Season 8 Final Performance Power Rankings and Poll
This is both the easiest and the hardest Power Rankings post I’ve done all season. I’m going to break it down in rounds (solos, All-Stars, contestant).
Round One (Solos)
1. Sasha – While hers and Melanie’s solos were neck and neck, I’m giving this round’s top spot to Sasha because hers was later in the episode.
2. Melanie – As I said, she and Sasha were neck and neck with the strongest solos, but hers was just a bit earlier in the episode and that’s the only reason I’m putting her in second place.
3. Tadd – He uses cool music and a lot of personality and had a cute near run-in with the audience.
4. Marko – His solos are strong, but they use slow music that always sounds the same. His solos never really stand apart for me.
Round Two (All-Star routines)
1. Melanie – Her Stacey Tookey with Robert was a bit later than Sasha/Mark and it was really strong. I thought the choreo was a bit confusing, but Melanie and Robert definitely had a connection.
2. Sasha – Her Sonya Tayeh routine with Mark was probably a bit stronger than Melanie/Robert, but since it was the second routine of the night, I’m putting it in second place.
3. Marko – His Tessandra Chavez routine with LoFro was really, really good and the last of the All-Star routines, but I think the girls have the edge on him because LoFro outdanced him just a bit. Just a bit!
4. Tadd – His Lil C hip hop with Joshua was a bit out of sync and boring. Plus, it was the third routine of the night, so that probably won’t do him any favors.
Round Three (Top 4 partners)
1.Melanie – She and Sasha each had one bad routine, one ok routine and one great routine, but I give Melanie the edge because her worst routine was her first of the night (Disco with Marko). Her okay routine (Broadway with Tadd) was in the middle and her great routine (contemporary with Sasha) was her last routine.
2. Sasha – Her okay routine (Broadway with Marko) was better than Melanie’s okay (also Broadway), but it was her first routine, whereas her worst routine (cha cha with Tadd) was middle. She also ended on a high note (contemporary with Melanie), which makes this kinda hard.
3. Marko – He and Tadd both had their worst routine together and smack dab at the end of the episode. They also both had bad routines with their Top 4 partners, but Marko’s worst was the first routine of the night. His okay Broadway was earlier in the episode, but it was better and suited him just a bit better.
4. Tadd – When he was bad tonight, he was really bad. Horrible cha cha with Sasha, alright Broadway with Melanie and then awful stepping routine with Marko. He was in two of the worst routines of the night. Not so hot.
Final Predictions
Winner: Melanie – She’s been slightly ahead of Sasha in popularity all season, at least according to our poll) and was just slightly ahead of Sasha tonight. Her biggest disadvantage is that she hasn’t been out of her style as much as the others and how gross the judge’s favoritism has been all season (not that that’s her fault).
Runner-up: Sasha – It could go either way between the girls, honestly. Her edge is that she overcame a bum partnership to get this far and while she’s always been a great dancer, she’s developed some soft femininity (with the right partners, Twitch, Kent, Mark), she’s stayed fierce.
3rd place: Marko – He’s been more popular than Sasha all season according to our polls, but I think Sasha has edge him out in ability and fight. Especially tonight.
4th place: Tadd – He’s the least popular of the Top 4 (according to our polls) and he was in 2 of the worst routines tonight.
I hope you’ll let me know if you agree or disagree in the comments. How do you think this will go?
And now for your poll (I think I got every possible variation, to be fair):
You were harsher on Marko’s routines and solo that I was (I thought his solo was the best of the 4 tonight), but I can’t disagree too much with the final order. I didn’t care for either of the same-sex partnerings very much, but ending the final performance night with that stepping routine was a lousy way to send off the season. The choreo was fairly boring, the style is one we aren’t used to seeing, and both guys looked too exhausted to give ii the energy it needed.
@Kevin: Good point about the final number.
