SYTYCD Top 18 “It was Fun!”
Did Cat go shopping in the ‘Pretty in Pink” cast closet? I loved her swept back hair and witty charm this evening. By the end of the show I was loving her red bow dress as well. I have way too many favorites this season. I like a lot of them for different reasons. Their style, their story, the way they dance, I can’t decide yet. So let’s get on with this judges-excessive-lovin-on-the-choreographers episode.
Randi & Evan
Jive, Louis Van Amstel, “Shake a Tail Feather” by Ray Charles
Dog lovin’ Randi and car lovin’ Evan opened the show with a high energy Jive. Lil “C” thought they came “out of the box with a bang” and critiqued Evan’s smooth moves. I like it when Mary and Nigel bust out with technical critiques and we learn about things like triple steps, double bouncing, and fast feet flicks. They did well and I still love Evan. Randi wore a unitard in her opening dance. Thankfully the wardrobe department helps her costumes with the dances!
Melissa & Ade (aka Adetokunbo Isaace Kayode Obayomi)
Jazz, Sonya Tayeh, “24 Hours (the Ashton Shuffle Terri A-Bomb Remix)” by Terry Poison
These Rock n Roll Imps (dubbed by Cat) made Sonya’s jarring choreography jump off my screen. Mary loved it and Lil “C” said something about “modifying manipulation of movement.” He also called out Ade as a front runner. I can’t wait to see him paired with someone else. I don’t think Melissa will get past eighth place. I want to root for her (she is my age!), but I can’t stand her personality. I saw a commercial for a Bump It today - did you think Melissa was using one? Did you check out Melissa’s abs!? Seriously. Now that I have grown to appreciate Sonya - this was one of my favorite dances of the evening.
Caitlin & Jason
Hip Hop, Shane Sparks, “Missin You” by Trey Songz
While this couple may be “missing some nectar” during their Hip Hop routine, there seems to be some nectar between them off set. Maybe they were tired from last week’s intricate Bollywood dance, but this pair didn’t hit this routine hard enough. I also found Caitlin’s costume distracting. This un-sychronized routine may find them in the bottom three tomorrow night. How cute was the video of Jason dancing as a kid? This is why I film my children now. You never know when you are going to need that footage.
Janette & Brandon
Disco, Doriana Sanchez, “Moving is really my game” by Brainstorm
Disco is always technically difficult with Doriana. This dance was the show-stopper of the evening and may have shut the mouths of Brandon nay-sayers. In my notes I wrote “they are sailing into the Top 10.” Lil “C” claimed that he witnessed the “birth of progression.” They were both amazing in their lifts and movements. Hands down the best dance of the night.
Asuka & Vitolio
Waltz, Louis Van Amstel, “Dreams are more precious” by Enya
Spit bubbles? Really. That’s kind of gross. I want to like you, Asuka, but you aren’t giving me much to work with here! This lyrical waltz moved Mary to tears and called it “painfully beautiful.” The judges said that the dancers were sincere. They were good, but I think we will see them in the bottom 3 and even possibly going home. And what is up with all the Louis love tonight?
Kayla & Max
Pop Jazz, Brian Friedman, “Hot Like Wow” by Nadia Oh
This couple on the way to Rat Town on the Hot Tamale Train stretched Max’s ability and made Kayla the female front runner. I believe she is this year’s Katee. Each week I am loving Kayla more and more. Did you see her eyelashes? Last week Kayla had to learn the ballroom terms and this week Max had to learn a whole new vernacular from choreographer, Brian. I loved how the tables were turned this week. I am with Lil “C” and I loved it. But then again I am always a sucker for these royal court themed dances.
Carla & Jonathan
Contemporary, Stacey Tookey (from SYTYCD Canada!), “Falling Slowly” by The Frames
This routine had an Academy award winning song, but not an award winning dance. I love this song so much and the dancing paled in comparison. It was beautiful and nice, but forgettable. Jonathan has a David Archuleta “puppy dog” quality about him. Carla is very Sarah from Season 3-esqu. I hope she sticks around long enough to school us on how chicks can pop and lock. These are also a bottom 3 pick for me. I hope Carla is polishing off her Dance For Your Life!
Jeanine & Phillip
Tango, Tony Meredith, “Violento (Up Mix)” by Bailango!
