So You Think You Can Dance: Game On!

The judges were really hard on our contestants last week, as they should have been. After pumping up this season as the best yet, the dancers have failed to really knock the judges or my socks off. Sure there have been a few really good numbers, but in comparison to past season’s Emmy-worthy numbers, it’s just not stacking up yet.

So when Cat kicked off the night by saying this would be the most intense episode ever, I was really hoping that SYTYCD wasn’t tooting its own horn prematurely. (BTDubs: Cat deserves to get scored on her often-oh-so-fabulous outfits as much as the dancers deserve their scores. So tonight because she’s clinching the hair, make-up and outfit trifecta, Ms. Deeley gets an 8. While her make-up and hair were flawless, the shiny number lost a few points for its attempt at glitzy fashion while still trying to maintain its hippie-esque shape. That’s quite a difficult task.) Okay, back to the show!

THE TOP 14
Jakob and Ashleigh performed a hip-hop routine choreographed by Nappy/Tabs to “Whatcha Say” by Derulo
Has anyone else noticed how much attention they’re trying to call to the big screen on the stage? Why? It doesn’t add to the performances so much as it diverts my attention away from them. Ashleigh sometimes reminds me of Mrs. Potato. She can exaggerate her facial features to the point of distraction. Besides that minor gaff, I loved the routine and the performance. Having been a jilted lover before, you can say I connected with the whole back story. These two are clearly the judges’ favorite pair since they were endlessly praised. It was also, so far, my favorite Nappy/Tabs routine of the season. 9

Kevin and Karen performed a Broadway routine choreographed by Spencer Liff to “If My Friends Could See Me Now” from the musical Sweet Charity performed by the 2005 Broadway Revival Cast
Broadway routines are often a hit or miss. Spencer Liff is a newbie, so I’ll give him some leeway but I really didn’t get the concept. (What was that dance about? Anyone? Bueller?) They tried to show pizazz, but there just wasn’t enough of it. Broadway calls for the performers to put dancing and acting on equal footing, and their acting was akin to Britney Spears in Crossroads. (Just because you can entertain the hell out of millions, it doesn’t make you a good actress.) 6

Russell and Noelle performed a foxtrot by Eddie Simon to “Baby (You’ve Got What It Takes)” by Michael Buble
What I loved about this routine is that they miraculously pulled a dance that had already been assigned to them week one when Noelle was injured and Russell had to perform a foxtrot with his choreographer Melanie Lapatin. Since then, Russell has improved incredibly, and Noelle was light and beautiful and demure, everything the dance called for. Nigel commented on how improved Russell’s carriage was and how Noelle has really proved why she deserved that one-week free pass. Aaaagreed! 8

Victor and Channing performed a jazz number choreographed by Tyce to “Blackbird” by Bobby McFerrin
If this dance world was Glee, Rachel Barry would totally be Jakob and Ashleigh, Nathan and Mollee would be Quinn and Victor and Channing would be those kids in the background who barely have names and one line every three episodes. They’re talented, but that’s no surprise at this point. Everyone’s talented! But their biggest problem is that they’re boring. Usually when they dance well in a great number, they’re still forgettable. This performance helped these two make their mark and step outside of their shell, especially Channing, who finally let us all know why the caged bird sings…or dances in this case. 8

Legacy and Katherine performed a paso doble choreographed by Tony and Melanie to “Pursuit” by Ka from the Cirque du Soleil soundtrack
First of all, hello abs! I can barely concentrate enough to form full sentences so please mind any grammatical errors. I didn’t just see dancers on the stage. I saw true characters and performers.  Since I’m not a nitpicker or really ballroom-learned, I thought it was fantastic. Mary said technically it wasn’t perfect, but who cares?! The paso doble is about passion and fire and lust. Phew! I’m getting hot and bothered. After being prodded by Nigel last week for dancing too juvenile, Katherine really lit a fire under each step. Legacy was a sultry, Latin lover, not a b-boy. Plus, give him the chance to speak, and he’s extremely personable and funny. 9

