America’s most exciting dance show returns tonight with an all-new season, some familiar faces, and some amazing new talent.
So You Think You Can Dance season 11 kicks off tonight with a 2-hour premiere episode. Cat Deeley will return as our ever-stylish host, and executive producer Nigel Lythgoe and ballroom expert Mary Murphy will return as judges.
Tonight’s premiere will see promising auditions from New Orleans and Chicago. Wayne Brady will join regular judges Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy to share his two cents in New Orleans, while Jenna Elfman will join the panel in Chicago.
As Hypable previously learned from Lythgoe himself, the show will return to its original format of one winner, instead of one male and one female winner, as we’ve seen the last few seasons. There will also be no more judges’ save, as there has been some contention among fans who believe the judges kept their favorite contestants on the show well past their expiration date (looking at you, Jenna Johnson).
But those won’t be the only changes for season 11. Lythgoe revealed the show’s new opening credits via Twitter this week, and while they’re set to the same tune, the new credits feature some of the most memorable moments from the last 10 seasons, by some of our favorite dancers. This writer will certainly enjoy reliving Melanie and Neil’s flying leap every week.
Also joining SYTYCD this season? Justin Bieber! Yes, you read that right. But before you start you start writing your angry emails, don’t worry, he won’t be judging. As another new addition to season 11, SYTYCD will be featuring dance crews, two per episode, during each of the audition shows, after which they will reveal hashtags for fans to vote on which crew they would like to see perform in the finale. Bieber (apparently a big fan of the show) and his choreographer, Nick DeMoura, will introduce the crews in pre-taped segments.
Check out this preview of some of season 11’s contestants. It’s looks like the Hot Tamale Train is going to have a LOT of new passengers this season!
So You Think You Can Dance 2-hour premiere airs tonight at 8 p.m. on Fox.
Stay tuned for our SYTYCD recaps!