Philip tried his best to pull off a serious Tango while Jeanine saved the dance. I loved how the judges criticized them, they were honest, but still rooting for them. Phillip’s popularity will keep him out of the bottom this week. I can’t help myself from liking him either. Engineering Physics major, oh yeah! I LOVED the slow mo of Phillip’s face while lifting Jeanine. I think that is the worst strained face I have ever seen on this show. Hilarious! Go lift some weights, Phillip!
Ashley & Kupono
Hip Hop, Shane Sparks, “Imma Be” by The Black Eyed Peas
Kupono’s To Do Lists crack me up. Unfortunately I don’t think he can check off “Find My Inner Shane Sparks” tonight. Ashley is proving to be a good dancer. Every time I watch her dance I am glad that she kept trying out and made it her fourth time around. And oh my gosh, that projectile vomit story was hilarious! Perseverance and humor, I like her! While the dance was underwhelming, their personalities were not tonight. Here’s hoping they are safe another week!
What was your favorite dance of the evening? Who is your pick to go home? Are you looking forward to Mia Michael’s group routine on the results show?
Thankfully, I recorded the ep. I plan to re-watch all the routines (except for the endless tango). I actually finished the episode last night feeling underwhelmed overall. I was trying to figure out what my problem was - did I like anyone? Did I NOT like anyone? Am I just suffering from previous season comparison syndrome? And it hit me just before I fell asleep: I MISS MIA. This show needs a jolt of Mia, STAT. Season 3’s premiere ep had this slam-bang exceptional routine - Lacey & Kameron’s contemp choreog. by Mia. Season 4 had an exceptional slam-bang routine - Josh & Katee’s hip hop to No Air by naptab. Last week’s premiere seemed to have many equal slam-bang numbers, not one huge standout.
I’m rambling and I’ve forgotten my point.
I am just waiting for something to come out of the chute and OVERwhelm me, to rewind again & again. Last week’s MelAde routine came close. This week, I’m not sure yet. I was left with that “meh” feeling after each routine, except for Ashley & Kupono’s hip hop. I really liked it and thought, that little Ashley is the dark horse! She’s awesome! But then the judges ripped into their technique like they committed crimes against hip hop.
I think I am the only one who is bothered by Philip’s presence on the show. Yes, he seems humble and genuine and fun. But his “huge following” coming into the show is monumentally unfair to the other dancers. I am trying to just accept this for what it is and understand that Philip will be around for most of the season if not all. But it’s going to be a long haul if he keeps doing other genres as painfully as he did the tango last night. And a long haul of hearing the judges say how much he needs to grow and he better bring it. He’ll have many “lives” but how many before they run out? I find myself rooting for everyone else just because all 19 (incl. Jeanine) dancers are the underdogs.
I. LOVE. ADE. LOVE HIM. I loved Lil C’s remarks about how he thought Ade was equal to “his competition” (clearly referring to Brandon, imo). I agree. Melissa just doesn’t bug me that much. I like her because she is so, so good. And she & Ade haven’t had a misstep yet.
I understand that the disco routine was slam-bang. But I still was left feeling blah about it! I think it’s because Janette & Brandon’s personalities are a little over the top. Brandon doesn’t do it for me. And when he smiles, he’s Alfonso Ribeiro. Thick-necked Alfonso Ribeiro. You know, from Fresh Prince. The one who couldn’t dance, ironically. I need to watch it again.
I thought Caitlyn’s gymnastics rolls in her hip hop were really awesome, she is so limber. By nectar between them, did you mean anger? They don’t seem to get along.
And I just didn’t see the waltz with A & V as anything magnificent. Meh.
Maybe I need to drink more wine when watching the show, eh?
Dawn, you and I are very similar in our opinions about the dancers. Philip just doesn’t do it for me and Melissa is one of my favorites. Philip reminds me too much of Robert Murain (pop locker, contortionist extraordinaire!) and I just have a hard time getting past that. Melissa, naughty ballerina, is so darn strong and something about her draws me to her dancing! Can’t quite put my finger on what it is yet.
I think I still stand alone on liking Brandon. Did you hear Jeanette say that he’s never worked out a day in his life??!!!! UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!! Whatever!! (i’m just jealous). I think I heard Mary say that tonights opening routine is a Mia creation so Brandon had better bring it. At least he’s gettin Lil’ C on his side.
I’m ready to see who goes home tonight~
Agreed. I do think Brandon is a great dancer, but I find myself not rooting for him.
