‘SYTYCD’ Petition to Appeal Cancellation of Results Shows

Well, YakkityYaks is kicking off 2012 by taking a stand. We recently published an Open Letter to the network executives of Fox regarding the cancellation of the Results Shows for upcoming Season 9 of So You Think You Can Dance. In our efforts to spread the word and garner support from SYTYCD fans around America, we have come up with a few simple ways to have our voices heard. If you support our movement, please pass on the word to your friends and family.

1. Talk about the show with others – at school, at work, online, or wherever. As auditions kick off January 5 in Atlanta, we can work to create a buzz. We understand the upcoming season does not premiere until the end of May 2012, but demonstrating strong investment in the show cannot hurt.

2. Sign the petition below and encourage others to do so as well.

3. Write to the network. Please be respectful and logical in your arguments. Threats will not strengthen your argument, but rather weaken it. Explain to the network how much you enjoy the Results Shows portion of SYTYCD and how it enhances your experience when watching the show on Fox. You can mention that you’ve signed the petition, and that you want to see the Results Shows make a return to the show’s format. Visit Fox.com and contact the network through their online rom or you can write via “snail-mail” to: Mr. Kevin Reilly, President of Entertainment, FOX, P.O. Box 900, Beverly Hills, CA 90213-0900, RE: So You Think You Can Dance

4. Take note of the products that have been advertised in season’s past. You can write the advertisers and tell them that you notice their products during telecasts of SYTYCD and that you appreciate their sponsorship of the performance and results shows.

If anyone has any other ideas, please feel free to post them below. Together our voices can be heard. Thanks in advance to our supporters!

‘SYTYCD’: An Open Letter to Network Executives

An Open Letter to Executives of the Fox Television Network

Not long after the world celebrated the onset of 2012, So You Think You Can Dance (SYTYCD) Executive Producer and Judge, Nigel Lythgoe, posted a message on his @dizzyfeet Twitter account regarding upcoming Season 9 of SYTYCD. “#FOX have cancelled the results show so I will have to change the format of #SYTYCD. At least we have another season at the end of MAY.”

In a world where social media is prevalent, the news was not taken lightly by fans of the Emmy nominated reality series. Rumors have already started spreading as to possible changes the show will have to undergo without a results show. Worries that the title “America’s Favorite Dancer” would have to be tweaked have begun to spread like wildfire.

In a world where reality or alternative programming to scripted television is prevalent and enjoyed by fans across the country, cancelling the Results Show portion of a program is, putting it bluntly, a terrible and miscalculated mistake. SYTYCD has become a summer staple program in many houses across America. In a world where wholesome family programming is hard to find, SYTYCD offered such an option for families to get together and enjoy true talent showcased on television for 3 hours a week (with a 2 hour performance show and a one hour results telecast). During the latter telecast where America’s votes are revealed, some of the best SYTYCD dances – including some of the Emmy award nominated pieces – were performed as the contestants joined forces in powerful and moving group numbers.

Many Results telecasts of similar programs have been touted by fans and critics to be filled with “filler.” While shows like The Voice and The Sing-Off have televised seasons without Results Shows, SYTYCD Results Shows offer something extra for fans. From group numbers choreographed and performed with such passion and fluid movement to some breathtaking “Dance For Your Life” moments, SYTYCD Results Shows are not filled with overblown recaps and guest performance after guest performance like some other shows. While that format may suffice other reality programs, the format that Lythgoe and SYTYCD producers have adopted for SYTYCD has been all about showcasing the talent. After all, isn’t the talent what it’s all about? Isn’t showcasing the art of choreography and dance without gimmicks what the show is about?

In 2007, SYTYCD was critically recognized when it took home it’s first 2 Emmy Awards for Outstanding Choreography. In 2008, SYTYCD was nominated three times – for three different choreographers – and took home another Emmy for Outstanding Choreography. The streak continued with 23 more nominations by the industry for Outstanding Choreography from 2009 to the present day. Of those 23 nominations, the show took home 10 more Emmys. We can’t forget the nominations of 2011 when host Cat Deeley was nominated for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program – a long overdue recognition. SYTYCD also touted a nomination in this little award category of Outstanding Reality-Competition Program. Not to mention, countless of entertainment sites around the web have named SYTYCD in their “Best Of 2011” features, including YakkityYaks.

