So You Think You Can Dance Recap: The Top 8 Perform

Hey all I'm still bummed by the elimination of Kupono last week but luckily we have a (mostly) strong group of dancers remaining to help cheer me up. Also tonight Ellen DeGeneres serves as a guest judge, and from what I've heard, provides a lot of laughs. I also heard the early routines tonight are subpar but one routine will make everyone in the studio cry. Well I didn't cry at Jason and Jeanine's dance last week like everyone else did but maybe tonight will be different.


Cat is wearing a sleek gold dress, and she looks gorgeous with her hair back in a ponytail.

Evan has awesome nerd glasses on for his early solo. All of the solos are pretty strong tonight, especially Brandon with his fast footwork and Janette with her sexy hips.

Tonight each duo will do two dances. Like last week the bottom girl and bottom guy will be eliminated on Thursday's 100th episode extravaganza.

For some reason I thought Ellen would be replacing Mary this week, but it turns out there will just be four judges. Hopefully they won't run overtime like Idol did this season. Mia is also on the panel this week as the third (now fourth) judge. Ellen gets the loudest cheers of the judges. Nigel is referred to as a "doctor" by Cat after he received his honorary degree last week, and even his name caption says "Dr. Nigel Lythgoe". Congrats!

Nigel thought this show would never work when he first found out about it and is happy to see he was wrong. Ellen learned all her dancing on the street, or actually from a man in her gated community named "Edwardo", who actually taught her something besides dancing- wow. That exchange was just weird. Everyone laughed but I really didn't find it that funny. Anyway Mary thinks the show keeps getting better and better and she has no clue who will win. And she calls Nigel "English Muffin" again! Mia finds it hard trying to outdo herself with each dance she choreographs, but once there is no challenge it is time to quit. That's great advice. She adds the show really pushes her as an artist.

Each performer will also do a group dance and a solo along with their two partner dances. Wow four dances- hope these contestants have a lot of stamina!

Travis was invited back to work with the top 8 on their group number. His dance is supposed to take place at a rave in the year 2300. It is a fusion of styles where each contestant gets a solo in their own style. That sounds kind of cool. Jeanine says the dance is not hard, but very fast.

The song is "Let it Rock" by Kevin Rudolph, which means I'll have that song stuck in my head all night. Some cool hand choreography early on as the contestants put their hands and nothing else on stage. They come out in lit, colorful outfits that make it hard to tell who is who. This is... weird. They are all kind of just standing there doing their own thing and dancing slower than I thought they would be. When they dance in unison it is better but still not really wowing me. It's still slow and the movements don't really match the music. On the plus side, Ade did another backflip and Brandon did some cool jumps at the end.

Nigel enjoyed the routine and compared it to Lady Gaga. He thought they were all terrific. Really? No one stood out as being bad but that's because the routine was so weird it was hard to watch individual dancers. Ellen takes fake credit for the wardrobe and claims she at first wanted Christmas lights but this works better. So I guess she's here more for comic relief than actual judging tonight. Mary thinks the dancing, costumes, and choreography were great, and she can't find anyone to pick on. Mia is proud of how well Travis has done at a young age. She also agrees to wear one of the costumes with Ellen Thursday. That I have to see. I didn't enjoy it as much as the judges did but there was no way they were going to criticize Travis after his great routine last week. I do think that the dancers did well with what they were given though.

Cat then gives us a sneak peak of the 100th episode. We get some highlights from past seasons and a graphic calling it the "Best Dance Show on Television". I think Dancing with the Stars has something to say about that but whatever. All the Emmy winning routines will be re-performed (with Wade appearing as a dancer in his own routine), along with Katie Holmes' Judy Garland tribute.

But first we must get through tonight's performances. The first couple is Evan and Janette. Boo that Janette got the worst male dancer on the show. They are doing a Sonja jazz routine where they are trying to get each other to shut up. The anger intensifies throughout, but Evan is not used to the intensity. Janette says she will pester Evan backstage to annoy him so he really will want to shut her up during the routine. Awesome!

The song is "Move (Metrononomy Remix) by CSS. This routine is kind of weird also. The constant mouth covering is just distracting, and I don't feel the anger between them at all, especially from Evan. At one point they are supposed to move their arms in a circle but Evan looks more like he is drowning with the way he flails his arms. I do see them getting more intense in their faces as the dance goes on but I still don't really believe it from Evan. Janette seemed to do okay with what she was given but this was one of her weaker routines.

Nigel says their personalities are coming out and Janette brought out the best in Evan. Ellen says it was hard-hitting and then start talking about the wine she had beforehand. Mary says it was fun but Evan could have been rougher. Still he was better than she thought he would be. Nigel then covers up Mary's mouth like the two did in the routine. Mary then resumes and says Janette doesn't take a wrong step. Mia thinks Evan took a step in the right direction by changing up his character but she is too cute to do that kind of choreography. She also says they need to hit it harder in the top 8 (I agree!!!!). She concludes by saying Janette is her favorite dancer this season. I'm surprised she came out and said that because now fans might get complacent and not vote for her. I am not surprised, however, by her choice, since Janette is my favorite female dancer and my second favorite overall after Brandon. Anyway I side more with Mia in that the routine was technically good but not hard hitting enough for this stage. Plus the choreography was weird too but of course the judges will never criticize that unless it's a Russian folk routine.

The first solo is Kayla. She dances to "The Moment I Said It" by Imogen Heap. She really seems to get into the music and dances a beautiful routine. The only negative thing is that her big smile doesn't seem to fit the style of the dance. But her extensions are great as always and she does some great jumps as well.

After the break we see our second couple, Brandon and Jeanine. So two of the best on the show are paired together- this routine should be good, though after reading that all the early routines were subpar (which so far, they were), my expectations are low. They are doing a waltz with Hunter Johnson. Jeanine is looking forward to being all flowing and graceful, but Hunter warns they have to be soft and powerful at the same time. Brandon is struggling with all the vocabulary and keeps zoning out during the lessons. Both are out of their comfort zones. Uh oh.

The song is "May it Be" by Hayley Westenra. The routine starts out with Jeanine on Brandon's shoulders, and they look a little awkward coming down from the lift. The dance technically looks okay but is kind of boring at first. It gets better towards the middle though, especially when the execute a cool lift where Jeanine wraps her arms around Brandon's shoulders and he lifts her up in the air without using his hands. They do another cool lift at the end, but overall the dance was decent but not too memorable. I did like it better than the first number though.

