On last week's episode of the Fresh Meat Challenge, we saw one team go down with injuries, Evan and Coral. Evan had suffered an injury early on in the season. Even with the hernia, he is determined to stay in the competition. Coral popped her knee out, but she is also determined to continue on as well. She returns to the house after he knee is popped back in, but she is in on crutches. Will these two be allowed to continue on in the competition? They want to, but will they be able to?
The next morning we see some of the newer additions to challenge play discuss the game and how it is progressing. As things go on, we see the teams head off to compete. However, before they do we get a shocking announcement by host T.J. Lavin. Coral and Evan are being told they are no longer allowed to compete. Their injuries are just to great for them to do so. This shocks everyone, including Evan and Coral. This team leaving opens up things wide open as far as this competition goes. Anyone can win now. Coral and Evan were in the lead and the top team there. Nothing changes in the competition, except for the number of teams going into the final competition. Instead of four, we will see three. All three teams will see money made.
Today's mission is called Batten down the hatches. The two have to climb down ladders, somehow trade with their partner and then climb back their partner's ladder and go back to the point they started. The first team up is Wes and Casey, and they are eliminated. Tina and Kenny are next, and they successfully complete the mission. After these two go we see some discussion between Tina and Wes about getting some teams into exile other than them, we see the challenge continue. However, in a shocker Derrick and Diem have the lowest time and win the challenge. This means they get to choose who goes into exile this time around.
Derrick decides to go with a strategic move, and he talks Diem into selecting Shane and Linette to go into exile. Diem and Linnette are friends, and the decision hurts and angers Linnette. Everyone is shocked to see these two go in. Now who will meet them in exile? Wes wants everyone to join him in voting for Theo and his partner.
However, this plan backfires. After Darrell votes Wes and Casey in, he goes ahead and votes Tina and Kenny in, against their plan. Tina and Kenny return the favor. Theo and his partner also vote for Wes and Casey. This means we will see Wes and Casey go against Shane and Linette in exile. That is unless one of the teams can win the next challenge. We'll have to wait and see what happens next week!
Fresh Meat Challenge: Episode 10
Movie Review: Miami Vice
NOTE: Contains spoilers.
This weekend, Michael Mann brought Miami Vice to the big screen. The movie based loosely on the characters he made famous in the late 80s television series of the same name come to vivid life and we're jumped right into the thick of things the moment the film starts as Colin Farrell's, Sonny Crockett, fills the screen and Numb/Encore begins to play. This movie may be nothing like the television series it is trying to portray. The only similarity to that long gone show and this movie today is the name of the main characters.
However, as I sat in the movie theater watching the movie, I realized the movie of today couldn't really stay true to the series of yesterday. I was a fan of the series. I was nine when it came out, and I watched it each and every week. I fell in love with Don Johnson's sockless loafers and pastels. It worked back then. It's only been twenty years, but times are drastically different than were then. The criminals are smarter. Technology is different. Everything has changed, and this movie had to recognize that. The characters may be the same, but the time certainly isn't.
In this film, we see our undercover cops start out the night on one case, and end up doing something else when a deal goes bad and one of their past informants gets outed. In the process the man loses his family and then takes his own life. Sonny and Rico soon learn that there is a leak somewhere between the FBI, DEA and various other agencies involved. However, Miami P.D. isn't in the mix, so this frees the two to go in undercover.
Their mission is to find the leak and take down those involved. Their first target being Jose Yero. However, upon their first meeting Sonny and Rico realize there is more than just Yero involved. He is merely a middle man working with a much larger fish. This changes things, and Sonny in his mind changes the mission. He escalates the stakes and he puts his eye on an even larger prize, Isabella, the woman attached to the operation and the man he is after. The two quickly heat up, but both know that nothing will ever happen passed the moments they are allowed to share. She belongs to someone else. Sonny does use their relationship to successfully raise the stakes though.
As things continue on, we discover the leak, see one of their own taken hostage by the group responsible for the original killings. The team has to go in to save their fellow officer, and then they need to take down Yero and those responsible. We find out Yero is actually behind the killings as well and in contact with the leak. By the end, Isabella finds the man she had been falling for is a cop, and Sonny goes against everything to get her out of the life she has lived and not arrested like she should be. They both knew they could never last, and that becomes even more clear once he is exposed for what he is.
