Season 8 Top 10 Power Rankings and Poll
Thoughts….
Top Three
1. Sasha (& Twitch) – Sasha had the best combination of incredible routine, chemistry with a popular All-Star and her own popularity (she came in 5th in our Top 10 Prediction Poll). I think it was the most memorable routine of the night. Plus, it came in the 2nd half of the routines and towards the end is always a nice little bonus.
2. Caitlynn (& Pasha) – Caitlynn was 4th in the same poll and she had a breakout performance with Pasha tonight. This was one of the sexiest, most sensuous Argentine tangos I’ve seen. She’s quickly become my #2 favorite and I think this routine will help win over a lot of holdouts (if there are any).
3. Melanie (& Pasha) – Melanie came in first in our poll. Her Viennese waltz might’ve been just slightly better technically than the Argentine tango, but I’m going to put it in the bottom of the Top 3 because tangos seem to be a little more popular than waltzes. That could just be me, though.
Middle Four
1. Marko (& Chelsie) – Marko was 2nd in our poll and while his samba with Chelsie was really good, it was also the first routine of the night and I think the choreo showed off Chelsie more than him. I still think the combination of his own popularity and people’s excitement that Chelsie was back on the show will make the routine memorable enough to keep him safe.
2. Jess (& Kathryn) – Jess ranked 6th in our poll. While he’s not a favorite of mine, he probably danced his best routine tonight with Kathryn, who is a very popular (and talented) dancer. She brought out a lot in Jess tonight, but I can’t help wishing it’d been another dancer in Jess’s place, in the routine and with Kathryn.
3. Clarice (& Robert) – Clarice was 7th in our poll, but I think that dancing a strong Bollywood with Robert and being the last of the episode will help her a lot. Her solo surprised me tonight and it’s hard to tell how she’ll do without Jess. I think she danced better with Robert than she did with Jess, but that she still might be one of the weakest.
4. Tadd (& Comfort) – Tadd was 3rd in our poll and his solo rocked. If not for those two things, I think he’d be in danger tomorrow (and he might still). It was one of the weaker routines, or at least not my favorite because it felt very strange. Comfort redeemed herself a bit as an All-Star last season, but she’s not the most popular of the All-Stars.
Bottom Three
1. Rickey (& Allison) – Rickey was 8th in our poll and his solo tonight wasn’t as strong as it could’ve been. I think he’s picking up more of a following apart from Ryan. He probably danced his best in this routine and it was one of the later ones, but I had to put somebody in the Bottom 3, so I put him here because of his low ranking in the poll and his solo.
2. Jordan (& Brandon) – Jordan was 9th in our poll. I could see her trying to change up her solo, but she seems over-reliant on the same moves, not growing as much as other contestants. She danced the 2nd routine of the night and while it was beautiful, it might not be the most memorable. Some people struggled to connect to Brandon in his season and sometimes people don’t connect to Desmond & Dwight routines, so those factors might not do her any favors.
3. Mitchell (& Melody) – Mitchell was 10th in our poll, danced with one of the lesser known All-Stars and was unlucky enough to get the weaker of Tyce’s two routines, an awkward Broadway (hit or miss with voters). His solo was really strong, but he looked like he was wearing a large diaper. I thought he handled the judge’s comments really well – he’s come a far way in my opinion, but I think this may be the end of the road for him.
Because we can vote for individual dancers, they probably won’t arbitrarily cut 1 boy and 1 girl anymore. Still, it might be kneejerk for the judges and I think they might cut Jordan and Mitchell tomorrow night. Oh, wait, we’ll only lose 1 dancer a week now, won’t we? Well, if that’s the case, I think Mitchell will be the one to go tomorrow night.
I so figure that Jess and Kathyrn would be pair together. I actually really like Jess he is extremely versital that turn he did in his solo then it came to a stop take alot of strength.
I would place Rickey higher but I dont see home going home.
Can I put Neil Patrick Harris in MY top 3?!! by far the best guest judge (non-choreographer) the show has ever had. Funny, honest, and constructive, and not afraid to call out the choreographers. NPH rocked as a judge, he did a great job.
@Amanda: I’m glad you brought up that slow exit from his turn – that was pretty cool and even though I’m not a dancer, I know it’s tough.
@Margaret: That is *exactly* why I disabled the write-in answers on the poll, just so pranksters like you couldn’t pick NPH as your Top 3. :)- But I agree 100%. He rocked, though I really liked Jesse from Modern Family, too.
I am so glad I did not miss this week’s episode. To quote the best host ever, “I had chills”, and they were the most chills I had all season. Sasha was definitely being held down by Alexander and she totally owned the routine w/Twitch. I was having a spazzy moment on my couch while those two were heating up the stage…good grief. I honestly missed Twitch so much and I am glad he is back again. I always had a soft spot in my heart for Caitlyn, and she matured so much this week. Holy crap! Pasha is the ultimate partner (and I could also do with more shirtless Pasha…just saying). I think I have written enough, but just as a closing comment, this year the girls are totally killing it!