While we understand this move by the Network does not guarantee that Season 9 is indeed the show’s final season, we fans know and understand that such a move unfortunately does not bode well for this under-rated and under-appreciated network gem.

To all SYTYCD fans, if you agree with the thoughts noted above, please do your part in sharing this open letter and let the network executives of Fox know that we do not appreciate this move and we hope that they reconsider – even if it means a 30 minute Results telecast versus the usual hour. We here at the Yak do not support this decision by the powers that be with Fox.

This writer can say that the Fox network will be boycotted during the hour originally intended for the SYTYCD Results telecast for any non-SYTYCD related programming.

Thank you for reading.

Kasey Olmstead and JD Montgomery
YakkityYaks.com

SYTYCD: The Yak’s Chat With America’s Favorite Dancer, Melanie

 

Just days ago, the So You Think You Can Dance champ was named. America chose their Favorite Dancer and that dancer was 19 year old Melanie Moore of Marietta, Georgia. The Yak had the chance to sit down with Melanie after she claimed victory alongside fellow Top 4 contestants Sasha Mallory, Marko Germar, and Tadd Gadduang. Not long after the confetti fell and the parties waned, we got a better look into the life of winner Melanie Moore. Keep reading on below to find out details like what was her major in school (hint: not dance), how she plans on spending her $250,000, and just what exactly does she attribute to her success on the show. All that and more below. We hope you fans have enjoyed this season as much as we have and that you’ll be back next summer when the Yak will have MORE surprises up our sleeve for SYTYCD.

On Her TV Personality
Melanie was actually homecoming queen in high school. She believes that she was able to show America who she really was without holding back parts of her personality. “I feel like on TV I’m that bubbly person that you guys see, but I am a lot more talkative and chatty.” She was, however, very focused throughout the competition and America may not have seen entirely how outgoing she is. Clearly that didn’t stop America from the votes, as she won by 47% of the popular 4-way vote. More on that below…

Plans During Time Off Before Tour
Melanie has 10 days off between the finale festivities and the SYTYCD tour (coming to a city near you). During her time off, she plans on being at the studio and taking classes because she admits she can’t sit still for too long. She also plans on helping her boyfriend, Mitchell, move to Athens for the upcoming semester at school. She claims to want to “…make stuff about him instead of me for a little bit.”

On Career Offers From The Show
Sprinkled throughout the season, Melanie received a few offers from the guest judges for things to do post-SYTYCD. From touring with Lady Gaga, to participating in the remake of Dirty Dancing with Kenny Ortega, Melanie was getting offers from the big leagues. It has always been her dream to be in a company, as she feels she would be more suited in that atmosphere. She always wants to be dancing, no matter what. She wants to be able to sustain a living dancing, and that’s what she’s hoping to do. She would, however, be interested in touring with Gaga and would be “more than happy and overjoyed to work with her.” No other real offers have come in yet after the show. Presently, she’s more excited about the tour and keeping the routines in her head until then.

On Being Touted “Frontrunner”
Leading up to the finale, Melanie had always thought that she had a chance to win. “I couldn’t pick a favorite,” she says in regards to sitting on stage with the other three finalists. Melanie doesn’t know how America picked because everyone this season was so brilliant. She felt confident and focused on the dances every week, kept her head in the game, and didn’t wanna put any extra pressure by thinking she had an amazing shot to win. She admits to always reminding herself that she had a shot at this competition and it was worth going for, but that she worked to balance staying grounded about it without adding extra pressure.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLsCY-FPFMI

On The “Big Leap”
After re-watching that video, you know the question on everyone’s mind when we were first introduced to this piece was on the issue of trust. Melanie said that she and Neil clicked from the beginning. She wasn’t too nervous for the leap because she knew Neil and his muscle could handle it. During rehearsal, they started out practicing the leap a couple of steps away and progressively moved back. Within a few tries, they were across the room and practicing the real deal. She usually has trust in whoever she’s paired with because she wants them to have complete trust in her too. That mindset made working with Neil on such a big move a lot easier, in her eyes.

