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RSSTwo more fall on 'So You Think You Can Dance'
This was one of those odd eliminations on "So You Think You Can Dance" where the results were equal parts surprise and what was expected.
We kick off tonight's show with a group number by Mia Michaels to "Higher Ground" by Stevie Wonder. Everyone's sporting cool looking faux face tattoos that are very Pacific Islander and tailored black suits. The floodlights on stage were a nice touch. I dug it, man.
Keeping in themes, host Cat Deeley is rocking a tailored white suit - rocking it! So much better than all those ruffles last night. She throws it to a package that smooshes all of Lil' C's flowery metaphors together and includes confused looks from the audience. Good times.
Melissa & Ade are the first couple to get their recap and the first find out they're safe. Caitlin & Jason must wait for Jeanine & Phillip's recap to find out that they are the first to land in the Bottom Three.
Back from the break, three more couples are on the chopping block. Janette & Brandon are safe, and rightly so. That Disco number was crazy. Between Karla & Wolfpa...er, Jonathan and Ashley & Kupono, Kupono & Ashley are in the Bottom Three which disappoints me because I actively like Kupono and Jonathan does nothing for me.
Before the last three couples get results, Cat has a surprise for Evan. We all get to see his brother Ryan auditioning for Season 6 and receiving a direct ticket to Vegas. Ryan is shown in the audience and gets a nice big round of applause. Next, Randi & Evan get more good news as they are safe. That leaves Asuka & Vitolio and Kayla & Max. The latter of the two round out the Bottom Three. Can't say I'm particularly surprised that it was Kayla & Max. All that "Kayla's perfect" talk could've submarined them.
While the dancers get ready, Cat introduces this week's international dancer Amrapali Ambegaokar from India. If she looks familiar, it's because she too was on "Superstars of Dance" - she somewhat questionably took second place in the Solo category. But showing her considerable talent on a show with 80 times the viewing audience isn't a bad consolation prize.
1. Caitlin
"Make You Feel My Love" by Adele
She exhibited great limb control and the choreography was good, certainly not old-fashioned as she was once told by the judges. It reminded me of Paris' number last week except there was an emotional connection there.
2. Jason
"Superman" by Robin Thicke
This was a pretty interesting routine. He managed to do the bells and whistles but in a slightly different way. He was quite creative with his arm and leg positions. I can pretty much guarantee he'll be safe.
3. Ashley
"By Your Side" by Coco Rosie
It was cute and quirky and, thankfully, she didn't pull a Lauren while doing her intro on the steps. She scared me for a second there. I appreciate that it didn't look like Caitlin's routine though I worry if there wasn't enough fancy stuff in there for the judges.
4. Kupono
"Many Moons" by Janelle Monae
It was by far the most interesting choreography but wasn't jam-packed with the typical leaps and flips and tricks that 97% of Contemporary dudes will throw in a number. I'm not sure if this will be a help or a hindrance.
5. Kayla
"Walking on Air" by Kerli
Her leg control remains fantastic and she had great lines but I just wasn't feeling anything from her. Like she was concentrating more on the moves and not living in the moment.
6. Max
"Footloose" by Kenny Loggins
Like Asuka last week, Max is going with a Jive for his solo. I enjoyed it. There was lots of footwork, he covered the stage well, and he ended right when the countdown stopped which rarely happens.
Our musical guest for the night is Kristinia DeBarge with her single "Goodbye." She's singing along with a track, probably lip syncing, but she's dancing and it's her first major TV appearance so you know, I'll give her a bit of a pass. Well, truth be told, I'm giving her a pass because she's the daughter of one of the members of 80's vocal group DeBarge who I LOVE.
After the break, the ladies are the first up. Nigel says that neither decision is unaimous and adds if they were to send someone home this week, it wouldn't be any of the six on stage. That was slightly rude.
They thought Caitlin had great movement tonight, Ashley had Hollywood glamor but not great substance, and Kayla tried to do a little too much. When all is said and done, it's the end of the road for Ashley. Just based on the solos, I'll take quirky over boring and technical but there was no way Nigel was letting Kayla go home. It's a shame because I liked her, especially paired with Kupono.
Now it's the guys turn. Nigel says Jason's solo was fab and he's immediately saved. No surprise there at all. Kupono's solo wasn't substantive enough but they liked how imaginative and different he is. They're very impressed by how hard Max works and Nigel reiterates how hard it is for Latin dancers to do solos (which I wish he'd stop harping on). As I expected, sadly it's the end of the road for Max. That sucks because he seemed to be one of the most versatile male Ballroom dancers ever on the show as evidenced by his farewell package. I guess we'll never really find out now.
Did you agree with the Bottom Three and/or who the judges sent home? Who would you have eliminated? Anything else you'd like to add?
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Didn't agree with the bottom couples. Interesting that all 3 were different this week from last week- it shows that the cast as a whole are strong and there arent too many standouts yet. The solos were better this week.
I actually like Kayla but haven't these reality shows learned that no one likes people shoved down their throats. Look at the Gilles' (DWTS) or the Adam Lamberts (AI) or Will from last season. If they want her to go far and win fans they need to stop the favortism.
I don't think Maks should have left and I don't think Kupono and Kayla will make a good match at all.
