They squeeze a lot into the finale – The Rage Boyz Crew! Talia Fowler! There’s a weird bit where the show pimps the “Fame” remake starring S4’s Kherington. They’ve done similar things in the past, in S3 the contestants went to the Hairspray movie premiere and met the stars. But this is forced, there’s no premiere to go to yet, so they just talk about the movie a lot. Strange. No matter, the real reason we’re all tuning in is to see our Top 20.

They start the show off with a bang, dancing to Tyce’s The Wiz piece. It’s a fantastical routine with lovely choreography. Tyce had a great year, doing even better work and receiving his Emmy nomination. I’m glad this is the routine they chose to showcase, and we get to see all of the dancers, some of whom I missed. The routine ends with the Top 4 standing apart from the rest, inside the frame. Love. Having all 20 of them took full advantage of the massive stage; later with the couples, the size takes away some of the intimacy and leads to great aerial shots where we see none of the dancing. Like the opening number, a majority of the two hour finale is comprised of favorite routines from the season. It’s interesting to see if routines improve or falter the second time around, and my favorite part of the finales.

What I hated:

• Jeanine & Phillip’s Hip Hop. I should have figured they would bring back the Chbeeb for the finale, but this is not a good routine. The sickly-sweet concept, NappyTabs’ repetitive choreography… This was already a bad season for Hip Hop, and they brought out its worst routine. I don’t know why anyone wanted to see this again.
• Janette & Brandon’s Disco. It’s a fine Disco. But it had no business being in the finale when so many other, better routines were not. This was about the season’s best. At least we got to see more of Janette, this had to have been a bittersweet finale for her.
• Jeanine & Brandon’s Paso Doble. I don’t hate the routine, quite the opposite. I loved this routine and think Louis really outdid himself with it. Except I had just seen it. Last night. Really, just the night before, on the same stage. A far better choice would have been the Pop Jazz by Laurie Ann Gibson. It even would have been the same couple.
• Why wasn’tLaurie Ann’s Pop Jazz featured? Or Stacey Tookey’s Contemporary with Karla & Jonathan? And of course, it’s a bit of a joke that neither of Wade Robson’s delicious endeavors – the Burglars with Brandon & Janette or Crash Test Dummies with Kupono & Ashley – were mentioned. They are among the best from the show, let alone this season. I don’t think the missing stairs provide an excuse since entrances/choreography are usually adapted for the tour. This was a huuuuge mistake.

What was mixed:

• Janette & Brandon’s Argentine Tango. It’s a good routine, don’t get me wrong, and I’m glad we got the second chance to appreciate it. These two conquered everything together, and I think we took it for granted. But every Argentine Tango will be held up in comparison to Joshua & Chelsie’s Emmy nominated dance  by Dmitry Chaplin from S4. But I suppose this performance was worth it to see Janette.
• Asuka & Vitolio’s Waltz. I would never have considered this a memorable dance. When Debbie Allen first started talking about it I thought she was on something, but in hindsight I’m glad we got to see it again. Maybe they had more time to practice, because each dancer was far more graceful this time around. Asuka lifted off the ground from her split this time, before it was awkward and shaky. This was performed far better the second time, and it’s nice to reflect on Louis’ great work.
• Jason & Caitlin’s Bollywood. I like the dance itself, but I they didn’t do it justice in Week 1 – they fall out of sync more than a few times and Jason loses form a lot. I’m a Bollywood dancer so maybe my standards are a bit high, but I teach 12 year olds who could do it better. Either way, I was looking forward to them coming back and really nailing it. And while Caitlin does, Jason does not. At all. The tepid lift, which should have been triumphant, was rather weak. Asuka & Vitolio redeemed themselves in the finale, but these two had a far more exciting routine and still managed to suck.
• Melissa & Ade’s Contemporary. I suppose I’ll just agree to disagree with the show on this one. I knew it would be featured in the finale, but I stand by my original reaction. Melissa isn’t great at Contemporary. Ade is beautiful, and the choreography/song choice are brilliant by Tyce. But I think all of the power in this routine is in its message. It’s quite the message, and I’m incredibly happy for Tyce’s friend. And my heart broke a little at Christina Applegate’s tears shown at the end of the routine. But it’s not the life altering routine they keep on talking about it as. And when Mia said they had an announcement, I thought the choreographers were donating parts of their salaries to cancer research or something similar.

What I loved:

• Jeanine & Jason’s Contemporary. I hoped we would see this repeated and I’m glad we did. The choreography is strong, their chemistry is so right, and I’ll watch any dance set to Jason Mraz. Rumor has it that he saw this routine and wants it performed by the dancers during his tour. It’s truly a stunning piece that nothing could ruin – not even Jeanine accidentally dropping the necklace (props are tricky!), the giant stage that almost seems to swallow dancers, or the shoddy camerawork. This is one of my favorites.
• Max & Kayla’s Samba. YESSS! I love this routine, and I didn’t think it would be back for the finale. Thank you, Mia. This is a H-O-T performance and Louis Van Amstel is a Ballroom god. Kayla can really sell a routine, and we get to see Max do his style. Mia said he was one of the hardest working dancers on the show, and the judges said something similar about Evan on the performance night. I wonder what other behind-the-scenes info there is – how random would it be if Ade was a slacker?
• Top 16. I wasn’t expecting a group routine, but this was the best one. The fusion of styles, Dmitry, NappyTabs, the water, the setting, all of it. This is one of the better group dances they’ve had, and I’m glad we got to see it again. After Ramalama, precious few routines are as memorable, but this gives it a run for its money.
• Randi & Evan Contemporary. Ahhh yes, the “Butt” dance. This is a great routine, and I’m glad we saw a performance that reminded us of Evan’s talent. He and Randi slinked their way through a smooth and bluesy number that Adam reminded us wasn’t typical Mia Michaels. If you compare this with the first time they performed it, you’ll see the differences – there isn’t that flub with the shoe, Evan has grown stronger in his dancing, and Randi really owns the fact that this routine is about her rear end. This was probably the one of the performed dances of the night.
• Kayla & Kupono Contemporary. We all knew this would be featured again. How could it not? This is the easily one of the best routines this show has ever had. There hasn’t been a better match between dancers and concept since The Hummingbird and The Flower. And they each performed it just as stunningly as they did the first time.

They end this long line of dances with the Top 8 reprising a Mia Michaels group routine… and the judges finishing the routine for them! Debbie, Adam, Mary, Nigel, Mia, and Tyce pop out in white suits and top hats. Tyce is crazy good (although he is sort of in his element)  and Nigel and Adam are a pleasant surprise. A part of me wishes Lil C would have joined them, but that might have been too damaging to his street cred.

