Nigel Lythgoe

So You Think You Can Dance Renewed for Fifth Season

Allison Corneau — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 11:15:40 -0400

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As the fourth season champ is crowned this week, more Dance is on the way

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Days before a new hotstepper is crowned America’s Favorite Dancer, FOX has announced that So You Think You Can Dance will be returning for a fifth season.

“We’re delighted to have Dance back for a fifth season,” FOX ‘s President of Alternative Entertainment, Mike Darnell, said in a statement released Monday. “FOX is very lucky to have television’s preeminent performance competitions in American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance, and it’s no coincidence that creator and executive producer Simon Fuller and executive producer and judge Nigel Lythgoe have been a part of both these successes.”

The fifth season pickup comes on the heels of Internet reports that Lythgoe – who has helmed both Dance and Idol since their inception, is relieving himself of his Idol duties to focus solely on Dance. “If it’s true, it’s a huge loss for American Idol, but a huge gain for So You Think You Can Dance,” a source tells Usmagazine.com of the claim.

So You Think You Can Dance will crown its fourth season champ in a two-part finale airing Wednesday and Thursday on FOX. Audition cities for the upcoming fifth season have not yet been announced.

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Top 10 Dancers to Hit the Road for 40-City Tour

Allison Corneau — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 08:54:04 -0400

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Tickets on sale Aug. 2 for tour that kicks off in Tacoma, Wash.

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Get ready for Courtney, Gev, Mark, Chelsie, Joshua, Twitch, Comfort, Katee, Kherington and Will to waltz their way to a town near you: it's time for the annual So You Think You Can Dance Tour!

While judges Mary Murphy and Nigel Lythgoe and host Cat Deeley will stay behind, season four’s top 10 are set to travel the country beginning Sept. 20 for a national tour that will hit cities like Houston, Baltimore and Tampa, Fla. Original top 10 finalist Jessica King, who left the show July 17 after announcing she cracked and fractured ribs and was under doctors’ orders not to compete, may be well enough to join the tour, organizers said in a statement. Tour routines will consist of performances seen on the show as well as pieces choreographed especially for the tour.

Tickets go on sale Aug. 2; more information and a full itinerary is available at Fox.com.

Talk to Us: Which routines from the show would you like to see performed on tour?

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"So You Think You Can Dance" Top 10 contestants

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So You Think You Can Dance’s Ousted Will Talks to Us

Allison Corneau — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 08:53:04 -0400

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The night of his elimination was “a blur,” the fan fave reveals

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Shocker! Though widely considered a favorite to win, Will Wingfield, 21, was voted off Fox’s So You Think You Can Dance July 24 — even after his samba and hip-hop routines were praised by the judges the night before. “I am distraught,” judge Mary Murphy told Us tearfully after America’s voting results were revealed. The Debbie Allen–trained Nashville native tells Us about leaving the show.

Q: Do you think you deserved to go home?
It’s not in your hands, it’s up to the public. You have to remind yourself of that. But I am at peace with it.

Q: How did your girlfriend, Monique Broromeo, react?
She took it pretty hard. We had to go back to my room to pack, and that kind of wore us out. There was stuff all over the place! But having her there to hold my hand made it so much easier.

Q: What’s next for you?
I would love to work for Ne-Yo, Usher, Michael Jackson, Chris Brown. I want to explore all options and let my heart take me where it’s going to take me. I see myself getting rich. That is for sure, buddy!

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So You Think You Can Dance's Nigel Lythgoe: Nightclub Reject!

Allison Corneau — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 11:45:11 -0400

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The So You Think You Can Dance judge is denied admission to L.A.'s Crown Bar on his birthday

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Often times it pays to have friends in high places, but for SYTYCD judge and American Idol executive producer Nigel Lythgoe, his connections failed to pay off – even on his birthday!

Lythgoe attempted to get into Hollywood’s Crown Bar last Wednesday to celebrate with his sons and a few American Idol producers, but the doorman failed to take note of the judge or his celeb pals.

“Ryan Seacrest sorted out a table for us,” Lythgoe explained. “It’s much easier to jump out of my limo and say ‘I’m Nigel Lythgoe,” but it was embarrassing!,” the judge tells Us of the incident.

However, Lythgoe, who opted to celebrate elsewhere after getting the boot, admits no harm, no foul.

