of relief. The ladies at risk were Alexis, Jenna and Jasmine Mason…with Jasmine heading home. I’m honestly surprised and incredibly disappointed that Jasmine’s journey is over. I thought she was so talented and mesmerizing to watch, and I absolutely preferred her to Alexis and Jenna.

On Tuesday the remaining 16 contestants perform again, hoping to make it through the initial announcement of the bottom six. My post will again be delayed, and I apologize. It truly feels strange to not be on a couch glued to the TV for each episode the night it airs…but thankfully internet allows me to see the episodes when I can. We’ll find out which 14 dancers make it through shortly. Til then!

So You Think You Can Dance - 2013

I’ll be honest in saying I am not as on top of this show as I should be this year. I’ve been traveling for most of the season so far and will be gone for the rest of the month. I should, however, be able to provide a full recap the last two episodes and I will do my best to at least update eliminations each week.

As for this year’s format…I am not a fan of the “eliminate now, dance later” scenario. Why would we do that to these contestants? Might as well say this..

Nigel: “Oh hey, Carlos and Brittany, we really like you and your partner dances might be amazing tonight, but we’re going to go ahead and tell you that you are going home now.  Do you still feel comfortable performing with your partner and not screwing them over by snot crying throughout the dance? Okay, good.”

With the elimination show being scrapped last year, and ratings already down this year, I can’t imagine why we would start a show with an elimination. Where is the suspense in that? Might as well say this…

Cat in an excited, teasing voice: “To find out who goes home next week…just watch the first 10 minutes of the show! You can then watch the recap of that show in the first 10 minutes the week after!”

The turn that the show has taken is really a bummer. Here’s hoping someone breathes new life into it by the end of the season to avoid cancellation next year. Perhaps it will be BluPrint? Or Fik-Shun? Does spelling or grammar even matter anymore?

I’ll post when I can but would love to know your thoughts on how the season is progressing…or not progressing.

So You Think You Can Dance - We Have A Winner...Or Two.

Welcome to the Season 9 finale of So You Think You Can Dance! Tonight's episode will feature routines from throughout the season, montages of memories, new group routines, and the results from America's vote for favorite guy and girl dancer. I will not be recapping the this season's past routines, but I am excited about the news ones.

First we have a group routine choreographed by Christopher Scott and Sonya Tayeh that has been hyped ridiculously. Seems there is some sort of tornado or hurricane a comin' because the contestants are being blown away (plug for Carrie Underwood's album). This is indeed worth the hype and a great way to kick off the night - well done. Watch the performance below:

The full judging panel featuring Nigel, Mary, Tyce, Debbie, Adam and Lil C all talk about what an amazing season it has been (though I don't recall seeing most of these judges for more than one episode), and they each pick their favorite dance to be performed again. There are some gems like Travis Wall's "Titanic" routine featuring Ryan Gosling Matthew and Audrey, and Tabitha and Napoleon's "Love Cats" routine featuring Will and Amelia. My brain stops functioning, however, when we get to Mary's choice as see proceeds to tell us how moved she was by Tyce's "Holocaust" piece.....but she actually says "hollycost" instead. A couple of things here: 1) Mary, for God's sake, don't mispronounce Holocaust on television (or ever). 2) When the hell did Tyce's suitcase routine become a Holocaust routine? This was never mentioned when the routine aired the first time - it was mainly thought to be more of an immigration "what happens when you must move on and begin again with all of your belongings in a suitcase" number. Are we making this performance far, far more important than it is for a reason now? Did SYTYCD's Emmy win for lighting suddenly make show more serious in taking on tragic times in history? If so, Matthew and Audrey clearly needed to die at the end of their "Titanic" routine rather than look at each other lovingly....

