Forget Ice-T and Soulja Boy. And who cares about Lily Allen and Perez Hilton these days? For me, the most exciting bubbling beef is between two of the biggest dance-competition reality shows: Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance" and our very own "Randy Jackson Presents America's Best Dance Crew." (Yes, that's its full name. I know.)
It all started when Randy Jackson cast "SYTYCD" regular Shane Sparks as a judge on his show. It wasn't a problem during the MTV show's first season because "SYTYCD" was on its winter hiatus. But with season two of "ABDC" in full swing at the same time as season four of "SYTYCD," Sparks had to give up a gig. (Obviously, he picked Randy Jackson and MTV. Thanks, dawg!)
To fill the gaping hole Shane left in the "SYTYCD" lineup of choreographers/judges, executive producer Nigel Lythgoe went ahead and stole two "ABDC" choreographers, Napoleon and Tabitha D'Umo. (The pair appeared in the casting specials.)
Where's the beef, you ask?
Last Thursday, during a "SYTYCD" results-show commercial break, MTV aired an ad promoting the hell out of "ABDC." But it wasn't the cool JabbaWockeeZ clip you probably saw on MTV 4,000 times. It was a different commercial that very pointedly touted "ABDC" as "the best dance show on TV." As a “SYTYCD” fan, I felt like it was a slap in the face. But as an MTV employee, I was proud that my network had just done something so badass and aggressive.
Apparently, Nigel was a little miffed that the ad appeared during his show, because on last night's (awesome) episode of "SYTYCD," Lythgoe went out of his way to say, "I am loving Tabitha and Napolean this year. I'm so pleased that they came to the real number-one dance show." In your face, Shane Sparks! And Randy Jackson! And MTV!
Here's a clip in case you missed it. Skip ahead to the 4:45 mark to hear Nigel's remarks. (Or, if you have the time, watch the entire clip to see Mark and Chelsie's standout hip-hop routine!)
Here's hoping this back and forth continues and culminates in a dual-show dance-off. Producers Randy Jackson vs. Nigel Lythgoe. Dancers Pharside vs. Twitch. Hosts Mario Lopez vs. Cat Deeley. Judges Lil Mama vs. Mary Murphy. (And why not go all the way to the top and have Rupert Murdoch battle Sumner Redstone? Be warned, Murdoch. I hear Sumner has some mad krumping skillz.)
Anyone else OD-ing on dance this summer (in a good way)? You think Lythgoe will make Randy's life miserable next year on "American Idol"? Which show deserves to win the title of "number-one dance show on television"?