Jordan Strauss/Getty ImagesNigel Lythgoe is a tease!
The So You Think You Can Dance executive producer got us all excited last week when he tweeted, "All you Paula Abdul fans please check out next Monday's show." So, we waited tonight, with bated breath, for the erstwhile American Idol judge to pop up on tonight's installment of So You Think You Can Dance...but we waited in vain.
Instead of delivering the real deal, Nigel presented only an empty judge's chair with Paula's name on it, saying, "I've asked somebody to come along and be a guest judge whenever they can, so I've asked [the crew] to put a chair next to me just in case [Paula Abdul] ever turns up. It'd be lovely to see her. I'm putting the pressure on her!" OK then. (This is apparently Nigel's passive-aggressive version of emotional blackmail.)
Still, even with the Paula Abdul anticlimax leading off the episode, tonight's first-ever showcase show was a doozy, and we must discuss what went down, as well as a little late-breaking (and tragic) news about this season's top 20.
The sad news is that Billy Bell, whose Vegas solo made the judges cry and who danced in Mandy Moore's dreamy jazz number tonight, has dropped out of the competition due to illness. Brandon Dumlao will replace him. Nigel Lythgoe released a statement about Bell's exit, saying, "We are disappointed that Billy cannot continue dancing in the competition on the advice of his doctor and wish him a speedy recovery."
Fansite SYTYCDISM posted what is said to be an official statement from Billy and his family. The statement read (in part): "Billy was devastated when his doctors told the show that if he continued to dance on the show before he recovered, he could possibly die." Eek! The exact nature of Billy's could-be-fatal illness remains undisclosed.
Now, about the actual show: We have questions for you. Take our showcase show poll below, because we're dying to know what you thought!
So You Think You Can Dance Oct. 26 Poll
For what it's worth, the hip-hop was our favorite number (you can't beat the combo of Russell, Legacy and Kevin Hunte), and we think that tapper Bianca Revels continues to have more charisma than the next 10 competitors combined (assuming that next 10 does not include slightly spazzy Mollee Gray).
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Want to see more of the top 20? Click through our SYTCYD season six gallery!