So You Think You Can Dance: Down to six (spoiler alert)

(Sasha and Melanie perform on Wednesday's SYTYCD in a Fox photo by Adam Rose.)

Well, there goes my favourite male on So You Think You Can Dance.

Future Broadway star Jess LeProtto (my prediction) got the boot after a surprising twist on the guys' side of the eliminations.

It was a no-brainer that Marko Germar would be safe right off the bat. And I figured there was a good chance that Jess would end up in the bottom four, but I thought he'd be joined by repeat bottom dweller Ricky Jaime, not Tadd Gadduang.

If Ricky had joined Jess on the DFL list instead of Tadd, Jess might have had a chance. But the minute I saw Tadd, during his solo, suspended horizontally in mid-air while hanging off a light tower, then flip right off the stage at the end, I figured the jig was up for Jess.

Not that Jess was chopped liver. He did a fine solo with a really, really long series of pirouettes, splits, a nice scissor kick and a saucy finish.

Sorry to see you go, Jess, see you on the tour.

There was no surprise, as far as I'm concerned, with the girls' results. Melanie Moore and Sasha Mallory were declared safe; Caitlynn Lawson and Jordan Casanova had to dance for their lives.

Personally, I would have preferred to get rid of both girls and keep both guys. What was up with their solos?

Here's what I wrote about Jordan's: "Show us her legs, chest pop, booty pop, boring, look sexy at camera, jut out hip, more legs, whatever."

Caitlynn's was similar, except with more pirouettes and a couple of leaps. Yawn.

For host Cat Deeley to tell them they were "two of the most talented girls this competition has ever seen" wasn't saying much for the other seasons, if that's the case.

I don't believe it, not when I can see Lauren Froderman, Allison Holker, Lauren Gottlieb, Kathryn McCormick and Kayla Radomski in my mind's eye, just to give a few examples.

But Jordan's gone and Caitlynn's sure to follow in her trail next week, unless some sort of anti-Sasha or Melanie backlash develops.

In letting Jordan go, head judge Nigel Lythgoe said the judges were going "with America's vote," which means, I guess, that Jordan had the lowest number of votes.

Once again, he mentioned the top 10 tour as a kind of consolation prize for the eliminated dancers (tickets go on sale Friday for the Oct. 9 date in Toronto).

It wasn't clear whether Jess also had the lowest votes.

"Jess, you are an absolutely sensational character," said Nigel. "You've grown, as we've said in the past, no question about that.

"Tadd, you are unique and absolutely what this program is all about. You came from a non-dance background and you are so creative and so unique that, for this process, Tadd, we are keeping you this evening."

The episode also featured Lady Gaga singing "The Edge of Glory" and "You and I" in what was obviously a pre-taped performance and The League of Extraordinary Dancers, with some impressive flips.

Dare I be unpatriotic and say I liked the top eight opening number, choreographed by Tyce Diorio, better than the top 16 number on SYTYCD Canada this week?

With apologies to Sergio Trujillo, the Tyce number had an ethereal quality I really liked. And yes, I realize Sergio's number had a dancer using aerial silks as opposed to just swinging on ropes like Tyce's.

So what did you think? Glad to see the last of Jordan's sexpot shtick? Were you surprised that Tadd was in danger?

We're just two weeks away from the finale. You can watch the top six perform next Wednesday at 8 p.m. on CTV and look for the recap here.

Comments

[Jane]

i'm with you....the girls were meh and the guys were both worth saving. I'm with the knowledgeable posters on the TWOP boards who would have kept Jess.

And I'm no fan of Tyce D, but that group number was magical. Loved it.

[Debra Yeo]

Thanks for the comments Jane. I'm gonna miss Jess. I am not going to miss Jordan.