On Where Her Success Came From
“The reason why I did so well was probably because of my partnership. Marko was so strong, we really carried each other and fed off of each other. Marko and I put so much hard work in the beginning. We were the only couple who rented studio space outside of rehearsal time.” Melanie and Marko actually went to rehearse at night after the hours allotted by SYTYCD. Melanie seemed to pride herself in being nit picky. Marko thought everything will come together on stage, but Melanie wanted it to come together before going on stage so they’re not thinking about stuff coming together while dancing live. With that much preparation, “You can just live in that moment [while dancing on that stage].” Their partnership worked out well and she attributes her success to both Marko and his work ethic.

On Thinking Sasha Will Win
Melanie knows that being called “The Favorite” or “The Frontrunner” never works in favor of the contestant on shows like this. She didn’t expect to win and believes Sasha has improved so much and has grown on people throughout the season. “I have nothing but love for her. I was so ready to be second place and tell her how amazing of a job she did.”

On Which Routine She Was Most Proud Of
Out of the many routines Melanie received praise on throughout the season, she was most proud of her Tango routine with Marko. It was their first ballroom style on the show and they got the standard American Tango. She went to explain how the hardest part was keeping connection the whole time. “When I tell you in rehearsals, we kept working at it and working at it. We were rehearsing till 11:45 at night and pounding it into the ground with that number.” To get positive comments was a relief for the two of them. They wanted their first ballroom number to come out well, and she is definitely most proud of it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0WI4H2J8dA

On Being an Art Major
Melanie realizes dancing is a hard industry to break into. Her and he mother felt it was smarter to have a backup plan to go off of. Art is her second love and it was her decision to major in art and study it in school. The decision to go to NYC for art revolved around the fact that she could take classes in the city. Her specialty in the arts is oil painting. She enjoys to do portraits. There is nothing yet online to see, but she’ll think about throwing some up there for us to see!

On Winning With 47% of the Vote
Melanie was very surprised on winning by such a large margin considering it was a 4-way vote. “I tried to make sure my personality came through in everything I was saying. I definitely think it had. I always laugh at myself. I hope that I’m relateable to people and they see something in me that inspired them to get up and do something.”

On Critiques From The Judges
Nothing the judges told her throughout the season stuck out in her mind in particular. What they say meant a lot, but “how I felt about the dance is really what’s important to me. Going out and doing the best that I can is what really mattered to me. At the end of the day, it really mattered how I felt and how America felt. I didn’t want to consider myself a frontrunner.” As mentioned earlier, she didn’t wanna add more stress and feel like she had to measure up. “I put enough pressure on as it was, I tried to stay away from thinking that.”

Plans for the Prize Money
Well, what do you know? Melanie wants to use part of her prize money for … wait for it … a really nice carry-on luggage, to feel cool when she travels. Of course, she also plans on putting some money aside for savings.

On Finding Difficulty During Season
Melanie hadn’t been trained in ballroom prior to this show. In fact, ballroom and disco were the two styles she hadn’t taken a class in. They were definitely struggles for her this season. The hip-hop routine with Twitch was also a struggle. “I don’t move so hard and quick. It was so fast and they knew I could do it but it was extremely challenging and I couldn’t have done it without Twitch.” Regardless, we found that Melanie puts her all into challenging and not-so-challenging pieces of work and that it shines in what she brings to the stage.

On Future Plans Post-Tour
After the tour ends this winter, Melanie plans on going back to school and majoring in dance. People have asked her about choreography, but she doesn’t consider herself to be a choreographer. She’s firstly a dancer and looks up to Stacey Tookey and Sonya Tayeh. She’d like to learn how to choreograph and “grow up” and be able to further herself in that.

On Being an All-Star Next Season
“I told them that from the minute I got into the Top 10. Here’s the thing, I got into the Top 10 so I have to be an all-star next year.” She really wants to be an all-star or maybe even an assistant for the choreographers next season … and fans, for one, want that too! Hear that, Mr. Lythgoe?

