TV Recap: So You Think You Can Dance - Top 16 Perform

It’s good to have Tivo back, because that means we don’t miss another episode of So You Think You Can Dance. Unfortunately our DVR upgrade couldn’t prevent this week’s performance episode to be marked with mediocrity. There wasn’t a single routine that I had to watch again. Plenty of good stuff, but nothing that would excite the audience. Even Mia Michaels was reserved this week, and I have to wonder if she didn’t think her dancers were up to the task.

But enough of all that, let’s talk routines:

Karla and Jonathan - Choreography by Dave Scott: Holy crap this was a train wreck. I’ll give Karla her due because she looked good, and moved well. But if I didn’t know any better I’d think Jonathan was the sound engineer on the show and they needed someone to get on stage after watching him barely make it through the piece.

Asuka and Vitolio - Choreography by Mandy Moore: So this routine starts the trend this week of some of the top choreographers taking it easy. Not only is this one of the simplest and most basic 80’s style jazz routines, but it was only good because what came before was so abysmal. What really mattered here is that Vitolio and Asuka work so well together. Despite being simple it was still enjoyable to watch. These two are going nowhere simply because they’re adorable together, and right now that’s enough.

Melissa and Ade - Choreography by Tony Meredith: I was about ready to turn the show off when Melissa and Ade saved it for me, and it was with a rumba. Ballroom is so boring to watch…sorry but it just is. But these two are so fantastic that they made even a ballroom routine fun. This week didn’t win any wow points for me, but I’m still picking this couple to be in the top four.

Jeannette and Brandon - Choreography by Dave Scott: I’m glad Dave Scott got the chance to do two routines this week, because he deserved this second shot to impress the audience. Brandon’s versatility as a dancer really makes me consider him as the top guy on the show right now, although Ade is often ahead. The rocker versus hip hopper idea was exactly what these two should be doing in a hip hop routine. It looked like the show was really starting to pick up at this point.

Kayla and Kupono - Choreography by Jean Marc Genereux: Nigel made a point of saying that the Viennese Waltz doesn’t normally elicit a standing ovation because it’s not exciting. For me there’s something wonderful about this style and watching this particular version was not as astoundingly beautiful as in past seasons, but it was elegant and flowing. This is a super technical dance that requires the dancers to rely on ability rather than flipping and pulling off stunts. Double K, as I like to call them, did that to an acceptable degree.

Randi and Evan - Choreography by Mia Michaels: I said earlier that I wondered if Mia thought her dancers, in particular Evan, wouldn’t be able to handle her more intense stuff. However it was great to see Mia pull back a little bit while still maintaining her unique style of movement. I was honestly surprised this worked so well. This was so entertaining and perfectly choreographed that I can’t help but continue to support the idea that Mia has earned the right to come off as a little snobbish. But it was after this routine finished that I began to realize nothing so far had gotten my attention. Lots of good, some bad, no great at all this week.

Caitlin and Jason - Choreography by Jean Marc Genereux: This was such an overly done performance that I think it went beyond being corny and back into being good. With the epic music from Carmina Burana and Caitlin’s great movement this was an imposing routine. But what was clear by the middle of the dance is that this week SYTYCD was not going to impress the audience.

Jeanine and Phillip - Choreography by Tyce Diorio: So can we admit that Phillip doesn’t deserve to be on the show this year? I did watch this routine again just to be sure it wasn’t his ripped pants that were the problem…and it wasn’t. Last season Twitch moved above his street style, and I just don’t see that potential with Phillip. Even worse is that I really think he could get Jeanine kicked off the show way before her time. I’m convinced that paired with someone like Ade or Brandon Jeanine would be a top female contender this season.