Episode 23 Recap: And the Winner Is...

Tonight was the season finale of SYTYCD and we found out the winner.
The top 20 dancers were back to perform group numbers and some of their best individual routines. There were few surprises in store for us during this two-hour episode.

The show opened with Tyce’s take on a routine from The Lion King. It was great to see the top 20 all back together; it was also great to finally see a Broadway number done right. Broadway numbers really cannot be done without 10 or more people. We were also treated to group dance routines by the top eight and 10.

We were then treated to the routines that the choreographers wanted to see again. These routines, in order of performance, were:

Mary: Pasha and Lauren — Shane’s Transformer

Nigel: Hok and Jamie — Wade’s Hummingbird and Flower

Jean-Marc: Dom and Sabra

Adam: Sara and Neil — disco

Wade: Lacey and Danny — Dmitry’s samba

Shane: Sara and Pasha — Benji’s West Coast swing

Tyce: Danny and Anya — fox-trot

Tony: Jesús and Sara — Wade’s Chaplin/Bums

Mia: Neil and Sabra — Mandy Moore’s jazz

Dan: Lacey and Neil — Mia’s tribute to her father

It was great seeing all of these routines again. I still have my favorites: Pasha and Lauren, Sara and Neil, Sara and Pasha, and Neil and Sabra, but everyone put on a great show and were troopers, especially Lacey and Neil.

I found it interesting that there were 10 favorite routines chosen by the choreographers, and Neil and Sara were each in three routines, butt only Neil made it to the final four.

There were two surprise guests from dancers we met during the auditions: the clogger Brandon Norris and Brian Gaynor, the robot dancer.

We were teased all night with a dance between Nigel and Cat, which was really a little animated scene from the guys at Jib Jab.

I suppose you are all waiting for me to mention who won. Well, Lacey was the first to go, then Neil, and finally, with Danny and Sabra remaining, Sabra was anointed America’s favorite dancer.

Three changes I would love to see next year: 1) allow Internet voting and not just phone voting, 2) announce the total votes that each dancer/couple receives when they are in the bottom two or three, and 3) allow a nonprofessional to be a judge. If this is really America’s favorite dancer, it would be beneficial to have a non-dance professional acting as a judge.

Finally, congratulations to Sabra on a well-deserved victory. Read here about what Benji said to Sabra backstage.

What did you guys think?

If you missed tonight’s episode, use the Online Video Guide to find clips or other favorite scenes from this past season.

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Posted by

Marc Simkin

Aug 16, 2007 10:59 PM

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I would also like to find out how many votes the bottom folks each received. Do you think that the order of elimination tonight was the order of who received the least amount of votes to the highest? I'm happy for Sabra!!! To think that she has only been dancing for 4 years is crazy b/c she is sooooo good. I can't believe we have to wait another year. Thanks Marc!!!!
Posted by rkareem Aug 16, 2007 11:14 PM Report Abuse

Yes, thanks Marc.

I'm glad Sabra won. She was the most well-rounded. Maybe Danny was better TECHNICALLY, but as Nigel said, it's for America's favorite dancer--not America's favorite technically gifted dancer.

I didn't get anything from Danny. I did feel arrogance from him at times--I do think it's possible I misunderstood it...but seeing as I don't KNOW Danny I could never learn what I was mistaking it for. Sabra was always more open about herself and outgoing from the beginning--and I appreciated that. So, Sabra it is!

Annnd, thank God for DVRs. Covered the episode in about 30 minutes (and even then it could have been less.)

Posted by Cruciatus

Aug 16, 2007 11:22 PM

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I'm sad......really wanted Neal to win. While I certainly appreciate Sabra and Danny for their dance abilities, neither of them ever really "touched" me with their routines. I would totally support internet voting! Never got through last night to vote on the phone, not even once, with many tries.
Posted by Caitlin Aug 16, 2007 11:42 PM Report Abuse

Congrats to Sabra; I'm really happy she won. Was anyone else surprised Sara's routines were so frequently cited as "let's see it again" from the judges? Maybe she should have lasted longer than she did... Nice touch giving Lauren and Pasha a standing ovation after clearing the auditorium last week. Man, that clogger is amazing! Cat's outfit was not... See you next year!
Posted by hawkman217 Aug 16, 2007 11:48 PM Report Abuse

I could totally support internet voting, but I think there would have to be some kind of limit to prevent software programmers from writing a program to flood the results.

I didn't have any difficulty getting through last night on my landline (I voted for 2 hours for Sabra) but I did have a lot of difficulty dialing from my cell phone. I found that very interesting... I wouldn't have expected there to be a difference.

Yay Sabra!! She totally deserved it.

I would like voting to eliminate the bottom 2 dancers without respect to gender, though. They prove again and again that same sex dance partnering can be done and done well. It might cause the choreographers to get a little creative but I'm not letting that stop me from hoping.

Posted by satori

Aug 16, 2007 11:57 PM

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Awwwwwwwwwww.... What a happy ending! I'm so happy for Sabra! Was it me or has Sabra seemed different since yesterday's show? Sad, sick, something? I wish that they had spent more time at the end of the show, following the results, so that we could see more of the reactions from the winner and the others. Anyway, thanks Marc! And thanks all of you for sharing a great season!
Posted by imonit Aug 17, 2007 12:10 AM Report Abuse

I am soooo happy Sabra won. She was definitely my favorite. She was consistently great all season.

I enjoyed seeing most of the dances again, but actually could've done without Mia's flower routine. I just didn't care for that one. I would've preferred the first one of the season with Lacey and Kameron. Oh, well.

