So You Think You Can Dance Top 20 Part 2

Going home tonight:

Girls: Alexa Anderson and Janaya French
Boys: Nick Bloxsom-Carter and Daniel Baker

The judges saved Witney Carson and Chehon Wespi-Tschopp

Not entirely surprised by tonight’s eliminations and TOTALLY not surprised by whom the judges saved. Witney and Chehon are totally judges’ pets!

This new format goes by REALLY REALLY FACE. The upside is that there is very little filler. The downside, is that 12 dance routines and eliminations is A LOT to stuff into two hours. I will say, it’s not very easy to live blog! There’s very little time for drama when the eliminations finally go down. Nigel must HATE that.

I didn’t fully understand how the dances were assigned until this week, Each couple picks a number. #1 gets to choose from a whiteboard full of routines. If you draw the last number, you don’t get to pick. Hm. I’m not sure what the point of that is, unless Nigel plans to reveal the process for drama later on in the competition.

Also, I think it’s weird that the panel knows the outcome when the dancers perform again. That knowledge has to impact their critiques. I wonder if the dancers will truly have an opportunity for a second chance as they perform, basically, as dead men walking. Tonight, the panel’s minds seemed to be made up.

Live blogging So You Think You Can Dance here! After the Top 20 perform again, 4 dancers will be eliminated tonight!

The judges will save one boy and one girl from the bottom 6.. Adam Shankman is the guest judge!

The show opens with a Top 20 group dance set to Marilyn Manson’s “Beautiful People” choreographed by Nappy Tabs.

Adam tells Cat that she looks like big sexy tomato. She asks him if he’d like a bite. Ha. The US post office is releasing a set of postage stamps featuring legendary choreographers for National Dance Day, set for July 28.

Lindsay and Cole – Choreographed by Christopher Scott – “Teeth” by Lady Gaga – The story is revolves around a geek and his vampy dentist. It’s super cute, but not the type of routine that turns heads. Nigel thinks it was a fun routine to start off the show, but Lindsay’s characterization felt a little immature. Mary loved the routine. She understands that Lindsay is outside of her style, but reminds her that she’ll have to step up her acting. Cole completely freaks out the judges by remaining in character through his entire critique. Adam thinks Lindsey has to take a deeper investment in her characters.

Lindsay – 1-855-464-3701 – Text Lindsay to 83676
Cole – 1-855-464-4601 – Text Cole to 83676

Amelia and Will – Contemporary by Sonya Tayeh – “3326” – An absolutely exquisite routine from Sonya. Amelia and Will’s chemistry is off the charts. They both have a ton of charisma. I can see both dancers going deep in the competition. The crowd goes crazy. Mary screams. That was a beutiful routine, she says. Feels the duo brought the routine to life. She feels they both just went “another floor up.” Adam stands and claps. He calls the duo brilliant and involved. Did Nigel just call Will Travis? He thinks they are a great pair together and absolutely brilliant dancers.

Amelia – 1-855-464-3702 – Text Amelia to 83676
Will – 1-855-464-4602 – Text Will to 83676

Amber and Nick – Tango – The duo perform a very difficult Tango, pretty flawlessly. THAT WAS SO HOT says Adam. He calls Amber spectacular. She fully inhabited the character. Nick is a brilliant partner, but he vanished a little bit. Nigel thinks Amber made herself look good. Tremendous. Nick was strong, he said. Mary notes that the routine was difficult, but it didn’t look like work. Full of passion.

Amber – 1-855-464-3703 – Text Amber to 83676
~~Nick – 1-855-464-4603 – Text Nick to 83676~~

Audrey and Matthew – Choreography by Sonya Tayeh – “Here Me Now” by Stereo Lord – The dance reflected the power struggle between a man and a woman. And I think the woman kicked some ass. Another tremendous routine from Sonya, embodied by two incredibly strong dancers. Nigel LOVES THE STANK STEPS. Last week, they did a “love” routine. Nigel is impressed by their versatility. Nigel is sure they are one of America’s fav couples. Mary calls them a “dynamic duo”. Fantastic. One of her fav routines. Adam is afraid the night belongs to Sonya. He thinks Audrey is brilliant and any doubt he had about her has been wiped away. If Matthew keeps it up, the contest is his to lose.

