So You Think You Can Dance

I'm not sure if you have been able to see this show, but the dancing is phenominal. Unlike Strictly Dance Fever the contestants in this show are dance students and not true amateurs. As such the level of dance is much higher and professional.

The whole format is very different too (to get around the copyright I expect). The Judges pick the bottom 3 couples and they go up for the public vote. What's weird is that every week you pick your dance partner from a hat followed by the dance style. This possibly makes it a fairer contest, since the UK show assigns you a partner that you are then stuck with.

When Nicky & I have watched the show we have spent most of our time slagging off the judge Nigel Lythgoe (picture above) for knowing nothing about dancing. He seems to repeat what ever the dance teachers say in the training clip and little else.

Since he produces the show we thought that he had put himself in as a judge and is attempting to be another Simon Cowell wannabe. Then I read this.....

Nigel Lythgoe, currently the President of 19 Television, joined 19 as Chief Executive in 2001 from London World Television (LWT), where he was controller of entertainment and comedy. At LWT, Lythgoe attracted award-winning programming, including Ice Warriors, Live By Request with Phil Collins, Michael Barrymores My Kind of Music, Don’t Try This At Home, Friday Night’s All Wright, TV Nightmares, Kids Say the Funniest Things, Animals Do the Funniest Things, Guinness World Records and Hidden Talents of the Rich and Famous. One of the UK's most respected TV talents, Lythgoe began his career at the age of 10 as a dancer. Later, he switched to choreography for The Young Generation dance group and went on to choreograph over 500 television shows around the world, including shows for Engelbert Humperdinck, The Muppets and five Royal Variety Performances. Lythgoe became a household name as a tough judge on the UK series Popstars, leading him to be dubbed Nasty Nigel by viewers. He has produced multiple shows, including Gladiator, Pop Idol and the British version of Survivor, which he also directed. Lythgoe’s executive-producer credits include all four seasons of the No. 1 televison show AMERICAN IDOL, All American Girl and currently SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE.


OK, so we were wrong. Doesn't make me like him though!

Jim x