Top 20 Perform Again (Two Eliminated)

We have our first elimination, a terrible way of making everyone uncomfortable, and a sexy Cat.  All that and more are ahead...it's So You Think You Can Dance!

Cat Deeley Outfit Review

Sex.  That is all there is to say about this one.  Jo claims that she's not actually wearing a top, it's just the black censor bars covering the important bits.  But, for real on the fashion side, I loved the colorful skirt, and happy to see a dramatic departure for Ms. Deeley.

Group Dance

The dance is a kind of creepy, dolls-come-to-life thing.  I'm convinced it's Mia Michaels, Jo is convinced it's Sonya, and we're both wrong - it's Tyce!  Maybe he can do more interesting choreography than the cheesy Broadway I complained about yesterday.  I also found out that my dad called that it was Tyce.  So he wins, and I've officially created a father-dance-monster.

Just discovered that I thought this was Mia because it was very similar to a circus dance done a few seasons ago.  Turns out I had the right dance, but the wrong choreographer.  That one was done by Tyce too.  So I take it back, he's still unoriginal.  He's just reusing the same stuff.

Elimination

Elimination at the top of the show?!  This is a huge downer.  I do feel that having an extra elimination show was a huge waste of space, and that it's a little strange to eliminate after people have danced again and the votes are based on last week, but this is just so sad!  And then they make them dance immediately afterwards?  That's so mean.  It just bums out the entire episode.

In the bottom, we have Mackenzie, Mariah, and Brittany for the girls.  Alan, Jade, and Carlos for the guys.  I am surprised that Alexis and Nico are safe, given the judges' comments last week.  I guess they really are getting the Bieber/Selena tween vote.  Or the "the judges were too mean to you" vote.  I'm most surprised at Mariah, who is so lovable, and Brittany, who I thought was amazing last week.  The guys aren't that surprising, given the dances they had to do.

So they are down to the bottom six, but they save two right away.  Why did you tell us that?  It was a lot of complicated explanation for very little dance time.

The judges immediately save Alan and Mackenzie.  What?  The two most bland/boring people?  Why?  I'm not sure.  They don't explain it.

Then the remaining four dance for their lives.

Mariah is pretty terrible.  Krumping is not a good solo, sorry.  I love her, but no.  Brittany manages a pretty good, fun solo for a ballroom dancer, who is always going to have trouble come solo time.  Carlos is super amazing!  A really great solo.  And Jade is pretty good - his same style.

Then Nigel berates all of them for having bad solos?  Did he SEE Carlos?  Does he have eyes?  And then they immediately go to eliminations.  Based on solos and last week's performance, I would choose Mariah and Jade to go home.  So who do they pick?  CARLOS AND BRITTANY!  Who did absolutely nothing wrong.  This is crap.  And now they have to go dance.  So I just feel mad at life.

I mean, Brittany fell victim to the "too many pretty brunettes," which someone always does.  I do think the judges did her a real disservice by not emphasizing what an amazing job she did in the Afro Jazz, because they were so obsessed with BluPrint.  So that annoys me.  And I really don't understand how Carlos is gone.  He'd really be a top contender for me.

So now let's watch these two dance with their partners and then not be able to vote for them.  Whoopie.

Guest Judge - Christina Applegate

In the past, I have really enjoyed Christina Applegate, but today, I feel like she's not bringing any variety or fresh opinions to the panel.  And let me get on my soap box for a minute:

Guest Judges, you are there for the episode you are there for.  You are not a permanent judge.  I'm sorry if you wanted to make comments on how amazing/bad someone was last week, or the week before.  You weren't there.  If you want to comment on those dances, start your own blog, don't use the new show to do it. I hate it when all the guest judges say is "well, you did fine this week, but let me spend five minutes talking about how you danced last week because I really wanted to share my opinion on everything."  STFU.  That is all.

OK, I guess it's time for me to get off my soap box and to actually talk about the dancing!

Hayley and Curtis - Jazz

Choreography: Ray Leeper

Song: Mama Knows Best by Jessie J

I'm not sure what this dance is supposed to be about, but I'm calling it the Dominatrix Dance.  Hayley is certainly becoming the resident sex kitten of the show, and she doesn't seem to have any problem doing that.  Curtis keeps up nicely.

Jasmine H. and Aaron - Lyrical Hip Hop

Choreography: NappyTabs

Song: Tears Always Win by Alicia Keys

Love the angsty lyrical hip hop!  It's so intense, and showcases their chemistry.  This duo grows on me more and more every week.  I especially love how humble and awkwardly lovable Aaron is.  A winner for sure.

