SYTYCD: Starting Off Season 8

So You Think You Can Dance: Top 20 Performance Show

First performance show of Season 8! Let's go:

• Cat is wearing a sparkly black mini dress with silver shoes, tousled wavy hair and smokey eyes.
• I am so sick of seeing Chbeeb in this intro.
• There are some seriously unfortunate outfits amongst this top 20. And I'm getting a little sick of watching everyone do leg kicks. I think we went a little contemporary heavy this year. Esp. with the girls.
• Cat is having a slightly rough time reading her intros tonight.
• Megan Mullally?! Seriously? Because she danced in that I Can't Believe It's Not Butter commercial? She says she has a dance history. Ok, I guess that's all right then.
• Mitchell injured his elbow. He can't perform tonight so he's automatically in danger tomorrow.
  

Jordan and Tadd (Sean Cheesman Afro-jazz):

• Featurette: Jordan wants to be a Pussycat Doll really bad, and that makes me like her even less than I already did. Tadd was a dancing taco in a movie. When he was a kid, he thought he was Caucasian. His 8-second intro was amusing.
  
• The dance: This started out really cool, but I think it lost some steam in the middle. Picked up towards the end. Seemed really long. Danced well though.
  
• The judging: Nigel thought it was tremendous. Mary agrees. Mary was impressed with b-boy Tadd. Megan liked the precision and power.

Sasha and Alexander (Travis Wall contemporary):

• The featurette: I find this Alexander dude a bit on the creepy side. Sasha gets to kick the crap out of Alexander. Watching Sasha beat him up has made me warm up to Alexander a bit.
  
• The dance: Sasha's dress is out of control. Oooh, Sasha's rocking the creepy face there. It's a good routine, but I'm not blown away. I feel like they could be doing something harder, perhaps?
  
• The judging: Mary likes the transitions in Travis' routines. Mary thinks Sasha is very strong. She liked it, but she didn't quite feel the connection between the two of them. Nigel is scared of Sasha.

Clarice and Jess (Tyce Diorio Broadway):

• The featurette: Well, they sure played right into Jess' hands by giving him Broadway. Um, yeah, Jess is annoying. I think the helpers are Katee and Jakob!!! Or am I seeing a mirage? Can we watch Katee and Jakob instead?!
  
• The dance: With all the cards that are stacked against this one - Tyce, Jess - I'm not expecting to like it much. Clarice just knocked out one heck of a split leap though. She's got nice extensions. Otherwise, I'm pretty bored. They danced it well, however.
  
• The judging: Megan loved everything about it. Nigel wants more from Clarice. She'll need to work hard to keep up with Jess and his innate Broadway style. Whatever. Nigel says Jess is one of his favorite guys this year. Ugh. Mary says Jess couldn't have done anything any better.

Ryan and Ricky (Christopher Scott lyrical hip-hop):

• The featurette: Ryan is obsessed with Law and Order: SVU. Ricky kind of reminds me of Brandon from Season 5. He's really peppy though. Yea for lyrical hip-hop that's not choreographed by Napoleon and Tabitha.
  
• The dance: Ryan's dress is cute. It looks like something someone would actually wear. I'm liking this. I feel like the girl actually gets to dance in this routine, and not just sassily strut around, as often happens in these hip-hop routines. They're both good, but I think Ryan's stealing the show a little in the side-by-side dancing. Nicely choreographed routine!
  
• The judging: Nigel didn't quite get the story, but he loved the dancing. He says Ryan stands out in the sea of good girl dancers. Mary thinks Ricky is one of the best boys.

Caitlynn and Mitchell (Sonya Tayeh jazz):

• The featurette: Yea Sonya! Mitchell is a little much too. He also sweats a lot.
  
• The dance: Robert is taking Mitchell's place. I'm happier to see Rob now than I ever was last year... This routine is pretty classic/standard Sonya, but it's cool. Caitlynn's pretty good.
  
