SYTYCD S5 Ep. 10 Top 16 Performance

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SHOW START -

Cat is wearing a short tangerine grecian style dress with gold accents.  It's simple, and like I've said before, I think she looks better dressed like that.  She is wearing what looks like a braided hair band.  It's hard to tell if that's her hair or a headband...the color doesn't match exactly.  I don't like her hair. 

Judges - Nigel, Mary, & Toni Basil (Oh Mickey You're So Fine!)

Toni is going to be receiving a Living Legend of Hip Hop award.  (Does Toni's hat remind you of the Purple Pie Man?)

Mary thinks this season is better and bigger than ever.  Very unpredictable.

Nigel says the judges try to shape the Top 10 with what America gives them, but this season is one of the best Top 20 they've had and they are still evolving.

Hmmm...Mary looks like she is also wearing a grecian style dress, but hers is brown and she is accented in silver.  Unfortunately, no one told Mary that big breasted women should not wear such voluminous fabric on top.  It makes her look like she's suffering from GTS (ginormous tata syndrome - uh huh, Christen...like how I got to use that here).  =)

This week the couples will tell us what they'd do with their lives if they weren't dancing.

Jonathan & Karla - Hip Hop / Dave Scott / By My Side (Jadakiss feat. Ne-Yo)

• Karla would be a journalist (minored in Journalism at NYU)
• Jonathan would an acrobat for Cirque de Soleil, he was a gymnast before
• Dance concept - Dave's interpretation of a love story - Bonnie & Clyde smooth criminals - gangsta (you can tell Karla's hip hop skills are coming in handy)
• Let's start with costuming - Jonathan was given a silver suit which looked even worse when he took off the jacket.  It looked like a bad prom suit and a white guy trying to dance.  Karla looked better, but she had baggy pants and it didn't seem to match the vibe they gave Jonathan.
• Now on to the dancing.  Ugh...that number was NOT good.  They were not dancing together and it just dragged.  It had low energy and didn't feel like they were performing.  It was very long few minutes.  It's harder to pull off smooth hip hop and I think they failed.  I see bottom 3 potential with that number.
  

Nigel - Smooth hip hop - It was ironed out and no excitement left.  No danger, too safe.  No chemistry.  If you don't get the style right, then choreography won't work together.  That wasn't good enough in style or anything else.  It was like "sunday school picnic outing".  He believes they will be in the bottom 3 with that performance. 
Mary - Dave probably wouldn't think you channeled your inner gangster and it wasn't good enough.  She didn't feel it.  The highlight was Jonathan's tumbling, but everyone knows he can do that.
Toni - Hip Hop is a series of steps from many styles and street.  Street has a groove and funk and without that it feels store bought.  This didn't have groove or funk.

Hip Hop this year seems seriously lacking.  I think that's what happens when they don't have enough hip hop dancers.  I think the choreographers feel like they're getting the short sticks because they can't convey the messages with these dancers very well (Although Karla is a secret hip hopper and she wasn't very good either). 
 
Vitolio & Asuka  - Jazz / Mandy Moore / Heartbreaker (Pat Benatar)

• Asuka would be a jewelry designer for ballroom dancers
  
• Vitolio would be a lead singer of a band
• Dance concept - thrash rocker jazz / really fast
  
• Asuka got overwhelmed and she cried.  Vitolio supported her and kissed her on the cheek to cheer her up.  Interesting...I may actually believe there's chemistry there today. Maybe...
• Mandy Moore and her 80s music, but I like this song.
• Let's talk costumes again - Asuka is wearing a lace body suit with a colored bra top undernearth and some boy shorts.  She's showing a lot more body than we've seen before.  That outfit could not be worn by anyone with more meat because it didn't even make her look that skinny.  I did like her teased out hair and black eyeliner.  Vitolio was wearing turquoise leathery like pants and black shirt.  I think he also had eyeliner on, but hard to tell.
• Dance - It was clean, they were together, it had some nice lifts.  Was I excited by it?  No.  It felt very dance recital to me.  It was overly clean and felt like it was rehearsed well, but could have been more.  My husband thought they were more in sync and gave more effort than Jonathan & Karla.  I agree, but still didn't love.  However, Mandy Moore's choreo is hit or miss.

Nigel - Fantastic!  He saw it in rehearsal and it was simplistic, but he thought they did the work. 
Mary - It was good, but not as good as last week.  They had some sync issues during the turning grand jetes.  They had good characters and they are growing as a partnership.  That partnership will help, but dance was good, not amazing.
Toni - Potential to be extremely powerful and that clip showed soft side.  Don't let technique get in the away of emotions.  Let emotions take them to the next level because they have an electricity and could be a force to be reckoned with.

