SYTYCD The Top Ten Compete: Season Five and Bollywood. Afro Picks and Travis. Plus missing Phillip, grass skirts, peace signs and daisies

A Green Herve Leger is what Cat dazzles us with tonight. As if wrapped with leaves from a tropical plant, she presents the top ten, after the clips of Mary screaming, and Lil’ C commiserating (as Nigel covers his ears). Debbie Allen is the guest judge, despite no control from the judges over the final outcome, as we are repeatedly reminded. Yet, given their comments, I guess it’s better that they do not get to jidge anymore. After Mary’s bling distracting exposition on the randomness of pairings and dances (which I have my own conspiratorial theories about… or, how come everybody picks names out of a hat, till the very last couple? …shouldn’t the last one be a given? …and how’s it possible that no couple is ever a repeat? …random…ummm... will create repeats... ummm… ) Debbie talks about the last standing dancer. Debbie seems to wax philosophical all night long, as her comments stand way out there all throughout.

We start the dynamics of the show with a girl’s group Bollywood number choreographed by Nakul. They use a “mutka (?) which reminds us of the magical hat that is mysteriously used to select styles in the show. It is a compelling number that really showcases them all, but it seems to me that Melissa stands out. With a spicy look in his eye, Nigel calls the harem clad girls a plate of bangers and mash or even one of hot tandori! Oh, Nigel, can you handle your big group of women? I don’t think so, Nigel!

After the girls’ group number, the couples and solos first start with Kayla and Evan doing a Viennese Waltz choreographed by Tony and Melanie. This waltz is danced to a great song by Seal and it has a challenging and tricky compensation of height issue. The lifts were great, and I am not sure what Mary is talking about when she says he is not flexing his knees. It sure looked like it to me!

Ade and Janette get Nappitabs and she is funked up by the afro pick. WTFork? I really do not understand what’s the meaning of the afro pick? Afro pick, nappytabs, nappy hair, black power? Is there something here that I really cannot grasp? ???? Back to the dance: Janette can swing her booty and Ade can shake that comb! It was a little rusty at times, but good at others. In the end, I think I liked the number, but it is not my favorite by Nappitabs. As far as the jidges comments go, I am not sure if Nigel promises or threatens Mary to hypnotize her out of her clothes, and I am not sure if Mary looks forward to it or is shocked by the idea. Mesmer the hypnotist is referenced over and over again, including as Debbie tells Ade to stay away from her daughter! WTFork?

Jeanine gets Jason and Travis Wall’s contemporary routine. Awesome! Just having Travis choreographing for the show is already great! The dance is sexy, almost dirty?, but relies too much on a hearty gimmick. The heart on a chain going back and forth was a bit distracting and seemed forced (isn’t dance supposed to seem effortless?) but in the end the whole number did get pulled together. In the predictable jidges comments, I do not understand why Nigel had to underhandedly slam Phillip when he says that Jeanine finally got a partner that can keep up with her. Debbie has an evangelical epiphany about dance shows and their influence upon the world. I think that I may have to see this number again.

By the way, a side note here, people on Twitter came up with a drinking game that I found quite amusing… Debbie Allen’s new drinking game: take a shot every time Debbie Allen says "honey," "child," or "girl" or "my school."

Randi and Kupono do a Paso. Randi’s hair has transformed to that of a Decepticon eluding an Autobot. The execution was not as good. Kupono’s lifts were weak, even scary. Poor Randi! This dance seemed soo looong to me! And I’m sure it was longer to her, not knowing when Kupono was going to drop her nose first to the floor! And finnaly he did! When the jidges comment on trust issues it was so understandable that Randi was concerned… after all, he almost dropped her at the start, in the middle, and finally did drop her at the end!

Looking forward to the mathematical obvious pairing of Melissa and Brandon, they are given a killer routine – Broadway choreographed by Tyce. Fortunately, it is a piece from Hair! 1967 for those checking out there (and Nigel does, correcting the 70’s reference). Let’s see if they can do better than that awful West Side Story number by Kupono and Kayla. And they do! These are hippies with Attitude, extensions and jazz hands. And what were they smokin’ at the end? Beautiful flower child Melissa is a stand out.

The Solos:
When Brandon does his solo, he shows what training and technique can do to an improvised routine. He seems comfortable and perhaps a little too cocky.
Randi’s solo shows off her beautiful smile, but not much more. It is unfortunately not very original, with some poses, some tricks, lots of floor and an awful dress.
Kupono’s solo makes me reconsider him as a dancer! He does well, showcasing a style that defines him, all raggedy and quasi-sinister.
Melissa does her contemporary ballet solo, with great technique and only on the floor at the end. She has that level that defines her as a dancer but, can she be “America’s Favorite Dancer”?
Evan makes good in a solo that makes me think that he took to heart the Gene Kelly comment by Debbie Allen. His costume is out of place with the actual choreography, which makes the whole thing contrast with itself. Is that a good thing? I don’t think so. I think instead that the old-fashioned bits outweighed the contemporary parts.
Kayla does well, looking pretty and with some well executed air tricks, demonstrating good extensions and a pretty presence. She makes me think that ALL of these dancers ARE good, and deserve to be where they are. It is sad to think that there is only one winner, but oh well, what is that phone number again Cat?
Ade’s solo is athletic and impressive. Lots of tricks = lots of audience cheers = lots of votes.
Stunning Jeannine jumps to some scorpions and stays upright all seconds long. She does very well. And her vote number is…?
Jason’s solo is truly unimpressive. After seeing the athleticism, technique and originality of the others, I must say that he is the weakest of the boys, closely behind Evan.
Jeannete shakes her Miami moves and shows what Latino ballroom looks like! But, was it original? Can it grab that vote from the tweens out there? Among the girls, I would think that she and Randi are competing for the bottom.
To end of the show we get grass skirts after all! The boys do an African Dance routine tat I am tooooo tired to comment upon. It looked generally good, almost as punchy as the “Single Ladies” choreography performed by Beyonce. Perhaps a little more masculine.
My predictions for tomorrow: Randi and Evan out.