Top 6 Power Rankings and Poll
I don’t know how I’m going to do this. There’s a clear-cut Top 4 that will probably happen, but there’s every chance there will be a mix-up. I really, really wish they would drop the bottom guy/girl combo. All three girls are so strong and I’d love them all to be in the Top 4.
And I’m not sure how they’re going to do the Top and Bottom tomorrow. Probably the Top Girl and Top Guy, but I’m going to list them in the order of how strong I think their night was, based on how I liked the routines, how I think you liked the routines, my perceptions of the dancer’s popularity and their growth.
Top Three
1. Sasha – Her contemporary with Kent was the best routine of Round One. Gorgeous and amazing and so surprising. Her solo was stellar. She had an alright (and fun) waacking routine with Rickey, but she ended on her lowest note of the night. Her biggest downfall might be that some people dislike what we see of her personality, but one of her biggest pluses is that she’s been visible all season, but she’s fought herself forward every step of the way.
2. Melanie – Her hip-hop with Twitch was also surprising, but it was the first routine. If it’s possible for her to be forgettable, her first routine is in the “least memorable” position. Her solo was one of the best ever and definitely the best this season, which is tough since it came on the heels of Sasha’s. Her ending routine with Tadd was a definite high note for them both. However, her biggest downfall is that people feel she hasn’t been challenged enough (hopefully tonight changed those minds) and that the judges have been too easy on her.
3. Caitlynn – I know everyone expects her to leave tomorrow, but she may be the dark horse. The complaints against Sasha’s perceived arrogance and the favoritism shown to Melanie may split the vote. And she had a great night. A solid samba with Pasha, her best solo yet and then the last routine of the night, which just happened to be a really amazing Sonya routine with Marko.
Bottom Four
4. Marko – His paso with Janette was excellent, but early in the night. His solo was strong, but not a huge stand-out considering Sasha and Melanie wrestling for the best solo of the night. But he had that phenomenal last routine with Caitlynn and he’s been the favorite guy most of the season.
5. Tadd – I loved his quirky routine with Ellenore, though there was some critique that there wasn’t much dancing. His solo wasn’t his strongest (he stood on his hand too long), but he ended on a high note with Melanie.
6. Rickey – His contemporary with Jaimie was really incredible, but Christina Applegate said it right for me – there’s some lack of intention or follow-through when he dances. It’s not entirely complete. His solos have been saving him the last few weeks and he’s picked up some fans. But his waacking routine with Sasha was probably the weakest of the second set of routines.
The gimmie answers is that Rickey and Caitlynn are going home tomorrow night and our Top 4 will be Melanie, Sasha, Marko and Tadd. Unless there’s a shakeup, which is entirely possible if people vote like crazy tonight to save somebody or fans assume Melanie and Sasha are safe. OR, if the judges decide that the Top 4 doesn’t have to be 2 guys or 2 girls. It’s hard to predict how this could go down if a shake-up happens. So, I need your help.
Who are YOUR Top 4? You can only pick 4, but you don’t have to pick 2 guys and 2 girls. Pick any 4 dancers you want, as long as they’re YOUR Top 4.
Having such a spectacular last routine really makes it harder to predict how the voting will go! I loved it for Marko and Caitlynn when Cat turned from the dancers and said “oh, the judges are standing – that’s always a good sign” (or words to that effect).
Up to that time it seemed pretty straightforward – Melanie and Sasha the top two, then Marko and Tadd. Since that’s two guys and two girls, it can go through that way. Now I really wish that they would go by best dancers regardless of gender, which imo would produce the following order: Melanie, Sasha, Caitlynn, Marko, Tadd, and Ricky. Twice Caitlynn has ended the show with absolutely stunning routines (the other was round of 12 with Mitchell and the Travis Wall jazz routine). It is very possible that being in that last spot could throw some more votes Caitlynn’s way. Maybe not enough to pass Sasha for top two girls, but I wouldn’t be surprised if she really winds up in third or fourth place in tonight’s voting. If they still eliminate a boy and a girl though, that would still mean a good-by.
I still place Melanie over Sasha, because I don’t think there is anything Melanie can’t do. Halfway through her solo my wife said she’s added some hip-hop – and she had. I don’t think the judges have been easy on her as much as just recognizing the skill set she’s bringing every week. And her acting (like with Tadd) is remarkable. I think she brings more to all the different genres than any of the girl dancers have in a while. (And one of the best at that was Jeanette from Season 5, one of tonight’s all stars.)
