It is crazy that we are already down to the top 10 here. Last week, we lost Dareian, Matthew, Janelle, and Amelia. This week starts out with a tribute to Gene Kelly, who would have been 100 years old when this aired. In the audience is Gene's widow, Patricia Kelly who looks like she is not a day over 60. WTF? Yikes, the internet tells me that she was 47 years his junior, and that there was bad blood between her and at least one of his other wives. Interested. Tell me more, world. 

This week we have the All-stars coming in, thank goodness. Judges are Nigel, Mary and guest judge Benjamin Millepied (responsible for choreography in Black Swan), which is hcore. 

Smell ya later, Janelle. 

Major apologies for how behind we are here. I have been away. We pick back up after a two week hiatus for the Olympics (and my absence on top of that). I miss the Olympics, y'all. Four weeks ago, I thought that Janelle deserved to be in the bottom, and I still do, of course. Tiffany and George also had to deal with a crappy NappyTabs routine. We will find out who gets ousted from those performances at the end of this show, which is ENDLESSLY CONFUSING. Cat introduces some nonsense that I don't care to talk about, and then shows us a pretty cute picture of NappyTabs' new little baby. She also shares that this entire episode is a tribute to Mia Michaels, who has choreographed some of this show's most beautiful routines. Mama Mia is in the audience (with her crazy hair), and we learn that tonight's show will feature 7 recreations of Mia's most famous routines. This should be fun. 

So You Think You Can Dance: Top 16

Last week (okay, four weeks ago, so sorry about the delay here), four dancers we didn't really care about were eliminated. Who will go home this week (based on last week's dances, it is still a bit strange)? We start the week off with another pre-taped performance, where all of the dancers are dressed like Charlie Chaplin, and the whole thing is in black and white, save for one bright red umbrella. The style of the dance isn't super interesting..it is sort of slow and rhythmic. I really just stared at the red umbrella the whole time, wondering how it was filmed and processed. The look of the routine was fun, but I really didn't take in much of the dance. 

Cat Deeley looks particularly gorgeous tonight. She has really fun old Hollywood glam hair, a deep burgundy lip colour, and a sleek black dress. Judges tonight are Nigel and Mary, as usual, along with guest judge Christina Applegate. This is exciting, Applegate was a strong judge last season, and she used to be a dancer (she co-founded the Pussycat Dolls, strangely enough). 

We start out with a creepy, monstery-themed dance to Marilyn Manson's "Beautiful People", which features Cyrus and no one else. He starts the dance off in a video element and then also has a different costume than all of the other guys. Many of the other guys are relegated to the far reaches of the stage throughout the number, to the point that it seems rather unfair. 

Cat introduces our Top 20 dancers in couples, and I am champing at the bit to see how this new format for the season will work. Cat tells us that all of the couples will dance tonight and then at the end of the show, the cuts from last week will be made. The three lowest dancers will be called out, and the judges will get to save only one girl and one guy. It is very strange to have everyone dance today, but then not have 4 of those dancers' performances count. We'll see how it goes. Cat introduces our judges, and stalwarts Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy are joined by Adam "Shankers" Shankman. He is plugging some dumb sequel to Step Up which the audience has to be really prodded to applaud for. 

So You Think You Can Dance: Meet the Couples!

The first show of the (real) season is here, and it promises to hold some very exciting dances, as well as the very real threat that a great dancer will go home this week because America doesn't know who he or she is. Let's dive in together and find out all the details about how this re-formatted season is going to work. We start off we a really cool opening number for the top 20 (choreographed by Christopher Scott), which is sort of Mad Men-themed, and I think Kenny Cosgrove is actually one of the dancers. The dance has dudes at desks interacting with their secretaries. Cyrus stands out because the camera keeps stopping on him, and Alexa (who I just very nearly called Ryan, ouch!) stands out for her ridiculous pouffy hair. Eliana and Amelia are also featured players. So many vowelly ladies this year! Our top 20 dancers are introduced right after this, and it is clear that the top 20 routine we just saw was pre-taped because everyone is changed and they all have vastly different hair. I don't recall the opening numbers being pre-taped before, but perhaps I was just oblivious. Having Cat do the individual introductions really brings a smile to my heart. We are really back! 

