Get Ready for ‘So You Think You Can Dance’
Summer’s #1 Show Returns to the Tube Not a Moment Too Soon
I don’t have much love to spare for reality TV, but when it comes to the dance-themed shows, bring ‘em on. Just Tuesday, ABC’s Dancing with the Stars wrapped up its successful fourth season with a crowd-pleasing victory by five-time medal-winning Olympic speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno and his sensational pro partner Julianne Hough. And on Fox, the American Idol behemoth just crowned its sixth and youngest ever champion, seventeen-year-old songstress Jordin Sparks, merely hours ago. Now, tonight, dance fans across America get to tune in to the third-season premiere of Fox’s other reality megahit, the top-rated summer series So You Think You Can Dance. I can’t wait.
Sunny British host Cat Deeley is back, as are veteran judge-choreographers Dan Karaty (hip-hop/pop), Mia Michaels (contemporary/modern), and Mary Murphy (ballroom/disco), the last of whom has received a deserved promotion to regular judge, which means she’ll be Woo-hoo’ing and annoying uninitiated viewers Paula Abdul-style all season long from a permanent spot on the judge’s panel. I like Mary, who has a nice effect on the only other permanent judge, bossman Nigel “I’m the Executive Producer” Lythgoe, so good for her. Hip-hop choreographer Shane Sparks, who joined the show during last summer’s second season, is also slated to put in some face time. As for my personal favorite, veteran hip-hop choreographer Brian Friedman, I haven’t heard a single word about his glaring absence from the judges roster, but I hope it’s all good.
First up on tonight’s 85-minute premiere (8pm EST/Fox) are the requisite audition rounds, starting with the sessions held in the first of four stops, New York City. Atlanta, Chicago, and Los Angeles hoofers will get their moment in the spotlight in upcoming episodes, though its doubtful that the show will manage to cram in all 50,000 of the hopefuls who made this season’s audition turnout three times larger than last year’s. What a judging experience that must have been. If any of the prospective competitors are even half as talented as last year’s champ, humble sweetheart Benji Schwimmer, then we fans have got a whole lot of fantastic dancing to look forward to over the next few months. Up for grabs—the title America’s Favorite Dancer and a grand cash prize of $250,000. Sweet.
So You Think You Can Dance will regularly air Wednesdays at 8pm EST and Thursdays at 9pm EST on Fox
So You Think You Can Dance logo courtesy of Fox
