So You Think You Can Dance: Finale

Did you know that So You Think You Can Dance is coming back in September? Yes, we only have to wait a mere month before we get to fall in love with another wonderful Top 20. Okay, so I didn’t fall in love with everyone, clearly, but at least I can appreciate the talent of this Top Four. Am I as over the “top” crazy over these finalists as I was last season when it was Katee, Joshua, Twitch and Chelsie? Sadly, no, and seeing them last week really reminded me of how much I adored watching them every week, and how hard it was for me to choose a favorite. I can say that I’ve fallen in love with Kayla and Brandon’s amazing technical skills and Evan and Jeanine’s charismatic personalities, though I know who I WANT to win in the end.

Tonight, Cat looks amazing! Of course! They’re on the huge stage at the Kodak Theatre. And Adam Shankman is back from his dance movies galore, and he’s a great entertaining, yet critical judge so I appreciate seeing him again. All the finalists get the chance to dance with each other, and I’m not just talking group dances. (How else do you think they’d manage to fill two hours with four dancers, anyway?!)

To start off the night, Wade and his wife Amanda choreograph a routine about hot and sassy cheerleaders who take on some jocks who think they’re hot. It’s really a dance about the girls, and I couldn’t really tell you, besides a flip at the end, that the boys were even in the routine. The girls really stole the show.

PAIR ONE
Jeanine and Evan are up first. Sonya choreographs a boyfriend beater routine. I’m impressed by how strong Evan is, since I’m one of the first to say that he shouldn’t be in the top four, but he’s really showing that he has something to prove. Jeanine is strong the entire way through, but that doesn’t surprise me anymore.

Adam says they were both a surprise. To Jeanine he says, “I never saw you coming, and you have dominated week after week. I so underestimated you and sort of could never forgive myself. And Evan, I never saw you in the top four and now this season will never be the same without you…dude, you’re like the molehill that became a mountain.” Mary thought they would be a good partnership, but Jeanine stood out more, but Evan held his own. Nigel points out that this sort of strong, tomboyish thing that fits Jeanine and the routine proved how strong she’s become in all dance facets. He encourages Evan to not get beat up on the rest of his routines because he has a chance if he brings it.

SOLO ONE
Brandon chooses some intense music to dance to. The boy has insane ups and is incredibly strong and flexible. It’s not his best solo, but it’s still fantastic. Adam is awed by the fact that he’s such an athletic and extreme dancer. He gave Mary goose bumps and got her all choked up. And Nigel makes a little pun since Brandon is wearing board shots by saying “he just wiped out the opposition.”

PAIR TWO
Kayla and Brandon get Tyce’s last number of the season, throwing crazy theatrics at them. It’s the best I’ve ever seen Kayla look. She needs to wear dark liner and smokey eye shadow every day because her typical makeup just doesn’t do her any justice. There isn’t a story which I think makes it harder for the dancers because the pure form of dance has to entertain us. And it does. They attack it like animals.

Adam says these two were no surprise to find in the finale. Kayla can do anything, and Brandon is an animal. (Hey, he just totally stole the words out of my mouth.) Mary agrees that they were always front runners, and they never disappoint. Nigel thinks the fact that they did some difficult moves completely together proves how strong they are, and that they were a great pairing. Of course, Nigel has to make some creepy comment about how when he had a heart attack (like was simulated in the dance) that he didn’t have a hot blonde to put her leg around him, but that it would have probably given him a second heart attack. (Really Nigel, you’re an EP. Cut the creepiness.)

SOLO TWO
Oh sassyfrass! This might be Jeanine’s best looking performance and best danced performance. The girl spun like four, five, or six times. I don’t know. I lost count. It was contemporary with a Latin flare, and I wish it was a full dance because seconds just don’t do it justice!

Adam is boggled by those pirouettes too. He says she’s beautiful and warm. Mary says she always saw her coming. Her partners can always count on her, and her solo was the best thing she ever did “at the right place at the right time.” Amen, sister! Nigel felt the solo was brave, as well. “You don’t win the lottery unless you buy the ticket.” And she bought it, saying she should be in the final two after that.

