(S05E16) America finally has full control of the eliminations on So You Think You Can Dance. Cat reminds us that the couples will all be shuffled randomly. Was height ever a hot topic as is was tonight? The tallest kept getting paired up with the shortest in random draws. At least it reinforced the idea that the pairings were no longer rigged.I want more Debbie Allen as the third judge. Her comments may be equally insane as Mia Michaels, but she comes off as the supportive mother with the way she speaks and the words she uses.
Couples by rank
1. Jeanine & Jason - Contemporary - "If It Kills Me" - You know when the judges say that they could pull a snapshot of the dance? Travis provided shapes and formations that this show hasn't displayed. After seeing the two dance, it's clear that Phillip and Caitlin were holding the two back.
2. Melissa & Brandon - Broadway - "Aquarius" - I love when a choreographer can take the essence of the dancers and merge it with their choreography. Tyce did that perfectly. Although I lost the two in the smoke at the end, the whole routine was strong from beginning to end.
3. Janette & Ade - Hip-Hop - "Love Sex Magic" - Finally a routine that wasn't another lyrical hip-hop. The routine was energetic. Watching Ade get to incorporate his hair pick was intriguing. The whole dance made me realize how flexible Jeanette was.
4. Kayla & Evan - Viennese Waltz - "Kiss from a Rose" - By having the shortest guy paired with the tallest girl, Evan had to wear Ballroom shoes with a heel and Kayla went with socks. The choreography may be questionable, but you can't blame the dancers. The lifts were strong, but the close hold section sucked.
5. Randi & Kupono - Paso Doble - "Dies Irae" - Here's a case where the song was just too powerful for the dance. I appreciate that Tony Meredith and Melanie pushed the dancers hard; it's a shame that the couple failed. There was no intensity. Kupono continues to dance soft. Randi didn't help the situation by wearing the wig, becoming a generic Danity Kane member.
Group Performances
The Women - Bollywood - "Dlohna" - A great way to open the show. The routine was sharp and all of the girls performed equally. I loved the little sequence with the mask behind the head.
The Men - African - "Ballant Funk" - I couldn't stop looking at Evan the whole routine, probably because visually, he stuck out like a sore thumb. Fortunately for him, he kept up with the rest of the guys.
Solos in order of performance
1. Brandon - "In Your Eyes" - Although there were strength, highs, and lows, it was a kitchen sink routine.
2. Randi - "Dream" - I can't help but point out that she fell out of her turn.
3. Kapuno - "Marina Gasolina" - A lot of Hawaiian flavor, but not a lot of content.
4. Melissa - "Gabriel" - A good use of dance floor. Melissa's routines are starting to get boring for me, though.
5. Evan - "Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart" - He tried his best to channel his inner Gene Kelly.
6. Kayla - "Rock Your Soul" - Recycled song. The same leg extensions. Yawn.
7. Ade - "Unchained Melody" - Another kitchen sink routine. Too much for a slow song.
8. Jeanine - "Violento (Up Mix)" - Here's an example of a powerful performance that matched the song.
9. Jason - "Train Fare Home" - I like the character routine that Jason provided. He had strong choreography, but managed to use his time well.
10. Janette - "This is Miami" - A break from all the Contemporary dances. She is one spicy performer.
Conclusion
There was too much happening on the show. I couldn't remember Kayla by the end because there were seven other performances after her solo that didn't involve her.
I would say that Kupono was the weakest overall for the men; his only strong point was the group performance. As for the girls, Kupono may have thrown Randi under the bus by being paired with her. Who do you think is going home? Leave comments below.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-16-2009 @ 7:54AM
Charry said...
I'm not a huge Jason fan, in fact I wanted him gone several weeks ago but I have to say his and Jeanine's performance was the best tonight thanks to Travis. It still doesn't make me want to jump on his fan wagon but I have to give credit where credits due.
Now I think it's finally time to see Kupono go. He was so horrible and weak last night along with Randi. I mean was it only me or did he not drop Randi at the end. I don't think that was a part of the routine. I think both of them should go tonight. It's not like either one has a chance to win the competition anyway, plus they were the weakest by far last night and even though I don't hate Evan he and Kayla was following close behind them.
As for the solos they all bored me except for Jeanette and Evan's did entertain me also. I didn't wanted more of his solo when it ended. They were the only ones who really stands out in her performances. There are so many contemporary dancers left it's like yawn.
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7-16-2009 @ 9:16AM
laura said...
When the men danced the african number I kept laughing because the choreographer told them to be masculine and Kupono couldnt do that if his life depended on it, instead of his chest being boxed and his arms strong, he arched his back and he curled his arms, I hope he goes home tonight.
I was happy with the new pairings, Melissa and Brandon? awesome! Ade and Jeanette? heavenly! Jason and Jeanine finally she gets a partner that can keep up! kayla and Evan? Well that brought her down a level and him up one. Randi and Kupono? Whos idea was the wig? it made her look so average and fat.
