Wednesday the 16th

SYTIt'sTheFinale

• Well damn straight they open the massive group number with Legacy, bc Legacy is awesome and got robbed last week. ROBBED. The dance itself was OK, but not spectacular. I found myself racking my brain trying to recall who the first people eliminated were - Kat's reminder that these were the "top 19 dancers" helped. That Brandon kid who made it in as a replacement for Billy Bell, then did an inexplicable hip hop routine to a John Mayer song and was heaved aside but told he can reaudition. And the girl was... was... huh. Hope I blogged about that and... I did. Still don't remember her, really.
  
  
• Why so many upcoming musical numbers? And not masters of dance?!? Prediction: I will be fast forwarding. A lot.
  
  
• ...and apparently I will begin fast forwarding now, because I already watched last night's show. Last night, in fact.
  
  
• Lil C's favorite - the hip hop collaboration from the intro show. Legacy and Russell still incredible. Kevin still not sure why he was top 20. While this was fun, after seeing so many cool hip hop routines on "America's Best Dance Crew", this was just OK.
  
  
• Adam's favorite - Ellenore and Jakob's contemporary choreographed by Sonia. YES. This was an incredible choreographer-dancer pairing.
  
  
• Nigel's favorite - the group tap routine. Was it just me, or did it feel like their hearts weren't really in this? Or was it just Bianca? Who has a right to be bitter because they cut her too early?
  
  
• Mary's favorite - a new routine by the married couple. So they could do ballroom. And be married. Ashleigh finally seemed to have her face under control, but there were two moments with noticable pauses where she was lining up waiting for Ryan, once for him to kick over her head and once when he was jumping over her.
  
  
• Leona Lewis, and as I fast forwarded, I thought to myself "It was sure great when Chelsea and Mark danced to that Leona Lewis song 'Bleeding Love' - yes, I sure do enjoy it when there is dancing on 'So You Think You Can Dance'." And also, "Way to freakin' shill this show out as a movie commercial, producers."
  
  
• Y'know, I'm also thinking that while I didn't love Season 5 it did have some truly memorable numbers - Addiction, The Butt, the Travis Wall contemporary piece for Jeanine and Jason - and this season lacked those. Because I am having a tough time thinking of anything iconic from it - I really loved Ellenore and Ryan's contemporary, and Legacy and Kathryn's waltz, and nothing is else is really coming to mind right now.
  
  
• OK, guest DANCERS. I will watch you, Groovaloos. Hey, isn't that girl in the purple shirt, who I didn't realize was a girl at first, from Beat Freaks?? YAY!!! And those two guys leaping over and under each other at the same time was incredible. Cutting off the last 2 members during the bow? BOOOOO!!!! BAD SHOW, DIRECTOR!!!!
  
  
• Jakob and Kathryn, contemporary piece. Maybe I would like this better if it wasn't to a cheesy song. I have never liked this song - not since it was on "Family Ties". No argument that the dancing is superb, I just didn't connect to the piece.
  
  
• Tyce's favorite, Nathan and Mollee's Bollywood. Eh. I wish Russell and Ashleigh had been able to dance their number together, because I think that would have been the better piece. I think Mollee was a lot better this time around - some switch really did flip for her because grown-up dancing Mollee is more fun to watch than cheerleader gymnastics camp Molleee.
  
  
• OK, this just got dramatic and I am not happy about Russell being hurt at all. And while I'm glad Ryan is in 6th, who is going to hold Russell up? Kat agrees. Summary - I had higher hopes, I really did like a few of his early dances, but he wasn't the highest caliber.
  
  
• Adam Lambert, who is supposedly not going to offend anyone tonight. WRONG. I am offended because this number involves no dancing. Fast forward.
  
  
• Montage of auditions, which I fast forward, until the part where they show the top 20 bc it's fun to go back and watch their auditions - except clips are minimal. So more fast forwarding!
  
  
• And Ashleigh in 5th - I agree again, and am relieved because now I will be pretty happy with whoever wins. She grew on me, but again - not the same caliber as the other girls left.
  P.S. Her mom's hair is cuh-razy big.
  
