Destination 'So You Think You Can Dance': It sure ain't rigged

Some people lost their faith in the American public when George W. Bush was elected president. But not my friend Melissa. Melissa lost faith in the American public tonight, when a majority vote sent "So You Think You Can Dance" hero Will Wingfield packing.   

After seeing the carnage firsthand at the "Dance" studio this evening, I was afraid to call Melissa. After dodging two of her calls, however, I received a text message I could not ignore: "Call me or die." And so I did. Over the course of the 42-minute, 4-second phone conversation that then ensued, I tried to calm Melissa down, reminding her that, after all, this was the search for "America's favorite dancer," not "America's best dancer," and that even if Will was the best dancer on the show, he still had to connect with the general public in order to win the competition.

"Then why is it called 'So You Think You Can Dance'?" Melissa shot back. "It should be called, 'So You Think You Can Dance? Then Don't Try Out, 'Cause You'll Lose.' "

I have a feeling I wasn't the only person talking a dancer friend off of a ledge tonight. The trouble is, as a dancer, Melissa appreciated Will's flawless technique in a way the average viewer did not.

From what I could tell, even the remaining contestants seemed to think that the best dancer on the show went home tonight. The respect they paid Will was bigger than the respect one pays a fellow fighter. It was tinged with guilt for outlasting him. Here's how the dramatic elimination went down at the studio.

Classy dude

When Will was revealed to be in the bottom four, his humble nod spoke volumes about his character. 

Let's just say he didn't turn his back to the audience and fall to the floor in shock or anything … cause ya know, it would be pretty weird if somebody had done that, right...?

Oh Comfort. How I'll miss you.  Again. 

Before Cat Deeley revealed Comfort's fate, Comfort's gesture summed up her emotional state perfectly: She smiled broadly and gave a long, slow shrug.

'WHAT!?!'

Mark Kanemura had the agility of a tin man while he waited for his verdict.  He was frozen with an "eek!" expression on his face, ready to hear his doom announced to the world. When things didn't go that way, Mark said what everybody in the theater was thinking: "WHAT!?!"

When he walked down the stairs, where fellow safe contestant Katee Shean waited, Mark repeated his sentiment to Katee.  "What! What?" he exclaimed.

Finally, we see her flinch

As Chelsie Hightower approached Cat Deeley, she looked like she was going to be sick. Perhaps the revelation of Will's fallibility put her on edge.

Chelsie stared out into the audience, petrified, while her video played. Then, at the last possible second before the camera hit her, the newly 19-year-old ballroom queen plastered on a heroic smile. 

Lone soldier

After hearing the news that he was in the bottom, the visibly upset Twitch Boss walked down the stairs in a daze, without even making eye contact with Mark, Chelsie and Katee, who stood collected in the mosh pit.

A quiet Cat

Even the typically gregarious Cat Deeley knew that something peculiar was happening in the studio tonight.  She was far more quiet and introspective than usual and opted not to joke around during the breaks.

A futile attempt

"Ooh, it’s the Snuggle package, everybody!" announced stage manager Debbie Williams, in an attempt to lighten the mood.  But in that moment, a computer-generated dancing bear just seemed gauche. 

If it helps, Melissa…

When Will came out for his solo, he was calm.  He was smiling.  Even if Mark, the judges and much of the audience were uncomfortable with his position in the bottom two, Will appeared to be at peace.

And just for the record

If Will's position tonight proves anything, it proves that this show is not rigged. Based on their critiques this season, it's safe to say that Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy would have sacrificed their first-born children in order to save Sir Wingfield.

A fitting exit

Comfort's solo was playful and defiant, just like her. Comfort even stuck out her tongue ever so slightly while she danced. At the end of her routine, when she pantomimed powdering her nose in a compact, even Nigel erupted with laughter.

An inopportune time for a questionable bit

After Will's solo, the warm-up dude emerged to announce, "We have some Canadians in the house. Where the Canadians at?" "Anybody from Kentucky?" he continued. We are about to bury a legend here; have a little respect!

Wow, what was that?

Tonight, Courtney Galiano's solo was her best 30 seconds of dancing on the show thus far.

Now if we could only convince Court and Katee to abandon that whiplash-inducing move where they swivel their heads through their arm…

A winning loser

Next time you get dumped or fired (or kicked off of "So You Think You Can Dance," for that matter), recall the way Comfort Fedoke dealt with her ouster tonight; with selflessness, joy and grace.  She blew kisses to endangered contestants Will and Twitch, cracked up during her farewell video, and gave Cat Deeley a nice long hug. 

Also…

Next time anybody has bad news for me, I'd like Cat Deeley to be the one to deliver it. I think it would help.

Something you should know about the audience at "Dance."

The audience at "Dance" is programmed to make two sounds: "Woo" and "boo." Thus, tonight, when faced with the sight of crowd-favorites Twitch and Will awaiting their fates, we became panicked.  None of our sounds seemed to match. So we booed them.

