ariana debose

Ariana DeBose and Brandon Dumlao were the first pair eliminated from this season of 'So You Think You Can Dance.'

With the World Series beginning tonight on Fox, judges Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy and Adam Shankman had to determine the elimination themselves. They also selected Russell Ferguson and Brandon's partner, Pauline Mata, to be in the bottom 4.

Ariana danced the Hip-hop with partner Peter Sabasino, and chose 'Darkest Hour' by Charlotte Matin for her fateful solo. Meanwhile, Brandon and Pauline performed the smooth waltz to Whitney Houston's 'You Light Up My Life'; Brandon's solo was choreographed to 'Slow Dancing in a Burning Room' by John Mayer.

(S06E09) Tonight, we started with 38 dancers, and by the end of the hour, the Top 20 stood revealed. I'm never quite sure how to take these episodes; American Idol always has one, as well. For the most part, it's just contestants walking in front of the judges and hearing "Yes" or "No." For those of us who've been watching since the beginning and finding our early favorites, it can be a little tense and exciting.

But then I think about someone who's never watched the show, and who's maybe tuning in for the first time tonight. What a boring hour of television they would be in for. You barely get any snippets from the good dancers who make it through. Mostly it's just a parade of faces you don't know and lots of crying.

But before we get to the tears, we need to get excited. For the first time, and to give everyone a more even playing field going into the first performance show, this Monday at 8pm ET, FOX offers a special non-elimination episode where the Top 20 get to show us their stuff.