‘So You Think You Can Dance’: Whose game is it anyway? (Answer: anyone’s)

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I was certain last night would be the preamble to Courtney Galiano and Mark Kanemura‘s farewell, as I had them pegged as the next couple to be voted off ‘So You Think You Can Dance,’ but who knew? They made a great pair and helped create a highly entertaining Wednesday night installment that proved that this show is still anybody’s game. It also helped that the show was a streamlined one hour, as opposed to its usual two-hour length. Let’s break it down:

Mark and Courtney: I was surprised by how much I enjoyed their Viennese Waltz. There was something about them, the routine, the music (yes, yes, we get it, David Cook, ‘American Idol’), even the clothes made the dance seem very contemporary. And they made a good-looking pair. I was surprised that the judges liked it as much as I did. Later they performed a jazz dance by Sonya Tayeh. I couldn’t quite understand the story she was trying to tell, but I dig any dance in which Mark gets to lurch around and do his crazy-eyes thing. It was a good night for the two of them (although I still never really get what Mark’s up to in his solos).

Joshua Allen and Katee Shean: You would have thought that Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt had gotten back together, the audience’s excitement for this couple’s reunion was so high. And for good reason! I don’t think any other couple on the show ever matched these two for chemistry, consistency and excitement. I needed to watch their Tice Diorio romantic contemporary dance twice, and it gave me goosebumps both times. Everything about Katee and Josh is effortless, from the way Katee flies through the air to the way Joshua catches her. I wasn’t quite feeling their Paso Doble as much (I think partially because the music was so odd) but the judges pointed out what did work about it, which was helpful. Mary Murphy predicted that they’d be in the finale, so while it’s hard to pick who should be eliminated tonight, it would definitely be one of the bigger upsets if it was this pair.

Chelsie Hightower and Twitch Boss: The judges nailed it when they said that it was all Chelsie, all the time during their mambo. Twitch looked a little bit behind on it -- and while it’s not his medium, it’s conceivable that, say, Joshua could have handled it with a bit more expertise. Chelsie was a red whirling dervish up there. I thought the story of their hip-hop routine seemed a little ridiculous -- two mad conductors fighting for a baton? But it turned out to be very cute, I have to say (in some ways it looked more like a Broadway routine), and was a great piece for performers. This I’d say is the one place where both Chelsie and Katee have Courtney beat -- she’s not necessarily deficient but those two just sell their characters so much harder.

Cat Deeley: Girlfriend was wearing some crazy shoes tonight (I didn’t get a good look at them but I know fellow blogger Stephanie Lysaght did), but who cares about that when she took a grill from Twitch’s mouth and put it in her own? Even though she looked ridiculous in them and his aviator rims, she’s never been more beautiful. What other host on TV would do such a thing? Oprah wouldn’t even have an intern do that. Cat, you are a mensch.

Sadly, tonight I will be on the road and not able to track tonight’s episode, which perhaps is a good thing, since it will be a suitable tough cut, but I know that Stephanie will take care of it most ably. Here’s looking forward to the finale, whoever’s in it!

-- Claire Zulkey