So You Think You Can Dance Season 5 Episode 11

The top 16 danced in So You Think You Can Dance Season 5 Episode 10, and tonight two more will be sent home.

Nigel starts off the show talking about what everybody’s been talking about this week. I heard the comment earlier this morning that these things come in threes, and people were wondering when the other shoe would drop. First, Ed McMahon, host of Star Search, died earlier this week at age 86. Then this morning, news came that Farrah Fawcett died at age 62. A couple hours ago, we then heard that Michael Jackson, who no matter how much some people grew to hate him over the years because of the rumors was nonetheless a talented singer and dancer, is dead at age 50. As a tribute to him, they have decided to play the Thriller video, from the best selling album of all time.

After having spent the beginning of the show on that tribute, they decide to drag 5 couples up there at once. Asuka & Vitolio are in the bottom three. Janette & Brandon are safe. Randi & Evan are also safe. Phillip & Jeanine are safe, too. Melissa & Ade, likewise, are safe.

Karla & Jonathan are in the bottom three as Nigel betted. Kayla & Kupono are safe, leaving Caitlin & Jason in the bottom three.

Asuka, Vitolio, Karla, Jonathan, Caitlin, and Jason will now dance for their lives.

The judges are unanimous this week with the girls. Caitlin is growing in confidence and gave the best solo, so she is safe. Karla was a little desperate tonight and never found her center. Although they have nothing but good things to say to Asuka, they do not think she is growing in the competition. Consequently, Asuka Kondoh will be going home. She will remember working with Vitolio the most.

For the guys, they are not unanimous. Vitolio always shows promise, but he doesn’t always deliver. If he’s going to continue to be in the bottom three, he can’t hold back. Jonathan is also in the bottom three more than once. Again, his gymnastics are great, but he’ll need more than that. Jason’s solo was full of desperation, not delivering when he danced for his life. It would not have been enough to get him through… if he were against better competition. He is safe. Neither Vitolio nor Jonathan are good enough at this point, but Vitolio has one more chance. Jonathan Platero has been eliminated.

As a closing announcement, Fox will rebroadcast an episode of American Idol for the first time ever. American Idol Season 8 Episode 19, the top 13’s Michael Jackson week, will air this Monday.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of So You Think You Can Dance Season 5 Episode 12, which airs Wednesday at 8/7c on Fox.

So You Think You Can Dance Season 5 Episode 10

After Ashley and Max were eliminated in So You Think You Can Dance Season 5 Episode 9, we’re now down to the top 16.

Toni Basil joins Nigel and Mary.

Karla Garcia & Jonathan Platero
Style: Hip Hop
Choreographer: Dave Scott
Routine: gangsta love story
Song: By My Side by Jadakiss featuring Ne-Yo
Nigel: No excitement in the routine. No fear. Not good enough. Like a Sunday school picnic outing. Bet you’re in the bottom three.
Mary: Not synchronized. Lacked chemistry.
Toni: Felt store bought. Didn’t work precisely together as a unit.
Number: 1-888-TEMPO-01

Asuka Kondoh & Vitolio Jeune
Style: Jazz
Choreographer: Mandy Moore
Routine: thrash rocker jazz
Song: Heartbreaker by Pat Benatar
Nigel: Fantastic. You did the work.
Mary: Really good but not at the same level as last week. Not really together in parts. Expected a little bit more.
Toni: Potential to be an extremely powerful couple based on how well you get along, but don’t let your technique get in the way of your emotions.
Number: 1-888-TEMPO-02

Melissa Sandvig & Ade Obayomi
Style: Rumba
Choreographer: Tony Meredith
Song: Emotion by Destiny’s Child
Nigel: Apart from Melissa being the sexiest girl up there this evening, Ade was wonderful as well. What a difference Ade makes.
Mary: What you’re selling, I am buying. So believable and so in tune.
Toni: Beautifully done, gorgeous sensuality.
Number: 1-888-TEMPO-03