@everyone: I haven’t been able to vote yet – can’t sign into Facebook. I didn’t write down the voting numbers, but judging by the solo order, they’re probably:
Melanie: 1-888-TEMPO-01
Marko: 1-888-TEMPO-02
Tadd: 1-888-TEMPO-03
Sasha: 1-888-TEMPO-04
Has anybody been able to vote on the website using Facebook?
I was REALLY disappointed with Mark Ballas’s number, I know it came from a place of wanting to challenge Sasha and Tadd but it totally fell apart. SYTYCD viewers are way different than DWTS viewers, we watch week after week because we connect with these talented dancers and we want to see them succeed and grow, and most of the choreographers know that and create pieces that help that along. Mark’s piece just felt very out of place, and I feel badly for Tadd and Sasha that they were saddled with it.
I totally disagreed with Nigel about Marko in his piece with Sasha, I thought he brought tons of character, we just couldn’t see it on the TV because there weren’t enough close ups!! I also think he sold it in his body, the “not quite sure of himself but boy is this woman beautiful oh gosh” schtick.
I think I’ve said this before, but I think the dancers have been let down by the choreography more and more as the season has progressed. Thank goodness that wasn’t the case with Tadd and Lauren’s number. Tessandra Chavez, I’m so glad she’s back! I loved how the music wasn’t a big sweeping number with crescendos, the evenness of the music helped keep the focus on the dancing, and the dancing was so poetic and strong and honest. I really appreciated everything that Lauren and Marko gave to that number, it was the first time in a while that I BELIEVED a number from beginning to end.
What a lackluster finale. From Lil C’s boring hiphop to Mark Ballas’s “ambitious” (difficult to watch) cha cha. There wasn’t even a single group number like past seasons. These dancers are WELL SPENT. I would have rather seen another cool bollywood routine over the only disco of the season which was just okay. Sorry, Jeanette and Brandon’s disco is still the big poo. A Samba or Argentine Tango would have probably been a lot more enjoyable from Tadd and Sasha. (Stupid hypothetical hat)
AANNDD…I KNOW…after Melanie and Sasha’s duet and the mic went to Katie Holmes you all were thinking she was gonna say, “…Story of my life.” HAHAHA…you know it’s funny.
If Melanie wins it will be the first time in SYTYCD (US) history that the clear obvious favorite from the start of the Top 20 wins the competition. I LOVE SEASON 8. I would not be surprised if Tadd and Marko are the top 2 left standing after Nigel’s final comment of a girl winning this season. If there is something America loves to do is to prove Lythgoe wrong. Good Luck final four it has been AMAZING. See you on the tour.
@Alo, I agree with you about Nigel’s comment coming back to bite him, it always does. Sometimes I think he doesn’t have a filter between what he thinks and what he says, he’s going to have a LOT of angry Marko/Tadd fans voting double time for their boys, and that could spoil the party for Sasha or Melanie. If I had to pick one, my money is on it spoiling for Sasha, but that’s just me.
Did anybody else feel that Nigel (being the executive producer and thus has the final say on what goes on with the show) basically SCREWED the BOYS over by giving them some kfjadfjkahflkjdh whatthefuck choreographerdancewtf while the girls were essentially in their own styles for the end of the show dances?
I mean, I think the girls are the stronger dancers of the show…but still, it felt quite unfair to BLATANTLY let the boys NOT SHINE tonight.
Honestly this whole season has been a huge WTF!!!!! moment for me. From the forgettable routines to the obvious favortism, changes in format and the honestly boring dancers.
I agree, this season has been a WTF moment. The worst season in my opinion.
@Karina – exactly. And they rehearse these ahead of time so they knew it was a train wreck. And instead of letting them end the show with a good number (for Marko, anything else he danced) they put that pile of junk at the end. Blech.
I don’t know if it was 4 routines learned in a week, but this was disappointing. Give me 3 good over 4 bad routines.