And finally, the results! Kayla was eliminated first. Evan placed third, Brandon was the runner-up, with Jeanine winning.

All in all I am pleased with how the dust settled. I hope this experience opened doors for each and every one of the Top 20. Kayla may have deserved more than placing fourth, but the best dancers never win. Evan’s specialness absolutely deserved a spot in the finale. Brandon was a crazy powerful dancer and I wish we had gotten to hear a speech from him since all the others got to say a bit. I am very happy for Jeanine, talented and sweet, who is supposedly giving her prize money away to charity. She’s got such humor: “Thank you, Academy.” I think Cat Deeley is splendid, and makes deft handling of a crowd of 3,000 look easy. She needs an Emmy ASAP. I love her fashion sense. She should tell Mary that when one wears a statement necklace, one should go easy on the earrings. I think they need to find some good Hip Hop choreographers before I assassinate NappyTabs. NappyTabs should clearly stick to group routines. I hope Nigel gets laid before he terrorizes any of the girls in Season 6. Season 6, so close!

I. CAN’T. WAIT.

FINAL 4: They begin the night by all dancing to Wade Robson Pop routine about football players and cheerleaders. It’s not one of Wade’s quirkier endeavors, but it’s fun and sassy. Evan manages to hold his own against the other three and the crowd roars its approval.

EVAN & JEANINE: They dance together to a Sonya Tayeh piece. I know Evan doesn’t have the technical prowess of the other three dancers, but come on. Mia stated weeks ago that Evan doesn’t have the darkness needed for Sonya’s work and interestingly enough this is his third week in a row dancing in one of her routines. Let’s call a spade a spade and acknowledge the fact that the producers are doing all they can to calm Evan’s extreme fanbase. He still dances his heart out, and Jeanine is as good as usual.

BRANDON & KAYLA: These two take on a Broadway routine by Tyce Diorio, who has the balls to say he is making Fosse’s work showier. But the routine is fun, stylized, sexy, and expertly danced to “Bye Bye Love.” Again, they have about the same performance quality of a documentary on Shakespeare.  But still it’s great fun.

EVAN & BRANDON: The guys are given a Pop Jazz routine. By Laurie Ann Gibson. Set to “Nasty Boys.” How much do you want to bet Evan doesn’t shine in this? Thought so. He doesn’t, but it’s an admirable effort. Brandon kills it. The judges pretty much say as much, but Nigel AGAIN criticizes Evan’s “choochie” face. For serious? Lay off his face and just critique the dancing. Pleaseeee.

JEANINE & KAYLA: They are given a Mia Michaels Contemporary number. It’s stunning, as usual, and Mia Michaels reminds us of why she’s the best. The girls travel across the stage, literally removing their clothing and shedding layer by layer. Nigel is right – when they move side by side you can really compare them. Kayla has better lines and extension, Jeanine is far stronger and not as shaky. They’re both lovely. It’s one of the better routines from the finale.

KAYLA & EVAN: They are given a Country-Western Jive. Adam complains that the routine wasn’t exciting enough for a finale – I think he’s just spoiled. Not every routine can be like the stunner we just saw with the two females. This was a perfectly servicable fun Jive, and Evan has improved since his first time with it. Kayla really shines – this is where she does really well, when she’s sent out to simply work it. Nigel says he’s glad we finally saw her personality, Mary skewers Evan. Bo-ring. The judges need to step up with their critiques with things we’ll actually want to listen to.

BRANDON & JEANINE: These two powerhouses are given a Louis Van Amstel Paso Doble. HELL YES. Louis should choreograph everything. It has a Matrix theme, all black leather, whipping movement, dark stares, strength, and power, and I love it. There are great lifts and leaps along with technical prowess. I love it. So does the audience, and so do the judges. It’s the performance of the night, they rightly saved the best for last. Nigel outright states that either Brandon or Jeanine will win.

BRANDON: Brandon’s solo is good, but there’s no topping last week’s animalistic triumph of a performance. In fact, Adam spends more time talking about last week’s solo than this week’s. All of the judges are filled with lavish praise for him, and Nigel thinks he’s in the Top 2 at least. Brandon has been a fantastic dancer all season. His athleticism, strength, and power left others in the dust. This was someone meant to dance. I always thought he was a bit outperformed by the wonderful Janette, but from pissing off Mia to his outstanding leaps to those hot pants, Brandon was a thrill to watch. If the winner should have the most “Wow” moments, then the title belongs to Brandon.

KAYLA: Kayla doesn’t have perfect solos. A beautiful technician, she rarely manages to engage an audience, and when you’re the only person on a giant stage, that’s what you have to do. Adam rightly talks about her entire time on the show as opposed to her solo. Kayla was always a frontrunner given her gorgeous looks and amazing technique. And she danced like an absolute beast, even if her personality didn’t convince you. No matter how cute her grandparents were, she never managed to lock down a core fanbase. Adam includes her with the best dancers that have been on the show: Travis, Danny, and Will. What Adam fails to mention is that none of the best dancers have ever won. Buf if the winner should be the most consistent dancer, then the title belongs to Kayla.

JEANINE: The lovely Jeanine has more charm than every other dancer this season, with the exception of Evan. She also deserves a medal for putting up with Nigel’s leacherous comments. With him openly gazing at her chest to saying he wants to “do things with her,” she has exhibited more class than I would have in that situation. Tonight she gave us the best female solo seen on this show in a long time. Definitely the best since Caitlin. With a Tango inspired piece, Jeanine had fearless attack. Those pirouettes?! Perfect control and strength. She won over many, many fans with tonight’s episode, and her cheers grow from the most tepid to the most rambunctious. Strange to think that she wasn’t featured at all during the auditions, that our first image of Jeanine was her trying to explain away poor turnout. If the winner should illustrate the most growth, then the title belongs to Jeanine.

EVAN: Awwww, Evan. So much promise. He was among the most built up from the auditions and with a few exceptions – Jazz, the “Butt” routine, his solos- he didn’t really live up to it. But even then, his warmth, his uniqueness, and the judges’ constant hammering, allowed his rabid fanbase to grow and expand and evolve, to even win me over. Some blame teeny boppers for voting for him, but it’s not true. People vote for him because in this season full of soulless technicians, Evan imparted the joy that is dancing. His solos were a sight. We could root for him. He smile is adorable. For the first time in five seasons, there was a Broadway dancer, so different from the rest that the audience voted for him over and over. They were voting for the style, for vaudeville, for showmanship, for a style forgotten. The judges’ comments on his eyes, his face, his choices – why was Adam bothered by Evan’s repetition of audition solo but not Brandon’s? – is what catalyzed his fanbase rather than quelling it. Tonight the entire Kodak was literally filled with rhythmic chants of Evan’s name. If the winner should be the most popular, then Evan should take the title.