Janette Manrara & Brandon Bryant
Style: Hip Hop
Choreographer: Dave Scott
Routine: rock & roll meets hip hop
Song: What a World by Common
Nigel: Brandon impressed me in his hip hop as a contemporary dancer, and so did salsa dancer Janette.
Mary: You guys really hit that. Absolutely believable.
Number: 1-888-TEMPO-04

Kayla Rodomski & Kupono Aweau
Style: Viennese Waltz
Choreographer: Jean Marc Genereaux
Song: Sweet Dreams for You by Jewel
Nigel: Very beautiful but not a routine that will make anyone stand up and cheer.
Mary: Elegant, flowing, totally believable. Have to put them on the hot tamale train.
Toni: Really liked it. Commendable for a new partnership
Number: 1-888-TEMPO-05

Randi Evans & Evan Kasprzak
Style: Contemporary
Choreographer: Mia Michaels
Routine: A cat and mouse game all about Randi’s butt
Song: Koop Island Blues by Koop featuring Ane Brun
Nigel: Very simple choreography, but it was beautifully danced. Memorable due to its simplicity.
Mary: Terrific. Evan’s emerged as a leading man tonight. Loved the fact that Randi let it go.
Toni: Lived up to the choreography.
Number: 1-888-TEMPO-06

Caitlin Kinney & Jason Glover
Style: Paso Doble
Choreographers: Jean Marc & France Genereaux
Routine: They hate each other
Song: O’Fortuna from Carmina Burana by Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg & Kurt Prestel
Nigel: Jason performed a little to the audience too much rather than to his partner, but a lot of what they did was exceptionally good. Caitlin’s ever so good with perfect lines.
Mary: Really a strong performance. Jason lost his posture a bit from time to time. Caitlin was magnificent.
Toni: Didn’t always work, but the flaws didn’t get in the way of the performance.
Number: 1-888-TEMPO-07

Jeanine Mason & Phillip Chbeeb
Style: Broadway
Choreographer: Tyce Diorio
Song: Moses from the Singin in the Rain original soundtrack
Nigel: Needed so much personality. Jeanine brought it. Phillip needs to grow even more than he has.
Mary: So much fun. Phillip didn’t really have the technique. Jeanine could step out on any Broadway stage.
Toni: Adorable, which may not be good enough. Better this week than last.
Number: 1-888-TEMPO-08

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of So You Think You Can Dance Season 5 Episode 11, which airs Thursday at 9/8c on Fox.

So You Think You Can Dance Season 5 Episode 9

The top 18 performed in So You Think You Can Dance 5 Episode 8, and tonight two more will be sent home.

Melissa & Ade are safe. Jeanine & Phillip are also safe, as Caitlin & Jason are in the bottom three. Mary is not really surprised but is disappointed after their Bollywood routine last week.

Janette & Brandon are safe. Karla & Jonathan are safe, leaving Ashley & Kupono in the bottom three. Lil C is shocked following their crash test dummy routine, but this week they were vulnerable after being taken out of their genre.

Unsurprisingly, Evan’s brother Ryan Kasprzak returned to audition for season 6, and he made it to Vegas.

Randi & Evan are safe. Asuka & Vitolio are safe, with Kayla & Max joining the bottom three. Nigel says that he can understand people not getting their routine.

Caitlin, Jason, Ashley, Kupono, Kayla, and Max will be dancing for their lives.

Neither decision tonight from the judges is unanimous.

Caitlin had great quality of movement tonight and really good control. Ashley looks glamorous, but her solo had no substance. Kayla’s solo was crowded because she tried to do too much. Ashley Valerio will be leaving tonight.

Jason’s solo was probably the best they’ve seen this year, so he’s safe. Kupono’s solo had very little substance, although he is an intelligent dancer. Max is a hard worker, but that will not be enough to save him this week. Maksim Kapitannikov has been eliminated.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of So You Think You Can Dance Season 5 Episode 10, which airs Wednesday at 8/7c on Fox.

So You Think You Can Dance Season 5 Episode 8

Tony Bellissimo and Paris Torres were eliminated in So You Think You Can Dance Episode 7, leaving 18 to perform tonight.