Moving on.... after a few more routines from the season we are treated (finally) to another new number, this time choreographed by Christopher Scott featuring Christopher Scott, Cyrus, Twitch and Comfort. The group catches Cyrus cheating at a game of poker while animating and essentially blowing my mind. The moves they do with their suspenders are just awesome. Here's the video:  

Dragon House (Cyrus’ crew) is also featured tonight, and SYTYCD's favorite dancer ever to not make it to Vegas, Bryan Gaynor, joins them. The final group routine of the evening, however, is YOUR Top 10 with this season's All Stars dancing a jungle/Lion King dance choreographed by Tabitha and Napoleon. There is a "Circle of Life Remix"  involved (which is pretty intense), and the Final Four reach the top of what I assume is Pride Rock and tower over the remaining dancers at the end of the number. Tiffany is adorable, bit Simba was cuter.

The Final Four are also allowed to choose their favorite dances of the Season, with Eliana choosing the "Bang Bang" routine she did with Alex Freaking Wong, Chehon choosing the Argentine Tango he did with Anya (huh?), Tiffany choosing the "The Power of Love" dance she did with Ade, and Cyrus choosing last week's animation routine with Twitch. This is the final overall performance of the evening which leads me to speculate that Chehon might not have this in the bag after all. Now I'm nervous. Let's get to the sealed envelope, Cat!

Results! The girls are up first, and Eliana and Tiffany cry as they watch the video packages of their respective SYTYCD journeys. Cat un-velcros the ridiculously loud envelope and (drum roll) ELIANA wins!!! They escort Tiffany off stage in a flash so we can talk to Eliana.... except we don't talk to Eliana.... we barely put the mic near Eliana because we are running out of time and still have to announce the guy winner.

As Chehon and Cyrus watch their journey videos, they too are crying. The package includes footage of the judges "saving" Chehon and also mentioning that Cyrus has never been in the bottom. Hmmm. You are truly starting to put me in suspense, Nigel. I hear the loud bubble wrap sound of Cat tearing open the envelope and (drum roll) CHEHON wins!!! Cyrus is also ushered off stage quickly, and they bring Eliana back on so we can talk to the two winners....except we really don't talk to them then now either. However, the confetti and tears are nice, so we'll just go with that.

There you have it, Americer - Season 9 of SYTYCD is over. Congrats to Eliana and Chehon. I definitely believe they earned their titles, and I do hope their careers take off now (and by that, I don't mean "I do hope they are All Stars next year"). As for the runners up, I'm sure Adam Shankman will find roles for them in one of the next dozen Step Up sequels.

Stay tuned for recaps of The Voice and The X Factor once those shows go live in the next few weeks.  Til then!

So You Think You Can Dance - Finale Part 1

On tonight’s episode of So You Think You Can Dance, the Final Four battle it out for the last time before the voters decide who America’s favorite guy and girl dancers will be. We are down to Eliana, Tiffany, Chehon and Cyrus, and Cat informs us that we will see the dancers 5 times tonight (assumingly a solo, a pairing with each finalist, and a pairing with an All Star). Tonight’s guest judge is Rob Marshall, director of Chicago, Nine, and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (which of these things is not like the other?). No time to waste though – let’s get to it!

Contestants: Cyrus and Eliana

Style: Paso Doble, choreographed by Jason Gilkison…. wait, what? Are we not pimping Cyrus tonight?

Jason is going rogue with this number and changing up the male and female roles. Typically a paso doble depicts a male matador with the female cape, but tonight Eliana is the matador and Cyrus is the cape. No seriously. For a cape though, he sure is pulling her around on the floor a lot. Anywho, I can’t take my eyes off Eliana because her stage presence is just unreal, which is probably for the best. Cyrus nails the masculinity of the dance….but that’s about it.

Judges Say: Nigel liked that Jason switched up the roles, and he calls Eliana’s performance magical. He then gives Cyrus the old “Did you ever think you would be on So You Think You Can Dance? Did you ever think you would make it to the finale of So You Think You Can Dance? Did you ever think you would be on national television wearing a big black dress?” After Cyrus says “no” to these questions, Nigel tells Cyrus he deserves to be here. Mary compares mastering the paso doble to skinny-dipping with snapping turtles. Ow. She says Cyrus “did it,” but Eliana was on fire tonight. Damn straight. Rob appreciated the story of the dance and is excited for both dancers.

