Top 12 Results Thoughts and Discussion
I’m going to jump right in with my live thoughts. Please jump in, too, and add your thoughts in the comments!
First, I really liked the Kelly Abbey El Fuego Top 12 Group routine. It was a nice mashup of styles and I was actually thinking it might’ve been a Christopher Scott routine. I wondered why Jordan got the central role at the opening and so much face time, but she was gorgeous in the huge red skirt, to be sure. I loved the tapping and then the guys sweeping and also them all linking up to tango a bit. (I don’t know the technical name for that, hope you know what I mean).
I’m proud of SYTYCD for their 8 Emmy nominations and I loooved the clip of the routines that were nominated. Such good routines.
Spoiler line for the rest, just in case…
When they pulled out Clarice & Jess and Caitlynn & Mitchell as the first two couples, I wondered if the FOX producers can read my mind, or if they read our blog. These are the two couples most of us were on the bubble about. I wanted Caitlynn & Mitchell to be safe, but I had a feeling they’d land in the Bottom 3. And unfortunately, my feeling was right… :'(
Nigel broke my heart when he said that they asked Alex to be an All-Star and then said that he pulled his *other* Achilles’ tendon. Poor Alex!! I feel so wretched for him, to be facing another year of injury and recovery. I feel pretty bad for us, too, cause we don’t get to see him dance.
They announced the All-Stars so quickly! I was so disappointed with how fast that intro was. But, I did manage to catch the All-Stars. Melody from Season 1, Allison from Season 2 (an All-Star last season), Pasha from Season 3 (also a Season 7 All-Star), Twitch from Season 4 (another All-Star from last season and one of my all-time favorites), Chelsie from Season 4 (AND Dancing with the Stars), Comfort from Season 4 (and an All-Star last season as well), Brandon from Season 5, Kathryn from Season 6 (and a phenom during her season and as an All-Star last season) and Robert from Season 7 (who mostly danced with Kathryn). It’s a great group of All-Stars and we’ve seen that most of them are great All-Stars since they performed that duty last season. I can’t wait to see Robert dance with Caitlynn again. First, she has to survive this cut!
Was it irony that they brought up Melanie & Marko and Ryan & Rickey together? Since Ryan was formerly a favorite and has fallen so far in public opinion? Just as we all expected, Ryan & Rickey are in danger and Melanie & Marko are safe. Ryan’s face while she was on stage was heartbreaking. I think this whole process has been really tough on her.
I was totally shocked that Jordan & Tadd were safe when they were on stage next to Sasha & Alexander. I hate to say it, but it’s a chance to knock Alexander out considering he’s the other least favorite according to our poll. I didn’t think he’d be in danger at this point, though. I’m glad Tadd in particular is safe, though.
At this point, none of the boys will upset me if they leave although I think they’re all really talented and have shown promise. I like all the girls, but I think Ryan’s going to end up going. I just hope Caitlynn is safe as she’s quickly become one of my favorites.
Loved the tap group Jason Samuel Smith and Anybody Can Get It. They were really entertaining and I spotted Melinda Sullivan from Season 7 pretty quickly (green shoes). It’s nice to see her doing something she loves. Maybe she can talk to Ryan backstage and convince her there will be great opportunities after the show.
Is it just me or did Caitlynn stumble in her solo? It seemed a bit scattered, which scared me because I love her and I want her to make Top 10.
I thought Mitchell’s routine was really strong, but his unitard was very distracting. I know, that’s petty of me, but it was!
Ryan’s solo was not strong. I think she’s pretty much given up. 🙁
Rickey, however, had the most relaxed and personality-filled solo. I don’t know how he was that relaxed, knowing he was on the chopping block and one of the more likely to go if they keep with the cutting-partners-together policy.
Sasha’s solo was the strongest of the girls, I think. I loved the song for her and I think she filled it up with personality and style.
I thought Alex’s routine was a revelation, especially that one move where he lept and landed almost on pointe. I was a bit surprised.
I kept looking at Nicole Scherzinger’s back-up dancers, trying to see if any of them were SYTYCD alum.
I felt so bad for Ryan as they talked to the girls. She was so blank-faced, like she was facing the music as stoically as she could. Broke my heart. In all seriousness, I hope Melinda and Travis get hold of her and reassure her that she’s gonna have an amazing career. I was confused that Nigel said Caitlynn’s solo was well-danced, but I’m glad she was safe. Ditto with the reasons he gave for cutting Alexander. Maybe it was the weakest of the guys’ solos, I dunno, but I think they cut him because he hadn’t been memorable throughout the season and they wanted to keep Rickey. I agree with the results, but I wish Nigel could’ve been honest about their motivations. Very confusing.
