TVSquad

(S05E06) The show opened, as usual, with the group number. And because The Black Eyed Peas' "Boom Boom Pow" isn't getting enough airplay, So You Think You Can Dance threw the band a bone and used it for this Shane Sparks piece. Unfortunately, with 20 dancers on stage it's hard to make the piece not look like a bit of a mess. Sparks' choreography was pretty good, but I don't think the dancers were all equally up to the task.

When the majority of your dancers are not familiar with the style you're using, it must be even harder to put these things together. This isn't to challenge them, nor is it for votes, it's just supposed to be for entertainment. Unfortunately these numbers aren't as impressive until later in the season. At least they're superior to those awful group numbers they force on the American Idol contestants.

BOTTOM THREE
Kayla & Max, Randi & Evan and Jeanine & Phillip came out first so that Cat could quickly punt them all into safety. Next, she brought out four pairs. Caitlin & Jason rode Bollywood directly to safety. I guess the strategy was to make the last couples to come out sweat more and more as Melissa & Ade became the fifth straight safe couple.

Finally, Cat got down to it, asking us to ponder between Ashley & Kupono's crash test dummies performance and Paris & Tony's secondary hip-hop number. So it was no surprise that Paris & Tony slipped into the danger zone. They were joined by Asuka & Vitolio, who were betrayed by a choreographic mess. Finally, it came down to Janette & Brandon and Karla & Jonathan. Between the two ballroom numbers, Janette & Brandon were just so much stronger and more beautiful in every movement, so of the two, the right choice was Karla & Jonathan in the bottom three couples.

GUEST DANCERS
Miriam & Leonardo - "Tanguera," Luis Bravo's Forever Tango (Soundtrack)
What can you say to that? Good lord, it's great to get a reminder of what two professionals dancing in their style are capable of. As good as the dancing can be on SYTYCD, this is the caliber they're all aspiring to. The complexity, the control. It honestly defies description but was a stunning tango. Damn!

MUSICAL GUEST
Sean Kingston - "Fire Burning"
I've been making fun of this song for weeks "CALL 911!!!" Can't they get musical guests that are known for their dancing as well as their singing? This is a dance competition after all. I guess if he's going to be a one-hit wonder, and I really think he is, he really needs to milk his 15 minutes as long as possible. Totally, forgot about "Beautiful Girls" which I actually liked. Apologies Mr. Kinston,and a shout-out to you: "Pull your damn pants up, nobody wants to see all that!"

SOLOS
Paris Torres - "It Doesn't Hurt," Katie Thompson
I think she did about as much as you could expect out of a contemporary dancer in a solo. High leaps and passion, she was very powerful moving across the floor.

Tony Belissimo - "Early in the Morning," The Gap Band
Honestly, I was incredibly disappointed with Tony; he didn't do much more than you would see in a dance circle in a nightclub somewhere. If that's his best, then maybe this isn't the show for him.

Asuka Kondoh - "Did Ya," BoA
What a horrible dress; it made her legs look like straws. It's hard enough to do a ballroom solo, which she kind of didn't pull off, but you have to give partner dancers some leeway on these. Maybe she should have danced with a coat rack.

Vitolio Jeune - "We Belong Together," Gavin DeGraw
I liked his blend of hard stops in a contemporary performance. He showed a lot of range and strength on that one.

Karla Garcia - "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman," Aretha Franklin
Well, her transitions between stunts were horrible and she stood there with her leg up. Yeah, she was horrible, I don't even want to talk about it anymore. [Apparently, the judges disagreed with me completely.]

Jonathan Platero - "Krazy," Pitbull f. Lil Jon
Jonathan did partnering footwork mixed with gymnastics, which didn't work at all well. It wasn't even really dancing; you have to make at least an effort to do something. These ballroom dancers need some training in how to do a solo.

ELIMINATED
Of the girls, Paris Leno Torres must not have stood out enough from the contemporary pack, as we all know the judges try to push diversity in the roster. When Nigel did his dramatic pause after "We're keeping..." they probably should have cut to the boys rather than stay on Nigel. In the end, the right decision was made and Tony Belissimo said goodbye. Honestly, I never thought he was strong enough to even be in the Top 20; he rode personality over substance.

I'm okay with both of these cuts. How about you?