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Contestant: Tiffany and Will (Season 4 Will)

Style: Contemporary, choreographed by Sonya Tayeh

Sonya’s goal with this dance is to show how far Tiffany has come. Will borrowed Witney’s MC Hammer pants from a couple of weeks ago, and though he is a strong dancer and the All Star, I think Tiffany shines more here.  This performance reminds me a little of "the garden" dance with Mark and Courtney at times, but I definitely enjoy it.

Judges Say: Mary gives Tiffany a “WOOHOO!” and tells her she has legs that go on forever and she is a star. Rob compliments Sonya and says Tiffany has such expression and such fearlessness, and it was a pleasure to watch. Nigel says Tiffany is such a little person but her lines are so strong and so big, so she is a tremendous dancer.

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Contestants: Eliana and Chehon

Style: Ballet, choreographed by Marat Daukayev 

So, I know nothing about ballet. I’ve seen Black Swan and the “Waiting in the Wings” episode of Angel. It’s awesome – look it up. The awkwardness between Angel and Cordelia is TV gold. But I digress… the performance is beyond beautiful, and Eliana and Chehon are both in their element here (coincidence?). Eliana radiates elegance, and even though Chehon’s pants seem painted on, which is slightly distracting because he is sooooo sexy, he compliments her well. Nicely done.

Judges Say: Standing ovation. Rob says versatility like Chehon’sseparates the men from the boys. He also tells Eliana she fills the frame so beautifully. Nigel is thrilled that two ballet dancers made it too the finale. He says Eliana and Chehon make it look easy and he uses a ton of ballet terms that go right over my head.  Mary calls the performance spectacular – a triumph for the show and a triumph in celebration of ballet tonight.

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Contestants: Tiffany and Cyrus

Style: Lyrical Hip-Hop, choreographed by Tessandra Chavez

This routine is about young love with Cyrus playing the role of Tiffany’s first boyfriend who breaks her heart. There is a lot of anger and pushing and shoving and throwing each other around. There’s some dancing as well, and Tiffany is just going crazy with the emotions. Cyrus is doing his best, but he is absolutely outdone by his partner.

Judges Say: Nigel congratulates them both on a great season and tells them they encompassed the emotion of the story. Mary says they killed it, saying Cyrus is awesome at picking up choreography and Tiffany is a beast. Rob says both dancers have “abandon,” and tells them this was his favorite performance of the evening so far. Huh? I mean, I liked it, but the previous two routines were way better than this one.

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Group Routine, in God knows what style, choreographed by Tyce DiOrio: Sigh. Each of them begins with their own style and the rest for me is a train wreck. Next.

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Contestant: Chehon and Allison

Style: Contemporary, Choreographed by Stacey Tookey

The theme of this dance is Allison wanting to chase her dream and Chehon telling her to go. Oh my God. This is SO good….Chehon is holder her in the air WITH ONE HAND. And that kiss!! To hell with a recap – watch the performance.

Judges Say: Standing ovation. Mary screams, she is emotional, and she comes up with my favorite line of the night calling Stacey a “Nommy eminated choreographer.” See? Mary is so much better when no one writes her lines for her.  She says Chehon was just free throughout the performance. Rob says Chehon’s height is unbelievable. Nigel tells Chehon he came alive emotionally during the routine.

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Contestants: Eliana and Tiffany

Style: Broadway, choreographed by Ray Leeper

The rehearsal package starts with the girls seeing a pole dance area and Ray telling us “today we take burlesque to Broadway.” Um, yes please. Is this still a family show? I don’t care. The performance is set to “When You’re Good To Mama” from Chicago, which should make Rob grin a little. Soooooo, the girls are definitely pole dancing….and it’s awesome. Oh hell – I’m posting this video too because I’m freaking speechless!

Judges say: Standing ovation and Nigel may need to be medicated….or maybe he just needs a cold shower. We all do? Rob giggles and says “I’m just picturing Queen Latifah doing that” and I laugh loudly (she sings that song in the movie). He says the performance was unbelievable and extraordinary. Mary says the number was fun, sassy and magnificent. Nigel can’t think of anything to say that won’t get him in trouble. I feel you, man.

