Paging MC Skat Kat! On Tuesday night’s dazzling episode of “So You Think You Can Dance,” Nigel Lythgoe officially offered former American Idol judge Paula Abdul a guest spot on the series’ esteemed panel.
And though Fox has yet to confirm whether or not the singer has accepted Nigel’s offer, I can’t help but feel incredibly conflicted about the possibility of Paula’s return to competitive reality TV.
On the one hand, the rabid Idol fan in me would welcome Paula with open arms. After all, we haven’t even seen a Paula-less Idol yet, and I’m already mourning her absence more than I mourned the loss of Anty in “Honey I Shrunk the Kids.” The loopy judge was just starting to get — dare I say it? — perceptive and wise, and the inevitability of a Paula blunder always made for exhilarating television.
But does that presence belong on “SYTYCD”? The dance show already boasts a zany counterpart (Mary) to Nigel’s British spin. If we add one more, our televisions might implode from whack overload, and send out toxic airwaves that impede our ability to add fractions. But in all seriousness, one of the show’s most redeeming qualities is its ability to expand viewers’ minds by casting judges and choreographers that aren’t immediately recognizable to mainstream America.
Instead, they are talented figures that are well-respected in the dancing world. Am I wrong for feeling things should stay the way they are? (Just look how Ellen DeGeneres turned out last season.) As talented as she is, if we add a Paula, then, honestly, we’re getting into slippery slope territory — it would be just a matter of time until one of the Kardashian sisters graced the panel.