The movie itself was action filled, but it also had its moments where things slowed down considerably. Almost too slow in parts in fact. The romance between Sonny and Isabella was done well, and I think I enjoyed their scenes in Cuba the most. Some scenes had me scratching my head, but all in all it was a good movie. It didn't stay true to the series, but as I explained earlier it really couldn't. As a fan of the series, I didn't feel let down by the differences. In fact I enjoyed this movie for what it was, a re-make for a series I totally enjoyed. Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx slip in believably to the characters of the two undercover cops, and they bring their own style to it. Colin Farrell may not be Don Johnson, but he does well here. I'd recommend checking out the movie if you can in theaters or when it is released on DVD.
So You Think You Can Dance: The Top Eight Eliminations
Last night on So You Think You Can Dance we saw the top eight dancers perform for America's vote. America sure did vote last night breaking a past record with ten million casts. We have three weeks to go to find out who America's favorite dancer is, but tonight we get to see two more go home before we're down to our top six. Busta Rhymes also appears on tonight's show. Our three judges are back from last night as well - Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy and Dan Karaty.
However, before we get started tonight the show is opened with a performance by the eight left at this point. They perform a Broadway performance put together by Tyce Diorio. Then, Cat Deeley talks to our judges to find out what they are thinking. Mary Murphy talks about Ivan's performance throughout the season, while Nigel focuses on the popularity of the show. Dan talks about the difficulty of this competition for the dancers. Once the judges have spoken, we take a look back at last night's performances and some behind the scenes footage.
After a commercial break we see our first two girls go up on stage. Natalie is sent to the bottom two, and Donyelle is safe. We then see Heidi and Allison brought up on stage. Out of these two, Heidi is safe and Allison joins Natalie in the bottom two. Both are amazing, and either one of them going home would be upsetting. Next up, we see the men come up, and we learn that Ryan and Travis are in the bottom two. I predicted this last night. After a commercial break, we see our four dance one more time, even if the dance itself won't change the final result of who is going home.
All four of these dancers are just amazing. Based on past performances, I think Travis should continue on and Ryan should go home. As for Natalie and Allison, I don't think either of them should be going home tonight. Based on last night's performance, I think Donyelle should be standing there in place of one of them. Allison and Natalie are two of my favorites on the show, and I'd be sad to see them go.
However, we're down to the wire, so anyone at this point can go home. After the performance by Busta, we see Allison sent home. She is amazing, and I'm sure she'll go far as a dancer. After seeing her dance one more time and a commercial break, we see Ryan and Travis come up on stage, and Ryan is quickly sent home. After last night's performance and past performances, I knew we'd see him go next tonight. Next week, we'll see the top six perform for America's vote!
Check below for the songs used on tonight's show.
Group: Cell Block Tango - Chicago 
Natalie: Veins - Charlotte Martin
Ryan: Just Fine - Chris Brown
Allison: Feeling Good Michael Buble
Travis: Gotta Get Through This - Daniel Bedingfield
Performance: I Love My Bitch - Busta Rhymes
Girls elimination song: Suddenly I See K.T. Tunstall
Boys Elimination song: The End of the Road - Matt Goss
So You Think You Can Dance: The Top Eight Perform
Tonight we see the top eight dancers left in the competition dance for America's vote in an action packed hour long episode of So You Think You Can Dance. Just this week it was announced that the finale of this competition would air in two parts on August 9th and 16th, but we're not at the end yet. We have four more dancers we need to eliminate before we hit the finale. Tonight's show will be like last weeks. Each dancer will be performing twice with a partner. Tonight's judges are Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy and Dan Karaty.
This week, the first to hit the stage is Donyelle, and she chooses Travis as her partner. For their styles they pick hip hop and quick step. For hip hop, they work with Shayne Sparks, and they do a different kind of dance in which they wear masks. The judges all comment on how the masks distract and make their dance stand out. However, the masks probably hurt them here. After a commercial break, we see Allison pick her partner out of a hat. This week that pair picks hip hop and Argentine tango to perform. First up is there tango choreographed by Alex Da Silva. These two have danced a tango before, and this time around they did okay. Nigel says Ivan does a good job.