How I want it to turn out:

#4 Brandon, #3 Kayla, #2, Evan, #1 Jeanine

How it should turn out:

#4 Evan, #3 Jeanine, #2 Brandon, #1 Kayla

How it will turn out:

#4 Kayla, #3 Evan, #2 Brandon, #1 Jeanine

The night begins with a heartbreaking Tyce Diorio piece to “Send in the Clowns.” Evan is only one who really stands out in the group – he is fantastic. The final shot of him waving goodbye is incredibly sad.

We begin by announcing the two dancers who are safe and definitely in the Final 4. They are… Jeanine and Brandon! No surprises there. The other two dancers will be revealed at the end. The rest of the night will feature Season 4’s Emmy nominated routines, and we get to see some of our old favorites return to liven up (finally!) this season.

The first of the Emmy nominated routines is Tyce Diorio’s Adam & Eve routine with Will and Jessica. It’s just as stunning as it ever was, and with maybe the potential exception of the Argentine Tango, this is the routine I want to win. It’s a beautiful and sensual Contemporary, and it continues to leave me breathless. Remind me why Will didn’t win again?

As for the rest, I wonder if they didn’t have enough rehearsal time. In a repeat of the best Argentine Tango this show has had, Chelsie’s legs are lightening quick and stunning, but Joshua fudges it up a bit. Either way, the choreography is amazing, and I’m so proud of Dmitry Chaplin – Season 2 contestant, then choreographer, and now Emmy award nominee. Based on this routine and his work on Dancing with the Stars, it looks like Dmitry has the makings of a star choreographer.

Chelsie returns later for the “Bleeding Love” Hip Hop routine, this time with Mark. They dance it just as well, but mess up the kicking of the suitcase and other key bits of the routine. Again, a routine that was better performed the first time around. Maybe it’s because they don’t have the motivating factor of the competition?

The Door by Mia Michaels is a fun dance, but let’s be serious, is it better than last season’s “Hometown Glory” or the Tim Burton Wedding? This routine is one of Mia’s lesser efforts, and while I like it, I never believed it was Emmy worthy. Especially not after watching Tyce’s Adam & Eve piece and Dmitry’s Argentine Tango. Twitch and Katee don’t even seem as engaged in the performance as they had last season. Oh well. I still really like Katee’s bouffant and eye makeup.

The Jabbawockeez are tonight’s guest performers, and give us an intricate routine that only highlights how much we’ve been lacking in Hip Hop this season. It’s nice to see the connections between all of the dance shows, here with America’s Best Dance Crew, and with Dmitry, Chelsie, Louis, and Carrie Ann of Dancing with the Stars.

We get back to Season 5 and are ready to reveal the final two dancers who will make it to next week. They are… Kayla and Evan! It was for sure Melissa’s time to go – no denying that – and while Ade is a stronger dancer, Evan has been getting better these few weeks and the audience seems to love him. Does he have it in him to win?

We’ll find out in a week!

The group dance was a surprisingly poignant and beautiful piece to “Send in the Clowns.” The costumes were just perfect and the dancing was sharp and clean. The lines were exquisite. The synchronicity was flawless.  The characters were heart-wrenching and Evan was wonderful at the end. I’m really quite shocked that this piece came from Tyce. He’s really maturing as a choreography and whipping out some wonderful routines.

The bottom two girls end up being Kayla and Melissa with Jeanine a guaranteed finalist, which is no shock at all. I pretty much called that one. The bottom two guys are Ade and Evan, which means Brandon is in the final four. Also, not a shock. If all my predictions are right, Melissa is going home tonight and it’s really a toss-up between Evan and Ade. We’ll see how it goes.

I’m glad they’ve continued with the Emmy-award winning pieces being brought back to life on the stage. Jessica and Will brought back the Adam & Eve piece with grace. In fact, I think it was even better this time. I think all of them were better this time. All of the dancers have gained more maturity throughout this past year. The Mercy piece was more passionate then ever.  It just was as fiery and grand as ever. Chelsea and Joshua’s tango was as fiery as ever. Damn, can Chelsea’s legs move, they are lightning. She is a gorgeous dancer. And Bleeding Love brought back the same raw energy and emotion as last year. It was an incredible evening of flashbacks. YAYY!

Also, I would like to say that the JabbaWockeeZ are SICK. They are intricate in their movements. They’re so sharp, so clean, so freaking amazing. I’m glad they one the first season of ABDC.

Now on to the revelation of the night. The naming of the last of the top two. The girl going home is Melissa, and the boy going home is….Ade!

I’m glad that Melissa is going home. I think she’s enjoyable to watch, and seems like a lovely lady, but she was not my favorite of the remaining dancers. I think she was a bit stiff and just didn’t move like Kayla and Jeanine could. That said, I’m sure that she’s going home with a great bit of experience and will be fun to watch on the tour.

I’m shocked Ade is going home. I was rooting for Evan, but I was pretty certain that Ade had a better chance of making it into next week. I’m quite glad I was wrong. I enjoy watching Evan. People on message boards that I’ve read bash Evan for a lack of technique and that he was the weakest dancer. Luckily this isn’t America’s Best Dancer, it’s about the audiences Favorite. It’s about the whole package and I think that Evan just lucked by a little bit more on his personality and his likability factor.

The top four is Jeanine, Brandon, Kayla, and Evan.

BOYS: The show begins with a group routine by Sonja Tayeh, inspired by Willy Wonka. Common sense would tell us that the strength of Ade and Brandon would dominate, but to put it mildly, Evan kills it. I couldn’t take my eyes off of him the entire routine. He flipped, kicked, and jumped with the best of them and was phenomenal. He is growing well.

JEANINE & ADE: They start with a Louis Van Amstel Samba. I love the Samba, and I love Louis Van Amstel – he is a ballroom genius. They get a great routine, and while Jeanine is wonderful, Ade isn’t so much. He isn’t dancing it well and his Samba rolls are awkward. Ade gets skewered by the judges and Jeanine makes it out alive. They make up for it later with a NappyTabs Hip Hop about getting evicted. This is their usual very literal interpretation of a song, with props galore, but Jeanine and Ade make me love it. They both have lots of stankface and give the goofy routine a bit of edge. Even if you hate the routine or hate them, you have to admit that dancing with props is very tricky, particularly when you’re dancing in cardboard boxes.

