Wow. I finally have some routines from this season that I would watch again. Kayla and Kupono were so lovely in that Mia piece. Great synchronization throughout, and some of those leaps it would've been very easy to get off. I loved the beginning of the piece and those body rolls they did. Kayla's technique is flawless and I will admit to the hard hearted cynic in me rolling my eyes a little bit when Kupono was telling the story about how, apparently, his entire family is nothing but druggies, but damn if I didn't sense a real connection from him and real emotion in the piece. Loved it.

Janette was unreal in that tango. Those ganchos? She looked like a pro. And she was so cute chatting it up with the choreographers. I adored the choreography in that piece. I think it was by far the most technically demanding tango they have ever had on the show. Brandon wasn't perfect, but what he did do so well was show Janette off. I should be focused on the lady in this dance and I certainly was. I loved that and I loved this couple's second piece. Wade is a genius. It wasn't the best piece he's ever done for the show, but there were some things that were great and the whole dance had such a slinky, quirky feel. He wanted cartoon and I totally got a Spy vs. Spy vibe from the dance.

Caitlin and Jason's jazz. The first time I have ever really liked this couple. The first time I have looked at Jason and thought, "Damn, that fool is pretty." The first time I've seen the sparkle that Caitlin can bring to her solos in a partner dance. The first time I've ever seen even a hint of chemistry or connection between these two. And finally some choreography that let's their technique shine. Really classy lines.

The only couple that I thought had two clear misses tonight were Evan and Randi. The hip hop. I can't even speak on it. NappyTab really need to be put out to pasture. They looked like they were on dance team practicing for UDA National Dance Championships from the Milk House at Walt Disney World, Florida. Whatever they were doing was not hip hop. It was the anti-hip hop. And that samba just made me mad because the choreography was on point and I really, really wanted to see two much better ballroom dancers do it, like say Pasha and Anya themselves. Randi and Evan just did not turn it out. Both of them were disappointing, even though Randi didn't get called out.

I think it's clear that they would like to send Evan home and let the Chbeeb make top 10, but damn he was bad in that horrible Russian Folk Dance routine. When he squatted down to do those kicks, I thought he was going to take a dump. And Jeanine completely carried him in that too slow by half jive. She pulled all of the focus to her so that you really couldn't concentrate on how bad the Chbeeb was in that routine. I really wish Chbeeb would go home tomorrow night. I don't know for the girls. Only Janette is 100% safe. If I were the judges, I'd probably send Randi home, not least because she's gone back to the horrid unitards.

I just wish the judges would have gotten rid of Philip and/or Evan already!!

kat,

I'm right there with you on Evan & Randi. I actually like them as a couple so I was really bothered by how poorly they did and that the judges didn't really respond in the tone I would have preferred.

The Russian Dance was a bad choice to be featured. I was wondering why Nigel was reaming out the choreographer when he is executive producer! What the hell? Even if you got the best dancers in the world, that dance wouldn’t have looked very good. Too simple generally. Phillip's skill level has been maxed out weeks ago, poor thing.

Better dancers would have gotten a harder/more impressive-looking dance, I'm sure.

kat, you made me laugh out loud, twice, at work, in that recap.

Haven't seen it yet, sigh. I wish I had a TIVO. Of course, then I'd need tome to actually watch what I'd TIVOed.

did not watch, but read the posts anyway. so did each couple have 2 dances? I might get to watch tonight if I can manage to not fall asleep while waitig for mac to fall asleep.

Yep, everyone got two dances, and you could tell in the first hour, because they were rushing everyone, including the judges.

Brandon and Janette totally stole the show last night! They were awesome in both numbers--that tango was so crisp and intense (they were both doing the leg flicks so well, although I thought that Brandon could have done a lunge to match Janette's in the beginning, instead of the folded-leg crouch), and that Wade number was soo Spy vs. Spy (perfect description!) and fun.

The other dancers just faded in comparison, although I did like the foxtrot (the first time I liked Caitlin) and that addiction piece of Mia's. As much as I adore Evan and Randi, the judges were correct in that he has his niche of jazz/Broadway and just can't seem to break out of it. He doesn't know how to bring the intensity and lose the cute.

Melissa and Ade were just fine in both numbers, but not much more, unfortunately. Ade did shake it better than Melissa in the disco, but he didn't get the waltz movement right (although that might have been more the choreographer's fault than his).

the hip hop was an absolutely atrocity.

Jesse, maybe you are right, but I've seen other Russian dances that are much better, so I just thought the choreo was bad.

Definitely everything about it was terrible. I'm willing to call it a group effort!

but I've seen other Russian dances that are much better, so I just thought the choreo was bad.

I haven't tracked down the intro on youtube to confirm, yet, but last night I thought that in that tape they showed a number of things that didn't end up being in the dance. I suspect that whatever they had choreographed got scrapped when Phillip couldn't handle it and thus we got the judges harping on how easy it was.