Oh, that was not obvious AT ALL that they are hyping them so Asuka will make Top 10 and be their "ballroom girl" to win this year, as rumored.  I will say they do have more of a connection, but I don't love their dancing.  That number was okay at best.  I want to be wowed and they didn't.  I think I may like Vitolio more of the two as far as being the "awwww" one of the pair.

Ade & Melissa - Rumba / Tony Meredith / Emotion (Destiny's Child)

• Melissa would be a pilates instructor and open a studio (she's an instructor already)
  
• Ade would be a sound engineer on a TV show
• Dance concept - love dance with technique
• Costumes - Shiny skimpy burnt orange dress that does not leave much to the imagination, yet shows that Melissa has NO body fat.  Girl is ripped.  Ade was in a typical ballroom outfit and looked good.  Only thing that bugged were the fly-aways in her hair.  It seemed a little messy and distracted me once or twice.
  
• Dance - I like that they looked like two adults doing this sexy dance versus young kids (Gev & Courtney - S4, although I liked that number).  This number was very sexy and yet also technically super difficult.  Her beautiful ballet lines really stood out.  I don't think this number did as much to showcase Ade, but he didn't stand out negatively.  I loved all Melissa's leg lifts and turns.  This is the first number I enjoyed tonight.

Nigel - Rita Hayworth look, great back and carriage.  Ade was wonderful and he gave her something to undulate against ("what a difference Ade makes" - lame Nigel!).
Mary - She's buying what they're selling (emotion and technique).  Very believable.  Ade had good technique too.  They got a Mary scream. 
Toni - Beautifully done, ballet training worked.  They were hot because Tony Meredith was hot when he competed.

OMG!!!  They showed Brandon & Janette before the break and all I can say is, "what have they got Janette in?"  She had on a vinyl bustier and trashy tights and some vinyl boots and her hair was crazy and huge.  I'm a little worried without knowing the concept.

(Once an episode the camera spins in circles...why?  It just makes me dizzy!) 

Brandon & Janette - Hip Hop / Dave Scott / What a World (Common)

• Janette would be loan processor and is one year away from being a finance major. 
  
• Brandon would be a lighting and design artist.
• Dance concept - Rock & Roll meet Hip Hop.  Janette is a rock star and Brandon is hip hop, but wants to be a rock star too, but she ignores him (for awhile). 
  
• Costumes - OK, they make sense now with the concept.  And hers isn't pleather.  It actually more tasteful, except for those nasty fishnet things.  Brandon was a hip hopper in jeans, baggy button shirt and cap.
• Dance - AWESOME!!!  (Hey, is that one of the chairs from Danny & Neil's Two Princes number?).  They were both so good and in character.  They did the rocker well and the hip hop.  I loved their interaction and man can Brandon dance.  I was sooo impressed with his skills.  He looked GOOOOOD!  Janette kept up though.  My favorite routine of the night so far.   

Nigel - Brandon & Janette were both impressive esp in different styles
Mary - They really nailed it.  Huge surprise.  Consistent ever week so far.  Mary screech.
Toni - Dave was very strategic in his choreography, but they really did well

Kupono & Kayla - Viennese Waltz / Jean-Marc Generaux / Sweet Dreams for You (Jewel)

• 1ST TIME COUPLE
• Kayla would do modeling - she's modeled for dancing, but wants to do high fashion
  
• Kupono would do costume designing - he makes his outfits and he sews (so awesome)
• Dance concept - dream journey that they end up dreaming together
• Costumes - Kayla is wearing a sea foam green flowy dress that looks good with her pale skin.  Kupono is wearing grey slacks and a dress shirt w/ a vest that matches the slacks.  They are both barefooted
• Dance - I actually thought it was beautiful.  They were both so elegant and the wind blew through them making it seem very magical and dreamlike.  It looked effortless.  I might like Kupono and Kayla together.  It is strange how Kupono does morph into whatever character he's given.  He's like any choreographer's dream (except hip hop I guess).  The Viennese Waltz is like pas de deux and they were very good for the first week together.

Nigel - It was beautiful and they were a beautiful couple.  They assisted to keep the flow going.  He doesn't think it'd make people stand up and cheer because of the type of dance (people in the audience stood up and cheered).  Nigel said he hopes he wrong because it would be justly deserved. 
Mary - Was no nightmare!  It was elegant and flowing.  Totally believable.  Absolutely endearing.  Quality of movement for the ballroom was really amazing considering they are ballrooming.  Mary thinks they belong on the hot tamale train...first time for the Viennese Waltz!  (yeah!!!)
Toni - She really loved the routine.  She thinks Kayla is something else because she doesn't let her technique get in the way of her dancing; she's always in the moment and alive.  New partnership, yet very commendable.  Really loved it!

Hmmm...maybe the judges knew what they were doing when they made Kupono and Kayla new partners.  They never had this kind of attention in the separate routines, and for a Viennese Waltz to boot.  Yay for my Kupono (ans yay for Kayla...she was good!)

