'So You Think You Can Dance': Summer reality TV at its finest

It's tempting for skeptics unfamiliar with "So You Can Think You Can Dance" to write off the show as just more summer filler. It's one of many dance competitions on TV, it's got a rather clunky title and it's produced by the same people as "American Idol," which, to some, had a lackluster season this year. 

However, "SYTYCD" is arguably the best performance competition on TV, let alone during the summer season, and it's the perfect series to cleanse the palate after "Idol." Here are a few reasons why:

• It's contemporary.  "Idol" never likes to verge too much into the present in terms of slang, song choice or general acknowledgment of current events.  On "SYTYCD," the audience is treated to a wide range of contemporary music, dancers addressing issues such as war, racism and death in their performances, and, occasionally, unique vernacular. Last night, for instance, guest judge Mia Michaels told a dancer that he gave her "stank face" (i.e. he was so good that he made her screw up her face as she watched.) 

• The judges. Sure, Mary Murphy has her annoying trademark scream, but other than that, she and producer/creator Nigel Lythgoe are fair, honest judges who actually seem to want to see their contestants do well, even if they don't make it on the show. This may be part of the reason why there are so many repeat tryouts: the judges give critique one season, the dancers take it and come back and try out again. Lythgoe and Michaels seem to have more respect for themselves, the contestants and the audience than judges on other performance competitions. They might have tolerated an Italian lothario who sneered while he trotted out some Michael Jackson moves, and laughed at his sexy arrogance, but that didn't stop Mary from telling him that his moves were "so weak." 

• Low condescension level.  For a show that features several hours of auditions, it is fairly bereft of the blatant "look at me mom, I'm on TV" contestants that are featured prominently on "Idol." This year, the long-haired non-dancer named "Sex" returned for a third season, but Lythgoe refused to call him by his stage name, calling now-David out by saying that he must just like being on TV because he'd seen him try out for other programs. Arguably, of course, the producers could just not have put him on the episode, but "SYTYCD" is also one of the few shows in which the judges acknowledge that there are other programs on television and that the show is not in and of itself reality. Even more impressive though is, by and large, the show avoids patronizing its potentially pitiable contestants, unlike, say, "America's Next Top Model," in which a girl can barely get on the show if she hasn't been abused or been homeless. Last night, a blind woman tried out and brought Michaels to tears with her performance, but the judges, while inspired, simply said that her technique wasn't strong enough, that it would be too difficult for her to stay in the show and that it would be patronizing to put her through to the next round. Perhaps it sounds bizarre to say that this is a positive aspect of the show, but it's simply gratifying for a viewer not to be ordered who to root for. 

• Cat Deeley. At first blush a tall leggy blond host might be easy to hate, but the Brit always seems like she's having fun doing her job and actually enjoys talking to the contestants. Unlike some other reality hosts, it doesn't seem like she drops the mic and walks away when the cameras stop rolling. 

• Oh yeah, the dancing! Unlike on "Idol", it's impossible for the dancers to step back after their performances with a smug smile on their faces or to work up some quick tears to demonstrate how much they were moved by their own time on stage. They're left panting, sweating. These performers actually do put it all out there on the stage, and if the viewers are lucky, they'll get treated to someone like Stephen "Twitch" Boss or Robert Muraine, whose moves are breathtaking and humorous at the same time. 

The show is just about anything a watcher wants it to be: inspirational, beautiful, hilarious, booty-shaking-inducing. If this fourth season is anything like last season, viewers are in for a very fun summer, and for watchers exhausted from "Idol" fatigue, "SYTYCD" is a great antidote.

NOTE: for those of you who missed the premiere, FOX will be rebroadcasting it on Monday at 8 p.m./7 p.m. Central.

-- Claire Zulkey

Photos courtesy of Fox

Comments

[kerouac9]

Yay! I'm so excited so you think you can dance is back!

A couple things: Did Cat get married over the layoff? I thought her name was "Cat Deeley"? Also, isn't she Australian?

Also: I love Mia Michaels. I forgot how much I missed having her in my life. She feels so deeply. Remember last season how she apologized to America and her armed forces for wearing a friend's Marine jacket that had somehow been defaced? Her emotional outburst in response to the blind dancer moved me to tears.

I would add that another reason to watch the show is its necessity. Where else is an unknown dancer going to get exposure? Where else is non-celebrity related dance going to get exposure? While performers on A.I. can always go back to their bar bands and karaoke clubs, the dancers mostly have to go back to their studios or (much more often, as we saw last night) street corners or Economics majors.

The fact that the performances are so moving really speaks to the power of the show. Last year's "Triplets of Belleville"/Newspaper dance, the table dance between winner Sabra and second-runner up Neil, and the flower dance between Neil and third-runner up Lacey are all more moving than any Idol performance in memory.

Finally, I was surprised by how little actual dancing we got in last night's premire. Considering that the episode was two hours long, one would think that there would be more performances, but mostly it was the usual B-boys and a pair of (hot hot hot) ballroom performances. Where are the lyrical dancers?

[Claire Zulkey]

Hey Kerouac! I fixed the Cat Deeley typo (although she is English, so we're both flawed human beings).

I'm actually excited for the upcoming audition eps, instead of dreading them like I did "Idol."