Nigel says the routine was tough and the music was so slow it felt like pulling teeth. I totally agree- that's what made the routine kind of dull. But he points out that this is of course not their fault. He adds he didn't get enough control and is disappointed in two of his favorites. Ellen disagrees, going on a weird rant about a German lady in a bathroom and then saying they were fantastic. Mary says the waltz was very slow and any pro would struggle with that speed, but they did a respectable job. She thinks they could have done more with it, and I also agree. Mia says if Brandon hadn't been daydreaming in rehearsal they would have been better. Ouch! She wanted to be taken away to another world but was not. Watching it again I do notice some wobbles but I still enjoyed it more than the weird first routine, especially in the second half of the waltz. I think the judges were too hard on them and not hard enough on Evan in the first dance.

The next solo is Jason, who dances to "Slowdance on the Inside" by Taking Back Sunday. The routine is danced well technically but is too slow for my liking, especially with the rock backing music.

Aw Jason's brother (who looks just like him with shorter hair) is in the audience cheering him on. I wonder if he's a dancer too...

The next couple is Ade and Melissa, being reunited after dancing apart for just one week. They are doing a cha cha with Tony and Melanie. Ade is worried about the speed, while Tony thinks the toughest part is the technique. Melissa too is struggling with all the steps and is a bit overwhelmed.

The song is "Yeah (Como Goza Mi Morena) by Chino Espinoza Y Los Duenos Del Son. Wow way too long of a title. It actually just sounds like a Spanish version of "Yeah" by Usher, which is kinf of distracting since all I keep thinking of is that version of the song and how it does not fit a cha cha at all. As for the dancing, it doesn't seem to have nearly enough spiciness for a Latin dance. I never like cha chas on DWTS, and this one almost seems to be in slow motion at times. Ade moves his hips well and all but overall the dance was kind of weak for me. But then again like I said I never like cha chas.

Nigel says there were good sexy moves but warns Melissa not to purse her lips and to work on her hips. He thinks Ade could have sizzled a bit more but it was well danced. Ellen asks if there are carpenters because they nailed it. Wow corny joke alert- she is fitting right in! The judges seem to like this dance a lot more than I did. Luckily Mary is more critical, saying Ade's butt was up too much which made it not that hard-hitting. So THAT was the problem. She thinks Melissa put too much effort in and lost her sexiness a bit. Mia thinks that was Ade's worst dance of the year since he didn't get down and dirty enough. I don't know if it was his worst dance but I agree he didn't bring enough heat. She realizes it is hard for Melissa to move her hips that much with her ballet training so taking that into account she did a great job. I think this dance was worse than the Evan/Janette dance, and since Ade was in the bottom last week he may really be in trouble tonight.

The next solo is Janette, dancing to "Seduces Me" by Celine Dion. Celine Dion? That's not really salsa kind of music. She moves around the floor very well and really shows emotion but I prefer her spicy salsa solos to this one. She did but some hip shaking action in that was great but the rest was only okay.

The final couple is of course Jason and Kayla, two of the least popular dancers, so they could be in trouble as well. They are doing a Broadway dance with Tyce. Jason is caught up in the music and Kayla is trying to make him focus on her. The routine is jazzy, which fits both of their styles, but it is so smooth they can't make mistakes. Kayla wacks Jason a few times in rehearsal but Tyce still thinks it will go well.

The song is "Mr. Monotony (from Jerome Robbins Broadway)" by Kim Criswell. This routine is by far the best of the night so far. The two of them let their personalities shine, especially Jason, and their movements are smooth and fluid. Jason seems to be channeling a bit of Evan, as he looked just like a taller, darker version of him, and Kayla uses her sex appeal and extensions well. Overall a great end to an otherwise pretty subpar first round of dancing.

Nigel says that style is beautiful to watch and then compliments Jason's feet. He even gets a Gene Kelly comparison. Well I compared him to Evan, who has been compared to Gene Kelly, so I guess that's kind of the same thing. He adds Kayla can do anything that is thrown at her. He thinks the dance was one of the best of the evening at showing off their personal talents. I'd take that a step further- it was THE best of the evening so far. Ellen says she wasn't expecting to judge, she only wanted a good seat to the show! Ha. She then says she'll invite them over afterwards so they can hang some pictures since they are good nailers. Okay that joke was old the first time she said it. Mary thinks the number flowed effortlessly, which it did. She adds Jason was cool and suave while Kayla gets a ticket on the hot tamale train. I actually thought Jason was better but both were very good. Mia loved the fusion of styles and thinks they danced it amazing, but tells Jason to work on his upper body to improve his lines. She thinks Kayla would fit right in on Broadway and win Tonys. Wow that seems like a bold statement after one dance. Mia adds that Kayla's picture would be next to "girl, perfection, and star" in the dictionary. Wow. Now I see why people don't like how much she is being pimped by the judges. I thought Jason was the standout in the dance but all they could talk about was Kayla. Either way those two deserve to be safe this week after clearly winning round one, while Melissa and Ade could be in big trouble.

The next solo is from Ade, dancing to "Hater" by Various Production Artist. Well at least it's not a ballad like last week. But still the dancing does not seem to match the choreography. The dancing itself though, is one of the best so far.

Evan and Janette's second dance is a rumba from Tony and Melanie. Great the other ballroom dance that I never like. Plus the dance is romantic, which will be hard for two new partners. Evan must be masculine in the dance, while Janette must be feminine. She is plenty feminine, but I don't think Evan has mastered the art of masculinity yet. And indeed Janette is doing great, but can't get the sexy Latino out of Evan.

OMG THEY ARE DANCING TO "HEARTLESS" BY KRIS ALLEN!!! Immediate bonus points for song choice (even though I know the dancers have nothing to do with that). I don't know if it's the music but I'm really liking this. Maybe it's that Evan reminds me so much of Kris Allen right in the beginning of the dance.The passion is so great I can feel it through the screen. Evan does much better than I thought he would, though I notice a few slip-ups and awkward moments towards the end. And halfway through his face starts looking weird, like he's crazy or something. But it is still so sexy and emotional that I feel like I'm watching a contemporary routine rather than a ballroom one (which is definitely a good thing). And Janette was great as always, especially getting the sexiness out of her partner. Overall it was one of my favorites of the night.

Nigel says he loves the choreography but it is a hard type of dance to get votes for because it's not a "wow" dance. He thinks that is perfectly Janette's style but that Evan didn't have passion in his face (hence the "crazy" look that I mentioned). Nigel blames Evan's droopy eyelids and says it led to a lack of chemistry. Wow I thought just the opposite. Ellen however loves Evan's eyes and the uniqueness of it. She also loves his essence and how he's not like just another dancer. She also loves Janette. It seems like Ellen is just going to say everyone is good because she doesn't want to criticize- like the guest judges on Idol a few years back. Mary agrees with me and thinks Evan did a very good job especially with a slower rumba. She especially loved the lift. She thinks Janette has the patent on spice and flavor and Tony and Melanie brought it out in her. Mia agrees with Ellen that Evan brings a unique quality to the stage and that he pulled off the sexiness. She doesn't think she has to say anything else about Janette since she said so much before. These two rebounded from an odd start and should both be safe given their huge popularities and this strong second routine.