Natalie is up next, and for her partner she picks Ryan out of the hat. For their styles, they pick contemporary and disco. Their disco routine is up first, and for this they work with Doriana Sanchez. When they take the stage, they start out great but something about the last few seconds bothered me. Ryan definitely didn't do much for either. He stayed around another week, and after seeing this performance I wanted Dimitry back. Natalie is once again amazing, but there is no chemistry between this couple. I hope Natalie isn't hurt by her partner here this week. Last up for the first round is Heidi and out of the hat she picks her cousin Benji. For their styles, they pick mambo and Broadway. First up is their Broadway routine and they work with Tyce Diorio. These two haven't danced together since their Las Vegas auditions. These two together are just amazing on stage. They are both talented, and together that talent just shines through so easily.
After a commercial break, we see our dancers start again. Donyelle and Travis work with Glenn Weiss on a quickstep routine. When they take the stage, I enjoy the two, but the judges are really harsh with these two this week. Nigel compares Travis to the gingerbread man from Shrek, and the other judges are just as bad. We might see one of these two go home this week. Next up is Allison and Ivan with a hip hop routine with Shayne Sparks. I really like their routine. It was a softer hip hop routine, and the judges compliment it. I see these two continuing on.
Natalie and Ryan are up next with a contemporary routine by Tyce Diorio. This time around Ryan shows America why he stayed on to this week. The judges have nothing but good things to say about this performance. The last dance of the night is a mambo routine by Alex Da Silva performed by Heidi and Benji. What a way to end the night. These two are just phenomenal together and apart. If they don't continue on. I would be shocked beyond belief. The judges call these two the best dance of the night.
The only problem I have with tonight's show is the lack of solo performances like we had last week. Last week, such a big deal was made about needing the solo performances to help America choose their favorite dancer, and this week all we have is partner dancing. No solo routines to speak of. How can America pick their favorites with no solo performances? This week I think we're in danger of seeing Ryan or Travis going home. The women stepped it up, but I think we might see Donyelle go home this week. We'll find out tomorrow night who America sends home!
Check below for the songs used on tonight's show.
Donyelle/Travis: London Bridge - Fergie
Allison/Ivan: La Cumparsita - Orquestra Esquela de Tango
Natalie/Ryan: Turn the beat around - Vicki Sue Robinson
Benji/Heidi: Fake Your Way To The Top - Dreamgirls
Donyelle/Travis: Dancin' Fool - Barry Manilow
Allison/Ivan: Sexy Love - Ne-Yo
Natalie/Ryan: I Will Get There - Boyz II Men
Benji/Heidi: Black Mambo - Angel & The Mambokats
Fresh Meat Challenge Episode 9
On last week's Fresh Meat Challenge, we saw Wes and Casey not voted into exile for the first time in this competition. Going into exile this week will be Katie and Eric and Kenny and Tina. The only way to avoid exile is to win this week's challenge. In a shocking development, Kenny even votes for him and Tina to go into exile. This sets Tina off, but his logic is no matter if he voted for Wes and Casey it wouldn't have mattered anyway because they were still going to go into exile. Wes is fully aware that if one of the couples wins a pardon, they will be back in exile.
This week, we see some partying the night before and some collaboration between Katie and Eric with Wes. He decides to go to that couple and tell them just what to expect in exile. He wants them to win exile and send Tina and Kenny home. With Katie and Eric coming back, the two with Wes and Casey will definitely have an edge on the competition. Wes is now wanting to rid the competition of the best teams.
That days challenge is called Human Ox Pull. The challenge consists of the teams of pulling a huge sled of hay one hundred meters. Each sled holds eight hundred and pounds. This will definitely be difficult, and you have to wonder how Evan will do with his hernia injury. The teams are then divided into two larger teams for the first part of the challenge. Those two teams will each pull their own sled of hay. The two teams are neck and neck by midway through the first heat. However, Theo and Chondra's team pulls it out. Shane and Linnette's team comes in second. Evan also appears to have injured himself. Not only that, but Coral has dislocated her knee in the process. Both are going to the hospital. Coral doesn't even have any idea that Evan is injured.