  
• Adam's favorite - Ellenore and Legacy the Mr. and Mrs. Smith thing. Again, I just didn't connect to the theme. I liked it a little better this time, but they still can't make me love it. It's like last season when they tried to make me love cancer. If you tell me I'm supposed to like it, I probably won't.
  
  
• Debbie's favorite - Russell and Noelle's, African Jazz. "Luckily, we have a tape." Um, really Kat? That sounds pretty goofy. Like there was going to be a problem getting the rights to this, or finding it backstage. Shit, it's probably on YouTube. As for the number, it's entertaining. I would be up for seeing more African Jazz in future seasons.
  
  
• Fourth. I don't know - I'm going to guess Ellenore. Since she was third last week. And she is. Which is a bummer, because I really, really loved her dancing. I hope we get to see more of her in the futire. I would pay money.
  
  
• Lil C's favorite - an orgy of majestic contemporary artistry. Huh. I think this season made me really hate Tyce. Kudos to Ariana, because she was the best part in this, and now I remember why I was annoyed they cut her first. She put her heart in this one.
  
  
• Mary's favorite - Russell and Kathryn, hip hop. I hope they are lucky enough to have a tape - oh, good! They do! All the way from last night! I still like it! I still think she didn't hit as hard as him, and if they didn't like her less the judges would have said this!
  
  
• Mary J. Blige, and as I fast forward it appears those could be dancers in the background, but turns out they're just sort of standing there posing. At least that's what it looked like in fast forward.
  
  
• Nigel's choice, yet another number from the season opener, but it's the Wade Robson one so OK. Oh wait, it's the Wade Robson one that I thought was Taboleon. Drat. But it did point out for me that Jakob has really been awesome all season, and may have still been in the top even if Billy Bell had stayed in the competition.
  
  
• Third - gonna say Kathryn, because I think guys traditionally get more votes, unless the girl blows them out of the water. Unless it's Katee, who should've at least been second and would have actually been a great choice for winner of Season 4. And it is, and glad she managed not to get all ridiculously squeaky. I liked her a lot more than I thought I would at the beginning of the season. And am still shipping her and Legacy.
  
  
• J. Lo., and it involves dancing. But it's J. Lo., so I don't care. Fast forward. Watched some of the interview, and damnit now I have to rewatch because there are supposed to be familiar SYTYCD faces. Huh. Couldn't pick any out. Why can't they name them? Because it's sad that success is being an unrecognizable dancer backing up J. Lo.?
  
  
• Winner: I'm going with Jakob, because I think he has the most support from the whole season. Russell had a terrific night yesterday, but Jakob has been just fantastic and it would be nice to have the actual best dancer win this time. (Not to say I haven't been thrilled with other past winners, but acknowledge that the most technically proficient has never won.) Russell sure had some entertaining moments, though, starting with the Vegas round when he did such an awesome job in the ballroom.
  
  
• Whaddya know. I kinda think Russell pulled a Jeanine and won because he was exceptional in the last show, but wasn't necessarily in the lead the entire time. I am a little disappointed it wasn't Jakob, but if Ellenore goes on tour with him I will pay even more.
  
  

Tuesday the 15th

SYTIt'sAlmostOver

• Has anyone ever said anything interesting in the "I made the finals" interviews? No.
  
  


• Kathryn and Ryan, Samba. Must admit - it is pretty hard to complain about Ryan being shirtless here. And Kathryn was delightfully sinewy. It was a pretty hot number.
  
  


• Ellenore and Jakob, Broadway. There were roughly 78 splits in this routine, and it was just kind of ridiculous. Tyce Diorio is lame. Ellenore and Jakob are aweseome.
  
  


• Ashleigh and Russell, Lyrical Jazz. Russell made my jaw drop - he was really spectacular here. His extensions were great, and while I thought the signature Sonia jerkiness was forced, he committed to it and looked like he really felt the piece. And Ashleigh - was apparently also in this, but I don't think she did much beyond get lifted. It reminded me of her early work with Jakob, where she also didn't do anything.
  
  


• Ryan and Ellenore, Jazz. This piece was a lot of fun! Ellenore was amazing - her robotic skills were fantastic. Ryan wasn't nearly as good as she was.
  
