Mia Michaels Out As Judge On So You Think You Can Dance. Thank God.
It's not just American Idol that's been shaking up the judges' panel. On Nigel Lythgoe's other Fox reality show, So You Think You Can Dance, they've been hitting puree on the panel for a few seasons now. First they installed director/Miley Cyrus sex device Adam Shankman in the third judges' chair that had previously been free-floating. Then they booted shrieking Mary Murphy for choreographer Michaels. But now, according to E!, Michaels is dunzo and Murphy is returning, and in my opinion, that's a good thing.
I can understand the impulse that led to giving Murphy the boot and welcoming Michaels onto the dais. Murphy had gotten a little rote with her shrieks and her various trains and tickets and whatnot, and Michaels is brilliant choreographer with two Emmys to her name and a terrific style that was readily accessible to the general public while still being edgy. But as a judge, Mia Michaels was a hot buttered mess.
Far too often, when asked to judge a dance, she could only call it either "genius" or offer some vague critique, saying it needed more "uumph" or "skkkrrunchh" or whatever nutty piece of onomatopoeia that caught her attention that day. But far worse was her tendency to go after a dancer personally, far beyond any type of professional dance critique. The apotheosis of this was when, in the most recent season, she told dancer Melinda that the judges had sent home the wrong person last week, and it should have been Melinda that went home. That wasn't constructive, informative or educational; it was just straight-up bitchy. And while I won't go so far as to call her a racist, Michaels appears to have a continual problem with otherwise innocuous black male dancers whom she declares to have "an attitude," like Season 3 Danny, Season 5 Brandon, or Season 7 AdeChike.
Sadly, Michaels is leaving not just the judges' panel but the show in general, which means no more wonderful pieces like "The Bench" and "Running" with Adele. But if that means I don't have to listen to any more venomous barbed asides masquerading as helpful instructions, then I'm all for it. Hey, we still have Wade Robson!
· SYTYCD Judge: Why I'm Leaving the Show [E!]
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Comments
Interesting that you point out Mia has problems with dancers that she percieves to have "attitude" yet her main gay is So You Think You Can Dance Canada's season one cast off Blake "so you think your the shit" McGrath.
I hope they tell Mary Murphy to knock off all the screaming. It was enough to make you tape the show so you could fast forward through her part! Hated listening to that!! They don't need it on the show. Mia did seem to get quite the attitude this year.
Is Wade Robson back? This is good news. I so heart him.
Still, I liked Mia. I'll miss her. This show has had uniquely good judging, and I actually find most of the comments to be really acute and constructive.
umm no. Dixon got it absolutely right on this one. She was terrible as a judge and he hit on the exact moment where she jumped the "bitch" shark when she said that to that Melinda dancer. She should have stuck to choreographing, at which she is excellent. That part will be missed. But I can live without her juvenile mind making up words like "banoodles." yuck!
Thank goodness she's out...She was absolutely terrible...I totally agree with Dixon on this one...I stopped watching this season just because of her and I do not regret it one iota...I never like her since she insulted Danny and in my opinion was reaffirmed when she insulted Brandon...A shame she's leaving the show as she's an excellent choreographer but a small to price to pay for her "thinly veiled bitch-ery"...I could tell that Nigel regretted his decision to let her judge...Bring back Mary but seriously no-need to freaking shout all the time...When Mary uses her inside voice she has a lot to offer the dancers...SO BRING BACK MARY...So I can enjoy watching SYTYCD! again
Thank goodness she's out...She was absolutely terrible...I totally agree with Dixon on this one...I stopped watching this season just because of her and I do not regret it one iota...I never like her since she insulted Danny and in my opinion was reaffirmed when she insulted Brandon...A shame she's leaving the show as she's an excellent choreographer but a small to price to pay for her "thinly veiled bitch-ery"...I could tell that Nigel regretted his decision to let her judge...Bring back Mary but seriously no-need to freaking shout all the time...When Mary uses her inside voice she has a lot to offer the dancers...SO BRING BACK MARY...So I can enjoy watching SYTYCD! again
Thank goodness she's out...She was absolutely terrible...I totally agree with Dixon on this one...I stopped watching this season just because of her and I do not regret it one iota...I never like her since she insulted Danny and in my opinion was reaffirmed when she insulted Brandon...A shame she's leaving the show as she's an excellent choreographer but a small to price to pay for her "thinly veiled bitch-ery"...I could tell that Nigel regretted his decision to let her judge...Bring back Mary but seriously no-need to freaking shout all the time...When Mary uses her inside voice she has a lot to offer the dancers...SO BRING BACK MARY...So I can enjoy watching SYTYCD! again
Thank goodness she's out...She was absolutely terrible...I totally agree with Dixon on this one...I stopped watching this season just because of her and I do not regret it one iota...I never like her since she insulted Danny and in my opinion was reaffirmed when she insulted Brandon...A shame she's leaving the show as she's an excellent choreographer but a small to price to pay for her "thinly veiled bitch-ery"...I could tell that Nigel regret his decision to let her judge...Bring back Mary but seriously no-need to freaking shout all the time...When Mary uses her inside voice she has a lot to offer the dancers...SO BRING BACK MARY...So I can enjoy watching SYTYCD! again
No!!! I'm stopping watching it again - i can't stand to hear Michaels speak! and that laugh....ughgghhh!!!!!
I actually signed up just to post. I missed Mary and while I thought Mia was a great choreographer, with breathtaking material, she was terrible, personal and petty as a judge. By the end, even the quality of her choreography was lot of me because of how totally biased and wickedly personal she was as a judge. Even more, I agree with Dixon that she seemed to really pick on the African American male dancers. I am white, but I always was uncomfortable, feeling like she targeted the African American males in particular. And if she didn't like someone personally - forget it. I remember how much Kent grew as a dancer over the season and she would never give him an ounce of credit. She would just say she didn't like it because it was too "Kent". Niiiiiiiiice.
Good choice Nigel. I will take the shrill Hot Tamale Train any day over the mean-spirited Mia with zero constructive comments and a personal bias a mile long.
She was totally inappropriate towards the dancers on the show and during the try-outs. She will not be missed at my house!
Having said that, I pray they prevent Mary Murphy from screaming!!! I have to mute my tv when she is giving her critique because I just can't tolerate the screams and you just never know when she is going to let one loose. So obviously I rarely hear her comments anymore because of this. I am glad she will be back though as a ballroom expert.
Personally, I do enjoy Adam Shankman's contagious excitement and think it brings the show up.
I love the kindness and respect Nigel shows to the dancers, particularly in try-outs. I agreed with him this last year when he did not indulge the "Sex's" that keep returning for their moment on TV. I hope he will just not even put them on anymore!
Hopefully Nigel is reading the blogs to find out what the fans think!