SYTYCD S5 Ep. 18 Top 8 Performance

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OK everyone, I will admit that I missed last week's elimination show blog for a few reasons.  The first is I got busy.  The second is that my favorite guy, Kupono, went home.  I think I just wasn't motivated to even write anymore.  I know I had threatened before to stop blogging when he left, and to be honest, I almost did boycott the blog.  It's not that I don't love the show, but I don't have another favorite.  I have a lot of likes, but is there love...not sure.  They're all fabulous dancers, but none are my "favorite" anymore.  Let's see how tonight's show goes. 

So here's the review of the SYTYCD S5 Ep. 17 Top 10 Elimination Show (Aired 16-Jul-2009):

1. Cat wore a sparkly burlap sack that made her look like a triangle.  Hated it!
2. Wade Robson choreographed the group number (So Much Betta / Janet Jackson).  It was spectacular!  Ninja boys in black (duh) and Geisha girls in black, red, or white, and white long draped fabric on the stage.  Melissa was the female star in a white kimono and en pointe (again).  I loved the girls' crazy wigs and how they looked silhouetted behind the white fabric.  
3. Everyone was prepared to perform their same solos from Top 10 Performance show. 
   
4. It's now Bottom 4, not 6 (somehow I forget that every year).
5. Bottom Girls - Randi & Melissa / Bottom Guys - Kupono & Ade
   
6. Solos - Randi wore a softer more flowy dress and her solo, while still stiff armed, looked smoother.  Melissa's solo was exactly the same.  Kupono's solo was exactly the same, but had a little more energy.  Ade's solo was the same except for the last few 8-cts in which he pared it down and it looked better.
   
7. Randi & Kupono sent home.
   
8. Diane cried all night Thursday and all day Friday (not really, but you get my point.  I did update my Twitter page to reflect my admiration for Kupono).
   

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SHOW START -

Cat is wearing a slinky gold lame halter dress.  I love her hair in a sleek ponytail today.  Oooo, I really love her heels tonight...very hot! 

Tonight, the couples will perform two separate routines in different styles. They will also perform a solo and a group number.  WOW...gonna be a BUSY night for these dancers. 

Judges:  Nigel, Mary, Mia & Guest Judge: Ellen Degeneres

I love Ellen!  She loves to dance herself so you know she's excited.  Her faux hawk is super cute too! Her answer to "Have you had any formal training" was hilarious!

Tomorrow is the 100th episode of the show.  Former SYTYCD contestants will return and special performance by Katie Holmes.

Mia just received her third Emmy nomination (SYTYCD S4 Mercy danced by Twitch & Katee).

GROUP ROUTINE - Travis Wall / Let it Rock (Kevin Rudolf feat. Lil Wayne)

• Dance concept - Rave in the year 2300, showcase everyone's individual styles, fast energy
• Costumes - Think TRON with glowstick accents over metallic and black 
• Dance - I won't lie, it was good, not great.  BUT, I think my first gripe was the song.  I love that song...I rock out to it on Benny Benassi's UMF mix all the time; however, this version lacked the energy of the version I'm used to, thus making the dancing also seem sluggish.  Some great moments with Ade and Brandon in this one (turns and flips).  I think Travis has a great future ahead of him and his creativity is recognized.
  

Nigel - Outfits are very Lady Gaga.  Terrific start to the show.
Ellen - "I can do that", then made jokes about helping Travis with the costumes
Mary - Dancing great, costumes great, and choreo great. 
Mia - "beyond proud of Travis...at such a young age, got it going on".  Love the costumes and asks if Ellen would wear one with her on Thursday.

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During preview of what the 100th episode show will include, it is reported that the Emmy pieces will be shown (Hummingbird, Bench) & Ramalama...WITH WADE ROBSON DANCING IN IT!!!  AWESOME!!!
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Evan & Janette (1) - Jazz / Sonya Tayeh / Move-Metronomy Remix (CSS)

• Dance concept - Focused on wanting people to shut up
• Costumes - Sexy black bondage outfit on Janette the size of a bathing suit and crazy black pants with a diagonal zipper on Evan.  He's also wearing a sleeveless black dress shirt.
  
