Considering FOX fired Nigel Lythgoe from American Idol twice, it’s not surprising that the network is icing him out So You Think You Can Dance season 17.
Nigel took to Twitter to announce that FOX has not asked him back to sit on the judges panel of the show.
“I am so thrilled that America’s young aspiring dance talent will get to work with some of our greatest creative choreographers,” Nigel wrote. “On a personally sad note, I have not been asked to be on the judging panel this season. I don’t know who will be saying “Cue Music” but I wish them well.”
A recent network press release, named Rosie Seitchik as showrunner. However, it named Nigel Lythgoe as a SYTYCD executive producer.
I am so thrilled that America’s young aspiring dance talent will get to work with some of our greatest creative choreographers. On a personally sad note, I have not been asked to be on the judging panel this season. I don’t know who will be saying “Cue Music” but I wish them well
— Nigel Lythgoe OBE (@dizzyfeet) March 4, 2022
Nigel Lythgoe c0-created So You Think You Can Dance with Simon Fuller
Nigel Lythgoe helped create the show with Simon Fuller back in 2005, and has sat on the judges panel for every season that show aired. The veteran dance competition has been off the FOX schedule for two summers due to COVID considerations.
FOX announced that SYTYCD would return for season 17 in summer 2020. Auditions were just about to kick off when the COVID-19 pandemic shut TV and film production across the board. When productions figured out how to move forward amid coronavirus considerations, American Idol, The Voice, America’s Got Talent and more returned to production with safeguards in place.
However, FOX decided not to move forward with SYTYCD for 2020 and it did not add the show to the 2021 summer schedule either. Nigel began hinting that the show would probably return for the 2022 summer season on Twitter, and in an interview with Ryan Seacrest’s radio show. Interestingly, he seemed to be passing on rumors, and at no time did he indicate that anyone from FOX actually contacted him.
With Nigel out, who will be producing SYTYCD and what kind of changes can fans expect? Maybe the Masked Singer bosses will come on board and decide that the contestants all need to be wearing costumes. Just kidding. But only sort of!
Will FOX invite back other show veterans such as host Cat Deeley and judge Mary Murphy? Or will the network completely recast the series? Paula Abdul, who judged on the SYTYCD panel for two seasons, sat on The Masked Dancer judges panel last year.
So You Think You Can Dance virtual auditions are underway now, with judges auditions to take place in Los Angeles, New York and New Orleans.