The next soloist is Melissa, dancing to "Heads Will Roll" by Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Maybe it's her outfit but this reminds me much more of an exercise routine than a dancing routine. She just some nice moves but it's mostly a bunch of poses that don't seem to fit together. My least favorites solo so far.

Brandon and Jeanine will hope to rebound from their waltz (which I still think was the second best routine of the first round) with a pop jazz routine from new choreographer Laurieann Gibson. Brandon and Jeanine are nervous about how much work the routine is going to be. The dance doesn't have a story, which makes me nervous. Laurieann thinks if she can prepare them they could win the whole show, and she acts like a drill sergeant in rehearsals.

The dance is to "Battlefield" by Jordin Sparks. Yay for another great song choice! And fittingly the two are dressed in sexy camouflage. The routine is pretty much them just standing there dancing, which for me makes it less entertaining than the prior routine, but they absolutely nail the choreography. They hit the moves so hard it almost looks painful, especially Brandon. At one point Jeanine grabs on to Brandon's back and they both reach out like they are trying to escape. Brandon then stands parallel to the floor and leaps over Jeanine. That routine was intense but I still really liked it. My only complaint is that Brandon was hitting it so hard Jeanine seemed a bit weaker in comparison.

Nigel says this is what he was asking for the whole night. He thought this was one of the flattest nights to date (remember he didn't like the rumba either) until now. He adds that Jeanine kept up with Brandon and that Brandon's strength matched the strong choreography. Ellen thinks they made it appealing to join the army with their skimpy costumes and calls it "daaaaaaaancing". Mary calls it strong, powerful, and dynamic and puts them on the hot tamale train. It seemed too powerful for me to be put on the train but dancing-wise they deserved it. She also predicts they will both make the finale, which is probably true, though viewers always hate it when judges say stuff like that. Mia thinks they went inside the dance or something like that. She thinks Brandon is a powerhouse and Jeanine did well keeping up. She calls it a "wow" dance, which it certainly was, though I wasn't as crazy about Jeanine as they were. I still think I liked the rumba better but it is close. These two also are certainly safe this week after that routine and their large popularity. That is bad news for Melissa and Ade, who so far are the only ones without a standout routine.

Next to do his solo is Evan, who dances to "Old Devil Moon" by Jamie Cullum. Is that the same outfit he wore for his solo last week? His routine is just so much fun to watch, especially with his personality shining through. He messes up some of his hat choreography but even so it was one of my favorite solos.

Right after the break we get Jeanine's solo, set to "Let the Drummer Kick" by Citizen Cope. Oh I've heard this song before but never knew who sang it or what it was called. I've never been a fan of her solos but this one was her best to date for me.

Next up are Melissa and Ade doing an emotional contemporary piece choreographed by Tyce. Melissa is playing a women who has breast cancer. I bet this is the one that makes everyone cry. Ade is a friend there for Melissa to lean on. Melissa thinks the hardest part is portraying the emotion and not focusing on just the steps. Ade thinks if they do it right it will be a very powerful piece that people can relate to.

The song is "This Women's Work" by Maxwell. Wow this routine is just as emotional as promised. I didn't cry but it still was moving for me through the screen. Melissa even has a scarf on her head to make it seem like she lost her hair. I don't even know what to write because that routine was so powerful. There were lots of great jumps by both Melissa and Ade, and I could see Melissa's anger and fear on her face. I loved Ade carrying Melissa around on the stage and supporting her. Another one of my favorites tonight. In fact it's probably my favorite.

The audience is in tears, as are the judges. Nigel says that showed him why he loves dancing- it can express so many emotions without words. He would be surprised if that piece is not nominated for an Emmy next year, as would I. He calls it one of the most memorable routines on the show and agrees with Melissa that the routine is more about the emotions not the steps, which it was. He also thinks they were the perfect couple to dance this, which makes sense with Melissa's vulnerability and Ade's strength. He adds Ade's strength allowed Melissa to do the jumps in the dance, and Melissa's maturity helped send the message of the routine. Ellen feels privileged having seen that dance and calls it the most beautiful thing she's ever seen. Mary is crying the most and thinks she'll never forget the dance. She loves their vertical lift and how effortless Ade made it and how well Melissa trusted Ade during the dance. Nigel is turned around in his chair he is crying so much. Mia can't even talk she is crying so much and mentions how this dance shows the journey of the millions who try to beat cancer. She wishes Ade's strength could have been there for her father, who I'm guessing has or had cancer. She thinks Melissa is already there in terms of skills. That routine just saved them from going home and now puts the pressure on Jason and Kayla. They unfortunately have to dance right after this routine, so no matter what it will likely be a letdown. While their first round dance was strong it was not as good as these last three routines, so they will likely be in trouble this week.

The last solo of the night is Brandon, who comes out shirtless (yay!) dancing to "Ain't Nothing Wrong with That" by Robert Rudolph and the Family Band. He dances it well but even this seems like a bit of a letdown after that last routine. I do love the flips at the end though.

Jason and Kayla are doing a hip hop routine with Shane Sparks. Jason is a zombie who turns Kayla into his zombie mistress. This sounds like one of those weird routines you will either love or hate. Shane says they have to stick every move, and Jason thinks they will scare the panel and hope to scare the audience.

The song is "They're Everywhere" by Izza Kizza. The routine is danced well but they don't seem to be hitting the moves hard enough. And like I suspected it feels like a letdown after the last emotional routine. Still it was entertaining in a fun way, and danced very well, but it didn't blow me away like other dances tonight.

Nigel likes the Michael Jackson-inspired part of the routine. He did enjoy the routine and thinks the last few dances have saved tonight's show. Ellen thinks they will have their own talk show someday. Mary thinks Jason got bid by rabies and did what Shane wanted. They did, but that kind of routine just pales in comparison to an emotion one. She gives both of them screams. Mia says it is her favorite piece of Shane's on the show and loved Jason strangling Kayla at the end.

So overall the show ended well after a slow start. My favorite was Melissa and Ade's contemporary, followed by Evan and Janette's rumba and Brandon and Jeanine's jazz. I think Jason and Kayla are in trouble simply because they didn't have a wow number like the others. Their routines were fun, and the last one was memorable, but weren't the type to blow people away. It will be interesting to see who else is in the bottom four though. We could have a "shocker" with Brandon, Janette, Jeanine, or Evan there. Though Evan did have one of my favorite solos along with Kayla so that should help him garner votes as well.

What are your thoughts on tonight's show? Who do you think will be in the bottom four? And what did you think of Ellen as guest judge? Post your comments below.