MELISSA & EVAN: Begin their night with a Tyce Diorio Broadway routine, and it’s traditional over the top fun about a groom who as overslept on his wedding day. Tyce calls Evan the dream for this type of style, and he’s right. I’ve never been one of Evan’s insane voting fanbase, but he is working it this week. Good for him! I’m bored with Melissa. Their second routine is a Louis Van Amstel Quickstep. I looooooove Ballroom, even though it usually doesn’t bode well for the dancers in this competition. It’s a great dance, but I agree with the judges that it faltered in the middle. In my opinion, the weak link was again Melissa. She doesn’t have enough pizazz to carry off something like this. Evan gives the routine just enough flair, and Lil C says that Evan just danced the biggest he ever has.

KAYLA & BRANDON: They get a Stacey Tookey Contemporary routine about a married man and his mistress. They are flawless dancers, and Lil C comments on how this is the first time Kayla is equally matched by her partner… I just wish they could emote as well as they moved. I like Kayla but I feel absolutely nothing when she dances – or speaks. The behind the scenes snippets with them getting paired up show glimmers of personality, I just wish we were able to see it on stage. Five weeks ago. They come again with a Dorianna Sanchez Disco routine, and I begin to love them again. It’s high energy and fun. These two can’t emote but they sure can dance like they’re having the time of their lives. Well done!

GIRLS: The girls get a Sonja Tayeh routine, inspired by comic books. Is it just me or has Sonja used this theme before? A quick internet search shows me that she has, in Season 4. Either way, that routine was rather forgettable and this one isn’t. It’s a powerful piece with great costumes and imagery. They dance in unison, but while Kayla (and to a certain extent Jeanine) get their own little dance bits and times in the spotlight, Melissa doesn’t. Weird, I don’t know why Sonja would make that kind of choice in this competition and I’m glad Mary touches on it in her critiques. It’s still a spectacular routine. Nigel has an incredibly creepy moment where he openly oggles Jeanine’s breasts. He’s such a leacherous old man sometimes.

SOLOS: More of the same – Kayla flails, Ade flips, Melissa is boring, and Jeanine gets to be sexy. But Evan turns out what is probably his best solo yet. He is peaking at the right time in the competition. And Brandon brings out the solo he auditioned with, set to O’Fortuna while wearing hotpants. He gets a standing ovation by the judges and Nigel calls it one of the best solos on the show ever.

BOTTOM 2 PREDICTIONS: At this point, I know for sure that Melissa will be leaving us. Or at least I hope she does. As for the men, there’s no way Brandon’s leaving after that solo, and while Ade may be a stronger dancer, Evan did very well tonight and has a fanbase of Midwestern Moms clogging the phone lines. So it looks like Ade will be leaving us as well.

Each dancer will dance four times – two couple routines, one solo, and one group routine for the guys and one for the girls.

The night started off with a Willy Wonka-inspired Sonya Tayeh jazz piece. I thought the costumes, with the plaid and the unexpected pop of green fluorescent lightning bolts, really brought a night fantastical element to the number. I have to say my FAVORITE part of the piece were the incredibly sharp marching sections. They were perfectly robotic. I thought that Brandon and Evan were the shining stars, while Ade just faded. Even though Brandon stumbled out of the synchronized back flips, he really showcased his power. Evan was unexpectedly good with the darkness of the character. I think he is a really underrated dancer. He always nails it in my mind. Ade, while being good technically, didn’t bring the added bonus of personality to this wacky piece…therefore, he faded into the background a bit for me.

All in all, an amazing way to start of the night.

The first couple to the stage is Jeanine and Ade with a Louis Van Amstel Samba. Louis states that this is not a traditional ballroom piece, which frightens me because most of us laymen don’t even understand a traditional piece let alone a non-traditional ballroom piece. I have to state for the record, I am no Lady Gaga fan. I must be the only young lady in America with this opinion, but I don’t. In fact, I gagged and groaned when I saw the song listing at the bottom of the screen. That said, the good points of the dance were Jeanine’s costume (a la Showgirl, but with a classy twist) and the way she moves is just incredible. She’s one sexy gal. The bad points of the dance: the speed of the dance, which detracted from the movement, and Ade who just didn’t really nail it. Yeah, it was better then his Cha-Cha last week, but it just didn’t have the connection that I thought it could have. It made me sad for Jeanine, because I really think Ade brought her down in this one.

Kayla started out the solos of the night. She danced to “You Found Me” by The Fray. I LOVE THIS SONG. So much, so I was happy to hear it as the background for my favorite female dancer. But her movements were so repetitive, I’ve seen her do better. She’s a pretty hit or miss dancer with her solos. She’s still one of my favorites, but she just didn’t nail this solo. Sadness.

Evan and Melissa are up next with a Tyce DiOrio Broadway routine. It’s about a nervous groom who overslept and the bride is trying to get him to the altar. I love how Evan is trying to marry a married woman…oh bigamy, how awesome you are. I just have to start off by saying that I hated Melissa’s costume. It seemed like the “Slutty Bride” costume that women buy for Halloween…just not goo. I think the overpraise of Melissa and the underpraise of Evan is getting ridiculous. It was obvious to me that he completely outshined her in this piece, but apparently not. I thought it was great….the best that Broadway could be.

Ade’s solo was up next. His interesting quality of movement is starting to get repetitive. I think he has a good ear for music and a good feel of movement, but now he needs to give another side of himself to us. We need to now see a different kind of uniqueness.

Kayla and Brandon took the stage first with a Stacey Tookey contemporary piece. Kayla is a mistress who just can’t seem to leave her lover. Poor Kayla’s been through the ringer this season, what with being an addict, a zombie and a vampire. Nevertheless, she nails desperation as Brandon portrays the jerk who uses and abuses her. I thought the costumes, the music, and the depth and desperation of movement were just jaw-dropping. Can we please keep Stacey Tookey? Canada can’t have her back.

Melissa’s solo was next, en pointe and in black as usual. I’m still looking for more from her in these small exhibitions of talent. I just want some height from her….anytime….seriously. Like a jump, a leap, a trick….anything. Maybe I’m missing something from her pointe-work, something that I as a non-ballerina don’t understand. Seriously though Mel, I’ve seen you fly across the stage with other people on it, now just do it on the bare stage where you’re the star. Until then, I really dislike your solos.

Jeanine and Ade step up for their second dance together of the night. They get evicted by Tabitha and Napoleon. And for the first time on television, homeless is HOT. Just when you think NappyTabs choreograph soft-hop they pop out a jewel like this. I loved the box work, the strength that they both brought and the ending was just lovely. The boxes with the sad faces just cracked me up to pieces. It was great. I think Jeanine is on fire tonight, and she’s just taking Ade on for the ride.

