So You Think You Can Dance – Auditions

Thanks for covering it, MJ. I love SYTYCD!

EEEEEEEE! I miss Nigel. I miss this show, and the first female dancer was amazing! Love her.

Oh, someone else is here, lol. I thought I was going to be the only one! :bye_tb:

These mutant guys are creeping me out…

Ack!!! The green guys are creepy!!!!! Creeping me out!!!!!!

Mary Murphy: Are they done yet?

ROFL!

Ahhhh…I have missed Cat. Best. Host. Of. All. I just love her.

Thanks, mj. Will be following along for this always fun So You Think ride.

Yay…. count me as excited

so excited that you will be covering this show. it really is one of my favorites. and who would have thunk we could actually miss Nigel. LOL

did you see the season 4 dancer on ellen recently? rickey has the video.

That tap dancer was great. I was also glad to hear he was trained in other styles.

I do have t say this show is far less cruel than Idol in dealing with the people who can’t dance at all.

I also love Nigel. He’s awesome. Nicest Brit Judge on television.

Loved the tap dancer. At first I was just like “Ehh, I don’t know,” but when he listed off everything else he was trained in, I was sold. I’m looking forward to seeing him in future episodes.

I sort of followed last season (I missed a few audition and middle episodes), but this is my first year really watching every show. So, WOO!

yay!!

Man, watching male latin dancers makes me miss Pasha.

Hooray! Thanks for covering it MJ. I’m not watching tonight, I’ve got too much to do….all this Idol watching has put me behind on work and I’m feeling the consequences, so I can’t wait to catch your write up and videos later!

I liked the tap dancer. I would like to see a good tap dancer make it to the top 20. I donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t think that this show has ever had one make it that far before. I hope that they donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t overload the show with lyrical dancers like they did last season.

Last season didnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t have as much variety in the type of dancers chosen like previous seasons has had. I want to see the judges put more variety through this year.

“You could put wet clothes on and spin dry them!” :laugh_tb:

I love Nigel.

MJ, I’m so glad you’re covering SYTYCD this season. Love this show! I hope they have tons of fabulous dancers and performances. Can’t wait!

Tuned in a bit late tonight but I’m already remembering how much more I love these judges and the whole way the show is conducted compared to AI.

I liked the ballroom dancers. This show has had a lot of good ballroom dancers over the years. I look forward to watching more ballroom auditions and watching the performances of whichever ones make the final cut.

Wow. Same-sex ballroom dancing.

This should be fun.

“I’m straight, he’s gay.” lol.

Ow, that fall looked bad.

Same-sex ballroom dancing? I didn’t know such a thing existed, at least in the professional dance world. I’m a bit surprised one of them is straight, though. Why not just dance with a girl if that’s what you like?

The fall looked like it really hurt. Ouch.

I thought the guys same-sex ballroom dancing was pretty cool. Too bad their technique wasn’t fully there, though. Maybe next year.

That just demonstrated why I am so glad Nigel is gone from American Idol. Adam Lambert may have faced backlash from some people watching the show for his sexuality, but the show itself made strides in accepting gay contestants. Nigel’s disgust for the two male ballroom dancers was palpable. The way he spit out to the gay one about how he wants to see him dance with a girl and he might surprise himself and like it was disgustingly snide. Thanks for reminding the world what a homophobic jerk you are Nigel!

Can anyone possibly tell me who’s version of Blackbird that that girl Kayla Radomski was dancing to at 1 hour and 17 min into the show? thanks.

Haha, I loved the termite joke!

Thanks for reminding the world what a homophobic jerk you are Nigel!

I don’t think Nigel’s homophobic persay, but I think he sees beauty in the strong partner/soft partner typical way of dancing, so he like to see boy/girl couples. I think it’s less of an issue to him that someone is gay, more if the dancers get the right combination of strong/soft parts of a dance. (I have no idea if that made sense but I don’t know how else to put it, haha)

The cat girl reminded me of American Idol auditions…

I really liked the brothers. I thought that they were entertaining.

I hope your right Victoria, I just see more disgust behind Nigel’s reaction than Mary’s or Sonya’s and I think there is more to it, I think a lot comes from his background as a dancer where he had to reaffirm his manhood, and so developed a real hatred of things he deems effeminate.

You could be right, of course, Gangreen29. Just my opinion.

