So You Think You Can Dance started with a panel of dance experts to find the best performers, including Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy. After 16 seasons, Lythgoe and Murphy were replaced by tWitch, JoJo Siwa, and Matthew Morrison, who was later replaced by Leah Remini. For the upcoming season, Allison Holker and Maksim Chmerkovskiy will be the new judges.
So You Think You Can Dance debuted on FOX and went through a series of judging changes, including the departure of Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy, and the replacement of Matthew Morrison with Leah Remini before enlisting Allison Holker and Maksim Chmerkovskiy as judges for the 18th season.
So You Think You Can Dance has been a staple of reality TV since it premiered on FOX in 2005. The show has featured a panel of dance experts who were tasked with finding the best up-and-coming performers. Nigel Lythgoe, who helped create the series, was a longtime judge on the show, but he announced his departure in March 2022. Mary Murphy, known for her enthusiastic “Hot Tamale Train” catchphrase, also left the show ahead of the 2022 season.
In their places, former contestant and All-Star mentor Stephen “tWitch” Boss, JoJo Siwa, and Matthew Morrison joined forces to judge the 2022 season. However, Morrison’s time on the show was short-lived after he was accused of sending “inappropriate” texts to a female contestant, leading to his exit from the series. He was replaced by “dance enthusiast” Leah Remini.
Looking ahead to the 2024 season, So You Think You Can Dance planned to bring in some new faces as judges, enlisting SYTYCD alum Allison Holker (Boss’ widow) and Dancing With the Stars veteran Maksim Chmerkovskiy. The show has gone through multiple lineup changes over the years, and the judges have played a crucial role in discovering the country’s next top dancer. To see a full list of SYTYCD judges through the years and why they left the show, scroll below.