Lil C has joined the loud mouth and the British guy at the judges’ table.

Randi Evans & Evan Kasprzak
Style: Jive
Choreographer: Louie van Amstel
Song: Shake a Tail Feather by Ray Charles
Lil C: Out the box with a bang. Evan is a little too smooth. Randi is a firecracker. Great partnership.
Mary: Two contestants who are built for the jive. Not that bad, but just fell short a little bit.
Nigel: Thought Evan would be better. Lost the double bounce feel. Tremendous as a couple.
Number: 1-888-TEMPO-01

Melissa Sandvig & Ade(tokunbo Isaac Kayode) Obayomi
Style: Jazz
Choreographer: Sonya Tayeh
Routine: High maintenance girl playing hard to get and a man who hates to lose
Song: 24 Hours (The Ashton Shuffle A-Bomb Remix) by Terry Poison
Lil C: Ade is everybody’s competition, although he may not have thought so earlier. Melissa really tried to submerge herself into the routine.
Mary: Really tough to find anything I didn’t love about that.
Nigel: Everything Ade did, Melissa did at equal strength. Brilliantly danced.
Number: 1-888-TEMPO-02

Caitlin Kinney & Jason Glover
Style: Hip Hop
Choreographer: Shane Sparks
Routine: Characters met in a bar, had a relationship for a week, she leaves, and he’s longing for what he can’t have.
Song: Missin You by Trey Songz
Lil C: Did not love that. Left feeling a bit perplexed. The choreographer’s fantasy became a nightmare. Came off corny.
Mary: Kinda like Michael Jackson and Britney Spears. Both completely different dancers. Chemistry didn’t work.
Nigel: Looked really good doing this routine, thanks to Shane realizing that neither are very hard hitting dancers.
Number: 1-888-TEMPO-03

Janette Manrara & Brandon Bryant
Style: Disco
Choreographer: Doriana Sanchez
Song: Loving Is Really My Game by Brainstorm
Lil C: Saw the birth of progression in two amazing dancers. Extremely amazing.
Mary: Did you put that whole thing on fast forward or what? Have never seen a disco done that fast ever. Just nailed it.
Nigel: If I could scream like Mary, I would. One of the best disco routines ever. Did more in that routine than was done in the entire movie Dirty Dancing.
Number: 1-888-TEMPO-04

Asuka Kondoh & Vitolio Jeune
Style: Waltz
Choreographer: Louie van Amstel
Song: Dreams Are More Precious by Enya
Mary: (crying) Painfully beautiful. First honest performance from Vitolio. Asuka has also gone to another level.
Lil C: Vitolio’s choppy steps were compensated for by the sincerity and authenticity of the emotion. Asuka has a dominant submissive quality.
Nigel: Anybody not touched by the beauty of that routine is heartless. Quality rarely seen on this program.
Number: 1-888-TEMPO-05

Kayla Rodomski & Max Kapitannikov
Style: Pop Jazz
Choreographer: Brian Freedman
Routine: Performer trying to steal a princess’ throne.
Song: Hot Like Wow by Nadia Oh
Lil C: Max did very good. Kayla is amazing.
Mary: Kayla is just a beast out there. Still on the hot tamale train.
Nigel: Kayla is a frontrunner. Max has a wonderful partner, and tonight he was able to keep up with her.
Number: 1-888-TEMPO-06

Karla Garcia & Jonathan Platero
Style: Contemporary
Choreographer: Stacey Tookey
Song: Falling Slowly by The Frames
Mary: Jonathan, you did that style better than your own. The light is just right on the two of you.
Nigel: No false moves from Jonathan. Absolutely sensational routine.
Lil C: Beautifully danced. Perfect balance.
Number: 1-888-TEMPO-07

Jeanine Mason & Phillip Chbeeb
Style: Tango
Choreographer: Tony Meredith
Song: Violento (Up Mix) by Bailongo
Mary: Phillip gets an A+ in attitude and a C- in technique. Jeanine is a hot mama with better technique.
Lil C: Phillip lacked confidence.
Nigel: Phillip can’t strain his face while lifting. Wasn’t good technically, but was great entertainment. Jeanine, good job.
Number: 1-888-TEMPO-08

