Yesterday, Fox talked to reporters about next season, but someone wanted to know about the show from seasons past.
Which was it? It was So You Think You Can Dance. “Obviously, a really important show in the history of Fox, and right now, there’s no plans to order another season.” Michael Thorn, President of FOX Television, told reporters, including Variety. ”And you know, we’ve had conversations about it, but nothing formal.”
The dance competition was a summer staple for 18 seasons, but has not been on Fox’s dance floor since 2024. That year was controversial because the creator and judge Nigel Lythgoe was accused of sexual harassment by several women, including Paula Abdul. He was replaced by JoJo Siwa.
Before Witney Carson made it to the finals on Dancing with the Stars, she had already been there on So You Think You Can Dance. Watching the 18-year-old dance in 2012 proves why she has two mirror ball trophies.
So You Think You Can Dance will be back on Fox on March 4th. And the show is already having a casting change.
Nigel Lythgoe stepped down from judging this season after he was accused of sexual misconduct by three women, including Paula Abdul.
So we were wondering who would replace him at the Judges’ table with Allison Holker Maksim Chmerkovskiy, and now we know. It is JoJo Siwa.
Siwa is used to a judge leaving the show. During the last season of SYTYCD, she watched as Leah Remini replaced Matthew Morrison, who was accused of an inappropriate conversation with a competing dancer.
Right before the New Year, Paula Abdul sued Nigel Lythgoe, saying he sexually assaulted her on two occasions. Once during American Idol and a second time when she was a judge on So You Think You Can Dance.
Since then, two other women claimed the same in a lawsuit when he was working with them on the show All American Girl in 2003.
19 Entertainment, who produces the Fox dancing competition, launched their own investigation into the EP and judge.
However, Lythgoe did not wait for their decision to make one of his own. “I have informed the producers of ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ of my decision to step back from participating in this year’s series,” Lythgoe said in a statement to Variety. “I did so with a heavy heart but entirely voluntarily because this great program has always been about dance and dancers, and that’s where its focus needs to remain. In the meantime, I am dedicating myself to clearing my name and restoring my reputation.”
Will the show go on as planned on March 4th? Fox said the show “will proceed, although without Nigel Lythgoe, to ensure the show remains committed to the contestants, who have worked incredibly hard for the opportunity to compete on our stage.”
When it comes to who will replace him on the 18th season alongside Allison Holker and Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Fox has yet to make a decision.
This is not the first time that SYTYCD lost a judge midseason due to allegations. During the 17th season, Matthew Morrison was replaced by Leah Remini when he was accused of having inappropriate conversations with a contestant. He explained the allegations against him on social media.
Tonight is the season finale of Dancing with the Stars on ABC, and Fox decided to announce that So You Think You Can Dance will be back for its 18th season on Monday, March 4th.
If that is not a big enough fuck you to ABC, then finding out that Maksim Chmerkovskiy is joining the judges’ table is doing just that.
Who else would prefer to watch Maks over Derek Hough as a judge on DWTS? I know I can’t be alone. And now I will be watching him on SYTYCD.
The news gets even better. Fox screwed up and asked Nigel Lythgoe not to return for season 17. But they realized their fuck up and are bringing him back.
The two men will be joined by former contestant Allison Holker. Her late husband was a judge on season 17. So this will be a tribute to Twitch.
The judges’ table is not the only thing changing. So is the former. Each week, contestants will compete in new, intense dance challenges that will give them a real taste of the career, from performing in a music video or a football halftime show to going toe-to-toe on stage with a Broadway performer. In the end, it will be up to the judges to decide their fate. Eliminations will take place weekly, with the Top 3 finalists competing in the season’s spectacular finale, but only one will win the $100,000 grand prize and the highly coveted title of So You Think You Can Dance champion.
And for those of you wondering if Cat Deeley will be back? Yes, she will be!
I hope SYTYCD finds a new audience to watch the series along with its loyal fans. Because this sounds like it is the adrenaline shot the dancing competition needed.