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Contestants: Chehon and Cyrus

Style: Contemporary, choreographed by Sonya Tayeh

This dance represents the journey for both finalists this season. This performance is very acrobatic in terms of the jumps and throws, and the journey has obviously been a struggle and a fight for both of them. Or Sonya was just out of options for Cyrus at this point. Either way, it’s entertaining, but not my favorite Sonya routine. And plus – I’m still reeling from the pole dance.

Judges Say: Nigel says Sonya got both guys to step it up a level, and he is very proud of both of them. Mary is still emotional and tells them they’ve had a tremendous night. Rob says comradery is a beautiful thing and Cyrus and Chehon showed that tonight.

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Contestant: Eliana and Alex Freaking Wong

Style: Contemporary, choreographed by Travis Wall

This is another break-up dance, but it’s still lovely. Eliana and Alex are SO connected during the performance, and they are both so talented (with a gifted choreographer), it's hard to imagine this routine not being a success. I still prefer Chehon and Allison's contemporary routine from earlier, but I have no complaints about this one.

Judges Say: Standing ovation (lots of those tonight). Rob says the performance was poetry and there is nothing Eliana can’t do. Nigel calls this performance his favorite of the night and goes so far to say Eliana is his favorite dancer of all time (OF ALL TIME!)  in this series. Holy cow. Mary says Eliana has extraordinary passion that oozes from her body.  

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Contestants: Chehon and Tiffany

Style: Rumba, choreographed by Dmitry Chaplin

Dmitry is expecting so much hotness that it’s uncomfortable to watch. Clearly he had been peeking in on the pole dancing rehearsals. Technically, they dance the rumba incredibly well, and I get a connection from Chehon and Tiffany for sure, but it's less sultry and more lovey-dovey.  

Judges Say: Mary thought the routine was gorgeous and says Chehon finally found a Latin dance that suits him. She tells Tiffany she was fabulous tonight. Rob thought the dance was sexy because it was not oversold. Nigel points out the lack of buttons on Chehon’s shirt, which is just fine.

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Contestant: Cyrus and Twitch

Style: Animation, choreographed by Christopher Scott

Cyrus and Twitch are 2 genetically enhanced specimens in a lab using their bodies for the first time. CRAZY movements. Yup – watch this one too.

Judges Say: Standing ovation that goes on for a while. Rob says it was crazy and that Cyrus and Twitch are 2 superstars. Mary screams and then screams more, saying they smashed the routine and stole the show. Nigel loved it and calls both dancers world class. He then tells Cyrus he's not voting for him because he is supporting Chehon. Wow. Is now the time for that? I guess he's all but built an altar to Eliana in his home (or has he?), so pledging his phone calls to Chehon isn't too much of a surprise.

The real crime of not having a weekly results show is waiting a week to hear the final results of America's vote. In my mind, Eliana and Chehon should be shoe-ins, but there's always the possibility that Nigel's completely unbiased judging tonight will piss people off and result in a Cyrus/Tiffany victory. We'll find out next week - til then!

So You Think You Can Dance - The Final Four Revealed!

On tonight’s episode of So You Think You Can Dance, our Top Six will turn into the Final Four leading into next week’s finale performance show. We open with a group number that screams Sonya before it even begins. I would compare this routine to Swan Lake if Swan Lake went to a club and broke it down. I enjoy it though, and surprisingly…Cyrus is a standout for me in this performance even though he is placed in the back for most of the dance.

As we say hello to our “jidges,” we also welcome back Kelly Bundy Christina Applegate. She will assist in commenting on each contestant as they are paired with an All Star, as well as performances with another contestant. Let’s go!

Contestant: Tiffany and Benji

Style: Jive, choreographed by Jean-Marc Genereux

Season 2 winner Benji is back (wonder what he’s been up to…seems we hear a ton about runner up, Travis Wall) to perform a pretty intense, pretty freaking awesome jive with Tiffany tonight. Tiffany brings her A game to this routine. She’s spectacular – I can’t believe she is not a seasoned ballroom dancer, and she has just the bar for the evening very high.