The main standouts so far overall for me are male- Jason and Ade- and I love Evan too but not sure he will handle stuff like hip hop or sexy Latin dances very well- we'll see.
I like the girls but they aren't sticking out for me yet like Katee, Chelsie and Courtney did last season. I need to see them do more dance styles first.
The Bottom 3 should've been Caitlin/Jason, Ashley/Kupono and Jeanine/Phillip, with Phillip and Jeanine or Ashley going home.
I think it stinks that Max/Kayla were even in the Bottom 3. Their dance was fantastic. The two hip-hops and the tango were the weakest.
I am so tired of the Ballroom guys falling to contemporary dancers in the solos.
Of the three couples, Kupono and Ashley should have gone. Unfortunately it was Kupono's performance that put Ashley in the bottom and she was dancing against the strongest female dancers this season. I worry that Kupono will be Kayla's downfall next.
Phillip is weak, but he has a HUGE following. I think it will be several weeks before we see his ouster and i hate even writing this, but I fear Evan will go before Phillip does.
On a side note, I really hope that the producers have something up their sleeves for the Fall season, as I'm really not drawn to any of the summer season's dancers as I was in the past. Hopefully they realize that they will have to have strong characters/dancers to compete against the weak, yet rediculously popular DWTS. I really beleive that is why Evan is in this cycle and his brother will show up in the fall. (Which will be great for me if he makes the top 20).
So, having lost my favorite male this week, I'm bitter, but will hopefully recover by next Wednesday.
Kristinia DeBarge > Lady Gaga, if even she resorted to sampling.
Based on the dancing thus far, Kupono should have gone home instead of Max. I'm a little tired of the judges keeping someone based on the fact that they're "different" than simply on the quality of their dancing. Max is a gorgeous dancer and I was really hoping to see him grow into more styles - and especially to see him do something of Mia's. Wrong call judges.
Wow. I'm shocked on all accounts.Shocked who the bottom three couples were, and even more shocked by who they sent home. Like Evan a lot, but that jive was pretty meh. I was embarr***ed for Caitlin in the hip hop routine. It was uncomfortable to watch. The tango was a good effort but no good. However, I thought Ashley was FANTASTIC in the hip hop number, and Kupono wasn't all that bad (despite serious choreography issues, I really hate when the dancers get blamed for the choreography). Max and Kayla were wonderful.
I just finished rewatching last nights before tonights, and decided that Ashley was my fave, as she was just so versatile, really cute and really impressive. So sad I won't be seeing more of her. And Max was awesome. Just don't get it.
http://mel31602.blogspot.com/2009/06/so-you-think-you-can-dance-recap-top-18_18.html
Check out my recap here. I'm a Kupono fan but I did NOT like his solo and thought he should have gone along with Ashley. Shocked that Max and Kayla were even in the bottom to begin with and even more shocked Max was sent packing.
first, agree that viewers don't like when judges shove the non or average talented down our throat. note the word - non or average talented. giles, will, and adam were above average in talent. giles lost because the judges overscored shawn. the public presumed will was getting votes and forgot to vote, just like with lil kim. and adam lost because he was gay, pure and simple - when the chat boards say kris' win restores my faith in america's values, story over. chelsea was just okay. so is kayla.
second, i had phillip and jeannine, caitlin and jason, ashley and kupono in the bottom 3, but i'll work with what i was given.
for the girls - caitlin should have gone over ashley. two reasons, for me she looks too old to connect with any guy on the show and even though not as much content, ashley performed something different than what i'm used to seeing her do since she auditioned. i knew what caitlin would do and she did the same old same old and it's tired. now that's a dancer i'm so over. and she will be going home soon because again that chemistry with jason is iffy depending on the dance genre.
the guys - wow. jason is an amazing dancer who needs a better partner and i would have loved to seen him now paired with ashley. kapono was very creative. max, it's hard for a ballroom dancer to do a solo but he was really great to do it to footloose. as much as i love kapono i would have sent him home.
oh well. next week. glad to see ryan is back.
I'll take Max's solo over any of the contemporary ones. Jason is one of my favorites, but his solo just looked way to frenetic. If Kayla 'packed too much in' as the judges said, Jason's number was bursting at the seams. I don't know - contemporary solos just leave me cold - it's just someone flinging themselves about for a couple minutes. Max was not one of my favorites overall, but he was growing on me and his solo was better - technically and entertainment-wise - than any of the other five.
And yes, Philip & Jeanine should have been in the bottom 3 in place of either Max/Kayla or Jason/Caitlin. I vote they boot off Brian Freidman and Shane Sparks instead, and keep Max and Ashley.
I agree with Tamara, Cat was totally rocking that suit. But as for the singer, I watched part of last night's Mythbusters instead. Far too MPD (mindless pop drivel) for my taste - though, unlike last week, at least she could sing (even if it really was lip synched). Frankly, I'd rather they just have TWO dance numbers instead; this IS a dance show, not a singing competition.
Just one correction - I was watching that Mythbusters episode during commercial breaks and managed to miss Caitlin's solo, so I can't really say for certain Max was better than her (but given how I feel about contemporary solos, I'm guessing he was).