[Michelle]

This is one of the shows that I look forward to year after year. It is refreshing to see that talent not potential viewers gives someone an edge. It amazes me to see how truly gifted the dancers that make it on the show are...by far this is one of the best talent shows on air now, since talent is what it really shows and what is really judged.

[Jessica Rabbit]

Hey, Claire! Thanks for directing us to your columns here--it's good to have someone whose opinions I trust to lead me through the season. Which looks pretty fantastic so far, I have to say. I've got no clear favorites yet, but there were a couple of dancers that had my jaw on the floor--seriously, how do these poppers even get the IDEA to move the way they do?

And yes, I love Mia Michaels so very much. Can't wait for her to start choreographing us numbers again, hers are always my favorite by a mile--pathetically enough, that five-second clip of her Emmy-winning park-bench dance was enough to get my misty. That's always been my favorite dance, of all three seasons. On the other hand, her "sex-cessful" Freudian slip with the Italian guy was the best moment of the night, she had me cracking up with her embarrassed meltdown. Hope they bring Shayne Sparks back for auditions, though, he's another one whose opinions go straight from his brain and out his mouth.

Bring on the spandex and the shirtless dancers! This season is going to be a blast!

...hope this isn't a double post, incidentallly--I'm not all that patient of a person...

[CD]

I always look forward to this time of the year when they bring back SYTYCD. Last year's top 4 dancers were phenomenal! And I agree that the show is a lot kinder than most other reality shows, perhaps because the judges are led by a stern, but fair Nigel Lythgoe, instead of a jackass-for-ratings Simon Cowell.

[Jessica Jensen]

I adore SYTYCD, but I have to say that Nigel went TOTALLY over the line with his "are you married? and "your husband will want you back" comments to the Russian woman trying out. She faced him with her, "I wouldn't take him back for anything," retort-- but Nigel was really showing an ugly side.

[Claire Zulkey]

Jessica, I didn't see it that way...I think Nigel was taken aback by her saying that and was just trying to be nice. I thought her whole scene was an example of how the judges are much kinder than those on Idol.

[crabpaws]

So true that this show is contemporary. American Idol could comfortably take place in the '80s. It's like an out-of-touch baby boomer's fantasy of what celebrity is -- a baby boomer who had been raised on variety shows and experienced the disco era.

[Tisha Barela]

I cannot believe that cbs cancelled Moonlight, it just received the People's Choice Award, and despite it being off tv for over 3 months because of the writers strike, it still held it's own on friday nights by about 8 million viewers, not bad for a show that did not have enough advertising, or publicity from it's own network. My family and friends all enjoyed this show, I hope that another network will pickup this wonder show. Remeber that Jag was dropped from one network and another picked it up, and look how long Jag ran on TV.

[jozielee]

Hey, Claire. Thanks for the head's up on SYTYCD. Loved last season and I'm looking forward to this one. Cheers!

[RD]

I have always been a big fan of the show, but tonight I was extremely disappointed with the unfair treatment shown toward Anthony. He was a lot better than many other dancers that were given tickets to Las Vegas. Clearly the judges have a grudge against him and were unable to clearly see how talented he is. He wasn't perfect, but very few were. They need to swallow their pride and admit they made a mistake and let him come to vegas.

[Larissa]

OMG I love this whow.... I love Katee....

who is your favorite?

http://www.pollsb.com/polls/poll/2032911/who-is-your-favorite-dancer

[alexis]

I am so very disgusted at the fact that Will was eliminated. He was the best male on the show. It was a complete disappointment. Who is voting? Do they know how to judge dancing because some of the remaining people should have been gone along time ago.

[Jeanie Marshall]

This is my first season watching SYTYCD and have been enchanted by the experience. My favorites from the beginning of the top 20 have been Joshua and Katee. On several occasions, I have replayed their dances before hearing comments from the judges. Last night's flying split lift twist was awesome.

Referring to Alexis' comment above about Will's elimination. He was favored by the judges from the beginning because of his technical ability. In fact, his own teacher is a judge on the show, who stepped away from the judging to avoid any conflict of interest. However, for me, Will has been somewhat lacking in something that is equally important to dance ability. It goes by a number of names: charisma, personality, engagement, performance. I also think that the change in Will's ability has been much less than the changes the others have demonstrated.

Because of the voting system (anyone with telephone or email in certain area codes can vote), he came up short. He simply wasn't as popular as the others. If it were decided by the judges, he'd still be there. Which is fairer? Well, it's a reality show. Since I have my favorites and they are still contestants, my emotional involvement in Will's elimination was much less, even though I recognize his technical ability.

As to who votes. I love the show, but I don't vote. Do you?

[AnaManana]

SYTYCD is in my opinion, the best reality show on television and I'd only been vaguely interested in dance my entire life. I got hooked on this great show last year and this year I can hardly wait each week for it to air. I agree that it was a terrible shame that Will didn't make a little closer to the finals, especially after his brilliant James Brown solo. That was so awesome, I had to watch it over and over. Frankly, I think that any of the top 4 male dancers are "the best", and certainly the last top three of the females. They all win, in my opinion. Great show, best season ever. Long live SYTYCD!