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7-16-2009 @ 9:19AM
Michael Pascua said...
I agree completely about Randi. I don't like using the term fat to describe her (because she's far from fat) but with the wig and the ruffles in her solo, it looked like she gained weight.
It's weird because she looked normal in the women's group and the introduction.
7-16-2009 @ 9:59AM
Erin said...
I do love how quirky Kupono is though. I really did like his solo because it was so different. And I loved Jeanine's as well. I thought she had the best out of the girls. I never realized how much Philip brought her down until tonight. I am rooting for Jeanine and Janette.
Ade seems to be running away with it on the guy's side. Well, that is factoring in the screams from the audience :)
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7-16-2009 @ 10:12AM
Charry said...
No I think Brandon is the one who's running away with it on the guys side and on the girls it's between Jeanine & Janette.
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7-16-2009 @ 12:15PM
Dan said...
Brandon has competition in Ade...those two girls have none.
My rankings:
Boys:
1. Brandon/Ade (I think they are both awesome, but Ade has a much better personality)
2. Jason
3. Evan
4. Kupono...though my sister's gay roommate literally votes for him non-stop for the entire voting window, so he may be safe for another week.
Girls:
1. Jeanine
2. Janette
3. Melissa
4. Kayla (so overrated, I just don't get it...her solos SUCK and are so uncreative)
5. Randi (she looked fat last night...I'll say it. So did Evan, they were perfect for each other, both short and stumpy).
This year is a lot more boring than last year. Twitch, Joshua and Mark were much more entertaining than anyone this year.
7-16-2009 @ 12:15PM
Xina said...
I agree about Ade. He is amazing. Though I think he and Brandon are both amazing, I think Ade has that little something extra.
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7-16-2009 @ 12:15PM
Cyn said...
I agree, the best girls are Jeanine, Janette, and Kayla. I am sick of Melissa's tutus and she has gotten boring. Jeanine did the very best solo last night- the dance went with the music and it was danced perfectly.
Randi and Evan must go. They look out of their league now. And, their solo's were a yawn.
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7-16-2009 @ 2:23PM
Sigma982 said...
As much as I love Randi (she's adorable), I agree that she's the one that will probably be going...not a big fan of her solo, and her performance with Kupono was far from good.
On the guy's side, I think it may be Evan going...although I wouldn't nearly be bothered if Kupono went bye-bye. I think that Kupono was just quirky enough with his solo to get through another week.
Top 2 guys: Brandon and Ade
Top 2 girls: Janette and Jeannine (although I really like Kayla...must be a blonde thing)
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7-16-2009 @ 3:16PM
La-Di-Dah said...
I usually can't stand either Jason or Jeanine, but oh boy, did Travis save their hides last night. The only thing better would be if Travis danced that number himself, then I would be 200% mesmerized. What's more? I am fully convinced Travis could whoop Mia's butt in the choreography game (compare last night to the mess that was "addicted.")
Jeanine's solo was the strong, most wicked sexy, but not too overt strong as to be a turn-off.
Reviewer: I think you forgot how big a mess Randi really was last night. Not only did she fall out of her turn in her solo, she also fell out and off the paired dance with Kupono. And then she giggled nervously in front of the judges. I had to frown and wonder: Randi, are you drunk?
I would love if they get rid of Kupono tonight (drama queen!) but I am sure, as was someone above, that it is Evan's GK moves that not going to cut it. But I still love his style, and I do not, Kupono's.
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7-16-2009 @ 9:55PM
john said...
i think melissa and brandon will be the best ones ever on the shows history! what do you think?
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7-16-2009 @ 10:16PM
CC said...
I like Jeanine (from Week 1) and Janette is entertaining to watch. I just noticed Kayla yesterday - somehow being partnered with Kupono for all those weeks rendered her unmemorable. When I saw her and Evan dancing the Viennese waltz, it was like "oh, she's pretty good!"
Melissa's solos are boring - she wears her pointe shoes (which look dingy - probably because the shoes are old and the stage is dusty?) but the dance steps that she does could very well be contemporary. There's nothing that separates her "ballet" routines from contemporary routines, other than the shoes she wears.
I predict that Randi will go home, and either Kupono or Evan. I like Evan, but as Nigel has said before, he just doesn't have that "leading man" look. So I don't think people will vote for him, over the rest of the guys (unfortunately).
None of the dancers this season have any "star quality" for me. Not like Benji in Season 2. My friend was telling me that although she thinks they're great, nobody really stands out. Is it because they're the best group of dancers so far (as the judges claim) or because they're all just mediocre? No one has really had a standout performance (IMHO) because so many of them came into the competition already trained and working as professionals. No one has been a diamond in the rough...
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