‘So You Think You Can Dance’: Karen & Kevin + Tabitha & Napoleon = sexy success

We’re again “treated” to a performance/results night on “So You Think You Can Dance,” thanks to baseball. I demand a democracy in which I can at least pretend that my vote counts and the show isn’t fixed to sway the public opinion a certain way!

Can we talk about the intro segment for a second? Ryan is kicking so hard that I’m legitimately scared he’s going to dislocate something. And what was that purple turban thing Mollee was wearing on her head? And maybe I’m just being mean because I haven’t liked her so far, but I feel like Ashleigh should focus a bit more on dancing and a bit less on showing off her legs.

Noelle, happily, is recovered from her leg injury and joining us this week (Paula Abdul is not). More happy news: Billy Bell can join the competition in Vegas next season, and Brandon can re-apply. Okay, onnnn to the dancing!

1. Russell & Noelle
Hip Hop/Jamal Sims/”Move Shake Drop Remix” by DJ Laz, Flo Rida & Casely: This routine revealed tennis to be the badass, hardcore sport that it truly is. (<– not sarcasm) And Noelle’s knees look like they’re working just fine! Obviously, put on your conspiracy hats with Russell’s “random” selection of hip hop. Mary loves his performance, but the judges seem generally overwhelmed by the busyness of the routine. Noelle gets praise for her quick recovery, but they point out some awkward movements that could land her in the bottom.

2. Ashleigh & Jakob
Viennese Waltz/Melanie & Tony/”At Last” by Etta James: Apparently, they’re both sweaty. So glad I know that, and can picture puddles of sweat beneath them as they dance this graceful, romantic routine. Jakob, of course, is fantastic. Ashleigh…I can’t tell if it’s the choreography or her, but at times she just seemed too quick and stiff for the routine. But that’s probably just my anti-Ashleigh prejudice talking. The judges give both of them plenty of praise, but also have issues for them each to work on.

3. Bianca & Viktor
Broadway/Tyce Diorio/”Maybe God Is Tryin’ To Tell You Something” from “The Color Purple”: Look out, world, it’s another Tyce Diorio Broadway routine! And okay, I’m with you guys now on not loving Bianca. Her dancing felt really heavy compared to Viktor, and I don’t feel like she added anything of herself to the routine. Viktor didn’t draw my attention either, honestly. Adam points out exactly what I was thinking: they were merely dancing the choreography rather than feeling it. The judges are universally disappointed.

4. Mollee & Nathan
Bollywood/Nakul Dev Mahajan/”Azeem O Shaan Shahenshah” from Jodhaa Akbar: Our Cutest Couple Award winners take on a speedy and forceful Bollywood routine, and I absolutely love the choreography. I found Mollee disappointing compared to Nathan, but I give the routine two thumbs way up, and the judges agree (and are actually happier with Mollee’s performance than I was).

5. Channing & Phillip
Samba/Melanie & Tony/”Maracatu Funk” by The Samba Squad: Whooooa… Channing can do those push-ups where you clap between each one! I’m going to find that on YouTube the next time the guys in my office mention “girl” push-ups. Also, I’m definitely buying an album by The Samba Squad, and only half because I think the band name is fantastic. Dance-wise, they have a couple seriously shaky tricks and it’s generally unpolished, but it’s not a total train wreck. Channing does get some props for her hip action, and Mary blames most of the problems on Phillip.

6. Karen & Kevin
Hip Hop/Tabitha & Napoleon/”Ice Cream Paint Job” by Dorrough: Kevin plays a mechanic in this story, and Karen is a customer, ah…in need of a tune-up. If you know what I mean. It’s a total role reversal this week, with Kevin in his element and Karen theoretically more uncertain. I enjoyed this routine much more than the NappyTabs number last week, and have to give props to anyone who can choreograph and dance a chairless lap dance. Karen really did kill it — she could walk right onto a music video set and no one would call her a ballroom dancer. She might be one to watch, y’all. Smiles all around from the judges!

7. Kathryn & Legacy
Contemporary/Stacey Tookey/”2 Steps Away” by Patti LaBelle: First of all, I’m going to devote the rest of my life, or at least my week, to learning how to do Legacy’s cricket whistle for awkward silences. So. Awesome. In the piece, Kathryn is struggling with fear, portrayed by Legacy. Well, this obviously invites comparisons to Kayla and Kupono’s addiction routine last season, but I guess it stands on its own. Legacy really impressed me, and Kathryn continues to be a standout. Who would’ve thought these two would be one of the strongest couples? The judges love love love it, and are especially pleased with Legacy’s growth as a dancer.

