[Photos: © 2009 FOX Broadcasting Co.]

On this week’s results show for So You Think You Can Dance, the bottom three couples were Vitolio & Asuka, Jonathan & Karla and Caitlin & Jason. I was a bit surprised about Caitlin & Jason since they did a great job with the paso doble, but I guess America didn’t like it for some reason.

When they danced their solos to try to win over the judges, it was clear that Asuka’s performance was just not up to that of the other two women. She’s an amazing Latin dancer, but that isn’t always a big help in the solo. And I was happy that Vitolio made it through. I actually thought Jason had the worst solo and expected him to go home. But in the end, it was Jonathan that the judges eliminated.

[Photo: ©2009 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Mathieu Young/FOX]

Now we’re down to the final 15 dancer this season. It seems like it’s going by so fast! But at least this time, there’s a new season following closely bhind this one. Here are the top 14 dancers:

[Photo: ©2009 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Mathieu Young/FOX]

[Photo: Newscom]

You probably know Maksim Chmerkovskiy as one of the hunky male pro dancers on Dancing With the Stars. That’s right, he’s the lucky guy who’s also engaged to beautiful DWTS pro dancer Karina Smirnoff. Well, during the summer break from the show, he’s landed another TV gig on ABC.

Maks is competing as one of 8 celebrities that will be competing in a number of different sports in the new reality series called The Superstars. He’s paired with freestyle skier Kristi Leskinen for the new reality show. Here’s what he has to say about it:

“It’s an opportunity to do something outside of the dancing realm and to do something and not be judged,” Chmerkovskiy told TVGuide.com. “Nobody can say [in Italian accent], ‘That was not very good!’ There’s no voting, there’s no Bruno, there’s no Len.”

“We’ve done everything, including archery, bowling, running, kayaking. … We’re doing crazy stuff; we go crazy,” he added.

Maks & Karina will both also be appearing on Broadway on July 25th in Burn the Floor.

“We’re doing a limited engagement. It’s a ballroom dance show, so it’s exactly what we’ve been doing all our lives,” he said. “I’ve always dreamed of being on Broadway. It also doesn’t require me to learn a new trade. I can’t sing, you know.”

[Photos: © 2009 FOX Broadcasting Co.]

Last night on So You Think You Can Dance, the top 16 dancers took the stage in what is turning out to be one of the toughest competition season for the show yet. They are all so amazing! The guest judge this week was Toni Basil and she added her own particular style of input to the judging.

Nigel Lythgoe (L), Mary Murphy (C) and guest Toni Basil
[Photo: ©2009 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Mathieu Young/FOX]

For me, the top performance of the night was the rumba performed by Ade & Melissa. It was so hot I felt like I needed a cigarette afterward…and I’ve never smoked!

Ade Obayomi (L) and Melissa Sandvig (R) perform a Rumba choreographed by Tony Meredith.
[Photo: ©2009 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Mathieu Young/FOX]

Mia Michaels came through yet again with a very memorable routine that revolved around Evan admiring Randi’s behind. Nigel kept saying things about it, then pausing to say, “but…and there is a butt.” It was a very nice routine and the judges had a lot of fun with it.
Read More - So You Think You Can Dance 5: The Top 16 Perform

[Photos: © 2009 FOX Broadcasting Co.]

I found a clip of Max & Ashley talking about how it feels to be eliminated from So You think You Can Dance so early. It’s good to see that they can both still make jokes and have smiles on their faces. It must be a huge disappointment for them!

The clip is interesting because they address each of the points that Nigel Lythgoe told them as he gave them the news of their elimination. They tell about the choreographers they most wanted to work with and what they expect to do next. They really seem like fun people.

[Photo: newscom.com]

According to an article on BuddyTV, Dancing With the Stars’ season 8 dancer and runner-up Gilles Marini has been cast in the final season of the series Nip/Tuck. Once again, he’s going to be playing hunky man-candy, so it has to be a great enticement to watch the show, even for those of us who aren’t regular viewers.

Here’s a bit of a description of his type of role on the show:

“You don’t see me in the shower. You see me in a towel and you realize that I’ve just had sex and I’m coming out of the shower because I needed to be clean,” Marini described his sort of naked scene on Nip/Tuck.