“They shouldn’t fire anyone. This is stupid. I am an old chap, I don’t go to clubs. It’s not my thing. Though I love the idea of a new show called So You Think You Can Get In!”

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Nigel Lythgoe sighting on July 9, 2008 in West Hollywood, California.

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Jordin Sparks: I Got Chills When I Saw Katee and Joshua Dance to My Song

Allison Corneau — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 12:05:05 -0400

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PLUS: “It’s so crazy” to see Idol’s Nigel Lythgoe as a judge, Sparks says

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Just 18 months after her own reality show win, Jordin Sparks took to the stage of another competition show - So You Think You Can Dance - but this time, she came as a fan!

“[Katee and Joshua] did a routine to my song, “No Air,” and it was crazy to see how they moved to it. It was beautiful and I totally saw the story. I got chills,” Sparks tells Us of the pair’s June 11 performance. “I played it 100 times!”

What’s it like for Sparks – who performed “No Air” on SYTYCD’s June 29 results show - to see American Idol executive producer Nigel Lythgoe take a seat at the SYTYCD judging table? “So crazy!” she says. “We [got] to see him behind the scenes on Idol, but here he talks about so much more. With Nigel being the producer of Idol, he’d [tell us] 'How about you try walking here? Do a note here. A jig here.' He knows what he’s talking about [on both shows] and knows what looks good on TV.”

As for Lythgoe’s co-judge, Mary Murphy, Sparks says there’s no contest if Murphy challenged her to a scream-off. “I couldn’t scream if my life depended on it,” Sparks says with a chuckle. “Nothing comes out when I try.”

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Jordin Sparks performs "One Step at a Time" on SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE Thursday, June 26 on FOX.

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SYTYCD Vs. America’s Best Dance Crew: Feud

Allison Corneau — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 11:53:51 -0400

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As MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew touts itself as the #1 dance show, SYTYCD insiders react to Us

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Talk about a dance off! As So You Think You Can Dance cha chas closer to its top 10, MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew is ready to battle for viewers – and they’ve taken to their competitior’s airwaves to do so. In a commercial touting its second season, Dance Crew told viewers that the “Best dance show is back!” The only problem? The promo spot aired during So You Think You Can Dance!

“I couldn’t believe they aired the promo during our show,” judge Mary Murphy tells Us of the June 18 spot. “It was kind of a shock. I was sitting at home thinking ‘What? Did they just say they were the favorite dance show during our dance show?’ I was on the phone immediately to my manager. I enjoy both shows, but come on now!”

To add fuel to the fire, SYTYCD judge Nigel Lythgoe made his feelings on the situation known, telling choreographers Napoleon and Tabitha - who have judged on Dance Crew - that he was glad they joined the real no. 1 dance show.

What does Dance Crew executive producer Randy Jackson think of the controversy? “The shows are so different,” he told the L.A. Times. “America’s Best Dance Crew is fresh and very edgy. It’s a lot younger [than SYTYCD].”

But while Murphy and Lythgoe took the promo as a dig, others in the dance world – like SYTYCD guest judge Adam Shankman - see the dueling dance shows as progress.

“I’m just happy that this country seems so enthralled in dance,” Shankman told Us after the June 27 elimination episode. “We haven’t ever had this in history.”

Agrees eliminated dancer Chris Jarosz: “The more dance shows, the better!”

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So You Think You Can Dance judges Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy

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Photos courtesy of Fox

American Idols Talk So You Think You Can Dance!

Allison Corneau — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 16:18:36 -0400

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Last season's finalists tell Us what they love about the summer show

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While it remains to be seen if season 7’s American Idol finalists can dance, one thing is for certain: they love to watch others try on So You Think You Can Dance. Usmagazine.com caught up with fan favorites Ramiele Malubay, Kristy Lee Cook, Michael Johns and the American Idol himself, David Cook, to get their take on front runners, Nigel Lythgoe’s dance moves and more!

Usmagazine.com: What is your favorite part of the series?
David Cook: [I watch] more to see Nigel’s reactions more than anything else. I’m glad he’s not judging us!
Ramiele Malubay: We would have been totally screwed!

Us: How would Idol have been different if Nigel and Simon Cowell were on the same judging panel?
DC: There would have been some fatalities [if Nigel judged us on Idol]. I think they're both very strongly opinionated but they're blunt and honest.
Michael Johns: Those two egos can't coincide on the same panel! There would have been nipple cripples and ear pulling. I can imagine Nigel would be twisting Simon's nipples and Simon would have Nigel's ears shouting, 'what you doing?'