  


• Jakob and Ashleigh, Fox Trot. I didn't care. I didn't care A LOT. It wasn't a particularly strong piece for Jakob, and Ashleigh still bores me.
  
  


• Russell and Ellenore, Paso Doble. Wow, Russell is nailing it tonight - what a good time to peak! And... I didn't hear the pairing and assumed it was Kathryn and didn't realize it wasn't until they came up to the judges. So - actually, that's pretty good because I was thinking Kathryn was nailing it as usual, and I haven't seen Ellenore dance before where I didn't immediately think "Yup, that's Ellenore."
  
  


• Kathryn and Jakob, Contemporary. While they both danced this passionately, and were both amazing, and I really recognized Kathryn's signature style here - I found myself thinking "Yeah, this is good, but it's not great like the piece Jeanine and Jason did last season."
  
  


• Ashleigh and Ryan, Contemporary. It was fine. She still pulls too much face. Y'know what bugs me? If they love each other so much, why are they always crying about it? Gah!
  
  


• Kathryn and Russell, Hip Hop. I think Russell may have just won this. WILD CARD!!! And I was wondering if Kathryn did any other hip hop? Because she couldn't hit it hard enough.
  
  


• I'm really not sure what the outcome is going to be tomorrow. Based on tonight, I say give it to Russell. Based on the season, Jakob or Kathryn or Ellenore. Probably Jakob. So to summarize - not Ryan or Ashleigh.
  
  


• I wish they had gone one more week, so it could have been a really deserving final four, and so they would have each had time to solo. Because since the voting is for just one person anyway, I think it was a shame not to see each person dance individually.
  

Wednesday the 9th

SytawheckIdon'tcaremucheither

• Sonia's group dance number was cool, and super long. Very distracted noticing Ashleigh still wasn't dancing.
  
  
• Suspected something up with the girls when they brought out the boys first for voting. Not surprised with the results.
  
  
• Surprised Ashleigh made it, but not all that annoyed about it. Not happy Ellenore is in the bottom, but with a final 6 - don't think she has a shot at winning anyway.
  
  
• Musical group, extremely annoying. Blech.
  
  
• K-Mart product placement - painful to watch. Thank God they don't pull this shit more often on the show.
  
  
• Legacy. I approve of the almost all spinning solo, bc hell lots of spinning is impressive and this one is to demonstrate skill rather than to win votes.
  
  
• Ellenore. WOW. That was my favorite Ellenore solo yet. Her movement was so fluid, and unexpected. I would pay money to see her.
  
  
• Ryan. Was it just me, or were those mom jeans? And boo, repeat solo.
  
  
• Mollee. The intro reminded me of Nathan's solos, in a good way. Girl certainly peaked this week.
  
  
• Second musical guest. Eh. Don't care. Don't watch American Idol, and this Kris Allen kid is all right but ... hey, is that Constantine, the really irritating American Idol contestant from a few seasons ago, on bass? Weird.
  
  
• Ellenore safe - phew! And I'm glad Mollee got to go out after showing she really can grow beyond pep squad dancing.
  
  
• Ryan? RYAN?? Fuck. Stupid tweenie voters who bought into the "oh, the married couple is so in love and so cute" storyline. I would much rather watch Legacy for one more week. DAMNIT.
  
  

Tuesday the 8th

SYTIt'sTuesday

• It took them an awful long time to explain why Ashleigh wasn't in the dance intro tonight. Didn't want to see her go out this way, but I don't think she's going to prove popular enough to get through to tomorrow without dancing. Oh, and now it will be way easier for America to not vote Ryan in either. Dad's prediction was the 2 of them, and I agreed, provided they weren't paired up tonight.
  
  
• Kathryn and Ryan in aw damnit disco. ENOUGH DISCO. Anyway, I didn't see the storyline at all. And it was well done, but still disco, so I don't care anymore. Just don't care.
  
  
• Jakob and Mollee, Viennese Waltz. Jakob is the MIDAS of dancers, because this was my very favorite Mollee routine ever. I really liked it - I thought they danced it beautifully, and it was very sweet. That last lift was SO CUTE.
  
