SYTYCD

View Date: 8/5/09

Tonight is the first part of the season 5 finale. In this show, Evan, Kayla, Brandon, and Jeanine will each be dancing with everyone else. They are in a much larger performance hall (the Kodak Theater) with a new set tonight to accommodate the largest live audience the show has ever had. They started out with a different opening tonight, and many of the former competitors were shown in the audience. Cat looks adorable as usual, and her hair is looking particularly great tonight (Mom- Her hair looks crappy).

The guest judge tonight is Adam Shankman, which is always a pleasure. I really like him as a judge as he is always for the dancers and gives great critiques, both good and bad.

Group routine: The group performed a Wade and Amanda Robson sports-themed number. The guys were portraying football players while the girls were the cheerleaders the guys were hitting on. The girls got to take on a dominant role in this dance with a very cute story number. It was dances spectacularly, the props were used very well, and I laughed out loud several times. Jeanine really does this kind of sexy well.

Jeanine and Evan: This couple performed a Sonia routine. Some very interesting moves were seen, including Evan jumping on Jeanine's back. I couldn't find a single thing wrong with this number, and could really see the story come through the dance. Evan is really coming on at the right time, and is really turning out to be a really good contemporary dancer. The choreography was amazing, and really showcased the dancers. Jeanine was wonderful as well.

(Mom- Evan shows how strong he has become because he can keep up with everybody. He's had that goofy clown-like persona, and he can't quite get rid of it to come forward even more. But he is winning people over because he is so damn cute.)

Brandon's solo: The powerful classical music is perfect for him. Although it did look a little frantic, his choreography was stellar and a perfect match to the music.

Kayla and Brandon: This couple performed a Tyce DiOrio routine Broadway routine from All That Jazz. It was a table routine! I just love when they use props. My eye was constantly drawn to Brandon, and I don't think it was just because of his sequined coat. Kayla was good as well, but I don't think she shined as much as him.

Jeanine's solo: Another classical music selection, this time of the Tango variety. It was a different, unique routine that really stood apart from most of the female contemporary solos. Her turns were amazing, and she showed remarkable control throughout the piece. She received a standing ovation from the judges, which always amazes me, because they are not easily moved to that.

Evan and Brandon: This duo performed a Lorieann Gibson pop-jazz number. Battle routines are usually good when it comes to the top two guys. Nice music selection with Janet Jackson's Nasty Boys. It even has an homage to Ms. Jackson's brother's Bad video. While both guys performed admirably, Brandon just gave it more. His limbs were stretched longer, his jumps were higher, and everything was just more. I agree with Adam in that Brandon won that battle. Although the bit where Mary asked Evan what the nastiest thing he had ever done was funny as hell. And Brandon's face while Cat was pinching Evan's cheeks was priceless.

Kayla and Jeanine: The girls got to perform a Mia Michaels routine. What really blows is that I have no idea what happened during it. Our local Fox station had a malfunction and we only got to see the last 15 seconds or so of the number. Evidently, according to the judges, it was a remarkable dance about the process of going through this competition, from the auditions to the finals. They evidently kept shedding clothing as a way of shedding layers to get to the finals. Nigel said that Jeanine is peaking at the right time, and I must agree. I hope they show this number again tomorrow because I'd really like to see it.

Evan's solo: Very cute, very charming, and very fun. He comes across as very sweet, and he is right that no one has seen his style on this show before. (Mom- He is this year's Twitch in a totally different way, in that he is so unique. I don't like the way they're picking on him. It is very obvious that the judges, or at least Nigel, doesn't think he should be there. I do think he should be fourth of the four of them, but they just seem to be tearing him down one time after another, and I don't think that's right in a finale. He has done everything everyone else has. Maybe not as well as they have, but he has done it.)

Kayla and Evan: This couple performed a Tony and Melanie jive number. If they hadn't said this was a jive routine, I would have thought these two were dancing in a country bar. Actually, I really like that. It was very different for this show, and I think the first time I heard country music on this program. I found it very entertaining and enjoyable. You really couldn't tell that Kayla is so much taller than Evan. I don't agree with Mary that Kayla stole the show, because I couldn't keep my eyes off Evan. I am glad that Nigel finally gave Evan a good review.

Kayla's solo: Interesting music choice for her, but not as dynamic as we have seen from others tonight. It was kind of weak, which her solos have been all season. She is an amazing dancer, but she has stayed the same all season to me.

Jeanine and Brandon: This couple performed a Louis van Amstel Paso Doble. He can definitely do the very masculine ballroom roles to perfection. They both just looked absolutely fierce out there. That was stunning, and another standing ovation for these two. The music was a wonderful and unique choice which made this routine all the more memorable. Even the lighting and camera work were perfect for the number. These dancers should be the top two tomorrow night. Neither did anything wrong tonight, and they were better than ever before. This dance earned Mary's only scream of the night. That was the perfect way to end the last competitive performance night of the season.

10 words or less: It's all about Brandon and Jeanine tonight.