Us: Do you have any current favorite dancers?
Kristy Lee Cook: I love Twitch and Kherington.
DC: I think my favorite dancer so far this season is Nigel!
RM: Nigel [visited] when we were having finale rehearsals and he’d come from auditions for SYTYCD. He would just start busting some really weird moves.
MJ: Once you've got the dancing abilities of someone like moi, what have you got left to learn? I don't want people who think they can dance, either you think or you know!

Talk to Us: Which American Idol contestant’s dance moves would you most like to see?

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Idol Producer: Simon Cowell "More Ditzy" Than Paula Abdul

Mandi Illuzzi — Fri, 02 May 2008 07:32:35 -0400

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"We don't know why they're as dysfunctional as they are," Nigel Lythgoe tells Us

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Paula Abdul accidentally critiqued two songs by contestant Jason Castro on Tuesday's show, but Idol producer Nigel Lythgoe says the show's real flake is Simon Cowell.

"There's no one more ditzy than Simon!" he told Usmagazine.com Thursday at the BAFTA Comedy Awards in L.A. "Or more ass-y than Simon when he wants to be. Depends on the night."

Meanwhile, Idol executive producer Cecile Frot-Coutaz says Abdul isn't going anywhere after her on-air
gaffe Tuesday.

"Why would we get rid of Paula?" she said to the Associated Press.

"It wasn't her fault" producers decided to change the judging format, Frot-Coutaz added.

With Abdul sticking around, that means there will surely be more banter between her and Cowell.

"Simon and Paula love each other," Lythgoe told Us. "[This week], for some reason, they hate each other's guts! We don't know why they're as dysfunctional as they are."

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April 18, 2006

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Britney Spears: Not "Well Enough" to Be Invited on American Idol

Henry Seltzer — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 11:50:53 -0500

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Producer Nigel Lythgoe tells Us the singer needs to "pull herself together"

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Though one film director thinks she's worthy of playing the Virgin Mary, Britney Spears — Us' worst dressed celeb of the year — isn't quite worthy of being a guest judge on Fox's American Idol.

"I would have had Britney Spears last year when I thought she was trying to get it all back together again," Idol producer Nigel Lythgoe told Usmagazine.com in a conference call Thursday.

"Britney, at this moment in time, I don't think is well enough to do anything," he continued. "I think she needs looking after. I think she needs to pull herself together."

Lythgoe added that Spears is an "exceptionally talented girl" but "needs taking care of right now."

Tell Us: Does Britney Spears need help?

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Britney Spears in Los Angeles, CA. on December 13, 2007.

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Sabra Johnson Crowned America’s Favorite Dancer

Allison Corneau — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 11:29:25 -0400

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Sabra Johnson has been named the first female winner of the So You Think You Can Dance crown, earning her a cool $250,000.

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Quick-step aside, gentlemen. Sabra Johnson has been named the first female winner of the So You Think You Can Dance crown, earning her a cool $250,000.

Even though Johnson only has four years of dance training under her belt, the contemporary dancer from Roy, Utah, unexpectedly beat out Neil Haskell and Us-endorsed favorites Danny Tidwell and Lacey Schwimmer (whose brother, Benji, won season two’s title) for top honors.

Hitting her stride rather late in the game, Johnson, 20, will join the rest of her Top 10 peers on a 50-city tour to kick off Sept. 21.

Runner-up Tidwell, who was praised by judges Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy and Dan Karaty for his technical proficiency but often chastised by guest judges for his “arrogance,” happens to be the adopted brother of last year’s second place finisher, Travis Wall.

It was also announced on last night’s broadcast that So You Think You Can Dance will return for a fourth season. Adding the to show’s success are the two Emmy nominations for choreographers Mia Michaels and Wade Robson, for routines seen on last season’s series.

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Sabra Johnson is crowned America's Favorite Dancer Aug. 16 on So You Think You Can Dance.

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Nigel Lythgoe

So You Think You Can Dance Renewed for Fifth Season

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So You Think You Can Dance’s Ousted Will Talks to Us

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So You Think You Can Dance's Nigel Lythgoe: Nightclub Reject!

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Jordin Sparks: I Got Chills When I Saw Katee and Joshua Dance to My Song

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