What do y’all think? Our poll predicted tonight’s results, by the way!
Last season deserved a bunch of Emmy awards. I loved it! Unfortunately, I hate this season. I think the voters have done a horrible job every week. It seems the most passionate, elegant and acrobatic dancers get sent packing each and every Thursday. The voting this season is truly an embarrassment. I really think some of the choreography has been dumbed down this season because some of the remaining dancers can’t do “acros” (acrobatic tumbles and leaps). I don’t expect anyone to agree with me, but that’s how I feel about this season.
Of course the judges have made some puzzling decisions as well. It’s not all on the voters. I do think the overall talent pool was stronger last season (even after Alex Wong was knocked out by injury).
Do you know the name of the song they use during the send-offs? They used it in Alexander’s tonight, something about “we shine all over the world…” I googled but with no help.
Also, love the blog – I agree – Ryan had given up and wasn’t improving – I felt bad for Ricky because he is SO talented – SO glad they’re moving to Top 10 so it didn’t have to be a pair this week. I felt like Mitchell has struggled through the competition, and was kind of surprised Alexander went home. Though I was SO glad Ricky was safe!
@AK: All of tonight’s music is here: https://puresytycd.com/2011/07/14/sytycd-top-12-results-music-2/
I actually was starting to really like Alexander so I was a little sad to see him go, but Ricky’s solo was SO GOOD tonight. I was actually shocked by the amount of cheer’s Ricky got when they said his name. It’s obvious he’s a fave, but I think because of his partner, he kept getting put in the bottom.
Yes, Ryan’s face was heartbreaking, but honestly I am SO GLAD she’s gone. I really think she should have been gone weeks ago.
Also, Chelsie Hightower will be an All-Star also, but just for next week. I cheered out loud when they announced Robert, he was my fave last season.
@Lisa: AAHHHH! HOW did I forget Chelsie?!??! I’m gonna go add her back in. Thanks.
@Lisa, “Chelsie Hightower will be an All-Star also, but just for next week.” What does that mean? She’s only going to be in one show?
The list of All-Stars was five girls and four guys, with poor Alex being injured. Does that mean they’re going to replace him and there will be a fifth guy? (Ade? Jakob? Will?)
@MC
We have to remember that they started last year with only ten dancers, exactly where they are now. And last year they got rid of three of the ladies as quickly as they could, leaving only Lauren and Ashley. I think on balance the ladies are stronger this year than last, the guys not so much.
@ahs Due to Chelsie’s contract with DWTS that is why we will only see one appearance.
very happy with the all stars list and yay for getting one from the first season.
Surprised about Jordan and Tadd being safe but I like Tadd but I’m not fond of Jordan anymore. Thankfully everything gets shaken up next week.
I am absolutely DISGUSTED at Alex Fost’s elimination tonight. Since the season started, the judges have been inexplicably rude and harshly critical of him for no reason. I have never seen them treat a dancer like they’ve treated him, always telling him that his partner “outdanced him” every chance they got (when it was completely obvious that she did not). I don’t know how the judges can justify sending Alex home when it was his very first time in the bottom three and the others had been there MULTIPLE TIMES. I am highly suspicious that all of a sudden Alex just “ended up” in the bottom three right before the tour so they could kick him out.
There is no question Ricky and Mitchell are wonderful dancers but the truth of the matter is, they are NOT America’s FAVORITE dancers, since they kept failing to bring in votes on multiple occasions. Because the judges decided to throw out one of America’s favorite dancers because he was not THEIR personal favorite makes me want to stop watching the show and stop spending two hours voting every week, because obviously our votes don’t count.
I believe the judges this week have done irreparable damage to this year’s sytycd tour, since Mitchell and Ricky are not the dancers America wanted to see. We wanted to see Alex. There was a REASON he was never in the bottom three before tonight (which again is highly suspect), and that is because he stands out in the group dances – he is a natural-born performer with star quality. I think I will check out that “other show” Alex Wong got injured trying out for, because sytycd is on very, very, thin ice with me.
@Darlene:
I’m sorry that you feel that way about Alexander, but I 100% believe that he deserved to be cut. His personality is not very well received by the public. I actually feel very uncomfortable every time he tries to kiss Sasha in hopes of comforting her. I’m sure it is just the way he is, but it does not sit very well with me (nor Sasha, in my opinion).
I feel as though Alexander attempts to do these small acts in hopes of gaining favor with the audience, but to me, what he does comes off as insincere.
