So You Think You Can Dance: Farewell, Faina

Episode Guide

On last night's elimination show, we envisioned a teary-eyed end for Cedric Gardner, the unique hip-hopper, with the dancers sadly giving him little comfort pats on the back while (badly) hiding relief that it was Cedric heading for the door and not them.

But something weird happened.

Cedric Gardner got a reprieve.

Thanks in large part to judge Mia Michaels, admittedly still reeling from losing her favorite contemporary dancer, Ricky, last week, Cedric skated through after the solos - leaving another contemporary dancer on the chopping block in favor of the more "unique" one?

It's not that Cedric's solo wasn't good, as Entertainment Weekly observes. He's got his own style, and as Nigel predicted way back when, whenever he has to dance for his life, he's going to wow the judges because no one can do what he can. He just hops up on that board and rides the wave in, but not to think about who else he's going to take out in his wake.

Last night it was Latin ballroom dancer Faina Savich (pictured), who held up her part of the foxtrot with him the night before, but couldn't hack it solo style when it counted last night and finds herself watching on the couch next week.

Next, Ced brings his partnering skills to Shauna, who is damn cute and has boundless energy, but who has not exactly been a shining star thus far. So Cedric had better be good next week, because before he knows it, he will be dancing for his life again before he knows it, barring a small miracle.

As Nigel Lythgoe said, somebody's got to be in the bottom three. Was Hok Konishi's samba worse than Jimmy's hip-hop? You know it. But Hok is very likable, and this, like its "big brother" American Idol, is a competition for America's favorite - not America's best.

Which brings us to the other surprise of the night — seeing Jessi and Pasha in the bottom three. They didn't deserve to be there. They were birds, they soared. But they delivered some uninspired solos and thus put some dents in their dance armor. Especially Jessi.

Everyone loved Shane Sparks' opening number, on a lighter note, especially when the boys craftily converted their tees into Carmen Miranda tops. Also, Cat Deeley was fetching as always in her canary-yellow dress. Yum.

As for guest performer Daddy Yankee? His 15 minutes have got to be up real quick. Just saying.

Well, that pretty much covers it. Some things to ponder as we move on to next week, when eight couples remain on So You Think You Can Dance:

• Will Cedric Gardner redeem himself next week, or will he take out Shauna Noland as he did Faina Savich?
• Will Lacey Schwimmer ever lose her fake closed-eyed, suspended-breath look of relief that she's not in the bottom three?
• Why do the judges take their cups with them when they deliberate?