Nigel Lythgoe

[Celebrity]

Nigel Lythgoe: TV Guide News

Episode Recap: The Top Fourteen Dancers Perform | So You Think You Can Dance | 7/3/2008
For like a millisecond I thought SYTYCD was taking a break this week. I think they did it last year and with Independence Day just around the corner, I thought that might be the case this week. Aren’t you glad this is on my season pass? Well, I don’t have TiVo but it’s on the equivalent of my season pass. And I’m also glad each pair got to dance two styles tonight. I always like it when they start mixing it up.But before we get to our lovely couples, can I make some comments... read more
Episode Recap: Our Top Fourteen Are Revealed | So You Think You Can Dance | 6/27/2008
I think the judges are sending the right people home. But before we get to that, I’ll start at the beginning of the show.At first glance Cat’s dress tonight is even better than the one last night. But the more I look at it the less I enjoy it. The ruffle thing going on at the neckline just isn’t that flattering. I like everything from the waist down and the neck up. I hope her stylists don’t do that to Cat again.I really like the group dance. Some of you probably pick it out... read more
So You Think You Can Dance: The First Couple Exits | Today's News: Our Take | 6/13/2008
It seemed that So You Think You Can Dance had only just begun when the first couple was sent home Thursday. Rayven Armijo and Jamie Ray Bayard were the first of the Top 20 to perform — and also the first to be cut, despite their humorous hip-hop routine to Estelle's "American Boy" (feat. Kanye West). Friday morning, they spoke to press. Here's what they had to say on:Nigel's Comment on Dancing First and Leaving First:Rayven: Timing is everything, right? It's possible that the timing just... read more
Inside the Stage Dad Controversy: David A., Producer Speak Out | The Great American Idol Blog | 5/14/2008
How much of a stage dad is Jeff Archuleta, really? This past week, it was widely reported that David Archuleta's dad was formally barred from the backstage of Idol, and particularly in conjunction with his overbearing approach to helping David with song selection. In response to the rumors, however, David's denying outright that his dad's well-known meddling is troublesome. He told TV Guide: "I've heard some weird things that people have been saying, and it's kind of a bummer. I think I, of... read more
Idol Boss Talks Shocking Exits, Sliding Ratings | The Great American Idol Blog | 4/25/2008
The Britweek Launch, held Thursday night at the home of the Consul General, was a little like a ball: Nearly everyone, including the five American Idol contestants had a curfew— but forget the Midnight curfew like Cinderella had — the AI gang had to be out by 8:30!None of the Idol contestants are allowed to talk to the press until after they leave the show, so all they could do for the press was smile politely and pose for photos. Off-camera, one journalist asked Jason Castro how long... read more
"Idol Gives Back" Update: Mariah Duets with Marvin Gaye? Ellen Out? | The Great American Idol Blog | 4/2/2008
In a Wednesday conference call with reporters, American Idol executive producer Nigel Lythgoe offered updates on this year's "Idol Gives Back" fundraising effort, to air Wednesday, April 9. For starters, Lythgoe cleared the air on talk that Mariah Carey would perform a duet with the late Marvin Gaye, a la Celine Dion and Elvis Presley a year ago. "Unfortunately, it's not [happening]," he shared. "We couldn’t get the rights to music with Marvin, so we had to cancel it." (Chalk up one... read more
Idol Exec Defends Decision to "De-group" Hollywood | The Great American Idol Blog | 2/18/2008
If American Idol's Hollywood round last week seemed rather whirlwind and free of soapy "You stayed up late macking on that emo boy and as a result didn't memorize the words to our song!" drama, it was by design. Explaining the decision to do away with the group performances and all the cattiness that came with them, exec producer Nigel Lythgoe told reporters in a conference call, "We realized that people were being cut [during the group performances] because they couldn't remember the lyrics,... read more
Britney "Not Well Enough" to Mentor Idols, Says Exec | Today's News: Our Take | 12/14/2007
It is rather sad when you screw up your career to the degree that you can't score a gig as an American Idol mentor. "I would have had Britney Spears [on the show] last year for sure, when I thought she was trying to get it all back together again," Idol executive producer Nigel Lythgoe told reporters on a Thursday conference call. But as we have all since seen, Spears' "efforts" were in vain. "Britney at this moment... I don't think is well enough to do anything," said Lythgoe, "and I think she... read more
American Idol Makes Instrumental Changes | Today's News: Our Take | 11/9/2007
What if William Hung played the harpsichord? When American Idol debuts its seventh season, a new element will be added: "We're going to let the contestants play instruments if they can," executive producer Nigel Lythgoe told TV Guide at the Nov. 8 Discovery Awards.The hit Fox series will also feature "mentors" less often. "We realized that we took our eye off the ball and didn't concentrate on the true talent on the show, and that's the [wannabes]," says Lythgoe. As such, this season "we've got... read more
Reality Twists and Turns | Roush Dispatch | 8/17/2007
