First, Biggie Special K sends all his love and thanks for your undying support on his behalf. (But I’m keeping that hushpuppy option open. )

Okay….so it’s finale night on So You Think You Can Dance! We’re left with four dancers…Heidi, Donyelle, Travis, and Benji. A pretty solid final four, though I’d rank the guys as the top two. And how cool is it for these four - Benji and Heidi are cousins, then there’s the great friendship and partnership of Benji and Donyelle, and the great friendship with Travis as well. Such a tight foursome, though I do have my favorites, I’m happy with a win for any of them really.

And here we go… Only four dancers being introduced. The stage looks so empty. Then Cat comes out looking like the The Long Lost Blonde Supreme, but so obviously happy for the Final Four, we forgive her the descent into Dynasty Glam. And the dress is actually fitted quite well and looks pretty good, (lack of) cleavage and all. Golf clap, stylist!

Cat tells us that our four will dance solos, dance with each opposite sex partner, as well as their same sex partner. Should be fun!! She intros our judges and for our next to last episode, we get Uncle Nigel, Crack Mary and your favorite leprechaun and mine is back, My TV Boyfriend Brian! (who is sporting a tie. No whack jewelry, much to my dismay.)

So…I get to MAC 11 routines tonight. Whew! I’d better get started!!

First up we have Heidi/Travis doing Disco with Doriana. She explains that each routine will be short this week. I guess so! Here we go! To Shake Your Groove Thing we’re off and running. Travis in white Travolta pants/vest and Heidi in a flirty pink number. Lots and lots of lifts, which these two are well suited for physically. They look good together. Transitions aren’t all that smooth, but their enthusiasm is high. They look like they’re having a great time, which works for me. The partner dance part is great -wish there was more of that. (I will say, I do NOT get the appeal of the vee split leg thing for the female partners. Um…a little too GYNish for me, yaknowwhatI’msayin’?)

Judges? Lots of love from Nigel. Mary gives em even more of her special brand of crack love. And MTVB Brian continues the love fest!

Next is our last performance from the team that is Benji/Donyelle doing a Vietna–eh, Viennese Waltz with that wacky little Frenchman, John Marc choreographing. Here we go to I’ll Be. Benji in white jacket/black pants, Donyelle in a lovely blue gown that is the most figure flattering thing she’s worn in a quite a while now. (How is is they are killing themselves each week and getting leaner and leaner, and for whatever reason, Donyelle looks less lean to me now than before?)

It’s an interesting almost interpretive looking waltz, but they do well enough. You know, it’s funny, but for as much as I loved them paired early in the season, having seen Benji with other partners now, I’m not seeing the strength as much with these two, mostly with Donyelle. I wonder if she’d had another, less popular partner early on, if she’d still be in the competition. Not that she’s not great, but she’s a bit clunkier than you’d expect. Nice ending though!

Judges? Nigel says they weren’t particularly graceful. Not happy. Mary agrees with Nigel. MTVB Brian (who might not be bringing the heavy necklace action, but what is up with the sharkskin looking jacket? Ah, my eccentric boy babe. You never disappoint.) He’s not happy either, and gives probably the best critique of why it didn’t work. (All I could think was thank god Mia wasn’t on this week!) For me, it was Donyelle who brought it down, but maybe I’m biased. (Love her, but didn’t love this.)

Surprise field trip! Our F4 get whisked off after taping their dances Monday to the premiere of the new dance movie, Step Up (which I hope to see this weekend, too!) The leads are in the audience as well.

Next is Heidi with the first solo of the night to Rie y Llora. In wild peacock blue, she struts it out, Heidi Style, and I have to say, I am really impressed with her. Final 3 material easily. Well earned, girl. She is the best female partner by far.

Now we have Travis/Benji doing their duo dance. This should be way fun! Dancing Hip Hop with Shane Sparks squee! To Gyrate… Okay, the opening is so totally priceless, I had to watch it twice. They come racing on the stage as full bore geeks complete with dorky knee high socks, bermuda’s, and backpacks. Love it! Shane, you kill. I am ROLLING! They start to feel the music, ditch the backpacks, and let the beat into their bootyshakers. God, this is hilarious and way fun. They do get down eventually, and I have to say, love my Benji, but this is Travis’s night, y’all. He is ON.