On Learning From Choreographers
The one choreographer that challenged her the most was Sonya Tayeh. That seems to be a recurring theme with the dancers this season. Sonya appears to be such a huge asset for the show. “I didn’t get to work with her until the end with my dance with Sasha. She pushed me so hard, knew “Game On” would be tough because of the dynamics. She really cares about each and every one of us and has been life changing and inspiring to all of us. I could not have asked for somebody better to work with. She took it to a more of a relationship level, rather than a choreographers stance. Her choreography is ridiculous. When you’re in a piece with her she’s really intimidating and scary. When you dance you know that she’s really watching, caring, and pushing through it with you.”

The Yak would like to thank Melanie for her time and wishes her the best of luck in her future endeavors. It’s been a great season with SYTYCD and chatting with many of the dancers. For those of you going to check them out on tour, enjoy it and let us know how the show goes!

 

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‘SYTYCD’ Q&A With Eliminated Dancers Caitlynn & Ricky

So You Think You Can Dance sent home two more dancers this week, narrowing the field down to four leading up to next week’s finale. Caitlynn Lawson and Ricky Jaime might no longer be in contention for the title of “America’s Favorite Dancer” but they’re not letting that bring them down. They are rooting for their fellow dancers Melanie Moore, Marko Germar, Tadd Gadduang and Sasha Mallory. Caitlynn and Ricky chatted with members of the media after their elimination and we’re bringing you the details. Keep reading to hear what they have to say. Don’t miss them as they return to the SYTYCD stage next week for a celebration of dance during the SYTYCD finale (airing Wednesday & Thursday at 8/7c).

On Waacking
Ricky is very “excited for waacking to be a part of the SYTYCD family now.” He wasn’t particularly worried that it would send him home. He believes it’s important to keep an open mind on the show, no matter which dance style you get.

Most Memorable Pieces
When asked what her most memorable pieces were this season, Caitlynn couldn’t pick just one. In fact, she wanted to list her Top 3 for us. Mandy Moore’s “To Love You More” with Mitchell and Sonya Tayeh’s “Heavy In Your Arms” with Marko made the top 2. “It’s always nice to get good response from the judges and audience. The tango with Pasha was probably my third favorite.”

On Growing Throughout the Competition
Both Ricky and Caitlynn agreed that they learned so much from this competition. The reason Caitlynn initially auditioned for the show was to be around amazing dancers and learn as much as she could. “Coming of age,” as Nigel Lythgoe described it was her whole goal. “Hearing that from them, I couldn’t feel any more accomplished that I had reached the goal I set out to accomplish.”

Future Plans
Ricky plans on moving out to LA with Clarice. As of now, he is up for anything and excited to hopefully get into the acting business and dance more. He hopes to keep teaching, specifically to show what he’s learned in terms of quality of movement. He’s excited to show his students how others grow. Caitlynn is looking to broaden her horizons and get into more singing, acting, and modeling. She wants to continue to learn and grow and would especially love to come back as an all-star on the show.

On Celebrity Guest Judges
Caitlynn and Ricky loved all the celebrity guest judges this season. They both agree that there was not one where they were confused with the critiques and wondering what credentials they had to be sitting there judging them. “It’s nice to hear critiques from someone who’s a different type of performer,” Ricky said. He went on to say that “They see what America sees, but even in a better light. They know what to tell us to keep us going in the competition. Hopefully they remember us.” They thought it was amazing to hear what Gaga especially has to say.

Forming Bonds With Contestants
This show automatically brings the contestants close. Caitlynn and Ricky were inspired by them all and feel as if they are all inseparable now. Caitlynn is especially “grateful to be in this group and have had the most wonderful time getting to know them.” Ricky and Clarice seemed to form a special bond throughout this season. They have plans to move in together in LA after the tour is over.

