Maybe the producers heard all the complaints that last week's So You Think You Can Dance was too slow, because this week's performance episode was jam-packed. I'm not sure that we've ever seen 14 performances in a night before, plus there was an extra body at the judges' table (though maybe Tabitha and Napoleon only count as one brain?). It was a lot to take in.

No couple utterly bombed, but very few managed to be stellar in both performances. That said, I have to give the Couple of the Night Award to Kherington and Twitch. It's not even really fair to praise Twitch for dancing out of his element at this point; his "element" is so small that nearly everything will be outside of it. But he had to run the emotional gamut on Wednesday, being a tough, fiery matador one minute and a tender, brokenhearted ex-boyfriend the next, and he pulled both off admirably. Kherington impressed me, too, for getting through two routines with nary a smile and for holding up better overall than I would have guessed from her auditions. Plus, they had a routine where they got to jump on a bed! Unfair advantage!
Couple of the Night Runners-Up: Chelsie and Mark. Chelsie is one of those people who could literally be given any dance and pull it off well. She's not just a dancer, she's a spunky little actress, and the way she gets into character can make up for anything she lacks on the technical side. Mark, meanwhile, has gone from "that goofy Queen guy" to one of my favorites on the show; he's the perfect foil for Chelsie.
That leaves the other five, so to see who I think could find themselves in the bottom and to see pictures of all the dances, just read more.
Also strong: Katee and Joshua (which I feel, at this point, should be followed by a "duh") and Courtney and Gev. Katee and Joshua are this season's storytellers, and that ability coupled with a Mia Michaels routine was predictably powerful. Their West Coast Swing was a little less impressive, but maybe that's cause I'm used to seeing it on the likes of Benji and Lacey. Meanwhile, Courtney and Gev — especially Courtney — had a few standout moments on Wednesday. I wouldn't have guessed she could overshadow Gev in hip hop, but I guess an NBA dance background will do that for ya.
On the other hand, I don't know why Kourtni and Matt aren't clicking. I feel bad for Matt, who really seems to be on Nigel's bad side over and over again; that puts the burden on Kourtni, and she doesn't seem to be able to pull them both out of a slump. I enjoyed their mambo but agree it could have been spicier; the hip hop, meanwhile, just wasn't tough enough. It's like they're afraid to dance big.
Jessica and Will, meanwhile, have sort of the opposite problem of Kourtni and Matt: The judges love Will so much that Jessica is never going to get out of his shadow. They rave about Will's body and Will's movement and Will's leap that goes over Jessica's head — and then they slam Jessica for lacking confidence. Well, no wonder! Their second routine really worked for me, though; maybe I was swayed by my insane love for Heart, but I thought they finally matched each other's passion.
And then there's Thayne and Comfort, who had the tough luck of a) being paired together suddenly and b) pulling two dances — a slowed-down Broadway and a waltz — that would make it hard fto motivate people to vote. The Broadway was bumbling (Nigel was harsh, but right, to say they'd never cut it on an actual Broadway stage); the waltz, meanwhile, was much better, but who votes on the basis of a waltz?
I suspect those three couples will be in the bottom tonight, though I wouldn't be surprised to see Courtney and Gev or one of the other presumed favorites get a bottom-three scare. What do you think? Who ruled the night? And how much do you want to go jump on your bed now?
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Photos courtesy of Fox

















Julia Cocco'
Saint Tropez
Manoush
Twitch and Will ...topless MADE my night.
1I honestly feel Katee and Joshua are the strongest couple, but Chelsie and Mark are my fave! I also like Twitch and Kherington; Twitch is obviously a favorite of everyone's and I was never put off by Kherington like others were. I love love little Gev, but I don't think there are high hopes for either him or Courtney going all the way on this show. For some reason, I hated their broadway routine last night- I kept thinking if one of the other couples, like Joshua and Katee, had done it, it would have been amazing. I agree with your bottom three, with the possibility of Courtney and Gev being in there.
2ilikeatea I couldn't agree more.
I really liked Will and Jessica's second routine (smooth jazz?) and I thought Jessica did great. I don't know how they expect her to embrace herself as a dancer when they keep slamming her. Tabitha and Napoleon really got me last night for being so hard on her. I thought she showed great emotion and her lines were beautiful. It has to be hard with Will as a partner because is an amazing dancer. I felt the same way last year when they paired Danny and Anya together. Anya was good but Danny was unbelievable to watch. Jessica has the same problem. I agree with Buzz about the bottom three these dancers never seem to get out of the bottom.
3***he is an amazing dancer***
4OMG. Katee & Joshua's Mia Michael's routine was absolutely wonderful. Katee face had so much expression in her moves & her face, she really knew what the piece was all about. And Joshua, he's awesome as well. I watched the routine 3 times! They just totally blew me away.
Everyone else (save for Twitchington) I could do w/o. This season doesn't seem as great as last years (imo).