• Dance - Was Evan in that number?  No seriously, did you see him because all I saw was JANETTE kicking some major jazz booty!  Not only did she rock that outfit, she danced Sonya's choreo so well.  I really liked the number and only wish it was between her and Brandon again because they would have KILLED it.

Nigel - No question these two are stars and Evan is finally giving more.  Great personalities and dance
Ellen - "I can do that" - jokes about wine
Mary - Fun - outside Evan's category and good and at end, needed to be rougher.  Janette, can't take a wrong step.
Mia - Evan made a step in the right direction, but he's usually gotten by on his cuteness.  He won't be a dark twisted soul that Sonya wants, but he was good.  Janette = MIA'S FAVORITE FAVORITE FAVORITE THIS SEASON!  WOAH, big words!

SOLO #1:  KAYLA - The Moment I Said It (Imogen Heap)

• Kayla is the only blonde left and stands out amongst all the brunettes left.
• She's back to her dark costumes that make her glow like a Cullen.  I like that she was trying for a more stylized solo that was a little more modern than her normal pretty extension pieces.  However, the great part of it was the last 3-8counts and I wish there was a little more like that in it. 
  

Brandon & Jeanine (1) - Waltz / Hunter Johnson / May It Be (Hayley Westenra)

• Dance concept - Stillness yet show alot
  
• Costume - Jeanine wears a very yellow long gown with a fitted bodice that shows off her curves.  Brandon has on brown pants and vest with white dress shirt.  I think I saw pin stripes.
  
• Dance - It was actually lovely.  I honestly can't tell the difference between Waltz and Viennese Waltz.  Brandon is so strong and he carried Jeanine around like she was a feather.  Loved the Enya like music that made everything seem ethereal.
  

Nigel - Extremely tough routine and so demanding especially when the music was so slow...Nigel hated the song. Controlled power needed and he didn't get that from two of his favorite in top 8
Ellen - Disagree with Nigel.  Fantastic.
Mary - Sllllloooooow waltz and takes unbelievable control.  Mary thought it was respectable.  The lines could have been longer.
Mia - Diss on Brandon - "Maybe if you weren't dreaming about birds and bunnies, the performance would have been much better, " as she gives a knowing eye to Brandon. She expected the length, space, and breath to be magical because of their technique, but there were hiccups and stalling moments.  She said together, they're the "tops", but she wanted more.

SOLO #2: JASON - ...Slowdance On The Inside (Taking Back Sunday)

• For a Top 8 solo I expect each dancer to improve.   I think this solo regressed to his first one in the bottom 3.  There was a lot of jump here, wiggle there, turn switch leap on stage left, then repeat on stage right.  I don't know.  I wasn't hugely impressed.
• They show Jason's brother in the crowd...Jason is way cuter!  =)
  

Ade & Melissa (1) - Cha Cha / Tony Meredith & Melanie Lapatin / Yeah - Como Goza Mi Morena (Chino Espinoza Y Los Duenos Del Son)

• Dance concept - International Cha Cha - Technique!
  
• Costumes - Melissa has on a very fiery little dress showcasing her svelte body and nice legs.  Ade is wearing bright red tight pants and a scary fringe black top.  Man those pants stand out.
  
• Dance - Interesting hearing Usher's song as a Latin Ballroom musical number. I think they are sexy together.  I think Melissa has a great body in that outfit and for parts of the routine she used her sex appeal (especially in the booteh).  I think Ade has a manly sexiness on stage and can easily partner Melissa.  Now, together, I felt no heat...I barely felt energy.  It felt contained somehow when I wanted it to explode.  It was good, but not wow.

Nigel - Pretty good, choreo good, sexy moves.  Melissa, don't turn out so much and don't pull her face because she is already sexy.  Ade - great stature, but he could have given more.
Ellen - "Are you two Carpenters because you nailed it!"
Mary - Execution of material was nailed, but routine was in slow motion.  Technique - Ade needed to drop his hip weight into the floor.  Surface level cha-cha.  Melissa - when her feet weren't turned too far out, they were turned too far in. Trying too hard to be sexy made it less sexy. 
Mia - Ade: worst performance this season because it looked thrown all over the place and it wasn't getting down and dirty.  Melissa: breaking down the alignment is a huge job and she did an excellent job

SOLO #3: JANETTE - Seduces Me (Celine Dion)

•  Loved the solo, HATED the costume.  It looked like a bad cha cha prom dress with all that ruffle and purple/gold colors.
• Solo was really good.  Nice mix of her ballroom with contemporary.  Great use of the stage especially the ending when she's hanging off the edge of it.  
• Janette is so tiny next to Cat...for realz, she doesn't even reach Cat's shoulders.
  

