WHAT…THE…??? Elimination night pretty much blew our bottom three predictions to smithereens. This may have been a case of “Underdog Voting”: Everyone gets motivated to vote for the people they like, but who didn’t get great reviews, thinking that those who did get great reviews didn’t need the help. Whatever the reason, things ended predictably with the correct two dancers sent home.

SYTYCD: Top 12

Group performance

The remaining 14 preformed a number choreographed by Tyce…The Wiz (nod to MJ) and Lion King go to Mardi Gras. It wasn’t complex in terms of choreography, but the vibrancy of movement was energetic. As in the words of Mia, “Not amazing, but good job.”

Fashion Cat! critique

OK, so it was a bit “look what the cat dragged in”, but not so overtly offensive that the fashion gods are casting thunderbolts. Michelle finds the look very Kelly LeBrock ala Weird Science (yes, our superhero power is the ability to retain (useless?) pop culture/movie moments). For now, we’ll hold off on ruling whether or not she’s broken her good/bad fashion pattern.

(More recap, plus drinking game tally after the jump.)
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We’re down to 14 dancers. That’s seven couples. Will seven be a lucky number tonight?

Only if you like aliens and chains! Or classical ballet (which we do).

Shall we recap?

Love it, Cat, but it's been done.

Fashion Cat! critique

She looks sweet and spunky in a bright pink strapless dress, black spiked belt and coordinating sandals. Does this mean tonight’s outfit will be bad? She has a good one day, bad the next pattern…

Gail is quick to point out the similarity to an SJP getup. Who do you think wore it better?

She’s baaaaaaaaack…

For the first time since the Las Vegas rounds, Mia Michaels is our guest judge, and everyone immediately wants to know if she’s changed her mind about Brandon. (You’ll recall she was hella-harsh.) She eats a little crow and says her opinion has changed for the better.

We’re especially glad she’s back, because it always means great quotes (poll below!).

The dances

Brandon and Janette are up first with Cha Cha choreo’d by Jean Marc Generaux. They are WORK. ING. IT. for the second week in a row, with great technique and tons of sass. Mary puts them on the hot tamale train. Mia calls Brandon amazing (teachers are hardest on those with the most potential and talent, she reveals), and he cries tears of joy and relief.

Kupono and Kayla get Sonya Tayeh for a dark, vampire-inspired Contemporary. From Twilight to True Blood, vampires are in, and everything from the moves to the costumes to the makeup is well done. The jeté landing down onto the hip is painfully cool. Kayla may need some chiropractic treatments after all those neck jerks. Kupono in particular impresses the judges. We’re also impressed at how well he wears guyliner. Mary keeps them on the hot tamale train.

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As promised, we are sharing our official SYTYCD drinking game tally sheet with you all…a necessity for all “serious” watchers of the show.

Remember, “sip”, “chug” and “toast” are interchangeable with “sit-up”, “chassé” and “twirl”. Enjoy!

Click here for a printable version.

Cat opens by telling us we’re getting ever closer to having our Top 10. By the end of the show, we’ll say good-bye to another guy and another girl. But for now, she says, “Welcome…to soyouthingyoukindanz!”

Group number

Kayla: Front and center; and fierce!

A super-sexy routine to “I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)” by Pitbull. Great collaboration between NapTab and Dmitry Chaplin. The pre-recorded splashy-water table-dancing portions were a little cheesy, but hey, we’ll make the most of it and count the water as a prop. Which makes TEN props, and 10 sips, right off the bat. And you thought elimination shows were boring.

Of note: KAYLA! The dance beast is FIERCE in this number, and it’s interesting that they put her front and center, while the two ballroom girls – Asuka and Janette – were on the sides. (They probably used the old “it’s just because Kayla’s taller” excuse, but we know better.)

Fashion Cat! critique

Cat looks lanky, easy, breezy (and Palm Beach-ready, we dare say), in a tropical print wide-leg jumpsuit. She makes a grand entrance atop one of the tables from the group number. Well done, you, Cat.

(More recap, plus drinking game tally and poll, after the jump.)
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Nah-na-nah-nahh…week three y’all! We are another week closer to see who will make it into the top 10, securing their spot in the nationwide SYTYCD tour. But, before we jump too far ahead of ourselves, let’s discuss last night’s dance action!

“Fashion Cat!” critique
Yes, Cat..yes. Summer chic…yummy tangerine…er, maybe peach (we picked different fruit colors….either way she was fruity) with bands of gold embellishment and loosely tousled locks. BUT….

(The braided hair headband made it a little bit Swiss Miss goes to Egypt for me. – M.)

(Just wished she had channeled her inner gladiator and opted for some laced up strappy wedges. -G.)

You’re almost there, Cat.

Notables
Guest Judge: Toni “Hey Mickey” Basil…upcoming recipient of the Living Legend of Hip Hop award and another lover of language. (She’s the female version of Lil C. -M.)

