We told you recently that Mary Murphy's departure from So You Think You Can Dance appeared to be simply to make room for a different diva at the judging table, Paula Abdul. Today, FOX confirmed that Abdul will indeed be replacing the ballroom expert that spent more than a decade with the hit show. Also signing on the dotted line as a brand new judge is Jason Derulo. His addition to the panel actually makes a lot of sense, especially with the way that the show's format has been changed for season 12.
Instead of just choosing a top 20 and then whittling it down, this summer when SYTYCD returns it will be 10 street dancers vs. 10 trained stage dancers. Each week, one person from each style will be sent home. Nigel Lythgoe, the mastermind behind SYTYCD and a co-judge, issued a statement to Entertainment Weekly saying:
"Paula is an incredible artist and she brings the perfect combination of expertise and heart to the panel," Lythgoe, who is also an executive producer, said in a statement to EW. "Jason's insight, humor and creativity will add a new perspective to the panel that we haven't had before."
Abdul, who has dedicated much of her career to choreography and mentoring artists on American Idol, called it a "true honor and pleasure," while Derulo was equally excited to join what he considers "one of the most respected and longest-tenured shows on network television."
Are you sad to see that Murphy really was swapped out for Abdul or do you think that it's time to mix things up, including the judging panel? As far as Abdul goes, Lythgoe knows exactly what he's getting with her because she was a judge for years under him during American Idol's heyday. What do you think of these changes? Do you think that Abdul and Derulo will help to breathe some new life back into the hit summer show? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!
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