Nigel’s comments are often in-appropriate, tonight’s ending was no exception. He can give good critical feedback to the dancers, and have a positive impact on their growth, but for that one I agree with @Margaret that he had no filter.
Speaking of positive critical feedback – Katie Holmes was a waste of a guest judges chair with not a single important comment put forth… on the other hand, Kenny Ortega did a great job, especially when he encouraged the dancers to forget about the one bad dance and just turn around and WOW! us.
The good thing Kenny Ortega did was to point out what a bad idea it is to pack the finale with so many routines. Then he lost his credibility by talking about the Dirty Dancing remake. 😛
The good thing about Katie Holmes… wait a minute, I’m sure I can think of something… nope, still coming up blank…
Nigel called the cha cha “too ambitious”.
WTF!?
wasn’t last night the finale?
HE picked those 4 to be there, so one would assume they could handle it.
last night, we found the similar contemp. pieces depressing/boring/recycled themes.
where were the fun pieces/dancers? we needed some excitement and personality.
Nigel manipulated this season so much and it showed in the lackluster finale.
@ Margaret
Do I ever agree with you about the difference between DWTS and SYTYCD! Mark could have danced the routine he devised with Chelsie Kane, Nicole S, Erin Andrews, Jennifer Grey etc. towards the end of their runs on DWTS and it would probably have wowed the crowd, but they do only Ballroom on DWTS, except for maybe one freestyle contemporary number towards the end of the season. The contestants on SYTYCD learn to be good across the genres, but there is a limit when you’re trying to cram four routines into one show for each dancer.
And since we had Disco and “Gumshoe stepping “(?) in the finale, why not throw in Bollywood, African jazz, Whacking, and a Russian Cossack dance? Then everybody can have one off the wall routine. As it is, the luck of the draw (if there really is a draw) can really hurt a contestant – look at poor Marko with two of the problem routines.
I agree that this season has been my least favorite so far, and I’ve watched since the premier of Season 1. Last night I actually found myself switching channels which is normally unheard of for me during SYTYCD – pretty bad for a finale that should have you on the edge of your seat.
With few exceptions, the choreography has been a particular letdown for me this season. I don’t mind experimental stuff but when you use the choreographers too much, it does seem like they burn out & just throw stuff together, and that never works out well.
I definitely agree that last night it seemed like the guys were set up for a fall with that awful last number. Bleh!
If not for the pleasure of seeing the All-Stars, I think I would have skipped out on a few shows this season – completely unheard of for me!
I watch SYTYCD because I enjoy watching dance and like learning about other styles. I watch DWTS for the exact same reasons.
My favorite routine was Sasha/Melanie. I also loved Marko in the Sasha/Marko broadway routine. He definitely captured the slapstick comedy, which I didn’t expect from him.
I appreciated Mary’s honest comments that the disco was lacking. I didn’t think Katie Holmes added anything to the show. I liked Kenny Ortega and Nigel was the usual Nigel.
I think disco, stepping and cha-cha tied for the worst routines of the night. All four contestants had solid solo performances and All-Star performances. Although I thought Sasha and Melanie matched their All-Stars in performance strength and Marco and Tadd were not quite as strong as their All-Stars.
I’m glad the criteria for the winner is “America’s Favorite Dancer” because I thought all four did a great job with the material they were given. My favorite happens to be Sasha but I’m fine with any of them winning.
I would have just wanted, (once, just once!) to see the softer side of Sasha. I want her to be as diverse as previous winners, but it seems like the coreographers just keep play her “warrier princess” persona. I want SOFT! Love her though.
Agree with everyone about the sucky finale, worst season EVER!
Also-enough of the crying! Way too many boohoo moments meant to manipulate. I’m all for an emotional piece, but I find it hard to believe they are all that AFFECTED by it each and every time.
