by Gina Scarpa

 

As we head into tonight’s live elimination episode of So You Think You Can Dance, there is only one couple I expect to see in the bottom and that is Karen and Kevin.  In fact, it won’t even surprise me in the least if they end up going home.  Though Ryan and Ellenore slipped up last week (big time), they redeemed themselves last night with their contemporary piece by Travis Wall.  Everyone else was on fire and gave strong performances… and it’s at this point in the competition where personality and likability are really going to start factoring into who stays and who goes.

 

A group routine gets the night going and, about five seconds in, I know it’s a Wade and Amanda Robson piece.  They are so weird but so cool sometimes.  You have to respect that Wade takes risks and he does it again here, in this piece about statues in a museum.

 

Then… results time.  Cue the dramatic music and Cat’s feigned concerned facial expressions.

Jakob and Ashleigh hit the stage first with Karen and Kevin.  Right off the bat, it’s obvious how this is going to go down.  That Tabitha and Napoleon routine is my favorite of the season and I can’t wait to see it on tour.  OF COURSE Jakob and Ashleigh are safe, leaving the other couple in the bottom three.

 

Next up – Viktor and Channing and Russell and Noelle.  It’s tough to say what America will do because neither dance will really make people jump for their phones.  Like I said, it’s going to come down to who America likes and connects with.  Therefore, Russell and Noelle are safe, while Viktor and Channing are the second couple to be named to the bottom three.

 

Last up is Legacy and Kathryn, Nathan and Mollee, and Ryan and Ellenore.  Kiss the ground Travis Wall walks on, Ryan and Ellenore, because you just got a new breath of life in this competition.  They’re safe and then Cat reveals that Mollee and Nathan are the last couple in the bottom three.  Could be some backlash from that god awful samba last week… or it could be that people assumed they would be safe and didn’t vote for them… or it could be that that pop jazz routine just didn’t wow anybody (guilty). 

 

Here’s how the solos went down:
- Karen annoys me a little bit because she’s a one trick pony to me right now.  If she’s sexual, people are paying attention and if she’s not, they’re falling asleep.  I expect a little more versatility from her if she’s going to continue on.
- Here’s my point about Kevin.  I feel that I can see a lot of people who dance like him and I don’t particularly see anything unique about him.  Looking at other hip hop dancers in the past, and this season as well, Kevin falls short of the mark.  Way short.
- I really thought Channing tried to show as much emotion as she could in her solo but is it too little too late?
- You can’t deny Viktor’s spectacular dancing ability.  That being said, I feel like I don’t even know the guy or am connected to him.  This is more than just a technical dance competition.
- Mollee is NOT playing around.  She’s not goin’ out this early.  You know, I know it, and that solo knows it.
- Nathan’s solo was a little out there but I also really liked it.  He gave it everything he had and I believe that he’s trying his best to step  up and grow quickly, as Nigel demanded  of him.

 

As the judges deliberate, I expect Karen and Kevin to be heading out but, it turns out, I’m only 50% correct.  The judges are unanimous in their decision but it turns out that Kevin and Channing are eliminated. 

 

 

Be sure to tune in to So You Think You Can Dance, when the Top 12 take the stage, Tuesday night at 8pm ET on FOX.

 

(Image courtesy of FOX)

 

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