I think Jeanine is a guaranteed finalist….I’m just throwing that out there.

That said, another guaranteed finalist is Brandon, because of his solo. Yes, I’m a little peeved it’s the same or almost the same solo he auditioned with. Yet, I can’t deny it’s greatness. It’s just flawless. He is like….a warrior of dance.

Amen.

For their second dance Evan and Melissa drew the quickstep. I personally like the quickstep…but not this one. I thought the height difference was the downfall. Although as I’ve said before, I think Evan handled it better then the judges stated. I think he looked dapper and sharp and his movements were lovely. Melissa on the other hand, could’ve been sharper on the kicks. I just don’t like the way they praise Melissa and rarely if ever point out her mishaps. I just don’t like it at all.

Makes me angry. I don’t think they’ll survive to the finale, but I’m still rooting for Evan. He’s my Broadway boy.

Jeanine’s solo was the last of the girls’ tonight. It was clearly the better of the three. This is the most personality and flirtiness she’s brought to a solo, and I love it. I just thought it was fun. I’m not even a Janet Jackson fan, but Jeanine made me love it!

The last of the solos is Evan. As I’ve stated in past postings, I love his solos, and he’s never let me down in that aspect. He’s just a time-capsule of refinement. I think from his sleepy eyes and jazz hands down to his shiny shoed feet, he’s just a loveable, goofy theatre dude who happens to be great at dancing. And that makes him my kind of guy.

Kayla and Brandon wrap up the couple dances with a white hot disco. I love them in white, although…Brandon’s has a bit too much glitter and sparkle for a dude, but hey, disco was a flamboyant movement. It was an incredibly physical routine, and it was great fun. I agree with Nigel that being able to go from an emotion piece like the one earlier in the night to this one was a feat that showcased an array of emotion from both of the dancers.

The dancing wrapped up with the girls’ jazz by Sonya Tayeh. They are portraying superheroes in this triumphant piece. Now I just have to congratulate Jeanine on displaying the best way to take out the competition…just whack them in the face during rehearsal! Lol. I loved the movement, and although it was not as cleanly delivered as the boys’ piece, those girls can dance. They nailed the characters and they created brilliant pictures in their movements. I thought it was a great, great way to end the night.

My predictions for the Top 4 are a statement of my ideal pairing of the remaining dancers. I think it will definitely be Brandon and Jeanine. Kayla is my personal favorite, so I’m hoping she doesn’t fall through the cracks. And while I’m hoping for Evan in the finals, I have a sneaking suspicion that it will be Ade.

In my ideal series of events one thing is for sure: Melissa is heading home.

We’ll see who my predictions pan out. Goodnight everyone!

…Except that it’s not. In my immediate thoughts after the episode, I feel a bit let down. We know about all the guest performances before, Cat had talked them up in previous episodes. There were no surprises. Aside from the Emmy routines, all of our past season favorites were just sitting in the audience. Everything was crammed into this one teeny hour – couldn’t they have made yesterday’s show one hour and tonight’s 100th episode two hours? The only reflection we got was in a little montage in the beginning of the show. Color me disappointed.

Anyhoodle, tonight’s episode includes the Emmy-winning performances from past seasons. The first up is Season 3’s “The Hummingbird and The Flower” by Jaimie and Hok, choreographed by Wade Robson. This is without a doubt, my favorite routine from the show’s history. No matter how many times I’ve seen it, it’s remains mesmerizing, unique, inspiring. It is as beautiful performance as ever.

Time hasn’t been similarly kind to Season 2’s “The Bench” by Travis and Heidi, choreographed by Mia Michaels. Maybe we’re spoiled now with “Addiction” and “Vampire Death” routines being thrown at us every week, but this just doesn’t hold up in comparison. Heidi has precious little to do in this routine, and overall, it comes of a bit… amateur-ish. I spend more time noting the changes in the performer’s hair (Travis went darker, while Heidi took the peroxide route) than reliving the routine. “The Bench” may not be the greatest, but it will be remembered as the routine that elevated SYTYCD from summertime reality show into something capable of real art. It was the bridge from where the show was to where it now is.

Then there’s Ramalama, Wade Robson’s Season 2 Top 10 group routine. With a zombie theme, great music, great choreography, and Wade joining in on the dancing fun this time, you can’t help but get caught up in this routine again. The more experimental among the choreographers, there’s no denying this guy’s style. Wade is able to give even the more outlandish routines just enough surreality and whimsy to make them work. Love this routine, always will.

And of course, there’s the much talked about star of the silver screen, Katie Holmes in an homage to Judy Garland. She’s getting skewered on message boards for this pretaped performance, but I don’t think it’s so bad. If it hadn’t been talked up so much by Nigel and Tyce we wouldn’t be let down so. She has a nice singing voice, but she does lip sync. Can’t blame her for that, there are very few people who can sing well and dance at the same time. The issue is, she doesn’t dance much. A few leg flicks, a walk across the stage, and a shoulder shimmy thrown in for good measure. Her performance is rather like this night, very nice, but a huge let down.

Now to the Season 5 stuff. They had started off the night with a group routine set to “One” from A Chorus Line. And it sucks. Seriously, it’s bad, there’s no dancing and just a lot of over the top facial expressions. Note to choreographers: when there’s an iconic Broadway song, the choreography must match. Not look like something out of Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland. Moving on.

The Bottom 4 are announced and they are BRANDON, Jason, Janette, and Kayla. I don’t know what is up with Evan fans. I like him, I really do, but there’s no denying he is the weakest remaining male. Evan rightly looked flabbergasted at being safe. I guess Nigel’s eye comments brought out his fans in droves. When will the judges realize how much influence their negative comments (not critiques, comments) have on the audience? Jason seems resigned to his fate, he knows he is going home, and makes a teary peace with it. At least he had a brilliant moment to shine with Tavis’ Contemporary piece last week.

As for the women, this is interesting. The Bottoom 4 should have included Melissa… except she performed the Breast Cancer routine. That kind of heart wrenching story likely made many vote for her that would never have even picked up a phone for the show. So any of the more versatile female dancers were up for grabs to go home. Kayla’s been in the Bottom before and has never really been a hit with the audience. I thought she was going home for sure. But instead it’s Janette – the lively, can-perform-anything, never-been-in-the-bottom Janette. She was my favorite, and apparently, the Judges’ favorite too. I can’t believe she is going home, regardless of that craptastic solo, and this is a real shocker. Even Cat can’t get her head around this one. Color me NOT HAPPY.

Note to Melissa and Evan fans: stop voting for them. Please. It’s completely unfair that lesser dancers get to stay when far stronger ones are sent home.