I’m watching this season for Caitlynn! I think she’s GREAT!! Hope she manages to pull out the win! I think Tadd and Alexander were the two weakest guys, so wasn’t shocked. Thought either Jordan or Ryan should go. Obviously I’m surprised Jordan and Tadd weren’t in the bottom three, but to be fair, Caitlynn and Mitchell’s first number was one of the, if not the, worst I’ve seen this season. I think she’s spectacular otherwise though.
@Darlene Im will to say that ther is a good chance that Alex will be an alternate on tour. His solo just wasnt good enough.
I had a flash back to season one when Rickey did his solo to Body Language…totally was thinking about Blake McGrath
@Lee – Last season’s top ten would destroy this top ten because they could execute much more complex choreography and were capable of much more athletic and acrobatic movements. The idea of not changing partners until the top ten is a very bad one imo. Ashley was so much better than her partner. Miranda was capable of so much more with another partner. The voters need to recognize indivdual talent, but instead if they didn’t like one half of the couple, then the other person wouldn’t get their vote either. Melanie is talented, but Marko sometimes does all the work. I’m positive there are/were several other female dancers who would shine with Marko as their partner (in fact, omg, probably be better than Melanie). Then Alexander had probably the best male performance last night and he gets eliminated over a sub-par solo (after landing in the bottom three couples). An excellent live partnered dance should outweigh any 30 second solo. Sasha was forced to dance for her life? That’s ridiculous. These are just some of the ridiculous things that have happened this season.
@Darlene: I completely agree with you about Ricky and Mitchel, I think both dancers are great however I just dont think in weeks to come i wont see any growth from them .. Ricky maybe will grow but I doubt Mitchel will be staying so long, them being in the top 10 is actually detrimental as for their status in the show judging from the reaction of many fans
Alexander should have stayed, for some weird reason I believe he became the complete dark horse of the competition as of last Wednesday’s performance show he had the potential or robert and alex wong of season 7 , he’s solo was i think superb, with him gone it cemented tadd, jess and marko’s odds in making it as the top 3 male dancers with Ricky behind them, the reason why tadd i think is not well liked vs jess and marko is that the routines he had with jordan are not the ones that the public really dig but that is what saving him because being a B-Boy with no technical background of dances and dancing jazz,Viennese waltz and contemporary like he did is i think a pretty big thing at least for the eye of the judges
as for the ladies I think Melanie is the strongest in the top 5 ladies but she is just .1cm away from the potential of Sasha and Caitlynn but if Clarrise all of a sudden begins to nail dances it will be and even bout , as for jordan I really dont know sorry..
with ryan gone i wish to see her real life mentors back in panel 🙂 im crossing my fingers on it
I am in full agreement with all the comments. I can’t believe that Sasha ended at the bottom. It seems to me that the Judges have their favorites and have allowed them to advance. Hopefully, the season will improve with the Allstars being added. Always feel for the ones who leave, but IMO Ryan should have been gone weeks ago. Alex was harded to see leave, as I believe he should have been judged on the season, not just a 30 second solo.
Well, I correctly predicted the entire Bottom 3 AND the final cuts, so I guess I’m psychic or something…
Or maybe I just caught a break after being at least partly wrong all the previous weeks. 😛
But really, what did all the 3 couples who were safe have in common? The fact that last night they each had at least one totally awesome performance and no real low points.
The ones in danger either had at least one dismal performance (R&R Chacha, C&M Hiphop) or were just kind of average (S&A).
And once the judges managed to shake the idea of cutting couples it was clear who the weak links were. Ryan had just given up, as many have pointed out. Alexander has been underperforming and been carried by his partner the first 4 weeks. Sure, he pulled up this week, but it was too late.
I agreed completely with the decisions last night. Alex’s solo was well choreographed but poorly executed unfortunately. He fell out of his turns and seemed otherwise unbalanced. Rickey killed it like crazy and mitchell was very very strong. The girls were easy. Nigel was right to call Ryan out for her attitude. I love her but I expected her to have a bit thicker skin with her experience. Well it’s a tough experience for them all I guess.
Sasha’s quality of movement is unreal btw. I want her to dance with Melanie. 🙂
I agree about sending Ryan home – she’s a strong dancer, they all are, but the other girls outperformed her and it was nice to see the apparent favoritism reversed. However, it broke my heart to see those 3 guys dance, who were all amazingly talented even if (I agree) Alex was a little off. So why isn’t Jess ever in the bottom 3? He’s a dynamic performer and turns great, but that’s about it, he can’t lift a partner without it looking unbelievably awkward, and he smirks and poses for the audience rather than engaging with a partner. He’s a performer, not a dancer, and compared to the other guys, I don’t know why he’s still there.
