SYTYCD S5 Ep. 9 Top 18 Elimination

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Cat is wearing a really nice white pants tuxedo suit.  She looks really pretty.  I think this is the first time I've ever seen Cat in pants.  I wish I looked like that in a man's suit, much less a white one. 

Top 20 Routine - Jazz / Mia Michaels / Higher Ground (Stevie Wonder)

• First off, I'm so lame that I thought this was a Red Hot Chili Pepper song first.  Boy do I feel dumb.
• Starts with Ade, Kupono, & Jason pulsing in the front with tribal tattooed faces and black suits with white shirts and black ties. The rest of the dancers are surrounding them also pulsating.  The girls' hair is slicked back in ponytails and they too have tattooed faces.  It's a very androgynous piece. 
• I do notice that I can't find Brandon, but that's to be expected.  However, he does get front row stage left when they do this swimming out of water jump that I have seen Mia do in her Celine show (I like that part). 
  
• The guys get the first half of the number.  Ade is centered most.  When the girls come out, Ashley is center with Kayla and Karla flanking her in a trio section.
• I notice that Janette keeps making a really scary open mouthed face.  It's an intense piece, but her face makes me laugh.
• They end with group synchronization and some loud pounding on the ground. 
• It was a very Mia routine, and yet different because it was more jazz than contemporary.  As always, she is genius. 
• This was a more collective number than her big group number last year where Mark Kanemura was the star.  I still love that piece more, but this was good too.
  

Judges - Nigel, Mary, & Lil C

Segment about Lil C vernacular and how no one really knows what he's talking about.  When they loop it all together it makes no sense and is just gibberish, but I usually understand what he's saying.  The segment ends with BFree (Brian Friedman) shrugging his shoulder and making the "I don't know" face.  Brian looks like an elf to me lately.  I think it's the bald head and beard thing he has going on.  But, I like that hair better than when he had long curly hair.  That look was out of control.  Lil C thinks the segment is hilarious and he hugs Nigel. 

Down to Business:

• First 3 couples include Ade & Melissa, Jason & Caitlin, and Phillip & Jeanine.  I had both Jason & Caitlin and Phillip & Jeanine in the bottom, so it seems I am probably wrong on one.  As predicted Jason & Caitlin are in the bottom, but Phillip & Jeanine are not.  This proves that Phillip's fanbase is helping him through because he really deserved to be in the bottom.  (Ugh for that outfit Jeanine is wearing.  It does not flatter her at all).  Sad for Jason...I hope he does well in solos.   They show Megan Kinney in the audience and she looks worried for her sister. 
  
• Next 3 couples include Brandon & Janette, Jonathan & Karla, and Kupono & Ashley.  I didn't have any of them in my bottom 3 so you know I am wrong again (geez).  OH NOOOOOOO!!!!!  Kupono & Ashley are in the bottom.  WAHHHHHHHHHH!  How can both my Jason & my Kupono be in the bottom??!?!?  THIS IS SOOOOOOOO HORRIBLE!  I'm freaking out!!! (Kupono is channeling Mr. T tonight).
  
• Last 3 couples include Evan & Randi, Vitolio & Asuka, and Max & Kayla.  They showed Evan's brother Ryan's audition for S6.  He looked really good and had a great performance.  I chose Vitolio & Asuka for the bottom 3 because I didn't believe Asuka's fakeness, nor did I buy the story of their routine (even though I buy it in real life).  OMG! Another BIG shocker...Max & Kayla are in the bottom?!?! I swear Kayla looked more shocked than anyone else on the stage.  She looked completely incredulous. 
  

VERY INTERESTING!  I bet Shane Sparks is MAD!  Both of his numbers were in the bottom 3 along with Brian Friedman's number.  Both choreographers have been missing from SYTYCD for a few years and on their debut return, they bombed.  That can't be good.  I will say I thought Shane's style had changed and maybe it's in transition so it didn't really convey what he wanted.  As far as Brian's piece, I was actually pretty shocked.  They got great reviews, and it was a well executed number.  It must mean either people thought they'd be safe so they didn't vote for them OR people don't like their personalities (or lack thereof) and didn't vote for them.  

I AM 1 FOR 3 TONIGHT!  =[ Very bad for me, and really bad because two of my favorite males are in the bottom.  I'm super scared for them!  The results show me that people voting are too swayed by what the judges say or what they are told is emotional/good, not by what is actually good.  However, that is the show right; to vote for your favorites, not the best dancers.

Nigel thinks people wouldn't understand Brian's routine and maybe that's why they are in the bottom.  He also said at this stage the voting is very contingent on dance styles because no one had a huge following yet.  Then he changes the subject to compliment Cat on looking stunningly beautiful.  Cat is overheard saying something about a boyfriend...she's gonna break hearts with that comment.