So You Think You Can Dance Top 12 Performance Show Recap

Hey all sorry I didn't blog the results show last week but I fell asleep kind of early. Anyway I was SHOCKED Phillip and Jeanine were in the bottom three, though it shows he's not as popular as I thought. However Evan is pretty popular if he could survive dancing in one of the weaker routines in a strong night. I did think Kupono's solo was subpar but I'm glad the judges gave him another chance, and Vitolio and Karla weren't going to last much longer anyway. I did think Karla going home was the right call as well, since she was the worst female soloist of the night imo.

Tonight each duo dances twice so that they can fill two hours of airtime/so audiences can see who performs most consistently in different styles.

Love Ade's spins in his opening solo. Melissa is en pointe again. Brandon does an awesome flip! Kupono's solo is better than his dance for your life solo last week!

Cat is rocking the glam look tonight with the black dress and red lipstick.

Tonight's guest judges is the (apparently widely hated on the blogs) Tyce Diorio. I agree he was very harsh in his audition round critiques but I don't yet see the hatred of his choreography that is common. Though I haven't seen routines from him that I have loved yet either....

Melissa and Ade 1: They are doing a disco routine by Doriana Sanchez. They will have to be pretty amazing to compare to Brandon and Janette's routine a few weeks ago. Melissa is getting dizzy with the spins. They were so nervous they kept laughing in rehearsals, and Ade says it will be really good or really bad.

The song is "Move on Up" by Destinations. It seems a bit slow compared to the previous disco which is maybe why I'm liking it but not loving it. They are nailing the moves and the lifts and seem to be having a lot of fun doing it though. Melissa does a split WHILE BEING LIFTED BY ADE!!! Wow that hurts just to look at. The lifts were the best part of the dance for me, though the rest was by no means bad. Oooh Melissa takes a bit of a spill at the end, but luckily the music had already stopped.

Nigel loves the energy and excitement and thinks it was a great way to start off the evening. Mary says it was a disco pick-me-up, calling it well-executed, especially with the lifts. She adds it was the first time Ade let go, and Melissa was not stiff despite being a ballerina. Tyce calls it "freakin' great". He says Melissa has grown throughout the show and Ade embodied the spirit of the era.

Why is Gabi Rojas in a commercial for Fox?? Just saying. Do love the shot of Kris's shocked look when he won AI though.

Kayla and Kupono 1- They are starting off with Mia Michaels contemporary. The piece is about addiction, which as she points out is a common idea that viewers will relate to. Kupono is the item Kayla is addicted to. I'd love to be addicted to him!!!! But Kupono doesn't like being a negative idea since he knows people who were actually addicted to drugs. Aw he breaks down crying in the clip- sympathy points!!!

The song is "Gravity" by Sara Bareilles. Wow she has another song besides "Love Song"??? I usually don't like Mia's routines but this just made me say "Wow". It was so emotional yet beautiful and Kupono really did look like an evil addiction with Kayla his struggling victim. I loved the part where Kayla reaches her hand up in the air while Kupono grabs on tight but really the whole routine was just stunning. My only complaint is I don't know if they were completely in sync in the beginning but otherwise I loved it.

Even Mia is in tears!!! Nigel thinks Kayla's dancing is superb but she needs to stop covering her eyes with her face. He says Kupono was dark, especially when he smirked (so true). Mary says Kupono stayed in character the whole dance and Kayla was flawless (guess they didn't get the memo that bloggers are not liking the Kayla pimping by the judges). Tyce says he feels like he had an experience more than a dance. He adds Kayla is a beast and Kupono is a bit too feminine in his movements (boo!) but sold it with his face. They are on the bubble for making the top 10 but that dance might save them.

Jason and Caitlin 1- They are doing a foxtrot with a jazz twist. Jason is a macho man chasing after the elegant Caitlin. Caitlin is glad to not be in an alien costume this week. Jason struggles with posture but Caitlin thinks they will do great.

They dance to "Minnie the Moocher" by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. This sounds like the song they play at football games but with a weird beat to it. The routine has great lifts but seems a bit lackluster to me, especially from Caitlin. It is danced okay but doesn't blow me away like the last routine did. Though that could be because the last routine was so great. Nigel says Caitlin made it look easy and Jason had good footwork. He adds it was better than rehearsal. Oddly he seemed happier with Caitlin's performance than I did. Mary agrees they made it look easy and Caitlin looked like she was floating. Tyce (after beating Mary in a snapping contest) says they captured the essence of the dance but thinks they could have glided more. It was danced well, but I already don't like foxtrots and it kind of paled in comparison to the emotional previous dance.

Jeanine and Phillip 1- They are doing a Russian folk dance I can't spell with Youri Nelzine and Lilia Babenko. Well at least they didn't get hip hop again. The routine seems very fast from the rehearsals. The story is a playful competition between the two.

The song is a Russian song called Kalinka by Baryna. The costumes though make Jeanine look like a giant doll. Jeanine gets an awesome solo at the beginning and towards the end but the rest was a little weird for my tastes. Phillip didn't always seem to be hitting as hard as his partner and they didn't always seem together in the unison parts. Jeanine does do an awesome close-to-the-ground spin at the end. Nigel says it felt like there wasn't enough material in the dance, calling it too folky for his taste- though he seems more critical of the style than the dancing. Mary says Jeanine made it look effortless and believable though agrees the material was a bit simple. Phillip had some tough movements as well but as a whole she agrees the dance was not difficult. Tyce says they did well with the dance for what they were given and even Phillip did well. I disagree on that point but I agree the dance as a whole did not really work, which could hurt them with voters.

Evan and Randi 1- They are doing a TabNap hip hop routine where Randi finds out she is pregnant. Evan is happy there is acting in the piece, while Randi is nervous about the little details of the dance.

Yay they are dancing to "Halo". Already I love the song choice. And Evan is going to propose to Randi- how cute! Hey Evan can do hip hop- who knew? The dance is a bit light for hip hop but still very entertaining. I loved Evan's proposal midway, and they stay in unison throughout. Not a wow moment but still a solid job. Randi to me was more believable but Evan held his own.

Nigel loves how TabNap let them be themselves while doing hip hop. He also says they are one of his favorite couples. Mary didn't think they could do hip hop but agrees they did a great job. She was waiting for Evan to make a mistake but he didn't. Randi stood out as usual. Tyce thinks Evan needs to find a bit more but Randi did a great job.

Brandon and Janette 1: They are doing an authentic Argentine Tango, a sexy dance according to Brandon. They have a hard time being intimate with each other since they are good friends. Janette and the choreographers all speak Spanish but Brandon doesn't so they had conversations in Spanish to confuse him. Hilarious.

