by David McAlpine

Last night on So You Think You Can Dance, Ellen DeGeneres showed up as an extra guest judge and the Top 8 pulled out all the stops for your votes. Tonight, So You Think You Can Dance celebrated its 100th episode and had plenty of guests on hand to commemorate the occasion.

The night kicked off with a Mia Michaels Broadway/contemporary routine to “One” from A Chorus Line. Honestly, not the most spectacular opening I’ve seen (especially coming from Mia Michaels…and on the 100th episode?), but it was still entertaining to watch.

Nigel, Mary and Mia share some sentiments over the past five seasons, and we take a look back at the last 100 episodes, from horrible auditions to Hollywood week to performance shows to season finales. I totally forgot that both Mary and Nigel had danced themselves on the show, and they were definitely great reminders—I highly suggest YouTubing them!

The four girls are out on stage first and Melissa is put in the hot seat first. The judges didn’t exactly enjoy her first dance with Ade, and, in reality, it was probably the least memorable of the night, but her second dance will most likely be a favorite of viewers for a long, long time. And she’s safe! Kayla is up next, who got rave reviews from all the judges last night, including some huge compliments from Mia Michaels. Despite that, Kayla is in the danger zone, and it comes down to Janette and Jeanine. They both had a great dance and a solid dance last night, but Janette has been, hands down, the best dancer of the season. Yet, Janette ends up in the bottom two, and I’m completely shocked. Yeah, she wasn’t at the same level she usually is last night, but I still think she was in the top 2 of the girls.

Turning back the clock a little, Hok and Jaime take the stage to perform the Emmy-winning dance about the hummingbird and the flower from season 3. It seems as if they never forgot the dance, because it’s a lot better than the first time I remember seeing it. After the break, the four guys come out on stage to hear their fate.

Ade (who had arguably his worst performance last night) and Jason are first in the spotlight, where Jason finds out he’s the first half of the bottom two guys. Again, not surprised because of all the time he spent in the bottom two during the first part of the competition, but still sad to see it happen. It’s down to Evan (who finally got positive reviews last night) and Brandon, and I’m sweating bullets for Evan. Luckily, he’s safe, putting Brandon in the bottom two this week.

While the soloists prepare to wow us possibly one last time, Travis and Heidi from season 2 come back to perform Mia Michael’s Emmy-winning routine, “The Bench.” Just like the first routine, they did it twice as better as I’ve ever seen them do it. Kayla, Jason, Janette and Brandon all showcase their solos from last night, and I’m left wondering who is going home because they’re all so good. But I’m secretly hoping it’s Kayla and Brandon because I love Janette and Jason too much.

The last of the “flashback” routines is the group dance by Wade Robson from the Top 8 of Season 2—you know, “Ramalama,” the Colonial-ish zombie one? And, to add to the occasion, Wade also performs it with them, which makes it even better to watch.

Now the moment we’ve all been waiting for: Katie Holmes takes the stage to sing and dance to “Get Happy” and to represent the Dizzy Feet Foundation (founded by her, Nigel, Adam Shakman and Carrie Ann Inaba). I don’t know why I was expecting her to perform live, but I was disappointed when a taped segment comes on. Even though she’s lip-synching, too, I’m really impressed with her dancing ability. It was very entertaining to watch!

Now, it’s judgment time (which Cat still manages to make so sunny and cheery), first between Kayla and Janette. And after last night’s vote, Janette is the one sent home, and I’m totally floored. You could even hear some “Are you serious?”s on some scattered microphones around the studio—that’s how shocked everyone was. I think she fell victim to everyone thinking she was safe, so they just didn’t vote, and now I think the best dancer is unfortunately going home (and Nigel agrees!). Now it’s between Jason and Brandon, and Cat reveals that Jason is going home (and I’m 0-for-2 this evening, damn). I feel like America got it wrong this week, but it makes for an even closer race as we near the end of So You Think You Can Dance.

Tune in next Wednesday at 8/7c to FOX as the Top 6 dance for your votes and a spot in the season finale!

(Image courtesy of FOX)

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