Mary Murphy Leaving "So You Think You Can Dance" after 11 Seasons
Jan 12, 2015
by Joyce Eng


The Hot Tamale Train is indeed leaving the station: Mary Murphy is exiting "So You Think You Can Dance" after her option was not renewed.

"I'm saddened of course to be released from my contract," Murphy said in a statement Monday. "I'm very grateful and proud to have been part of such an extraordinary television show, So You Think You Can Dance, for 11 seasons. I'm sure there wasn't a person watching that didn't know I loved what I did!!"

She added, "Thank you to the dancers and choreographers who inspired and enriched my life every week; to the crew and producers, especially James Breen, Jeff Thacker, and Nigel Lythgoe, I thank you for believing in me. And thank you to my fans, as you always put a smile on my face when I encountered you. It has been a great pleasure and honor to be part of the dance wave that went global."





Murphy's exit ends a month-long speculation about her status.

The Fox summer series was renewed for Season 12 in November, but just weeks later, reports surfaced that Fox was eyeing Paula Abdul to replace Murphy on the judging panel.

http://www.tvguide.com/News/Mary-Murphy-Leaving-SYTYCD-1092020.aspx

No a bright decision by the network. Mary is pretty much the heart & soul of the series. As much as I love Paula Abdul, she's dull in comparison to Mary's matchless energy and heart-felt emotion!

Paula Abdul and Jason Derulo Join "So You Think You Can Dance" as Judges
by Michael Slezak
January 22, 2015


The promise of a new day — or at least the woman who scored a big hit with that catchphrase — is officially coming to "So You Think You Can Dance".

Fox confirmed on Thursday the long-running rumor that choreographer-singer Paula Abdul will join the summer reality show’s Season 12 judging panel.





More unexpected was the network’s announcement that R&B star Jason Derulo will sit alongside Abdul and executive producer/head judge Nigel Lythgoe when SYTYCD returns to the air in May with a “Stage Dancers vs. Street Dancers” twist.

“With the new and exciting format comes a new and exciting panel of judges,” Lythgoe said in a release. “Paula is an incredible artist and she brings the perfect combination of expertise and heart to the panel. Jason’s insight, humor and creativity will add a new perspective to the panel that we haven’t had before.”





Paula Abdul famously served as a judge on "American Idol" from its debut all the way through Season 8 — and later judged Fox’s "The X Factor", shepherded her own short-lived competition series, "Live to Dance", and guested on SYTYCD.

Jason Derulo guest judged on SYTYCD last summer.

Their hiring comes on the heels of original SYTYCD judge Mary Murphy announcing her option had not been picked up for the show’s upcoming season.

http://tvline.com/2015/01/22/so-you-think-you-can-dance-paula-abdul-jason-derulo-season-12-judges/