Cat looks like an actual sunbeam tonight. It makes me happy.

SYTYCD! Knowing that Nigel was on my flight winging his way to attend JTF's wedding made me love him just a little bit more.

I on,y saw half of the group dance with sound so I really can't call it, but what I did see looked good.

Solos - Much better from the kids tonight than any other night this season. That would be a theme on the night. Mackenzie and Alan were particularly strong. Great music choice from Mackenzie. Mariah was fierce and BluPrint is ridiculous in his own style. Curtis was definitely the weak link here. Seems like he kinda gave up.

I hate watching the show while traveling because I can't take notes like I'd want to. Terrible week for it, too, because there were two stand out routines, the first ones this season that I felt were really special...Jenna and Tucker's contemporary (Go, Peanut!) and Amy and Fik Shun's jazz (Dammit, Tasty put his foot in that routine) and most of the others ranged from passable to very good. Just my luck for the show to wait to have its best week of the season when I'm DVR-less.

Yeah, those were both great. Good job on the quickstep, too! I was so mad at the Chris Brown song, I don't even remember the piece or if it was any good. Sad to say good bye to Mariah, though.

Tice went back to the Triplets of Bellville sound track again and again, did good.

I think everyone was being kind about that quickstep. I love those two, but it was as slow as the jive earlier.

Tice went back to the Triplets of Bellville sound track again and again, did good.

Totally put me in the mind of the Chuy and Sarah Triplets of Bellville piece. And any time Tasty can make me mention one of his routines in the same breath as a Wade piece, that means he's on his game. I just found the piece so clever. And Amy is a marvel. Dancing through the tippy toes, literally sometimes!

I thought Jasmine and Aaron got through that Quickstep on charisma and charm more than anything else because the posture was not good and, as quester notes, it was kinda slow as hell for a Quickstep. And there was a lot of not Quickstep in that Quickstep. But they oozed sassy and they have mad chemistry and Jasmine was giving me Lady Day realness and Aaron is just a man up there on that stage and so they sold me on it.

I was sad to see Utah krumper go because I thought she brought it in her solo and I just dig her but honestly, Mackenzie's solo was better and both she and BluPrint got crazy heavy footed at the end of that B Free jazz number. I definitely feared that last lift was going down. Mackenzie was straight up better than her tonight. I'd have sent Curtis home over BluPrint. He surprised me in that jazz piece and his solo, as always, was flawless. But I guess they didn't want Hayley to trade down in partners. Better the devil you know and all that.

AARRGH. I had a whole post typed up and accidentally ate it.

Carlee Rae is a terrible judge. Bleh.

On quick fast forward things I remember: Surprise that Stacey did the opening dance. Totally thought Sonja, if only because of the music

Thought the solos were better this week. Can't remember who Mackenzie is.

Alexi/Nico: Jive--was there any jive in this? It was awful and I hope they're in the bottom next time.

Jenna/Tucker--contemp--I just rewatched Peanut's audition tape because Megan Walker just linked to it and OMG he was so young! Loved this number, even with the tape mishaps. It was awesome. Wanna see it redone with them having more time to test that stuff out.

Blueprint/Mariah--This was a hot mess. Also, what genre was that supposed to be???

Malece/Alan--I still hate her--hip hop--this is PAINFUL. AWFUL. Dear lord (his posture is so good, which is so wrong). Also, can we STOP THE HAMMER PANTS?!? And apparently the hip hop of the future is BAD.

Oh, WTF with Nigel's BS about how contemp shouldn't be borrowing from other styles, but then minutes later he's saying that's what jazz does and it's awesome?!?

Hayley/Curtis--he's so adorbs, but he fades away for me. I liked this number a lot (but OMG would've been scared on that ladder!) Love her legs. Seriously, Nigel? HIs shoulders ruined the WHOLE NUMBER for you? Boo.

Amy/FikShun--SERIOUSLY? REdoing Triplets of Belleville/Hobos thing? BEEN DONE. And I wasn't that impressed with this one, much as I like the two of them.

Mackenzie/Paul--ok really? THIS is hiphop??

Jasmine/Aaron--quickstep--Oh dear. there's a fair bit of closed hold going on, which is surprising. At least there's some quickstep in this one! But it's not feeling very quick or energetic. Hmm, and now they're doing a bit better...because they're not actually quickstepping anymore.

A comment earlier made me wonder: why do they never have east coast swing or lindy on here?? I mean, really--Russian dancing, and Bollywood, but none of that? It would be cute and could have lots of lifts and jumps and stuff. I figure they're anti West Coast Swing due to Benji, and they did one two-step once which was just awful, but...c'mon!

Aww. Sad to see Mariah go, but not shocked. Likewise, Bluprint.

Totally put me in the mind of the Chuy and Sarah Triplets of Bellville piece. And any time Tasty can make me mention one of his routines in the same breath as a Wade piece, that means he's on his game. I just found the piece so clever

See, whereas I went "what, are you just trying to rip off something that was not only already done, but already done well???" and was not impressed.

Now that I have most of the seasons in a spreadsheet (what?), I can tell you they had 1 lindy hop in seasons 2 & 3.

I'm just starting to write up Season 5. Man it's going to be hard to limit myself to only a dozen or so dances for that one.

For previous seasons in the series that meara mentioned (I just had to put that clip of Peanut in when I came across it), see The Best of SYTYCD: Season 1, The Best of SYTYCD: Season 2, The Best of SYTYCD: Season 3, and The Best of SYTYCD: Season 4.

I was sad to see Mariah go. sigh ... seems my early favorites always leave early. I did enjoy watching Jasmine and Aaron - probably not a really good quickstep, but a good performance. (watch - I've just cursed them)

A comment earlier made me wonder: why do they never have east coast swing or lindy on here?? I mean, really--Russian dancing, and Bollywood, but none of that?

and African jazz ... no, I'm not forgiving them for that. ever.

I don't know if it was a good quickstep or not, but they sure looked like they were having fun, and I loved watching them do it.

Micah and BluPrint's routine was just weird.

FikShun is incredible -- I loved that Triplets number (I never saw the other one, so I have no basis for comparison), and Amy was just as good, but FikShun looked like Tigger. Every time he bounced off that stage, I said, "Boing!" And he's so expressive. That might have been my favorite piece.