Okay. This one is simply too close to call. In a So You Think You Can Dance season that started out a little lackluster (especially since the judges and choreographers kept boasting that season 6 would blow season 5 out of the water), there may never have been a closer race for the title of America's Favorite Dancer in the show's history than the one that's on now. Last night's episode proved that the remaining 8 contestants are in it to win.
So, instead of picking who I think might get the axe tonight, I'm going to go through each couple and explain why each dancer could stay or could be sent home. It's just that tight.
Kathryn McCormick and Ryan Di Lello: Based on last week, these two were obvious choices to leave the program Wednesday night, especially since they were partnered up together.
But then, a Jason Gilkison cha cha happened. It was probably the best cha cha I've ever seen the on the show, and Kathryn and Ryan took a well-deserved first class seat on the Hot Tamale Train, where very few dancers have ended up this season. I think Karen Hauer has received the greatest number of tickets, and she was eliminated in week 5.
This performance might end up saving the two of them tonight. Oh and Ryan's heartfelt shout-out to an injured Ashleigh might help, too. I spoke to Ryan last week, and the guy is 100 percent sincere in his love for that girl. Plus, he said the two of them might get to dancer together on the show for the first time if they both make it to the finale. Who doesn't want to see that?
Mollee Gray and Jakob Karr: Mollee has grown leaps and bounds since the partner swapping, and Jakob is still one of the best dancers the show has ever seen. Very strong reasons to believe we'll see both of them in the finale.
But I worry that Jakob is the new Will Wingfield and that, while his Viennese waltz with Mollee was breathtaking, the entire show this week was so entertaining, the pair might be forgotten. Had that waltz appeared any other week, I'd say automatic safe, but I'm a little worried that these two might get eliminated because viewers just won't vote, assuming they are good enough to make it to next week (even though Nigel, Mary and Adam practically read the audience a 7-page voting instruction manual at the end of the show -- things got eerily close to a telethon, with that and Ryan's pleas for Ashleigh).
Ellenore Scott and Legacy: This pair received the only bad review of the night -- for an unusual NappyTabs routine that the judges felt lacked substance in favor of style. However, the two also performed an Emmy-award-worthy Travis Wall contemporary routine. Travis has the golden touch, and usually if you dance one of his pieces, you're an automatic in to the next show.
Ellenore is also learning how to tone done the quirkiness, and becomes more beautiful and relatable each week. Legacy is genuine and his skills are sick, so why not pick up the phone for him? These two are a very strong pair.
Ashleigh Di Lello and Russell Ferguson: So Russell dances with fill-in partners again. His Santa solo, though not perfect (what was up with putting his shoe back on?), was probably one of the most entertaining and memorable of the evening. He also closed the show with Bollywood, which leaves him in a very strong position to get votes.
Some might argue that Ashleigh should go home simply because she couldn't perform. But I beg to differ. She is the most improved dancer by a mile, and that's no easy feat considering the judges' reviews of her before the top 20 shows began. She was competing at the same level as Jakob by week 2. There's something about that kind of drive that merits reward ... and votes.
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