SYTYCD10- Top 10 Perform, 2 Go Home- Live Blog and Discussion

Top 10- The Gravel Road (from the motion picture The Village)- Choreographed by Christopher Scott
The top 10 is on stage with rocking chairs. Tucker is dancing. So no worries for his fans. I count 5 guys and 5 girls. everyone is uninjured this week. This is a really cool routine, and beautiful music. The rocking chairs are a nice prop. It will be hard to beat this routine tonight. One of my favorite group numbers of the season, and probably the best OPENING group number of the season.

Our judges are: Nigel, Mary, and Debbie Allen. It’s nice to see Debbie on the panel, instead of some random celebrity (though I loved Anna Kendrick).

Your Bottom 4:
Tucker (automatically bottom for not dancing last week)
Makenzie
Nico
Jenna

Totally predicted this. Nigel has to actually decide whether to keep Makenzie or Jenna. Nigel says No Solos are needed this week, so we cut to the first routine!

1) Amy and Brandon Bryant- Disco- Choreographed by Doriana Sanchez- I Will Always Love You Remix (Whitney Houston)
Disco? At least she has Brandon, I guess. Amy is in trouble… Disco is a kiss-of-death, and she’s performing first. That LIFT where Brandon spins her around. Damn dude. If people were voting for YOU this week, you’d be safe. I think Brandon out performed Amy, and just threw her around like a rag doll. That’s the problem with the all-stars, is that sometimes they are better than the dancers they are paired with. It’s good to see Brandon back. Mary goes gaga for Brandon first, before even talking about Amy. That’s the problem. Mary didn’t like the song choice, but she liked Amy. Debbie said it was a great way to start the night. She thought it was a ball of fun. She calls Amy a stick of dynamite. Nigel welcomes Brandon back, and calls him tremendous. He calls Amy vivacious, and said she stood out more than the disco ball. Nigel thinks Amy will be an all-star. That’s a huge compliment. As long as he doesn’t say it to everyone tonight.

To Vote For Amy: 1-855-GO-HER-01 or text AMY to 83676 or vote online

2) Aaron and Kathryn McCormick- Contemporary- Choreographed by Stacey Tookey- I’m Kissing You by Des’Ree
An emotional routine. What’s so great about Aaron, even in this throwaway routine, is that he exudes masculinity. His strength powers the routine, much the same way Twitch’s does. He’s also a really good actor, committing himself fully to the character given. Standing ovation from the judges, but I think we’ve seen better contemporary, and Aaron has been in better routines this season. At least, he wasn’t overshadowed by Kathryn. If anything he overshadowed her. Debbie congratulates Stacey on her choreography, and says she’s proud of Aaron. She says Aaron has raised the bar. Nigel loved the chemistry and the fluidity, and tells Aaron that the look in Kathryn’s eyes at the end of the routine spoke volumes about Aaron. Mary thought it was beautiful. Kathryn says she saw him dance, and had hoped she’d be able to dance with him.

To Vote For Aaron: 1-855-GO-HIM-01 or text AARON to 83676 or vote online

3) Fik-Shun and Melanie- Jazz- Choreographed by Mandy Moore- Feeling Good by Jennifer Hudson
Love this. Mandy really brought out the best in Fik-Shun, and he holds his own against Melanie, bringing his own swag to the routine. Fantastic. My favorite of the night so far. Fik-Shun needed this. Standing O from the judges. Nigel says it was absolutely fantastic. Nigel says Melanie matches performance with strength and technique. Nigel says he’s proud of Fik-Shun for keeping up. He knocks Fik-Shun on some technique in the rocking chair dance. Mary didn’t like his lines earlier, but he’s better in this routine. He always gets backhanded compliments. He’s the only dancer they really knock for technique left in the competition. Debbie says Fik-Shun was the truth. Fik-Shun says Melanie gives 100% all the time.

To Vote For Fik-Shun: 1-855-GO-HIM-02 or text FIK-SHUN to 83676 or vote online

4) Paul and Witney Carson- Cha Cha- Choreographed by Jean Marc-Live It Up by Jennifer Lopez
Paul basically got his own style this week. This should be good. This is like a Dancing With The Stars pro routine. Best ballroom of the season. Paul is fantastic in his style, an Witney is a great partner for him. Another standing O from the judges. Mary starts, and says its great to see Witney again, and congratulates her on DWTS and a movie. Mary compliments Paul’s technique, and puts them on the hot tamale train. Debbie thought it was hot, beautiful, and seamless. Nigel says Paul and Witney were born to dance together, and loved the chemistry. Nigel loved Paul’s personality and technique. Nigel thinks Paul will make it a challenge to win the competition. Paul turns 22 today.

To Vote For Paul: 1-855-GO-HIM-03 or text PAUL to 83676 or vote online

5) Hayley and Twitch- Hip Hop- Choreographed by Christopher Scott-Locked Out Of Heaven by Bruno Mars
Hayley is a loan officer, and Twitch is applying for a loan. If I’m being honest, it’s one of the weaker Hayley routines. She’s not hitting all the stops correctly. Twitch almost broke the desk at the end. Twitch outperformed Hayley, which is the risk of dancing with an all-star in their style. Debbie thought Twitch outperformed Hayley. Nigel reminds America that Twitch auditioned three times before getting through, and now he’s a dance superstar. Nigel thinks Hayley is a dark horse. Mary gives props to Twitch, and agrees with Nigel about being a dark horse. Dark horse? She’s the only girl who has never been in the bottom. That should make her the front-runner. Twitch is getting up there in age. He’s 31 now.