Judges

So You Think You Can Dance: The Top 20
Excitement abounds! We will finally find out who the top 20 dancers are for Season 9 of So You Think Can Dance! We start out in Hollywood, where the dancers will perform at the end of the show, and Cat is a knockout in this really fun champagne, gold, and pale pink dress. There is a panel of judges (not quite sure why they are here, but we will see), including Mary "The Screamer" Murphy, Nigel "The Pervy Uncle" Lythgoe, and Zooey "The Adorkable" Deschanel. Nigel explains the changes to this season, the biggest of which is that they will be choosing not one, but two favourite dancers (one guy and one girl). In addition, there is only one show per week (no results show), so it will be fun to see how this works out. The results show of SYTYCD wasn't the very worst, but there was certainly a bunch of reality TV filler nonsense that won't be missed.

The 35 finalists are all penned up in a room, and they call them in one by one to face the judges. Alexa (the overexposed) is called up first. Given how much time we spent with her last year, I feel pretty sure she will be in. Tyce tries to fake her out (poorly), and she is our first person in the coveted 20. George Lawrence II is next, and I don't remember much about him, except that he had a great audition. I think he has a ballet/contemporary background. Debbie Allen tells him he is in the top 20. Will Thomas (who we don't know much about) is also in. Megan Branch (who I don't know if we ever met) is a contemporary person who Mary loved, but she doesn't make it, nor does Collin Fuller (another unknown). Amber something is a contemporary dancer who has tried out three years in a row, and this year she makes it in (she had a really stanky attitude after she didn't make it the previous year, more on that later). The first four selected are dancing a Tyce Diorio routine, to "We Found Love" performed by Jesse J. The number is fairly boring, but it doesn't openly suck, which I have sometimes found in Tyce's routines. It looks a bit like a scene from Rent, which probably was the big thing in Tyce's heyday. The judges gives them each feedback, but I won't bother talking about it, because it isn't too interesting. 

So You Think You Can Dance: The Vegas Callbacks

This is very exciting. The audition rounds are over, and only people who have an actual chance of making it onto the show will be performing. The pre-show clip package promises lots of crying dancers, crushed dreams and one person getting kicked full out in the head. Good times. The judging panel includes Lil C, Debbie Allen, Adam Shankman, Tyce DiOrio (who makes a real knob of himself on his intro), Mary Murphy and Nigel Lythgoe. Nigel announces that solo performances will be up first, and if the dancers aren't good enough, they will be immediately cut. The Peanut Gallery's response to this? "Awesome." Up first is that exorcist guy from  Dallas. Shankers is crying already, and the guy is really damn good. We lose two of the first ten people, and it does seem pretty harsh. The next person we see dance is Janelle, the Belly Dancer. The new judges really love her. 51 people are cut from this round, including that dumb hip hopper/karate champion Tim Conkle. 

So You Think You Can Dance: Atlanta and Salt Lake City Auditions

 This week, we head to Atlanta, Georgia, for the third round of auditions. Last year's winner, Melanie, came from this city, so expectations are very high. They show a few quick clips of Melanie, and it makes me want to watch her dances again. So great. Regular judges Mary and Nigel are joined by Debbie Allen. Our first featured contestant is Audrey Case, who has some dumb squeaking neck trick which wastes our time. When she finally starts dancing, the judges love her, and I have to admit she is quite good. She gets a ticket straight through to Las Vegas. Next up are three hip hop dancers who are roommates along with a bunch of other people. Their clip package is a waste of time, as if we care how these unemployed dancers live! The first guy up of these three (Boris something) has some crazy controlled popping, and the judges give him a standing ovation. They give him a ticket straight to Vegas. We will get to his two roommates later. The next guy up is a fun contemporary guy named Joshua Alexander. I don't know that he will stand out from the pack in Vegas, but the producers definitely want us to like him. He gets his ticket to Vegas. We get a brief overview of another slough of dancers who get to go to Vegas. Tim Conkel (hehe) is up next, and he is apparently a big-time karate champion. He hams it up for the cameras, and the producers are salivating. He definitely has a unique style, and his karate-influenced movements and flips are pretty cool. The judges are not sure he has the dance skills needed to go forward, so they give him a chance to show some ballet that he learned in 7 days. It isn't good, but the judges find him very funny and charming. They send him on to Vegas, which is somewhat surprising. 