Judges Say: Standing ovation! Nigel says the energy that was just generated lifted the entire audience. He then tells Benji that he is the best swing dancer that has been on the SYTYCD stage. I’m now trying to remember who the other ones were…. Mary predictably uses the term “jive-talkin” because she has probably been itching all week to say it, and she says Tiffany absolutely kept up with Benji. Christina flirts with Benji a little and then remembers Tiffany is the contestant this season. She compliments Tiffany on her technique and congratulates her on hanging with such a powerhouse dancer.

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Contestant: Cole and Melanie

Style: Contemporary, choreographed by Sonya Tayeh

Sonya wants to show a softer, more uplifting side to Cole hoping that he will soar and feel free. His character, however, is a dude who wants to be free of his relationship with Melanie, so I’m not sure where the gentler Cole will come in here. I’m instantly impressed by how strong (physically) Melanie is as she tosses him around the stage. They dance the routine very well, but just because Cole is not playing the evil, sadistic role tonight doesn’t mean he’s showing a soft side – he’s just normal Cole for me, and I didn’t really get the emotion.

Judges Say: Mary says the performance was amazing and really different because Melanie was lifting Cole as much as Cole was lifting Melanie. She feels that Cole commanded the stage, so she saw something I did not. Christina tells Cole he is powerful and masterful…and then she loses me by talking about androgyny and oneness. Nigel loves that Sonya breaks the gender norm of dancing, and he appreciates that Cole was vulnerable. So yeah, I must have missed something.   

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Contestant: Eliana and Twitch

Style: Hip Hop, choreographed by Christopher Scott

Eliana and Twitch essentially play themselves in this dance as she is a ballet dancer who is pining for the ripped hip hop dancer. The routine is set to a remix of “Please Mr. Postman,” and I find the whole thing very clever and entertaining. Hip hop is definitely not Eliana’s strong suit, and there are a couple of awkward moments during the ridiculously fast movements, but overall, I think she does a pretty good job.

Judges Say: Christina says Eliana isn’t strong enough to dance next to Jay-Z in a music video (because I’m sure that’s at the top of Eliana’s list of dream jobs), but says she could dance the phone book? Realizing this makes no sense, Christina then tells Eliana “you could do the YMCA in front of me for hours, and I’d be happy.” Heh. I love it when Christina is here. Nigel thinks the routine relied more on the comedy and the character and wish she had seen her dance more. Mary was entertained for sure and calls Eliana a chameleon.  

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Contestant: Chehon and Kathryn

Style: Contemporary, choreographed by Tyce DiOrio

The rehearsal package begins with Tyce essentially telling us this is another one of his serious, emotional, needs to make the audience and judges cry come hell or high water dances, and I groan. The thing is – I love Chehon and Kathryn...so I am going to watch this with an open heart. They deliver on all levels. I even gasp when Chehon leans over and Kathryn just climbs up on his back and stands there reaching up. Nicely done.

Judges Say: Standing ovation, and of course…everyone is crying. Nigel says the two dancers captured the emotion and message of the dance. He then thanks Fox for allowing a show that delivers such emotional performances. Nice try, Nigel. You’re still not getting that Thursday night elimination show back next season. Mary says Tyce outdid himself (I’ll take that in my own way) and says the routine was one of the best she’s seen all season. Christina loves when Tyce does Broadway numbers…. Okay, so I may have to break up with Christina now. She then calls him a “master.” Again, I’ll do what I want with that.

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Contestant: Witney and Marko

Style: Lyrical Jazz, choreographed by Ray Leeper

I’m thrilled for Marko’s return and so excited to see what these dancers do with their cold feet/wedding themed dance. So, is lyrical jazz like contemporary? Perhaps it’s just my dance ignorance, but this style doesn’t seem very jazzy to me. I don’t care though – I love it. Marko’s emotions are more evident than Witney’s (probably because she’s 18 and has prom cold feet at the moment), but they are adorable as a couple here and both dancing their hearts out.

Judges Say: Mary says Witney is still a star and had a lot of attack and control in her dancing tonight. Christina thinks the performance was beautiful and tells Witney that we all know she is not just a ballroom dancer – she’s a dancer. I get what she’s saying here, and I appreciate it. Nigel notes that the judges have saved her every week because she is a star and committed to every step.