The former Dancing with the Stars contestant will be playing the new husband (a much younger bad boy) of Vanessa Redgrave’s Erica—which means that Julia’s evil mama is definitely back!

It looks like being a part of DWTS has really paid off for Gilles! It’s great news too for his fans!!

[Photo: Zuma Press]

According to CelebSport, Dancing With the Stars pro dancer Julianne Hough has been offered a role in the remake of the movie Footloose.

Gossip Girl star Chace Crawford has also been cast for the movie, so it should be amazing!

Julianne has been spreading her wings far beyond DWTS in the past year or so. She’s recorded a country music CD and even won a CMA Award for it. She’s appeared in Wrigley’s commercials for their gum and now she’s hitting the big screen.

It looks like America’s girl is really doing great! *sniff* I’m so proud…

[Photo: Bauer-Griffin]

TV Guide revealed that Dancing With the Stars season 8 finalist Melissa Rycroft has been hired as a summer special correspondent for ABC morning new show Good Morning America. She’s come a long way from being dumped by that loser on The Bachelor! I’ll bet he’s sorry now…

She was so impressive on DWTS, even after having only two days to prepare for her first performance show, that she ended the season in third place. Her fans will be happy to know that she’ll be making regular TV appearances now so they can continue to watch her.

I’m happy for Melissa and will keep you informed about her as new things develop.

[Photos: © 2009 FOX Broadcasting Co.]

[Photo: ©2009 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Mathieu Young/FOX]

I am so happy that my friend Albert Lawrence got a chance to talk to the latest eliminated dancers from So You Think You Can Dance. He’s also a big fan of dance on TV and asked some very good questions of Max Kapitannikov and Ashley Valerio.

Here’s an excerpt from his discussion with them:

Albert Lawrence: As a ballroom dancer, you’re used to always dancing with a partner. So when it came time for you to do your dance solo, do you think that you were at a disadvantage?

Max Kapitannikov: I don’t think so, because it’s only 30 seconds. I think by doing the pop jazz routine, you can show a lot of things. I don’t think it’s really difficult as a ballroom dancer, for 30 seconds anyway.

Albert: Last night Nigel mentioned that the judging panel was not unanimous in its decision for who to send home. Do you have an idea of who was gunning for you and who was on the fence for you last night?

Ashley Valerio: No, I have no idea, I really don’t know – I’m clueless to that decision. I was really confident last night and enjoyed doing my solo, but I have no idea.

Albert: And Lil C’s comments are always very loquacious and eloquent, but as a dancer are you able to take something away from the deep comments that he gives out?

Ashley: It’s nice because, I’m kind of a very intellectual person. And when he speaks, I’m not like the most brilliant person, but he kind of gets me a little bit. I kind of get him, you know, and it’s exciting because sometimes I can get a little bit deep too, and I can take things from him.

Be sure to go read his entire interview with them on his Talk of Fame web site. Great job, Albert!

So You Think You Can Dance has two new dance fitness videos that we can pre-order today. The two videos, Cardio Funk and Tone & Groove will be released on July 21, but if we pre-order them now, they’ll ship the same day that they are released.

The cover art is pretty small, so it’s tough to make out who all the dancers are, but I think I recognize Twitch Boss and Courtney Galiano at least. I’m sure the videos will be fun and what better way to get fit than to dance?!

The pre-order price for each video is only $10.99…much cheaper than a gym membership. And a whole lot more fun!

[Photos: © 2009 FOX Broadcasting Co.]

In last night’s results show for So You Think You Can Dance, the three pairs with the fewest audience votes were Kayla & Max, Ashley & Kupono and Caitlin & Jason. All six dancers had to perform solos in order to try to convince the judges that they should stay.

After watching the solo performances, I expected Ashley & Kupono to be eliminated, but the judges chose Ashley & Max instead. It’s so hard for ballroom dancers to impress the judges with their solos! I think it’s ashame that Max had to leave. He’s very good.

[Photo: ©2009 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Mathieu Young/FOX]

So now we are down to the Top 16 dancers. Here they are:

[Photo: ©2009 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Mathieu Young/FOX]