So You Think You Can Dance: The New York, Dallas and Los Angeles Auditions

The best televised talent competition of the summer is here again, and I am recapping it once again! After Melanie's dominance last year, I am exited to see who will step it up this year and break some hearts. As you can tell here, I am starting out with the audition rounds, which I generally skip. I do not promise detailed analysis of all of the auditionees, but I will try to keep up with those who might actually make the cut in Vegas. Of course, the producers probably won't show us all of the chosen ones in detail, so we'll see how this goes. In these first rounds, the dancers get one chance at a solo, and if they impress the judges, they get a ticket to compete in the group round in Las Vegas. If the judges aren't sure, they can give the people a chance to dance a choreographed routine and see if they stand out in that. 

The votes have been cast, the dances, done. We have made it to the end of the road, and it is time for the best episode of a very good show- the finale results! This is when the show brings out the very best routines of the season, all at once. Amazing! Let's get to the fun. 

We start with a group number that looks very Tayehesque. It is hard to pick out who everyone is because of big wigs and costumes, but I think it is the entire top 20. For the girls I only really notice Ryan and Jordan. The guys are a bit easier to spot, with Jess, Ricky and Mitchell standing out. Our final four come out the end looking intense. Cat is wearing a really adorable tight mini dress (but with three quarter sleeves). The dress is red sequin-y, and really cute. Cat tells Sonya "by god, you are weird"...fair (and she means it in a flattering way). 

We have come to the finale of this great, great show, and four dancers (3 awesome dancers) remain. Who will take the title of “America’s favorite dancer”? Probably Melanie. But we will see! The winner will take $250,000 and a bunch of promotional crap, so you know these four are excited. Guest judges include Kenny Ortega and Katie Holmes. Really? These are the best we can bring to the finale? In a season featuring Gaga, NPH and the surprisingly awesome Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Katie Holmes seems like a major letdown. Tonight the dancers will dance in pairs, solo, and with all-stars. Let’s get right to it.

Melanie and Marko: Disco by Doriana Sanchez

Disco is often a killer when featured on Dancing with the Stars, and apparently it caused some major injuries to beloved dancers last year on this show. I have faith in team Melarko. As the dancers get their disco on, I am reminded that disco kind of sucks. It is supposed to be high-energy, and there are some crazy lifts going on, but the dance is pretty boring. Kenny Ortega thinks it was fun, electric and sizzling. Mrs. Tom Cruise thinks they had a ton of energy. We learn that Mary did go to Studio 54 once. Hilarious. She says that they struggled with the lift transitions here and there. Nigel agrees with the struggle that Mary observed, and hopes to see better from them tonight.

Cat Deely is wearing some truly huge shoes tonight. How fun. We are down to the top 6, including the unlikely Ricky and Caitlynn. Guest judges tonight are Christina Applegate (apparently a Tony winner?) and Lil C.

Melanie and Twitch: Lame Hip Hop by Tabitha and Napolean

Last week, Mitchell and Clarice were sent home, and no one will really miss them. This week, we have a really, really, really exciting guest judge in Lady Gaga (who gets to sit in Nigel’s seat, which is bonkers). La Gaga is looking amazingly nutty today. Her outfit is a sort of psychedlic take on Sgt. Pepper, but in body suit form. I am sure you follow me. She also has faded teal hair. Wonderful. We also have a second guest judge who isn’t very exciting in director Rob Marshall. This week the dancers will do another routine with an all-star, and then a routine with a fellow dancer. They advertised that they would be doing this last week, but then crapped out to the boring solos. I am excited to see it.