The next part of the mission consists of the pairs pulling an empty sled. The person with the lowest time win the challenge, and Tina and Kenny are still in it. Kenny pretty much states if they get pardoned he will vote Casey and Wes into exile for telling Katie and Eric all about it. However, Darrell and Aviv win this challenge. This means Katie and Eric and Tina and Kenny are definitely heading to exile. As for Evan and Coral at the hospital, Evan is told by a doctor that the game for him is over, but whether or not Evan will listen is another story.
In exile, Katie and Eric have 216 pounds to carry and Tina and Kenny have 164 pounds to carry. Tina and Kenny get a bit of a head start on the other pair. Even with Katie and Eric having more to carry, Tina complains constantly about the weight she is carrying. They reach the first puzzle and drop their bags. Even with Kenny having to go back to get their flags, the two are able to pull out a wind. These are all the first set of couples to solve both puzzles. Tina and Kenny get to return to the house, and Katie and Eric are set to go home.
Back at the house, Wes is both shocked and sad to see his plan foiled. Coral is still injured, and she is sent to another hospital. She is still determined to stay in the game, as is Evan. However, will they to be forced to leave the competition by the powers to be? We will have to wait and see next week.
Getting Ready For Fall!
Premiere dates have begun being announced in the last few weeks for the networks. The only network yet to announce its premiere dates for the Fall 2006 television is CBS. That is still a week or two away. If you had been following my entertainment news blog over at Media Village, Thoughts From The Couch, you might have caught these dates already. If you didn't, here the links to them below!
NBC Fall Premiere Dates
ABC Fall Premiere Dates
The CW Fall Premiere Dates
Fox Fall Premiere Dates
CBS has yet to announce premiere dates for its network.
So what series am I thinking about covering when fall hits? This is a tentative schedule as of now. These might change.
Monday Night: Vanished (August 21st) - possibly Heroes (September 25th)
Tuesday Night: Dancing With The Stars (September 12th), American Idol (January)
Wednesday Night: Dancing With The Stars (results), Bones (August 30th), Lost (October 4th) - possibly Daybreak (November 15th), American Idol (January)
Thursday Night: Grey's Anatomy (September 21st), ER (September 21st), Supernatural (September 28th) - possibly The O.C. (November 2nd)
Sunday Night: The L Word (Spring 2007)
Other possibilities are Ugly Betty, Ghost Whisperer and Brothers & Sisters. As for The O.C., I covered season three on this site, and I would love to cover season four. Grey's Anatomy and Supernatural are in the same time slot, and they do premiere first in the season. I am looking for a way to cover all three. My DVR only allows me to watch and record two shows at the same time. I know some let you record two and watch another, but mine doesn't do that. We'll have to see what happens when it gets closer to November 2nd.
So You Think You Can Dance: Top Ten Eliminations
So You Think You Can Dance returns tonight to eliminate two more dancers. America has spoken and one more female and one more male will be going home by the end of tonight's show. Votes were the highest ever for last night's show, as eight million people called in for their favorite dancer. On tonight's show we open with a group performance choreographed by Wade Robson. After reviewing last night's performances and the judges comments we brought the girls up first to find out who is in the bottom two.
First up is Donyelle. She is quickly safe. Martha follows, and she is the first in the bottom two. Nigel had mentioned she might be in danger tonight, and she was.Allison came up next, and she is also safe. This leaves Heidi and Natalie. Who joins Martha in the bottom two? Natalie. This shocks me because she was one of my favorites last night. Her solo was amazing.After a commercial break, the men are brought up to find out who is in the bottom two. The first one up is the first one set for elimination, Ryan. Next up we see Travis, and he is safe. Benji is also safe. This leaves Ivan and Dimitry. Who joins the girls and Ryan in the bottom two? That honor falls to Dimitry. The four will dance again, but the ones eliminated has already been decided by America's vote.