Sometimes I’m not really sure what to think of Nigel. Oh well. I do think he’s a very underrated producer, though.

The brothers seemed like they may have an illegal family relationship . . .

I love Natalie! She just dances with such spirit. I also wrote down Katee at first, darn Mary rubbing off on me lol

That last guy was fantastic. I wish I caught his name.

I hope the brother comes back next year. He was cute!

Brandon is fantastic. I am glad that he came back and auditioned again this year. IMO, he should have made it over Gev last year, when it came down to the two of them for the final guy’s spot. I hope that he does make the top 20 this year. He really deserves to make the finals this year.

I donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t think Nigelà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s homophobic persay, but I think he sees beauty in the strong partner/soft partner typical way of dancing, so he like to see boy/girl couples. I think ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s less of an issue to him that someone is gay, more if the dancers get the right combination of strong/soft parts of a dance. (I have no idea if that made sense but I donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t know how else to put it, haha)

I kind of see where you are going with this. At least Nigel is upfront about it and says it’s his personal hangup. He promotes a dance show, probably showcasing more than a few dancers who are gay. Anyway, I can’t get over how well-produced and edited the show is compared to this year’s AI. Well-done. The last two dancers were incredible and I vividly remember them from last year. So good to see them put through for a second chance.

Does anyone know if a list of the top 20 has leaked to the internet yet?

Man, Brandon was amazing. I sure hope he makes it onto the show. I can’t really bemoan the fact that last year Gev was chosen over him. I loved Gev. And it sounds like Brandon has grown leaps and bounds this last year, so it’s all good.

That just demonstrated why I am so glad Nigel is gone from American Idol. Adam Lambert may have faced backlash from some people watching the show for his sexuality, but the show itself made strides in accepting gay contestants. Nigelà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s disgust for the two male ballroom dancers was palpable. The way he spit out to the gay one about how he wants to see him dance with a girl and he might surprise himself and like it was disgustingly snide. Thanks for reminding the world what a homophobic jerk you are Nigel!

I don’t think that Nigel is necessarily homophobic. I think that he just likes to see men dance masculine and women dance feminine, in dances (like ballroom dances) that requires them to dance like that. Masculine and feminine dancing is an important part of some dances.

Nigel has always stated that he likes men to dance like masculine and women to dance feminine, when a dance calls for that type of dancing. And I believe that there have been at least a couple if not more than a couple of gay dancers on this show before (men), but Nigel didn’t have a problem with them, because they danced masculine in the dances that required them to do so.

I think that Nigel’s comments were more about the men dancing in a way that best suits their type of dance than it was about homophobia.

Brandon is fantastic. I am glad that he came back and auditioned again this year.

Me tooo! Brandon is sick, but I figured they were saving him for another season because last season was designed for a hip hop winner. That’s why Gev went through instead. Man, I’m so glad the hip hop season is over. My heart is with the contemporary dancers because that was my disclipline. Oh, and yeah, Nigel is infamous for telling all the openly gay dancers to butch it up and other nonsense, even when it seems out of place. You have to learn to ignore that crap when you watch the show, but maybe he’ll back off a bit this season. I like the tapper…his solos should be something different if he makes it all the way through.

Also, WADE and SHANE are back choreographing this season. Wade! :wub_tb:

Yes! MJ thank you so much for covering this show.

It was nice to see Lauren doing the choreography, she was one of my favorites from season 3.
Also i’m happy Natalie is back, both she and Brandon should make the top 20.

Man, Brandon was amazing. I sure hope he makes it onto the show. I canà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t really bemoan the fact that last year Gev was chosen over him. I loved Gev. And it sounds like Brandon has grown leaps and bounds this last year, so ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s all good.

I think that it is great that Brandon has grown as a dancer.

I wasnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t a fan of Gev last year, but I give him credit for always trying as hard as he could with the different dances. I remember him making the best effort that he could during the various dances, including lyrical ones. I knew that those type of dances were really hard for him to do, and they showed his limitations as a dancer. But he did always put forth a lot of effort when dancing them.

Me tooo! Brandon is sick, but I figured they were saving him for another season because last season was designed for a hip hop winner. Thatà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s why Gev went through instead. Man, Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m so glad the hip hop season is over. My heart is with the contemporary dancers because that was my disclipline. Oh, and yeah, Nigel is infamous for telling all the openly gay dancers to butch it up and other nonsense. You have to learn to ignore that crap when you watch the show, but maybe heà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ll back off a bit this season. I like the tapperà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦his solos should be something different if he makes it all the way through.

