'So You Think You Can Dance' Top 16: Babies Got Back
In many ways--one almost literally--tonight's top 16 episode of So You Think You Can Dance kicked ass. Butt seriously, folks...here are my (ass)essments of tonight's eight couples, listed in order of bootyliciousness.
Evan & Randi: Contemporary
OK, this routine--my favorite of the night--is the inspiration for all my intended puns in the above paragraph. A product of the twisted mind of mad-genius choreographer Mia Michaels, this cheeky routine was "all about the booty," with the usually sweet, Astaire-like Evan quite convincingly taking on the role of a dirty old ass-man so transfixed by the posterior of a "girl who is like a poodle" (the bodacious and curvaceous Randi, covered up in little more than a Cat On A Hot Tin Roof slip) that he almost "loses bodily function." Um, okaaaay. The way Mia described her butt-fixated vision, as she basically instructed Randi to shove her derriere in Evan's face repeatedly, got me worried that their dance would end up looking like something that ought to belong on the Playboy Channel, not the family-friendly Fox Network. But you know what? It was actually charming. Weird, and kind of lecherous, but charming. "Who else but Mia Michaels would come up with a routine about a poodle's butt?" judge Nigel Lythgoe asked rhetorically. Fellow judge Mary Murphy was equally amused by this rumpshaking number to Koop's "Koop Island Blues," calling Evan a real leading man and praising Randi's courage for letting it all hang out and dancing so confidently when "10 million viewers are looking at your butt!" But then again, with a dancing-honed physique like hers--and the skills to match--Randi had no reason not to be confident. Guest judge Toni Basil (a choreography LEGEND and the cheerleading pop star behind the early-MTV classic "Mickey") astutely pointed out that sometimes when contestants get assigned Mia as their choreographer, they run the risk of actually being upstaged by the choreography itself: "The choreography can become the star." But, as Toni also, equally astutely pointed out, that did not happen with Evan and Randi tonight. Instead they embodied Mia's quirky characters and were the true stars of the show. After this great bottom-centric routine, there's no way they'll be in the bottom tomorrow.
Brandon & Janette: Rock/Hip-Hop
Brandon is a contemporary dancer. Janette is a salsa dancer. Tonight, hip-hop choreographer Dave Scott cast Brandon as a B-boy and Janette as the butt-kicking, badass rock 'n' roll diva of his dreams. So...this should not have worked. But it did. In fact, this unexpected mashup of styles to Common's "What A World" was amazing. What a performance! Brandon was completely dead-on as a street-dancing street tough trying to impress an aloof rock 'n' roll ice queen played by Janette, and he managed to impress the skeptical SYTYCD judges in the process. And Janette--doing a slinky chair-dance while rocking a leathery S&M teddy, Pretty Woman boots, and ripped lace tights that showed off her own bootylicious assets quite effectively--looked sexier than any Rock Of Love or G-String Divas chair-dancer could ever imagine. Together Brandon and Janette shared great rockin' chemistry and, as Mary put it, "really hit that!" This was SYTYCD at its best: two dancers branching out into styles completely unfamiliar to them, and excelling as if they'd been dancing in that genre all their lives. Fantastic stuff.
Vitolio & Asuka: Jazz
While these two have had trouble with past dances--notably in their stiff week 1 Broadway routine, which landed them in the bottom three--tonight their close bond was suddenly evident, and witnessing their relationship strengthen before my very eyes, both in the rehearsal room and on the stage, was genuinely touching. When ballroom dancer Asuka struggled with choreographer Mandy Moore's "thrash-rocker jazz" steps during rehearsal and broke down in tears, Vitolio was a real softie, comforting her so sweetly and being such a gentleman. But eventually Asuka mastered the routine, and then when the duo hit the stage, Vitolio was no-more-mister-nice-guy. In fact, he was so macho, he was almost scary. Like Janette in her aforementioned routine, Vitolio seemed to really relish his rock-star character, waggling his tongue a la Gene Simmons and brandishing the index-and-pinky-finger devil's horns with glee. Hostess Cat Deeley described Vitolio and Asuka--who rocked it out to Pat Benatar's "Heartbreaker," all gussied up in '80s Sunset Strip metal costumes--as looking "like Lenny Kravitz and Siouxsie Sioux," which massively amused me; Nigel called them "fantastic"; and Toni, marveling at the bond the two shared both on- and offstage, told them, "The two of you have the potential to really develop into an extremely powerful couple." I've always loved Vitolio but never been all that impressed with Asuka, but now that I've seen them create real magic tonight and witnessed their caring friendship, I hope these two stick around and get the chance to live up to that potential.