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Contestant: Cyrus and Comfort (woo!)

Style: Dub step? I hope I got that right… choreographed by Christopher Scott

I have absolutely no idea what to expect here. Comfort has borrowed one of Janet Jackson’s outfits circa the “janet. world tour" in the early 90s which is slightly distracting. Really though, this routine is unreal. If Lil C was here, he would come up with the perfect adjectives and metaphors for the...um buckness(?) we’ve just witnessed.

Judges Say: Standing ovation. Christina says the routine was carved out for Cyrus (in a good way). She follows that up by saying she wants to play a game where she throws pens through his earrings. I may have to take her back now. Nigel loved the performance and reminds all of us that Cyrus has never been in the bottom 2 because America loves him. Foreshadowing? Mary loves Cyrus too….he’s special and unique and such.

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Contestants: Witney and Chehon

Style: Cha Cha, choreographed by Jean-Marc Genereux

One would imagine Witney destroying this dance. She does her damndest, but there is unfortunately no chemistry between her and Chehon.  Zero. And then there’s the whole Chehon is incredibly uneasy doing the Cha Cha thing… I can’t imagine this performance will get rave reviews. I give Witney a lot of credit though – she looked great, and she is an extremely gifted ballroom dancer.

Judges Say: Mary says this was an improvement for Chehon, but the Latin dancing is still not working for him. She then calls Witney “Lindsey,” and it’s just awkward. Christina says the opening of the dance was sexy, and she doesn’t recall anything else. Grin. Nigel says the lift fell apart and tells Witney he wished he had seen more from her. I start to boo him, but then he says the choreographer also didn’t utilize her talents because he was hiding Chehon by doing the lifts.

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Contestants: Cole and Eliana

Style: Contemporary, choreographed by Mia Michaels

Mia’s routine is about hatred inspired by rams. Really. I couldn’t make this up if I tried. Cole and Eliana are essentially in combat for most of the performance, which is pretty silly on Eliana’s part – does she not know about his martial arts background? The strength these two show is unbelievable, but I need Cole to tone it down. I love a good character as much as the next person, but he’s chewing up the scenery here.

 

Judges Say: Nigel says the performance was brilliant and they are both incredible dancers. Mary thinks the routine was absolutely mesmerizing. Christina says there is light coming out of Eliana’s feet because she finishes every moment beautifully. oh, and Cole’s okay too.  

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Contestants: Cyrus and Tiffany

Style: Broadway, choreographed by Spencer Liff

Spencer ignites every parent’s nightmare when a daughter is left home alone to do “schoolwork” with her boyfriend. The clothes come off, the touching ensues, and I hope that none of the teenage girls I coach are watching this show tonight. Both dancers seem to really enjoy the naughtiness of the routine, and I suppose it’s nice for them to, um, let loose (zing!) every once in a while.

Judges Say: Christina thinks it was a fun routine and she congratulates both dancers on how far they’ve come. Nigel says it was a terrific routine and tells both dancers how much hope they give him. Mary yells “IT WAS THE CUTEST NUMBER EVER! HOLY SMOKES!” That about sums it up.

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Results! The judges have no save tonight (finally), so the bottom 2 are the eliminated 2. We start with the ladies, and Tiffany is the first dancer in the Final Four. Oh my. Obviously between Witney and Eliana, I’m pulling for Eliana…. and indeed, Witney is sent home. Moving onto the guys, Chehon is through to the finale. I’m going to go out on a very short limb now and guess that Cyrus is in the finale too - after all, America loves him. Sure enough, Cole is eliminated.

At this point, I am absolutely rooting for Eliana and Chehon. I’m excited to see what the finale has in store, as Cat has now promised us guest dancers in a performance show not to be missed. Until then!

So You Think You Can Dance - One Step Closer To The Finale

On tonight’s episode of So You Think You Can Dance, the Top 8 will perform, and we will say goodbye to one more guy and one more girl. We open the show with an awesome group number, complete with ladies in kimono type dresses and very stealth men that kind of remind me of the movie Rising Sun. No? No one remembers this Wesley Snipes/Tia Carrere/Sean Connery gem? You’re missing out.  Anyway, this routine was choreographed by SYTYCD newbie Peter Chu.