(I LOVE the Glee promos...I can't wait for that show to start!)

Evan & Randi - Contemporary / Mia Michaels / Koop Island Blues (Koop feat. Ane Brun)

• Randi is pursuing a career in education for Special Education
  
• Evan would be a custom car shop owner
• Dance concept - "The Booty" hypnotized by Randi's booty - Randi is a like a poodle, so sexy and sophisticated and Evan is so obsessed he's almost lost all bodily function (eww)
• Costumes - Randi comes out in this pink silky negligee dress and super high heels.  She proceeds to take one off and then dances a few more 8-cts before Evan removes her other shoe.  Evan is wearing a hat and very baggy shirt and pants with suspenders.  They have a very pajama looking costume together
  
• Dance - Loved how Mia took Evan's old Hollywood style and merged it with her style to make this sexy sassy routine.  It was actually a very difficult routine and they danced it really well.  Some parts looked a little awkward like they weren't fully getting the style, but overall I liked the routine.  It wasn't a "love" Mia number, but I really liked it.  I wonder what Randi's husband will think when he sees Evan grab his wife's booty not once, but twice. 
  

Nigel - Simple choreography for Mia, but beautifully danced.  It wasn't a lot of style or ideas, but they executed it well.  It'll be memorable because the concept makes people remember it and vote.  They followed through on it.
Mary - She wasn't hypnotized by just the butt...they were great.  Evan was a leading man tonight.  You were absorbed into their world.
Toni - Lived up to the choreo.  Mia used the dancers' strengths to make a great routine.

I love that Randi wears her wedding ring when she dances.  I am sure this is hard for her to be away from him and dancing with another man.  I think for Melissa, she's older and seems like it would be easier for her.
 
Jason & Caitlin - Paso Doble / Jean-Marc Generaux / O'Furtuna (from Carmina Burana)

• Caitlin would have pursued Broadcast Journalism
  
• Jason would be a soccer player professionally or at a university (second love)
• Dance concept - HATE FIGHT ANGRY STRENGTH
• Costume - Caitlin looks like a genie with her hair in a high ponytail and a harem looking dress in multiple colors.  Jason looked like some kind of soldier in a weird cape. but his body was nice without the shirt on.
  
• Dance - I REALLY wanted to love this, but I didn't.  It felt messy and clumsy and I didn't feel enough FIRE from either of them.  It was there sometimes, but overall, it just felt kind of flat.  They are super sexy together, but this number did not showcase them compared to other numbers.  I didn't believe they hated each other (maybe because they actually really like each other).  That makes me sad.  I think they'll be in the bottom again.
  

Nigel - Passionate music - Jason performed a little too much to the audience and not his partner.  Jason needed to use his thighs more.  Caitlin has good lines and beautiful flow of movement.  But, there needed to be more between them as a couple.  Good job.
Mary - Strong performance - Jason looks amazing in the outfit, but lost his posture sometimes.  Caitlin magnificent lifts and timing great.  Fearless.  Well done.
Toni - She liked it.  Style didn't always happen, but it didn't get in the way of performance.  They lived with the music.  Powerful and really good.  Great job.

Well, I am happy the judges liked it more than I did.  I still think it could have been cleaner and stronger, but maybe I need to watch it again? 

Phillip & Jeanine - Broadway / Tyce Diorio / Moses (Singing in the Rain)

• Jeanine would be an actress. (She's done some indie films...interesting...a professional).
  
• Phillip would be an inventor.  He wants to create or invent something to help society.
• Dance concept - high energy with a couch
• Costumes - Jeanine has pin up hair with HUGE bangs and a modified housewife dress,  Phillip has on slacks and an argyle vest with short sleeved buttoned down shirt.  Phillip split his pants during that routine, probably when he jumped the couch (that was a BIG jump). 
  
• Dance - That was super cute.  They both looked great, it was fun, and I loved the choreo.  It doesn't hurt that I love that song.  Great ending to the show!  They made up for their wretched tango last week.
  

Nigel - Made Phillip turn around and Jeanine pulled the pants and the camera caught legs and some tighty whiteys!  LOL Very memorable moment!  Jeanine brought the personality, but he thinks Phillip needs to grow even more.  It was fun, but need more than Phillip's a*s.  Nigel said as long as America kept voting them through, the judges would be hard on Phillip to progress.
Mary - Not allergic to that routine.  Fun.  Phillip's technique faltered, but Jeanine could go on any Broadway stage. 
Toni - Adorable, but not Donald O'Connor or Gene Kelly.  Better this week than last week.  Can't let the feathers upstage them.

Overall, I liked this show more than last week's.  I have already seen blogs where others disagree, but I liked many routines tonight.  I liked more than I disliked.  

Special Performance by The Veronicas tomorrow (first heard them last year with Untouched - Thayne & Chelsea).