Malece and Jade - Bollywood

Choreography: Nakul Dev Mahajan

Song: Radha from Student of the Year Soundtrack

Jo is groaning, because he hates Bollywood.  I usually like it, it's so happy and colorful, but this routine is kind of flat for me.  Partly because of the choreography, and partly because Jade doesn't keep up that well, and I don't understand why they eliminated Carlos instead.  And Malece, who I thought was great in auditions, is just fading out for me, compared to some of the other rising stars in the girls.

Alexis and Nico - Contemporary

Choreography: Stacey Tookey
Song: Old Skin by Olafur Arnalds & Arnor Dan

So Stacey Tookey does a sequel to her awesome army routine from a few years ago.  I thought this one was good, but it won't be as memorable as the original.  I do like the idea of a "dance sequel" though.  And I thought Nico got to show off what he's good at, and Alexis did a pretty good job for being a tapper.  But I haven't felt like she's had her 'star' moment yet, and not sure if it will materialize.

Brittany and BluPrint - Broadway

Choreography: Spencer Liff
Song: It's Oh So Quiet from Ice Princess Soundtrack

Well, I'm a sucker for libraries, so I love the concept and the choreography.  But I just feel bad for Brittany the whole time.  And I agree with the judges, BluPrint really didn't put any personality into it.  I think it was a good routine, not executed to its best.  I mean, Brittany has sad eyes, and BluPrint has no facial expression, and it's supposed to be a cute flirty Broadway.  Too bad.  

Jasmine and Alan - Argentine Tango

Choreography: Leonardo and Miriam
Song: Escape from Slavery by PP Music

The judges loved this number, but I'm very surprised.  I thought Jasmine was bad.  Not just OK, but bad.  However, Alan was amazing, and it did make me appreciate him, and see why the judges might have kept him around.  It's rare that a guy looks so much better than a girl, but I really thought Jasmine seemed off.  However, Mary Murphy loved it, so maybe I'm missing something?

Mackenzie and Paul - Jazz

Choreography: Sean Cheesman

Song: Mannequin by Trish

Oh, the fembot routine.  I love it!  It is cute, funny, and very well-danced.  Just a great all-around dance package.  I do feel like this plot line has been done before, but I don't really care, because it's always so fun.  I can also see what they saw in Mackenzie.  She put a lot of personality into this one.

 Paul just has the most lovable face - Mom calls him Rudolph Valentino.  And I finally realized who Mackenzie reminds me of - Angelina Jolie!  She has the cheekbones, but a normal-sized mouth.  This is the "Sculpted Face" pair, for sure.

Mariah and Carlos - Contemporary

Choreography: Stacey Tookey
Song: Dead in the Water by Ellie Goulding

Seriously, how could they send Carlos home?!!!  This routine would have catapulted this duo into a power couple who probably go all the way to the Top 10!  After Mariah's solo, I could not figure out why they kept her.  But she demonstrated so much raw emotion and intensity during this dance.  This was so good!

So maybe I'm OK with them knocking off Brittany?  It's a tough choice for the girls.

Amy and FikShun - Hip Hop

Choreography: NappyTabs
Song: After Party by Dorrough Music

I LOVE this bellhop routine!  It is so much fun and they have so much character!  It's hilarious.  It's just the perfect routine.  And they are so well-positioned in this competition.  We have a lovable untrained hiphopper, a super great contemporary girl, and they have proven themselves in both an intense contemporary and a comedic hip hop.  Definitely the couple to beat!

Jenna and Tucker - Cha Cha

Choreography: Dmitry Chaplin
Song: I Like It Like That by Pete Rodriguez 

I felt like this was a decent routine.  However, we spend the whole critique with Nigel ranting that it's not enough cha-cha.  Nigel, I'm booored.  You're the executive producer.  You can make these changes on your own time.  I have noticed that Dmitry tends to do very character-driven, fun routines.  I think he likes to make crowd pleasers because he was a contestant himself.  This doesn't seem that notably different, but whatever Nigel.

Parting Shots

I would have sent Mackenzie and Alan home from the bottom six, but after viewing the routines, I might have picked Brittany and Jade.

Here's my picks for the bottom
Girls: Jenna, Jasmine M., Mackenzie
Boys: Tucker, Alan, Jade

And I think Jasmine M. and Jade should go home.