The song is "Libertango" from the Forever Tango soundtrack (apparently that's an old Broadway show). I am not a big tango fan so I was kind of bored but the dancing was really impressive. They had great lines and emotion throughout and I loved the kicking parts in particular.

Nigel gives them a standing ovation, and the other three join in. Wow that's like when Simon stood up after Adam Lambert did "Mad World" this year. Janette gives the choreographers some love. Nigel thinks it was as close to perfect a ballroom routine as he's seen on the show. Mary says the temperature is rising and calls it outstanding. She says Brandon has not disappointed her yet and Janette is flawless. And they get tickets on the hot tamale train of course. Tyce loved the attention to detail and compares it to orange juice (in a good way). I didn't love it as much as they did but that's because I don't like tangos that much. However, I can and do appreciate how well it was danced.

After round one my favorites were Kupono and Kayla, and everyone else was solid except Phillip and Jeanine, who were hurt by odd choreography. They'll have to step it up in round 2 to stay out of the bottom three for a second week in a row.

Cat reminds us next week the partners are switched up, so these may be their final routines with each other. So for the packages before round 2 we hear what each dancer will miss about their partners.

Melissa and Ade 2- Melissa has so much fun with Ade and starts crying thinking about leaving him. Ade thinks Melissa is an amazing dancer so he'll miss having her as a partner. Their last dance is a waltz. Yay another type of dance I don't like :(. Melissa is concerned about the details of the dance, and Ade is focusing on having the right amount of passion. The choreographer thinks Ade's strength and Melissa's grace will be a good combination for the piece.

The song is "Natural Woman" by Mary J. Blige. First of all, I didn't realize someone besides Aretha sang this song. Second of all, this song for a waltz? Really? But it doesn't matter because the routine is great. It was beautifully danced, and this coming from a girl who doesn't like waltzes. Melissa had great grace as expected but Ade showed some as well. Plus he had some great spins towards the end. The strong lift in the middle was another highlight. I even liked it better than their disco earlier. Another solid job by them that should ensure their placement in the top 10.

Nigel thought it was beautiful and played to their strengths. Melissa had great lines and Ade showed his great strength in his upper body. He wishes Ade had more rise and fall in his feet but still thinks it was beautifully danced. Mary adds Ade makes lifts effortless with the lifts but he didn't have enough power in the rest of the dance. I agree but I thought he was supposed to be acting graceful- I guess not. But her eyes kept going to Melissa, who she calls mesmerizing despite her older age. Mary doesn't want their partnership to break up, but Nigel wishes he could break up with Mary for a week. She calls him an "English Muffin" in return! Ha! Tyce thinks Ade needed to work a bit harder to match the strong music since he made it look too effortless. Okay.... He still thought it was well danced though.

Kupono and Kayla 2- Kayla will miss Kupono's positive energy. Kupono will miss Kayla's comforting sweaty hands and feet. I love him! Their final dance is a Broadway number from Joey Dowling. It is a simple "love at first sight" dance. It's another dance with strong acting, which they did well in the first dance. Kayla thinks it will be entertaining once they get the characters down.

The song is "The Dance at the Gym" from West Side Story aka the really long dance number in the show. The dance is fun and done well but I thought the choreography was a bit cheesy. Plus something seemed missing that I can't really put my finger on. I loved the part on the stairs, but it was not nearly as good as their first piece.

Nigel says they just danced the movements but their was no true emotion in it. They danced it well but it needed more. I kind of agree. Mary thinks they did a good job but agrees they could have done more. The synchronization was good, and Kupono did well outside his style. Of course she compliments Kayla as well. Tyce agrees they needed to make the dance part of who they are but agreed it was danced well. This dance might hurt them especially since it was their second dance of the night so I think they'll end up in the bottom as a result. They were probably going to be there anyway but this dance sealed it. There's no way they'll send Kayla home but Kupono needs to step up his solos or he'll be going back to Hawaii.

Jason and Caitlin 2- Caitlin will miss Jason's calming hugs. Jason will miss Caitlin's quirky personality and jokes. They are doing a Mandy Moore lyrical jazz routine. The two are going to be in their own style of contemporary so they can show off their skills more. The dance apparently has a bit of everything, and both are confident in how it will turn out.

Oooh Jason comes out shirtless- that's a good start! The song is "Show Me Heaven" by Maria McKee. The dance starts out with a lot of walking and not a lot of dancing but once the dancing starts it is pretty good. I feel like something is missing though- I think it's that I didn't connect to the piece emotionally like I did with Kayla and Kupono's first piece.

Nigel says they worked hard and it was technically good but lacked in chemistry. Exactly! Mary didn't see magic in the piece despite some bright spots. She thinks the world will love Jason's face and he makes it effortless. She also compliments Caitlin's lines. But she adds at the end the piece was not memorable. I agree with that as well. Tyce says they were in sync and had good lines but thinks they played it safe too much. I think that routine plus a decent but also not memorable foxtrot should ensure them a place in the bottom three.

Phillip and Jeanine 2: Jeanine will miss Phillip's heart, and Phillip will miss Jeanine's uplifting positive spirit. They are doing a jive with Tim Meredith. Ooh a ballroom routine for the popper- wonder how he will handle it? Phillip is a sailor coming home being teased by his love interest Jeanine. Apparently the routine has lots of crotch grabs and chests in faces. Jeanine hopes their second chance at ballroom is better than their first (the tango a few weeks back when they should have been in the bottom but were not).

The song is "Stuff Like That There" by Bette Midler, aka the song that got Kelly Clarkson famous on Idol Season 1. Anyway the dance is okay but Phillip still seems to be struggling with the ballroom dances, as he appears heavy and awkward during the routine. He also seems to trip at one point though I can't tell if that was part of the choreography or not. It was better than his tango though. Jeanine seemed to do well though I mostly focused on Phillip because of his past struggles in this genre. Though to give Phillip credit he got into the character well.

Nigel says the choreography was great and that Phillip was the best he's been out of his own style. I guess that's true but it's not really saying much since he wasn't that good in any style in the past. Then he praises Jeanine as belonging in the top 10. She should be here next week, though Phillip is more of a question. Mary guarantees Jeanine will be there next week and Phillip surprised her by not crashing, which apparently he did in rehearsal. She also throws some praise Jeanine's way, saying she was on fire an on the hot tamale train. Tyce calls it fantastic, saying Phillip makes up for poor technique with good performance and that Jeanine is a star. Go figure the one week I don't like Phillip they are surprised. I guess their expectations were low which is why they were impressed just that he didn't fall. They still may be in trouble though because of their first dance and the popularity of Evan/Randi, Ade/Melissa, and Brandon/Janette.

Evan and Randi 2: Randi will miss Evan's goofy look of seduction. Evan will miss laughing with Randi in rehearsals. Their last dance is a samba with Pasha and Anya, and Evan is nervous about his hips. Randi is afraid to look stupid doing sexy moves.