  
• P.S. What's this nonsense about having a finale with a top 6? Poor planning, Fox. That's too many dancers. Although I must admit the back-to-back seasons were too close together, and while I still love this show, even MY enthusiasm has waned.
  
  
• Ellenore and Legacy, Contemporary. I was put off by the "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" rip-off, BUT, can't argue that they did it really well. They were incredibly acrobatic, but I kinda missed more... dancing.
  
  
• Jakob. Holy shit, that kid is so good. SO. GOOD. I'm gonna call it right now - he will be the first best dancer to win this competition.
  
  
• Russell and Ashleigh, SHAAANNNNEEEE SPAARRRKKKKSSSSS!!! Yay. YAY! And Russell KILT this. Just flat out killed it. It was so much fun to watch him do his own style.
  
  
• Mollee. Good on her - this one did NOT look like a cheer routine. It was pretty good.
  
  
• Ryan and Kathryn, Cha Cha. Well he better be good at this, but - still don't think it'll save him. And he WAS good! It reminded me of back during the auditions when I thought he was going to be fun to watch. The ending pose was so fantastic. This was indeed hot.
  
  
• Legacy. The phone was silly, but I still loves me some old school b' boy moves. I would totally give him money if I saw him dancing on the pier.
  
  
• Ellenore. I think she would be the most fun to watch dance spontaneously, like at a party or something. She just looks so improv, and fun!
  
  
• Russell. Santa costume cute, and the wacky thing he did gliding with his feet was unreal. But the teddy bear was silly. What's up with the props tonight, kids?
  
  
• Jakob and Mollee, Broadway. Nicely done - sense of humor, and fun to watch. If Mollee had been paired with Jakob early on, maybe I could've liked her the whole time.
  
  
• Kathryn. Ooohhh... I loved her twisty pretzel moves!
  
  
• Ellenore and Legacy, Hip Hop. Not strange enough. Shane Sparks could've made this even weirder. Like the transformer routine.
  
  
• Ryan. You know who else did better ballroom solos? Pasha. And Dmitry. Plugging his wife was nice, but wish he could've done it without choking himself up.
  
  
• Russell and Ashleigh, Bollywood. Wow, looks like hip hop is good training for Bollywood, because Russell was once again TERRIFIC. I love that kid.
  
  
• Looked like everyone was peaking tonight, EXCEPT - sadly - Legacy and Ellenore. Still think it's likely Ashleigh and Ryan go home tomorrow, and Jakob for the win in the finals!
  
  

Wednesday the 2nd

SYTYCDResults

• Who did Kat's make-up? Matte red lips and flesh colored dress? No.
  
  
• Group Number - Mad Max and Billy Joel together at last! Uh... This was fun, and featured a whole lotta Jakob being AWESOME, and also seemed to give everyone a little showcase moment. Or at least each of the boys.
  
  
• Nooooo... it should have been Mollee and Noelle. Not Kathryn. Damnit. Prediction: a not so joyeux Noelle.
  
  
• The men? I concur. Prediction: G'night, Ryan.
  
  
• The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers. Who knew synchronized b-boying was so PRETTY? Loved it.
  
  
• Noelle - well, that solo was the best thing I've seen her do. But she can still go. And I still would have rather had Bianca around longer.
  
  
• Ryan - boo, recycled solo. Even though he was corny, I think all the ballroom guys should seek out Benji Schwimmer for solo advice bc he was generally entertaining.
  
  
• Kathryn - aw, honey, I love you but boo, recycled solo. And it was better yesterday.
  
  
• Nathan - best solo of the night. It was really good, and I love his dance - I just wish... he had seasoning, I guess, so he came across as more likable. Brilliant dancer, maybe shouldn't talk.
  
  
• Snoop Dogg. And QWEST CREW WOOOOHHHOOOOOOO!!!! And a bunch of other dancers, so I liked this. Because while it was a musical act, it mostly featured dancing and how the music worked to inspire movement.
  
  
• So , for Noelle, keep in mind Kherington also went out #5 and she managed to book the remake of Fame. And Nathan also has a lot of potential to have a dance career. (And I think Ryan is likely to go next week. Not that I don't like him, I just don't think he's as well-rounded as the other guys (Jakob), or as spectacular in his style (Russell).