This evening’s guest judge is Jesse Tyler Ferguson, who Cat is apparently in love with. I understand why – he was my favorite guest judge last year just because of his excitement to be there and undying love for every dancer. It’s nice when celebrities are also star struck and humbled by other talented individuals. I’m anxious for the competition to get going now.

Contestant:  Witney and Twitch

Style:  Hip Hop, choreographed by Luther Brown

Initial thoughts – whoever dressed Witney in the incredibly flattering shirt should be praised. If that same person, however, raided the “good will” box left outside MC Hammer’s house and put her in those pants, then he or she should be fired immediately. Now onto the dance. Girl sure does know how to whip her hair back and forth, and she is really working this routine much to my surprise and delight. Not sure if this qualifies as buck or ratchet or any of those other terms that I am not qualified to use anyway, but it’s a good way to kick things off.

Judges Say: The camera pans to the least gangsta group of judges ever (shout out to JTF’s bow tie), and Nigel welcomes Luther to the SYTYCD family. Mary has a seizure and loses a bracelet, and she then bestows upon Witney all of those hip hop terms I mentioned earlier. JTF most likely pisses off the producers by disclosing he received index cards with the names of the contestants and their respective All Stars. Was this because of the Ballet Boyz a couple weeks back? It was pretty obvious they had never seen the show or knew of any of the shows contestants….ever. Regardless, JTF calls out Witney’s diaper pants (thank you) but tells her she is brilliant.

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Contestant: Cole and Allison

Style: Contemporary, choreographed by Sonya Tayeh

Sadistic Cole is back, and he is fighting off the advances of poor Allison who is desperate for his affection. Cole would have to be soulless to turn down this girl. We know by now that he loves getting into character, and Allison plays hers perfectly as well. There are so many strong, jerky and almost violent movements that it’s surprising that they did not injure themselves in the process. Well done.

Judges Say: JTF says Sonya’s soft new look isn’t fooling anyone because she is still sick and demented...which is a relief for all of us. He then says the routine was so intense that he needs a cocktail. Mary tells Cole that if he keeps dancing like this he may be in the finale. Nigel says Cole brings a uniqueness to the show, and there is no reason he will not be in the Final 4.

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Contestant: Eliana and Ryan

Style: Quickstep (oh no!), choreographed by Jonathan Roberts

I have a pit in my stomach now given the poor history of contestants living to see another week after performing the quickstep. I’m not entirely sure why – it’s a very challenging but very fun dance, and it needs more love. Jonathan gives us the businessman/bored housewife theme, and it REALLY works. Ryan partners her very well, and she keeps her posture and holds her own. Eliana may have just become my favorite girl to win.

Judges Say: Mary loves the routine and tells Eliana she is spectacular. JTF says it has been amazing to watch her grow this season and compliments her range of emotion. Nigel proclaims that Eliana’s top line during that dance was the best he has seen from a non-ballroom dancer. If you’re wondering what he means by that, picture the quickstep dancers as ducks in a pond – their top halves remain poised while their legs go a little crazy.

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Contestant:  Lindsay and Alex Freaking Wong

Style: Jazz, choreographed by Sonya Tayeh

This dance has no particular theme other than sexual tension, and I have no problem with that. Also, please add Alex to the list of dancers who should never wear a shirt. Unfortunately, he is selling the tension far more than Lindsay, as she seems more worried about the dancing and the technical steps. I do enjoy the routine though – I can never complain about quirky Sonya dances.

Judges Say: Nigel is a fan of the choreography and the technique embodied in the performance. He did not get the sexual tension between the two dancers, which is accurate. Mary agrees with Nigel and receives “boos” from the audience. JTF says Lindsay is “ding-dong dorable” which is a phrase I will now shamelessly use in conversation as much as I can. He says technically it was 100% but tension was only at 70%.

