So You Think You Can Dance 18 Preview: New Panel, New Format (Video)
So You Think You Can Dance returns to FOX for season 18 tonight (March 4) with a mostly brand new judges panel. There are also changes to the format worth noting.
The last time SYTYCD aired, in the summer of 2022, the late Stephen “tWitch” Boss sat on the panel after a long history with the show which included competing on two seasons and serving as an All-Star. Tragically, tWitch died by suicide in 2022.
His widow, Allison Holker, who also competed on the show and has worked as a Dancing with the Stars pro, has joined the panel alongside SYTYCD alum Comfort Fedoke (only for the auditions) and former DWTS pro Maksim Chmerkovskiy.
Returning judge, JoJo Siwa is also on the panel, but not without controversy. She stepped in after SYTYCD creator Nigel Lythgoe was accused of sexually abusing several women, including Paula Abdul, whom he worked with on both American Idol and SYTYCD.
Tonight’s episode, the first of the auditions, will not include JoJo, as it was taped before she joined the panel. Lythgoe did participate in some of the early taping, which took place in Atlanta. Will tight shots and editing keep him hidden in the early rounds?
Contestant Thanks Allison for Keeping tWitch’s Legacy Alive
The only constant over 18 seasons is host Cat Deeley. And if the show is renewed for another year, she may be too busy to return in her role, as she is now a co-presenter of the popular UK morning talk show, This Morning.
One big change in the format, involves the behind the scenes video packages. This season, “Viewers will get a documentary-style inside look at the contestants’ dynamics, following them throughout the competition as they go through their personal and competitive journeys, including the daily struggles, new relationships, personality clashes and more.” The dancers will all be living in a house together, kind of like the early seasons of American Idol. A Top 10 will ultimately compete
First Look at SYTYCD 18
Once again, FOX taped the entire season ahead, no viewer voting
In an interview with Variety, Maks stated that the show wants to get back to what made it popular–keeping the focus squarely on the contestants.
“In my opinion, last season of So You Think You Can Dance got away from that and it became a show about choreographers and who the choreographers are and how these contestants handle these choreographers and their choreography. It skewed so far toward another person,” he told Variety. “We want to bring it back and the production wants to bring it all the way back to look at this new batch of people that you’re gonna get to know, fall in like with, fall in love with and become a fan of.”
And like last time, FOX taped the entire season ahead. That means no viewer voting. The judges panel will decide who stays, who goes and who wins it all.
So You Think You Can Dance airs on FOX Mondays at 9 pm ET/PT Watch for our weekly recap!