I just rewatched bits of the show for the “morning after” perspective and it is pretty much the same, except for these few thoughts:
After seeing Sonya’s fun choreog. with MelAde, I was not as impressed with Kayla & Max’s equally “edgy” piece. Kayla & Max did fine with it, but it was like two strange ones in one show - I thought the later one was overshadowed by the first. Plus, Max’s costume was ridiculous. So distracting. Not exactly relevant or high praise to be compared to Kevin Spacey on this show!
I watched the disco twice - it was fun, high energy and amazing. There were times they were out of sync, and Janette’s facial expressions are extreme, though appropriate for this style of dance. It didn’t help that they spent all that time calling attention to her teeth just before; I couldn’t stop looking at her mouth after that. But as far as discos go, this was the best the show has seen.
The Enya waltz remains blah. I really like Vittolio as a person but I don’t think he’s as good as the other males in the competition. I didn’t think he was that strong in the routine, nor was his opening “solo” anything to remember.
Louis was getting all that love from the judges because last week he also choreographed two numbers and was not mentioned once. I saw a lot of complaining about it on other message boards last week.
Predictions for bottom 3:
Caitlyn/Jason
Ashley/Kupono
Asuka/Vittolio
with Asuka & Vittolio going home.
p.s. My kids watched the dances with me this morning and my son Eli could not get enough of them. He danced and clapped along with everyone the entire time.
I thought (from using context clues) that nectar meant the opposite of not liking each other. They do seem awfully flirty.
I liked Melissa more this week than I did last week. I’m so glad she took that damn finger out of her mouth. I’m still not sure why she keeps talking about “old” things - reminding us of her age, and her husband. I don’t think being 29 is anything to be ashamed of, I’m not, but the history of the show seems to indicate that audiences aren’t so fond of the older contestants. I didn’t really like their dance last night, even though I usually like Sonya. I was really impressed with the arrow straightness of Melissa’s legs when Ade spun her around. She is so ridiculously strong.
Asuka, I don’t like her. I just don’t. She seems to have all the flirty and manipulative traits of Lacey, but without the charm and personality. (I don’t dislike Lacey, at all, and defend her to my DWTS <3ing mother.) Also, she’s like Brett Favre with the weird flipped letter name thing. That’s just wrong.
I <3′d Brandon and Janette. Something about Brandon just isn’t sitting well with me. It might be the Alfonso thing, or it just might be that I’m not used to seeing someone with a permanent dopey grin, but he does seem like a nice kid. I really like Janette.
I didn’t like the version of Falling Slowly they used, but I thought Carla was great. I really hope she stays because I want to see more of her.
Thanks for the blog; I’m a big fan.
Elle, I agree with you - the Falling Slowly that was used was nearly all voice for the first 30 seconds or so, and it was a little distracting. But the dance was great and Carla & Jonathan nailed it!! I hope they stick around.
Oh, another name that’s strange!! Ralph Fiennes is pronounced “Ray” - is that cultural or something??
I love him just the same.
actually, ralph feinnes is pronounce RAFE - but the ‘F’ sound gets lost in the feinnes - makes the name hard to say doesn’t it? It’s a common british pronounciation of the name
My favorite dance was the Brian Friedman jazz routine - it was performed beautifully by Kayla and Max, and the choreography/characters/costumes were all awesome. I also love seeing the pride in kayla’s grandfather’s eyes when he watches her - it practically makes me cry! over all, i though the dancers all performed well last night, but the choreography was a lot weaker than last week. Can’t wait to see mia’s routine tonight - and how well she worked with Bradon. I have no idea why she hates him so much! he seems genuine to me
-First off, what was with the bed skirt/80s prom dress that Cat was wearing?
-Still don’t miss Mia. Still don’t love Asuka - in fact, what was with her freakish fawning over Vitolio during their critique?
-Really enjoyed Jonathan and Carla’s routine - in part because I appreciate when they dress male dancers in masculine clothing and not some wussified pair of stretch pants.
-Dancing to Enay - sounds like punishment and a curse to me.
-I agree with Amanda in that there are so many dancers I like for varying reasons so I don’t have anyone special I am pulling for yet. Okay, except for Evan
-Overall, I’m with Dawn - this episode was underwhelming. Particularly following last week’s show. Here’s to hoping next week we’re back on track!