Ashley Valerio & Kupono Aweau
Style: Hip Hop
Choreographer: Shane Sparks
Routine: Ashley is Kupono’s shadow.
Song: Imma Be by The Black Eyed Peas
Mary: It was okay. Not memorable.
Lil C: Kupono struggled, which made it hard for Ashley to follow him. Ashley had some nice moments that saved the routine.
Nigel: Stopped just at the point that I started to enjoy it.
Number: 1-888-TEMPO-09

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of So You Think You Can Dance Season 5 Episode 9, which airs Thursday at 9/8c on Fox.

So You Think You Can Dance Season 5 Episode 7

The top 20 performed in So You Think You Can Dance Season 5 Episode 6, and tonight two will be sent home.

Kayla & Max are safe. Randi & Evan are also safe. Phillip & Jeanine are safe, too.

Caitlyn & Jason are safe. Melissa & Ade are safe.

Ashley & Kupono are safe, which puts Paris & Tony in the bottom three. Adam’s not surprised. They’re charming, but their dancing was not sufficient.

Two of the remaining three couples are in danger. Asuka & Vitolio are in the bottom three. Mary isn’t shocked, even though they did a good job. Janette & Brandon are safe, making Karla & Jonathan the last couple to join the bottom three.

With the bottom three couples determined, Paris, Tony, Asuka, Vitolio, Karla, and Jonathan will dance for their lives.

Following the individual dances, the judges have decided who to cut. They are unanimous with their result for the girls. Karla was very good but needs to bring her own personality. However, she did enough to remain in the competition. Asuka has to try to make something out of Latin ballroom, but she’s got a lot of personality. The judges did not feel that Paris brought everything she could bring, so she will be leaving tonight.

They are unanimous with the guys, and they’re also in agreement that none of the three danced well enough to stay in the competition for very long. Vitolio’s routines lack personality, but he will be staying. Jonathan’s dancing wasn’t particularly good, but his gymnastics were. Tony did locking but not particularly well. Jonathan is safe. Tony will be leaving.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of So You Think You Can Dance Season 5 Episode 7, which airs Wednesday at 8/7c on Fox.

So You Think You Can Dance Season 5 Episode 6

The So You Think You Can Dance Season 5 Top 20 have been chosen and are ready to perform for America’s votes.

Adam Shankman joins Mary and Nigel at the judges’ table.

The contestants have been partnered at random and will be pulling styles from a hat.

Jeanine Mason & Phillip Chbeeb
Style: Hip Hop
Routine: a couple that can’t fall asleep without resolving their issues
Choreographers: Tabitha & Napoleon D’Umo
Song: Mad by Ne-Yo
Adam: Unfreakinreal. Jeanine held her own with Phillip.
Mary: I hate to disagree with Adam, but I’m not going to.
Nigel: Jeanine made a mark for herself to keep up with Phillip’s following.
Number: 1-888-TEMPO-01

Asuka Kondoh & Vitolio Jeune
Style: Broadway
Routine: silent film
Choreographer: Tyce Diorio
Song: Hot Honey Rag from Chicago
Adam: This is where the discussion about the luck of the draw comes in. Felt more artificial than the first performance, but it was danced very well.
Mary: Left sitting a little disappointed, although Tyce and the audience probably were not. Played it safe.
Nigel: Very strong dancing but without their own personalities.
Number: 1-888-TEMPO-02

Karla Garcia & Jonathan Platero
Style: Chacha
Routine: the woman’s flirting with the guy, who’s out to get her
Choreographer: Tony Meredith
Song: Poker Face by Lady Gaga
Adam: Really good. You beeped me up. Jon needs a little more flexibility, but it didn’t matter.
Mary: Woooo. If it’s not rough, it’s not fun.
Nigel: Exploded with chemistry. Exciting, challenging, entertaining.
Number: 1-888-TEMPO-03

