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.