Also, WADE and SHANE are back choreographing this season. Wade

I think that if Brandon makes the top 20, he might have a good chance of winning this season. Because he is really talented. I am glad that they finally did find a hip hop winner, and I really liked Joshua. I have liked some of the other hip hop dancers the show has had in the past like Kamihla and Jamiles (sp). I am glad that Shane is back this year, I missed him and his routines.

I enjoy many of the different types of dances but I think that my favorite is the ballroom dancers. I loved Pasha and Benji.

Also, I really liked Danny in season 3 and I think that he should have won that season, instead of Sabra. I thought that he was a much better dancer than she was and the best dancer in season 3.

I hope that the tap dancer makes the top 20 or that another good tap dancer makes it. I think that we have only had one, maybe two, make the finals before, but I don’t remember them doing a whole lot of tap dancing. I would love to see at least one really good one make it this year. I want to see some really good tap dancing done on the show.

does anyone know what the song is called that the two brothers danced to?

I’ve never watched this show before, but caught the last 45 minutes tonight. I think I’ve found a new favorite show for the summer. I really wish I could dance like some of these people!

I’ve gotta say those montages they air are fabulous. Makes it hard to fastforward through the show.

Thank you so much, MJ!

The ” entertainment addiction” continues…

I like Nigel and Mary, even when they get silly. The judges on this show and DWTS are so much better than the IDOL judges, IMO. I do believe Mary is going through perimenopause, hence the tears.

Very happy to see Brandon and Natalie make it again this year. Terrifc dancers…

Now, hopefully we can look forward to some of the Idols music being used for the dances. I am sure we will hear Adam and Kris even though Nigel isn’t with AI this year.

What do you think?

I think I caught a glimpse of Evan Kasprzak in the audition previews for next week. He was the guy who wowed the judges last year with his Gene Kelly style of dancing. I loved him, but he did not make it to the top 20.

I’m sure we’ll still get dances choreographed to Idol music. The show is still produced by 19E and executive produced by Simon Fuller as well as Nigel.

So I’m guessing we’ll hear a David Cook song (maybe “Permanent” like they did on SYTYCD Canada (I think)) and some Kris and Adam too. I’m seeing a potential contemporary routine to “Mad World.” I’m sure they could find something to do with the Hurricane song too.

Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ve gotta say those montages they air are fabulous. Makes it hard to fastforward through the show.

I think that the montages they show are always great. One thing I love about this show is that they show more good auditions than bad. Unlike Idol in the past few years which has showcased more bad auditions than good ones.

SUCH A CRUSH ON THE TAP DANCER GUY. and holy shit! the last two – katie’s roommate and the guy that lost to gev – AMAZING.

it’s going to be a good season!!! i’ve missed cat deely!

So happy to see some tap love! Tap dancing is underrated, in my opinion.

woo hooo, so happy to see u covering this again. I was worried because I had not seen anything on here. Also Wade, Shane and Sonya.. I am giddy :lol_tb:

Oh, and yeah, Nigel is infamous for telling all the openly gay dancers to butch it up and other nonsense, even when it seems out of place.

Yeah, I absolutely do not see Nigel as a homophobe. I do think he has very strong opinions about the males role in the dance as well as the ladies. If he was a homophobe, I do think that he would at least try to temper it. He does not, he says what he says because its completely not from a place of hate.

It’s like saying as a guy, that you love another guy without having to qualify it further.

Wade, Shane and Sonya choreographing this season? Yeah!!!! I especially missed Wade last year. Should be an awesome season. Can not wait!

i wish the cute swiming brothers could go to vegas…but guess next year they can both audition

I. LOVE. THIS. SHOW. In many ways I like it better than AI. I can’t believe we get another season in the fall right after this one, too! So cool.

I think the thing that bothered all of the judges most about the same sex partners was the fact that they kept switching roles. If one had clearly been the masculine partner and the other the feminine, Nigel wouldn’t have been so critical. Plus, their technique was pretty awful. Funny but awful.

My favorites so far: The tap dancer and the the last two dancers. Some of the other contemporary dancers looked great, too, especially the blonde who lives with her grandparents.