Randi Evans & Evan Kasprzak
Style: Jazz
Routine: a love story
Choreographer: Tyce Diorio
Song: I Only Have Eyes for You by Jamie Cullum
Adam: Slightly vertically challenged as a couple, but both danced like you were 8 feet tall (what’s an 8 foot tall dancer look like?). Evan’s a beautiful dancer.
Mary: The stars have come out tonight. Woooo. Just smoldering.
Nigel: Absolutely fantastic. A couple people will recognize. One of Tyce’s best routines.
Number: 1-888-TEMPO-04

Paris Torres & Tony Bellissimo
Style: Hip Hop
Choreographers: Tabitha & Napoleon D’Umo
Song: Let the Beat Rock by The Black Eyed Peas (Boys Noize Megamix)
Adam: Really good. But the costumes were distracting, and there was not enough rebound.
Mary: Not memorable. Expected more from hip hop dancer Tony. Just good, which is not good enough.
Nigel: Agree with Mary. You need a lot of growth. Didn’t feel right. Tony’s gangsta face is not real.
Number: 1-888-TEMPO-05

Caitlyn Kinney & Jason Glover
Style: Bollywood
Choreographer: Nakul Dev Mahajan
Song: Jai Ho from the Slumdog Millionaire sountrack
Adam: You guys rock. Jason’s hand work was so superb, and it looked effortless. Caitlyn blew it out there.
Mary: Glad that Bollywood came to Hollywood. Love the costumes. Strong right from the beginning.
Nigel: You brought it tonight. Beautiful to see.
Number: 1-888-TEMPO-06

Janette Manrara & Brandon Bryant
Style: Foxtrot
Choreographer: Louie van Amstel
Song: Come Fly with Me by Michael Buble
Adam: Lovely. Both worked together. Brandon had character and performance, unlike Vegas.
Mary: Janette was Ginger Rogers. The lifts looked effortless because Brandon is a powerhouse.
Nigel: Great job learning something new. Great, but there’s still some work to be done.
Number: 1-888-TEMPO-07

Ashley Valerio & Kupono Aweau
Style: Jazz
Routine: crash test dummies
Choreographer: Wade Robson
Song: Felt Mountain by Goldfrapp
Adam: Had to work at watching the dancing because it’s so weird. Technique is exquisite; ability is extraordinary.
Mary: Bought it 100%. Marvelous.
Nigel: People will talk about that routine. Adhered to the characters throughout. In a completely different world.
Number: 1-888-TEMPO-08

Melissa Sandvig & Ade Obayomi
Style: Contemporary
Routine: moment when you first fall in love
Choreographer: Mandy Moore
Song: Right Here Waiting by Richard Marx
Adam: Special. Melissa is living proof that you get better with age. Ade’s power is profound because it is quiet. Really moving.
Mary: Woooo. So totally believeable. Everything flowed so fluidly.
Nigel: Beautiful to have a ballerina on the program. Doesn’t think anyone’s seen how good Ade is yet.
Number: 1-888-TEMPO-09

Kayla Rodomski & Max Kapitannikov
Style: Samba
Choreographer: Louie van Amstel
Song: Jum Bah Day by House of Gypsies
Adam: It was so good. Max must be the luckiest man alive. It’s like Kayla, who’s never done ballroom, was born in a ballroom. She could have never looked that good without Max.
Mary: I hear a train (ard to hear it over that screeching). I’m losing my voice.
Nigel: Kayla is one of those dancers that appears able to do everything. Max was also terrific, but would like to see him be a bit sharper. Topped a brilliant evening.
Number: 1-888-TEMPO-10

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of So You Think You Can Dance Season 5 Episode 7, which airs Thursday at 9/8c on Fox.

So You Think You Can Dance Season 5 Top 20

Last night brought us down to the top 16 girls and top 16 boys, and tonight an additional 6 will be cut from each, bringing us down to the top 20.

Janette Manrara is in the top 20.

Diana Vaden has been eliminated.

Vitolio Jeune is in the top 20.

Then we get a montage of people getting eliminated, whoever they are.

Kayla Rodomski is in the top 20.

