Comments on: Nigel Lythgoe: He Just Can’t Stop Putting His Foot in It Plus, So You Think You Can Dance Top 20 is Chosen!

By: Grammie Kari

Grammie Kari — Wed, 27 May 2009 03:03:35 +0000

Well, Nigel has apologized.

Has anyone mentioned that Mary was also a bit confused by it all? Ot that one of the men did have a female partner previously and he stated he was straight?

If these guys were GOOD dancers, they could have danced well with either gender, IMO.

By: Buderschnookie

Buderschnookie — Sun, 24 May 2009 14:56:03 +0000

I know my first reaction to Adam Lambert when he kind of ran his hand up his shirt in a overtly sexual manner, topped with what he had posted on his website totally jaded my opinion of him. He is, as far as IÃƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m concernedÃƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ the type of person people make fun of and your classic sterotyped gay man. I know a few gay men and they are totally masculine.

Ha,
That was one of the single greatest things I have ever seen on Idol and not the least bit effeminate. Not even close.

Adam is a great example of what Nigel means by a gay man dancing/appearing masculine and giving off 100% masculine energy. Combined with pure talent, something the same sex couple did not have, it is a winning combination.

By: reinharv

reinharv — Sun, 24 May 2009 13:55:05 +0000

I can see where Nigel is coming from with his remarks and I donÃƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t find anything wrong with them or what heÃƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s trying to say. IÃƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m so tired of people immediately jumping to the Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹homophobicÃƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ conclusion.

I too am fed up with the fact that if you say anything at all you are tagged homophobic. I don’t like effeminate male dancers either.

Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…â€œI believe overtly effeminate dancing destroys the opportunity for many male dancers to be supported. Being gay doesnÃƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t mean effeminate.Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬

There are many gay men who don’t like to be portrayed as “Queens” nor are they effeminate. When people joke about “gay” men they portray them wearing outlandish clothes, swaying their hips, wearing make-up, jewelry, wearing feather boas, talking in a high voice, using feminine hand gestures, you name it. That is sterotyping and nobody likes that. I don’t like exhibitionists.

I know my first reaction to Adam Lambert when he kind of ran his hand up his shirt in a overtly sexual manner, topped with what he had posted on his website totally jaded my opinion of him. He is, as far as I’m concerned” the type of person people make fun of and your classic sterotyped gay man. I know a few gay men and they are totally masculine.

I don’t want to see men kissing eachother, acting effeminate, and/or being exhibitionists. Okay, fine you are gay, but that’s your business. If you are an artist or have another profession and want to be taken seriously then act accordingly and people will take you more seriously. I can’t separate the two if you go out of your way to advertise that you are gay and challenge me to say something I’m not comfortable with in regards to your “behavior” and immediately tag me as being homophobic. Like it or not, the fact is that being “gay” is not the “norm” no matter what anyone says. I just don’t like the “in your fact I’m gay” and if you’re uncomfortable about my public behavior, you are homophobic and a hater, blah, blah, blah.

By: Bobbi

Bobbi — Sun, 24 May 2009 11:35:04 +0000

Calliope, if you want to follow Adam Shankman it is @adammshankman

By: butte009

butte009 — Sun, 24 May 2009 06:01:42 +0000

We’ve all seen the wackos who try out for this show to get their few seconds of fame – Hopefully Sex has finally given up! :jittery_tb: If it hadn’t of been for the bio I would have assumed these guys were doing it as a joke. Their dancing, while not horrible, left a lot to be desired. And it certainly isn’t the first time that the judges laughed when someone fell. It would have been just as funny if it had been a guy and a gal. (Actually the judges laughed throughout the Bolero audition – but that was downright horrendous)
I’ve watched the Canadian and Australian versions of the show as well. It’s a given that the judges (gay judges included) expect the men to be strong, masculine dancers. These guys claimed to know that and yet kept effeminate elements in the routine – e.g. the classic stick your @ss out. That’s when Nigel really started to lose it. :lol_tb: I can’t blame him. So did I.
The runner-up for the Aussie first season, Rhys, was a flamboyant cross dresser. But boy could he dance. If I could have voted it, would have been for him :clap_tb:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7wNXX
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHcGUkRSxuI

By: NOLA

NOLA — Sun, 24 May 2009 02:19:05 +0000

Jx223
May 23rd, 2009 at 3:22 pm
I donÃƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t think that Nigel is homophobic. In all 5 seasons of SYTYCD that IÃƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ve seen Nigel has always wanted the male dancers to dance masculine in certain types of dances that required men to dance like that.