So, who thinks that Sonja probably won’t be asked to judge again? That was so funny. Nigel was pretty irritated with her by the end of the auditions. I don’t think she’s going to have any problem finding a muse, though. LOL

Yeah!!!!!! SYTYCD starts! This is my number one show…love it! Followed by Project Runway, Hells Kitchen then Ameriecan Idol (thank God the season is over-GO Adam! :wub_tb: )

Can’t wait to see my goddess Mia and Shane and Wade!!! Woohoo!

MJ- when are you going to start putting up the vids?

I think I caught a glimpse of Evan Kasprzak in the audition previews for next week. He was the guy who wowed the judges last year with his Gene Kelly style of dancing. I loved him, but he did not make it to the top 20.

Husband and I were just talking about him last night- we really think there is more than room for someone like him on this show. It is by far our preferred style of dance when done well- effortless and smooth, athletic and graceful and so enjoyable to watch.
I remember last year that there was talk that Evan would be back and I do think I caught a glimpse of him in a clip last night.
High hopes.

No one wants to talk about spinal compression girl?
I say put her in Cirque de Soleil and let her work.

I do hope we aren’t given too many lyrical dancers this year and have some more oddball types. Dance encompasses such a wide range of art that too much of one thing seems silly to me. Plus it is my least favorite style with a few exceptions. Those exceptions are indeed wonderful and highly emotive, but run of the mill lyrical is just so much flailing to me. There’s enough angst in my real life that I don’t want to watch it splayed out all over a stage for fun.
Unpopular opinion, I know.

SO excited for another season of SYTYCD! I find it much superior to AI these days, love the sheer passion of the dancers, the judges really know their stuff and keep the focus on the dancing. Loved Brandon tonight, stunning, so glad to see old favs return (you go Natalie!)

Brandon is so fantastic! I love this show because let’s face it-dancers do not make millions of dollars, even when they are at the top of their game. It is nice to seem them get some deserved attention.

This is my first comment but my ba-zillionith time on your wonderful site this AI season. On behalf of my entire bible study and our children, thank you for the fantastic coverage of our favorite show. We are conservative Catholic Christians and LOVE Adam!

Our next favorite show is this one and what a treat to be able to spend the summer with you, MJ! I have to agree with most of the folks, the format of this show puts AI to shame. My dear hubby can’t stand to sit through all the judges nonsense in AI but last night we sat together as a family and laughed and almost cried (Brandon!) and cheered and clapped at this audition show.

I love the editing, the speed, the variety and sheer entertainment of showing the awesome dancers instead of all the horrible dancers. It was great. We love Nigel and Mary and all the joy the guest judges bring. Isn’t it powerful to watch their sheer passion of dance come through on their faces as they watch these young people leave it all on the stage for them. Breathtaking! This show does it right when it comes to judging!

We hope that there is a balance of dancers this year that represent all styles of dance. (especially the tapper fellow and the Gene Kelly young man who they showed in the clips for next week!) We loved Joshua and Katee in S4 and just can’t wait for the season to get underway.

Thanks again MJ. You are awesome!

I think I caught a glimpse of Evan Kasprzak in the audition previews for next week. He was the guy who wowed the judges last year with his Gene Kelly style of dancing. I loved him, but he did not make it to the top 20.

I loved him too. I love this show! It’s so positive and fun and the dancers are amazing!

I think I caught a glimpse of Evan Kasprzak in the audition previews for next week. He was the guy who wowed the judges last year with his Gene Kelly style of dancing. I loved him, but he did not make it to the top 20.

Really? I loved him last season! I really hope he’s auditioning again.

Great! I love me some SYTYCD!

Wade, Shane and Sonya choreographing this season? Yeah!!!! I especially missed Wade last year.

And Mia. It will be fab. Sonja was an awesome addition and her piece for Mark and Courtney was my favorite piece last season, but still, I sooooo missed Shane and especially Wade.

Dance encompasses such a wide range of art that too much of one thing seems silly to me.

This is true, but I love my flailing angst. And my quirky weirdness. And my hot shirtless Russians. And my jazz. And my Wade.

I’ve been a fan of the show from the very beginning. So thanks MJ for running with this. :clap_tb:

During the hiatus I watched 2 Australian Seasons and 1 Canadian Season. Just can’t get enough of this show!!! And now it will be on in the Fall too!! :thumbup_tb:

I so hope that Brandon and Natalie go all the way this year. I loved them last year and thought they were much better then Gev and Katie. I ended up loving Gev. But never, ever cared for Katie. Natalie was so much better.