Kuponohi’ipoi Aweau is in the top 20. Good luck spelling that each week.

Paris Torres, Jeanine Mason, Ade Obayomi, Karla Garcia, and Jonathan Platero are the next to advance.

Mia pretty much hates Brandon’s guts and doesn’t hide it. Lil C makes it less personal but is not impressed. Mary interrupts to give her opinion. She doesn’t want to sit and listen to this crap. With all that said, Brandon Bryant has received 4 votes out of 6, which is enough to get him into the top 20.

Tony Bellissimo goes to the top 20 despite being told his dance technique is not as strong as it probably should be. They’d like to see him grow.

Maksim Kapitannikov, Caitlin Kinney, Melissa Sandvig, and Jason Glover are the next group to make the top 20.

Ashley Valerio has returned for her fourth year, and the fourth time’s a charm.

Randi Evans is in the top 20.

Alex Wong is under contract with Miami City Ballet. They will not let him out of his contract even for the time this show lasts. I wasn’t expecting that answer. Certainly reflects poorly on them, but they can pretty much tell they may as well keep him as long as they can because they’re going to lose him sooner or later.

Then four more people are cut, and it’s entirely unclear who they are.

Phillip Chbeeb is in the top 20.

The last spot for the girls is between Deanna and Asuka Kondoh. Asuka has joined the top 20.

There’s one spot left for the guys. It’s brother against brother. Evan Kasprzak and Ryan Kasprzak will compete for it, with one going to the top 20 and the other coming back and entering the top 20 next year. Cat calls this the most difficult piece of news to break. Oh, like this isn’t intentional. You could have revealed the news to one of them earlier. Younger brother Evan advances, perhaps on the strength of his brother’s choreography.

To recap, the top 10 girls are:
Asuka Kondoh
Ashley Valerio
Caitlin Kinney
Janette Manrara
Jeanine Mason
Karla Garcia
Kayla Rodomski
Melissa Sandvig
Paris Torres
Randi Evans

And the top 10 boys are:
Ade Obayomi
Brandon Bryant
Evan Kasprzak
Jason Glover
Jonathan Platero
Kuponohi’ipoi Aweau
Maksim Kapitannikov
Phillip Chbeeb
Tony Bellissimo
Vitolio Jeune

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of So You Think You Can Dance Season 5 Episode 6, which airs Wednesday at 8/7c on Fox.

So You Think You Can Dance Season 5 Episode 3

So You Think You Can Dance 5 Episode 2 was largely forgettable, but we did end up seeing Priscilla Marrero, Janette Manrara and Romulo Villaverde, Erik “Silky” Moore, Caitlin Kinney, and Evan and Ryan Kasprzak.

Adam Shankman will join Nigel and Mary in LA.

Bianca Revels was cut last year on the last day of Vegas (was everybody cut on the last day of Vegas last year?). She does a tap dancing routine that gets Mary up on her feet. She is heading back to Vegas.

Xavier and Brynelle Blanton are always going everywhere together and holding hands. People think they’re a couple, but they’re really just brother and sister. Kissing brother and sister? Xavier says that he’s fine if he doesn’t go further because it brought him and his sister closer together. I think they need some time apart. Brynelle, however, is disappointed because she’s been dancing on and off since she was 4.

Debra Lawson needs to get less revealing clothing and get dance lessons. Beyond that, she also has to make a decision whether her religion will let her dance or not because she supposedly can’t dance in front of men or on the sabbath. It’s really a moot point because the judges will pass.

Suzanne Fernandez does a fairy medicine dance. Whatever the hell that is. Next.

Calico Sequeira is a swinger. Nigel feels like she’s a member of a lindy hop club, but it’s entertaining. She will not be advancing, but Adam makes the mistake of volunteering to dance with her. He’s going to Vegas.

Asuka Kondoh and Ricky Sun dance international Latin ballroom, which they realize is unusual for Asians to be doing. Nigel says that Ricky holds his own really well, despite the fact that Asuka steals the limelight. Mary calls it breathtaking. Adam could not keep his eyes off Asuka. They’re both going to Vegas.