The final farewell

When Will was finally cut, Twitch bowed his head, seemingly ashamed to look Will in the eye. Then, Twitch respectfully removed his hat and exited the stage.  There was no happy dance there.

"Show 'em what you got" Will instructed the remaining contestants after hearing the news.  From their safe place in the mosh pit, Joshua Allen and Twitch nodded in solidarity, their eyes glued to the fallen contestant.

The most beautiful moment of the evening came next, after the news had sunk in.  The remaining six contestants mounted the stage, and instead of taking turns hugging the two fallen dancers, all eight united in a group hug that must have lasted 30 seconds.

For once, stage manager Debbie Williams didn't demand that everybody clear out.  Instead, she said what everybody was thinking: "That sucks."

-- Stephanie Lysaght

Comments

[Robinann]

While I was sorry to see Will go, I wasn't sorry to see Comfort go, again!

[Melissa]

Woah Tom. Let's stick to dance. Please someone find evidence that the show is a popularity contest based on who we think is fun to watch? I swear I thought the title was a question the audience was supposed to answer through out the season, voting for WHO WE THINK CAN DANCE.

Hey RogMac - Joshua has had training. So has Chelsie, Katee, Courtni, Twitch and Mark. Do some research. Google is helpful.

[mark]

the issue about will being 'too good' raises a question that i haven't heard anyone address: who exactly can audition for this show. in some way i can see the point that if someone is already an accomplished professional, it's perhaps not fair for her or him to be competing against amateurs or people who have very little experience. are there criteria that disqualify someone from auditioning for the show for such a reason? could the dancers backing LL Cool J audition for next year, or are they already too professional to do so since they're already on tv and making their living as dancers?

[Kelly]

I think it's quite obvious - Mark has the entire state of Hawaii voting for him. Not that he's not totally unique and very talented, but I think we are all sad to see Twitch and Will in the bottom 2 much less Will go home...

[Dr. Laura]

Wow! To say I was shocked at seeing Twitch and Will in the bottom two after both performed phenomenally well the night before is an understatement. I was so disheartened. But to have Will actually be sent home was a huge let down. Don't get me wrong...to me it should never have been a choice between Twitch and Will. I considered them to be the top two male dancers in the competition--Will for his flawless technical skills and Twitch for his dancing and entertaining performances.

My excitement for watching the show definitely diminished. Will was an absolutely fantastic dancer and a pure delight. His James Brown solo was unrivaled. I hope we are blessed to see him again soon.

[joe]

It's a contest. Who's the best dancer AND the most popular entertainer.
Will may have been the best dancer among the men but he wasn't the best entertainer.
And I think Katee and Chelsie are equals to him as a dancer.
Will wasn't the total package. And he was losing momentum.
He probably shouldn't have gone home so soon. But he also shouldn't have won.

[Chris336]

I never watch dance shows but I watched this one when Will was on. Very talented, some of those moves made you want to hit the rewind. Wasn't right for him to to go especially this early. Hope the show crashes and burns without him.

[Liz]

This is the first season that I have watched this show. After watching Will get "voted" off, I don't know if I will continue watching. He was the best dancer on the show. He was a delight to watch. The other dancers are sometimes good, sometimes entertaining, but they are not of his caliber. I like the dancing, the choreography, but hate the mugging for the camera and the appeals to call. Maybe I'll just stick to Step It Up and Dance from now on. The dancers get to compete on the same level on that show and the dance experts decide who stay and go on, not vidiots with their phones.

[bronte]

Thank you. So insightful and beautifully expressed.

[Dave]

Umm, Will had great technique with contemporary dancing. His technique wasn't so great in other areas, and that was often commented on by the judges. So get over it.

[SafeTinspector]

SYTYCD Fan: "There is much more to it than that. It has gone beyond about the show to wondering about the people you share the planet with."?!?

I like this show a lot, and spend a lot of time typing it up, but I wouldn't ever deign to consider the people dialing an 800 number for a summer contest show as indicative of anything in particular.

[Luke]

I think Will was the best dancer on the show, but he never should have been on the show. So You Think You Can Dance is supposed to be about shining the spotlight on great dancers who were probably not on track to become professionals. People who didn't go the right schools or know the right people. A show where everyone is an underdog.

Will was not an underdog and stood out on the show as, let’s be honest here, any professional dancer would. He should have been auditioning to join Alvin Ailey or some other professional dance company, not this show. The voters got it right I think, but I’m sure those of us that follow dance will see him again.

[Brenda]

Although I do feel that Will should still be on the show and Mark should be off, maybe, just maybe, the American Public, whether teenaged, elderly, middle aged or, whatever aged, saw something in Mark and the way he danced. I haven't lost hope in the American Public and I certainly do not think that Will was the best dancer, I personally believe that Katee is the best dancer on the show and I like Joshua. I wasn't watching because of only 1 dancer, what would be the point in that. I watch for the competition and to see how each one has grown from week to week. I will continue to watch, however sad I am to see Will go. I am certain he will recover. Maybe some of the people posting on this site could use some of Wills fortitude! If he handled himself respectfully, maybe everyone should take his lead and behave in a respectable manner. However, if one wants to punish themselves by depriving themselves from entertainment, then, who am I to argue with them.

