Live at So You Think You Can Dance: Judges Butt Heads Over Eliminated Contestants

Hear what the latest booted dancers told us after they said their final farewells; plus: Kristin Chenoweth dishes on her guest-judging gig

By Aimee Curran Jul 01, 2011 4:37 AMTags
SYTYCD, So You Think You Can DanceAdam Rose/FOX

In the words of So You Think You Can Dance host, Cat Deeley, "Thursdays, they suck."

As the contestants faced another round of eliminations, all the warm fuzzies of Wednesday night's smoochfest  were replaced with intense anticipation as the bottom three couples danced for their lives.

So who's out of the spotlight, why was one of the eliminated contestant's exit not unanimous, and what did guest judge Kristin Chenoweth have to say about it all?

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It's so hard to say good-bye to such exceptional talent, but this is a competition and, inevitably, eliminations are only bound to get tougher as the weeks go by.

For Ashley Rich, Chris Koehl, Robert Taylor Jr., Miranda Maleski, Mitchell Kelly and Caitlynn Lawson, it was crunch time as they were given the news they would have to dance for their lives with only four making it through to next week.

Unfortunately, two contestants had to go, and after a long deliberation backstage, Miranda and Robert were cut from the competition, leaving them to say a very sad good-bye to their newfound family of dance BFFs.

In a surprising turn of events, Nigel began the female elimination by letting everyone know it was not a unanimous decision. In a postshow interview Nigel explained the decision and admitted he was rooting for Miranda to stay.

"It was tough," he said. "I'm afraid I love Miranda. I thought she was fabulous, but you know two people have got to go each week and I didn't want to draw it out, but sorry, it's a competition. I think Ashley's solo was the weakest one tonight, but we loved her jail routine, we loved her work. That's really what we voted on and remembered the routines she's done across the season so far and that'd how the decision was made."

For guest judge Kristin Chenoweth, she said it was tougher than she originally thought.

"It was the worst," she said. "Hardest job ever! I hate rejection, I don't like it in my own life, so I certainly don't want to impose it on a fellow artist. That's what they are, fellow artists and I will probably work for them one day. [The deliberation was] a little heated. I think we all wanted to take up for who we wanted, you know it was tough."

So will we ever see Kristin in the judges chair again?

"Sure," she said. "But I'm probably not the best choice. When I'm at home, I do think more technically, but when I'm watching them live I'm not very good at it because I'm so inspired by their work and the choreography and the costumes. That's why there's nothing better than live showbiz."

When we caught up with Miranda she said her elimination wasn't a surprise.

"It was a split vote and that's OK," she told us. "I mean, it landed me here, but I will continue on with my life and it's all gravy. I kind of had a feeling throughout the day. I don't know why. It was just a feeling, and when they told us to do our solos I kinda knew it, but I was excited to do my solo tonight because it was just another chance to show America what I can do and share myself with them. Everything I laid on stage was what I wanted to, so I'm proud of what I did tonight. Whatever is meant to be will happen. There is something bigger out there for me, and whatever it is, I'm excited to find it."

As for Robert, he has high hopes and aspirations for a bright future that is obviously in front of the camera!

"Moving forward, there is a lot that I see. I see film and commercials and television sitcoms. I see me hosting and MTV show or VH1 or BET show or a show on Oxygen or Animal Planet or Discovery Channel. It doesn't matter! I also see a music career in pop and R&B entertainment. You just never know what's going to happen."

Are you sad to see Miranda and Robert leave? Did you love or loath Kristin Chenoweth as a guest judge? Who are you rooting for? Let us know in the comments!

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