'America's Best Dance Crew 2': Exclusive peek at Janet Jackson episode

Randy Jackson's best dance crews will have to get their rhythm on next week on MTV when they will be tasked with stepping to Miss Janet Jackson's hit songs.

We understand that the remaining six crews are digging deep into the Janet Jackson crates, spinning to "Control," "Nasty," "If," "All Nite (Don't Stop)," "I Get Lonely" and "Black Cat."

For the show finale, all the crews will "break color lines" and perform together to Jackson's "Rhythm Nation." Can you hear it? "We are a nation of no geographic boundaries . . . ." Clip reels of Janet's greatest dance moves were given to the crews for inspiration.

Collaborating on a team is hard enough, let's see if the competing "ABDC" teams really are "like-minded individuals, sharing a common vision."

We're going to go out on a limb and make a few predictions right here: (a) Supreme Soul will try to front on Super Cr3w and grab the spotlight, again. (b) Having watched many a Janet video and behind-the-scenes footage, we'll say this:  ASIID and Fanny Pak, this could be your week to take control. (c) Wait for a Mario Lopez pun along the lines of "Sorry, Miss Jackson" to "A" camera.

But will the writers take it all the way and dip into classic TV with a Penny from "Good Times" joke or a Charlene DuPrey reference from "Diff'rent Strokes?" Here's hoping!

Miss Jackson (mommy or soon to be Mrs. Jackson-Dupree?) is in the process of scouring the country (Chicago, Atlanta, New York) before touching down in L.A. to attend the open casting calls for her reality show. The winner will become Janet's protege, probably a huge advantage for a debuting artist and/or dancer.

Does this mean a possible Janet and Jermaine sighting in the "ABDC" crowd, a la "The Bachelorette" star DeAnna Pappas last week?

The Janet Jackson "America's Best Dance Crew" episode airs Thursday, July 17 at 10 p.m.

-- Jevon Phillips and Sheigh Crabtree

Photo: Janet Jackson in concert at the Forum on Aug 20. 1998. Photo by Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Mike]

Thanks for the heads-up, Jevon and Sheigh. Can't wait to watch next week's episode!

[BestDanceCrew]

This week's episode is going to be great! Can't wait.

[Araceli Fraticelli]

I love the the show! I'm looking to see the finally, and hoping that the last challenge is the Jabbawalkies challenge. They deserve that honor because they are the winning crew last season. There dance is so unique,That I would love to see the crews doing the Jabbawalkies challenge.
I think that would be the hardest challenge of the season. What do you think?