• The judging: Mary loves Sonya's choreo and thinks Kaitlynn's legs are spectacular. She thinks Kaitlynn was brilliant. Mary sure hopes we see Robert later this season as an all-star. Megan was impressed with how young, small Kaitlynn showed such power. Nigel gives her 10's for performance and technique.

Miranda and Robert (Jason Gilkison jazz):

• The featurette: Miranda is from Pittsburgh. She's dancing in lingerie in her intro clip. Robert kind of sings his 8-second intro. He also has an Urkel voice. He's also a bit much. What is with these boys this year?
  
• The dance: Mod outfits for the jive. Interesting. Miranda's jive looks a little stompy--not very light. I don't think Robert quite has it either, but he's got nice spirit. I'm excited to hear Mary's take on this.
  
• The judging: Megan liked it. Nigel points out the obvious: that Robert might alienate people with all the "woooooooo"-ing. He wants him to point his toes. Nigel wants more confidence from Miranda. Mary seems to like it, and I'm a bit befuddled. She gives them a wohoo. Ok, I'll defer to Mary. She knows more about jive than I do.
  

Missy and Wadi (Sean Cheesman jazz):

• The featurette: Missy likes talking in a Jamaican accent and Wadi was born in Jamaica! It's perfect! The dance is about evil, sexy demons.
  
• The dance: They start the dance in two separate boxes. Some very cool moments in that routine, especially the end when Wadi jumped and flipped all over the two boxes. Nice.
  
• The judging: Nigel thinks this is Sean's best work ever. Nigel thinks Missy is one of the beasts of the girls. He thinks Wadi is brilliant. Mary says something incomprehensible about Pandora's box and whoopass. Megan pulls out a Mia Michaels-esque "ahh-MA-zing."

Melanie and Marko (Travis Wall contemporary):

• The featurette: Here's my power couple. Marko is from Guam. They are two statues that dance into one.
  
• The dance: Mel and Marko plus Travis, and an Ingrid Michaelson song to boot! They're awful bendy for statues... This is gorgeous. They both display amazing control over these moves. So, so good.
  
• The judging: Judges give it a standing O. Mary's almost in tears. Ok, she's really in tears. She says this was one of those magical numbers that happen once or twice a season. Breathtaking. Megan has chills. Nigel thinks that could have been the first Emmy-nominated routine of the season. Marko's the one who still has a bullet in his shoulder. Nigel says Melanie is the queen of the beasts. He thinks she's the best girl dancer EVER ON THE SHOW. Wow.

Ashley and Chris (Christopher Scott hip-hop):

• The featurette: The dance is about a couple that finds out that they're both cheating on each other at the same time. Chris is cute. Ashley has a nice smile.
  
• The dance: To Cee-Lo's "Forget You," of course. This is spunky. Not sure Ash is the best hip-hop dancer ever, but she is a ballerina after all. They're bringing a nice energy to it. Not one of the marquee number of the night though.
  
• The judging: Nigel thought it was a lot of fun. Mary liked Ashley's swag and Chris' heart. Megan thinks SYTYCD has the best makeup and costumes of any show.

Iveta and Nick (Jason Gilkison quick step):

• The featurette: Well, if someone had to get the quick step tonight, at least it was world champ Iveta. Iveta is originally from Lithuania. Nick's very slow 8-second intro was funny. Iveta is a quick step slave-driver.
  
• The dance: Well, it's a quick step. So there's that. It's kind of a rockin' one though. It's alright. Not my favorite dance ever, but they did a good job.
  
• The judging: Megan was impressed by tap dancer Nick. Nigel thinks Nick came up to scratch. Mary is flat-out screaming her critique. The dance had everything it was supposed to. Iveka is the first American representative to win all 10 dances. Mary says it was unbelievable and Nick rocked.

My favorites:

• Melanie and Marko's contemporary
• Missy and Wadi's jazz
• Ryan and Ricky's lyrical hip-hop
  

Overall, it was a pretty good start to Season 8, I'd say.