I seem to be in the minority but to me this was the best season so far! I enjoyed watching almost all of the dancers – I rarely have more than 1 favourite, but this year I had 4 of which 3 are in the final! True almost all of the routines last night were sub par – but that was the producers fault in picking those styles and the choreographers for coming up with those routines. Add in Katie Holmes as a judge and your mind automatically goes WTF? But overall I think if you do comparison of how many AWESOME routines there were this season to any other, then this season starts to look pretty darn good! I think the problem is, when you have a high number of dancers that are as good as this season’s crop is, you almost forget how hard some of the routines really are. What we really need is a season of ALL “All-Stars”. A “we know you can dance, now let’s see who among you is a superstar”. Now THAT would be some good tv!
@Lynn: I love that idea. I seriously think FOX/SYTYCD should do another Fall season, but it should be a variety show featuring the All-Stars and great choreo instead of a competition. BUT, I love your idea of who’s the SUPERstar? 🙂
By the way, everybody, as of THIS moment (1 hr before the show begins in Eastern and Central), Melanie has 65.77% of the vote for #1, Sasha has 22% of the vote, Marko has 8.23% and Tadd has a 4% vote for #1.
I thought this was the most talented season by far, and had some of my most favorite routines. Sasha has been my favorite dancer…potentially of any season (which is saying a lot because I’ve been watching since day 1 and still think about my favorites quite a bit).
But with that said, the finale sucked patootie. Really. Ballas was his normal atrocious self and made the choreo all about him. Grr.
I know Melanie will win, but really I don’t want her to. Mostly to spite the judges and their obvious favoritism. lol
@ iluvpasha/anya -for the top 6 and top 4, Nigel actuall said later that he ADHERED WITH THE VOTES. So America chose their top 6 and 4 themselves.
This wasn’t a great season, but I didn’t like season 7 because there were too few dancers, and I prefer watching chemistry develop between the various partnerships for the first 5 weeks. Also, for me the choreography wasn’t that hot (I can’t remember many of them aside from obvious faves without youtube but I remember season 2/3/4 easily) and the All-Stars outdanced many of the contestants.
This is the first finale I wasn’t completely glued to my tv for too- and I been watchin live since season 2 (and I youtubed all of season 1). I also think despite everything, Melanie probably may win anyways.
@Leigh, I know what you mean, but my main personal difference is that we are already familiar (or at least somewhat familiar) with the “celebrities” on DWTS. With SYTYCD, there are always a few who slip into the top 20 w/o a lot of airtime then we get to watch their journeys and growth on the show (the one that pops into my head right away is Jeanine, she had almost no airtime during auditions/Vegas)
@Margaret, you’re completely right about what nigel said to marko about his characterization in the broadway number with sasha. was he even there???
really miss season 7. billy, lauren, kent, robert, adéchiké- all INCREDIBLE INCREDIBLE INCREDIBLE dancers with amazing choreography. they should have thrown in a couple of all-stars dances, like the ‘collide’ dance with kent and lauren they did last (?) week.
@lynn, it’s gumboot stepping, i think 😀
my favourite performances were melanie/robert and marko/lauren. sasha and mark’s was good too.
tadd. i completely understand that he never has his own style, but i thought the hiphop with joshua was horrible, out of sync and felt slow and molasses-y, but i still think he out-danced joshua by a long shot.
horrible dance with sasha.
the gumboot stepping required way to much energy for the last piece of the season. marko and tadd were exhausted, and they gave it their all, but it was a very flat way to end season 7.
i hope melanie will win. she’s incredible, flexible, good at everything, and seems very down-to-earth and genuine. (to me, tadd is the complete opposite. and who made that keep-your-shirt-off-tadd website? ew!)
did i mention i miss season 7?
oh, but tonight will still be incredible. what dances do you think will make it into the finale? here’s my wishlist-
– Misty Blue
– Turn to Stone
– I Got You
– Fly Me to the Moon
– Melanie and Neil’s contemp
@maddy: 4/5 is not bad. 🙂