Making early predictions for live reality shows can be tricky, but our first-week picks for “So You Think You Can Dance” were surprisingly prescient, though not perfect. Back in “Top 20 Week,” the eventual final four contestants – Gaby Diaz, Virgil Gadson, Hailee Payne and Jaja Vankova – were all in our top seven. However, our biggest mistake was at the very top of our predictions: we thought ballet dancer Jim Nowakowski would win the season, but he was sent home in “Top 6 Week.”
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In that first week of predictions, Vankova was second with 6/1 odds and support from 14% of users. Gadson was third with 16/1 odds and 6% of user votes. Diaz was down in fifth with 20/1 odds and 5% of user votes. And we underestimated Payne, placing her seventh with 33/1 odds and 3% of user votes.
Where else did we miss the mark? We thought Yorelis Apolinario would do better than she did. We ranked her third, tied with Gadson at 16/1 odds, but she was eliminated in “Top 14 Week.” Meanwhile, we failed to anticipate the success of Megz Alfonso, ranking her 13th with 50/1 odds, but she made it all the way to the top six before being sent home. We also didn’t expect the high performance of Eddie “Neptune” Eskridge; he finished in the top eight, but not only did we rank him 16th with 100/1 odds to win the season, we also thought he would be the first street dancer eliminated.
What did you think of the “SYTYCD” contestants when live performances began? Did any of them take you by surprise? Were any sent home too soon? Or is this the top four you were expecting?
There’s one last predictions event this season. The final four performed September 7 with a winner to be crowned on September 14, so you have until the season finale to predict the final outcomes: who will win, who will finish second, who will finish third and who will finish fourth.
‘So You Think You Can Dance’ poll results: Gaby Diaz beats Jaja Vankova
At the end of each week, the eligible user with the highest prediction accuracy and most points will win a $100 Amazon gift certificate, so it’s beneficial to keep coming back often and making/updating your predictions.
Which dancers do you like (and dislike) the most? Are you rooting for Team Stage or Team Street? Sound off in the comments section below, and join the discussion in Gold Derby’s reality TV forum.
Photo: Jim Nowakowski performs in “So You Think You Can Dance.” Credit: Michael Becker/FOX
