Tonight, we find out the results of America’s votes for So You Think You Can Dance 2011 – Top 16 Elimination.  As always, we get one last opportunity to see all of the dancers perform a group routine – which might have been really cool, but who knows since the cameramen once again decided that we need to see close ups of each individual dancer…  This is one of those times where it would have been much better to be in the audience than watching from home…  sigh…

Before we move on, can I just say I love Cat’s whole look tonight?  Love the dress (pockets in a dress are the greatest invention since the wheel) and her cool rhinestone tattoo-style necklace thing is super chic.  Okay, enough ogling the outfit; on to the dancers.

The first three couples are Melanie & Marko, Ryan & Ricky and Ashley & Chris.  Ashley & Chris are the first couple in the bottom three.  I gotta say I feel bad for them because I don’t think it’s their fault.  They were tasked with dancing that zombie thing last night and I think the choreography, costumes and make-up were quite odd and obviously, America just does not resonate with that level of strangeness.

The second three couples are: Jordon & Tadd, Sasha & Alexander and Miranda & Robert.  I know that three couples need to be in the bottom, but how in the heck are Miranda & Robert on the chopping block?  (Which is not to say that Jordon, Tadd, Sasha and Alexander should have been there either – have I mentioned that I hate this elimination part?)

Jess & Clarice and Caitlynn & Mitchell are the last two couples called up. These two couples were FANTASTIC last night – it’s shocking for me to see them in this position.  But America’s votes cannot be ignored and Caitlynn & Mitchell are informed that they are on the bottom.

I sure hope none of you fast forwarded through the guest dance that came up next because the AXIS Dance Company was truly amazing!  AXIS is a physically integrated dance company which pairs dancers with and without disabilities.  That was a complete delight.

The bottom six (Ashley, Chris, Miranda, Robert, Caitlynn and Mitchell) are now given a few minutes to prepare to dance for their lives and it is truly terrible that any of them have to go home.  I don’t like this.  I don’t like this.  I don’t like this.

Thankfully, we are treated to the physically impossible dance moves of the current U.S. and World Theatrical and Ballroom Champions while we wait.  I’m not sure I ever lifted my jaw from the floor the whole time they danced.  I mean, did you see that first lift?  OMG!  I was totally mesmerized.  I couldn’t take my eyes off them.  I think they may actually have defied gravity.  I don’t have enough good things to say about that phenomenal routine.

Finally, with much angst and dread, Nigel informs us that the decision to send a girl home is not a unanimous one.  But, like pulling off a band-aid, he makes it quick as he calls Miranda out and regrettably sends her home.   He spends a bit more time traumatizing the guys before he ultimately sends Robert (Mr.  Woo) home.

I love this show, but I don’t love Elimination Thursday… so, while I’m sobbing into my pillow tonight, what do you guys think?  Did they send the right couple home?

Welcome to your So You Think You Can Dance 2011 music guide. Each week Too Much To Tivo will bring you a list of the songs heard on the show. If there are any missing, feel free to leave a comment below.

The top 16 performance show kicked off with a group number featuring Miranda, Clarice, Ryan, Sasha, Marko, Chris, Tadd and Mitchell to “Hit The Road Jack” by Ray Charles.

Sasha and Alexander were the first couple to hit the stage, dancing a contemporary piece to “Belong” by Cary Brothers.

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Caitlynn and Mitchell danced a lively Samba to “Put It In A Love Song” by Alicia Keys feat. Beyonce, Miranda and Robert danced a Tyce Diorio Broadway piece to “It Don’t Mean A Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing),” and Melanie and Marko aka “power couple” did a Nap and Tabs lyrical hip hop to “I Got You” by Leona Lewis.

The second group of eight, which consisted of Ricky Jamie, Robert, Ashley, Caitlynn, Jordan, Melanie,  Jess and Alexander danced to “Poison and Wine” by The Civil Wars.
For a complete list of the music heard on this week’s episode of SYTYCD click Top 16. You can also follow TMTT on Twitter @toomuchtotivo and like us on Facebook.

Tonight on So You Think You Can Dance 2011 we’ll get another round of eliminations after last night’s Top 16 performances and some guest performances to help fill the hour show starting at 8PM ET.

Special performances by AXIS Dance Company, a critically acclaimed Northern California-based dance company that features performers both with and without disabilities, as well as to find out which two dancers will be sent home next.

After last week’s double elimination with four dancers sent home we’ll only see two people cut this time around. Any guesses on who won’t be moving on to next week?

Source: FOX PR

The competition is getting tougher as the top 16 performers do their thing tonight on SYTYCD 2011.

Our guest Judges are Lil “there’s no actual glass in my “glasses” C and the teeny tiny star of stage and screen, Kristin Chenoweth.

This week, we were treated to opening and closing numbers by the top 16 broken into two troupes of eight (great idea, by the way – who came up with that?).  The opening group routine tonight was choreographed by Tice (whom I love, by the way!).  A jazzy little number to “Hit the Road Jack” by Ray Charles (one of my all time favorites).  This routine was fan-stinkin’-tastic!  I loved everything about it.  (And Cameramen, a shout-out to you this week – thanks for not making the dance impossible to watch with crazy camera angles.  I “heart” you!)

This week’s “get to know them better” theme was beyond boring as each of the dancers explained to us what their first live performance was and included adorable pictures and videos of them in their early years.  Adorable childhood pictures?  Yes.  Interesting?  Uh… no.

Sasha & Alexander led the night with a love story routine.  It was interesting, powerful and incorporated their key prop – the piano in beautiful ways.  The way Alexander lifts her makes it look like she doesn’t weigh a thing!   Really beautiful.  Loved the use of the prop, beautiful moves, just mesmerizing.  Nigel still insists that Alexander needs to control the audience more.  Not so sure about that – he had me paying attention.

Caitlynn & Mitchell’s super fun Samba, choreographed by Jean-Mark was great!  Jean-Mark told them to use their hips like speakers and that actually made sense to me.  Go figure.  They took that direction to heart!  But, I just gotta say, that it wasn’t their hips that caught my eye, but Mitchell’s (ahem) glutes!  Are those for real?  Good thing Debbie Reynolds wasn’t there tonight or we’d be pulling her off that poor boy!  And what did our illustrious guest judge have to say about it?  Eh, not so sure, but Kristen was shutting doors and windows and anything else she could shut except her ridiculous monologue.  You’re cute and all Kristen, but dang girl!  This was weird!.

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Broadway superstar Kristin Chenoweth is on deck to guest judge on So You Think You Can Dance 2011 tonight.

Chenoweth has become a familiar face on television, with her roles on The West Wing, Pushing Daisies, and most recently, Glee. But Chenoweth is best known as a Broadway diva, having played the role of Glinda in Wicked, and winning a Tony for her role in You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown.

But Chenoweth’s dance experience is questionable.

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The actress is the latest celebrity guest judge, with Megan Mullallay and Debbie Reynolds having previously filled the third judges chair left vacant by Adam Shankman.

Is SYTYCD losing sight of what made the show so unique in prior seasons? Instead of focusing on dance, producers are trying to inflate ratings. But SYTYCD is better served a niche show with a cult following, rather than a ratings blockbuster.

What do you think of pop icons as guest judges? Leave your comment below.

For a look at more SYTYCD Season 8 click SYTYCD 2011. You can also follow TMTT on Twitter @toomuchtotivo and like us on Facebook.