Traditionally they keep the couples through the top 10, and mix from there on out.

Boys' routine: Chris was painful. He needs to go.

so glad someone else feels this way. he continues to distract me during group numbers. he is always just slightly behind everyone else. almost as if he's forgotten the routine and is watching them to see what he's supposed to be doing.

SYTYCD: Do they ever break up couples? it's always struck me that it would be ... unfair? discouraging? ... if they matched someone who really was good with someone who just wasn't up to the level of competition, and the better dancer was sent off because their partner wasn't good enough.

And Ryan ... is it possible that when she was younger she had a teacher who insisted that she smile all the time she was on stage? the smiling is annoying, as is the constant praise and protection by the judges.

Toddson,

in the early seasons, it was far more typical to see couples split. They have not done this as much in the later seasons.

There are some people who need new partners like nobody's business.

he is always just slightly behind everyone else. almost as if he's forgotten the routine and is watching them to see what he's supposed to be doing.

Yeah, exactly. There was a point where he clearly did forget what he was supposed to be doing and instead did the next move, then he had to wait for everyone to catch up. So bad. I know it's super hard to get these routines nailed down each week, and I couldn't do it. But all these other dancers can, and if he can't, he needs to go.

Do they ever break up couples?

for as long as i've been watching(season 2 FWIW), they've broken couples up at the top 10 point. last season was goofy because of the All Stars. this year they've said they're bringing the All Stars back once they get to top 10. so they'll all be dancing with different partners at that point each week.

I know it's super hard to get these routines nailed down each week, and I couldn't do it. But all these other dancers can, and if he can't, he needs to go.

absolutely on all accounts.

Yes, I long for the methods of the first season, when they really did pick their partners and dances from the hat each week.

The non-variety for most couples is ridiculous: both Melanie/Marko and Ryan/Ricky have only done jazz (2), contemporary, and "lyrical" hip-hop and Sasha/Alexander have had only contemporary (2) and hip-hop (2). Are these couples ever going to get ballroom?

I don't love Ashley/Chris, but at least they've done 4 different styles (hip-hop, broadway, jazz, salsa) and Jordan/Tadd have done African jazz, hip-hop, Viennese waltz, and smooth waltz.

Bollywood is pretty much the kiss of death, isn't it? I'd have liked ... Yvetta and Nick? ... to have more time.

I noticed last week when the about to dance for their lives dancers were all waving and smiling at the camera just before a commercial, Chris looked terrified. And then he danced a good solo, so I didn't think much of it, but I think he knows he's out of his depth.

S1 they switched partners each week and they really did just pull out of a hat and you saw it and knew it was true. That said, some couples did wind up dancing together a lot (Blake/Ashle) but that was 'cause they kept picking each other. They also really did pick dances out of the hat which resulted in much more variety. They switched to fixed pairs through top 10 in S2 and hit on the Donyelle/Benji magic and I think that was a terrible thing. I mean good for them because Benjelle was magic, but bad for the show because it really was more interesting when they swapped each week. I miss almost everything about S1 except original host Lauren Sanchez.

So last night I was only half watching and I didn't even bother to take notes which I never do with SYTYCD but I was bored. I did appreciate all the new choreographers because they really, really need new blood. And the kids all danced pretty well again, even the ones I don't like, but there's just something missing with this crew. I like Melanie and Marko, but there's no one I love like I loved Danny or Alex or Allison or Kathryn or Billy or Jacob or Donyelle or . . . well anybody that I used to really love on this show.

So anyway, the best dance of the night was the girls group dance. Loved the choreo and the ladies killed it one and all. I realize that I've just started mentally blocking Ryan out so I have no idea how she did, but Sasha and Melanie were working that center and poor little Ashley finally got her time downstage and she turned it out. The highly stylized kick line? Love!

As far as partner dances, my faves in order from most to least:

Mitchell and Caitlyn/Contemporary/Mandy Moore - I thought this dance was beautifully choreographed and danced. I loved what Peanut had to say about dancing through the lifts rather than having the lifts pull the dance to a dead stop. (Peanut on the panel = love) Mitchell is just a gorgeous creature when he dances. I feel like he pulls my focus from Caitlyn, whom I find to be competent but not special. I didn't mind the Celine, but then again I never do. And it's very Mandy, so there's that.

Jess and Clarice/Contemporary/New Choreographer whose name I forget - I enjoyed this piece tremendously and thought Jess was better than Clarice here. He was sharp and clean and his whole body was committed in ways that I didn't necessarily feel from her. I will say that I underestimated him. He's not Evan 2.0. This type of dancing was very far away from his old school Broadway style, but I felt he captured it very well. And Clarice was good, too. The one move where she kind of dropped down onto his leg and then he popped her up? Insane. That's so hard. It was all legs and tummy and just pure muscle it up and she made it look light and easy. The romper was so, so unfortunate. She clearly pissed the wardrobe hos off this week.

Melanie and Marko/Jazz/New choreographer whose name I don't know - I did not like the piece at all. It felt like knock off Sonya. Quirky just for the sake of being quirky even when it didn't really flow or look good. The little walk forward was the best part of it and I think that's mainly because Melanie and Marko are fierce and they put their all into every piece of what they're given. They were really trying to sell this piece and I enjoyed their dancing in it. I agree that their partnering in this looked more tentative than in week's past. The costuming was ridonkulous. That would be true all night.

Ricky and Ryan/Jazz/Chucky - I still hate Ryan like whoa but I hated her less than I ever have before in this dance. She dances very heavy, I've decided, but that worked for her here. She could get down into the steps and really grind them out. I don't see her as a technical phenom at all. Let's just deal with her wobbly center, falling out of triple turns all tipsy tumbles. But she was kind of almost close to serving. And the out of control smile was mostly in control. She should play a heavy footed zombie more often. Ricky was turning it out. I would like (continued...)