@Sherry: I think they made absolutely sure they had strong girls after the Great Female Slaughter of Season 7. Also, I hear ya on the Twitch love and shirtless Pasha appreciation. 🙂
Twitch and Sasha were my most favourite pairing.
I was also REALLY impressed with Clarice tonight, her solo was stunning and the past couple weeks she has started to really shine for me!
I’d have put Marko in top 3 personally – but it is tough, everything Pasha does is amazing right?
Well, I agree in some ways and disagree in others. This was the best night, imo–I loved the choreo and the all stars (and NPH rocks the house always). 🙂 My thoughts…
Sasha: unreal. She catapulted ahead of Melanie for me tonight. That routine with Twitch was my fav of the season!
Melanie: She’s one of the most talented dancers who has ever been on the show. Unbelievable. Everything looks so easy. Liked her solo better than her waltz even though I love Pasha.
Jordan: I thought she grew leaps and bounds tonight, interestingly enough. Her characters were more authentic and her solo was better choreographed than any of her others. SHe’s growing on me.
Clarice: Clarice isn’t growing on me. I feel like NPH expressed my sentiments exactly. I don’t “feel” her, you know? Her bollywood and solo were both expertly danced, but I felt no real connection with her. Robert rocked, though!!
Caitlynn: She was lovely! I thought the tango was a bit slow for my liking, but it wasn’t boring. I really enjoyed it, but I wouldn’t call it my favorite.
Marko: Didn’t care for it. Love love love Chelsie Hightower, but he didn’t dance it as well, imo. He did the same things Ryan did last week–shortcutted his feet in places, etc. Hmm.
Tadd: I didn’t get this either. Awesome choreography, but Tadd was out of sync a bunch and shortcutted moves too. Shocked they didn’t point this out. It was so very obvious.
Rickey: Loved. He showed amazing growth tonight!! I loved this dance.
Mitchell: I thought his execution of poor choreography was awesome. He may have oversold his face a bit, but I don’t think Melanie helped that much either. I thought he had some of that Fosse feel in his movements, actually. His solo was his best of the season.
Jess: His best routine of the season, but NPH–again–is spot on. He oversells in an inauthentic way, and that’s why he hasn’t grown on me either. This understated dance–where my attention was on Kathryn the whole time–was what he needed. And I didn’t think his solo was all that strong. Yes, he’s a turning MACHINE (wow). But other than fuetes and pirouettes? I wanted more.
But–to each his/her own. 🙂
Yeah, I meant “Melody” not Melanie. 🙂 my bad.
@ Emilie
Regarding your last paragraph, I think I heard Cat say that there would be two going home at tonight’s Results show. Otherwise we would have to have five more shows to get to the Final Four, and I don’t think that’s what’s programmed. Last year they did one per night because they started with only ten rather than 20.
You are right about the “Great Female Slaughter of Season 7”. If I remember correctly, Alexie, Christina, then Malinda out 1, 2, 3. And Malinda hears after her routine the third week from (I believe) Nigel that she should have gone the second week! To the judges credit, they really had a stronger group of girls this season.
Are they voting out lowest guy and lowest girl? Or just th etwo lowest vote-getters?
@Sherry – my wife agrees with your shirtless Pasha comment. I had to console her after the fully-clothed tango. Luckily they brought him back for the waltz. 🙂
I also heard Cat say 2 would be leaving, and of course the reason is as given by Lee above.
But I never heard her say her usual phrase of “1 boy and 1 girl”, which leads me to suspect it will be gender-neutral.
@beth I’m glad I’m not the only one that noticed that the Tadd/Comfort hip-hop was sloppy in a lot of places, particularly the intricate arm movements half-way through the number. The judges oversold the quality of his performance. It was pretty good, but far from perfect (especially since we’re in the Top 10 now) and I don’t think you can claim he outdanced Comfort.
I want to add that I feel really bad for Mitchell. He got the patented “Tyce Kiss of Death” this week. NPH was spot-on in his criticisms of the piece, which were mainly directed at Tyce. The piece made little sense and was all over the place, but that wasn’t Mitchell’s fault. Also, if you have it on DVR, go back to the judging portion where Nigel is talking about “Fosse movements” and watch NPH’s face. It has “Dude, you have NO idea what you’re talking about” written all over it. There was no Fosse feel to this piece and my fiancee and I were similarly baffled by Nigel’s commentary. Anyway, you can’t really blame Mitchell for “overselling his face” when he was likely instructed to do that (it is Tyce, after all). He did what he was asked and he’s going to go home for it. I will be shocked if Mitchell is here next week.
