No time for filler: even though it was the performance finale - arguably the most important dancing night of the season -- it was shoehorned into one hour so that Fox could air some stupid live cooking special with Gordon Ramsay after it. How does that even make sense? How do you two-hour episodes every week except for the last week, when the dancers most need to show off their stuff? It's just the latest indignity that the show has had to suffer this season, which has been plagued by scheduling madness, major dancer injuries, and a bunch of lackluster routines and choreographers (Mia Michaels, you have been MISSED).

We were down to our Top 6, instead of our usual Final 4, which drives me up the wall for some reason. Still in the running: Jakob, Ellenore, Russell, Kathryn, Ryan, and Ashleigh, all of whom danced three numbers. I was furious last week when Ashleigh advanced to the finals even though she didn't dance a step last Tuesday. I still think it's some bullshit. But when I think about it, if you ignore Ryan and Ashleigh's place in the finals, and consider it an F4 between other competitors, it is pretty much right. So that's what I'm going with.

Kathryn & Ryan got a samba by Jason Gilkison. Ryan was shirtless, so that was a good start. The two of them looked tentative executing a series of complicated holds and turns. The music was not a hit with me - very African/tribal, and that's not what I typically think of for samba. Ryan was very sensual in the routine, and he kind of blew Kathryn out of the water, which is strange, because I love her. She held her own, and executed everything well, but I thought Ryan brought more soul to the performance. It ended with a great throw - literally, a throw, where Ryan launched Kathryn into the air, and Kathryn came back down on Ryan's back. The judges loved it.

Ellenore and Jakob got a Broadway number by Tyce DiOrio to "I Gotcha" from "Fosse." Easily the best Tyce Broadway number in a long time, possibly ever. Fast-paced, sexy, full of really difficult, cool moves. Both dancers got a chance to show off their stuff with some very Fosse-inspired moves, and they were both fully committed. They looked practically orgasmic throughout the piece. Lots of kicking, lots of leaping, lots of sliding, lots of head whips. Really excellent number. Again, the judges loved it.

Ashleigh and Russell got lyrical jazz by Sonya Tayeh to "Angel Standing By" by Jewel. Russell was incredible. It's just unbelievable to me that he is a krumper with limited classical training. His lines and flow were just mesmerizing. The piece was an interesting mix of smooth and jerky movements. It was certainly unlike anything we've ever seen from Sonya on the show before - very soft. I personally couldn't tell you how Ashleigh did, since I could only focus on Russell, who blew her off the stage. Nigel said the exact same thing. To me, Ashleigh was just there, and was occasionally given something to do when it suited her partner. I feel like that's the way it's been with her all season. Nigel called Russell "bloody incredible." Mary got choked up talking about Russell, actually crying over how much he has grown. So sweet.

Ellenore and Ryan did a Gary Stewart jazz piece to "Kontact Me" by Boys Noize. It was pneumatic, like they were robots. We've seen that shtick on this show before, and I didn't think this routine really showed off what either of these dancers can do. The movements to me seemed very basic for the most part. The musicality was there, and it certainly required a lot of synchronization and role playing on the dancers' parts. But it didn't feel particularly energetic, nor did it feel like a finale-caliber piece. Nigel also thought it was more like a technical exercise, and didn't feel comfortable with the piece itself, although he thought they danced it well. Mary liked it because it was so different, and thought there were some cool moves.

Jakob and Ashleigh got a foxtrot by Jean-Marc to "Let the Good Times Roll" by Chuck Brown & Eve Cassidy. Ashleigh's fuschia gown was gorgeous - amazing color on her - and the two of them seemed so light and easy with one another. They were both very good, Ashleigh possibly just edging out Jakob, but this is her style. This is what she does. He did a very good job partnering her and the whole thing just seemed seamless. I will say, however, that there was nothing special about the routine - a run-of-the-mill ballroom piece. Pretty, but hardly inventive. Nigel mentioned the wonderful chemistry between the two of them this season. Yes, it's true. And Ashleigh certainly benefited from that partnership and its chemistry more than Jakob did. I seriously don't think she'd be here at this point without him.

