jobear2484 Reality television as a whole is a cesspool that collects the very worst of human behavior and emotions in a cistern and lets it fester until it creates the fertilizer for the destructive roots growing into the foundations of civilized society. There are a few exceptions. One of the major ones is the Fox series So You Think You Can Dance. All the ingredients for the cheesy talent competitions that have embedded themselves into a huge section of most stations' schedules are present- 3 judges, an impossibly photogenic host, and a bunch of attractive young people yearning to realize their dream. But that's pretty much where the similarities end. The major difference is these kids are actually talented. They dance their little hearts out every week and are an absolute delight to watch. SYTYCD is such an anticipated pleasure each and every season. There just isn't anywhere else except Broadway and your local dance troupes that you can experience the joy of watching this level of dance. The choreographers have won many an Emmy for the show, and deservedly so. The complexity, story, and variety they put into each number elevates this reality show to heights far beyond the hoi polloi. The show exposes the viewer to many different types of music as well as different forms of dance, most of which one would never have exposure to. This isn't "Dancing With The Stars" where B-list celebrities try desperately to adhere to simple foxtrots and tangos- we get treated to everything from African Jazz to incredibly challenging contemporary pieces choreographed and danced by some of the best in the country. It's culture, folks. Don't think that it gets bogged down in pretentiousness, though. This show is, above all, fun. Everyone involved seems to be having a ball. The kids enjoy strutting their stuff, the choreographers love the exposure, and the judges genuinely seem to care for the kids. They also give advice that actually has to do with dancing! Not only do they seem to enjoy each other's company, there's a guest judge each week to keep the chemistry fresh. Nigel Lythgoe is such an advocate of dance and Mary Murphy, the lost Osmond, is so infectiously perky that it's impossible not to have fun along with them. Host Cat Deely is also such a fashionista half the reason to tune in each week is just to see what she's wearing. The audience enjoys it all as well- I guarantee that at least once per week you will get goosebumps from one of the numbers- and who doesn't love that? The final element that I like about SYTYCD- each season I've watched, the audience watching at home that calls in and votes have got the winner right. This isn't a show that encourages a backlash like what inspired the American Idol's "Vote For the Worst" campaign. Those of us who watch it vote for the best dancer, not just the prettiest face or the largest personality. Yes, in earlier rounds, even up to some of the final shows, a personality will get a contestant far. But unless they back that up with actual talent and effort they won't win. And that's what makes this reality show more real than most, and a real treat to watch.

tinkerchel Please understand that this isn't easy for me, to bash a show I grew up with. I had been an avid fan since season one. It planted inside me the desire to dance and inspired me to keep dancing. I still remember the Marty Kudelka "Touch" chore that opened the first show on stage; the gritty, crisp yet slick movements. It's real hip-hop at its most original(unlike the sappy gimmicky NappyTab chores that can't stand alone without their "stories"). I remember truly amazing dancers like season 1's Blake Mcgrath, season 5's Brandon, and season 7's Billy Bell, remember watching them danced with such precision and passion, it was like witnessing miracles at work.As much as Nigel hates to admit it( as he insists each season is their "best season yet"), the show is on its last breath pulling all the strings in attempt regain its old glory that has long gone. Even their celebrity appearance like Lady Gaga and Ellen DeGeneres can't save them from their doom.(quite the opposite, these guests contribute next to nothing to the critique of the dances. Jumped the shark much?) So what went wrong? First and foremost, the dance itself. THE SHOW IS NO LONGER ABOUT DANCE. What fills the empty space that dance once did is drama. I get very annoyed after watching a half an hour audition episode, over one hour of which shows horrendous supposedly hilarious performances by those who only want their 15 minutes on TV, tearjerkers and people that relate to the past contestants on the show for a novelty boost. The 30 minutes or less that do show good dancers are filled with stale contemporary routines we have seen again and again the past seasons, watered down unoriginal "hip-hop" such as the animation robot, break dancing that hardly evolved the past 5 years...I was quite upset when the judge put through a female dancer this season, 2/3 of whose chore was taken straight from season 8's Jordan's solo on the show. If the judges didn't care enough about their own show to recognize the blatantly obvious plagiarism, why should we?Second, most dancers(who are 18 and trying out the show for the first time) in the newer seasons are no where near as talented and technically polished as the ones before. They are clearly not ready yet. Then why are they chosen? To gain more popularity amongst young people. The judges always stress on having personalities so the dancers could attract more viewers with their cutesy antics instead of their actual dancing talent. Third, the choreographies are lacking freshness. And every time a chore touches on a sensitive issue like breast cancer or the lost of someone's family, it gets standing ovation by default, followed by the waterworks of the judges, the dancers and the audience(Boy the waterworks...), despite how good the actual chore is. I'm not a unsympathetic and callous person but a dance should be judged not on solely the message it brings lone, but on the actually movements too. And why does all the dances have to have a back story now? Last but not least, Nigel's eager attempt to manipulate the viewers as well as the entire show. You may disagree, but his hypocrisy shone through when he rejected Anthony Bryant, who was and still is one of the most refined and skilled dancers I have ever seen my entire life, in season one's NY audition because Nigel thought his dance was too feminine. At the finale Nigel invited Anthony back to dance for them again and apologized by waving a white flag. The next few seasons Anthony auditioned again and were rejected. I guess Nigel figured they milked everything they could out of him and no longer needed him. Nigel is like a soul sucking vampire, after sucking the dancers dry he tosses them away. Please put an end to this show before it all ends in tears.

dancer-45 Unlike singing competitions which can begin to feel like karaoke night twice a week, So You Think You Can Dance is fresh and will keep renewing itself. Dance is always changing, always becoming more global, technical, artistic, theatrical, and more. There are no limits in dance, and thus this show has the potential to go on forever.The greatest thing about this show is the showcase of the different genres by gifted dancers. Not only is it a "competition" show, it is a performance show. Sure there are the judges to comment, phone numbers to call, and bottom three to fret about, but in the end this show achieves the most in broadcasting the world of dance.

CalabasasKid Mary Murphy needs to GO, they need Louie Spence (Celebrity Circus) to replace her-he is a great assessor of talent and an entertaining personality. Spence has heart, wit and he is comfortable in his own skin, and was the best judge on NBC's Circus show. Murphy has a cackle laugh that makes everyone in our house turn off the show, Lythgoe needs to get rid of her pronto. The chemistry is off and she is the root problem. If anyone watched Celebrity Circus, what do you think about replacing Mary Murphy with Louie Spence? Who else would be a good replacement? Again, Louie Spence seems the obvious solution plus he can do mad back-flips!