Melanie has been my solid favorite throughout the competition, and Marko is a close second. Sasha and Tadd really won me over during the course of the season, but I have never really connected with Caitlynn or Ricky for reasons I can’t explain — they’re pretty and flashy and they have some amazing moves, but neither takes my breath away the way the other four do on a consistent basis.
Shout-out to Michelle Kwan in the audience tonight (visible after Melanie and Tadd’s Broadway number)! All hail the Kween!
Love your site, especially the music listings. I’ve discovered so much great new music via this show and you help me track it down!
My husband and I had a throw-down over Sasha and Melanie last night, lol. I’m blaming the pregnancy hormones, but whatever. 🙂
No, but we were talking about the word “better” and what that means in dance–and Christina Applegate explained my feelings so well…loved that she called out the develope’s etc. and how dance is more than technical stuff. Sasha–from her first tryout dance–has touched me in everything she’s done. I respond better to her and her style. Melanie is brilliant, no doubt, but I just react better to Sasha and her dances.
Not that I’d be upset if Melanie won it all–I’d give her full props–but it’s just personal preference.
I don’t tend to react as well to Marko here as everyone else does either and I love Rickey and Tadd. But I think your top 4 is a likely outcome. Caitlynn is beautiful and she had the best spot of the night with the final dance–but she doesn’t have the strength behind her dancing that the other two girls have.
I wish they’d do three girls and one boy in the finale, but I’m guessing that won’t happen…
Why is no one raving about Caitlynn? 🙁 Honestly I find her the most challenged and done the best of what she had. I am not as convinced by the other two girls about their ability to adapt to other styles simply because the “other” styles thrown at them were quite similar to their own styles and personality. It seems quite obvious that Melanie and Sasha will be in the finale, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed about Caitlynn because she definitely deserves to be there. 😀
Caitlynn has been a bit more outof her element – she has had 4 ballroom numbers this season compared to only 2 for each of the two other girls. And she has had 2 contemporary and 3 jazz, compared to 3/3 for Melanie and 3/2 for Sasha. So a bit more balroom, but only really 1 more dance out of her “comfort zone” than the other two.
Last night was the first “showcase” number it seems like she has gotten, though. I hope it keeps her around.
My ideal top 4 would be Melanie, Marko, Tadd, and Caitlynn. Like I said last week, I loved Sasha when she auditioned with Natalia. They are phenomenal together. But her pairing with Alexander brought her down in the first half of the season and they praised her so much for carrying him, basically. And since then, she just seems arrogant. She got entirely too much praise and now I’m just over her. Not to mention the crying bit last night. I don’t know what’s gone on in her life, but it just seemed forced and really made me mad like she was reaching for votes. She doesn’t need to. She’s got a huge fan base already.
Melanie can do no wrong. I picked her from the beginning. Her audition was flawless and her solo last night showed SO much growth.
Caitlynn has been a dark horse for me. She’s really cute and bubbly and she’s a gorgeous dancer. She and Pasha together? Make me melt.
I love Marko. I love Tadd. I love Ricky. They’re all great, but Marko and Tadd are just notches above Ricky. As much as I loved Ryan, I think she held Ricky back in the first half of the season and now Ricky is just skating through based on his (awesome) solos.
this site is awesome because it reminds me just how unique everyone’s perspectives can be. I’ve never sensed even the smalled hint of arrogance with Sasha. She’s seemed so real and genuine to me throughout the competition. And although I have no qualms against Melanie’s personality at all, I think that the judges giving her nothing but praise all season has been frustrating for me. She has done really well, but hasn’t been perfect.
Caitlynn is a sweet girl with a lot of talent, but she isn’t anywhere near the ability of the other two girls, imo.
🙂 Interesting. If Sasha leaves tonight I will be crushed, though, I’ll tell you that much.
I did want to post this for those who were saying that Sasha took both of gaga’s boots and left Mel with nothing, though. 🙂
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=154162411325590&set=o.228385150510408&type=1&theater
Notice how both are autographed–one to each girl. lol
@Lee: I also really liked that Melanie was trying to so some diversity and growth in her solo. I think she’s aware of the critique that she might not’ve been challenged enough and she’s trying to challenge herself. I can appreciate that.
@Liz: Awww, thanks! I’m glad you like the site and we help you find music. I agree with you – I “discover” more music from SYTYCD than I do from a show about music like AI.
@beth: Love that you and your husband watch together and are having “throw downs” over the dancers. Even if I do agree more with your husband… By the way, does your husband comment on the site?
@buggy, Kevin and Frances: I love Caitlynn! Thanks for your comments. I hope they drop the even girl-guy thing (especially since last season was so stacked against the girls) and just let our votes for the best dancer count, regardless of gender.