Like Ballroom dancers and some lyrical dances. I believe that there may have been some gay men on the show in the past that were really good dancers and Nigel supported them. Because they were were amazing dancers who danced masculine and not effeminate.

I agree 100% and I agree with Nigel.

By: Calliope

Calliope — Sun, 24 May 2009 01:46:33 +0000

I think that the biggest reason that Nigel and the other judges preferred Sabra to him in season 3 is because they felt like he was connecting enought with the audience emotionally.

I think Sabra over Danny was Nigel wanting a girl to win. He had pushed that so hard and by that point Sara had crapped out, Lauren was off-putting to many, Lacey was related to the previous winner… so Sabra it was. Nigel is quite transparent about what he is seeking out in a winner (which is why his manipulations don’t really bother me, even if my fave gets the “goodbye” treatment).

By: Jx223

Jx223 — Sun, 24 May 2009 01:17:49 +0000

I think GLAAD is making a mountain out of a molehill here. Was it the most politically correct commentary IÃƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ve ever seen? No. But, Nigel had a point and within the parameters of ballroom dancing, he was right.

I can see where Nigel is coming from with his remarks and I donÃƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t find anything wrong with them or what heÃƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s trying to say. IÃƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m so tired of people immediately jumping to the Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹homophobicÃƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ conclusion.

I agree with the above statements and a lot of what weese has to say as well.

I wonÃƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t go into the conspiracy theories IÃƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ve read re: why Nigel wanted Sabra to beat the vastly superior and also openly gay Danny a few seasons ago because IÃƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m not sure they were founded. But these rumblings about Nigel arenÃƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t something new, itÃƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s just that it has caught up to him thanks to the same sex ballroom peeps and bit him in the ass. Speaking of gender bending, do yÃƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢all remember *cough* Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…â€œDanielleÃƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s fierce audition to ItÃƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s Raining Men? Flove.

Travis is a great dancer. And I thought that Danny was an amazing dancer, I wish that he had won over Sabra. I think that the biggest reason that Nigel and the other judges preferred Sabra to him in season 3 is because they felt like he was connecting enought with the audience emotionally. That seemed to be their biggest problem with him. They would always give him credit for being an amazing dancer, but they kept saying that he wasn't really connecting emotionally with the audience. I think that they felt like Sabra was doing that and that is one of the biggest reasons why they really liked her.

By: Calliope

Calliope — Sun, 24 May 2009 00:51:24 +0000

Except that Adam is like a thousand times more talented than Danny; Danny was only there as campy cannon fodder IMHO. Adam might have actually been a competitor, God forbid. Not that I think Nigel cares as much how singers are perceived as dancers.

I don’t think Nigel would have minded, considering how much praise he has placed on Adam recently (while snarking on Kris on twitter).

Anyway, I don’t think Nigel is homophobic, just blunt and not necessarily explaining himself in a gentle manner. There have been gay dancers on the show and he has no issue with that — it’s feminine dancing from male dancers he dislikes. Which I can understand (as someone who used to dance) when it comes to performing. Androgynous and feminine movement should be there when called for (like Shankers said… and OMG! Shankers has a twitter??).

By: weese

weese — Sat, 23 May 2009 23:45:08 +0000

I also do not see how someone who grew up in the dance world could possibly be homophobic. He didn’t say it but I would bet many, many of his closest friends, mentors and people he highly respects are gay.

