So You Think You Can Dance - Episode 310 - The Top 16

Cat fashion watch: Knee-length one-shouldered shiny black dress made of what looks like pleather and tousled hair. She introduces the top 16 and Jessi is conspicuously missing, but we won't get to that until near the end of the show. Joining Nigel and Mary tonight is the fabulous and legendary Debbie Allen and all three judges yammer about how this is the BEST SEASON EVER. I'm glad we didn't hear that on American Idol this season because it would've been a fat, honkin' lie, but it would've been awesome if Simon had been all, "Hey, we know this season kinda blows. Sorry 'bout that, America." Anyway, Mary names Dominic as a standout dancer this year and loves how he's risen to every challenge so far. Nigel talks about those crazy internet kids and says one of them referred to his "dentures and cat on his head," sending Mary into hysterics.

The theme for tonight's pre-dance interviews is "What do you want to be when you grow up?". Sara and Hayzoos are up first and she says she wants to be a freelance journalist writing about dance and he wants to get rich so he can give back to the community. Their dance this week is krump and it'll be choreographed by Lil' C, who is totally adorkable. They're dancing to The Game's "It's Okay (One Blood" and I know nothing about krumping but I think this dance is awesome and badass, and I have such a girlcrush on Sara. The judges love the energy and attitude of the dance, and Nigel praises Lil' C for his choreography, saying he really likes what Lil' C is doing with krumping these days. I feel a little bit embarrassed that a nerdy geezer like Nigel knows more about krumping than I do.

Next up are Shauna and Cedric, who want to be a techno singer and toy maker/toy store owner, respectively. They're dancing contemporary choreographed by Mia Michaels, who was probably over the moon at being able to work with her beloved Cedric. Unfortunately, she must've gotten up close and personal with his limitations because her choreography, set to "I Thought We Had" by The Family Stand, showcases Shauna, who is amazing, but Cedric gets to sit down or just stand there for significant portions of the dance. It's really not good and, in the audience, Mia looks vaguely disgusted and nauseated. Cat goes to the judges and Debbie is playing the role of Paula Abdul tonight, because she loved it and praises Cedric. Mary calls him out on not living up to the standards of the competition and flatly says it's time for him to go. Nigel agrees with Mary and thinks Cedric may be leaving this week, so basically he and Mary have just made sure that Cedric and Shauna will get tons of sympathy votes and stay out of the bottom three. Cedric makes a very nice speech telling all of the street dancers like him to get in classes and learn other types of dance, and Debbie is so inspired by his great attitude that she offers him a scholarship to her dance academy.

Lacey and Kameron are up next. Lacey says that at one point she wanted to get involved in all kinds of entertainment but a friend recently died and now she wants to focus on making others happy through dance. Kameron wants to have a big family and a marriage as solid and happy as his parents have. Hey, you know who likes to have big families? Mormons. And you know who's a Mormon? Lacey. I'm just sayin'. Lacey and Kameron are doing the quick step this week, choreographed by Tony Meredith. During rehearsals, Kameron's frame isn't rigid enough so Tony makes him wear a brace that holds his arms and shoulders in the correct position. They're dancing to "Big and Bad" by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and I continue to adore their chemistry and think they're so doing it. Their dance looks insanely complex and fast-paced and I'm really impressed. The judges all agree and give them high marks, with Kameron singled out for being a strong partner even though he's never partnered before.

Anya wants to run an animal shelter and Danny wants to be involved in the movie and television industry, either in front of or behind the camera. This week they're dancing hip-hop choreographed by Dan Karaty and they're both nervous. Anya says Danny is picking up the dance easily but she's struggling with not having counts to make and having to rely on the beats of the music. Dancing to Timbaland's "Oh Timbaland," I can see why Anya and Danny were nervous. Besides being outside of their comfort zones, the music for their dance is atypically slow and melodic for most hip-hop, so they're kind of dancing a hip-hop with some ballet and lyrical thrown in. It's interesting but the mellowness of the music doesn't allow them to give their dance the edge that most of the hip-hop dances on this show have. I think they do a good job with what they've been given but it's my least favorite of their routines. Debbie, of course, disagrees and says there's nothing they can't do. Mary agrees with Debbie but Nigel thinks they look uncomfortable doing this dance. When the crowd boos, he points out that he puts Anya and Danny on a higher level than most of the other couples since they've set the bar so high.

