SYTYCD: After the Massacre...

So You Think You Can Dance: Top 16 Dancers Perform

I speculated after last week's performance show that the double elimination formula could be a disaster, and boy was it. I didn't really think that any of the four who went home should have, but I was especially upset about Nick, Wadi and Iveta. The judges kicked three of my favorites to the curb in one show, and now we're left with the Jesses, Jordans and Roberts...

• Cat's wearing a sparkly mini with curly bobbed hair.
• #NoMoreChbeebInTheOpeningTheme
• Ugh, I miss Nick. And Wadi. And Iveta.
• I am excited about guest judge Kristin Chenoweth. Not sure we need both her and Lil C though.
• With two fewer couples, I guess they need to inflate the judges' commentary to fill time. Grrrrrrreat.
• Oh, we've got group numbers tonight too. Huh.
  

Group number (Tyce Diorio Broadway): Ryan, Sasha, Miranda, Charice, Marko, Tadd, Mitchell, and Chris. Sasha is stealing the freaking show. This routine is better than the usual from Tyce, I'd say. Probably because there are more people involved.

Sasha and Alexander (Dee Caspary contemporary):

• The featurette: Alex wore a lot of bow ties as a baby/child. Oh dear, it's another dance about a guy who remembers a girl he lost. Let's hope the memory girl doesn't smile too much this time! Ha ha.
  
• The dance: Sasha climbs out of a piano to begin. Alex's outfit makes him look like he's one of the kids in the Sound of Music. It's veering dangerously close to lederhosen. Creepy moment at the end when Sasha goes back into the piano but her hands reach out at Alex. This routine was rather good. It should be though, as it is in their style.
  
• The judging: Nigel says it was a good start. Nigel thought Alex was good but needs to connect with the audience some more. The neckline on Mary's top/dress is too plunging. Kristin loved them both and her comments sound like she actually thought about them before they came out of her mouth. Lil C says Sasha is eight notches above perfection. Cat: "A whole octave!"

Caitlynn and Mitchell (Jean Marc samba):

• The featurette: Mitchell: "When I was a kid, I was a ham." As opposed to now?! This dance looks promising.
  
• The dance: Cait's dress is awful. It's like crepe paper streamers are hanging from her. Ok, this routine isn't as good as I thought it was going to be based on the practice footage. It's almost good, but it's a little rocky/shaky. Cait looks like she's not getting her feet right where she wants them sometimes or something. I'm not sure.
  
• The judging: Mary thinks it was "spectacular" so apparently I'm a harsher ballroom critic than she is. Well, then Mary just forgot Caitlynn's name, so maybe she doesn't know what's going on. Kristin says "shut the front door" and all of the other doors. I'm not sure if that's exactly a critique, but she's cute so we'll let it slide. Lil C says they murdered it and gives a shout out to Jean Marc. Nigel disses Wadi. Let's rub salt in the wounds, Nigel, thanks.

Miranda and Robert (Tyce Diorio Broadway):

• The featurette: Why are these people still here when Nick, Wadi and Iveta aren't? Maybe I'll get over this someday. Oh, good, Tyce's high-class hooker number should help show them the door... Tyce's routines are often good for a trip to the bottom.
  
• The dance: It was pretty good while they were moving slowly, but I think the quality dropped a bit when the music picked up. Miranda gets to do some tap dancing though, which was cool. In the words of Randy Jackson, it was aaaaright for me.
  
• The judging: Kristin says she wasn't sure about them in rehearsal, but they killed it tonight. Is this the first admission that the judges watch these routines performed in rehearsal before the show? Lil C to Miranda: "With legs like that, who needs arms?" Nigel says Robert was good for a hip-hop dancer, and he's come a long way. Mary says she didn't even recognize Miranda in the group number. Um, can we get Mary some flash cards with the contestants names and photos on them? ;-)

Melanie and Marko (Napoleon and Tabitha lyrical hip-hop):

• The featurette: Marko wins the cutest kid award thus far. In this routine, they're two best friends but Marko just got left at the altar and then realizes that he should have been with Melanie all along. Very rom-com plotting, there.
  
• The dance: Props to Melanie for wearing that strange circus getup to her best friend's wedding! Marko looks really sad in the beginning; nice job. Of course these two are good at hip-hop too. Ok, even if you have been best friends for a long time, I'm not sure it's the wisest idea ever to start up a new relationship (make out with someone) immediately after being left at the altar. Might want to give yourself some time before diving into anything...
  
