‘So You Think You Can Dance’: No Jackson tribute

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I was half right about tonight’s elimination. The half that I didn’t predict was a surprise, but I think a good choice by the judges. But let’s save that for the end.

The dancers led off with a very sharp military-inspired hip-hop dance set to the White Stripes’ ‘Seven Nation Army,’ choreographed by Tabitha and Napoleon D’umo, that was quite reminiscent of Janet Jackson’s ‘Rhythm Nation’ video. Speaking of which, after acknowledging his 60th birthday, judge Nigel Lythgoe broke the sad news that there would be no Michael Jackson tribute, as the powers-that-be wouldn’t release the music. Ah well, maybe it’s for the best: Even though a ‘So You Think You Can Dance,’ tribute would have been amazing, after this week’s emotional memorial, perhaps it’s good just to let it rest for a bit.

Cat brought out the couples to be sent to the bottom three. I predicted accurately last night that Caitlin Kinney and Jason Glover would be in trouble, plus, after their amazing tango and jazz routines, it was no surprise that Janette Manrara and Brandon Bryant were safe. Mary Murphy supposed that Caitlin and Jason’s problem was that they could never surpass their original, popular Bollywood dance.

The audience was shocked when Jeanine Mason and Phillip Chbeeb were sent to the bottom three, but I think it would have been just as surprising if Randi Evans and Evan Kasprzak were put down there as well, since each couple performed a dance that the judges really liked and another that they were slightly lukewarm about, and each has a powerhouse girl and a popular but somewhat limited guy.

Before they went on with the first cuts, Nigel let everyone know that pretty much everybody on tonight’s episode would be going on tour, since the show would need swing dancers, so that took a little bit of the drama out of the whole top 10 thing.

Finally, Melissa Sandvig and Ade Obayomi were sent to the bottom three, in lieu of Kayla Radomski and Kupono Aweau. It’s possible that Kayla and Kupono’s Mia Michaels dance saved them, but moreover I’m glad not to see them in the bottom three for once, just for the sake of some new scenery. I thought it was a little odd of Tyce Diorio to call Ade out for his energy level allegedly dropping last night: I didn’t agree, and it seemed a little cruel to blame one half of a couple for being in the bottom three.

We got to the solos. Caitlin’s was quite adorable and showed off her personality, but I wasn’t sure if it was going to be enough to keep her in the competition (I assumed that either she or Melissa would be eliminated). Jason threw a ton of stuff into his solo once again, and I predicted, incorrectly, that the judges would call it ‘desperate’ and say that he didn’t connect with his audience. Jeanine’s solo was, like last week’s, both more technically proficient and serious than what you expect from someone who comes off so cute in her choreographed dances. Phillip was just fun to watch -- he makes boring things like elbows and wrists look cool. I felt like I was getting a workout watching Melissa’s solo, as she performed in her toe shoes: She really is an amazing physical specimen of a human. And Ade received a standing ovation for his solo, which contained a lot of explosive moves and gymnastics that moved him all over the stage.

Before the eliminations, David Guetta and Kelly Rowland performed a song called ‘When Love Takes Over’ that sounded like a mashup of Coldplay’s ‘Speed of Sound’ and Jordin Sparks’ ‘No Air.’ For those of you keeping track at home, she did appear to sing live, for better or for worse.

Nigel kept the eliminations short and sweet, not giving Caitlin much of a reason why she was sent home instead of Melissa or Jeanine. Poor Caitlin seemed very shook up about the news. I was surprised that Phillip, and not Jason, was going home. However, looking back, there wasn’t an episode where the judges didn’t want more from Phillip, so I think it was a good choice, although we’ll all miss him. Good news for those of you following the ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ tour, though: Both will be appearing!

Next week: new couples!

-- Claire Zulkey

(art: FOX)