Next are Sabra and Dominic. Sabra wants to be a stand up comedian and insists she's funny. Dominic wants to spin on his head naked when nobody's watching. No, really, that's what he says. They're dancing the rumba this week and will be trained by Jean-Marc Genereux. Sabra thinks this week will be their first real test as a partnership and Dominic is worried about trying to cram years of training into a few hours. Dancing to "Stickwitu" by the Pussycat Dolls, they needn't worry at all about their partnership. Their chemistry is friggin' scorching in this and I'm wondering if they're also doing it, like I'm convinced Lacey and Kameron are. I'm also impressed at what a terrific, strong partner Dominic is, and how cleanly they pull off some difficult-looking moves. They're both a wonderful combination of powerful and graceful. Reactions from the judges: Debbie says it was hot, Mary shrieks so long and loudly that Nigel and Debbie plug their fingers in their ears, and Nigel tells Dominic how proud he is of him.

Lauren tells us that she wants to work for NASA and go into space. Neil wants to a singing, dancing, acting triple threat. They'll be dancing the tango this week choreographed by Jean-Marc Genereux, set to "Tanguera" by Sexteto Mayor. Unfortunately, Lauren and Neil don't have much sexual chemistry and the tango is a dance that demands it, so it's pretty forgettable. Not bad, just dull. It also doesn't help that Neil keeps making goofy faces through the whole thing. Debbie gives her one tiny bit of criticism for the night, saying it wasn't smooth enough for her. Mary thinks each of them show passion separately but not together and declares the whole thing "okay." Nigel agrees that it was merely "good" and calls Neil out on his mugging.

Jaimie and Hok are next. Hok wants to be an artist and, based on his work that we're shown, I think he'd be pretty successful. Jaimie says she wants to be a writer and co-write a book with her sister about her mother's life. They're dancing a jazz routine this week choreographed by Wade Robson, who has set out votives all over his studio. That can't be safe. In this dance, Jaimie is a flower and Hok is a hummingbird. Oh, good lord. I'm really over the nature motifs in jazz and contemporary. Jaimie's hair is gelled into sharp spikes to give it that flower petals look and this may be mean but, without the masses of curly hair to distract, she's kind of a butterface. Anyway, I don't really care for this dance, set to "The Chairman's Waltz" from the Memoirs of a Geisha soundtrack. It's too jerky and sharp and, like I said, the nature theme is so overdone. I'm in the minority, though, because the judges all loved it.

Last are Jessi and Pasha. Pasha says he wants to be reunited with his family, who he hasn't seen in ten years. We see a picture of Pasha's mom and she looks like Pasha in drag, I swear to god. Jessi, who is bizarrely wearing a sheep's ears headband in her interview, wants to be a performer like Judy Garland or Julie Andrews. They get the cha-cha this week, choreographed by Tony Meredith. Unfortunately, right before taping, Jessi had to be rushed to the hospital with chest pains and will not be able to dance. Dancing with Pasha is Tony's assistant, Melanie. Taking into account Jessi's absence, which must've rattled Pasha, and the fact that Melanie is quite a bit larger than Jessi and he had to lift her a couple of times, Pasha does an incredible job dancing to Jennifer Lopez' "Let's Get Loud." He's fun, flirtatious and sexy, and he looks like he was always supposed to be dancing with Melanie. When it's over, he kisses Melanie's hand and millions of women all over the world, including me, collectively swoon. All three judges give Pasha a standing ovation and high praise. Debbie says he proved the old saying "the show must go on" and Mary says he brought the house down, punctuating her comments with a shriek. Nigel first explains for the audience's benefit that Jessi will have to dance a solo tomorrow night if she's well enough, even if Pasha doesn't end up in the bottom three. If Jessi isn't well enough to dance her solo, she'll be cut from the competition. To take the sting out of it, he tells Pasha that he doesn't think Pasha will need to worry about being in the bottom three, since he was wonderful.

Cat recaps the performances and voting numbers. My favorites were Sabra and Dominic, Sara and Hayzoos, Lacey and Kameron, and Pasha. I think the bottom three should be Shauna and Cedric, Lauren and Neil, and Jaimie and Hok, with Cedric and Jessi being cut. Even if Jessi can dance her solo, if she's already having health issues in the third week, there's no way she can stand up to the rigors of the competition for the long haul. That would pair up Shauna and Pasha, which I think could be awesome. We'll find out what happens soon!