[bronte]

I've always been attracted to the underdogs on this show--you know, the kids with tons of heart but almost no training. And spectacularly trained and mentored Will, well, he certainly doesn't fit that. But watching his class and grace during his elimination... Too late, I became a Will supporter.

[Charles C.]

Perhaps Will might have remained if the judges and producers hadn't pimped him so hard and shown such blatant favoritsm such as giving him a standing ovation after that James Brown impersonation. He was a talented dancer, but he was not perfect--remember how he dropped Jessica on her head when they did their disco dance? I found him lacking in terms of entertainment ability. And what they did to Mark was very unfair, they were doing their best to get him voted off the show. Instead they made him the underdog. Mark may not have as much technical ability as Will, but he has far more personaity and performance skill. The judges and producers of the show need to stop manipulating and stacking the deck for and against contestants. The treatment extened to Joshua and Katee and Courtney should be applied to all contetstants. Twitch and Will should not have been overpimped and Mark and Jessica and Matt shouldn't be thrown under the train.

[Blob Boogie]

Am I really heartless because I'm not surprised that Will left?

I think all around that SYTYCD is a show about obtaining not only good dancers, but charismatic/entertaining dancers at that. Will we can ALL say was very good but wasn't very entertaining when doing couples routines

His solos are amazing, but that's only one aspect of the show.

[808]

I am so tired of reading blogs saying that the only reason Mark is still on the show is because "Mark has the entire state of Hawaii voting for him." You can't blame a state for someone's popularity, and I'm sure that the other contestants have their home states voting for them as well. But it's still wrong to assume that Mark is the Jasmine Trias of dance, especially when I personally know few people who even watch the show. I'm from Hawaii, I started dancing when I was 3 years old but have since had to quit due to injury, and my friends and I watch SYTYCD religiously, but we all admit that Mark should have gone home in Will's place. Will is a fantastic dancer, absolutely brilliant with an incredible future of ahead of him, I doubt anyone would deny that. I adore Mark because he is different and quirky, even if his technique is not as strong as the others. I liked Mark over Will simply because I personally felt more connected to Mark's dancing and liked Will's personality less. Will went home because fewer people voted for him. How can you say that all those who voted for Mark were wrong? Whatever their own criteria is, they chose to vote for who they liked best, and why should I say that their criteria was wrong? Whether they appreciated Will's technique or Mark's personality more, it is their opinion, and it is sad when we bombast others because we have a different opinion. Maybe a lot of people really do like Mark, don't assume it's just his home state. Amazing dancers get sent home all the time, it's just the name of the game, why should we wish doom and destruction upon a show that serves a better purpose? Yah, it is a popularity contest, like every other contest from high school prom queen to the elections. But we focus so much on the people and our favorites and project our desires onto a level it doesn't belong at. I watch the show because I love dance and I love that it gives opportunity to dancers to be seen and to showcase their talent. People don't always appreciate dance and what goes into the study of it, and this is a way to do that. Contests can never satisfy everyone, and I think everyone should keep that in mind otherwise we start taking things a little too personally. And if you chose to take such a personal interest in the show, then vote so your favorites have a greater chance of winning.

[mika]

Well, I'm not surprised. Will had just as many "off" moments as any of the other dancers in the top six. He wasn't as fabulous as his reputation. The judges glossed over his mistakes while they crucified other dancers. America had enough of the double standards. If Nigel and Mary are sad that they lost their favorite, they have no one else to blame but themselves.

I'd like to see Mark, Katee, or Chelsie win. They are the most entertaining solists and most supportive partner dancers.

[Tess]

Josh, Mark, Chelsie, and Katee have given the most memorable performances of the season. They have been my top four since week one, and still are my top four. I wasn't shocked at the bottom four dancers this week. Not a bit. I think America got it right, for the most part, although I would have sent Twitch home this week and Will home next week.

[MacKenna]

"Alright, I admit, I was a Will hater. He seemed... arrogant."

Yeah, and that is what reveals your ignorance. The man isn't arrogant but you have to project that onto him because he has the gall to be the dancer he IS, not tone it down, or pretend he's less than his training. I can only conclude that most people watching this show don't have a frickin' clue about dance, just like the people who watch and vote on Idol know precisely squat about music or singing. Ditto for the people who voted for George. America seems to have become a collective of the dumbed down; people who want everything to be easy, who whine if they have to make an effort; and who label one who is a master an elitist. They want their Presidents dumb and artless and their celebrities mediocre. This is symbolized somewhat by the volume of no talents who audition for shows like this who have the arrogance to yell at the judges when they don't get picked. An arrogant person is an ignoramus who claims to have expertise he or she clearly doesn't. Will, like all great artists, has humility.