Russell and Ellenore got a Jason Gilkison paso doble. Great opening, with Ellenore silhouetted in front of a red screen, and then Russell coming sliding out from out of nowhere. This was strange for me, because I think Russell is great, and he danced the piece well, but he lacked the seething manliness that this style requires. He should be, like, oozing testosterone, and I didn't feel that at all. I felt like Ellenore was his equal in this routine, not his cape. And that disappointed me. Nigel said that Russell was lacking in a couple of the steps, and that Ellenore totally outfired and outpassioned him. Yeah, I agree. I thought Mary was too effusive in her praise.

Kathryn and Jakob did contemporary to "At This Moment" by Michael Buble by two choreographers who I don't think I've heard of before (Dwight and Desmond from Complections, I guess?). It was a good routine, about a couple in the midst of making up/breaking up. Some very sensual moves, and I thought the two of them were perfectly matched in it - I don't think any of the other two dancers on this season could have executed it so well. It built to a really great climax, with Jakob literally pounding the floor in anger/frustration, and Kathryn caressing his face. Nigel said that they just stopped the show, and he admitted that Kathryn is his favorite girl left in the competition. Nigel said that Jakob needs to grow even more, join a company, and become an outstanding soloist. I...think he already is, isn't he? Adam said he was humbled by the routine, and was just wild about what they just did. He even called it a "game changer." That's interesting.

Ashleigh and Ryan - the married ballroom couple dancing together for the first time on the show - got a contemporary routine by Travis Wall to "I'm There Too" by Michelle Featherstone. At first I was going to call bullshit, because I think Ashleigh and Ryan's "story" has given them an unfair advantage on this show, and I think Travis himself has a hardcore voting base that will support whatever he does. But I think Travis and the dancers had the misfortune of following the Jakob/Kathryn number, which was also a contemporary piece about a couple. This was a much more romantic and sweet number, but also more low-key than the previous one, and that made it somewhat less memorable. Not that it didn't contain some nice tricks. It was just a bit understated. Nigel addressed the voting scandal from last week that put Ashleigh in this at all, and essentially gave the pair of them an Honorable Mention finish before saying that he feels Ashleigh has better chemistry with Jakob than she does with Ryan, which Ryan disagreed with. Mary pointed out that this would be a memorable moment for them (well, duh). And then they started crying again, and I got worried that we're going to get more sympathy votes for these two. And if either of them end up near the Top 2 tomorrow, I will be absolutely furious.

Kathryna nd Russell closed the show with a TapNap hip-hop to "I Can Transofrm Ya" by Chris Brown and Lil Wayne. Kathryn was a bit off, especially in the beginning. The routine was loaded with tricks and didn't stop for more than two seconds at a time. It had attitude, but wasn't mean. Very flashy and fun. Russell was a rock star, but I felt like Kathryn was rushing a bit to keep up with him at times. It's interesting that Nigel seemed to totally ignore Kathryn's relative weakness in this number, while Mary said nothing of use whatsoever. Adam pointed out that the two of them performed well in three very disparate styles over the course of the night. I will agree with that.

And that was it. No solos. How on Earth do you not have the dancers do solos on finale night? When we are choosing America's favorite individual dancer? And yet we only saw them dance in couples tonight? Just mind-boggling.

Predictions: Nigel seemed to be telling America point blank that Ryan and Ashleigh are not in contention for the win, and pimped Kathryn to, I think, an egregious degree (and I say that because I love Kathryn). Ultimately I think it's a moot point, because this SHOULD come down to Jakob vs. Russell. Ellenore acquired herself well tonight, but I think Russell has overall had a better season, and Jakob might have clinched the win with that contemporary piece. But at this point I'd be OK with pretty much anybody but Ashleigh (and maybe Ryan, although he was surprisingly solid tonight).