The song is "Ritmo De Bom Bom" by Jubaba. Wow does Randi look hot in that costume! Overall I think they do a decent job. The hip action was excellent and Evan was better than I expected. I didn't really believe the sex appeal between the two but it was danced well. Very jungle-like at the end, which I'm guessing was the point.

Nigel says Evan is not a hot samba king but Randi is attractive. He says the routine was not as hot as he would have liked it, and I agree though I still enjoyed it moreso than the jive. Mary says there was a slow sizzle involved but it wasn't dynamic enough from Evan, who she thinks didn't push it hard enough. Tyce says Evan needed to study past dances to see how to do the dance but Randi carried the dance. Mary then puts Randi on the hot tamale train. I personally would have switched the critiques for the last two dances- I liked Evan more than they did and Phillip less than they did, but both could be in danger this week.

Brandon and Janette 2: After weaker performances from the other couples in round two they should be guaranteed a spot in the top 10. Brandon will miss how Janette brought him out of his shell. Janette doesn't think she would have gotten as far as she did without him. Their final dance is a Wade Robson dance routines. They are playing thieves, with Brandon the calculated one and Janette the crazy one. The dance is very cartoon-like, which could be good or bad. Brandon loves how Wade brings the story to life. Wade says they have to let go during the dance.

The song is "Ruby Blue" by Roisin Murphy, whoever that is. It is a cute, fun piece, complete with robber outfits and masks. It is a far cry from their romantic tango earlier, which shows how versatile the two are because this was danced solidly as well. The two are very in sync throughout and really throw themselves into their characters. I really liked the part where the went down the stairs in unison. The choreography wasn't as intense as last time but it was still a solid job that should keep them safe another week.

Nigel says they do everything brilliantly. He is impressed with how Brandon dealt with the negative comments from some judges and with how Janette kept up with him despite her comparative lack of training. He then adds he'd be shocked if they weren't the top vote getters tonight. Careful Nigel- don't let the fans get complacent. I do agree it will be down to them and Melissa/Ade for most votes tonight, but since Brandon is so popular they will likely win out. Mary calls it spontaneous combustion and says they painted clear pictures. She also praises their character work and synchronization. Brandon is her champion and Janette delivers every week. Tyce enjoyed it and compliments how they handle everything thrown at them. He even calls them technical excellence.

Kelly Rowland and some random DJ to perform on the results show tomorrow night.

So that's it for an interesting performance night. My favorite dance of Round 1 (and of the night) was Kayla and Kupono's contemporary piece. My favorite of Round 2 was Melissa and Ade's waltz followed by Brandon and Janette's jazz. Melissa/Ade and Brandon and Janette should be safe for sure but the rest could get interesting. If there's any justice Jason and Caitlin (not memorable) and Phillip and Jeanine (weird first dance and poor technically second dance) will be in the bottom. Kayla and Kupono's first routine was so great it might save them but their second routine was only okay, while Evan and Randi had one solid and one not-so-solid routine. I'm hoping they are in the bottom but it might be Kayla and Kupono instead.

So who do you think will be in the bottom tomorrow? And who should be? Did you love Kayla and Kupono's contemporary as much as I did? And did you think the judges were too nice to Phillip and too harsh on Evan? Post your comments below.

SYTYCD Recap Episode 2

Hey all so I've decided this week to start quasi live-blogging my favorite summer reality shows, starting with So You Think You Can Dance. I also hope to do America's Got Talent and Hell's Kitchen once they get started up. As for last week's show, my early favorites were the tap dancer guy, the Japanese guy, the African-American girl (Arielle?) who was cut early during Vegas week a few years ago, and Brandon, the last guy cut from the top 20 last year. I did think Natalie, the last girl cut before the top 20 last year, was overrated, but then again I didn't see her last year since last season was my first time watching the show and I only watched from the top 20 on. Anyway on to Wednesday night's show...

Miami Auditions Day 1:
Yeah for the show's producers playing "Right Round" in the background during the introduction to Miami- that song is so catchy. Thought it is a bit weird that my 60 year old father has it on his iPod...

The guest judge for this round is Tyce Diorio. I do find this rotating third judge thing a bit weird since I'm used to the typical three judge mainstay on Dancing with the Stars and American Idol (until this year of course) but it is nice that they have experts on different styles of dance.

Tony Riendeau- He claims to have his unique "Tony" style where he moves like a rubber band. This could be really good or really bad. I'm guessing the latter. He's dancing to Footloose, which makes him cool in my book. Though I should put "dancing" in quotes- he's mostly just jogging in place and then doing a few sloppy breakdancing moves. And then he falls down trying to do a cartwheel (I think). Thankfully the judges don't like it either. Tyce calls him "flush it like a public toilet bad", whatever that means. Then he calls it "baahahahaaad". Nigel would have put him through to the choreography but the other two thankfully pass.

After his audition Tony starts feeling faint and asks for a medic. Yet as the show reminds us, during his pre-audition package he said he could go for hours and not get tired. I do hope he's okay though...

Priscilla Marrero- She claims to have been raised on rice and beans. Well whatever she was raised on it worked as she comes out with an impressive routine. The choice of music was weird though and kind of distracting. But she did show great toe-pointing (sorry for the lack of technical terms) and good choreography. She apparently was injured when she was a teen but never gave up. Sympathy points! Nigel loves her lines, Mary says she is captivating, and Tyce says she makes him happy to be a dancer. She gets a ticket straight to Vegas. Not one of my absolute favorites, but good enough to go to Vegas for sure.

Meanwhile Tony is still seeing the medic. To be continued...
After the break we find out he has eaten a banana and drank some water so he is now fine and dandy.

Next up are two more Season 4 returnees- Janette Manrara and Romulo Villaverde. Only Janette made it through to Vegas last season and she was cut before the top 20. It seems like this show gets a lot of repeat auditioners- moreso than on Idol. They have added a backflip lift to their act this time around. They dance a ballroom routine (a salsa) and are pretty good, especially with their lifts. Nigel says it was nice to see some salsa, Mary gives her patented scream, Tyce loved their lifts. They also get through to Vegas. I think that was well-deserved- they remind me of the pros on Dancing with the Stars, though I wonder how they'll do with other styles. Especially since Romulo's celebratory break dance looked like Tony style more than breakdancing....

The Guadix twins- Jennifer and Jessica. They claim to love all kinds of dancing. They do a routine that starts with them sitting and sliding across the floor and then look like drunk girls dancing at a hip hop party. I thought this show focused more on good auditions than Idol does but I guess I was wrong. I read on other blogs last week that the premiere episode had fewer bad acts than usual but I was hoping they were wrong. I guess not. They claimed they only had one day to practice. Nigel wonders why they did not dance in unison and one twin claims they were supposed to be. The key phrase being "supposed to be", as Tyce points out. Is it just me or does he seem Simon Cowell-esque obnoxious tonight? Or maybe he's always like this. Mary says she's never seen anything like that before. Tyce says it was fun yet tragic. Needless to say, they are sent home.