As Cat Deeley herself might say, "Well done, you." And by "you," I mean America, in making exactly the right call in the final So You Think You Can Dance voting and putting Danny and Sabra in the final two. My own speed-dialing Wednesday night went to Danny, a truly awesome dancer, but I’m at peace with Sabra winning the ultimate prize. The show was overdue a female winner, and Sabra's raw, exuberant talent (not to mention her total lack of attitude) was a marvel to behold throughout the... read more
Episode 23 Recap: And the Winner Is... | So You Think You Can Dance | 8/17/2007
Tonight was the season finale of SYTYCD and we found out the winner.The top 20 dancers were back to perform group numbers and some of their best individual routines. There were few surprises in store for us during this two-hour episode.The show opened with Tyce’s take on a routine from The Lion King. It was great to see the top 20 all back together; it was also great to finally see a Broadway number done right. Broadway numbers really cannot be done without 10 or more people. We were also... read more
Episode 22 Recap: The Final Four | So You Think You Can Dance | 8/16/2007
Tonight was the final night of dancing. I guess you can say they were dancing for their lives tonight, as our votes determine the winner. Our judges tonight were Dan Karaty, Mary and Nigel. Each dancer had three partner dances, a solo dance and a group dance.First up was a Tyce Diorio Broadway number that involved the top four dancers. They did a routine to Liza Minnelli’s rendition of "Mein Herr" from Cabaret. I found the number interesting and it did hold my attention. I noticed that... read more
Dance Fever: Who's Going to Win? | Roush Dispatch | 8/14/2007
Don't ask me. I would have been OK if any of this week's six finalists had won Fox's So You Think You Can Dance, including the two who were ejected Monday night in what felt like a very unsatisfying vacuum of dead air (more on that later). They're all terrific, and it was as painful as I expected to see any of them go.Without question, Dance has been my favorite reality-competition show of the summer. If you’ve been watching that hokey excuse for a variety show over on NBC and wondering if... read more
Episode 21 Recap: The Hardest Cut of All | So You Think You Can Dance | 8/14/2007
It was results night and we all had to sit and wait five days to find out our final four. I tuned in a bit late and caught the opening number already in progress; it looked to me like zombies in the jungle. I just knew it was choreographed by Wade. The poor audience getting the fake fog blown into them; that fog is so not nice to be on the receiving end of. It is also not the best thing for the lungs when you are trying to dance.There was also an update on Cedric, who has been hanging with... read more
Episode 20 Recap: Oldies But Goodies | So You Think You Can Dance | 8/9/2007
We are in the homestretch — the final show is a week from tomorrow.Tonight’s judges were Debbie Allen, Mary Murphy and Nigel Lythgoe. Each dancer danced two different routines in two different styles with the same partner, plus a solo.Pasha and LaceyThe first routine was hip-hop and was choreographed by Dave Scott to "In the Morning" by Junior Boys. When they were describing the number, the first thought that popped into my mind was Mannequin, a movie from 1987. This was a fantastic... read more
Episode 18 Recap: "Remembrance" | So You Think You Can Dance | 8/2/2007
There are two weeks to go until the final episode. All I can say is: Already? That means summer is coming to an end.Tonight’s judges are Adam Shankman, Mary Murphy and Nigel Lythgoe, and each dancer will dance two different routines in two different styles with the same partner.Danny and SaraFirst Routine: Argentine Tango choreographed by Alex DeSilva to "Whatever Lola Wants" by Sarah Vaughan & Gotan Project. I just loved this number and I am starting to see some more personality in... read more
Short Takes: O.J.'s Loss, Nigel Lythgoe's Score, and More! | Today's News: Our Take | 7/31/2007
Yesterday the rights to O.J. Simpson's If I Did It book were passed along to relatives of murder victim Ron Goldman. The family said they plan to exploit the theoretical tell-all in order to collect the $33.5 million they were awarded in a wrongful-death judgment against the bankrupt football star turned bogeyman in 1997. TMZ.com reports that So You Think You Can Dance judge Nigel Lythgoe has hooked up with Bobby Ewing's and Elvis' ex, Priscilla Presley. Pass it on! On Friday Pirate Master... read more
So You Think You Can Dance Backstage Report | TV Guide Interviews & Features | 7/27/2007
Emmy-nominated choreographer Mia Michaels thought she was going to have a wonderful day. She woke up this morning to find hundreds of messages posted on her website. "And I thought, wow, I must've been a really good judge last night," says Michaels. But then she opened the messages and was shocked by their tone and content. "It was hate mail," she says simply. "Saying things like, 'You should be ashamed of yourself.' It was really intense. It was awful." The writers were responding to a ... read more
Nigel Lythgoe Examines American Idol's Flaws | TV Guide News Report | 7/23/2007
What was wrong with American Idol last season? Nigel Lythgoe, president of Idol's production company 19 Television, thinks it was too much Peter Noone and not enough Melinda Doolittle. In other words, "We didn't really show the personalities of the people," he told reporters at the Television Critics Association press tour on Sunday. "We were so engrossed with the mentors who were particularly good last season, and not really on the Melindas. And we didn't know them as much as we knew the... read more
TV Guide Interviews & Features | 7/20/2007
We know what you think about the nominees for this year's Primetime Emmy Awards, but what do the lucky nominees have to read more