5I (respectfully, of course!) disagree with you, Buzz. I think Chelsie and Mark were the best couple of the night. Both of their routines were just flawless, they are a wonderful pair and their characters are always spot-on. I liked both of Mia's numbers - Kherington finally stopped smiling and it changed her whole body. Finally some real emotion from her! Twitch was incredible in that number. But I didn't like the paso doble at all, it seemed stiff and I could see Twitch counting steps. Joshua and Katie were great as well, but did anyone else think the WC Swing number seemed slow? Why didn't Benji pick a song with a faster tempo?
6Like you, Buzz, I wasn't really blown away by any of the performances but(as always) Mia Michaels numbers were the real winners. She is a wonderful choreographer and both couples performed her dances well. Katee and Joshua are still my favorite couple and I really do like Chelsie; she is a great entertainer even when she's not the best dancer.
7Last night I was bored by most of the performances; I felt there was too much quantity, too little quality. With the exception of Chelsie and Mark, of course! They win Couple of the Night for me. I also thought Will and Jessica's routine to "Alone" was interesting and sexy - I liked the use of the shirt.
8I wasn't impressed with last night at all. None of the routines were very exciting and I hated that they tried to pack in 14 routines in 2 hours.
Chelsie and Mark and Courtney and Gev were my favorites, but they're always my favorites, so I guess that's nothing new. Twitchington was okay too.
I still think Joshua and Katee are overrated. They can do nothing wrong in the judges eyes. I'm sure they could just stand their and the judges would still be singing their praises. Their WCS didn't even come close to Sara and Pasha's last year, IMO. Sorry, I just don't get all the Joshua/Katee love. Why don't the judges just cut everyone else and make it the Joshua and Katee show? I'm sure they'd love that.
Even though I think she's the weakest dancer left on the show, I have a feeling Comfort will outlast Kourtni and Jessica. I think they want variety on the tour so they'll keep her around until the top 10.
My main problem with this year, besides the painfully obvious favoritism, is the choreography. I'm sorry, but I don't think any of these routines have been outstanding this year. There have been a couple pieces that are somewhat memorable, but nothing compared to past seasons. The lack of Wade Robson and Shane Sparks isn't helping, at all. I think its a huge loss to the show. I also find it interesting that Dan Karaty (though not my favorite choreography by any means) hasn't choreographed anything this season.
9Iit's really hard for me to pick who to vote for when they start doing two dances. For example I really liked Will and Jessica's second dance, but the first one not so much. (BTW I really want this couple to be broken up, Jessica doesn't have to go home necessarily, but I would like to see how they'd do with other people.)
Comfort and Thayne didn't do anything for me, they are def. bottom 3, but it didn't help that they got somewhat boring assignments (relative to everyone else). I wonder how they would've done with an entertaining Mia routine tonight, could've really demonstrated if they deserved to be there.
I think Courtney and Gev will probably be bottom 3, just because there arent that many couples left. I dont think either of them will go home though. I actually liked their hip hop, it was adorable (but that probably wasnt the intent).
Chelsie and Mark were great, I really wonder how their chemistry will work with other people down the road. (Same with the other two favorite couples Joshua and Katee as well as Twitchington)
Oh I totally cried during Joshua and Katee's first dance as well as Twitchington's second one. Mia did awesome work tonight.
Kortni and Matt have been such disappointments...I really thought I was going to love Kortni after her audition. IMO their hip hop routine sucked, but that was partially because the choreography was not hard enough at all which isn't completely their fault. Is anyone going to choreograph a hard hitting hip hop piece this year or what?! I think either they or Comfort and Thayne will be going home.
10Well--I'm not sure everyone knows thi, but Kourtni was hospitalized this week....they literally had to drag her out of rehearsal, she didn't want to go, but was dancing in such extreme pain. She missed two days of rehearsals as they ran tests...apparently, the docs don't know what it is, but assume it's related to her kidney infection (that she had during Vegas week). Sad.
I love Thayne, and I really thought his Broadway with Comfort was great.
Anyone else feel the judges are unnecessarily pimping out certain couples? It's so unfair. IT really puts out a bias, especially for people that don't know dance.
11I agree with the two posters who said that the choreography sucks this year. Because they're so right. Last night was soooooo boring, and not because of the dancing, in my opinion it was because of the choreography. I think what saved my viewing last night (though I did skip a lot thanks to my pvr) was definitely the shirtlessness and to be honest, I think Matt is one of the sexiest men I've ever seen! And Mark comes in a close second
It was nice to see some
sex appeal on the guys for one night, like that night a couple of the girls were wearing half a dress
The only routine I thought was GOOD was Katie and Joshua's Mia Micheals routine.
12I completely agree about Jessica. I think she is an amazing dancer who steps up to the plate again and again. Hell, he slammed her into the ground on a lift and she didn't even miss a blink. Then she matched his line in a mess up at the end, yet it was still praise Will, and Jess, not enough. It is so obvious and ridiculous. Every show I get more and more angry about it. I'll admit, I am pregnant and a bit more fiery than usual, but still, it is totally unfair to her.
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