So You Think You Can...Squeal

I'm gonna go ahead and be one of those people and say I liked So You Think You Can Dance better before it was cool.

I have a severe lady-crush on Cat Deeley, so it will be pretty tough to get me to stop watching. But it's like they're trying to lose me.



The stage upgrade isn't helping. I feel like the constant movement of the LEDs pulls the eye away from the performers and often sets a Vegas-y tone that doesn't always suit the routines. I was thrilled last week when they reined it in for Kathryn and Legacy's performance. I'd like to see more of that.

The squealing teenage girl contingent—whose influence is reflected in the continued presence of Mollee and Nathan, and with whom Nigel seems increasingly frustrated—pull the feel of the show more toward American Idol than I'm comfortable with.

It seems maybe the rush to bring another season to light so quickly in the wake of the stellar fifth season has either taken a toll on the quality or taken the air out of my enthusiasm. In my defiant avoidance of the seemingly endless audition process, I've missed getting to know the dancers and probably couldn't pick half the cast out of a police lineup. Maybe I've also missed out on getting emotionally invested in these kids.

That said, I'm thrilled by the addition of Adam Shankman as a permanent judge. He adds a much-needed consistently technical voice to the panel, yet manages to balance his critiques with a reminder of how much fun we're all having. Together with Nigel, whose measured and informed criticism I've always been a fan of, I'm hoping Shanks can help put a lid on Mary Murphy. My remote control's mute button would appreciate the relief.

What has always brought me back to the show is the legitimate talent—and, clunky as it is to say, art—on display on the part of both the choreographers and the performers. And for as easy as it would be to go the other way, the skill level seems to have risen in tandem with the show's popularity. But until we start seeing some memorable routines and some real star power emerge out of this current cast, I'm going to wonder whether that trend peaked with season five.