That bit with Cat and Nigel was funny, but a little bit of a cheat. I would've loved to have seen them really dance. And that was one hideous dress she had on. OMG. She looked like a big purple emu.

Posted by prplrose5

Aug 17, 2007 12:34 AM

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I am very happy Sabra won! I was/still am a big Neil supporter, but if it had to go anyone except him, I would pick Sabra. I still remember at the beginning of the competition, Nigel said something to Sarba along the lines of "America sometimes lets good dancers fall through the cracks, I hope your not one of them." Well obviously not, I really am happy for her!

I was also excited that Sara got picked for so many encores. She was my 2nd favortie dancer next to Neil and I was sad to see her leave so early in the competition.

I called just about every elimination tonight. I knew Lacey was going over Danny, and knew Neil was going over Sabra. By the time it was down to Danny and Sabra, it was obvious who was going to win to me!

Thanks for the blog, Marc!
Congrats again to Sabra, well deserved!

Posted by christy3761

Aug 17, 2007 12:46 AM

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YAYYYYYYYYY FOR SABRA!!!!!!!

I had no problem voting for her on my cell phone and landline last night. I am SO happy for her and she certainly has the whole package! It was cute when the rest of the group hoisted her up. Also, I was happy to see Sara in so many routines. She left the show way to early.

The Nigel and Cat bit was sorta lame, I was really hoping she'd bust a move.

Anyway, congrats SABRA! :^O

Posted by helloj23

Aug 17, 2007 1:31 AM

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While I'm happy for Sabra -- she makes me smile

, I'm sad Danny didn't win. He earned it. The naysayers can rage all they want, but every time Danny stepped on stage, I sat in rapt anticipation for what he was about to do, what he was about to reveal. He's a beautifully, complex dancer capable of many things. And I really feel privileged to be part of this stage of his evolution and growth.

Mia was right when she said he's going to go down in the books. He probably won't be alone. This year's crop of dancers all have the potential of really setting the bar. High.

Can't wait 'til the tour!

Posted by BigReader

Aug 17, 2007 1:41 AM

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Random thought: After her name was declared I thought Sabra had a very touching and beautiful reaction filled with joyful tears. Also, who remember's Benji's cringeworthy reaction from last year? It was like a pained-cry-shock-smile-awed combination reaction. I'm sure he wanted to weep, but the tears just didn't flow!
Posted by helloj23 Aug 17, 2007 1:53 AM Report Abuse

Uh oh. First LONG post of the evening.

First off, I was wrong. Wrong wrong wrong, but I am glad I was wrong about Lacey winning. I wanted Sabra or Danny to win and I am really happy for Sabra. I had really started to hope for Danny. I never thought he was arrogant, but I did think that he took a long time to bring down that wall. I think that he was used to hiding behind that wall given his challenging childhood and life, and his dating preferences. I think this show was REALLY good for him. He seems like such a charismatic and funny guy. Once he took the risk of people getting to know the real him, he started getting a lot of votes.

I heard that Sabra dances literally 12 hours a day every day. If so, it sounds like she has a compulsion. That would explain why she has only had four years of professional training but dances as well or better than the rest of them.

But I think it’s really awesome that a girl won. I think of all the girls thinking about auditioning next season. How much harder would it be for them to put themselves out there if a guy won again? How many would not take the risk if they thought that only guys can win?

It was fantastic to see all 20 dancers again. These kids are SO inspiring. I wish that all 20 could go on tour, but I don’t live in a city that is lucky enough to be graced with a visit on the tour anyway. Nigel is lame. It’s a 50 city tour with 35 of the cities in New York and California. I guess nobody from any other state ever votes huh?

I also really like watching Sara and I was very glad to see her perform three times tonight. I know that I could be stoned to death for saying this, but I liked Sara more than Lacey.

Did anyone notice that all the other dancers were in white except for Sabra at the end? Even Danny had a white A-shirt on. Curious coincidence.

I agree with hawkman217. Kudos to Cat for getting Pasha and Lauren their due. However, I thought Cat’s dress looked like someone killed a pom pom and stapled it to her. I was also very annoyed that we were conned into watching a silly video of Cat and Nigel’s heads dancing. That was a waste of time. Which reminds me. I agree with the prplrose5 too. I could totally do without the Mia Michaels tribute to her father dance. Great. The dance that you can’t say anything bad about again. I used that time to go have a quick smoke, so hey, it was better for me this time around.

I have to admit, though, I almost felt bad for Lacey. She handled the loss with class. She kept a smile on her face even while tears were streaming. I should probably apologize for some of my rude comments about her this season. Maybe some were a little over the line. Next year I will try to demonstrate the qualities that I am most impressed with in these dancers; humility and class.

Posted by sabrinasafool

Aug 17, 2007 1:58 AM

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I am disappointed Danny didn't win. I started out the season not liking him at all because I thought he was arrogant and he won me over during the season.

I would love to know how many votes the contestants get on SYTCD and American Idol. I'd look at them as the weekly rankings.

At this point, I am burned out on dance routines and look forward to the break till next year.

And finally, Cat - why did you let them do this to you? I have come to the conclusion that Cat can never go wrong with a simply styled short dress. No ruffles, foo foo, or whatever. Just a simple mini-drss. Do that and just keep changing the colors.

Posted by dave j

Aug 17, 2007 2:21 AM

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Sabra was my fave from the beginning! I was giddy when she and Dominic danced (I loved thar routine BTW). And I'm hoping that next year Paula Abdul will fill a guest seat. Waan't she one of the premier choreographers of her time?
Posted by wycked Aug 17, 2007 4:30 AM Report Abuse

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