On Being Eliminated
Caitlynn sees a silver lining. It’s a sad feeling, but she’s happy she’s been able to grow and get better. They are both happy with the whole experience. Getting cut before finale is sad because you wanna compete for the last show. “The good thing is we don’t have to go home, we’re in rehearsal now and get to participate in the show next week.” Ricky didn’t even believe he’d make Top 20 because of his age, so he’s very grateful to have made it this far – to the Top 3 guys.

Routine They Are Most Proud Of
This past week was the toughest for Caitlynn. The Samba was really fast and the Sonya piece was hard emotionally, tough to dive into the character. “Seeing the judges stand up was an amazing moment,” she went on to say regarding her piece with Marko. Ricky is mostly proud of his ballroom routines, especially the Cha-Cha with Ryan. The show was the first time they actually got the choreography right. Production wouldn’t slow down the music for them to get their steps down, so he’s proud of that moment.

Getting Into Dance
Ricky surprised his mom at her wedding. He came up with choreography and performed for her that day. He then got into studios and went from there. Caitlynn has always been into dance. Being from a small town, she’s always wanted to progress to this point and be a part of something this big. It’s refreshing that they are both fans of the show and have been watching for many seasons. They feel so privileged to have been able to learn from and dance with the dancers they watched and idolized growing up.

Favorite Choreographers
Both Caitlynn and Ricky share an affection for Sonya Tayeh. Caitlynn “learned so much from her. She’s an amazing person.” Sonya seems to push the contestants beyond what they believe they can do and makes them dive head first into the dance. She hopes to work with her again some day. As for Ricky, he really wanted to work with Travis. He thinks his work is incredible, but he didn’t get a chance to work with him. You never know what the future may hold…

Dances They Want To Perform On Tour
Caitlynn: Argentine Tango (if Pasha makes the tour) and Sonya routine with Marko
Ricky: Contemporary routine with Ryan (the fabric piece) and his ballroom pieces

On Dance Style To Further Study
Ricky wants to go straight into the ballroom world, to “take it under his belt.” He went on to say that “It’s a different dynamic than contemporary and any other technical dance I’m trained in.” As for Caitlynn, “ballroom has always been something I’ve always been interested in.” She has loved getting to experience it; she wants to continue with hip-hop, too, if she gets a chance. Hip-Hop has always been a style she’s enjoyed performing.

Advice For Dancers Looking to Audition
From long time fans of the show to soon-to-be-alumni, Ricky and Caitlynn are great people to ask for advice for future SYTYCD hopefuls. They stress to not be afraid to push yourself. “The show isn’t expecting you to be a perfect dancer. They want to see you grow and get better. It’s all about having confidence in yourself. Work your butt off and push yourself. Never give up and don’t compare yourself to other people.”

On Being in the Bottom Multiple Times
Ricky Jaime is grateful to have made it this far with the help of the judges, saving him after being sent to the bottom by America’s votes. He believes that making it this far “helped show America why I’m here and driven sometimes. I don’t think it was anything bad, I took it as a good thing.”

We want to thank both Caitlynn and Ricky for their time. Good luck on the finale and on the tour! Looking forward to seeing you back on stage next week performing some of our favorites!

Random Thought Thursday: Big Brother, Weiners, Green and Gold.

What’s with me and the pics of colored animals lately? Ah well… Wow, there are so many random thoughts floating around in my head today, that getting them out and done might be a good thing. Maybe I can get some actual work done. (Yeah right.) Well, here’s a few…

Big Brother 13

Woohoo! Here is comes! I myself am pretty excited. I really hope it’s another Season 2, 3, 6, 8, or 10, or even 11. Please don’t be a dismal season! Please don’t have anyone telling people not to argue. (I’m talking to you Ragan… love ya, but seriously? Us feed watchers don’t want kumbaya!) Will they play off the evil theme “13”? That could be fun! Will there be people that know one another in there? (Not fun… please don’t do that.) Will Jessie be back? (PLEASE DON’T DO THAT!) We are discussing all of our likes and dislikes in the forum… plus so many polls! Come join us! Right now.