@beth again: I love that about our community, too. We all see such different things and that I get to (sorta) see things through other people’s eyes, sometimes drastically different versions than what I’m seeing. Thanks for posting the picture! That’s really cool.
My ideal top 4 is Marko, Ricky, Melanie and a coin flip deciding between Caitlynn and Sasha (I can’t choose). Melanie and Marko has been excellent all season, although both faltered last night (I wasn’t impressed with Melanie’s hip-hop or Marko’s paso, but their second routines made up for it). Ricky had a tough road this season with his partnership with Ryan being the source of much of it. That he’s made it this far and has been proving with other partners his ability (I really liked his piece with Jamie) I think shows he should be in teh final. Sasha was inconsistent in the first half of the season with her partnership with Alexander holding her back much like Ricky with Ryan. I haven’t personally connected with Sasha as much as I feel I should. Caitlynn has been in several excellent routines, but she’s more forgettable than the other two girls, so it’s hard for me to choose the final person.
I’m probably the only person here that doesn’t think Tadd should be in the final. I think he peaked already with this week not showing me anything new from him and I’m over his solos since they’re all similar to each other. If anyone thinks I’m being unfair to Tadd, I can try to explain in detail why I feel this way, but for now I’ll leave it at that.
I’m assuming this week the judges won’t be deciding the top 4 and it will be based on votes. Going with that, throughout the show I was convinced that Marko was going to be surprise eliminated since the Paso wasn’t as exciting. But then Ricky got the waacking routine and Marko had that excellent closing routine, so he’ll probably be safe. It’s likely that Ricky and Caitlynn are going home. But we may have an upset and a surprise tonight in the girls, since Caitlynn had two well received routines and Melanie and Sasha each had a mediocre one. We shall see.
first of all, melanie is incredible. i’m re-watching her audition now and she has NOT lost her touch. i will be VERY disappointed if she does not make it through.
the obvious three are sasha, melanie and marko. i hope they do 3 girls, 1 guy, but, i’m not sure how they’re going to do it.
ricky is a very willowy-type dancer. i love the flexibility of his back and shoulders when he dances, but i agree that it’s his time to go.
BUT tadd is driving me nuts. he thinks he’s all that and his solo was very weak compared to everyone else’s. he just takes himself for the world, and all you need to do is look at his solo to prove it.
however, i don’t see sasha’s arrogance at all. but will def look for it in tonight’s episode.
BEST ROUTINES OF THE SEASON; in no particular order, but misty blue was probably the best 🙂
Turn to Stone (Contemp) Mel & Marko
Misty Blue (HipHop) Sasha & tWitch
Please, Mr Jailer (Broadway) Ashley & Chris
Fly Me to the Moon (Foxtrot) Clarice & Jess
I Got You (HipHop) Mel & Marko
To Love You More (Contemp) Caitlynn & Mitchell
Malajunta (ARG Tango) Caitlynn & Pasha
Total Eclipse of the Heart (Contemp) Mel & Neil
Game On (Jazz) Melanie & Sasha
Nutbush City Limits (Jazz) Jordan & Ade
Heavy in Your Arms (LY Jazz) Marko & Caitlynn
Broadway Mel & Tadd
Fool Of Me (Contemp) Sasha & Kent
please comment on my list 🙂
I agree with James. Although I think Tadd is adorable and ridiculously humble and genuine, I just don’t think he is better than Marko and Ricky. I have had a hard time relating to Sasha week in and week out… meaning there are weeks that I love her and weeks that I don’t really love her. I hate that her solos are so frantic and feel rushed. I want her to slow down and dance! I love Caitlynn & Melanie. I really think that Caitlynn has grown, but I have a feeling she’ll be sent home tonight. But at this point they are all awesome and I just can’t wait to see more routines!
@maddy, that’s a great list!! and I think you’re spot on with a lot of them. I wonder, though, if the judges will want to liven up the mood, so to speak, bc all the #s you mentioned are pretty intense powerful pieces. Pieces that come to mind: Jordan and Tadd’s Afro Jazz (btw, how have we only had ONE afro jazz routine this season?!! I miss seeing Sean Cheesman!) Clarice and Robert’s Bollywood, and possibly Jordan and Tadd’s accidental hook up hip hop…after that, though, not a lot of stellar light-hearted routines this season!
i’m thinking they MAY also stick in one of the group routines from the top 20 intro show, my best guess would either be Stacey’s piece for Ricky, Miranda, Sasha, and Melanie or Dave Scott’s hip hop # with Tadd, Wadi, Robert and Chris. I really don’t know, though.