SYTYCD

View Date: 8/6/09

Tonight's episode is the final elimination of Season 5, where we get to find out who has been voted America's Favorite Dancer. Like last night's performance episode, they were in the Kodak Theater. Cat looked absolutely radiant tonight, perfect for a finale. The dancers performed many of the favorite routines of the season of the various judges and choreographers. All of the choreographers featured this season were present, with seven judges on the panel.

They started off with The Wiz group number that had the entire top 20 dancers. Another phenomenal performance of this number, which I loved when it originally aired. The work with the picture frame was exquisite, although I was a little startled when the costumes reminded me more of The Lion King than The Wiz.

Recaps galore tonight, all the way back to the auditions. They showed the best and most heartbreaking moments of the season from the auditions through last night's episode. They had a thorough recap of the first half of the finale to make sure we remembered why we voted the way we did.

First up is Adam Shankman's favorite routine. He chose a Tabitha and Napoleon number from the first episode featuring Jeanine and Phillip. As Adam said, this routine started jeanine's rise to the top, and featured the fan favorite Phillip. I think this routine is even better tonight, and shows just how much Jeanine has grown throughout the competition. Additionally, Phillip didn't look nervous, which was a very pleasant change.

Next we got to see Nigel's favorite dance, Brandon and Janette's Argentine Tango. The passion was just as incredible this time around. It looks like these two were made to do that dance.

Debbie Allen was up next. Her favorite routine was Asuka and Vitolio's Waltz. I wasn't a huge fan of this number the first time around, but that may have been due to the notion that I thought these two dancers should be eliminated. Looking at it again, I probably still wouldn't have picked it as one of the best numbers of the year, but it was rather pretty.

Mary Murphy's favorite number was Travis's contemporary routine as danced by Jeanine and Jason. Travis should be nominated for an Emmy for this next year. And she just keeps getting better and better. And they received the first standing ovation of the night from the judges. They even revisited the infamous kiss at the end, made more emotionally charged with Jeanine's confession last night.

Next judge up was Mia Michaels. She picked a surprising number in a samba by Max and Kayla from the first episode. I really thought she would pick the breast cancer number, which she still may later if given the chance. Kayla did and still does look exceptionally hot in this routine, and Max was always a fantastic partner.

We got to see highlights of a special night out for the final four. The lucky group got to see the first screening of Fame starring the former SYTYCD participant Kherington Payne and judge Debbie Allen.

Debbie then picked another favorite number, a group dance choreographed by Dimitri, Tabitha and Napoleon. The top 16 dancers participated in this smoldering fusion number with both hip-hop and Latin ballroom elements. Love the water bit for the girls, and some of the moves for the guys were almost too risque for television.

We got a guest performance by SYTYCD Australia winner choreographed by Sonya. In that one piece, she showed a lot more versitility than most ballerinas, and received only the second standing ovation by the judges.

Lil' C picked the Jai Ho Bollywood number, all the way. This was the one performed by Jason and Caitlin. Tonight's version didn't seem to have as much energy as the original.

The top four dancers were then invited out onto the stage for the first elimination of the evening. The person in fourth place after last night's votes was Kayla, which was a bit of a surprise. She was always a judges' and choreographers' favorite. I would have probably placed her in third tonight, even though she was my least favorite of the four. She was a better dancer than Evan, but the judges' comments from last night may have backfired.

Adam Shankman's next selection was the butt dance, choreographed by Mia Michaels and performed by Randi and Evan. It wasn't as surprising or shocking as the first time, but still and excellent performance and garnered another standing ovation from the judges.

Mary Murphy chose last night's Paso Doble with Jeanine and Brandon. I really can't get enough of this routine. The music is such an interesting selection for this style. I actually had just watched it again immediately prior to the finale. Yet no matter how many times I see it, it is breathtakingly powerful. And Louis van Amstel is having a great night.

Another person to be eliminated, and this time it was Evan in third place. I think this is totally appropriate, and the winner will be one of the two best dancers from this season, not just one of the favorite dancers. I love Evan's style and charisma. He should go far, and I wouldn't be surprised if he gets offers from Broadway very soon.

Another favorite moment of Nigel's was when Mary admitted to using Botox. The dance, however, was Mia Michael's addiction routine featuring Kayla and Kupono. This was almost a frightening routine, with Kupono playing a very malevolent drug and Kayla being a struggling addict. I think I saw the addict's struggle even better this time, and this one will probably be nominated for awards next year as well.

The Rage Boys Crew guest performed next. These are young boys who perform hip-hop. I may not have remembered their name, but I definitely remembered their dancing.

Tyce DiOrio's favorite routine of the season was a Doriana Sanchez routine featuring Janette and Brandon. Janette finally seems like she's having some fun tonight (and that could be knowing that Kayla won't win). This routine was very memorable to me as the first disco routine on this show that I actually really liked.

The final favorite routine was the choice of Mia Michaels, and was the obvious last dance pick. Of course, it is the breast cancer routine performed by Melissa and Ade. No other pairing could have performed this dance as well, and their trust in each other has never been more obsious. Melissa flew higher, Ade provided the power and support, and they have never looked better.

The top eight dancers performed their group number from A Chorus Line. I'm running out of words to describe just how good the dancing is tonight. This version was just a bit different, because the judges came out dressed similarly to the dancers and strutted their stuff. Some of them made you realize how good they really are, how much they truly stand out, how sharp their movements are, and thus why they push their dancers so hard. Usually the routines in the in the finale recaps just aren't as good as when the dancers were performing to stay in the competition. I have to disagree with that tonight. Almost every routine was sharper, if possible.

Finally, America's Favorite Dancer was revealed, but not before the standard recap of highlights for each dancer. They both truly deserve to be there, and have proven themselves throughout the season. The biggest vote in SYTYCD's history was Jeanine. She truly improved throughout the competition, not just dominated from the beginning. Her personality really played a hand in her popularity, and even cracked jokes through her happy tears. Just a tad surprising with how great Brandon is, to the point where even she was surprised.

10 words or less: Can't wait for September 9 for the next season.