This season the pre-finals episodes of So You Think You Can Dance seem curtailed. And more focused on the good ones who showed up, not the freaks. I'm all for that. But I do think Vegas "week" may have warranted more than a single hour of air time devoted to it.

You don't get to know and root for any of the contestants when they're trying to show you 30-40 of them in one hour.

But therein lies the advantage, too. I'm not biased, and neither is the voting public. Other than maybe return contestant Twitch, I don't think we can feel particularly attached to anybody...so perhaps the voting results will really be much more based on the actual performances?

With Nigel, Mary and Dan Karaty in the house judging, the finals begin:

1. Contemporary Ballet dancer Raven and West Coast Swing dancer Jamie kick off with a hip-hop routine

I'll just say it: They're doomed. We have never really seen either of them before, and this routine isn't one to make you sit up and notice them, and they weren't that great at it, and they went first. That all adds up to a whole lot of people forgetting they exist when voting comes around. More specifically: I didn't care for the choreography. It was boring and yet gimmicky at the same time. (Pulling down his pants? Really? I actually didn't need to see his tighty-blueys or whatever they were.) They also didn't hit what moves there were very hard...no sweat flying off these two. And Dan was right: No funk in the house. Jamie was a bit more convincing as a hip-hop dancer than Raven, who was mugging for the camera in a decidedly uncool, non-hip-hop way. But...

Bottom line: I expect this couple to be in the bottom and potentially both going home. (Haven't seen them solo, so have no idea if they're frickin' amazing.)

2. Latin dancer Susie and Contemporary dancer Marquis danced a Waltz

I was a lot more luke-warm about this than the judges. It was nice, it was flowing, I was definitely surprised that Susie had that kinf o elegance in her, I agree that marquis had wonderful posture and lines. But it was a little boring. And then when it came time to pop in some excitement at the end with a fabulous lift? That lift was messy and misguided.

Bottom line: You could tell the judges were pulling as hard as they could to convince people to vote for them. I don't know if it will work or not. It wouldn't for me.

3. Contemporary dancer Kourtni and Contemporary dancer Matt danced a Jazz routine

This was good, although a little cheesy. Kourtni is widely touted as the Uma Thurman look-alike, and she certainly out-shined Matt as far as the performing/acting aspect of the routine. She was just on the edge of over-the-top, so I hope a bunch of praise for her "personality" won't go to her head and turn her into a mugging fool. Matt looks like a great dancer, and I would take his subtle skill over her larger than life personality, but the judges disagree.

Bottom line: I think they're safe, but I'd say they're on the border between safe and at risk.

4. Contemporary dancer Chelsea T. and Contemporary dancer Thayne danced a Cha Cha

Well, I'm going to sound like Len from Dancing with the Stars, but I have to say I didn't see much Cha Cha at all. There was a lot of posing and preening and booty shaking. All of which they did very well. But not a lot of actual dancing. Not that it matters, because they were so sparkly and fun and...

Bottom line: I think they will be fine

5. Ballroom dancer Chelsea H. and Contemporary dancer Mark danced a Mia Michaels contemporary number

"A Tim Burton wedding" according to Mia. (Um, wasn't that Corpse bride?) Anyway: Like everything Michaels does, there was something intriguing and compelling about it. It was well-danced, and there were a number of great lifts where Mark, despite not looking all that substantial himself, flung Chelsea around like she was light as a feather. Two things were a bit off the mark for me. Mark's emotion was oddly dark and angry and didn't really match Chelsea's (or the choreography) and Chelsea's "wedding dress" was so voluminous it actually hid the dancing a bit too much for my taste.

Bottom line: But come on, what are the stats on the couple dancing a Mia Michaels routine getting booted. got to be pretty low, given the cult of Mia on the show.

6. Contemporary Jazz dancer Kherington and Hip-hop dancer Twitch danced a Broadway Jazz number

They did a really nice job individually together, and they brought the energy level up, and twitch should get on with his bad self and pulling off a double pirouette that looked totally respectable. They were evenly matched and exuded charisma and charm. I'm not saying it's my favorite number ever, but...

Bottom line: They should be so safe.

7. Hip-hop dancer Comfort and Contemporary dancer Chris danced the Jive.

I'm going to say it again: Where was the Jive in that exactly? It was hot, but it was not too jivey. But, like I said: Fun and hot, so really...who cares? Comfort really had the opportunity to exceed expectations, and so she did in her hot little outfit and with her assimilation into an entirely different mode of moving. Chris got lost in the shuffle a bit, but don't worry about him.

Bottom line: very safe.

8. Contemporary dancer Katee and Hip-hop dancer Joshua danced a Hip-hop routine

But this was a hip-hop routine with a story: Soldier on his last night before shipping out. katee and joshua really brought it. And although I didn't like Napolean and Tabitha's show-opening hip-ho routine at all, this one was tremendously different and much more engaging. It told a great story, the couple showed emotion and shared chemistry. And they made it look easy. Nice touch at the end with the transfer of his shirt to her body.

Bottom line: So very safe.

9. Contemporary dancer Jessica and Contemporary dancer Will danced a Tango

Overall he far outshone her in this number. He had the fire and intensity. She looked a bit vapid and sunny with an inappropriate smile on her face through much of the routine. She also had some footwork bobbles, which the cameras were pretty unforgiving about.

Bottom line: Two of the bottom three were obvious. Picking the third spot was tough. I don't think these guys are safe from it.

10. Contemporary dancer Courtney and hip-hop dancer Gev danced Disco

Yes, the kiss of death: Disco. And it was no different for Courtney and Gev. Whil they had good energy and tried, the lifts were rough, and the dance was just not inspiring.

Bottom line: Disco will continue to be the kiss of death. Or at least land them in the Bottom 3.

Bottom line for the Bottom 3:

As I said above, I think 2 of the bottom 3 are obvious:
Raven and Janie's Hip-hop
Courtney and Gev's Disco

The third slot could go to the Waltz, the Tango, the Jazz, but I'm going to pick:
Susie and Marquis' Waltz.

I don't really know enough about these folks yet to predict who can successfully dance for their lives, but if I had to guess: Raven and Jamie will be going home.

What did you think?