 Actual Bottom 3:

• Jason & Caitlin (the only one I sadly got right)
  
• Kupono & Ashley
  
• Max & Kayla
  

Each week, So You Think You Can Dance will feature dance styles from around the world on the Results Show. 

Special Guest: Amrapali Ambegaoka / Kathak Indian dancing / Ganesh Toda Tatkar (Guru Sundarlal Gangani & Smt. Anjani Ambegookar)

• She dances with bells on her ankles.  I think I like the music more than the dancing (sorry).
• But, I'm also very anxious about the bottom 3 couples so I am little too impatient for this dance.
  

SOLOS:
Caitlin - Make You Feel My Love (Adele)

• Risky doing a repeat song for your solo (unless they loved it), but this was her Vegas Dance for Her Life song, and it was good enough to stay, but Nigel said it was old-fashioned.
  
• That was beautiful.  She updated her choreography and really showed a lot of control in her movement.  I wish I could do gymnastics like her.  She makes it look effortless.
• She looks nervous. 
  

Jason - Superman (Robin Thicke)

• He kind of did a lot of tricks back to back.  There were nice elements, but I wish he "danced" a little bit more.  Also, was his flexibility lacking or were his jeans constricting his movement?  I think he should rethink those pants next time. 
  
• I still like him. He's got some pointy canines...like a Vampire v-v =}
  

Ashley - By Your Side (Coco Rosie)

• She looks absolutely beautiful.  Her hair is in perfect glamorous 40s do and she has red lipstick on with a black flapper-ish dress.
• I think she spent too much time upstage away from the audience, but I liked the quality of her solo.  It was different and had style.  It wasn't just tricks and extensions.  She's definitely a performer in whatever she does.  
  
• (Note, my sister and I liked, but my Mom did not)
  

Kupono - Many Moons (Janelle Monae)

• Sadly, I didn't like this solo.  He has so much quirkiness, but that song was empty and it made his routine feel empty.  It was pretty uninspired and didn't give a lot of technique to make up for it.  He's very funky and has some cool moves and I love his style.  It's very much his own.  However, is personality and style enough?
  
• I am sooooo scared that my guy will be sent home.  I'll be so sad if he does.  In fact, I may boycott the show (Just Kidding, but I'd watch in protest only).    
  

Kayla - Walking on Air (Kerli)

• I was not impressed with this solo.  She has all the facilities and technique, but I can tell she did not expect to dance and had not really thought this solo through. 
  
• She did a lot of beautiful moves, but overall it felt rushed.
• I also did not like that dark dress on her.  Everything else about her was monochromatic from her skin color to her hair.  Then that dress was like, wham...dark brown.  She looks better in brighter, lighter colors that don't wash her out. 
  
• I don't think they'd send her home because they love her, but she better prepare next time.
  

Max - Footloose (Kenny Loggins)

• I feel bad for ballroom dancers.  They really only jive around the stage and it's usually boring.  The best ballroom solo for me was Dmitri when he danced with a cape and no shirt.
  

Special Performance - Kristinia Debarge (nice lip syncing...blech)

• There's a big blonde girl back up dancing...is that Kourtni Lind from S4?  Kind of looks like her, but not sure.  
• Is she part of THE Debarge family?
  

So nervous.  I have no idea who's going home.  I really don't want any of them to go home because the couples I wanted in the bottom made it through.  This week sucks.  =(

Results - Nigel echoed what I just said and said he didn't want any of them to leave either, but can't change the rules.   

Girls - Not unanimous

• Caitlin - Great quality of movement and control.  Made her hip hop routine a memory.
• Ashley - Wonderful Hollywood glamor, but no substance in her routine.
• Kayla - Judges know she's a great dancer, but her solo was crowded and she needs to concentrate on flow of movement.
• ASHLEY IS OUT.  =(  I think she is an amazing dancer and I wish I could have watched her longer.  It'll be sad that the tour can't take that Wade piece now.  Oh wait...this means Kupono has a new partner if he makes it.  
  
• Caitlin hugs Ashley for a long time and Kayla is left just standing there.  She awkardly leaves the stage.

Guys - Not unanimous

• Jason - Great solo, well thought out, strong, best solo on this season so far...SAFE
• Kupono - Not enough substance.  They like that he is different and an intelligent dancer.  He can take on characters (Wade's routine and Mia's routine).  He goes beyond the dance and becomes the character and that impresses them. (Kupono looked liked he was going to hyperventilate and cry while they were up there...so stressful.  I would have cracked).
  
• Max - He's the hardest worker and his style restricts his solo.
  
• MAX IS OUT.  While I am sad Max is out, this means my Kupono is safe. Kayla is crying.

Sigh - this season is going to break my heart.  I can tell.  It's pretty unpredictable right now.

New couple - Kupono & Kayla.  I guess I'll have to start liking Kayla if I want my Kupono to make it.

Now on to Top 16 Performance (one beauty of blogging this late).  

Keep on dancing!