So You Think You Can Dance: Top 16 perform live blog

Do you think your can critique?

For those folks watching on the West Coast, there will be a 'live blog' of So You Think You Can Dance' right here at this link, starting tonight, June 24, at 8PM PST.  The article will be written in a 'stream of thoughts' style as my wife and I watch each performance.  Other than the list you see below, we have not read any spoilers about the performances so that we offer a pure perspective.

Feel free to use Examiner's comment system or e-mail comments as you see fit.  Otherwise, just hit the refresh button on your browser to get the latest entry in the story.

Minor spoiler alert!  Below is information about the guest judge and what the dance routines from tonight's show will be.

According to information found at SYTYCDism tonight's guest judge will be, sigh, Toni Basil. The dancers will be performing the following routines:

Karla/Jonathan - Hip Hop by Dave Scott
Asuka/Vitolio - Jazz by Mandy Moore
Melissa/Ade - Rumba by Tony Meredith
Janette/Brandon - Hip Hop by Dave Scott
Kayla/Kupono - Viennese Waltz by Jean-Marc Generaux
Randi/Evan - Contemporary by Mia Michaels
Caitlin/Jason - Paso Doble by Jean-Marc & Franx
Jeanine/Phillip - Broadway by Tyce Diorio

Mia Michaels almost always delights, so it is great to see that she will have a contemporary routine for us tonight, even if it is at the hands and feet of Randi and Evan.  Last week Mia choreographed the underwhelming opening routine for the results show, let's hope she can do better this week!

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7:28  The hour is quickly approaching!  Trying to not look at any East Coast commentary...

7:52  It's almost time!  As I mentioned before, this is a stream of consciousness perspective. Spelling errors are not only expected, they are encouraged (well, not really).  Sometimes Examiner's publishing tool can take a powder.  If that happens, I have setup a special Twitter account just as a backup http://twitter.com/michaelsheena.  It's not my regular account, but if things head south I can keep posting at Twitter and then copy and paste back on Examiner once things are back online.  Hopefully I won't have to do that!  See you soon!

8:00  Woo Hoo!  Let's light this candle

8:02  Cat, looking glam as ever!  Here's the intro!  Wow, Caitlin has quite the look going on there! 

8:05 Toni Basil, blah, blah, blah...Oooo, she's the worst!  Enough about locking!

Karla & Jonathan - Hip Hop Routine - Dave Scott Song: By My Side by Jadakiss feat. Ne-Yo

Sigh, well they aren't my favorites.  Let's hope that they give us something special tonight.  Wife Gail thinks that Cat really bonds with the dancers each year.  I think Cat would simply be a fun person to hang around with, regardless of the fact that she's a stunning beauty.  C'mon commercials...get out of the way!

Okay, here we go!  Karla as a journalist?  Jonathan as an acrobat?  Last week was definitely better for the two than the first week.  So sad, seeing Ashley react.  Oh no, Jonathan's inner gangster?  This could mean big trouble.  Gail likes the routine.    I'm lukewarm with it.  My gripe with this number is that it didn't really pull me in.  Nigel seems to be even less impressed than me.  Mr. Grumpy!  Mary also agrees that the number wasn't all that.  Toni is, of course, giving us a history lesson that we didn't want.  No phone call from us tonight, even though Gail is still defending them.

Asuka & Vitolio - Jazz Routine by Mandy Moore - Song: Heartbreaker by Pat Benatar

Commercials.  Asuka has not endeared herself to me.  Can she turn the corner this evening?  For Vitolio's I hope that she can!  Asuka would be making jewelry if she wasn't a dancer?  Vitolio, lead singer?  Yeah, I don't think so.  Thrash, rocker, jazz...Okay, let's see how this plays out.  Awww, she's crying.  Wow, a different side of Asuka.  The outfits aren't working for me tonight so far.  Gail thinks Asuka looks really confident for someone who was weeping in rehearsals.  Gail and I are in agreement, we don't like this one.  I do like Asuka, the person, better today.  Wow, Nigel, fantastic?  Okay, did Nigel take a happy pill between the previous dance and this one?  Mary is more tepid and points out sync issues.  Yeah, that is right Mary, you go girl.  True, they are growing as partners. Toni, another lesson.  Don't let emotion get in the way of your technique.  Okay, I guess that makes more sense than most of the stuff she says.

Ade & Melissa - Rhumba by Tony Meredith - Song: Emotion by Destiny's Child

Melissa looks amazing!  This could be really hot!  Melissa would continue with pilates.  Ade, gack the pick, would be a sound engineer.  Nice microphone placement, Ade ;-)  Sensuality, ah yes!  There are girls in the competition, but Melissa is a WOMAN, yes she is!    These two do a great job together.  Gail thinks Melissa looks "too boney, ribby"  but I disagree 100 percent.  Gail finds the outfit distracting.  Once again, not in my eyes.  Gail thinks there was no story, just a lot of hugging.  I liked the number, very sensual.  What a difference Ade makes.  HAH, funny!  Mary is oohing and ahhing.  They are selling, she is buying.  Yes, very believable.  I agree (can't believe how much I am agreeing with Mary tonight).  Gail is still not sold on these two, but I am sold!  Toni, says it was beautifully done.  Gives props to Tony. 