The four then take the stage once again performing their solos from last night once again. This showed us just how amazing our dancers are, and two will be going home. Before we find out who is going home, we have a performance by Chris Brown who got his start as a street dancer. The girls are up first once again, and without much fan fare we see Martha eliminated and then perform one last time. The men are up after a commercial break. Cat brings them up quickly, and we learn that Dimitry is going home. I thought he was one of the better men left in the competition. Seeing him go home is shocking, especially when you look at who he was up against and the comments made about Ryan last night. I think America might have got it very wrong here. What do you think America?
Group: Ramalama (Bang Bang) - Roisin Murphy
Martha: What are you waiting for? - Gwen Stefani
Ryan: Canned Heat - Jamiroquai
Natalie: Lamentation - Leah Andreone
Dimitry: Pump it - The Black Eyed Peas
Performance: Chris Brown - Gimme That
Girls elimination song: Suddenly I See K.T. Tunstall
Boys Elimination song: The End of the Road - Matt Goss
So You ThinkYou Can Dance: The Top Ten Perform
Tonight the competition on So You Think You Can Dance changes up a little as we enter the top ten of the competition. Five couples and ten dancers are all that is left this week, as we saw Ashlee and Musa go home on last week's show. On this week's show, we will see the dancers randomly select partners and styles to dance with. Then they will be dancing with those partners twice and then if that isn't hard enough, they will also dance a solo performance for America. The judges are no longer making the decisions. Who gets eliminated is now up to America's votes. The judges are still there, but only to give feedback. This week's judges are Nigel Lythgoe, Jean Marc Genereux and Cicely and Olisa.
First up tonight is Ivan, and he ends up picking Martha as his partner. As for their first dance, he picks hip hop and this puts them working with Shane Sparks. The routine was great when they hit the stage, but it seemed a bit slow to me. Nigel feels Ivan out danced Martha this week. Hip hoppers Cicely and Olisa have more to say to Martha. They feel she isn't doing her all each week. Donyelle takes the stage next for her solo, and we see her first solo of the competition in her natural element, hip hop, and she is just amazing in her element, and as Nigel says it makes her other performances shine even more. Dimitry's solo comes up next, and he comes out and just dances his heart out. also he finishes with ripping his shirt open. That might grab the votes, especially when it comes the ladies.
The second couple tonight is Travis and his random selection, Heidi. For their style, he picks the paso doble. For this routine, they work with Mary Murphy. Heidi is a ballroom dancer, so this is in her style. These two just heat up the stage. for being their first performance together, the chemistry was there. Unlike the chemistry between the first couple, which was non-existent. Our next couple is Ryan and Allison as he chooses her out of a hat. for their first routine, he has selected contemporary and for this they work with a familiar face, Mia Michaels. During rehearsals, Ryan has a small accident and he hits his nose on his partner's behind. The impact is hard enough to mark her, so it was pretty hard. These two take the stage, and they give their performance one hundred percent, even if the routine was quite strange. Martha is our next solo, and she takes the stage in full dress, and once again she doesn't impress the judges with her performance. She is definitely in the danger zone.
After a commercial break, we see Ivan and his solo. He comes in and does a few tricks, but the judges wanted more out of solo. However, Nigel is still quite impressed with his dancing, and he thinks last week's performance can still save him here. After he leaves the stage we see Dimitry pick Donyelle as a partner, and they will be performing a Lindy Hop choreographed by Nick Williams and Kristin Sorci. Donyelle is Dimitry's fourth partner in this competition. As for the performance, this is the first time that I think Dimitry wasn't let down by his partner. The judges are impressed with the performance, especially in regard to Donyelle.
After a commercial break, we see Donyelle's former partner, Benji pick Natalie for his new partner this week, and for the style he picks jazz. For the routine, they work with Tyce Diorio. Their routine is just amazing, and they do quite well. These two have great chemistry together as well, just like they had with their former partners. Heidi is the next solo act to take the stage, and she definitely impresses the judges. Afterwards, we start seeing the second partner performances. First up is Ivan and Martha, and for this routine, they end up with a smooth waltz. This brings together with choreographers, Michael Mead and Toni Redpath. These two take the stage, and they don't really impress the judges at all. These two might be definitely in danger.