Speaking of Tyce, more shots of him being obnoxious to bad dancers. He calls one dancer a milkshake full of Tylenol. Another one makes him want to call the dance police, and another he compares to Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz (and not in a good way). Okay he definitely is the Simon Cowell of this panel.

Joseph Smith- Claims he will "Schwamm" the judges, and I'm still not sure what that means even after he explains it. I'm not sure if he did that but he did do a very impressive hip hop routine, complete with a split. My favorite of the night so far. Nigel enjoyed it, and Joseph claims he will give a big "Schwamm" once he catches his breath. Mary says he is a great entertainer, but Tyce was only half impressed. They send him to choreography, which disappoints me a bit but I guess his routine was so comedy filled they needed to see if he could do more actual dance, which is fair. He does well with the choreography, at least to my eye. And the judges agree, sending him to Vegas. Good for him. The "Schwamm" is getting really annoying though.

18 dancers get through from the first day in Miami, which I think is a decent number though less than the number that got through NYC on Day 1.

Haha one girl dropped her ticket while celebrating and had to chase after it. I always wondered if those tickets were real or just souvenirs....

Miami Day 2:
Wislande Letang- She feels like she ate a bowl of butterflies before her audition, and during it she just looks like a bad dancer in a rap video. Her movements are ten times slower than the music playing, and her breasts are hanging out under her very short shirt. Mary says it was a dance for Nigel, Nigel says there was no personality in the dance. I think that was the least of her problems. He says it was full of basic step-ball-change moves done by little girls when they first learn to dance. Tyce points out how she shows her crotch during the dance, which is a big no-no as well. She tries to argue back but doesn't make any progress and she is sent home.

Montage of sad rejections, and Nigel crushing dreams, telling mediocre dancers they should consider other careers. Harsh, but someone had to tell them the truth.

Eric "Silky" Moore- A tapper who has done tap and hip hop since he was 10. He wants to bring tap back into the mainstream. He starts out with a cool hip hop slide and then goes right into some fast, smooth tap dancing to "Thriller". He even adds a moonwalk for good measure. Another one of my favorites so far. He then adds some hip hop at the end and he's just as good at that. He even does the worm! Nigel loved the hip hop especially and says he threw everything into that solo. Mary says she didn't want it to end and agrees it was one of the best today. Tyce says he came prepared, whatever that means. Eric explains he got his nickname because he was silky smooth at a dance battle. Then he says he starting tapping to get girls. This guy is awesome! And he gets a ticket right to Vegas! Wow I thought they might make him do choreography but I'm pleasantly surprised they didn't.

Paris Torres- Won a Miss Washington pageant and claims the girls there are actually nice. She comes out and does a pretty routine to a slowed down version of "Toxic". What's with the weird song choices today? It doesn't matter though because she was still really good. Nigel thought it was fabulous and she kept him interested. Mary calls it beautiful and says it was everything they are looking for. Tyce says she focuses too much on her legs and feet- he really is a party pooper. Tyce wants her to do choreography but the others overrule her and send her right to Vegas. She was the best female dancer so far tonight though I wasn't as enthused as Mary and Nigel.

Next up is a montage of dancers who got to Vegas. Henry Rivero does a great contemporary routine. Megan Kinney also impresses, though she does a bit too many handstands/cartwheels and not enough dancing for me in her short clip. Alex Wong is also pretty good- not my favorite, but he does have great lines as Tyce says.

Geo Smith- African dancer complete with headdress. He jumps off the stage and rushes the judges before coming back on and dancing some more. He actually isn't bad. I would send him to choreography to see what else he can do. The judges agree and send him off.

Talia Rickards- married when she was 18 and hasn't auditioned in two years. She was married for four years until her husband crashed his motorcycle one night and died. Wow I though she was going to say they got divorced but this is so sad. She learned not to take life for granted anymore. She does a sexy hip-hop routine that is a bit belly-dancerish for me but still really good. Also hated the music but what can you do. Nigel warns her not to scrunch up her face too much and says there wasn't enough material. Mary likes her fire but agrees on the lack of substance. Tyce says she was one with the music but says there was little hip hop and all energy, which is all fair. Tyce rejects her outright, but Mary says she wants her doing choreography. It's up to Nigel. I'm rooting for her, so I hope he says yes. He says "I'm sorry.... to have to disagree with Tyce!" Oh Nigel, you've been watching Simon Cowell too much!

On to the choreography round, where I thought both Geo and Talia were good but I don't know how to judge them. Geo does get through to Vegas, as does Talia! Good for her, she seems to have potential to be really good.

In all 32 dancers from Miami are off to Vegas... Now it's off to Memphis.

Joining Mary and Nigel is Lil C, a krump legend. All I know about krump from last season is that I hate that style. I do like hip hop though so he won't be too bad, hopefully. He can't be any worse than Tye.

Marico Flake- A local police officer. He claims he does a Memphis Juking? style, which is based on a rhythmic bounce, whatever that means. Based on his audition, it means bouncing in place a lot and doing some hip hop in between. Not really my style but I'm sure some will love it. I do wonder why the song he picked has a lyric saying "He was black not Jewish"- that's kind of random. Nigel enjoys it, as I figured. Lil C says it was just juking, with no fusion of other styles with great humor as well. Mary loves it as well, especially his performance value. They send him straight to Vegas. I have a feeling he'll be really popular even though I don't like that style of dance.

Dustin Dorough- His mother has been a cop for years and taught him how to be a man. Okay.... He is Howie Dorough's cousin from the Backstreet Boys! Wow that's awesome! I have a feeling he will be bad but he gets bonus points for bringing me back to my teen years with that reference. He even learned all Howie's moves for school dances, but that made him unpopular! More bonus points for actually dancing to a good song ("Poker Face"). Unfortunately he isn't good at anything else, from the poor dancing to the goofy grin on his face the whole time. I can't even tell if he is trying to do BSB moves or not. Nigel says that the hip hop community would be insulted by that dance. Dustin claims he had to cut out all his power moves because he just had the flu and bronchitis. This isn't Idol, dude- just because you have bronchitis doesn't mean you can't do power dance moves (not that his would be that good anyway). He claims he will come back next year. Mary wonders why he looked feminine with his moves and that it was too martial arts. Lil C says he should try "tricking" which is more a fusion of martial arts. That's good advice, I like him better than Tye already. And love the BSB music as he walks out of the auditions!

