‘So You Think You Can Dance’: The kiss of death!

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Way to go, America and judges: Last night I couldn’t figure out who on ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ should go home, but I couldn’t agree more with the decision.

Before we got to the unpleasantness, the dancers performed a group number to ‘A Brand New Day’ from ‘The Wiz’ as choreographed by Tyce Diorio, and it was a joyous Broadway number (and probably a mini Michael Jackson tribute).

As we got to the first part of eliminations, I was surprised to learn that Karla Garcia and Vitolio Jeune were in the bottom three instead of Randi Evans and Evan Kasprzak. The judges were lukewarm for Randi and Evan’s frug, and I expected the fun factor of Vitolio and Karla’s quickstep and the novelty of her quick-change dress would have had the calls rolling in.

The judges were shocked, next, to learn that Kayla Radomski and Kupono Aweau were in the bottom three, and I was surprised in that I thought their creepy vampire dance from last night went over well. But when they were up against Janette Manrara and Brandon Bryant and Melissa Sandvig and Ade Obayomi, somebody in that crowd had to be in the bottom three and it would be a shock no matter who it was.

Finally, Jeanine Mason and Phillip Chbeeb were the last couple sent to the bottom three: I was really glad that America dialed in and saved Caitlin Kinney and Jason Glover after their unusual alien dance. Moreover, I was glad that finally Phillip had to dance for his life, since his solos are probably the most fun to watch in the entire competition.

Continuing the routine of guest dance performances, Desmond Richardson and Patricia Hachey performed a pas de deux. Let’s just forget the dance for a second: These two dancers’ bodies and the things they did with them were just sick. And the dance, of course, was beautiful. But ogling Desmond’s thighs and watching Patricia bring her thigh up to her ear, well, I was filled with awe.

We got to the solos and began with Karla. I enjoyed her dance, which I thought was much more quirky and interesting than she is on the show (which turned out to be good for her solo, but the fact that the rest of her time on the show was not quite memorable was bad for her overall). Vitolio danced next, and my reaction was, ‘I’m sick of seeing Vitolio do solos.’ As Nigel said, he brings a presence through the stage, but doesn’t quite deliver beyond that. When Kayla danced, I wrote ‘I’m going to wait to see what the judges say about this. Meh,’ and actually was backed up by Nigel, who said her solo was ‘static.’ Kupono’s solo was, well, annoying: Set to a well-known ukelele version of ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ he emoted more than he danced. Sure, he seemed overjoyed to be alive, but he didn’t really dance. I thought for sure Kupono’s time was up when he said, ‘Going home wouldn’t be that bad.’ Finally, Jeanine showed off a much more classical, serious and technically skilled side than I expected from her in her solo, which I thought was a good move (it paid off: Nigel called it the best solo of the night) and Phillip did his amazing freestyle that was as fun as I expected -- half the entertainment in watching Phillip perform is the character her brings onstage, an ironic sort of goof.

Before we got to the actual eliminations, Kelly Clarkson sang ‘I Do Not Hook Up.’ I adore Kelly: She can actually sing, she makes it look easy and she seems like she is both a professional and yet has fun onstage. She made most of the prior musical guests this season look like chopped liver.

Finally, Nigel delivered the news: Jeanine and Phillip were both saved, and when pitted against Kayla, Karla had no chance. I thought she did a good job last night, but trying to come up with a memorable performance of hers, I blanked, so I think it made sense that she would go home next.

I’m not sure exactly why Vitolio got sent home instead of Kupono, except that maybe the judges were just, like me, slightly more sick of seeing Vitolio dance for his life than Kupono.

-- Claire Zulkey

(art: FOX)