Movie I am Looking Forward To

Yeah, random, but if you haven’t seen this trailer, it’s a must. I may even make it to the theater to catch this one. (One of those rare opportunities.) Watch this all the way through:

WeinerGate

Why are you still reading this? You should be in the forum registering, and voting in our polls on Big Brother! Alright, if you must finish this out… Seriously, I am so over this Weiner scandal. (Course everytime I say that, it makes me laugh like Beavis and Butthead.) I ‘almost’ want to say boys will be boys, but then, I know all men aren’t this way. Right? Am I right? Someone tell me I’m right. I want to hear the masses tell me that there are men out there that are not like this, or wouldn’t be like this if the situation presented itself. It just seems so prevalent these days that I sometimes lose faith. The problem is, these women put up with it! I mean, if this was going on for a few years, and these women are coming out NOW, not when it first happened, only now when they see the $$$ in their eyes, well, just shows you their morals.

In the meantime, why is this news? Personally, this is a personal problem he has got going on. Apparently, he needs people to tell him he has a nice, um, ‘member’ so-to-speak. Sounds like an insecurity to me. It happened between consenting adults. The only person this should be some major news for is his wife, or soon to be ex-wife, however she decides to deal with this. My personal feelings are she should be the latter. Course we learned she is in the early stages of pregnancy yesterday. That presents a whole new twist to her disappointing, heart breaking dilemma.

This really shouldn’t even be political. I mean yes, he is a politician… that in itself makes it political I guess. However, hearing Democrats and Republicans that supported others in their same party that had much worse sex scandals, calling for his resignation? Just shut up. No seriously, shut up. You can’t support one sexually deviant guy because he believes in your politics, and not either support or just shut up about the other. It’s hypocritical at best, and just makes them look stupid.

I digress, why is this news? Aren’t there more important things to talk about in the world? This is plastered all over my TV, my FB, all over Twitter… enough already! Let the Twitter and FB world get back to what it does best… letting guys send pics of their privates to willing participants. Plus, Big Brother is coming on soon. That is much more important!

Moving on – (and still wondering why you keep reading and have not gone and registered in the forum and posted on what you want to see in Big Brother.)

SYTYCD!

I love this show. I really love this show. If you haven’t watched, then it’s a must. Now, I know there are some of you out there, like me, who aren’t that fond of the screaming Mary Murphy tends to do when someone nails it. Yeah, I am not on the “Hot Tamale Train.” Sorry fans of that, I know, you all hate me now… but there are plenty who love her in the forum, so get on in there! (Which you should have already done anyway.) For the ones that are turned off by that, I say, TAPE IT. You can always forward her critique, like I did with Paula and Kara on American Idol. Plus, she really hasn’t been doing that so far this season, and her critiques have been good! So, tune in, you won’t regret it! (Watch… tonight she will scream more than ever now that I said that lol.) There are some amazing dancers on this year!

Death of a Great

Lastly, let me just say that I was very saddened to report that Andrew Gold passed away this week. I still had a couple of his songs on my playlist that I listen to a lot. He was an amazing musician, and brilliant songwriter. He was an idol of my youth. We will all miss him dearly, and my condolences go out to his family.

That is all for today folks. Now, let me know your random thoughts below, and as soon as you are finished, I expect to see you in the forum, registering, and getting ready to celebrate our favorite summer obsession, Big Brother! Seriously. Get in there. Now would be good.

News on the Reality Front!

Not much going on in Reality lately, but a good amount of shows are coming up! Here is the latest on your favorites:

Big Brother: Matt McDonald (BB Season 9) pleaded guilty for conspiracy to distribute oxycodone, admitting his involvement in a drug ring that also included his season’s winner, Adam Jasinski. Both are now facing a maximum prison time of 20 years. Adam has been under treatment for substance abuse has been under house arrest since 2009, and is due to be sentenced today in Massachusetts. Matt will have to wait for his sentencing until April. I guess they won’t be included when Big Brother does the next All Star round? Must be Karma for treating BB9 Jesus loving Natalie the wrong way.

Mary Murphy Return Official! Mary Murphy will be returning as a regular judge on So You Think You Can Dance on this upcoming 8th season set to air this Summer. “I am thrilled and already dancing in my seat to be back as a permanent judge this season, which I’m sure will be the best ever.” Murphy stated. Get ready to ride the hot tamale train!!