Christopher Carrozzaa- Another guy with his own unique style, which he calls electric. There's a lot of those tonight, aren't there? He basically blends a bunch of styles together and makes a new blend. Mostly he just jumps around and moves his arms over his head. It has a bit of a Bollywood feel to it but not really. Nigel says the choreography doesn't show if he's a dancer, which is true. Mary agrees with me that all he did was jump. Chris just seems happy to share his dancing with the world and had figured he wouldn't get through. Chris starts to walk off without hearing Lil C's criticism. Nigel thinks he is being rude, and Chris says Nigel is being rude for being critical. But that's their job, Christopher!!! Nigel must have read my mind since he says the same thing back to Chris. Chris says he had a good time and that's all that matters and he walks off again without hearing Lil C.

Next up is SYTYCD's Guide to a Good Audition. Why do I have a feeling this will be a montage of bad auditions with Cat saying this is what NOT to do.
1)Start with your best move. And sure enough we get montages of people falling down trying to do big moves.
2)Come dressed to impress. One guy rips off his shirt, another lookks like a goth, and a third wears his number on his arm, reminding Nigel of dancing Nazis. Okay some of the dancers in this group were dressed weirdly, but what's so bad about a number on the arm? I didn't even notice it until Nigel pointed it out.
3) Connect with the judges. Shots of contestants trying to dance to the judges and just looking like fools. Crotch-shower Wislande gets a second appearance.
4) Always follow directions. Apparently there are rules for the dancers to follow for their solos that Nigel gives them before hand- no lipsyncing the words to the songs (that should be a rule on DWTS too!), no dancing on the back of the stage, and don't look down during the dance. Yet dancers break these rules and are send home as result. One guy is told by Nigel to come closer to the judges when he dances, so he runs forward and falls off the stage and flat on the floor. Ouch that had to hurt! That clip was in the previews too and it still makes me cringe. Mia is the third judge in the clip, so it must be from a city we haven't seen yet.

Caitlin Kinney- Her sister was Megan Kinney, who auditioned in Miami, yet we only saw her briefly doing lots of cartwheels. Megan is better in the short clip they show while Cat interviews Caitlin. Caitlin is good as well but I like her sister better. Her sister has more energy, which makes her routine more entertaining. She's only been dancing five years, but Nigel says she is superb, and the camera loves her. Caitlin even had hip reconstruction surgery, which makes her dancing even more impressive, as Mary points out. Lil C says it was lovely to watch. They send her right to Vegas, and since her sister was not featured I guess she will make it further than Megan. I think it's just my personal taste that makes me like Megan better.

Six more dancers get through in the choreography round on Day 1, none of whom we get to see actually dance.

Day 2:
Anna Dunn- Her father killed himself about a year ago. Dancing is her outlet for coping with the pain. Sympathy votes! Hopefully she is better at dancing than fellow sob-story reality show contestant Danny Gokey at singing. She is, as you can see the passion as she moves around the stage. She picked a beautiful song to choreograph her routine too and she rolls around the floor like her life depended on it. She is my favorite from the Memphis auditions so far. Nigel says she overchoreographed by moving her head too much, which I did notice, especially early in the routine. Mary agrees that she loved everything except the head movement. Apparently Lil C's father committed suicide as well, and he tells her to use dance to ease the pain. Aw he made her cry.... They send her to choreography so they can see what her face looks like while she dances. Hmm I would have sent her right to Vegas but it seems like they really liked her from their comments, and just her poor choreography held her back. I think she'll get through.

Travis Prokop - From a small New Mexico town where his father is a football coach. Travis was made fun of for being a dancer and not a football player, yet his dad was always supportive and proud of him no matter what. He has potential but is a bit lazy with his moves. His arms don't go up all the way and the movements are just a bit slow. Nigel says he needs strength in his movements. Mary agrees he has a great future but he needs to be stronger. Lil C says he is graceful but has the strength of a hamster. Maybe that was what I noticed when I said he looked lazy in his movements. They tell him to stay for choreography, which surprises me based on their comments. I'm glad he's getting a second chance though.

Brothers Evan and Ryan Kasprzak Evan auditioned last year with a jazz routine and made it to the top 40. This time he has a Gene Kelly-like routine planned. I heard someone on a blog say there was a Gene Kelly-esque dancer on the show this year, so I wonder if this is him. Ryan is doing a more fun routine with a whoopie cushion accompaniment. That actually sounds pretty funny. Apparently choreographs all of Evan's routines. Evan is first and his style is very theatrical, which I guess could be a good thing for this show. He is very talented though, just again not really my taste. He ends with a cool backflip, and his brother claps in approval. Nigel hopes the other dancers in the building notice the great choreography, since that is what made it so great. Mary worries that solo wouldn't get a lot of public support, since viewers won't see how great of a dancer he is. I can see he's a great dancer, just too theatrical. Nigel worries about the other styles. Lil C calls it amazing but also worries about him doing other styles. But they still send him right through to Vegas. The question will be how long he will last there.

Before we see Ryan we see two sisters, Lauren and Lydia Guerra. They are dancing together- hopefully they are better than the other twins we saw before. And wow are they! They are in unison doing a contemporary routine and while I like Lydia better, both are very talented. They are two of my favorites so far. Nigel says Lydia was the better dancer but Lauren the better performer. He calls them a joy to watch. Mary says they have great technique and are solid. Lil C says they are different in how they dance but both are great. They both are sent to choreography. What is with all my favorites in this round going to choreography.

Now it is Ryan's turn. I thought his routine would be all fun but it actually is really good. He taps around the whoopie cushion, occasionally stepping on it for humor. At one point he starts to step on it but then shakes his head and keeps going! He is not as good a dancer as his brother but to me he is more entertaining. Nigel says it is a lot of fun and asks him what else he can do. He says he taught Evan what he knows and also has done other styles of dance. Mary thinks it is clever and pure entertainment. Lil C says he used his prop well. Nigel wants him to do choreography, but Mary and Lil C send him right to Vegas! I knew I liked Lil C!!

All that's left is the choreography round. I hope Anna and the twins get through. Twin Lauren is sent to Vegas, as does Anna (yeah!!!). Travis is surprisingly sent to Vegas since he improved with the choreography. The last one left is Lydia. Nigel teases her a bit saying he hates splitting up family. Then all we see is Lydia bursting through the door with a ticket in her hand! Double yeah!!!

15 Dancers in all get through from Day 2 at Memphis.

So while they were more clunkers tonight there were some standouts as well. My favorites were Joseph Smith, Eric "Silky" Moore, Megan Kinney (in what little glimpse we saw of her), Ryan the whoopie cushion dancer, twins Lauren and Lydia, and Anna Dunn.

Any thoughts on tonight's show? Feel free to post your comments below.