Last night was the first time that we had some REAL chemistry on the show!! (I give Marko and Melanie a little chemistry). And was it ever fun to see! Of course I’m talking about Twitch and Sasha, then Pasha and Caitlynn – yikes! More please…….
I miss season four more than ever. They may not have been the most technically accomplished dancers but there was some real chemistry and feeling going on there.
Anyone else notice that whenever anyone does a single turn it looks like slo -mo? These dancers are such amazing turners (Jess’s solo) that those that don’t pull off at least a triple in their solos look really boring.
it’s too bad that nigel and mary are so afraid to call out the choreographers. tyce’s broadway was horrible, and poor mitchell got a lesser-known all-star as a partner AND horrible choreography, so he’s probably going to get the axe tonight.
top 3
#1 Caitlynn and Pasha – Incredible!!!! It was my fav tango I’ve seen on the show so far and Caitlynn was gorgeous!
#2 Sasha and Twitch – Sasha’s musicality and sharpness was incredible.
#3 Melanie and Pasha – i still watch melanie’s audition on a regular basis and it takes my breath away every time.
SOLOS – Clarice was AMAZING!!! she was the only one who did something different. Melanie’s was good too. In everyone else’s there was jetés, developpés, and pirouettes, and a couple rolls.
BTW- I am SOOOO sick of Jordan and her developpés. It’s like her signature move and i’m incredibly sick of them.
oh i forgot about final four!!
#1 Melanie
#2 Sasha
#3 Marko
#4 I’m leaving #4 open for either Caitlynn, Jess, Ricky or Clarice to come up the middle. But the other three are pretty much guaranteed a spot.
@maddy – I’d take Brandon and Janette’s tange from Season 5 over last nights, but Caitlyn was quite good.
Honestly, if I were voting last night I would have been voting for Mitchell because I felt so sorry for him gettin gthe (very) short end of the choreography stick. Maybe there are enough other sympathy voters out there that he’ll be saved for the week… probably not, though.
I’m with ya, Kevin. I felt so sorry for Mitchell! He killed what he was given, which was crap. I like him. 🙁
I cannot believe Tyce took a signature Fosse number and choreographed it with Gene Kelly moves. It was worse than awful. Mitchell would’ve been much better served with a Gene Kelly knock-off of Singin’ in the Rain rather than mutilated Fosse. Mitchell definitely did the best he could under the circumstances.
Sasha with Twitch and Caitlyn with Pasha were tied as my favorite routines of the night. Both were superb. I thought Melanie was technically wonderful but Pasha had an incredible vulnerability that Melanie did not match. So I thought Melanie missed an emotional quality that was asked for in the preview package of the storyline of their waltz.
I thought all the rest were very good and I enjoyed the additional of the All Stars. But none of their performances stand out in my mind today.
I don’t get all the Caitlin love…she bores me to death! She’s cute and seems nice, but stack her up next to Lo Fro and what do you get? Mediocre!
Finally, a memorable hip hop for Season 8! I have been waiting and waiting! We’ll see how Sasha does without Twitch though, I think he could make anyone look good.
And finally Jess, I know everyone’s entitled to their opinions, but I just LOVE him! He is so fun to watch. I’m getting sick of all these contemporary dancers! I am just glad to see something different every now and again. One of the reasons I loved Billy Bell so much last season was that he was a quirky contemporary (mad hatter solo) I miss those solos that have cohesion, and not just a bunch of contemporary moves.
@emilie- agree with your bottom 2 of Ricky and Mitchell but i put Tadd as my bottom 3rd.
Thought the female dancers had a much better night than the boys.
Tadd’s hip hop was a snoozefest. Was expecting better choreography for a b boy and Comfort!?
I think Mitchell should go tonight and hope someone starts editing Tyce’s choice of broadway songs!
Favorites of the night were Caitlyn’s Tango, Clarice’s Bollywood and Jess’s (Stacey Tookey) Contemp.!!!
@Meggie: I’d love to see Caitlynn dance alongside LoFro, actually, so you can see that she stacks up! I have no doubt that she would. Those two would make for an incredibly cute and athletic girls’ routine. Let’s make it happen, FOX! Mia or Stacey Tookey to choreograph, please. ORRRRR, Wade Robson. How cool would that be to have quirky, crazy choreo put on such wholesome charming girls? I would LOVE to see that!
@iluvpasha: Performance-wise, I’d put Tadd in with Mitchell and Rickey, yeah. But I thought Tadd’s fan base and strong (imo) solo would save him. Plus, it seemed like there’d probably be at least one girl in the Bottom 3. I could be wrong, though. I’ve been off by at least 1 in all my Bottom 3 predictions this season.