To Vote For Hayley: 1-855-GO-HER-02 or text HAYLEY to 83676 or vote online

6) Jenna and Neil Haskell-Contemporary- Choreographed by Mandy Moore-I Can’t Make You Love Me by Mark Masri
Neil and Jenna are a couple about to break up. All those candles! No wonder they needed the commercial break. Damn. that must have taken forever. Beautiful routine, great choreography. This was the better contemporary routine of the night. Jenna might have a shot. Neil was brilliant too. Jenna was emotionally connected, and was given great choreography. Standing O from the judges. Nigel loved the fluidity and thought it was beautifully danced. Nigel thinks Jenna is one of the best all-around dancers that was a ballroom dancer to start that has been on the show. Nigel commends Jenna for fighting to be on the show, despite being in the bottom four times. Mary loved the together movement, and thought they melted together. Mary called it like caramel atop her favorite ice cream. She says Neil was fabulous. Debbie says Mandy Moore is one of her favorite choreographers. Debbie says Jenna is a choreographers dream, and doesn’t know why she’s in the bottom. She says Jenna dances with the power of the ocean. Lots of Jenna praise. I wonder what they’re gonna say to Makenzie.

To Vote For Jenna (If She Stays): 1-855-GO-HER-03 or text JENNA to 83676 or vote online

7) Jasmine and Marco Germar- Jazz- Choreographed By Ray Lieber- Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke feat Pharrell
Someone finally used this song in a routine. Really in sync. Standing O from the judges. Sometimes, Jasmine kicks higher, or throws her arms higher than Marko, but I think its because she’s giving 200%, trying to bring some serious performance. Mary compliments Jasmine’s legs. Mary thought they should have danced in the video. Debbie couldn’t take her eyes off of Jasmine, and thought she outshined Marko. Nigel loved the style, and said it reminded him of Michael Jackson. Nigel makes a comment about Jasmine being a future all-star. That’s the second time he’s dropped that comment tonight.

To Vote For Jasmine: 1-855-GO-HER-04 or text JASMINE to 83676 or vote online

8) Makenzie and Jakob Karr- Broadway- Choreographed by Spencer Liff-Too Darn Hot by Ella Fitzgerald
Makenzie’s dress is HOT. I think Jakob hits everything harder than Makenzie, who is stuck just playing with her hair and acting sexy in parts. Standing O from the judges. I thought it was just alright. I liked Jenna’s routine more. I thought she was outperformed by Jakob. At first, I was wanting a different allstar (considering how many of them have actually been on broadway). Debbie loved it. Nigel thought they had great feet. Nigel says it was beautifully choreographed and beautifully danced. Nigel thinks Makenzie is one of the best dancers ever on the show. Mary thought it was hot. Nigel compares her to Rita Hayworth.

To Vote For Makenzie (If She Stays): 1-855-GO-HER-05 or text MAKENZIE to 83676 or vote online

9) Nico and Comfort- Hip Hop- Choreographed by NappyTabs- Get Ur Freak On by Missy Elliot
There’s a cool rope ladder thing on stage. I hope they use it. I thought Hayley was outshined by Twitch, but Nico is holding his own here with Comfort. He’s oddly believable in this routine, and his hip hop in prior routines has been very… ummm… white. He did a great job with this, and Comfort complimented him perfectly. Nigel thought Nico got into the character for the whole time. Mary thought Nico got his freak on. Debbie thought Nico’s moves were sharp, and Comfort was more beautiful than ever.

To Vote For Nico (If He Stays): 1-855-GO-HIM-04 or text NICO to 83676 or vote online

10) Tucker and Robert Roldan- Contemporary- Choreographed by Travis Wall- Medicine by Daughter
Tucker and Robert have both almost died in a car accident. This is about two brothers, one who has hit rock bottom, and the other who is here to help them. I know its kinda cheating, because this routine is fantastic. Tucker is in his own style too, and Nico wasn’t. That was a great routine, full of real raw emotion. Standing O from the judges. Mary is crying. Tucker is crying. Mary says its a special night to see Robert return to the stage. She thought it was amazing. Debbie thought they were amazing too. Debbie says the routine is about Travis and his brother Danny Tidwell. Debbie doesn’t know how Tucker could be in the bottom (because he didn’t dance last week, duh). Nigel thinks Danny was the greatest dancer on the program… ever. Nigel talks about how the dancers understand what they’re dancing. Nico is toast.

To Vote For Tucker (If He Stays): 1-855-GO-HIM-05 or text TUCKER to 83676 or vote online

Should Go Home Based On What We Saw Tonight: Nico and Makenzie

The site crashed, and Nico and Makenzie went home. The judges were unanimous on the guys, but split 9/6 on the girls.

My predictions for next week: Bottom 4: Amy, Jenna, Tucker, and… ? Aaron, Fik-Shun, and Paul all danced well, and all have never been in the bottom. I can’t predict the other boy.

About SirMac 241 Articles
Contributor to mjsbigblog.com. EIC of macthemovieguy.com, Contributor at houseofgeekery.com. Holds a BA in Film from the University of Central Florida.