SYTYCD Top 17 Performance + Partner Rankings

Erin Andrews and Paula Abdul were the guest judges, and they were both knowledgeable enough to hold their own. Of course, Paula has veteran experience as a judge of any kind, so she did really well and gave some super fantastic advice and points. The group routine was choreographed by Chris Scott and Sonya Tayeh, who are pretty much magical together, although I saw more of Sonya's influence in this choreo than Chris'. And what was up with that enormous set piece that looked like a couple dozen 2x4s slapped together? In any case, it was beautiful and was a good opening to the show.

We have an entire package to explain Jade's injury and exit from the competition. It's a bit of a blessing in diguise for Curtis and BluPrint, who have both been heavily criticised for their lack of technique and personality in their routines, as they were both in the bottom along with Jade. I have no idea who would have been sent home between the three, if Jade wasn't injured - they've saved Jade probably one too many times, BluPrint has gotten constant intense criticism for his lack of personality, and Curtis has lately been extremely immature in his dancing. Jasmine M., Jenna and Alexis were in the bottom for the girls, and were all three asked to dance for their lives. Alexis had a fantastic solo, Jenna's was just simply great Latin Ballroom, and Jasmine's was pretty standard contemporary moves.

1. Amy and Fik-Shun - Jean-Marc Généreux
PASO DOBLE

Amy and Fik-Shun again proved they could do no wrong, and again added to their finale war chest, paving their way to the Top 4 once again. Fik-Shun's shoulders were obviously too high for a while in the routine, but it really didn't matter overall.

2. Jasmine H. and Aaron - Spencer Liff
BROADWAY

Again proving for me that Spencer Liff's broadway pieces way out-shine Tyce Diorio's. It was a creative idea for the routine, and Jasmine and Aaron complement each other fantastically. Jasmine's dress was especially gorgeous - it was made out of a silky-type material and it just floated over her mile-long legs gorgeously. No complaints, it was really fun and Aaron is again proving himself worthy of being on the show in Emilio's place. Just worried whether the routine was memorable enough and whether their placing in the show will hinder their vote count.

3. Makenzie and Paul - Lindsay Nelko
CONTEMPORARY

As much as I adore Mia Michaels, Stacey Tookey, Dee Caspary, Sonya Tayeh, etc., it's really nice to see some new blood in here for the contemporary pieces. I felt like Lindsay Nelko went really safe costume-wise here - put the girl in a floaty white dress, put the guy in a white shirt and simple pants - and I think that was probably a really smart decision for her debut. She's obviously super talented, and she used Makenzie's contemporary potential to the fullest. Makenzie and Paul are one of my favourite couples in the competition right now (the other being Amy and Fik-Shun), because they have incredible chemistry and this is the third routine in a row they've knocked out of the ballpark. Kind of surprising how well Paul is doing, not gonna lie, but I'm enjoying every bit of it.

4. Jasmine M. and Alan - Sean Cheesman
JAZZ

Fun concept, and I think Jasmine's personality really shone through here. Unfortunately, Alan's not made much of an impression personality-wise, but he's been able to keep himself standing because of his partnering work and strength. The beginning was especially neat, when they were drinking their tea and doing that kind of tutting-arm-locking thing with the cups, but it kind of got lost in the middle.

5. Jenna and Tucker - Keoni and Mari Madrid
HIP HOP? JAZZ? HIP-JAZZ?

Neat tribute to Michael Jackson by another pair of newbies. It was really creative choreography and nothing we've ever really seen before on the show, which I think kind of took Mary/Nigel aback in how to judge the routine. Tucker is probably the most adorable thing I've ever seen, and Jenna is a total femme-fatale-y type. When matched together, it's easy for Jenna to overshadow Tucker simply because of what seems to be her more extroverted personality, (last week's Cha Cha was all Jenna), but they were super evenly-matched and had no problem with hitting all the beats.

6. Malece and All-Star Marko Germar - Sonya Tayeh
CONTEMPORARY

Holy god. Honestly, this is the Malece moment we've been waiting for. Plus, it just showed me how I miss Marko so so much. He has the perfect amount of strength and fragility, and he's able to both showcase his own talent and make his partner look good simultaneously. Easily the best routine of the night, and Malece is padding her already very comfortable route to the Top 10 with this number. Malece has the extraordinary gift of having such a unique look and personality that it draws you to her and makes her stand out in the competition, and this just sealed the deal. Probably one of my favourite Sonya numbers. The timing with the couple's extensions were just gorgeous -  there was one part where Malece extended her leg as Marko froze in a position with both legs and an arm above the ground - stunning.

7. Haley and Curtis - Jean-Marc Généreux
SAMBA

Ouch. Yikes. Curtis. It was just awkward. And personally, I think Hayley's an extremely talented dancer, but I just don't get the same "vixen" vibe the judges do from her. I don't think she's a vixen at all, I think she's just good at playing the parts the choreographers ask her to. Maybe if she had a different partner she would stand out more in my mind, and with such weekly praise, she'll probably make it to the point where we do see her with a different partner. Actually, since I would find it extremely surprising if Curtis stays past next week, we might see her with a different partner earlier than we think. Honestly, I don't see how Curtis was originally picked over Aaron as a tapper. He's very talented but he doesn't have the extra wow-factor to make it far on a TV reality show. I do feel kind of bad for him with the skewering of this routine tonight by the judges, though.

8. Alexis and Nico - Spencer Liff
BROADWAY

Alexis actually surprised me on this one. I haven't held her in extroardinarily high regard, but she really held her own with Nico in their Broadway piece this week. Her jumps and pirouettes were exactly on point with Nico's. Fun routine, well danced. Not much else to say.

9. Mariah and BluPrint - Luther Brown
HIP HOP

What were with these costumes? Besides wearing the strangest white garments I've ever seen, I actually enjoyed this routine better than most of Luther's choreography. It basically just showcased Mariah's dominance in any routine she's given. The synchronization was not perfect, but as a whole, they pulled it off. The judges again criticized BluPrint's lack of emotion and face-pulling in his performances, and it looks like they're really getting fed up with his lack of growth performance-wise. If he makes it to the bottom again, which seems likely at this point, I'm not sure if Nigel et al will be too keen on keeping him.

We then learn that Jasmine Mason is eliminated, after Jenna's immediate trip to the Top 16. Between Alexis and Jasmine M., I knew Jasmine was kind of condemned after Alexis's high praise for her hypnotic routine. It's too bad, because Jasmine was one of my favourite girls this season, and the "look-back to her journey" package they put together really showed her as a fun person. But in all honesty, when you're faced with your one fantastic ballroom girl, your one fantastic tapper girl, and your one fantastic out of three or four contemporary girls, I suppose the choice isn't too hard to make.

Tonight's performance rankings (all my opinion, of course :)

1. Malece and All-Star, Lovely, Perfect Marko
2. Makenzie and Paul
3. Amy and Fik-Shun
4. Jenna and Tucker
5. Jasmine H. and Aaron
6. Alexis and Nico
7. Jasmine M. (ELIMINATED) and Alan
8. Mariah and BluPrint
9. Hayley and Curtis

Bottom 6 predictions... I'm assuming they'll still have a bottom six next week, although the numbers are getting a little ridiculous because the odds are getting better and better to land yourself a spot in the bottom...

GUYS
1. Curtis
2. BluPrint
3. Alan

GIRLS
1. Hayley
2. Alexis
3. Jasmine H.