What did you think about the show’s 100th extravaganza? Why do they perform the same solos twice in one week? And what was Cat wearing??

Let’s first discuss the great part about tonight: SYTYCD turns one hundred and we’re going to get to see three of the Emmy-award nominated/winning dances from past seasons. I think Jaime and Hok were even stronger and lovely in the Hummingbird Dance.  I thought leaving it untouched and about the same was the right decision. The bench dance was a great reminder of earlier Mia choreography and the very best use of props ever to have graced the show. P.S. Heidi looks lovely tonight with lighter blonde hair and I must say, I’m digging Travis’ tattoos. I think they’ve really grown into unique individuals. And the rehashing of the Ramalama dance was incredible. I think that’s been my favorite dance since I’ve seen it and my thought was renewed by the addition of Wade. He’s just a twisted individual with a creative genius that cannot be touched. I loved looking back on some of the best dances from past seasons and just wish that they had brought more of them back and turned the one hour elimination show into a two hour dance special. It would’ve allowed some bigger festivities.

Now on to the tender and trying discussion of the elimination. The bottom four were Janette, Kayla, Jason, and Brandon. I must say that I was utterly shocked. I think that Melissa and Ade were saved by the skin of their teeth with that Tyce DiOrio piece about breast cancer. I think that they honestly should’ve been the ones going home. I have yet to be blow away by Melissa. I find her dancing static and stiff, and although I know she’s a ballerina, I have seen plenty a ballet-dancing where the dancers have been phenomenally flexible and fluid. I just don’t think that she should have made it this far and am supremely surprised that she is in the competition another week.

That said, I also don’t think that Kayla and Janette should’ve been in the bottom. I am a huge Kayla fan and think she had the best night of all the girls. I thought her Thriller-esque hip hop routine was to die for. Haha…and I thought her Broadway was one of the best of the seasons. I think that people just get pissed at the over-praise of the judges and that makes them not want to pick up the phone for her and makes the audience think that she’s a stuck-up attention whore. Which I do not agree with. Being kind of reserved myself, I just think that it’s that she’s not the loudest, most bubbly contestant this season. That would be Janette. Whom, although is not my favorite, I think has been the most consistent of the season; from delivering the first good hip-hop of the season to her Wade robson robber routine to her wonderful Argentine tango, she’s been a force to be reckoned with and a shock seeing as she’s practically untrained and is a salsa dancer.

In my opinion, Jeanine and Melissa should’ve been in the bottom with Melissa going home. That atrocious waltz and that horrible cha-cha did them in. I didn’t enjoy Jeanine and Brandon’s pop/jazz, it left me wanting more in the terms of a storyline and more personality. I didn’t enjoy that Melissa and Ade got a beautiful, moving dance, that therefore could not be overlooked to then consider the rest of the season.

So yes, I think that America got it wrong in the sending home of Janette. But on the bright side, some good dancers are left and I’m hoping that things will go more favorable to me next week. If not, then I don’t always get what I want, but I’m glad that the entire top ten will be on tour and that there really is not loser from this point on.

On to the boys – I am very much saddened that Jason is the one leaving tonight as he was my favorite male in the competition. As I mentioned earlier I think that Ade should’ve been the one going home. I think he has been weakening in the past weeks and that he hasn’t been shining personality-wise as Jason and Evan. Furthermore, I think that it was right for Brandon to be in the bottom. I didn’t think that he had the strongest dancing of the night. I think he and Ade danced very heavy last night and the only good things were their solos and Ade’s Tyce contemp. On that note, I think that it was cheap that Ade and Melissa were saved by a moving portrayal of a difficult issue. I don’t think it’s fair to make America judge on something so emotional. It’s just like the earlier save of Asuka and Vitolio with their “moving” waltz that just left me sitting still.

Jason clearly had the best night as a whole with a stunning Broadway where he just exuded jazz and a zombie-licious Shane Sparks number which was my favorite of the night. Again I think the voters got it wrong. In my perfect world Ade and Brandon would’ve been in the bottom with Ade going home. He’s just not the force to be reckoned with that they tout him to be.

But to end on a positive note, because in the end this season has been and extremely close and strong season, we have six strong and unique dancers left. I’m sad that one of my favorites – Jason – is going home, but I’m extremely glad that Kayla and Evan are left. I think Jeanine is usually a consistent and beautiful dancer and hope she gets luckier next week. I hope Brandon gets some air in his feet and wows me next week. And I hope that Ade and Melissa do something that wows me.

I’m not sure who’ll be going home next week, but I’ll be waiting in anticipation until next Thursday. A bientot!

This episode is a two hour spectacle with a lot of dancing (seriously? We need less solos and more one hour shows) and some funnies from Ellen. I’m glad she didn’t actually critique, and is just there to have some fun, crack some jokes, and be positive.

The opening number is a futuristic Contemporary/Hip Hop situation by Travis Wall. I like their day glo outfits and the theme, but I am not as impressed as I should be – they’re not dancing together, and while it may be the camera work, there were a few moments where I just did not know what was going on. Just a few dancers at a time and flailing limbs. It was fine, but not great.

EVAN & JANETTE: They begin with a Sonya Tayeh Jazz routine. It has a great story where they try and shut each other up. Mia’s right that Evan will never be the dark and twisty dancer that Sonya requires, but he handles it much better than I ever would have expected. Janette is still a crazy surprise. She is so good at everything she does – girl has definetely had some classical training. There’s no way she is just a Salsa street dancer. They return later with a Rumba – again, Evan is not getting the dances suited to his smiley style. Again, Evan surprises me with his attempt. He may not be on par with the rest, but he is growing. Nigel takes a moment to comment on his “droopy eyes” and comes across as a big meanie, but it’s Ellen to the rescue! She and Mia (!!) defend him and his adorable face.

BRANDON & JEANINE: They start off with a really bad Waltz. The judges blame the painfully slow music, but I think they could have done a better job regardless of the tempo. They came across as heavy and labored in their movements, and lacked the grace necessary to sell a slower Waltz. No matter, as they have a second dance to go. They bring it in the next round with THE. BEST. POP. JAZZ. EVER. Take that Brian Friedman! This is how it’s done. New choreographer Laurianne Gibson gave them a really strong routine and they worked it. It was so good that I didn’t even notice they were dancing to Jordin Sparks.