Now that Nigel isn’t associated with Idol perhaps he’ll tone down the overpimpage of pretty girls this year. :nono_tb: It’s the one thing I appreciate about the SYTYCD Judges. They call their favorites out when they don’t perform up to snuff. The judges give honest, useful critiques so that the dancer can improve. Idol judges are all about pimping (even when it’s horrible) and criticizing (even when it’s good).

Count me in as another that’s really happy you’re following this show again this summer! I love it.

I did not get the impression last night that Nigel was homophobic. He didn’t think same sex dancers worked within the ballroom dancing parameter. Neither did the other judges. Anyway, he’s been twittering about it most of the day because the flak he’s gotten has obviously upset him. These are his tweets:

It’s a shame that controversy has blurred the true inspiration from last night, Tiffany Giegle.
about 1 hour ago from TwitterFon

I am passionate about dancers and dancing. I am not interested in their sexual preferences only their dancing and performances. Offstage ??
about 2 hours ago from TwitterFon

We have had same sex dancing on SYTYCD from Season 1. Last year Joshua and Twitch. Before that MIa’s Prince’s routine with Danny and Neil.
about 2 hours ago from TwitterFon

I believe overtly effeminate dancing destroys the opportunity for many male dancers to be supported. Being gay doesn’t mean effeminate.
about 3 hours ago from web

I am very sad the word ‘homophobe’ is being used. That is someone who hates homosexuals. I dislike effeminate dancing! Wake up and listen!
about 3 hours ago from web

The same sex ballroom guys did remind me of “Blades of Glory.” However, I’m not a fan of ‘Brokeback’ Ballroom.
about 12 hours ago from TwitterFon

I hear I’m taking a beating on the web due to my comments regarding same sex ballroom I thought I was the most accepting of it on the panel?about 13 hours ago from TwitterFon

Just too bad that this is overshadowing what was a great show, imo. After this season of AI, I wish Nigel was back there! Was wonderful to see Natalie and Brandon again and really hope they make it all the way this year.

Looks like this thing isn’t going to die!

CALL TO ACTION: Fox Entertainment and So You Think You Can Dance Judge Need to Apologize for Homophobic Remarks
Please Click to Share!
May 22, 2009 by glaadBLOG

GLAAD just issued a call to action, asking supporters to contact Fox Entertainment and call on So You Think You Can Dance judge Nigel Lythgoe to apologize for his snide, homophobic remarks during last nightà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s program.

From our call to action:

During the telecast, Lythgoe said: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“I think you probably alienate a lot of our audience. I mean, weà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ve always had the guys dance together on the show, but Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ve à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’  theyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ve never really done it in each otherà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s arms before.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  Shortly thereafter, he added, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Do you know what? Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢d like to see you both dancing with a girl.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ 

Lythgoe later wrote on Twitter: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“The same sex ballroom guys did remind me of à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Blades of Glory.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ However, Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m not a fan of à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Brokebackà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ Ballroom

Neil G. Giuliano, President of GLAAD had this to say about Lythgoeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s remarks:

Ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s unacceptable for this kind of blatant homophobia to occur. Fox Entertainment and Nigel Lythgoe owe Misha, Mitchel and the whole LGBT community an apology.

After contacting Fox, a representative at So You Think You Can Dance told GLAAD they are passing along our concerns and will get back with us.

http://glaadblog.org/2009/05/22/call-to-action-fox-entertainment-and-so-you-think-you-can-dance-judge-need-to-apologize-for-homophobic-remarks/

The link has people you can write to, to complain if you are so inclined.

Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m seeing a potential contemporary routine to à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Mad World.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m sure they could find something to do with the Hurricane song too.

I hope you are right, Sarah! The connection all comes together quite well. The dancing will be special!

It was such a pleasant surprise to learn more about Sonya and her love for dance. Great to see such passion in a choreographer. I am looking forward to seeing her work.

Will we see a Bollywood routine again this season? With the success of “Slumdog Millionaire,” I anticipate such an exciting routine. I don’t mind a few hip hop routines, but will admit it is my least favorite form of dance.

It was so good to see Pasha on DWTS. I hope that he and Dmitry will make a guest appearance.