Brandon & Janette - Hip Hop by Dave Scott - Song: What A World by Common

Gail thinks that overall, the dancing is better tonight than last week.  I have to agree.  The new iPhone 3G S commercial is lame.  Did they change agencies or something?  Brandon would be into lighting and design.  Janette would be a loan processor. Huh, wouldn't have come up with that one.  Lot's of confidence from these two, can they live up to it?  What is with these outfits?  Gail says "I don't want to like it, but I do like it."  I'm just not down with this, not pulling me in.  Not a fan of the music, either.  Gail gives it a thumbs up, she likes the moves.  I wasn't able to follow the story in this.  Nigel likes Brandon's hip hop and Janette's rock.  Mary thought they hit it.  Of course we know that Mary LOVES Brandon.  God, Janette's outfit is terrible, I feel bad for her.  Toni likes the connection between the two.  Judges liked it.  Gail liked it.  I didn't. 

Kupono & Kayla - Vienese Waltz  by Jean Marc - Song: Sweet Dreams for You by Jewel

Judges favorite, Kayla, is up next.  Can she pull a trifecta with a new partner? Kayla would be a model if she wasn't a dancer.  Nice to have that as an option, no?  Kupono would be a costume designer.  Yeah, his outfits are crazy.  Awww, so sad for Ashley.  Love Jean Marc, such a great guy.  Kupono is having issues with the lifts in practice. Does anyone think Kayla is high maintenance?  Wind machine...nice.  So good, so far.  Wow, they look great!  I don't buy the chemistry between the two, but it is the first week for them.  Nigel compliments both the dancers and the choreographers.  Says, it won't make anyone stand up and cheer.  I disagree, though, both Gail and I thought that this routine was "call worthy."  Mary loves it.  They are on the Hot Tamale Train!  Deservedly so.  Toni says she "really likes" it.  Says Kayla is "somethin else." 

Randi & Evan - Contemporary by Mia Michaels - Koop Island Blues

Bad news folks, we are losing Gail to bedtime.  That'll happen when you are pregnant!  Reader Lisa brings up an interesting point about Kupono and Kayla:  neither one of them really mourned the loss of their partner.  Good point!  Randi would be a special education teacher.  Evan would be a speed shop owner.  I love Mia MIchaels, I really hope she can get me to love these two.  Booty, eh?  Interesting.  The girl is like a poodle?  Here we go....Hmmm, simple, not a real complex story here.  Nigel, lots of butt puns.  Something that will be remember?  Sorry, I just don't see it.  I like Mia's high concept material.  I'm not taken in.  Mary loves it.  I didn't feel the same emotions as Mia.  True, Randi is doing really well with the fact that her butt was the centerpiece of the routine.  Toni thinks that they lived up to the choreography.  Thankfully, Toni keeps her comments reasonably short.  No Lil'C craziness.  I'm not as bothered by Toni as I thought I would be.

Caitlin & Jason - Paso Doble by Jean Marc - O'Fortuna from Carmina Burana

My favorite couple is coming up next.  I am very worried about the Paso Doble.  It hasn't always worked out for other dancers.  Grrrr... Directv or KTVU is having some sound/audio issues.  Caitlin would be a broadcast journalist and Jason would be a soccer player.  I love Caitlin!  She has an innocence about her that is great.  Jean Marc & France, please, I beg of you, deliver a winner!  I always find the Paso Doblo to be kind of scary.  Outfits look like they are out of the movie 300.  Nigel thought that Jason was performing to the audience, but he's hedging a bit, saying that many things were good.  Nigel wanted more interaction between the two.  Mary thought it was a strong performance, but rips on Jason a bit.  Mary also likes Caitlin.  I agree, I thought Caitlin did very well.  Of course, I am totally biased.  Toni liked it.  More lecturing.  This is not enjoyable.    Okay, so I am going to call for them unless I am totally shocked by the final number.  Which I doubt.  Was it the absolute best of the evening?  No, I think Melissa and Ade were the best.  But I think Caitlin and Jason need my vote. 

Jeanine & Phillip - Broadway routine by Tyce Dioro - Moses from Singin' in the Rain

I don't like Phillip, I just don't   He just gets so much love from the judges.  I felt that the judges really defended this couple last week when they shouldn't have.  They are not all that and a bag of chips, folks.  Tyce's work rarely impresses me, so I am not expecting much here.  Phillip would want to be an inventor.  Jeanine would want to be an actress.  Oh good, a couch!  Some of the best costumes of the night.  Jeanine is good, but Phil just strikes me as someone who is "trying" rather than "dancing."  The fluff is getting to them.  Uh oh, wardrobe malfunction!  Nigel thinks that Jeanine brought the personality but not Philip.  Yeah, true that.  He is lagging.  Mary liked the routine.  She thought it was fun.  True, he did jump the couch.  It was impressive.  Jeanine can do Broadway, yes she can!  Toni, thought it was adorable, but had reservations.  To be honest, I couldn't really follow what she was trying to say.

Final thoughts!

God those feathers were distracting!  Never do that again.  Melissa and Ade were probably the best of the evening, followed closely by Kayla and Kupono.  However, I am calling in for Caitlin and Jason because I want to keep her on the show.  Overall, I thought that tonight was better than last week, but not up to the Top 20 show. 

Who is going home?  I think Phillip should be packing his bags, but he does have strong crowd support, so who knows?  Karla should be thinking about her options as well!

I'm happy that Nigel mellowed out over the course of the evening.  I feel bad for Karla and Jonathan, they really took the brunt of Nigel's cold front.

This was fun!  I'll be back tomorrow for the results show! See you then!

Update:  The link is up for the results show!  See you at 9PM PST!