MELISSA & ADE: The couple was reunited tonight and trotted out an international style Cha Cha. Um, they’re not good at it. Melissa is uncomfortable and has poor hip action. She looks like a ballerina trying really hard and failing miserably. Ade is better, but not by much. Mia calls this his worst performance yet. As luck would have it, they return later with probably their best performance on the show. It’s a Tyce Diorio Contemporary piece, inspired by breast cancer. Now don’t throw stones at me or anything, but I hate it when routines come with emotional storylines. Very rarely, it can add to a performance, but most of the time you can never judge a routine objectively. Had we not seen that intro video, and Melissa had not been wearing that headscarf, noone would have known it was about cancer, and I doubt we would have thought twice about it. I don’t want to take anything away from them, Melissa and Ade did a wonderful job. Danced it beautifully, emotionally. But listen to the judges’ remarks one more time – they’re talking about the message of the routine, about cancer, not about the dancing. And when people vote, they will be voting for the message, not the dancers. Just a teensy bit unfair?

JASON & KAYLA: Their first routine was a bluesy Tyce Diorio Broadway number. LOVED IT. I love Broadway, and this was a particularly fabulous routine. Jason grew leaps and bounds, and while Kayla may not bring out deep emotions, she can sell this type of routine. Plus, I love seeing her grandparents in the audience. They are too cute. Mia says that Kayla should head to Broadway because she would win Tony after Tony. Um, right. She’s good, but Tony good? Based on her inability to emotionally connect to audiences, I doubt her acting ability. Way to lay it on thick, Mia. Their second routine is a Shane Sparks Hip Hop about a zombie transforming a schoolgirl into his dead mistress. Sounds weird on paper, but it’s an awesome routine, with just enough macabre to make it work. The best Hip Hop of the season, even though that’s not saying much.

SOLOS: The most boring part of the show. Every once in a while we get something really brilliant - remember Will channeling James Brown in S4? Easily one of the best (and most entertaining) male solos ever on the show. But most of the time it’s a giant snoozefest. Evan’s solos are still great, but looking evermore the same. Janette does this weird Contemporary-meets-Miami thing which she should never attempt again. Brandon kills it, and in my opinion, is the best male soloist currently on the show.

BOTTOM 4 PREDICTIONS: I think Janette will be in the bottom, mostly due to that terrible solo and being partnered with Evan. Jason and Kayla had a great night, but I don’t think it was enough to keep them out of the bottom. Last week I was right with all my guesses, let’s see if I’m still with America’s pulse.

Cannot wait for tomorrow’s 100th show extravaganza!

The night started off with a group number choreographed by Travis Wall. He was inspired by a futuristic rave. The costumes were Lady Gaga-inspired and I must say, I’m not a big fan. I don’t think that they completely complimented the dances, but I have seen worse on the show. I thought they all danced it with power and energy, but that they could’ve hit it just a bit more. I’m glad to see a contestant turn into a seasoned, brilliant choreographer. I’m glad it started the night out well.

Evan and Janette started of the couples dance with a Sonya Tayeh jazz routine. I really liked the costumes…Janette is so tiny, she can pull off a tiny little leather number. I also have to say that Sonya’s taste in the music she selects is amazing, she never goes wrong in that area. I also loved the concept of shutting each other up. I loved the movements and although it’s hard to keep up with the firecracker that is Janette, Evan pulled it off way better then I thought he would. I’m still a fan of him and as always am a Kasprzaktivist!

Kayla was the first solo if the night, dancing to Imogen Heap. I love her lines. Her legs are to die for. I’m also enjoying her interjection of personality that has come about slowly throughout the weeks. I’m glad that we’re finally getting to know her not just behind the scenes but on the stage too.

Brandon and Jeanine were up next with a totally forgettable waltz by Hunter Johnson. It just was not as graceful as I wanted it to be. They had some hand fumbling at the beginning. The tempo was so slow that it was hard to control their movements, it looked labored and heavy. I just did not think that it was a memorable or particularly well dancing piece. On a better note, Jeanine looked STUNNING in that yellow dress. Like Belle from Beauty and the Beast.

Jason’s solo was next and I hated it! I liked the song and I like him a lot as a dancer, but there was no content. All it was were kicks and leaps. I kept thinking “where is the dancing??” I just wanted more from a dancer that I know can do so much more.

A reunion happened when Melissa and Ade were paired together again. They were given an international style Cha-Cha choreographed by Tony Meredith. I just wanted them to bring more groove and more personality. They both looked stiff. It was just so bland, and might I add…no more fringe on the boys please. Haha. I loved the end though, it was a great lift and had some great lighting.  I’m also really glad that they finally gave Melissa some criticism. I haven’t really been on the Melissa bandwagon and so it was great to see that she wasn’t untouchable.

Next was Janette’s solo. I just have to say because I’m used to her Latin flair, the mix of Celine Dion, dark outfit, and the more contemporary styling was odd. It really threw me off. I wanted to see her spice and I think she took a risk that didn’t quite work out.

I would like to point out that this is where the couple’s dances kind of picked up and got better for me.

Jason and Kayla were next with a Tyce DiOrio Broadway piece that was jazz inspired.  I really liked the tone of this piece and the movement. The lines were nice and the jazzy movements were much appreciated. I think it flowed well and the dancers danced with personality. I though Jason really brought it in this piece, he was just a guy dancing in a blues dive with Kayla as his temptress. I think they truly deserved the compliments.

Ade’s solo was next. And although I didn’t think he had a good Cha-Cha, he always brings it in the solo. He has very good control of his body and he had incredible musicality. I think it was one of the better solos of the night.

Evan and Janette with a Rumba, were next. They danced to “Heartless” performed by Kris Allen. I liked the movement, even though I am not a big fan of this style of dance. I thought it was a pretty decent slow Rumba. I thought they were both strong in this dance even though Janette was a bit more natural in it. I also really appreciated that Ellen and Mia really came to the defense of Evan for his unique face and style. I really appreciated it. I really don’t think Evan is the sexiest beast out there, but he gave a valiant effort.

Melissa with her solo was next. I really don’t enjoy her solos. They lack something every single week. She needs something that makes the viewers go “Wow.” She needs height, she needs more content. I just really think her solos are stagnant and forced. It’s really sad, I want to like her so much more then I can, but I am incapable in seeing the hype that the judges have built up for her.

After that, Brandon and Jeanine danced a Laurieann Gibson pop/jazz number. I thought it was powerful, but Jeanine’s costume really took away from it. I wish that she had been put in something like camo pants and a tank top or something. I think it would’ve added to the strength of her dancing. I did think that they upped the ante with this number though.

Evan’s solo was next. I love his solos. They are adorable and I enjoy his style. They are cute and just exude his personality. I think that he recovered from his hat drop very well. I just think he redeems himself every time with his intriguing and personable solos.

The last female solo of the night was Jeanine. I think she is just a powerhouse and has rarely made a mis-step this season. Although I think she needs to bring some new and inventive things to the stage, I think she is a consistently strong dancer.

