Top 10 Perform

And now that we've hit that oh-so-important Top 10 - which guarantees who will go on tour - it's time to bring in some all-stars!  We've got sparkle, we've got drama, we even have rocking chairs.

This...is So You Think You Can Dance...

Group Dance

Song: The Gravel Road from The Village

The group dance is a really beautiful routine around rocking chairs.  I loved the style and the music, just a very interesting thematic feel.  I could not guess the choreographer to save my life - it was Christopher Scott!  He's really branching out beyond the hip hop.  Hats off, sir.

Cat Deeley Outfit Review

I like this week.  A nude sheath with an interesting front, plus a gladiator cuff and striking eye makeup.  I like that she paired this with the very straight hair.  A good one.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Your....

Guest judge this week is Debbie Allen.  She's a decently good judge, in that she was an actual dancer.  As my mom puts it, she can get a little too "earth mother" sometimes, but otherwise she's a solid addition to the judging panel.  Meanwhile, Mary Murphy is rocking a sweet retro hairdo.  Very nice, Mary.

The Danger Zone

We learn that Tucker is automatically in the bottom.  Also, I was wrong last week - the judges still choose who to eliminate, it's not going to straight votes counted yet.  We're down to a bottom four now.

Girls: Mackenzie and Jenna
Boys: Tucker and Nico

OK, no surprises there.  I thought Mackenzie might get a reprieve for a really great contemporary piece last week, but no luck.

Amy and All-Star Brandon - Disco

Song: I Will Always Love You (Hex Hector Radio Mix) by Whitney Houston

Choreography: Doriana Sanchez

We have Doriana Sanchez back!  She's been the one and only disco choreographer on the show, so it's great to see her - otherwise we don't get DISCO!  I love how crazy and difficult and sparkly it is.  A great routine, with so much glitter, and an amazing dead drop to end it.  They killed it as well.  Brings back memories of Brandon's disco on his season.  Doriana, you may come and go, you may basically always choreograph the same number, but in the words of Ms. Whitney Houston, I will always love you.

Aaron and All-Star Kathryn - Contemporary

Song: Kissing You by Des'ree

Choreography: Stacey Tookey

Stacey Tookey, you know the playlist of my heart.  A favorite song back in the day, plus two of my favorite dancers - I think I already decided I loved this before it even started.  This was just all kinds of beautiful and wonderful.  Jo is making fun of me, because I'm tearing up a little bit.  Shut up Jo!

They spend a lot of time comparing Amy and Melanie, but I would also compare Hayley to Kathryn.  Just the way she morphs into every character differently.

FikShun and All-Star Melanie - Jazz

Song: Feeling Good by Jennifer Hudson

Choreography: Mandy Moore

Wow, that was hot.  Seriously hot.  Jo even stopped looking at pictures of corgis he was so distracted.  I loved the choreography, especially when they switched back and forth on the floor at the end.  I felt like Fikshun did a really good job, but Melanie was the star of the show.  I think he did everything he was asked, I just think Melanie had the starring role.  He was more like a supporting player, but he did great with that, so while I loved the number, I felt like this choreography  was more suited to a a female contestant paired with a male all-star.

Paul and All-Star Witney - Cha-Cha

Song: Live It Up by J.Lo

Choreography: Jean Marc Genereux

Great to see Witney back!  Loved her.  The whole thing is pretty sexy, and they were definitely in their element, as SYTYCD judges like to say.  There were some parts that felt like something might have messed up, but I couldn't really pinpoint anything in particular.

Hayley and Twitch - Hip Hop

Song: Locked Out of Heaven by Bruno Mars

Choreography: Christopher Scott

I thought this was very cute, but probably the most forgettable number of the night.  There just wasn't a lot of "umph" in the choreography or the chemistry.

Jenna and All-Star Neil - Contemporary

Song: Can't Make You Love Me by Mark Masri

Choreography: Mandy Moore

This was so beautiful.  I loved it.  I appreciate that Nigel calls out how hard she continues to work, despite getting slammed by the voters over and over.

OK, I have figured out why Jenna is always in the bottom.  She has weird eyebrows.  Seriously!  It makes her look really strange, and they always do a close-up of her face right when they are encouraging people to vote for her.  I don't even think it's just her face, I think it's the makeup on her face.  If they didn't do such close ups on her stage makeup, I think she would have more votes.

Where will the eyebrow go next?

Jasmine and All-Star Marko - Jazz

Song: Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke

Choreography: Ray Leeper

The routine is very cute and very fun.  I think the main issue is that Jasmine is outdancing Marko.  She just has that style and that groove.  I feel like they are complimenting it, and if it was two contestants, they would have said something about the pairing, but because she's outdancing the all-star (and a great all-star at that!) what do you do??

Mackenzie and All-Star Jacob - Broadway

Song: Too Darn Hot by Ella Fitzgerald

Choreography: Spencer Liff

That was really great.  I feel like pairing Mackenzie with Jacob was a really great match.  Both she and Jenna did such a good job - it's going to be hard to pick.  I think they'll keep Jenna.  Jo thinks Mackenzie.  We will just have to see!

Nico and All-Star Comfort - Hip Hop

Song: Get Ur Freak On by Missy Elliot

Choreography: NappyTabs

He did such a good job!  I really felt like Nico held his own with Comfort, and did a lot better than his last hip-hop routine.  Well done, good show, all that.

Tucker and All-Star Robert - Contemporary

Song: Medicine by Daughter

Choreography: Travis Wall

Ugh, why are guy duos always so amazing?!  Seriously.  Their dancing styles were so suited to each other, and it was just a beautiful piece from Travis.  And of course everyone is crying.  There is reference to Robert having a near death experience, and Google is giving me conflicting results as to what it's about.  Well, after a landmark dance like that, they are definitely going to keep Tucker.  Nico didn't have a shot.  I wonder if the tables would have been reversed, would Nico be staying instead?

Elimination

Nigel says that they are unanimous on the guys, but split on the girls.  Against his personal vote, Nico and Mackenzie are going home.  So I won the bet with Jo, but he was already in bed asleep, so that wasn't very satisfying.

Parting Shots
Well, it seems pretty clear to me that Jenna and Tucker will be out next week.  You can only be saved so long, and the other dancers really have been flawless.

As for who will win, my bet's on Amy and Aaron at this point.  Unless Hayley or Jasmine takes a lead in the last few weeks, or Aaron really fouls up a routine.  We will just have to wait and see.