Jason & Kayla (1) - Broadway / Tyce Diorio / Mr. Monotony from Jerome Robbins Broadway (Kim Chriswell) 

• Dance concept - Man caught up in the music and the temptress
  
• Costumes - Kayla has on a gold dress with layers of material strips hanging down and gold character shoes, with her hair in a 40s up do.  Jason has on black pants, vest and black dress shirt
  
• Dance - I first want to congratulate Jason on his restraint.  I am sure he really wanted to kiss his new partner Kayla, especially because she's a temptress, but he resisted.  Good Job! All joking aside, I thought they were hot together.  Great technical ability and sexy flirtation.  I really loved the way Kayla danced this piece and used her looks well.  The only complaint I have is that Jason sometimes played to the audience so much and would constantly smile. I wish he played to Kayla just a smidge more and used more than the same face.

Nigel - Style is beautiful to watch.  Jason's feet and toes were outstanding and reminded him of Gene Kelly going around the stool.  Kayla great lines and can do anything thrown at her.  Pair allowed them to perform.  One of the best routines this evening.
Ellen - corny joke
Mary - flow effortless...Jason - cool suave...mmmm.  Kayla - First Class Hot Tamale Train and she brought a train whistle this time. 
Mia - Loved the piece - loved the fusion of bluesy style.  Jason - needs to work on his upper body, open up or else it destroys the lines.  Kayla - She should sing or act because she'd take Broadway by storm...theatrical world - Tony after Tony after Tony...when you look up a picture of girl perfection and star, there's a picture of Kayla.  Epitome of girl and is wonderful to see how exceptional a girl can be. (WOW again!)

SOLO #4: ADE - Hater (Various Productions Artist)

• His style is so much better to electronica music because it focuses on the little nuances of his choreography.
• I think his Windowdippers' solo is still my fav, but this one was better than last weeks.

Evan & Janette (2) - Rumba / Tony Meredith & Melanie Lapatin / Heartless (Kris Allen)

• Dance concept - passion
  
• Costumes - Janette is sexy in a purple dress that accentuates her assets well.  Evan looks like a poser in black ballroom pants and lace black skintight shirt,  It's really ridiculous.
  
• Dance -  Poor Janette...here she is absolutely stunning and sexy in her style, but she's practically partnering herself.  She was so good and yet Evan was really holding her back I thought. Loved the lift where Janette brought her leg up behind her and Evan picked her up as she was in an attitude. I can't buy Evan as a sexy man at all. 
  

Nigel - Loved the choreography, but hard to get votes from the dynamics of the routine.  Evan didn't perform with his face.  Lost chemistry.
Ellen - She tells Evan that she loves his face and eyes.  He's unique and charismatic.  Janette is amazing.
Mary - Good job Evan in connections.  On time, well connected, good "thread the needle turn." Janette was a hot tamale.
Mia - Agree with Ellen because not everyone needs to be the sexpot and Evan brings something special to the stage.  He pulled off sexy, but with a Zoolander face.  LOL. 

SOLO #5: MELISSA - Heads Will Roll (Yeah Yeah Yeahs)

• Can we get a woot woot on song selection?  =D
• Uh, too bad I didn't care for her solo at all.  I think Melissa has a problem finding the balance of being a beautiful ballerina and remaining current in style.  I think she should just embrace her ballerina and do a completely classical routine with crazy technique.
  

Brandon & Jeanine (2) - Pop Jazz / Laurieann Gibson / Battlefield (Jordin Sparks)

• Dance concept - No story, just dance and feel the movement, don't think it
  
• Costumes - Fatigues type costumes
  
• Dance - They're supposed to be very organic and FEEL the movement.  I really loved Brandon in this piece.  He really connected with the movement.  I felt Jeanine was a little controlled in the beginning and started to let loose as the routine went on.  I must say I only really know Laurieann's work from Making the Band so this was suprisingly better than I expected...kind of hip hop jazz.  It was good, Brandon was wonderful.