Tuesday the 1st

SYTYStill Watching? Hmm...

• Noelle and Ryan, Hip-Hop. This left me bored, and I was struck by how much Noelle looked like Tabitha while she was dancing. Or like she was imitating Tabitha. Ryan kept up, but he looked like a performer on an old variety show trying to do a hip new routine.
  
  
• Legacy and Ashleigh, Contemporary. This routine was REALLY neat, and I loved how they kept using each other as platforms. Their sync was hit or miss, though - there was one section where they were mirroring each other, face to face, and just as I was thinking "WOW, they're really timing this well" they got... off. I admit that I enjoy watching Ashleigh dance a lot more now than I did in the beginning - but the face pulling still gets to be a bit much. Not that Legacy is much different, actually, but his fit the tone of the piece better. The ending pose with Legacy on his head was WAY cool.
  
  
• Mollee. No doubt the girl is athletic, but her solos have a "cheerleader" vibe rather than "dancer".
  
  
• Russell. He is AWESOME. Creative disrobing, a fall into an elbow stand, and the last leap into a one-legged squat? C. Razy.
  
  
• Kathryn and Nathan, Broadway. Oh, she is just too adorable. So classy, and she danced that beautifully. He? Looked kinda oily. I'm having a hard time getting past his "Little Prince" personality, but was also bugged bc he ALSO pulled faces like mad. If he and Ashleigh got paired, it would be very, very painful.
  
  
• Noelle. She does look joyful. Some of her extensions were a bit off. Pretty standard contemporary fare.
  
  
• Jakob and Ellenore, Quickstep. Cute little routine, and I liked the separated section. Ellenore looked a bit stiff, but that may have been because she was doing this well. I think they would have scored 2nd or 3rd in an actual Quickstep contest.
  
  
• Ryan. Had a really impressive leap in there where he reached his head back and almost touched his toes. And has anyone used "Rock You Like a Hurricane" for a Paso Doble yet? Bc that would totally work.
  
  
• Kathryn. Gosh, I like her. This was a pretty piece - nothing earth-shattering, but pretty.
  
  
• Mollee and Russell, Lyrical Jazz. I was distracted by the lame song and the even lamer remix of the song. And I think it was kind of lame choreography overall. I kept getting bored and had to remind myself to keep watching. They danced very well, this piece just felt hollow to me.
  
  
• Nathan. Has some beautiful movement, but... is he acting here? Or just freaked out bc he isn't as popular as he thought?
  
  
• Noelle and Ryan, Smooth Waltz. The opening made me laugh out loud, bc it is exactly what I would do if I were pretending I could waltz. And sweeeep the arms, and looook awaayyy, and sppppiiiiiiiinnnnn in my floaty dress.... Yeah, that's all I got for this one.
  
  
• Ellenore. Oooohhh, she's from Santa Cruz.... Her quirkiness just became even more endearing. And this was the first solo I wanted to rewind and watch again. Heart her.
  
  
• Ashleigh and Legacy, Hip Hop. That was dull. Just - dull. I blame Dave Scott. Nothing happened, and Ashleigh looked like she was trying awful hard.
  
  
• Nathan and Kathryn, Rumba. He was a good frame, but again with the faces. She was still splendid, but I don't think she killed it with the Latin here.
  
  
• Legacy. Wow. WOW. See, now I love him because I believe only Legacy can do what Legacy does, y'know?
  
  
• Ellenore and Jakob, Contemporary. Fan-freakin'-tastic. That head to head section at the beginning was killer. They were so perfect for this piece. (And I totally agreed with Adam Shankman that this was like "The Garden" part 2.)
  
  
• Ashleigh. Solo samba rolls - pretty cool.
  
  
• Russell and Mollee, Jive. I loved Russell in this piece. Mollee was OK, a little clunky. I think Pasha and Anya did a great job choreographing this piece. It was fun, but I think it would have actually been great if it had still been Russell and Noelle.
  
  
• Jakob. Huh. That was a surprisingly generic contemporary male solo. Good and all that, but... just good.
  
  
• Prediction: Jakob and Legacy are safe, Ellenore and Kathryn are safe. I think Ryan and Noelle may be going home.