so you think you can dance (101 posts)

Kelsey McNeal/FOX

Here they are, America—your top 20!

On tonight's So You Think You Can Dance, "Your… judges!" settled on their favorite contenders to take the show into its sixth—but first with the chill of fall in the air—season of competition.

One by one, a bevy of contemporary dancers, a few ballroom specialists, a couple of hip-hop types, a few wild cards and—could it be—a tapper or two (or three) got the news that will turn them from hardworking artists anonymously honing their craft to network TV stars whose legs and abs will be ogled by millions.

As usual, the process started with the first contender making that long, solitary walk to the room where Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy, Adam Shankman (who will be starting his tenure as a permanent judge on the panel next week), Debbie Allen, Tyce Diorio and a freshly shorn Mia Michaels (who, unlike Shankman, is on her way out) were waiting to tell 18-year-old Nathan his fate.

And you know how those judges like to first make it sound as if they're going to say no.

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We can hear it coming…no, not Mary Murphy's hot tamale train. The FCC fallout! (Seriously, if they're still arguing over a nipple shield, we can only imagine how drawn out this TiVo-frying incident will be.)

In case you missed it, on last night's Atlanta-centric audition episode of So You Think You Can Dance, contestant No. 22036, the dancer that will live in infamy, was so excited upon receiving a golden ticket to Las Vegas that she fell excitedly to the ground and, in doing so, inadvertently (we hope) ended up delivering to the nation one hell of a Sharon Stone impression.

"None of us knew she did this," judge, exec producer and resident English muffin Nigel Lythgoe told TMZ. "The show was always designed to expose talent, but not in this way."

We don't know how many times we need to say it, but one more can't hurt: Kids, wear underwear. Especially on television. Especially while wearing a skirt. And especially when writhing around on the floor.

While exposing her Britney was all 22063's own doing, unleashing it on an unsuspecting family-friendly audience was not. The show was not live and both the network and show producers had months to edit the footage to a more PG-worthy level (the Atlanta auditions were held way back in June).

We would suggest they get themselves a new editor, but we suspect they've already taken care of that.

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Courtesy of Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

So You Think You Can Dance's Cat Deeley deserves a spot among Ryan Seacrest, Jeff Probst and Heidi Klum as an Emmy nominee for Best Reality-Show Host. You've said it, we've said it to her and, apparently, she hears it all the time.

"That's the second time someone has said that to me, and I've only been here for about 20 minutes," the blond beauty told E! News at the G-Star Raw fashion show earlier this week. "But I'm going on Sunday!"

Sure enough, the leggy Brit is presenting on television's big night. And even though she's been on the Kodak Theatre stage before—SYTYCD's most recent finale was filmed there...

"I'm a little bit nervous about it though," she confessed.

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American Idol's not the only reality show shaking up its judging ranks. It's just doing it with the most amount of fanfare.

Adam Shankman, choreographer, director and Miley Cyrus photo scandal fan-flamer, is moving from frequent to permanent fixture on the So You Think You Can Dance dais this season, filling out the judging trifecta alongside Mary Murphy and Nigel Lythgoe.

"So You Think You Can Dance is one of the most important things to happen in the last decade for the art form," Shankman, who's been a choreographer and regular guest judge on the Fox hit since 2007, said.

"Choreography is how I found my way into this business, and I'm proud to be a part of the show."

And the SYTYCD crew is proud to have him.

"I am extremely happy that Adam has agreed to be a resident judge," Lythgoe, the show's exec producer, cocreator and resident English Muffin, said. "We love bantering and bickering…plus, it must be remembered, it takes a slightly crazy person to work with me and Mary."

Hey, he said it.

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This year, there is only one way to premiere a daytime talk show: a choreographed dance. Maybe all the reality dance competition shows are to blame—Dancing With the Stars, So You Think You Can Dance, America's Best Dance Crew—or maybe America just really likes dance breaks in the middle of the afternoon?

Whatever the case, earlier this week, Tyra Banks tried out a little dance routine (again) for the premiere of her show. Yes, it was ridiculous.

It's pretty hard to watch Tyra flail around with whatever smile she calls that plastered on her face. At least Oprah was smart enough not to participate...

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