• The judging: Lil C says they're a power couple and the section in the beginning was extra buck. Nigel says it was a brilliant concept to create a dance about best friends falling in love. Uh, yeah, it was when Travis came up with it in Season 5 with the Jason/Jeanine/Jason Mraz dance! (That one is still a freaking masterpiece, by the way.) Nigel says they're the couple to beat. Nigel tries to kiss Mary. Cat: "That's like walking in on your mom and dad! That's gross!" Kristin is very moved and very touched, so she kisses Lil C. Then Nigel attacks Lil C too. And we've dissolved into complete chaos, but Cat's nailing her post-kissing ad libs. She's such a pro.
  

Ashley and Chris (Sonya Tayeh jazz):

• The featurette: Ok, baby Ashley was wicked cute too. Chris was afraid of Sonya. In this routine, they are half human/half zombie.
  
• The dance: Ashley's leg extensions are no joke. This is almost exactly an undead version of "The Garden." Ashley is really good at the dancing. Chris is really good at acting like a zombie.
  
• The judging: Nigel didn't connect with the music and wanted them to be more overt with the characters. Oh, this is his Jason/Caitlin alien critique all over again. Mary says Ashley is beautiful even when she's a zombie. Mary's impressed that Chris is doing pirouettes now. Kristin says the half-human/half-zombie characters are like half of her boyfriends. Kristin says Ashley is one of her favorites on the show. Lil C likes how Sonya gives the technique of the dance a character as well. Lil C thinks Ash is the sleeper this year.

Clarice and Jess (Jean Marc fox trot):

• The featurette: "Jess the Mess," yeah, that about sums it up... Producers, please stop allowing Jess to talk so much.
  
• The dance: Clarice's fringy skirt is exquisite. I was liking the beginning, but the actually in-hold fox trot stuff was sooooo slow, it was almost comical. The routine was cute; they did a good job. Clarice looked good.
  
• The judging: Mary says they did exactly what they were supposed to do. Mary thinks no other dancer on the show could have done what Jess just did. Kristin says that was her favorite performance of the night. She just pronounced Clarice's name "Clair-is"; is that how we're all supposed to be pronouncing it? Lil C says he knows Jean Marc loves dance and they just put a "face on the smile of his heart" or something. Nigel loves the dress. Nigel says Jess is a master of "this Broadway style." And here I thought this was the fox trot... Hmm...

Ryan and Ricky (Sonya Tayeh contemporary):

• The featurette: After their trip to the bottom three last week, there was no doubt in my mind that they'd be doing contemporary this week. And it's emotional, no less. Nothing brings in the votes like a contemporary routine about a break-up.
  
• The dance: I'm sorry, but Ryan's un-winding top is a choreographic crutch. At least Ryan's not smiling during this one. It was a nice routine and well danced, but my heart isn't breaking over here or anything.
  
• The judging: Kristin says Ricky's turn out is amazing. And she thought the piece was very beautiful. Lil C just loves Sonya. Lil C thinks they're a power couple too (apparently even though they were in the bottom 3 last week). Nigel says he's proud they kept Ryan. Right, because neither of the other girls would have danced well this week. *Eye roll.* Nigel says he couldn't take his eyes off Ricky. Mary acknowledges that they got freaking lucky by picking contemporary.

Jordan and Tadd (Napoleon and Tabitha hip-hop):

• The featurette: It's a hip-hop routine with a bed. They're college students who wake up in bed together and don't know who the other person is. Some classy inspiration, there... Tadd: "People might assume that Jordan is comfortable with this piece..."
  
• The dance: Did Jordan have those tight jeans on this whole time? I'm super impressed if she pulled them on that fast. That feat is far more impressive than her dancing in this routine. So, at the end, they decide to get back into bed together. Charming...
  
• The judging: Cat is afraid to toss it to the judges after the kissing incidents. Lil C claims to love the dance and the concept. He said they do need to work on using their whole bodies in some of the grooves. (I think that was directed to Jordan.) Nigel says the story of the dance overwhelmed the dancing. No kidding! That's the smartest thing Nigel's said all year. He assured them that America won't care about a silly thing like dancing though, and they'll be around for many weeks to come. I'm not so sure. Mary says they just "put the whammy on us." Kristin brings back her "front door" monologue.

Group number (Dee Caspery contemporary): Melanie, Ashley, Kaitlynn, Jordan, Alexander, Jess, Ricky, and Robert. Medieval women are trying to poison the boys. To "Poison and Wine" by the Civil Wars! Four powerhouse girl technicians in this number (including Jordan, who can do the moves quite well when she's not hell-bent on Pussycat Doll-ing everything up).

My favorites (no particular order):

• Melanie and Marko's lyrical hip-hop
• Sasha and Alexander's contemporary
• Clarice and Jess' fox trot