(And yes, I love Mitchell but I hated the unitard, and oh, geez, can we have one night where all the ladies aren’t in bra tops?)
All i have to say is that i really liked Alexander and even though he was outshined by sasha, he kept up with her. I think he could of grown during the rest of the season.
I’m down with all of MC’s comments. I was amazed when our top 20 were revealed (even tho I hadn’t seen 3 of them at all) & think we lost several incredible dancers with more talent than some of the remaining top 10. I do not understand why the judges eliminated “couples” rather than individuals based on their own performances when it was glaringly apparent that we only wanted better partners for some…AARG! So frustrating…as was losing so many great dancers trying to repeatedly save Robert & Ryan when America obviously was not relating to them. If they were sending someone home strictly on their solo’s, then all 3 of the “beasts” should have gone home last night bc all 3 of the guys put those girls to shame…including Sasha. I hate that Alex left & he has not been a fav of mine, but he truly killed it this week, blowing me away & making me replay his performances several times. Ricky’s solo was amazing & his overall performances have been really good. While Mitchell started his solo with those powerful, spinning leaps across the stage it looked rather frenzied and he fell off his pirouette’s both times. I did not think his solo was as well executed as Alexanders’.
GAAH…so devastated that Alex is reliving a duplicate nightmare year with the exact same injury on his other Achille’s! My heart breaks for him and I pray he recovers as quickly again (not that a year isn’t an eternity when dance is your life).
Excited it’s finally AllStars time & glad Nigel said they’d be changing periodically. I adore our AllStars and will be excited to see any of them but was hoping some new faces would be given the honor this year, since there are so many favorites. If we’re just repeating AllStars, I want Neil & Mark back, too! 🙂
Off topic but really stoked about Kathryn McC’s Step Up 4 lead and hope Cat, SYTYCD & every single choreographer bring home the Emmy’s they’ve been nominated for!!! I want to hear “sytycd” all night long at the Emmy’s…so L O N G overdue!
I agree with you Brenda, there should definately be some new all stars…what’s the point of bringing back the same dancers as last season? And only Robert from Season 7? I’m sick of him…sorry, I would have taken Kent or any other dancer from Season 6…hello Legacy, Jacob or Ellanore!?
I was also sad to see Alexander go, it seems like all they want from these dancers are big showy emotional performances…what about solid subtlety?
This season is a real disappointment compared to the last two when I started watching. I agree that they all seem very limited. I find myself cleaning or doing other things while the show is on, when it once demanded every second of my attention. Hopefully we will be getting some better routines (and better music I might add) for the top 10.
Oh, God, not Comfort again! I hated her in season 4 (I was SO pissed off when they brought her back because Jessica was injured), and I hated her even more as an All-Star. Blah.
Kind of disappointed that they’re having so many repeat all-stars. I love Twitch, and the others are very good, but come on! There are a lot of other deserving contestants. Kherrington, Kayla, Katee & Courtney are four of my favourite girls that I think they could have brought on.
I want to post just to say I’m not feeling any of the negativity so many of you seem to be, lol. I’m enjoying the season, I’ve agreed with the majority of the decisions, and I’m very excited about the All-Stars, both the new and repeats. We have to realize it’s very likely they tried to get some other dancers, but who we get is a combination of who they ask and WHO SAYS YES.
Also, I love Comfort. (Going to go watch “Fallin’.”)
I feel ya ahs. 🙂
Honestly, I feel that this season is kindof screwed from the beginning. It does not hold the same spark and magic the previous seasons had. The few dancers that are keeping me watching are melanie, marko, sasha. And nick and iveta b4 they were cut. I cant even name more than 5 memorable dancers. I dunno whether if it’s this season’s selection of dancers or the judging. But i hope it gets better cos i’ve loved this show since season 1 and all of them until now have been pretty amazing.
Honestly, I agreed with the decision to cut Ryan and Alexander simply cuz I thought Ryan was hold in Ricky back. I love her n she’s a great dancer but I just didnt connect with her ever this season on the show.. Pretty sure she’ll be fine after this though since she’s quite talented. Shame about Alexander cuz I too feel he could’ve grown.
No season has come up to the 1st 5 seasons for me, but minus the questionable elimination choices n choreo, I’m glad the couples format was brought back for this season. I enjoyed watching the chemistry between different partners and the rehearsal clips etc. And I know I’m in the minority, but I feel that last season (though more at the beginnin) many of the All-Stars outdanced the contestants.
My MAIN problem wit da show rite now is that there are only contemporary dancers left for the most part, so despite my knowledge of dance n differetn styles, when I watch solos I’ll keep seeing the same thing over and over again each time. I’m still lookin fwd to see what happens next though.