Pick your Survivor Finalist! As we had reported earlier, Survivor is allowing us fans to choose one of the finalists for the competition! To vote, go HERE to watch the videos, then pick your favorite. Maybe you will be the deciding vote!

American Idol: No one wants the ‘villain’ role.  The new judging panel will not be embracing their inner Simon apparently. No one wants to play the villain, rather, critique young idol wanna-be’s on how they can improve. “There’s nothing like having that kind of discussion with another artist to help you grow,” Lopez said. They want to help rather than hurt. Well, that’s great for the ones that aren’t half bad… but are they all playing the Paula card when it comes to those that really should not be singing?

Sarah Palin’s Alaska canned. We here are unsure whether it was by choice, or a network decision, but the rumor mill has it that ratings after the premier were horrible, and the network made the decision to not renew the show. No word from the Palin camp about it.

Mike Tyson gets his own show, about pigeons? You heard me right. The heavyweight boxing champion, convicted rapist and occasional actor is apparently a pigeon farmer? Not just common or garden pigeons mind you, but racing pigeons, or as Tyson puts it “the creme de la creme of the pigeon world. These are thoroughbred pigeons. Pigeons were mens’ first feathered friends”. “Taking on Tyson”, which comes to the Animal Planet cable TV channel in March, is a six-part documentary in which the former world heavyweight champion returns to his Brooklyn neighborhood to race pigeons. Sesame Street Bert would be so proud. Let’s just hope Tyson isn’t an Ozzie fan.

Well, there you have it folks! The biggest news in Reality TV this week. So, what do you think? Are you going to go pick your fave for Survivor? Are you happy to see Mary Return? Are you sad to see Palin snubbed? Will you watch a show all about pigeons? Let us know below or in the FORUM!

‘SYTYCD:’ Mia Michaels OUT, Mary Murphy IN

We have another change at the judge’s table next summer for So You Think You Can Dance. After joining the judge’s panel for one season, Mia Michaels is out and will not be retuning to the show. In a statement she released, she said that she wants to focus on her own world. (Editor’s note: Wasn’t she always concerned with Mia’s world??). Mia does make a point to state that the decision was her decision and not Lythgoe or any show runner. “Last year when I was sitting on the panel, I knew it wasn’t the right fit because I felt too glossy sitting on the panel. People were so focused on what I wore and my hair. I wanted to get dirty and back to the work. I am an artist and I’m a visionary. I need to paint my world now and not be constantly linked to So You Think You Can Dance. It’s been a great platform,” Michaels says. “It was a wonderful platform. I’m staring at [my] two Emmys right now. It was an amazing, amazing thing for me but I feel like I have to fly. I have to now focus on Mia’s world.” Well, and focus on Mia’s world she will do. She has an upcoming Bravo reality show, will be writing her own memoir, and is developing her own Broadway show.

Who will be replacing her? According to Mia, she’s heard that Mary Murphy will be back to the table placing claim to her chair and bringing us back her hot tamale train. SYTYCD will return next summer for the latest installment. So Yakkster’s what do you think about the news? Excited? Bummed? Let us know below and join our FORUMS to discuss!

Former Choreographer for ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ Pleads Not Guilty

[singlepic id=250 w=100 h=180 float=left]Former choreographer for ‘So You Think You Can Dance’, Alex Da Silva, pled not guilty on charges of raping multiple dancers between 2002-2009 in LA County Superior Court Tuesday.  He’ll be back in court on June 11.

His charges include:  4 charges of forcible rape, 2 charges of assault intent to commit rape, and 2 counts of sexual penetration with a foreign object.  The charges, according to TMZ, are all from four different women in his dance classes that said Da Silva would lure them to his home in North Hollywood to rape them.

Da Silva, known mostly as a recurring guest choreographer on SYTYCD claims through SalsaFreak.com that all said charges are false, and were based on people from a small town who were extorting money from him.  I have no idea when the above claim was written however, since in the claim he states “there is no case”… yet he still has a court date coming up.

So… what do you think?  Come tell us!