Judges? Nigel loved it. Mary enjoyed herself and they get a Mary Scream. MTVB Brian kills with his own Mary Scream. Man, everybody is totally high tonight. It’s hilarious and great fun. Cat can’t handle the hijinks. It’s great to see everybody clearly so enjoying themselves. The vibe this year is such a good one. For all the critiques, you know these pros adore the dancers. Brian says they were dorktastic.

Next we get Donyelle with her solo. To Human she brings a contemporary routine very similar to her tryout routine that I loved so much. A strong performance for her. Not so manic, more controlled with a strong African influence, and beautiful. Which she is.

Commercial break: Celebrity Duets looks kinda cool. A Dancing With the Stars for Singers. Hmm.

Up now? Another solo, this one from Travis. Very acrobatic and herky jerky, but good.

Next we have some girl on girl action. (Oh come on!) with Donyelle/Heidi dancing Broadway to a Tyce number. I’ve lost most of my Tyce love. And why why why does he keep having to do Broadway? Ah well. Let’s hope it’s workable.

Dancing to Big Spender here we go. Very cute outfits, fun routine. Definitely more suited for Heidi’s over the top expression/acting. But it’s a bit basic. Still, it was fun.

Judges? Nigel agrees it was too simplistic and they needed to bring more to it, to compensate. Mary also slams Tyce’s routine (oucheroo) but says they worked what they had. My Funny Leprechaun Brian agrees. Poor Tyce. (But, for real, dude. It was the truth.)

Now we get Benji doing the night’s last solo. Dancing to The House is Rockin by Brian Setzer, he literally takes the stage by storm. Very full tilt Benji-riffic routine. The crowd is losing their collective minds and you really can’t take your eyes off of him. Very dynamic no matter what he does. Lotsa spins, not as much substance, but still fun.

Okay, here we go with the last pairs. First up is Travis/Donyelle doing a bluesy contemporary with Mia and so right off I’m picking this as the dance of the night. She’s got incredible talent to work with here and I am looking for something beyond the realm. I know we’ll get it with her. And with them. Yumm!

Dancing to Georgia on My Mind by The Man, Ray Charles (okay, opening strains of this song and I already have goosebumps…) here we go. It’s a far more playful piece than I’d have assumed, but delightful, truly. Travis brings out really good things in Donyelle and it’s a pleasure to see this as her final performance. That said, it is Travis’s night. I have to give him the win on talent, performance, charisma, partnership, in every way you can measure (and yet I think, based on popularity, it will be Benji.)

Judges? Nigel says they were beautiful. Mary says they were captivating. Brian says it was his fave Donyelle piece of the season and gives her a standing O. I agree.

Last pair for this season will be Benji/Heidi dancing Salsa (wheee!) with Alex. Dancing to La Comay we start off hot and stay that way. Well done - they are great partners.

Judges Nigel gives them a ton of love. Mary continues the love train. Brian invites them to perform at his birthday party. He’s all aboard.

You know, Benji and Heidi both had a very very strong night as well. It’s a tough call between them and Travis. (I’d place Donyelle a clear fourth, but with the other three, honestly, on talent/skill/performance - not popularity - any of them could take the title and I’d feel good about it.)

My prediction? Benji. Based on popular vote alone.

But first! Suprise group routine dance by Wade Robson! Woot!

Dancing to Sexy Back by Justin Timberlake we get the model pop group dance. Love it! Travis looks smokin hot. Heidi is killer. Donyelle is fierce. And Benji pulls a Zoolander Blue Steel. (Can I say I’d have never in a million years have known this was Timberlake. Wow.) All four of them totally nail this. It’s hard to know who to watch. Yay me for having it TiFauxed. I get to watch it again. And again. If I wanna. And I do.

We get a very heartfelt group hug as the season officially ends. Now we just await the results next week. I think it’s gonna be close between Benji and Travis…

PR3 MAC tomorrow…along with this week’s SHaQ winner!

Tags: Writing //