SYTYCD Recaps: Billy Porter Guest Judges; Early Frontrunners Emerge

Despite my eternal love for SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE, last week I expressed a bit of audition fatigue. Though I appreciate seeing the beginning of each competitors' journeys, the vast majority of 30-second solos seem like unsatisfying appetizers, when all I want is a fully-formed emotional and artistic meal. This week's episode didn't do much to change my audition opinion, as many of the routines were just technical exhibitions, but for the first time this season, I started to see some potential winners. It also doesn't hurt when Executive Producer and Judge Nigel Lythgoe welcomes a Tony-winner to the judging panel, even if it is only for two contestants.

We opened the episode back in Los Angeles with guest judge Christina Applegate and a whole host of former finalists in the audience. After Day Two auditions finished up in the City of Angels, we traversed back across the country to Philadelphia, where Mary and Nigel were joined by Misty Copeland, female soloist for the American Ballet Theatre and the star of KINKY BOOTS Billy Porter.

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LOS ANGELES DAY TWO

Alla Kocherga and Serge Onik
Los Angeles
Style: Ballroom
Three-Word Review: Ticket to Dating
Result: Tickets to Callbacks

Timothy Joseph
Style: B-Boy
Three-Word Review: Trick-alicious, No continuity
Result: Choreography (Eventually dropped out due to injury)

Casey Askew
Seattle, WA
Style: Contemporary
Three-Word Review: Could be Contender
Result: Auto-Ticket to Callbacks

J-4
San Jose, CA
Style: Hip-Hop
Three-Word Review: Young ≠ Good
Result: Not eligible for nine years

Jourdan Epstein
Plymouth, MN
Style: Contemporary en pointe
Three-Word Review: Fave So Far!
Result: Ticket to Callbacks

"Johnny Waacks" Gibson
New York, NY
Style: Whacking
Three-Word Review: What in the.....?
Result: Choreography (Eventual Yes)

Malene Ostergaard and Armen Way
California
Style: Ballroom
Three-Word Review: Sex on Stage
Result: Tickets to Callbacks

PHILADELPHIA DAY ONE

Bridget Whitman
Tempe, AZ
Style: Contemporary
Three-Word Review: My New Fave
Result: Ticket to Callbacks

Amir Sanders
Baltimore, MD
Style: Ballet
Three-Word Review: Funky Game Changer
Result: Choreography (Eventual Yes)

Landon Anderson and Jenna Johnson (last season's finalist, therefore not competing)
Springville, UT
Style: Ballroom
Three-Word Review: Manly, Man Partner
Result: Ticket to Callbacks

In a really nice moment, after Landon made his way to the lobby to celebrate, Nigel asked Jenna to stick around, where he officially extended her an invitation to return to the show this season as an All-Star. Since that is an honor rarely granted to a dancer just a year removed from the competition, both Jenna and Mary were moved to tears.

The Biebs was back with his choreographer Nick DeMoura for the third week to introduce two new Dance Crews. As a reminder, during the first four episodes we will meet two crews, then, depending on Twitter votes, one from each episode will earn an opportunity to perform on a live show. The crew with the most votes gets a spot on the finale.

The winner of last week's Twitter-Battle was the Evil Clown Crew, Academy of Villains.

The Wanted Ashiqz | #SYTYCDwanted
East Coast
Style: Bollywood and Hip-Hop Fusion

Mix'd Elements | #SYTYCDmixd
Los Angeles, CA
Style: Hip-Hop Acrobatics

I've got to imagine that Mix'd Elements is going to run away with this one. With just one week left, all of the Dance Crew matchups seem to be stacked. While there is a variety of styles represented, there never seems to be any doubt as to which crew is going to garner the most public support.

Shafeek Westbrooke
Upper Darby, PA
Style: Hip-Hop
Three-Word Review: Impressive, Emotionless Tricks
Result: Choreography (Eventual Yes)

PHILADELPHIA DAY TWO

Stanley Glover
Chicago, IL
Style: "Creaturey" Contemporary
Three-Word Review: Totally Creeped Out
Result: Ticket to Callbacks

James "Banks" Davis
Brooklyn, NY
Style: Hip-Hop/Contemporary/Slow Krump
Three-Word Review: Bad A** Stroyteller
Result: Choreography (Eventual No)

Is that really all we are getting from Billy Porter? Two dancers? That seems like a waste of such a fantastic personality. Well, at least there is only one week of auditions left.

And, as of the end of the show, I couldn't have called the Twitter Dance Crew battle more wrong, The Wanted Ashiqz were dominating the US Hip-Hop Champions Mix'd Elements by a score of nearly 85% to 15%. We will see what happens by next week.

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Tonight's Top-3
3) Casey Askew
2) Jourdan Epstein
1) Bridget Whitman

Did you see any potential winners on this week's episode? Is the Biebs' dorky appearances on SYTYCD making you forgive his childish behavior and racist comments? I didn't think so. Which dance crew are you tweeting for? Let me know in the comments below, and on Twitter @BWWMatt.