Ade & Melissa: Rumba
Melissa is always one classy dame. Tonight was no exception, as her barely-there sequined-toga dress (like something off Dancing With The Stars, only skimpier and even sparklier), regal carriage, and pile of pincurls had Cat Deeley calling her "goddess-like" and Nigel comparing her to Rita Hayworth and declaring her "the sexiest girl up there this evening." Ade was just as sexy/classy--"You give your partner something to undulate against!" raved Nigel--and together their rumba to Destiny's Child's cover of the disco ballad "Emotion" was so steamy, Cat quipped: "Does anyone else feel like we're interrupting something?" Mary cackled, "What you're selling right now, I'm buying!" and said their searing chemistry was both "unbelievable and believable." And I believe these two should stick around another week, after this stunner...although the competition was pretty fierce tonight, and the rumba isn't the most popular dance style with viewers, so we shall see.
Kupono & Kayla: Viennese Waltz
Introducing...Kaypono! After Kupono and Kayla lost their respective partners, Ashley and Max, last week, they got paired up this week, and I was very excited to see the results of this union. (Kupono's my favorite male of the season, and Kayla is a big judge's favorite.) Of course, I was bummed that the new couple pulled "Viennese Waltz" out of Cat's hat, as that is the dance that--as Cat put it--makes contestants "die a million deaths." It's not the easiest genre to take on, nor is it a dance that tends to rile up audiences the way a white-hot hip-hop number or a Mia Michaels masterpiece can. But this "gorgeous new couple" (Cat's apt words) rose to the challenge; danced together naturally, as if they'd been paired up from the start of the season; and, as Nigel put it, were "very, very beautiful." Their ethereal, shoeless routine to Jewel's lullaby "Sweet Dreams For You," choreographed by Jean-Marc Generaux, was mesmerizing, so lovely and so magical. Mary called it "elegant and flowing, absolutely endearing," and then she bestowed upon them the highest honor in all of SYTYCD: She put them on Hot Tamale Train! ("And I never yell for a Viennese waltz!" she howled.) What a wonderful first dance for Kaypono. I sincerely hope it will not be their last.
Phillip & Jeanine: Broadway
While I do love me some Phillip Chbeeb, I have to say that he was the weakest dancer last week, really floundering during his tango number. I have a feeling that had he not already built a diehard following on last season's SYTYCD--auditioning more than once and engaging in a highly memorable dance-off with fellow breaker Robert Muraine on the season 4 finale--he may have been sent home last week. But instead he wasn't even in the bottom. Some viewers (and possibly other contestants) probably thought that was unfair, since Phillip came onto this show with an established fanbase in place, unlike the other dancers. But anyway, Phillip survived and moved on to this week, when he was faced with another out-of-comfort-zone challenge: a Tice Diorio Broadway routine. This time, however, Phillip was more up to the task. This "adorable" (Toni's description) dance to "Moses" from the Singing In The Rain soundtrack, which centered around an overstuffed, feather-spewing sofa, allowed Phillip's naturally likable personality to shine, and he looked like he was having tons of fun with Jeanine. Granted, Jeanine certainly outdanced him, but Philip did manage to successfully jump over the entire couch--a very impressive stunt indeed--and he was a good sport about it when his pants ripped in the process. Apparently Randi wasn't the only dancer tonight whose butt was on display!
