It's the most dreaded day of the week, elimination day. It's hard to believe that after tonight we'll only be one elimination away from the top 10. Sadly, season 6 of So You Think You Can Dance is zooming by without any consequence or great excitement. Remember what Thursday's last season felt like at this point? Like anyone we lost would be terrible? Do any of you honestly feel that about season 6?

However we do or don't feel, we'll be losing two dancers tonight. Based on your predictions, it seems clear who the guy will be....but we'll have to wait to see which lady will be leaving us. Watch along with me tonight as we learn the fate of the Top 14. And follow along with my 140 character quips on our BuddyTV So You Think You Can Dance Twitter.

Group Routine
Style: Pop Jazz
Choreographer: Wade Robson
Aha! by Imogen Heap

Curious conceptual, but beautiful group piece starting out tonight. No one has to tell me, it is clearly a Wade Robson routine. I think everyone is supposed to be statues coming alive from stone. It is Wade's same quirky take on a basic story, one which often humanizes the unhuman or features the lifeless coming to life. (Think Crash Test Dummies. Think Van Gogh's erased subjects.) Thank goodness for the group routines. While the rest of the routines this season haven't necessarily wowed me, the group routines have. Great synchronicity, technique, stories, and I think most importantly, the new stage isn't too big for a dance troupe. It doesn't look so huge.

The judges take their intro time to pre-console whoever is sent home tonight (cough, cough Kevin) and for Nigel to remind America this is supposed to be about America's Favorite DANCER. The operative word of that sentence is Dancer, not Favorite. I wouldn't blame that confusion on America fully Nigel, you've spent an awful lot of time (like the past five seasons) highlighting the favorite part.

It's time for the first two couples, Karen and Kevin and Ashleigh and Jakob. Why even bother putting these two together, why waste this time? Clearly Karen and Kevin will be in the bottom. Unless suddenly poorly done Broadway routines are more popular than a stunning NappyTabs hip hop routine. If it goes the other way it will truly be the biggest shock in the history of So You Think You Can Dance. But it doesn't.

Jakob and Ashleigh: SAFE
Karen and Kevin: DANCING FOR YOUR LIVES

Most obvious dance for your life announcement ever.

Now it's time for the next group of dancers.

Ellenore and Ryan -- will be safe without a question. America loves Travis Wall and relationship routines. This had both, plus it was beautifully done. Cat said she watched it twice. Multiply that by five and you know how many times I've watched it.

Ellenore and Ryan: SAFE

The remaining couples are interesting though...either could be in the bottom two, and not because of their performances but because of the pieces they were given last night. Foxtrot isn't a vote getter and Victor and Channing's was a bit esoteric.

Victor and Channing: DANCING FOR YOUR LIVES
Russell and Noelle: SAFE

Kinda sad, but not surprising, I just hope above hopes that Channing doesn't go home. Yes, Karen is sexy as hell but that's all she's done perfectly thus far. You need more than sexy to win So You Think You Can Dance and I think Channing has that. Karen on the other hand, if eliminated, has a future on Dancing With the Stars or her own post-divorce dating/dancing show on FOX. Still, the growing yuck in my gut means that Nigel's leering lust of Karen will probably save her tonight.

That does set up for an interesting final two though. The last couples standing are Legacy & Kathryn and Nathan & Mollee, both couples appear to be fan favorites. In my mind, Kathryn & Legacy's passionate paso should save them over Nathan & Mollee's pop jazz routine. Hopefully a good completely outside of their comfort zone paso routine is appreciated more than a just good pop jazz routine plus Lady Gaga. Still, I'm beginning to believe that Team Tweeny Bopper's hold on American voters are stronger than I could have ever imagined.

Kathryn and Legacy: SAFE
Nathan and Mollee: DANCING FOR THEIR LIVES

Sorry for that, but phew. I watched it three more times today and I STILL don't get Mollee and Nathan's pop jazz routine. One has to wonder if their low votes is a backlash from the salsa disaster or Nigel's harsh rebuke of the two... or if the rest of America was left scratching their heads by that routine.