Travis takes the stage for his solo next, and he is just amazing. I definitely see him going on to next week, and he impresses the judges with his performance. Ryan and Allison come up next with a Broadway routine that puts them working with Tyce Diorio. Ryan gets some constructive criticism from the judges, but Allison once again does well. She even loses her hat, and stays in the style of the performance. Without a moment's pause, we bring Natalie on stage for her solo, and she is just amazing. You can see the emotion and passion in her performance as one judge points out. She might be my favorite solo of the night. Benji also has his solo after a commercial break, and he is amazing as well. For someone used to a partner, you don't see it when he is on stage by himself.
Next up is Dimitry and Donyelle. This time around they pick the Samba, and we see a familiar face working with Mary Murphy, Artem from the top ten of season one. Dimitry and Artem seem to hit it off as the Russian connection works. Donyelle has been Dimitry's best partner yet. They are just excellent together on stage. Next up, we see Travis and Heidi for their final performance of the night. They are set for a contemporary routine with Mia Michaels. Heidi has some difficulty with the routine, and she is even moved to tears. When she hits the stage, you see no sign of her difficulties. These two are just amazing, and they impress the judges greatly.
Our next solo of the night is Allison. she is great, but the judges comment on her facial expressions. They are impressed with her as well. For our final couple of the night, we see Natalie and Benji select hip hop, which means Shane Sparks will be working with them. These two are just amazing dancers, and they are amazing as a couple. However, Nigel doesn't like the performance, and the judges have comments too. There is chemistry in this performance. Solo they are fine, but together they weren't. I actually enjoyed the performance, but I'm not a trained dancer. The last performance of the night goes to Ryan, and he definitely impresses the judges with his solo.
So who do I think is going home tomorrow night? As sad it would make me, I think we might see Martha and Ivan going home tonight. They were the least impressive tonight, and at this point in the competition everyone needs to stand up. Who do you think will go home? Find out tomorrow night on So You Think You Can Dance!
Songs used on tonight's show:
Ivan/Martha: Me and U - Cassie
Donyelle: Git it - Bun B feat. The Ying Yang Twins
Dimitry: Pump it - The Black Eyed Peas
Heidi/Travis: Plaza of Execution - The Mask of Zorro Soundtrack
Allison/Ryan: Ethna - Klement Bonelli
Martha: What are you waiting for? - Gwen Stefani
Ivan: This Luv - Donell Jones
Dimitry/Donyell: Sing, Sing Sing - The Swing Kids
Benji/Natalie: Wonderful - India Arie
Heidi: Dum Diddly - The Black Eyed Peas
Ivan/Martha: Sandy's Song - Dolly Parton
Travis: Belief - Gavin Degraw
Allison/Ryan: Bye Bye Blackbird - Liza Minelli
Natalie: Lamentation - Leah Andreone
Benji: Land of 1000 Dances - Wilson Pickett
Donyelle/Dimitry: Hey Mama - Black Eyed Peas
Travis/Heidi: Calling You - Celine Dion
Allison: We Belong - Pat Benatar
Benji/Natalie: She's Freaky - Pitbull
Ryan: Canned Heat - Jamiroquai
Fresh Meat Challenge: Episode 8
On last week's Fresh Meat Challenge, we saw Wes once again come out victorious from exile as he sent Tonya and Johnnie. It is starting to get down to the wire, and Wes next has his eye set on Tina. He seems to be unbeatable as each week he goes into exile and each week he returns to the house after sending his competitor home. This done with his even having the worst partner in the competition. Casey is a great person, but she has the least amount of skill of everyone in the competition. Yet, somehow Wes continues to win.
This week the episode starts out with some strategizing between two of the teams. Tina and Kenny talk about what they plan to do. They know they are set to go into exile next, so they plan to just continue moving forward and do what they can. Coral and Evan also discuss their strategy, and his hernia is also causing Evan more concern. He is in danger of going home from injury, but Coral has coming in first in the next challenge on her mind.