PAIR THREE
It’s our first boy on boy dance! LaurieAnn Gibson is back for a jazz routine, and it’s all about battling. How appropriate?! To me, Evan looked a little out of place, while Brandon was totally in control. He did all the right steps but not with the same power, so he lost my attention.

Adam thinks like me. He says Evan got a little dusted on that performance because he couldn’t get rid of his natural sweetness. He couldn’t pull off the character. Mary gets fresh, asking Evan what’s the nastiest thing he’s ever done. It’s so cute when Cat asks his grandparents to plug their ears. She says that he’s so likeable and loveable, but Brandon was sharper and more dynamic. Nigel gives a shout out to Evan since all the choreographers would say he has the greatest work ethic. He has a choochi face, whatever that means. I guess nasty boys just don’t have them. In the end, Brandon just out danced him.

PAIR FOUR
Jeanine and Kayla get together with Mia Michaels for a dance that symbolizes all they’ve gone through this season. It looks like a physically difficult dance, but there are a few parts that look like they’re supposed to be in sync but just come out completely different. It confused me a bit. The girls both prove they have the power and stamina and strength to pull off a win, but it’s not my favorite piece.

Adam says it was like the slowest wardrobe malfunction ever (since they were stripping layers of clothes ::cough struggle:: off the entire time), and that it was a leap of faith to do such a concept piece. Mary thinks they laid their hearts and souls on the stage. So the judges really did love this more than I did. She also thought it was well matched. Nigel recalls Mia’s Danny and Neal dance “Two Princes” and says this is like that, very memorable, and it didn’t go on long enough. Which makes the judges think creepy again because you can consider it to mean he wishes they would have taken off clothes until they were naked! But this time that was all the other judges’ dirty minds and not his. He also thinks Jeanine has peaked at the right time, and I agree completely.

SOLO THREE
Evan does a piece that looks oh-so familiar. I can’t tell if it’s because I’ve actually seen it before or everything he does kind of looks the same. Look. Don’t get me wrong here. He dances it well, and it’s completely different than any style that’s been featured on SYTYCD before. That impresses me a lot, but compared to everyone else, it’s just anticlimactic. Plus I understand that the style isn’t supposed to be flamboyant all the time, but you’d think for his one last chance he could just throw in every over-the-top move he has. He spent four seconds basically shrugging his shoulders, which is ridiculous to me when the stakes are so high right now.

Adam picks up that it was a variation of his audition piece. He says it’s a risk because people could love it or think they’ve seen it before. I think I’m the latter. Mary loved it, but I think she was throwing him a bone. She says he’s excited so many people to an almost lost style that she never wants to lose so she appreciates it. Nigel thinks Evan has the “AHH” factor, but it sounds condescending when he actually makes the sound and the cheesy style. He doesn’t think he’s as strong as the competition, and I’m glad they finally got straight to it.

PAIR FIVE
Kayla and Evan sort of got the shaft. They got the jive with Tony and Melanie. It’s a demanding piece for these exhausted dancers, and it’s also one of those dances that unless it’s amazing, loses the viewer, but from the beginning I’m pleasantly surprised. There’s amazing tricks and a lot of shake, rattle, and roll, and I kind of love it. I cannot tell a lie. There’s a weak spin at the end, but if that’s the only down part, I’d still call it a success.

Adam “wasn’t sure it was a finale-level routine.” I’d kind of disagree with him there. Evan had great lift and musicality with them, but it wouldn’t get him to pick up the phone. Mary thinks the routine was phenomenal, but Tony and Melanie don’t look appeased. She digs into Evan for his technique, but she thinks Kayla stole the show. I’m a little surprised because Evan looked pretty strong to me, and Kayla looked a little more awkward. Nigel thinks that they did well, and Evan brought personality and support. He also thinks Kayla’s finally letting her personality out finally. The crowd shows their support by chanting “Evan” over Nigel’s comments. (Man, peeps love this kid no matter what!)

