'So You Think You Can Dance': OMG, Bieber and an elimination!

I didn't wake up this morning expecting to be forced to watch a Justin Bieber video, but that happened tonight on "So You Think You Can Dance." More surprisingly, I didn't hate it.  The cute dancing of Bieber, Usher and the backup dancers in the "Somebody to Love" video that debuted during the episode almost distracted me from the inexplicable Asian theme, and the fact that the show was broadcasting a video as opposed to actual live performance.  That little Canadian and the even littler girl in the video won me over.

Other things happened tonight other than the debut of a new Bieber video. The show opened with a group jazz number to Kelis' "Acapella," choreographed by new-to-the-show Tessandra Chavez. I have to admit I had mixed feelings about the performance. There were some cool moves, like when two of the guys swung one of the girls like a jump rope, but the piece sometimes seemed a little cheesy, most probably because of the Show Choir style gold-sequined outfits. Adechike's sweater alone made me think twice about the dance.

Cat Deeley, in the first dress of the season I'd like to steal (although maybe sans sparkly pin) announced who was safe and who was in the bottom three: Not surprisingly, Alexie and Melinda were down there, as Nigel predicted. However, when it came between Adechike and Cristina, I was surprised that the ballroom dancer was also down there as well. 

Before the elimination we saw a performance from Twyla Tharp's "Come Fly Away," which was mostly memorable for the strong, lithe, sexy and mature Karine Plantadit. Note to Madonna: That's how you do back muscles without being scary.

The bottom three danced for their lives and of the three, I only felt moved enough by Cristina's performance to really want to see her stay: She seemed to work the hardest during her solo. 

Before the results Usher performed "OMG": If you saw it already on "Idol" you didn't need to watch it again, although I enjoyed watching his male backup dancers who were cooler than the kind of stereotypical female backup dancers.  Then, as I noted, we were Bieber-jacked.

Finally, we learned the results: By a unanimous vote, the judges sent Alexie packing (this whole segment of the show was interrupted by various promos and commercials, as the show was last night. Fox, please wake up the people at the WFLD affiliate).  It's a shame that after so much time trying out for the show she was the first to go, but at least she got to dance with Twitch?

-- Claire Zulkey

Photo: Robert Roldan, left, performs an African jazz routine with All-Star partner Courtney Galiano on Wednesday night. Credit: Mathieu Young / Fox 

Comments

[scott]

that usher performance was omg.... BORING! there was just nothing exciting about it. bunch of stolen chants from other songs... minimal dancing. plenty of flashing lights, but nothing that you couldnt really get from a string of xmas lights. YAWN!

[elizabeth murphy]

i love justin bieber

[kate]

Hm, you think Madonna wears her back muscles more comfortably than Karine Plantadit? I found Ms. Plantadit to be so extreme in her uptightness (shoulders up to her ears for most of the performance) I almost couldn't enjoy the dance!

I do have to agree with you on the Bieber effect .. he was actually pretty cute .. not to mention quite impressive to have Usher AND America's (fabulous!!) Best Dance CREWS (plural) spicing up his teeny bopper cuteness. About halfway though the video, I, like you, forgot what show I was watching, but have to be honest when I say there is NO WAY I'd've seen that video had it premiered anywhere else, and I'm really glad I saw it : )

I probably would have rather seen Melinda go than Alexie, but it's true that Alexie lost most of her sparkle this week .. and, really, it's just a matter of time before Melinda AND Cristina go. Cristina's solo, while spicy in spirit, completely lacked that other piece of dance we so love .. choreography.

It was nice to have a chance to not be clamoring to see the all-stars .. most often I'd rather be watching any of them than the new guys. I'm workin on that ..

[Anthony]

No men in the bottom three? Has this show become So You Think That He's Cute? Adechike should have been dancing for his life, not Cristina.

Usher was better than he was on Idol, but still not my cuppa. The "That's Life" number was better on the Tonys, where the rather repetitive choreography was hidden by (blended in with) the rest of the ensemble.

At least Justin has his combover perfected for a fifty year career.

Hate this new format, but I love the dancing!

[ShamanCA]

Don't get the fascination with Bieber... cute effeminate nasally high-pitched voice - and nothing else. If you're under 10 you'd like him, but otherwise?? Don't get it. And Usher's dancers were more interesting than he was. As for the real dancers, I fear that Alex won't make it because everyone will assume he can do it all already. They'll go for Robert, for looks not ability, and Kent, for goofiness, not ability. So sad how this show has just degenerated.

[Ally]

I liked Bieber's video too. It was surprisingly good. He's a cute kid, and I have to say I'm glad my kids like him over that Miley Cyrus garbage. I mean, he's a 16-year old boy who can manage to write *clean* music about the opposite sex (which 95% of adults in the music industry can't seem to do -.-)! I'm not seeing what there is to hate about him?