The next day, after some fun among the competitors as they wrestle, we see the teams end up at the Sea World Australia for their next challenge, Swimming with Sharks. For this mission, the teams will be jumping in relay style into Shark Bay to find puzzle pieces. Once they have the puzzle pieces, they have to solve the puzzle. This time around Shane and Linnette choose the order and they send in Wes and Casey first, just in case the sharks are hungry. They run out of time are eliminated. Shane and Linnette go next, and they solve the puzzle in time.
Tina and Kenny follow them, and he has a bit of a speed issue swimming. This gets these two eliminated. Derrick and Diem are next. These two have done well in the competition so far. However, they are eliminated here. Darrell and Avia follow, and they also complete the mission. Katie and Eric are the next team to go, but due to Katie's fear of sharks they are eliminated. Theo and Chanda complete the mission next, and Coral and Evan are up last.
These two are fishes in the water, but Coral has a problem breathing. This gets them eliminated. Shane and Linnette once again win the competition. Instead of picking Wes and Casey for exile, these two select based on performance. Their pick is Eric and Katie. This puts the rest of the competitors to select another pair to go in.
Tina and Kenny are on the chopping block, and everyone votes them except for Tina. This means Wes and Casey aren't going into exile this time around. Eric and Katie will meat Tina and Kenny in exile unless they win the pardon. If someone gets pardoned on next week's show, Wes and Casey will go in. Tina is quite upset with her partner for voting themselves in. Will this effect how they do in the next mission? We'll have to see next week.
So You Think You Can Dance: The Top 12 Eliminations
Last night we saw the top six couples perform on stage in order to obtain America's vote and stay out of the bottom couples. Last night's show had the highest vote count yet, even higher than last year's finale. Tonight's show opened up with the top twelve on dancing on stage with a disco routine. However, one dancer was missing from the routine, Donyelle. She had broke her toe earlier on in the season. The injury is worsening as the season progresses.
Following the performance, Cat Deeley talked to the judges about the eliminations to come, and then looked back at last night's performances. Well, once our dancers took the stage, Nigel announced some new changes to the competition that will take place starting next week. Partners will change as competitors can now change partners to fit the dance style they have chosen. They will also have their own phone numbers starting next week, as the focus goes from couples to soloist. On next week's special two hour episode, each dancer will perform two routines - one with a partner and one solo routine. America will then vote to eliminate the dancers, and the judges will be taken out of the equation.
After the commercial break, we then see who makes it to the bottom couples this week.The first couple set to dance for their lives on tonight's show are as I suspected, Ashlee and Dimitry. In a shocker, Travis and Martha join them in the bottom three. After another teasing commercial break, we learn that Musa and Natalie are joining the others in the bottom three. These six will dance solo to keep their positions in the competition for next week's competition change. Each dancer takes the stage one at a time and takes thirty seconds to impress the judges. As for Travis and Martha, this is the first time they have been in the bottom three. This was also a first for Natalie and Musa. All six brought it on stage, and it made it really hard for me to choose just who would win.
Following a performance by The Pussycat Dolls, we learn which of the three female dancers is going to be sent home. First up to be talked to is Natalie. She is told to watch her performance. She doesn't need to play the role of sex kitten every week because she has the talent. She is sent back safe. Next up is Martha. She is told she is a strong dancer. Ashlee is up last, and she is told she is being sent home because she is up against two of the competition's best dancers. After another commercial break, we quickly see the men, and Nigel knowing time is short tells us that Musa will be going home this week. That is just shocking because he has been one of my favorites week after week. Natalie broke down into tears when the announcement was made. Next week, we will see the top ten perform as the competition changes!
Check below for songs used on tonight's show!