Melissa and Ade’s second dance was a Tyco DiOrio contemporary, which could be one of the best of the season. It was about a woman struggling with breast cancer. I think that this is the only piece that Melissa was lovely in. It really did give me chills. The lifts and throws were beautiful. They committed wonderfully. I’m glad that this show mixes awareness and humility and deep emotion with dance, it creates the magic that is dance.

The last solo of the night was Brandon’s. I think he is a very strong and masculine dancer. I’m glad he’s still in the competition. His solo was practically flawless.

The last dance of the evening was Jason and Kayla’s second dance. It was a Shane Sparks hip-hop number about a zombie trying to make a schoolgirl into a zombie. I loved the disturbing and cool movement and the Thriller-esque feel.  The costumes and make-up were stop on. The best Shane Sparks routine and the best of the night. I loved it.

I really have no idea who’s going home tomorrow night, but I’m anxious to find out who will be in the top six! Adios!

The opening routine is an interesting mix of ballet, hip hop, and Japanese influences. Here’s the real kicker – it works. It’s really intriguing, and Melissa and her pointe get a starring role. I’m guessing a Robson routine and I would be right. LOVE.

Cat gets right to announcing those in danger, and looky looky, I was right about alllll of them. Randi, Melissa, Kupono, and Ade. I guess I have figured out America’s voting criteria. I would be absolutely fine with any of them going home tonight except for Ade, he’s a star and just had a mediocre night.

The two judges discuss the Bottom 4, and the best moment in tonight’s episode is Debbie Allen dismissing the Paso Doble altogether. I like the Paso, but it’s her interaction with Mary (decidely less screechy when Nigel isn’t there for her to annoy) and repeated exclamations (Chiiiild, Honey, etc.) that make her a joy to watch. Debbie Allen every week!

Here’s the worst part of tonight’s show – the Bottom 4  perform the very same solos they did last night. Why? Was it too much for them to come up with another one in a day? I don’t like it. This results in the bulk of the show being  a warmed up version of yesterday’s, and I use this time to contemplate Kupono’s killer fashion sense. It was mentioned on the show that he made his own outfits, and I want him to dress me. So does Cat Deeley, apparently, and she gushes more about his clothes than his dancing. I wish someone would tell him to pull his pants up a little. He seems really close to making this a non-family show.

The Black Eyed Peas come on to perform while the judges “contemplate” who is going home. This is one of the best performer matches for the show, and they really light the stage on fire. Cat reminds us how they supported the show back in the day by opening up their music catalogue, and I’m sent back to the days where all of the Latin dancing was set to “Mas Que Nada.”

The results are in and it’s no surprise – Randi and Kupono are going home. Both had the unlucky challenge of being overshadowed by their partners and never getting the chance to cultivate their own fanbases. Not to mention floundering the first week they didn’t have others to help them. It was their time to go, and Kupono has a future as a stylist.

See you next week!

GROUP ROUTINES: The Top 5 girls dance a Bollywood routine and the Top 5 guys dance an African routine. The African dance is high energy, powerful, rhythmical, and awesome. I know they didn’t have much time to learn it, but the guys aren’t exactly perfect, and don’t live up to the quality of the routine. Or rather, Evan and Kupono don’t. Evan stands out, not just because he is milky white and vertically challenged, he seems half a beat behind the rest. Kupono doesn’t give it the power it needs. The other three are fantastic. As for Bollywood, here’s the thing… I’m a Bollywood dancer. I grew up doing this stuff. And the choreographer, Nakul Dev Mahajan, is dreadful. Really bad, really uninspired, and really basic. I could do his job better and I would do it for free. He sucks. Case in point: during this routine the girls turn around to reveal male mustached masks. Why? Noone knows, but I do know that it’s ridiculous. Ugh, I hate this guy. A terrible face for Indian dance. That being said, the girls cope with the routine better. They dance together and they dance as a unit. Noone stands out in a bad way, which is the point of a group routine.

EVAN & KAYLA: They dance a Viennese Waltz and it’s very pretty. They’re at a disadvantage because Kayla is so much taller than Evan, but he wears heeled shoes and she doesn’t. A height difference is killer to a Ballroom routine, and they manage to do it really well, with a great lift included. Mary rips Evan apart technically, but whatever they were doing wrong didn’t translate to the non-Ballroom experts. It’s a perfectly adequate performance.

ADE & JANETTE: They dance a NappyTabs hip hop routine where Ade literally hypnotizes Janette with his hair pick, and she strips off a librarian outfit to reveal a day glo ensemble.  Ade is great, but I expect Janette to be better at this than she actually was. They’re out of sync a few times, and I do not agree with the judges positive reviews. That routine was completely YAWN.

KUPONO & RANDI: They get a Paso Doble and it ain’t pretty. Kupono doesn’t bring the strength the routine needs, and Randi can’t save it. Mary Murphy decimates them, and this time I can see why. Nigel brings up the wig Randi is wearing for the routine, but I don’t get why - this was a decision the choreographers and costume/hair/makeup team made and it’s not her fault. Someone take Nigel away.

JASON & JEANINE: Season Two runner-up Travis Wall returns to choreograph a contemporary routine. It’s about the turmoil that occurs when two friends make the jump into a relationship and it’s the best routine of the night. Usually I think it’s a bit gimmicky when props are utilized, but the choreography really relies on this heart necklace tossed back and forth between the two. Jason never really hit his stride, until now. He came to life in this routine and I love it. Jeanine is, quite simply, magic.

BRANDON & MELISSA: They dance a Broadway routine from Hair. I love it, and it’s all peace and love and harmony. There were some great technical bits hidden in that floaty routine, and it’s lightness seemed to suit Melissa.

SOLOS: The solos are what we expect them to be, with few standouts. Ade is great, but chooses the wrong song to dance to. It’s a wrong match and it pales in comparison to last week’s baller solo. Kupono turns in his best solo so far, but that’s not exactly saying much. Jeanine is lovely, and Janette is just spicy enough to save her. Melissa is boring. Evan turns it out, to finally remind us why he made it to the show in the first place. This is the first time since week one I won’t blame his fans for voting for him, he is brilliant at what he does.

BOTTOM 4 PREDICTIONS: Melissa – I got proof last week that America finds Melissa as one-note as I do, and tonight she was snooze-inducing. Randi – This was her first time outside of Evan’s giant fanbase and she gave us no reason to vote for her. Kupono – This was a rough night for him, all around. Common sense would suggest Evan was in danger but his solo was killer and his fans are rabid. Due to that lackluster hip hop, I think Ade will be a surprise presense in the Bottom Four.

Until then!