Ryan and Ellenore performed a contemporary piece by Travis to “Your Ex-Lover’s Dead” by Stars
All these hours I’ve toiled away watching SYTYCD are validated by the fact that I witnessed this show foster such a fabulous choreographer and dancer in Travis Wall. He keeps getting better and better, and I had to watch this one three whole times before I was satisfied and could move on. In another trifecta tonight (music, choreo and dance), this routine was beautiful and inspiring. It engaged the audience (It’s all about who dials those numbers, and after their poor showing last week, they really need this!), and it moved the performers so much that they almost seemed like different dancers on that stage. Both Ryan and Ellenore really ascended to another level for me. They were a middle of the road couple, and now, they’ve proven they are formidable contenders. 10

Nathan and Mollee performed a pop jazz routine choreographed by Laurie Ann Gibson to “Romance” by Lady Gaga
Shoot me now! The fact that they basically claimed to be spoiled brats in the package (Topic of the Week: childhood stories as they relate to dance) made me want to puke. These two really needed some redemption after last week, and they basically threw that chance away before they even started dancing. Fortunately, this couple did perform better and did justice to Laurie Ann’s intense and unique style of dance, but they’re no longer cute to me. They’re that annoying younger sibling I never had but would be forced to sort of love. 8

WRAP IT UP
In the end, I believe that Tuesday’s show really did live up to Cat’s hype. It was the best episode of all around dancing this season (with the exception of the “meet the contestants”-like episode.) Only one couple dropping below a 8, in my opinion, is a really great night. Now all these dancers need to do is keep it up and keep stepping it up.

This week makes it that much harder to pick who should go home. If I were basing it on just this week’s performance, it would be Kevin and Karen. But they can’t go home! (Yes, they deserve to be in the bottom three. I will concede that.) Their past performances really don’t warrant them going home quite so early, especially not Karen, who has wowed me in almost every performance. Otherwise, Channing and Victor should join them based on the fact that they haven’t unleashed that inner star personality yet. To round out the pot, Nathan and Mollee need to be thrown in there purely because they are starting to get on my nerves.

Did things turn out the way I would have planned?

THE BOTTOM SIX
Partner up Wade with Travis and Sonya and that would be one seriously sick, dance mash-up. Cat called Wade’s piece, based on statues come to life, a “breathing work of art,” and the lady speaks the truth. Other performance highlights included Nakul and his NDM Bollywood Dance Company (so bright and bold and colorful) and Australian artist Orianthi (sure knows how to riff on a guitar, but didn’t really impress me with her vocals). But I digress, this is not American Idol!

The bottom dancers couldn’t have worked out better if I paid the producers. The only dancer of the six that I felt dropped the ball during their solos was Karen. (What was that? There weren’t tricks or dance moves!) Everyone else in my opinion gave it their all and hit it hard, but maybe my expectations were low. The judges thought very differently.

In my opinion the best were Mollee and Victor, who really slayed it, making me glad the judges have the hard job. Nigel knocked Victor for his endless pirouettes, but I saw the same out of Nathan. (What gives?) And Mollee shed her tween appeal with some sexy moves and a sweet aerial flip and landed on her knee. (Never seen that one before! Whaaat?!)

For the girls, it came down to Karen and Channing, and this is one of those instances where the past performances held more weight than the solo. Channing just hadn’t created enough memorable moments. For the boys, Victor was picked over Kevin.

And the hurt finally begans. The loss of Kevin is the first one that really gets me, but two have to go each week. And that’s exactly how long I have to stiffen my upper lip and prepare for the next round of cuts. Game on!

Season 6, Episodes 15-16:  The Top 14 Perform & Two of 14 Voted Off (originally aired November 17 & 18, 2009)

Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 8/7c on Fox

Photographs courtesy of Fox and IMDbPro