Paula Abdul and Carrie Bickmore to front revived So You Think You Can Dance
Paula Abdul
Channel Ten has revealed more details of its plans to revive dance competition show So You Think You Can Dance.
The show, produced by News Corp’s Shine Australia, will return to the network next year after a four year break with a new lineup of presenters, judges and talent.
Previously hosted by Natalie Bassingthwaighte, the show ran for three seasons until 2010 when ratings averaged at around 1m. The new version will feature US singer Paula Abdul and Carrie Bickmore of The Project.
During the series break Ten introduced a new dance show, Everybody Dance Now, fronted by Sarah Murdoch. The show was a ratings disaster dropping from 598,000 viewers from the premiere to 300,000 for the third episode and it was dropped by the network.
Carrie Bickmore
Ten announced the return of So You Think You Can dance in July.
However Ten’s chief programming officer Beverley McGarvey has high hopes for So You Think You Can Dance and said the show – now in its 11th season in the US – will be “one of the big entertainment television events of 2014”.
“Paula is a global entertainment industry legend: singer, dancer, choreographer, songwriter, actor and star of blockbuster television shows such as American Idol. She knows dance better than anyone else and is the perfect judge for So You Think You Can Dance Australia,” McGarvey said.
Abdul will be joined on the judging panel by choreographers Jason Gilkinson, Aaron Cash and Shannon Holtzapffel.
“Paula is the perfect complement to Jason, Shannon and Aaron, three Australians who have built impressive international reputations as dancers and choreographers, here and overseas,” said McGarvey.
“Carrie is one of the most popular people on Australian television. Few people know she is also trained in ballet. Carrie will bring to the show warmth, humour and a keen sense of what the dancers are experiencing.”
Abdul said: “Aussie dancers are without a doubt some of the best in the world, and it is an honour for me to be a part of finding Australia’s best dancer.”
Megan Reynolds
Carrie Bickmore is too mumsy and old for this role. It’s Sarah Murdoch Everybody Dance Now redux. Surely they can find a new host and not recycle Bickmore, perhaps it’s a 2 for 1 budget choice! More stupidity from Ch 10.
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THIS is how Ten are going to crawl out of the shit and back into ratings? Shows like this are the reason Ten is in it’s current predicament.
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@Mark. Carrie is 32 years old…she’s younger than hosts of the show in most other countries. Adding to that fact, she is, as the article reads, one of the most popular people on TV. I think she will be great for the show!
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