The routine involves a giant cage in the middle of the stage (okay?) and is performed to Bobby McFerrin singing "Blackbird." Man, that is so many strikes, I can barely count. Also: you are so not Mia Michaels, Tyce. The "bars" of the cage appear to be ropes of bungee cords or something elastic, so there's a lot of climbing and pulling to start. The song is super low-energy, which is a problem (and Tyce's fault) in that it leaves their movements somewhat stranded. There also isn't enough interplay between them, and for a routine that's supposed to be about birds, there are too few moments where it feels like birds. On the bright side, Victor moves his body so beautifully I can barely stand it. But check out the past four weeks now: Two contemporary routines in which he was 1) BRILLIANT and 2) excellent but got dinged for getting an easy draw; and two Tyce Diorio routines where the choreo was seriously lacking. If Victor goes home this week (which has supplanted H1N1 as my fear of choice), I know who I'm blaming.

Cat calls the dancers over and points out that Victor has a "war wound" -- Channing "pecked" him a little too vigorously and he ended up with five stitches juuust above his eye which is exactly where I got stitches when I was a kid I love you Victor! "I wanted six, though, to represent Season 6, like a battle wound? But they wouldn't give it to me." You guys? I may need to take a moment. A moment to ponder Victor's extreme cuteness. And then Nigel ruins it all by giving him the kiss of death and saying he's good but he hasn't grown. Hey Nigel, can we possibly get rid of the dancers who haven't been any good yet (kevinkevinkevin) before we start sideswiping the good ones who "haven't grown"? Please? Mary echoes Nigel's "good but not a star" faint praise. Adam reflects Mary and Nigel's thoughts on Channing, which is that she's finally making a positive impression on them. He also thinks Victor is "fantastic" but wanting. Whatever. The important part is that he calls into question the Bobby McFerrin song, and how it kept him from getting into the performance (Nigel agrees). Adam says it's not Tyce's fault (it is) and that it was very "smart" choreography (it wasn't), but this is yet again Adam showing a willingness to question the choreo, at least a little. It's welcome. P.S. Save Victor.