Group: Born To Be Alive Patrick Hernandez
Ashlee: We Don't Play Lil' Rob
Dimitry: Jailhouse Rock - Elvis Presley
Martha: Still - Julie Manross
Travis: The Blower's Daughter - Damien Rice
Natalie: Some Girls - Rachel Stevens
Musa: Disco Inferno - The Trammps
Pussycat Dolls: Buttons
Girls elimination song: Suddenly I See K.T. Tunstall
Boys Elimination song: The End of the Road - Matt Goss
So You Think You Can Dance The Top 12
On this week's So You Think You Can Dance, the top twelve dancers perform on stage for America's vote, so we know which three couples will go up for elimination on tomorrow night's show. This week, the series also goes from its two hour format to a one hour format. This means there is no time to fool around. Within thirty seconds, we had our first couple selecting their style. This week the honor of first up on stage went to Musa and Natalie, and they chose hip hop, a style in Musa's own element.
For this performance, they work with Dan Karaty, and they do amazing on stage in my mind. However, this week's judges didn't agree. This week judging duties go to Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy and Brian Friedman. Mary and Brian both have problems with the performance. However, they also say the two danced well. Something was just off with the performance. I didn't see it, but then again I am not a trained dancer.
Next up is Heidi and Ryan, and this week they will perform a cha cha. For this performance, they worked with choreographer Jean Marc Genereux, someone that Heidi is familiar with. Heidi is comfortable with the ballroom style, but Ryan is a bit stressed during rehearsals. Ryan had a little extra support with his family in the audience tonight though. This two do well. Heidi looks amazing, and Ryan is complimented by Nigel, even if he does say something is off. As a ballroom specialist, Mary Murphy compliments both dancers, and she sees nothing wrong. Brian also has nothing bad to say to the dancers, but he is able to pinpoint the something Nigel says could be missing. Ryan is too tense when he dances. Is that it?
Third up tonight is Allison and Ivan. These two have had a tough time of it in this competition, and they were in the bottom three last week. This week they picked a contemporary routine that puts them working with choreographer Tyce Diorio. This is Allison style, but Ivan picks it up quite easily. Once they hit the stage, Allison once again shows why Mary Murphy said on last week's show about her being the one with a chance to win this entire competition. I had a few problems with Ivan's performance in the early moments of it, but he picked up and these two did wonderfully. Nigel does compliment Ivan, and the couple cause Mary to cry.
Without break, we go straight to Dimitry and Ashlee. These two pick a pop as their style which puts them working with Dan Karaty. These two have no idea what pop entails, but they are willing to learn. However, with me I totally didn't feel this performance. Nigel doesn't think there is anything memorable about the performance. Mary loves the performance, but Brian has more comments for the two. He says there needed to be more with the performance.
Fifth up we have early on favorites, Martha and Travis that landed a fox trot this week. Once again, we see choreographer Jean Marc Genereux. He is quite happy with these two when working with them in rehearsals, but will they shine on stage this week? Yes, they do. Nigel is the first judge to comment, and he told the two they were fabulous, but he also has critique for them as well. Mary Murphy also has compliments for the two. First for Martha and her look, and then for the couple and their dancing. The final judge also compliments the two.
Last up tonight is Donyelle and Benji. These two have been amazing since the competition began. Will they be a hit again this week? They select Broadway as their style this week, and we once again see choreographer Tyce Diorio. In rehearsals, we see these two having a great time learning this high energy routine. These hit the stage and they are just great. Nigel tells both dancers he would be surprised if one of them didn't win. Mary Murphy calls them the best routine of the night, and Brian tells Benji he is his favorite male right now. He also tells him this after telling him that he didn't want him in the top twenty.
So who will make it to bottom this week? I think we'll see Ashlee and Dimitry there, but as for who will join them it is anyone's guess. Who are your favorites America? I loved Allison tonight. Her performance was just amazing, but so was Heidi's. On the male side, my favorite here is Benji, but I do see the growth in Ivan and Ryan too. I really think this might be the end of the road for Ashlee and Dimitry though. Check back tomorrow night for my thoughts on this week's eliminations.
The songs used on tonight's show are as follows:
Musa/Natalie: Promiscuous - Nelly Furtado (Featuring Timbaland)
Heidi/Ryan: Sex Bomb - Tom Jones
Allison/Ivan: Why - Annie Lennox
Ashlee/Dimitry: Let me Rihanna
Martha/Travis Witchcraft - Steve Tyrell
Donyelle/Benji: You Can't Stop The Beat - Hairspray