My husband and I loved this show - until this year. We turned it off after 15 minutes. The phony back-stories were bearable (mostly) when for adults, but are just plain silly for children. Furthermore, not only is the reviewer below correct, you can add the problem that this year's format will have an unhealthy appeal to the prurient interest of sick people in watching little girls gyrate like adults in their skin-tight outfits. Ballet is one thing, the hip thrusts of modern dance is quite another when done by prepubescent children. What kind of choreography can they possibly do which will not involve something like that?

Reality television as a whole is a cesspool that collects the very worst of human behavior and emotions in a cistern and lets it fester until it creates the fertilizer for the destructive roots growing into the foundations of civilized society. There are a few exceptions. One of the major ones is the Fox series So You Think You Can Dance. All the ingredients for the cheesy talent competitions that have embedded themselves into a huge section of most stations' schedules are present- 3 judges, an impossibly photogenic host, and a bunch of attractive young people yearning to realize their dream. But that's pretty much where the similarities end. The major difference is these kids are actually talented. They dance their little hearts out every week and are an absolute delight to watch. SYTYCD is such an anticipated pleasure each and every season. There just isn't anywhere else except Broadway and your local dance troupes that you can experience the joy of watching this level of dance. The choreographers have won many an Emmy for the show, and deservedly so. The complexity, story, and variety they put into each number elevates this reality show to heights far beyond the hoi polloi. The show exposes the viewer to many different types of music as well as different forms of dance, most of which one would never have exposure to. This isn't "Dancing With The Stars" where B-list celebrities try desperately to adhere to simple foxtrots and tangos- we get treated to everything from African Jazz to incredibly challenging contemporary pieces choreographed and danced by some of the best in the country. It's culture, folks. Don't think that it gets bogged down in pretentiousness, though. This show is, above all, fun. Everyone involved seems to be having a ball. The kids enjoy strutting their stuff, the choreographers love the exposure, and the judges genuinely seem to care for the kids. They also give advice that actually has to do with dancing! Not only do they seem to enjoy each other's company, there's a guest judge each week to keep the chemistry fresh. Nigel Lythgoe is such an advocate of dance and Mary Murphy, the lost Osmond, is so infectiously perky that it's impossible not to have fun along with them. Host Cat Deely is also such a fashionista half the reason to tune in each week is just to see what she's wearing. The audience enjoys it all as well- I guarantee that at least once per week you will get goosebumps from one of the numbers- and who doesn't love that? The final element that I like about SYTYCD- each season I've watched, the audience watching at home that calls in and votes have got the winner right. This isn't a show that encourages a backlash like what inspired the American Idol's "Vote For the Worst" campaign. Those of us who watch it vote for the best dancer, not just the prettiest face or the largest personality. Yes, in earlier rounds, even up to some of the final shows, a personality will get a contestant far. But unless they back that up with actual talent and effort they won't win. And that's what makes this reality show more real than most, and a real treat to watch.

Unlike singing competitions which can begin to feel like karaoke night twice a week, So You Think You Can Dance is fresh and will keep renewing itself. Dance is always changing, always becoming more global, technical, artistic, theatrical, and more. There are no limits in dance, and thus this show has the potential to go on forever.The greatest thing about this show is the showcase of the different genres by gifted dancers. Not only is it a "competition" show, it is a performance show. Sure there are the judges to comment, phone numbers to call, and bottom three to fret about, but in the end this show achieves the most in broadcasting the world of dance.

I really enjoyed the show; however, again another disappointment like American Idol this is a show of personality and not talent. Travis by far is the better dancer than Benji - He is a natural - it was very obvious when you watched him. Either the majority of people are not very rhythm oriented or they vote on personality alone. Also Natilie was by far the best female dancer - her moves were natural. They both were like plants - nature - flowing in the wind and it is too bad votes are cast on personality and not talent - as that is what these shows are about talent. The judges were way too harsh on Natalie; however, I do believe she possibly wanted to be voted off, as she could have ruined her leg for dancing and she is such a beautiful dancer it would be a shame for that to happen. They said she had gone downhill the last three weeks; well, that is when she hurt her leg - she had a large amount of courage to get out there and do what she did with the injury to her knee along with all the practicing that went with it. With more shows of this sort coming up since they are so popular I really hope America will take the blinders off and look at the talent being displayed and not the personalities......