Revelations
This week’s “getting to know you” video theme was each dancer telling us what (profession) they’d be if they weren’t a dancer.

Randi and Evan's spank-tacular routine

We learned that Karla would be a journalist, Asuka would make ballroom competition jewelery (we hope those pieces weren’t meant for day wear) and Melissa would be a pilates instructor (more about that in “Best of the Night”). All creative pursuits for sure, so the one that was the most interesting was Janette‘s dreams to become a loan officer. Being “creative” with numbers is usually not considered a good thing…or legal in most cases.

(Top and bottom three, drinking game score and quote of the night poll after the jump.)

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If you missed Part I: Girls, check it out here.

As we mentioned in Part I, for the guys, the “who does he look like?” musings started with Jason. He looks like a (much) cuter version of a certain sitcom star who plays a character with the same first name.

Then, a friend of Michelle’s mentioned that Brandon’s “cheesiness” reminded her of a former sitcom character who became legendary for a dance of his own.

Wheels turning yet? Wait, there’s more!

An 80s teen movie star who’s now in a popular comedy show; a hybrid of a Super Bowl champion and a doctor (not really, but he played one on TV!); and a model-prisoner (again, not really) combo.

As with the girls, we don’t have a look-alike for every guy. We’re not buying the judges’ comparison of Max to a “young Kevin Spacey,” but we failed to come up with anything else. So send us your thoughts on that, plus any potential doppelgangers for Ade, Tony or Vitolio (whose pretty eyes remind us of Erykah Badu’s…but we didn’t want to go so far as to say he looks like her, cuz that just doesn’t seem right).

Click here to launch the slideshow. And don’t forget to vote in the poll!

Enjoy…

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For a couple weeks, it was bugging us: Caitlin, Jason, Ashley and a couple other dancers had us scratching our heads and thinking, DANG he/she looks like…like…SOMEBODY! Who?!??

Well, we finally figured it out. And when the light bulbs went off on those celebrity look-a-likes (or multiple-celebrity “hybrids”), we got on a roll.

And so we present, for your enjoyment and consideration, our look-alike galleries, starting with the girls (except for Melissa, Karla, Paris and Asuka; we drew blanks there, but would love your suggestions).

Of course, this is just for fun; we have no scientific facial detection/feature analysis/celeb-mating software.

Click here to start with Caitlin, an actress-songstress hybrid, and view the slideshow that also includes Ashley, Kayla, Jeanine, Janette and Randi. Then, cast your vote in our poll below!

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Oh, dear. Nothing like an hour of television that for most of the time makes you feel nothing, then leaves you with that “What? HUH?” feeling right before it’s over. It’s like a bad date.

SYTYCD: Top 16 dancers.

We were treated to a fantastic variety of dance genres tonight (or “John-rahs” as guest judge Lil C said). It was a FUN and AMAZING show, wasn’t it? (It actually was pretty dang fun, and some folks were amazing, but yes, that was a hint of sarcasm. See “Notables,” below.)

Let’s jump right in, shall we?

“Fashion Cat!” critique
Glistening gold hoops, check…intricately twisted updo, check…ruffle overload…bzzzt! Somewhere there’s a motel room with a heart-shaped tub missing some curtains or a bedskirt.

Notables

• Randi just had to wear a unitard in the intro. Come on, girl. (She and Evan did a nice job on the jive, though.)
• Shane Sparks returns! We missed him. Unfortunately, both couples he choreographed failed to deliver the hard hitting, chemistry-filled performances he demands. Not a grand comeback.
• Lil C brought his dictionary…and hit us over the head with it.
• Overuse of “fun” and “amazing.” Dancers, please spend some time with Lil C to expand your vocabs.

Asuka looks sweet here, but watch out: spit bubbles!

Revelations
This week’s “getting to know you” video theme was each dancer telling us something America should know about his or her partner.

Among the tidbits we learned: Poor Janette grew up with summer teeth (but is now glam), Ade’s full name is longer than your arm, Karla is one of the Boogie Bots (sweet!), Jeanine has a teddy bear that she dresses in outfits to match hers, Caitlin is a part-time velociraptor, Kupono has OCD tendencies when it comes to his closet, and Jason used to idolize Michael Jackson. Oh, and Asuka does spit bubbles (how…fun!).

(Top and bottom three, drinking game score and quote of the night poll after the jump.)
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We now have details about what Katie Holm-bot will be doing on our favorite dance show: performing to Judy Garland’s “Get Happy,” from the musical Summer Stock.

Usmagazine.com reports that the number is directed by Nigel Lythgoe and choreographed by Tyce Diorio. And she won’t be dancing alone: eight male dancers are said to part of the routine.

So, we know the “what.” Still wondering why, though. (Results of our poll show that most of you are, too. Thanks for voting!)

At least the fedora will serve as a prop and give you a point for the drinking game.

Tune in tonight for performances by the top 18 dancers. Highlights, game tally, quote of the night poll and other commentary and shenanigans coming your way tomorrow!