Audrey – 1-855-464-3704 – Text Audrey to 83676
Matthew – 1-855-464-4604 – Text Matthew to 83676

Janelle and Dareian – Lyrical Hip Hop by Christopher Scott – “My Girl” by the Temptations – Two 60’s style couples are engaged by the end of this romantic routine. Awwww. That was adorable! The judges didn’t like it much, but I enjoyed it. Adam thought Dareian did a good job, but Janelle needed to fill out her character more. Nigel was uninspired by the choreography. Dissing Christopher’s choreo! He feels Christopher should have given them more to do. They are better dancers than that. Mary thought the routine was sweet, but just OK. Thinks it will be tough on them. Adam, snarking on Mary and Nigel’s “kiss” last year as he attacks Nigel!

Janelle – 1-855-464-3705 – Text Janelle to 83676
Dareian – 1-855-464-4605 – Text Dareian to 83676

Janaya and Brandon – Broadway by Sean Cheesman – “Bring on the Men” – In this routine, Janaya will do everything she can to get Brandon’s attention. A really engaging routine with some fabulous moves. Adam thought Sean did a great job. A character piece, but very successful. He thought the both did a great job inhabiting their characters. Nigel thnks it was really brilliant Broadway. Janelle stepped up this week. Mary was entertained. Last week they could have been in danger. But this week, they stepped it up. Amazing.

~~Janaya – 1-855-464-3706 – Text Janaya to 83676~~
Brandon – 1-855-464-4606 – Text Brandon to 83676

Eliana and Cyrus – The Jive by Tony and Melanie – “Shakin” by Jack White – Cyrus is a popper, but he manages to get through the routine without it becoming a total trainwreck. His likability will help him this week. Poor Eliana is a beautiful dancer, she’s got a bit of a millstone around her neck. Mary noted problems Cyrus had, but loves that he was there for his partner and managed to look like he was having fun. Eliana’s star is still shining! Adam thinks it was amazing he got through it. Eliana is the hardest working woman in show business. Nigel understand that Cyrus would hit a brick wall at times. Feels Eliana is doing a great job propping Cyrus up, basically.

Eliana – 1-855-464-3707 – Text Eliana to 83676
Cyrus – 1-855-464-4607 – Text Cyrus to 83676

Alexa and Daniel – Contemporary by Dee Caspari – “So Long My Friend” by Yanni – This routine is all about love and connection. I don’t know about you, but any routine set to the music of Yanni becomes instantly cheesy to me. I felt like I was watching the cover of a romance novel come alive. That’s not a compliment. Takes l Adam thought the routine was beautiful. Getting in and out of that tub was difficult. There was something about it was chilly. Not swept up. Mary also felt it lacked connection and chemistry. Nigel also felt the connection was lost. The emotion was missing. Alexa was criticized all the way through Vegas for her lack of emotion.

~~Alexa – 1-855-464-3708 – Text Alexa to 83676~~
~~Daniel – 1-855-464-4608 – Text Daniel to 83676~~

Tiffany and George –Foxtrot by Tony Meredith and Melanie Lapatin – What a sweet duo! A very smooth and elegant routine. Nice. “I Want to Be Loved By You” by Sinead O’Connor – Mary notes that the Foxtrot is difficult, but the couple were up to the task! Adam was MADLY in love with that. Very 40s. Incredible. Nigel thinks they made an incredible couple. A lesson on how to connect.Nigel and Adam were all about the shameless plugs of their respective new project. Please stop the bad puns. I beg you.

Tiffany – 1-855-464-3709 – Text Tiffany to 83676
George – 1-855-464-4609 – Text George to 83676

Whitney and Chehon – Bollywood by Nakul – Love the Bollywood routines, especially when they are done well like tonight. Pure delight, says Adam. So much fun. He felt both were fantastic. The first time he saw joy in Chehon. Mary thought Chehon was on fire tonight. So much better than last week’s Samba. She felt the chemistry between them. Nigel was really delighted with what they did this week.

Witney – 1-855-464-3710 – Text Witney to 83676
Chehon – 1-855-464-4610 – Text Chehon to 83676