"SYTYCD" Season 8: The Elimination Show That Wasn't

June 16, 2011

What can you say about an reality TV elimination episode in which there was no elimination? After much fanfare and an hour filled with dramatic warnings about the impending loss of two contestants, we learned in the final moment of last night’s “So You Think You Can Dance” show, that all 20 contestants will remain on the program for another week. Yawn.

Don’t get me wrong: I think this season’s contestants are all talented, entertaining dancers and I’m certainly not upset that I’ll get to see them all dance again. However, I think that in order to maintain the integrity of the competition, the judges should stick to the format and stop making things up as they go along. Send two people home. That’s your job. Take a cue from Nike and “Just do it.” (Am I taking this reality TV competition show too seriously? Perhaps. But if Cat Deeley was allowed to repeatedly exclaim that “we’re making history here!” last night, then I think I can carry on like this for a paragraph or two more, no? OK. I’m done.)

Despite my disappointment about the “elimination that wasn’t,” I did find the rest of the show to be fairly entertaining. Here’s a quick rundown of my favorite moments:

-The opening number, choreographed by Sonya Tayeh: The sharp, fierce jazz routine kept my attention. I loved the girls’ uniformly sleek hairstyles and I was thrilled by how in sync the guys were during their section. It was a great way to kick off the evening.

– The picture of Nigel and Lady Gaga engaging in some sort of conga line: Cat revealed the image early in the show, but Nigel just looked embarrassed and declined to explain the circumstances behind the photo. I’d love to know the whole story!

-The solos: This season’s Top 20 is chock-full of unique, creative and oh-so-talented people, and last night’s “dance for your life” solos proved that every contestant is playing to win. Tadd’s B-boy routine to The Brian Setzer Orchestra’s “Jump, Jive an’ Wail” was especially thrilling to watch.

-The revelation that Lady Gaga will appear as a guest host later in the season: I’m sure she’ll have plenty of interesting feedback for the contestants, and I hope it means that she’ll perform, too.

What was your favorite moment of last night’s episode? How did you feel about the “elimination that wasn’t?” Share your reactions with us on Twitter (@Dance_SpiritMag) and on our Facebook page!