I am soooo excited for Christina Applegate to be judging! She’s such a sweetie, and so talented herself. Plus, she’s positively tickled to be guest judging (if her tweets are any indication). And I find myself a little surprised to discover I’m also excited to see Lil’ C back on the panel. I’ve kinda missed his particular brand of lexiconical kraziness. And of course, who isn’t excited about the all-star lineup? Kent, Ellenore, Janette, Jaimie, Pasha, and @official_tWitch. The only thing not to like about this week’s show is that two more people will have to go “home” because of it. (I’m consoled only by the fact that they won’t really be going anywhere because they will all be appearing in the finale and as such will be in LA rehearsing all week.) So who’s going to make it to the finale in the Final Four? Well, let’s see who did what and how…
Melanie, Nappytabs hip-hop with Twitch
Not a side of Melanie we’re used to seeing! I like it! Props to Tabitha and Napoleon for once again giving us a fascinating concept matched to a storytelling hip-hop that will be hard to forget. And I especially liked Lil’ C’s explanation of hip-hop, because I can’t say I’ve ever really thought about that before. I think Melanie did a more than respectable job with a truly challenging dance, not just in terms of choreography, but in the character required of her. Was it totally bucc? Mmm…I can envision a person or two who might’ve been a little nastier in the role, but I would happily watch Melanie do it again.
Sasha, Tyce Diorio contemporary with Kent
Well, that one got to me before anyone else started showing tears, and that’s rare. I’m usually good until I see somebody else crying and that’s when I lose it, but this one was a topic I am all too familiar with in my life, and I thought these dancers expressed it fantastically through their dance. (I mean, even Lil’ C couldn’t keep from cryin’!) Beautifully and viscerally done, and a special thank you to Kent for having grown up so beautifully in a year’s time. This might just be the first time I’ve really had the sense that Sasha could very well win this competition.
Marko, Dmitry paso doble with Janette
Paso dobles are such a sucky draw this late in the game! Okay, they’re a sucky draw any time, but when it can mean the difference between getting to the finale and not, it’s especially sucky. I think Marko did okay with it. His steps were good, he was overall competent; buuuut…I didn’t love it. There were some “meh” moments where I thought he was concentrating a little too hard, and I didn’t really see any connection between the dancers. Even so, I love Marko, and I think he put as much as he could into it even though it was sooooo far from his native genre.
Ricky’s solo
I’m not sure the choreography was all that terrific, but I really felt him in it. Maybe it was the intro with his mom that inspired him, but I felt like he put himself out there emotionally, if not particularly athletically. Then again, he’s still got two dances to do, so maybe he was just saving himself a bit, which is understandable.
Tadd, Sonya Tayeh contemporary with Ellenore
My husband was a little, um, wigged out by this one, I think. I admit that while I think I know where Sonya was going – and I do think the lustfulness came through – it wasn’t exactly my style, and I think it might have been just a touch too bizarre for the average audience member. That said, I think Mary had some excellent points about the level of difficulty involved with the uniqueness of the chandelier prop, which had all manner of possible ways to go wrong, and it didn’t. I am so impressed with Tadd’s ability to spin like that and still stand upright to finish the routine.
Caitlynn’s solo
One of her better ones, I think. She was also very emotionally present, and I think that helped.
Ricky, Dee Caspary contemporary with Jaimie
What a treat to finally get to see Ricky do a contemporary routine!! I didn’t care for the stick gimmick, I have to tell you, but I thought Ricky and Jaimie had good chemistry with each other, which I can’t say about a lot of Ricky’s duets this season. It was lovely to see Ricky in his own element, and he did great. Shame that he hasn’t had it until now, but at least he hung around long enough for us to see it. Was it the most memorable contemporary number of the season? No, but it was one of Ricky’s more beautiful performances, and I’m glad we got to see it.
Tadd’s solo
I love his tricks, but I wish his solos had more dancing in them, because he can DO IT. I feel like he cheats himself by doing these trick-heavy/dance-light solos, especially since he has such creative music choices.
Sasha’s solo
We were "WOW!"ing before it was halfway through. That was not only her best solo so far, it was one of the very best solos so far – and certainly the best tonight.
Caitlynn, Dmitry samba with Pasha
DAYUM. That was smokin’ hot! She oozed, she shook that booty, she was absolutely on fi-yer! I actually found myself at one point actively remembering that Pasha was there, because I had forgotten - he just faded into the background at some point while I was riveted to Caitlynn. In fact, I don’t really agree with the judges, because I really thought she owned this dance top to bottom. I get what the judges are saying about her not overreaching for the sexiness, but I thought she did just fine. So much so, that for the first time since watching Lauren last season that I felt glad that I wasn’t that girl’s mother, because that was not appropriate material for a young lady her age!
Marko’s solo
I felt like the choreography was good, but not well executed – for Marko. It just seemed a tad sloppy, a few things not fully extended…and maybe that was his intention, but it ended up looking like less than Marko is capable of.
Melanie’s solo
Okay, I don’t know if she just felt compelled to one-up Sasha, but that was spectacular! So, um, now I’ll pull a Nigel: THAT was the best solo of the night. And possibly the season.
Ricky & Sasha, Kumari Suraj, “waacking” (not a typo, we looked it up online – two a’s!)
I’m sorry, I can’t seem to take this style any more seriously now that it’s been officially choreographed for the show than when we saw Princess Lockeroo do it in the auditions (and she was at least a lot more…vigorous). I will say that it was enjoyably upbeat, if not particularly impressive. One thing I liked about this duet though: Ricky’s clothes, not just because they’re stylish, but because they added a little bulk on his frame and it gave him just a shade more swag.
Melanie & Tadd, Spencer Liff, Broadway
I groaned the second I heard Spencer’s name – we all know I am not a fan. (I actually thought maybe they picked him to make it fair since they had “waacking” as a dance style.) Fortunately, it’s Melanie and Tadd, so I crossed my fingers that it could only go so wrong. Much to my surprise and delight, this was not an altogether awful routine (maybe someone had a little chat with Spence?), and the two of them danced it superbly. They embodied their characters implicitly and thoroughly, and the dance almost became secondary. Yes, Melanie outdanced Tadd, but primarily because she had more opportunity here.
Caitlynn & Marko¸ Sonya Tayeh, jazz
Per my previous comment about Melanie & Tadd’s getting Spencer Liff as a balance for Sasha & Ricky getting “waacking,” it seems almost unfair that Caitlynn and Marko got this routine, because it was SO AWESOME (especially by comparison). ##BUCC, indeed! I think this makes up for any mediocreness in Marko’s paso doble or overacting by Caitlynn in her samba. They were both incredible in this dance, and it was a great dance to begin with.
I'm not sure there is anyone whose dancing deserves to get them booted at this point - everybody but Melanie had at least one less than perfect routine - but I think it would be a miracle if Caitlynn isn't the girl going home. As for the boys, it'll most likely be Ricky or Tadd, but either is as likely as the other. Glad I don't have to choose! Who would choose if you were The Only Judge?
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