Cat interviews Ne-Yo and says that Sexy Love is "taken from the album called ... ?", in a way where you can tell that she doesn't know what the album is called. Ne-Yo says the album is called "In My Own Words," and then he lists a whole bunch of other singers who are going to be on his tour with him, and I don't know who they are either. I guess this is just a genre issue. We cut to the judges busily deliberating on a crappy-looking staircase backstage, which I think is funny. I always assumed they were outside smoking, but if they're not, why can't they at least have a table to sit at? I guess that wasn't in the budget.

Hey, does anybody have any weed?

There are commercials, and then the judges are back, and it's time to break it all down. There are only ten minutes left, which bums me out because I really want Nigel to tear somebody to shreds in great detail. We waste one of our ten precious minutes on flashbacks to the solo dances we JUST saw. The girls are on the chopping block first. Nigel says that the judges want to congratulate all six dancers for actually trying hard, and that this is the first time they've ever thought that everybody tried. I agree.

Nigel asserts that the judges are in full agreement about both of this week's ejections. He calls Allison up first, meaning that she's safe. He tells her that she's one of the best contestants, can dance all styles, and has stage presence. She is, in fact, safe. Jessica is up next. Nigel congratulates her on being the first person to do pointe work on the show. I have to admit that that was impressive. He then tells her that she doesn't have a personality. Word. He sends her back without doing the big reveal.

Heidi is up last. Nigel confirms the obvious fact that Heidi does, indeed, have a personality. He suggests that Jessica needs to be shocked with jumper cables. This causes Jessica to look sad. Then Nigel says that Heidi sometimes overdoes it, which is totally true. On the other hand, he says her "jive technique" was great tonight. So that dance was called "jive"? Really, I just thought it was called "Tina Turner." Anyway, as was obvious from the get-go, Heidi is safe and Jessica is booted off the show. In her flashback clip, she appears oddly personality-filled. Huh. As you know, I didn't watch the auditions, so now I'm left wondering what happened to extract Jessica's life force between then and now. Cat calls Jess a "gorgeous, special girl." Ick.

Whew! One down, one to go. There is another commercial and my hopes for a time-consuming burst of Nigel insanity trickle away. After the commercial, we see Jessica standing alone in a corner of the stage and crying. Ouch - that's no fun. We flash back to the guys' solos, and I really cannot predict which one of them will be leaving - I thought they were all of about the same quality.

Aw - not funny.

Nigel says that when he said earlier that the judges were unanimous, that wasn't quite true, because Mary had to be talked around to his and Dan's point of view. He calls James "Jaymz" Tuaileva up first, and my heart sinks, because this has got to mean that he is safe. Not only is he safe, but either Heidi or Allison is going to be saddled with him next week. Well, I hope it's Heidi; she seems like the more annoying of the two. But still: How can he not leave? This is cruel. These judges have no concern whatsoever for my psychological well-being.

Nigel asks James "Jaymz" Tuaileva if it's true that his specialties are lyrical and hip-hop. James "Jaymz" Tuaileva claims that he also does ballroom. It seems that the truth of this response may be in dispute, as Nigel says that all of the judges found it strange that he would choose to dance a paso doble. Ah, but it worked so well for Dmitry! Nigel thinks James "Jaymz" Tuaileva should have danced his strongest style rather than experimenting. And then, yay, he sends him back into the line rather than telling him he's safe. There's still hope. Maybe this is the moment where Nigel decides to mix it up on us.

Ryan is called forward. Nigel says that last week, he fought for Ben and lost. Ah, so that explains what Nigel meant last week when he said it wasn't unanimous. Interesting, when Nigel savaged Ben so hard. Also, it means that Nigel wanted to boot James "Jaymz" Tuaileva instead. Oh, Nigel, will you marry me? I lose the plot with Nigel a bit through this part, but he seems to be saying that Ryan is like Ben in that his solo showed relatively more technique and less engagement with the audience. Ryan is sent back into the line.

Now Ivan. Nigel says that Ivan is not a great dancer yet, except for when he dances his own style of hip-hop. He tells him that if he hadn't danced great tonight, he would have been cut, but he did dance great, and so he is safe. Oh, yay. Nigel, you make me so happy. Allison gives Ivan the biggest hug ever, and the crowd goes wild.

Posted by Amanda on July 10, 2006 11:17 PM