Before the solos we'll see a Bollywood routine performed by people who actually know how to do it. It's a sassy and modern Bollywood routine, performed full speed by SYTYCD Bollywood choreographer Nakul and a full Bollywood troupe. It is a telling sign that the audience cheers louder and longer for the guest dancers than anything the contestants have done this season.

SOLO TIME

Karen
Song: "Break On Through" by The Doors

Karen is going sexy, stacatto rocker tonight. Truthfully, it wouldn't look completely out of place on a stage with a pole. And while I think that Nigel may love the leather leggings and hair flips, I'm not sure it will be enough to keep her in comparison over two strong technical dancers. I am calling this the solo with no pole-o. I'm also calling that if Nigel votes with anything but his, um... it will be sending Karen home. If Mollee or Channing got up and did that, it would certainly send them home.

Kevin
Song: Freeze by T-Pain

Kevin is definitely better in his solos than as a partner, but he doesn't live up to the history of hip hop solos on the show. Plus, he stayed in one place and didn't use the stage at all. Basically, unless Victor or Nathan falls on their faces or are so dull the judges fall asleep in a 30 second solo, he'll be sent home. It's harsh, but it's the truth.

Channing
Song: "The Face" by RyanDan

Channing is definitely dancing for her life, and looking lovely, long and powerful. She's showing more grace and emotion than usual, but I'm not sure it will be enough to save her from Karen's killer sex appeal. Next time Channing, because I hope there is a next time: leather leggings and hair flips....Nigel will notice.

Victor
Song: "Baby's Romance" by Chris Garneau

Victor uses the whole stage beautifully and looks technically stunning as usual. Gorgeous extension, great leaps, a dizzying number of well executed turns. He is clearly talented, but we still haven't seen personality or star power.

Mollee
Song: "Let Me Think About It" by Ida Corr

Mollee comes out guns ablazing, she's dancing hard and fast and with lots of aerial tricks, but it seems trick heavy and lacking real content or really any choreography. There were more acrobatic moves than, well, than anything. As Cat notes, "she threw everything in that, I think." It's too flashy and not dance-y enough for my taste, but I bet it will save her. It may not have been dancing, but she was definitely doing it for her life.

Nathan
Song: "So Insane" by discovery

About 20 seconds of Nathan's solo is spent on the ground and has me saying huh? That was an incredibly poorly managed 30 seconds. Man, as technically gorgeous as he was, in those last 10 seconds of actually dancing, I think he could be in trouble.

Based on those solos, I think it's Karen and Kevin going home. Though, Channing and Nathan may not be sitting pretty either. Or Victor. Or um, Mollee.

The judges are unanimous tonight on both eliminations tonight. This leads me to believe Karen and Kevin will indeed be going home. Nigel might love that solo with no pole-o, but I doubt Mary Murphy or Adam Shankman did.

Who is the girl going home tonight?

CHANNING IS GOING HOME

You hear that thud? That was my jaw dropping in total disappointment. Sex beats skill. Nigel should listen to his own quote, let me repeat it for him, "this show is about finding America's Favorite DANCER, not just their favorite."

Who is the guy going home tonight?

KEVIN IS GOING HOME

No shocker, plus I am glad Nigel took the time to tell Victor that this isn't America's Favorite Pirouetter. Amen.

That means next week we will have a new partnership of Karen and Victor, which is destined to last only one week, unless they get a Latin routine or Victor manages to get his 5th contemporary/jazzy routine in a row. It will be interesting to watch, but I fear not enjoyable.

So there you have it America. What have we learned tonight on So You Think You Can Dance? Sex beats skill if you're a female contestant. If you're a male contestant, technique matters more than star power.



--Abbey Simmons, BuddyTV Staff Writer
(Image Courtesy of FOX)