8. Pauline & Peter
Jazz/Wade Robson/”Little Green Bag” by George Baker Selection: Ooookay, so in this piece’s universe, Van Gogh originally painted people in “Starry Night” and then got rid of them, and our dancers are portraying those discarded people returning to torment Van Gogh. And I’m going to take this moment to point out that the new set, in particular the video screen background, is distracting to the point of almost camouflaging the dancers at times. The routine itself is odd, but fun, and well-suited to Peter’s skills…though he still doesn’t knock it out of the park. Pauline dances with tons of personality, and she receives much more praise from the judges.

9. Ellenore & Ryan
Argentine Tango/Miriam & Leonardo/”Violentango” by Astor Piazzolla: These guys are absolutely another couple to beat. The dancing is passionate, the leg work is impressive, and the lifts are both plentiful and awesome. And Ellenore danced a big portion of it with the bottom of her dress caught in her shoe! They get credit not only for continuing the dance with such a distracting wardrobe malfunction, but for dancing it beautifully.

Favorite Numbers: Mollee and Nathan’s Bollywood was a blast, Karen and Kevin blew Ariana and Peter’s NappyTabs routine out of the water, Kathryn and Legacy are surprisingly 2-0, and Ellenore and Ryan’s tango was obviously fantastic. Good night overall!
Stand-out Individuals: Ellenore is still one of my favorites, and her excellent dancing despite her dress being in danger of being ripped off cements her spot up there. And I never thought I’d say this, but Legacy really impressed me tonight.
Disappointments: I liked Russell and Noelle’s tennis routine, but it didn’t blow me away like I expected/hoped. And Bianca is just bumming me out. I was so excited about her getting into the Top 20! Is it too early to call The Year of the Tapper a total failure? No wonder they haven’t had tappers on the show before…

And because, again, our opinions don’t count, the judges choose the bottom four: Noelle, Phillip, Viktor, and Bianca. No huge surprises there, though I sure wish we could swap out Noelle for Peter. This is his second week of poor performance, and she did a great job bouncing back from her injury.

1. Noelle
Song – “For a Reason” by Zhane: Beautiful and moving. She has a good mix of emotion and tricks without being frenetic. I’m hoping she’ll stay in.

2. Viktor
Song – “Navras” From “Matrix Revolutions”: Well, this is another one of those “contemporary boy in tiny shorts violently dances to angry opera music” solos. I guess it’s good, but I honestly have a hard time taking these seriously anymore. Especially when Brandon did it much better.

3. Bianca
Song – “Tootsee Roll” by 69 Boyz: See, this is why I Ioved Bianca in the first place. Tap dancing with attitude to hip hop music is just plain neat. But you know what? Tap isn’t even one of the styles on the show, and she unfortunately just hasn’t proven herself adept at any other style.

4. Phillip
Song – “Almost Like Being In Love” by Nat “King” Cole: Phillip gives us a much more traditional tap solo. It’s got plenty of style and personality, and seems challenging enough, but I preferred Bianca’s surprising, untraditional take on the genre.

First up are the ladies, and the judges are not unanimous in their decision. They feel Bianca has grown across the seasons, but that Noelle truly danced for her life in her solo. Bianca’s out. Bummer, but I think it’s the right decision and I look forward to seeing more of Noelle.

For the guys, Nigel begins by saying, “This really upsets me personally more than I can let anybody really know,” and proceeds to eliminate Phillip, saying it breaks his heart to eliminate two tappers tonight. (And if you ask me, Peter is hanging by a thread.) I really can’t argue with this result either, though I feel like a total jerk when Phillip talks about his father passing away a week and a half ago, and the dancers all attending the funeral. In that case, I’m absolutely amazed that he danced as well as he did.

Although I agree with the decisions tonight, I’m really looking forward to next week when we can vote! (And please don’t remind me I said that when I’m inevitably railing against the foolishness of the voters a few weeks from now. What I probably mean is that I wish I, and only I, could vote.)

Do you agree with the judges’ decisions? What were your favorite routines this week? Who are your least favorite dancers so far?