‘So You Think You Can Dance’ will stay once a week … but why?
When we first heard the joyous news that “So You Think You Can Dance” was going to be renewed for a tenth season, we were beyond excited. This is the zenith of quality reality competitions, as the contestants are skilled, the performances often beautiful, and the judging sound and hardly ever sugar-coated.
So when the announcement came through, we were hoping that the news would also magically break that after seeing the mess caused by airing the show only once a week last year, Fox executives would change it back to a twice-weekly format. After all, their experiment in replacing the results show with “Take Me Out” and “The Choice” bombed terribly, as both pulled in ratings below what the dance competition traditionally did in the spot.
Sadly, Fox for whatever reason is keeping the show at once a week. If they had given some sort of actual explanation for it, the feeling here would be a little bit more of satisfaction. Instead, we had this simple message from the network’s programming head Kevin Reilly: “it worked, right?”. Well … no. It didn’t work nearly as well. Having the show air once a week vastly reduced the amount of time we had to know any of the contestants, and thus it makes the show a little more expendable. This is why it was so easy for many viewers to tune out when the show was interrupted by such things as the Fourth of July and the Olympics; they weren’t invested, and seeing it only once a week made it merely a blip on the radar.
Ultimately, do you agree or diagree with our assessment of the show? If you want to hear some more straight from Nigel Lythgoe on the season 10 renewal, you can do so over at the link here.
Photo: Fox
Shirley Texas
January 11, 2013 @ 11:43 am
SYTYCD has been my very own favorite show every season. It gives me something to look forward to every week. I love the energy and I tell everyone I know to watch it. I would love to see it twice a week. I feel like all of the contestants are kin to me by the end of the show.
Linda Australia
January 11, 2013 @ 1:57 am
Really enjoy the show and was disappointed that it was cut to once a week. My friends and I discuss the show and want to feel that we get to know the contestants and predict who will do well, based on all their performances and the way they speak to the judges. Thrilled there will be a season 10 and hope we get to see it in Australia – please Network Ten!!
Wanda Santiago
January 10, 2013 @ 3:28 am
So Do You Think You Can Dance has been one of d Best shows presented by Fox. It was very disappointing when last year it was cut to only once a week. It was truly a shame. I’m certain that there r hundreds of thousand people who have reacted the same way. I sincerely hope that next season the show comes back twice a week. This is an excellent , outstanding & entertaining show that me & my family prefer over any other one that u may select. Please, continue to present So Do You Think You Can Dance twice a week!