Jason & Caitlin: Paso Doble
The paso doble is a dance full of DRAMA, and this couple proved in their dazzling Bollywood number a couple weeks ago that they know how to bring it. So tonight, dressed in equally over-the-top costumes and facepaint, they certainly created some magical onstage moments during this Jean-Marc Generaux-choreographed number, not the least of which was their sizzling kiss at the very end. But the judges pointed out some shortcomings, mostly on Jason's part. Mary felt Jason's posture wasn't perfect, and Nigel thought Jason played to the audience too much (as opposed to paying full attention to his partner) and needed to "use his thighs more!" (all right, that comment was kind of weird). This routine was good, but Jason and Caitlin were in the bottom last week, and I suspect the judges' comments might be enough to put them there again.
Jonathan & Karla: Hip-Hop
This was the only real disappointment of the night. Last week, Jonathan and Karla were actually my favorite couple of the top 18, but oh, how the mighty fell this week. Poor Jonathan was just so lost during this Dave Scott routine to Jadakiss's "By My Side." I wondered if Karla wished she'd had another partner by her side for this one. Jonathan freely admitted during his rehearsal that he didn't have "swagga" and that Dave would have difficulty drawing out his "inner gangsta." The routine, as a result, just lacked edge, bite, spark, and any element of danger. It was a "smooth hip-hop" number, but as Nigel put it, it was SO smooth that it was "ironed out, with no excitement in the routine." Nigel rightfully griped that the dance had no edge-of-seat factor to it, and even said it was like "a Sunday school picnic outing"...which didn't sound too hip-hop to me. Then Nigel got a little gangsta himself, taunting the booing audience with, "Wanna take bets they'll be in bottom three?" Oh, snap! But I have a feeling Nigel would win that bet.
So now, it is prediction time. I am fairly certain Jonathan & Karla will be in the bottom tomorrow night, along with probably Jason & Caitlin. As for the third at-risk couple, I am guessing it will be either Ade & Melissa or Kupono & Kayla--NOT because of their dancing, which was superb, but because the genres they were assigned weren't exactly the types of dance that excite voters. However, I take solace in the fact that, if either couple should end up on the chopping block, the judges will likely save them. I think Jonathan and Karla should be the most worried right now.
Tune in tomorrow to see if I'm right!
Honestly though, I don't get the hype about Asuka and Vitolio. I didn't like their jazz number at all last night. I was looking for a little more punch, especially when you're dancing to Heartbreaker.
I agree with Jonathan and Karla and Jason and Caitlin as part of the bottom 3 though.
Phillip and Jeanine are the third worst and the ones that should leave, but as you said, his populatity will save him yet again. If he should land in the bottom three, he's toast.
So that leaves Jason and Caitlin as couple number three, who I liked much more then the judges seemed to. I think it will be Jonathan and Karla going, although Vitolio and Asuka's should.
The rest were all fantastic. Kupono and Kayla were really wonderful together. I rate them number one.
I felt last night was not as strong as the week before.. I was wowed by pretty much all of the routines last week where as this week only 3 stood out to me.. Brandon & Janette, Evan & Randi, and Ade & Melissa. The rest were all just OK for me.
Jonathan and Karla's routine was pretty terrible, although thinking back to last weeks routine, they deserve another chance.
I think that Asuka and Philip should go home. Although, Asuka and Vitolio probably wont make it in the bottom 3, Philip and Jeanine might.
I don't know what it is (or isn't) about Asuka, she just looks uncomfortable or something to me while she is dancing. Philip is good at what he does, but all of the other dancers are excelling in genres other than their own and he just can't seem to get anything other than his own right.
Phillip, while incredibly likable and great in his genre, can't seem to branch out as well as the others. He doesn't deserve to keep getting voted through simply on likability.
Though no one else here seemed to like it, I loved Jason and Caitlin's paso doble. They should NOT be in the bottom three.
And also it bothers me that anything Mia Michaels touches people think is automatically fantastic. She's great, yes, but don't take away from other dances that aren't quite as quirky that are danced better just because she's different.
I'm rambling.
Bottom three: Phillip and Jeanine, Jonathan and Karla..... no idea who else.