By: weese

weese — Sat, 23 May 2009 23:34:11 +0000

I think Nigel is pretty realistic. He started SYTYD to bring dance appreciation back to America. Lots of dance companies have closed and it was a dying art. Part of the excitement that resulted from the show is that all kinds of kids wanted to dance again. For certain dance forms it is a challenge to get boys parents to allow them to do so. Then when the boys hit middle school and High school they have to overcome peer pressure not to dance. In Ballet Boys are treated like precious gems. They are assigned older male dancers and professionals as mentors because they have so many obstacles to overcome. A big obstacle being that whether they are gay or not they are labeled as being so. And many quit because of it. Nigel knows this. This is how it is today in ballet. It is not something that has ended or is in the past.
Nigel seems to feel they have made strides in making dance acceptable to males and being that dance is really very sexual, America may not be ready to see same sex couples engaged in all the types of dance required on the show. I don’t know if America is ready or not but accepting Adam singing alone is different from accepting the type of physical contact that people would see on SYTYD. Maybe by season 8. I hope much sooner.

By: Bobbi

Bobbi — Sat, 23 May 2009 23:21:14 +0000

Adam Shankman, one of SYTYCD’s choreographers just tweeted (via Twit Longer which I’ve never seen before) :

Adam Shankman
On Saturday 23rd May 2009, @adammshankman said:

Been a crazy week and let’s be clear: nigel is NOT a homophobe in any way! Sytycd is the most gay friendly show on tv, and personally, I think it’s unattractive and offputting when guys dance like girls as well unless its in the choreographed intention!.

By: Dr. Tracey

Dr. Tracey — Sat, 23 May 2009 22:17:02 +0000

I can see where Nigel is coming from with his remarks and I don’t find anything wrong with them or what he’s trying to say. I’m so tired of people immediately jumping to the ‘homophobic’ conclusion.
In any event, those guys just weren’t good enough for the show, like the poster above said ‘talent actually matters’ on SYTYCD.

By: Sublime1

Sublime1 — Sat, 23 May 2009 21:42:39 +0000

Well there are same sex pairs in ice skating at the gay Olympics and that actually works quite well. So I don’t see why there couldn’t be 2 men doing a latin ballroom together.

My problem was that they weren’t very good. Period. And on SYTYCD, unlike on AI, talent actually matters. AI puts people through for reasons that have nothing to do with talent (Hello, Bikini Girl!).

While Nigel didn’t express it very well, at least he was honest. No smirking and snide “I’m gay. No, you’re gay.” nonsense like you get between Simon and Ryan on AI.

At least the judges on SYTYCD are knowledgeable, honest, sober, intelligible and don’t need to use Dawg as a verb!

By: sunchick

sunchick — Sat, 23 May 2009 21:30:13 +0000

I don’t think the costumes looked super unusual for latin dancing.

Here’s the thing with Nigel’s whole male dancers must be masculine mantra. When it is required for the male dancer to adopt a masculine physicality and energy to suit the predetermined parameters of a certain genre in the course of competition or to fufill a choreographer’s vision, then yes, Nigel absolutely is right. Buuuut, big but, there’s no unbreakable rule in dance that says a man expressing himself must always be coming from a masculine place, or a female expressing herself must always do so coming from a feminine place. In fact, a b girl, for example, can express herself in more masculine terms and it’s kickass.

It’s a shame that couple didn’t execute very well, because I think the concept of gender bending is an interesting one, creatively, and there’s nothing wrong with pursuing it if you take it seriously and have a story to tell with it. My problem with it was the sloppy technique in parts, and of course, the tricks aren’t working if you’re falling on your ass. But the idea itself isn’t inherrently flawed. And in this respect Nigel can be a bit of an ass sometimes. To be honest, I think he has a little hang up about being a straight male in the dance world, as if being a profesional dancer is stereotypically not a masculine thing to be and he wishes to launch a one man campaign to negate that bias by pushing the “dance like a MAN!” agenda without exception.

I won’t go into the conspiracy theories I’ve read re: why Nigel wanted Sabra to beat the vastly superior and also openly gay Danny a few seasons ago because I’m not sure they were founded. But these rumblings about Nigel aren’t something new, it’s just that it has caught up to him thanks to the same sex ballroom peeps and bit him in the ass.

Speaking of gender bending, do y’all remember *cough* “Danielle”‘s fierce audition to It’s Raining Men? Flove.