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Contestant: Will and Lauren

Style: Hip Hop, choreographed by Christopher Scott

Will is a guy with a lot of problems trying to dance his pain away, and Lauren is that piece of him trying to help. I like the concept for sure, and Will is trying his best….but he is not hitting the movements hard, and Lauren is just a hip hop beast. I can’t deny though that I love Will’s scruntchy, frustrated hip hop face. Ding-dong dorable perhaps? Too soon?

Judges Say: Mary loves the routine, saying it was intriguing and that Will was articulate and precise. Okay, so Mary and I are a little varied in our opinions. JTF says Will is like an adorable puppy covered in stickers of adorable puppies, wearing a hat that says “I’m an adorable puppy.” I. Love. JTF. He tells Will it was nice to see him scale down the goofiness for this performance. Nigel says this was a tough routine for Will because he wasn’t dancing “with” his partner because his partner was supposed to be a part of him, and that was very difficult for Will to do…but Nigel doesn’t really say whether Will pulled it off.  Hmmm.

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Contestant: Cyrus and Melanie (yay!)

Style:  Jazz (uh oh), choreographed by Mandy Moore

Well, let’s see if Cyrus receives any dance steps to do in this routine, since his recent contemporary performance cleverly had him lifting his partner for 90% of the routine. The verdict? Well. Eh. He kind of dances more this go round. I think our eyes are supposed be drawn to Melanie (and rightly so), meaning once again we have a crafty choreographer who did the best with what she had to work with. I can’t fault Mandy for that.

Judges Say: JTF compliments Cyrus’ charisma. And here we go….unique….personality ….joy....passion… great story, etc. Nothing about how Cyrus dances when it’s not his own style. I’m moving on.

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Contestant: Chehon and Anya

Style: Tango, choreographed by Miriam and Leonardo

I do believe Chehon is now my favorite guy to win this competition. This tango is sexy, difficult, and possibly dangerous. I would not be surprised if Chehon suffers brain damage as a result of the endless spin/lift he does with Anya. This is one of the best tangos I have seen on this show in a long time. Here's the link to my fave.

Judges Say: Standing ovation, and I couldn’t agree more. Mary says the hairs on her arms went up and shouts that this is her favorite number tonight. Wooooooooo! JTF says this was a very strong performance, and he invites both dancers aboard his hot jalapeno bus. OMG. Just when I think he can’t top himself anymore, JTF delivers again. Nigel congratulates the choreographers and says he is thrilled by the connection between the two dancers.

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Contestant: Tiffany and Ade

Style: Contemporary, choreographed by Mandy Moore

Mandy is already teasing us in the rehearsal package about the song choice for this performance, and I’m an instant sucker and want to know what it is. Oh wow. “The Power of Love,” by Celine Dion….it IS going to be hard not to sing along. Sheesh. Okay, even though I am singing loudly and entirely off key, this routine is ridiculous. The lifts these two pull off just put the rest of the lifts tonight to shame, and what they accomplish during this performance is beautiful.

Judges Say: Standing ovation again and Tiffany is very emotional. JTF sings a little and says the partner work was insane.  Mary tells Tiffany this was her best performance of the season. Nigel says this performance was fantastic. He calls Tiffany a beautiful technician and a beautiful performer.

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Results!  The bottom 2 girls tonight are Witney and Lindsay, and the bottom 2 guys are Cole and Will. Based on the showering of praise both Witney and Cole have received throughout the entire season, I think Lindsay and Will are goners. No need to see them perform solos, and with a few minutes left in the show, the judges deliver the news. Nigel reminds us once again that they are “saving” dancers and no one is “voted off”…except for the part where “not saving” a dancer “sends them home.” Don’t absolve yourself from responsibility, dude. Anyway, with absolutely no suspense, Lindsay and Will are eliminated and we now have our Top 6.

Our remaining contestants Eliana, Tiffany, Witney, Chehon, Cole and Cyrus will compete next week for a spot in the finale, and I cannot believe the season is almost over already. The decision not to have a Thursday night results show still disappoints me, but the performance shows have definitely been jam-packed with awesomeness. We’ll see who the Final Four are next week – til then!