So You Think You Can Dance co-creator Nigel Lithgow revealed that he was “not asked” to return as a judge after 16 seasons.
So You Think You Can Dance co-creator Nigel Lithgo revealed on Friday that his long tenure as a judge on the show has come to an end.
“To my personal regret, I was not asked to be part of the judging panel this season,” he announced on Twitter.
The 72-year-old actor, who has been a judge for all of the previous 16 seasons, said: “I don’t know who will be doing ‘Cue Music’ but I wish them all the best.”
End of the road: So You Think You Can Dance co-creator Nigel Lythgoe revealed on Friday that his long tenure as a judge on the show has come to an end.
Gracios: “To my personal regret, this season I was not asked to be part of the judging panel,” he announced on Twitter.
His tweet kindly began: “I’m so excited to have America’s aspiring young dance talents working with some of our greatest creative choreographers.”
FOX, which airs the show, declined People magazine’s request for comment.
Nigel created So You Think You Can Dance with Simon Fuller, whom he previously worked with when they were both producers of American Idol.
When the first season aired in the summer of 2005, Nigel was the sole permanent judge, although he had a star company on the jury over the years.
When the first season aired in the summer of 2005, Nigel was the only permanent judge – this season he is pictured with guest judges Mary Murphy and Adam Shankman.
Champion ballroom dancer Mary Murphy joined Nigel as a full-time judge in the second season and has remained with the program ever since.
Over the years, a string of big names including Paula Abdul, Vanessa Hudgens, Jason Derulo and Maddie Ziegler have come and gone, but Nigel has stayed.
Steven “tWitch” Boss, best known as Ellen DeGeneres’ assistant on her daytime program, also served on the jury.
The previous season of So You Think You Can Dance aired in the summer of 2019, just months before the coronavirus pandemic swept the world.
History: He became a judge on Popstars and later on Pop Idol, where he earned the nickname “Nasty Nigel” for his biting remarks; depicted on Popstars in 2000
This summer, the show will be making a grand comeback for the first time since the start of the pandemic, but apparently it will take place without Nigel on the air.
Born in Merseyside, Nigel trained professionally as a dancer and began his career with the English National Ballet, performing in the Viennese operetta The Merry Widow.
He used his dancing skills as a choreographer, working with names such as The Muppets and Shirley Bassey.
Nigel rose even higher and became a television executive, serving as head of entertainment and comedy at London Weekend Television in the 1990s.
Good to wear it: During a 2009 Daily Mail interview, Nigel said that being called “nasty” was a lot better than “Good Nigel”; pictured in 2006 on So You Think You Can Dance
He then became a television judge on Popstars and then on Pop Idol, the British predecessor to American Idol, where he earned the nickname “Nasty Nigel” for his biting remarks.
On Popstars, he famously brought Kim Marsh to tears with vampirism: “Christmas may be gone, but I can see the goose is still fat.”
“And of course,” Nigel remarked to the Press Association a few years later, “she’s made a ton of money off her weight loss, looks amazing, plays brilliantly, and has made a huge career for herself, God bless her.”
During an interview with the Daily Mail in 2009, Nigel reflected on being called “nasty” and said, “Much better than Good Nigel. It’s much more fun to be the villain.”