Nathan Trasoras quit dancing in eighth grade for a little while but then unquit it. Adam calls him pretty damn extraordinary. Mary seconds that. Nigel says he’s one of the best dancers they’ve had on the program. There’s a problem, though. He’s 17 and, therefore, ineligible. If he does not come back next year, Nigel and Mary will hunt him down. He will have to wait for fall to go to Vegas, but he has already been granted a ticket there for season 6, assuming he’s 18 by then. Considering this is a show with a public vote, this is not the wisest move. People will probably not remember this episode in 4 months. Granted, he’s a strong enough dancer that that’s probably a moot point.

Sammy Ramirez is a popper who’s having difficulty deciding what color he wants his hair to be. Adam just hopes he can do something else. Mary agrees and thought he was wonderful. He will go to choreography.

Stacey House is another one of those dancers who thinks she’s from the 80s. Adam asks if she has any training. What was she trained on a farm? Yes, yes she was.

Amanda Kerby hopes to bring her dad joy since he has multiple sclerosis. Nigel’s being grabbed by her beauty, rather than her dance. Mary says she’s got it going on. Adam says that she was disconnected from the song, but she was definitely dancing what she’s feeling, which is empowerment from seeing her father do what he does considering his condition. She’s going to Vegas.

Philip Chbeeb got pneumonia last year, so he couldn’t go to Vegas. He gets a golden ticket without auditioning.

However, this year, he has showed up with a partner, so he will dance anyway. He dances with Arielle Coker, whose mom taught them partnering from a wheelchair. Mary thought it was very good and clever. Adam calls her a beautiful dancer who made her partner a better dancer as well. She’s going to Vegas, too.

Kevin Cormier believes he’s Shakiro, like Shakira. Oh bloody hell. Nigel tells him that if he wants to be called a dancer, he’s got to do more than shake his hips. Nobody wants to see him shake anything else.

Sammy is going to Vegas. Diana Vaden and Alexi Agdeppa (from the going to choreography montage) also advance.

From sunny LA, they head to surprisingly rainy Seattle. Mia Michaels joins Nigel and Mary.

Christopher Keller does a mix between Argentine tango, east coast swing, and international tango. At least in his mind that’s what he’s doing anyway. His partner is not competing. She’s the sensible one.

Nick “Nasty” Salzman is an aspiring tattoo artist. So is he an aspiring dancer as well? He started strong but has difficulty with finishing prematurely. He’s not overly concerned whether he makes it through or not, and he tells Nigel that he’s there for the ladies instead. Nigel considers this disrespectful. Oh, somebody get this guy a binky. Poor executive producer got his feelings hurt. Mary comes to Nigel’s defense, pretending that she’s changed her mind from yes to no. As if.

Dmitrious Bistrevsky is 6’6″ and less confident after he videotaped himself dancing. The judges are worried he’ll hurt himself. Mary felt that he looked like he’s been dancing for three months, which he has.

The judges are getting fed up with Seattle and hope Kelsea Taylor will turn the tide. Nigel calls her zany and slightly crazy. He likes it. She will be going to choreography, where she advances to Vegas. She’s one of only four dancers from day one to go there.

Kuponohi’ipoi (you can’t just put a bunch of vowels in a hat when naming someone, and then add an apostrophe) Aweau leaves Mary on the fence. She liked his strong movements but not the very feminine elements. He goes to choreography.

David “Sex” Solher is back for his fourth year. Last year, Nigel begged him not to come back. Here’s an idea. Stop putting him on TV. This got old a long time ago. He won’t be dancing just yet.

Leonid Knyshov is pretty well just filling space in what’s looking like the most lackluster audition city ever. Once the judges are done trying to figure out what purpose this guy serves, they find a purpose. It’s not a good one. He will participate in a dance off against Sex. Double the pointless, half the fun. Strangely enough, with the commercial break leading up to the dance off, my local Fox station froze. I take this as a sign that they’re trying to protect me from having to see this trainwreck.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of So You Think You Can Dance Season 5 Episode 4, which airs Wednesday at 8/7c on Fox.