SOLO FOUR
It’s the golden child’s turn. To me, her solos are weaker than her actual routines. She just can’t choreograph as well as others, but her skill is so above everyone. It’s insane.

Adam agrees so he chooses to highlight how great she’s been all season, and that she’s now in a group with a select few who are the best dancers ever like Travis, Danny and Will. (She’s the only girl he could think of too.) Mary just loves her, period. And Nigel thinks that she’s proven all that she needs to prove to be the best dancer on the show, and he’s happy she’s gotten this far to give America the opportunity to pick her as their personal favorite.

PAIR SIX
Jeanine and Brandon have a Louis van Amstel paso doble. He’s happy to get such a strong pair for his final number, and so am I. They’re so intense and strong. The music had a lot to do with it, plus all of their tricks. Okay, so their turns could have been better, but overall it was killer.

It got the judges and audience to their feet. Adam thinks it was so well received because they filled out every part of the routine, even the transitions. Mary says it was so believable, and puts them on the train. They should feel lucky since they’re the only one, and it’s a big one. Nigel realizes that the music and the lights and intensity excites people, but they carried the piece with their dancing and character as well. But then he said he wanted to do it to her as well, i.e. “dance with her like that.” Right, creepy Nigel. He gives the edge to them by a little, and by them, I think he means Kayla.

IT’S FINALE TIME!
And what a beautiful night it was. It’s great to see all the Top 20 dancers back and ready to break it down. A record breaking 21.6 million votes were cast and all I wanted to do was fast forward to the end so I could sit back and relax, but out of reviewing respect, I sat on the edge of my seat the entire time. I also didn’t want to miss the judges’ picks for the favorite dance. And there were seven judges, so we were quite lucky. So you can YouTube them, if you’d like. I’ve listed them.

1. Adam Shankman picked Nappy Tab’s hip hop number “Mad” with Jeanine and Phillip.
2. Nigel picked Miriam Larici and Leonardo Barrionuevo’s Argentine Tango with Janette and Brandon.
3. Debbie Allen chose a waltz choreographed by Louis van Amstel with Asuka and Vitolio.
4. Mary chose Jeanine and Jason’s Travis Wall contemporary dance. (A personal favorite as well.)
5. Mia Michaels picked a samba with Kayla and Max and choreographed by Louis van Amstel.
6. Debbie Allen re-introduces Dmitry Chaplin and NappyTab‘s collaboration for the top 16 group dance.
7. LilC picked Jai Ho, the fabulous Jason and Caitlin dance.
8. Adam also chose Evan and Randi’s Mia Michaels “Butt Dance!”
9. Mary also picked Louis van Amstel’s paso doble with Jeanine and Brandon from last night.
10. Nigel chose Mia’s “Addiction” piece with Kayla and Kupono. (My tops!)
11. Tyce picked a Doriana Sanchez disco with Janette and Brandon.
12. And finally, Mia picked Tyce’s “Breast Cancer Dance” by Melissa and Ade.

Besides these wonderful dances (And let me tell you, each was better than the first time. I guess no pressure really makes a difference), there are a few other surprises. The final four get to be the first to see the movie musical Fame (so excited!) and Kherington is there to watch with them and show off her chops in the movie. SYTYCD Australia winner Talia Fowler does a Sonya piece. The Rage Boyz Crew did a little stomping and b-boying which was amazing and adorable. The top eight performed their Chorus Line dance by Mia Michaels again, but then the judges came out and finished out the dance which was fabulous! Well LilC didn’t, but I guess Broadway isn’t his cup of tea.

There were four. Then Kayla was out. Next, there were three. Evan. And two were left standing. In the end, it was Jeanine who took the prize. I can say that I really couldn’t predict the winner, but I was over the moon about her win. She coupled personality with technical talent, and she shined during her solos. Though she won’t get to wear the crown as long as the others have, since the new season is starting so soon, it was well deserved.

Cheers to a very fun season!

For another take on this episode, check out And… it’s… Jeanine. Oh. by Robin Reed.

Season 5, Episodes 22&23: Finale (originally aired August 5&6, 2009)

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