Nigel - Best number of the night.  This has been the flattest night this week and this was the first great number of the night.
Ellen - Unbelievable.  There's dancing, then there's da-ancing, and then there's da-a-a-ancing!
Mary - Strong, powerful, dynamic, HOT Tamale Train!
Mia - Laurieann Gibson doesn't dance a step unless it comes out of her soul first.  She doesn't do anything unless she's convicted to move (Laurieann crying).  They danced in a place than was inside of it and so believable.  Brandon, powerhouse, woah!!! BAM! Jeanine, wow for keeping up with Brandon.

SOLO #6: EVAN - Old Devil Moon (Jamie Cullen)

• I love watching him do his own style.  It's so good.  I wish I felt the way I do watching his solos when I watch him in his routines.  He really has such a great style on his own.

SOLO #7: JEANINE - Let the Drummer Kick (Citizen Cope)

•  Nice song...reminiscent of Mia's routine to it S3 (Lauren & Neil)
• Also more stylized this week and a touch more of the ragdoll weirdness that I like.  She still over uses that arabesque move, but it was good.  I liked the hold at the beginning with her body contorted. 
  

Ade & Melissa (2) - Contemporary / Tyce Diorio / This Woman's Work (Maxwell)

• Dance concept - Breast Cancer - support / Tyce has a friend with the disease
  
• Costumes - Melissa wears a colored scarf on her head as a cancer victim.
  
• Dance -  OK, even if I didn't know what this routine was about, I would have been moved because this song always makes me cry...especially when I see a dance to it.  ALWAYS.  But, regardless of my own emotional instability with this song, this routine was absolutely so moving and honest.  I felt them in this routine.  I felt their pain, their fragility, their strength, their frustrations, their anger, their acceptance, their fight, and their love.   Melissa's frailness was so contrasting to Ade's strength.  They were magnificent.  3x on DVR before I watched the review.  My favorite part is when she jumps on his back on her knees. 
• Melissa is crying as she stands before the judges.
  

Nigel - He's crying...reminds him why he loves dance - represent without words. He thinks Tyce will be nominated next year for an Emmy (this year, Tyce was nominated for Adam/Eve).  The best couple to have danced this because of Ade's strength and Melissa's maturity gave her the responsibility to carry the routine.  (Tyce is crying)
Ellen - Privileged to be on the show for this routine
Mary - Crying, took her to a scary place and they were beautiful together
Mia - Crying big time...important piece of work, millions of people who know or are afflicted with cancer and they are strong and want to beat it and want everyone else to be okay.  She wishes she had that strength for her father that the dancers had in the piece.  Melissa is an angel. 

Wow...that was really emotional.  I need some tissue.

While I loved that piece, I am a little disappointed that Melissa again evaded hip hop.  It's like Nigel is purposely keeping it away from her because she will look goofy doing it.

SOLO #8: BRANDON -Aint Nothing Wrong With That (Robert Randolph & The Family Band)

• Sassy and fiesty tonight in his tight black pants and shirtless muscles.
• Great turns, great flips...sometimes too much tricks and poor transitions, but still exciting.
  

While I loved that contemporary piece, I feel bad for Shane and Jason/Kayla.  How can you follow that emotional routine with hip hop?  It just seems wrong.

Jason & Kayla (2) - Hip Hop / Shane Sparks / They're Everywhere (Izza Kizza)

• Dance concept - Jason is a zombie and Kayla becomes his zombie mistress
  
• Costume - Jason looks like he stepped out of the Thriller video and Kayla looks like a Japanese schoolgirl who becomes zombified.
  
• Dance -  This was my first time seeing Kayla do hip hop and she was really good.  I actually think she was way better than Jason.  I liked the concept and I was happy to see Shane bringing a little more booty popping, hard hitting hip hop back.  I get tired of all the lyrical hop after awhile.  It was fun and entertaining.

Nigel - Michael Jackson inspired...wonderful to have Shane back.  Nigel has been disappointed in hip hop this year and this was a good return.  Fantastic.
Ellen - Amazing...loved it
Mary - "my little puppy dog got bit by the rabies"...pure entertainment...screams
Mia - My fav Shane piece on the show.  Loved the last strangle pose...was hot!
  
I wish Ellen was the guest judge always because she brings a great levity to the show.  Love!