Sasha and Pasha: Quickstep by Jonathon Roberts

We have made it to the top 10 already. Last week, we lost Alexander and Ryan, and it took me a while to remember who they were, so it can't be any great loss. This week, the dancers split from their partners and get to dance once with one of 10 all-stars returning to the show. In addition to this, they will be doing a solo. As sad as I am for the breakup of Melarko, I am excited to see what happens next. Tonight we have an extra special guest judge in the wonderful Neil Patrick Harris. Can he fill Jesse Tyler Ferguson’s hilarious shoes? We’ll find out together. Neil is our only guest judge this week, which is a welcome change. 4 opinions is too many.

Marko: Marko’s solo has a lot of personality and connection with the audience, something that is hard to do in 20 seconds. He also manages to do a lot of leaping and flipping, so that is always fun to see.

Let’s get right to business. The charming Cat Deely got herself a first Emmy nomination this week! Woo! She is a really great host and a sparkling personality on the screen. Props also go to Tom Bergeron for his nomination. Last week, the forgettable Ashely and Chris were both sent home. Maybe it was just a weak partnership or something, but I never saw any magic between them. It is interesting that they haven’t broken up a single couple yet, perhaps they have changed it so that no couples will be broken up? That seems a bit unfair to someone who has a crap partner.

Guest judge this week is Jesse Tyler Ferguson! How fun. Mitchell in the house (from Modern Family). I hope Cam shows up and declares to the crowd that Mitchell is (once again) cheating on him with choreography. Anyways…choreographer Sonya Tayeh is our other guest judge tonight. The couples will each dance two routines tonight, which means I am going to be writing a lot. Go grab your favourite dance-inspired cocktail (Shirley Temple, par example) and let’s get to it.

Sasha and Alexander: Paso doble by Tony Meredith and Melanie Lapatin

Last week, this show wasted all of our time by not eliminating any of the dancers. Dumb! This week, we have a fun guest judge in Debbie Reynolds (she sang in the rain, in case you didn’t know). Apparently, this week four dancers will go home. Exciting!

Ricky and Ryan: These two have a “sexy” jazz routine choreographed by Mandy Moore. Not that Mandy Moore, sadly. Ryan is not doing much to win me over this week…she seems annoying. Ricky is impressive with his athleticism in this routine, but Ryan just looks like prop. The judges have nothing but praise, and Nigel awkwardly says that the routine had the sexual chemistry of he and Mary Murphy. Debbie Reynolds wins me over early on by claiming that Ryan really gave it her all by coming out of both her top and bottom (wardrobe malfunctions). 

Caitlynn and Mitchell: We didn’t get to see Mitchell last week because of an injury, and this week they will be dancing a contemporary routine by Stacey Tookey. They have prop armchairs in their routine, which generally doesn’t bode well. As I suspected, the time spent in the chairs is a waste. After that, they suffer from what I saw last week in another couple, where they don’t have the emotional core in their dance. It is technically quite good. After the routine, Caitlynn is bleeding because apparently Mitchell punched her during the dance. Hilarious. Good for her for just dancing through it.

Welcome to a new show being recapped here at (Cult)ure, So You Think You Can Dance!  It is time for teenaged and 20-somethinged dancers to amaze us with serious skill, and time for me to prove, yet again, how little I know about dance. My history with this show is pretty brief, with me only having watched one full season in the past. What I remember from that season is some really entertaining dances and one “banoodles” choreographer named Mia Michaels. I am sure the show won’t disappoint in bringing us these two things again.

I didn’t watch the audition rounds, so I am meeting the dancers tonight. Let’s get to it!

Judges:  Our panel tonight consists of two regulars, Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy, and one guest, Megan Mullally. Yes, Ron Swanson’s on-screen ex-wife AND real-life wife  (I may never recover from that one) will be joining us tonight. Consider yourselves lucky. Mullally spent time in ballet academies in her younger days, and has also done several Broadway plays.