That's the core problem, IMO - people will vote for New Dancer Y because she's partnered with Danny, or whatever.

The other totally killer partner was Jakob. He made every single woman he danced with look wonderful (i.e. Fug Princess and Tween Terror both!)

I thought that Kathryn did a good job as a partner, too. She carried Legacy into the Top 8, and even made the Other Tween Terror look good in the "Choreography" Broadway number.

Jakob would be heaven. Kathryn would be good, too. She worked miracles with Legacy. I want to make a list of dancers from each season who I'd love to see back.

Another reason I'm iffy on this innovation is that the all stars will only be dancing in their own styles and half the fun of this show is watching the kids really stretch and grow and push themselves to be better dancers. Half the fun of someone like Josh, say, was watching this guy who was primarily a hip hop specialist tear it up in Bollywood or do a gorgeous waltz or be so amazing in a Mia contemporary. Josh in hip hop is great, but i'd want more than just that from him.

I think a lot of the low ratings last season had to do with the ill advised attempt to do back-to-back seasons.

What Kat said.

I agree Kat.

Also the judges will be eliminating until the finale. I wonder why they are giving the judges so much power when we are down to the top 10 anyway. Any spec regarding why Mia is back and Mary is doing choreo? I thought Mia abruptly leaving last season was bad news.

Anyone know what SYTYCD's ratings were in the summer? I thought they weren't that great bug I could be wrong.

Nigel's Twitter:

I am thrilled that representing the various dance genres of Popping, Locking, Krump etc in the All-Stars Dance-Pool from Season 4 is TWITCH!

Ugh.

I like Twitch, but why would you not choose Russell? He is your current SYTYCD champion, right? Or why not Josh? He is your S4 SYTYCD champion, right? The same season that Twitch was on. And lost. To Joshua. This is exactly what I feared would happen.

Because I'm way too obssessed with this show and needed a reason to procrastinate on work tasks I just don't want to do, I wrote up who I'd like to see in an All Stars pools from each season going all the way back to S1 which I will now share with all of you so you, too, can procrastinate. Who would you choose for your All Stars pool?

Season One

This is the season that time (and the show) forgot, but it was actually really, really good with high quality dancing and great choreography. It was a short season, there were only 16 finalists, and I’d be glad to see almost half of them among the All Star stable.

Contemporary

Nick – Even though he turned out to be kind of a divo (and apparently kind of a dick if the scuttlebutt is to be believed) post show, this fool can dance his butt off. He is one of the greatest turners in SYTYCD history. I’d place him right behind Danny/Blake and Travis. He could do almost any genre. His disco with Kamilah is still one of the best of the entire series. He’s just good.

Blake – The bitch serves every time. And he has a little dog that will poop in your room. And he’s danced with JLo and been on her horrid MTV show about dancers’ lives. And the bitch serves. Every. Time.

Ashle – She was like the after thought in the very first final four, but she’s really, really good. I love her dancing in Mia’s final four piece for her and the original HMV, Melody. She was versatile and always a pleasure to watch.

Destini – I would want her but as a hip hop dancer, not as a contemporary dancer. Although she was always really quite lovely paired with Blake. She was the original big girl dancer, long before Donyelle burst on the scene. And she and Jamile absolutely destroyed a Shane Sparks hip hop number. I mean, the routine was ridiculous. Homegirl has a stripper split which would make Michael Steele drop serious cash.

Hip Hop

Jamile – Made it all the way to the finale and came in third which made me so mad when they tried to pretend like Twitch and Josh were the first hip hop boys ever to make it as far as they did. The show can pretend all it wants that S1 doesn’t exist and there never was such a creature as a Lauren Sanchez, but those of us who know, know. Anyway, Jamile was great.

Kamilah – Great partner. Great dancer. Sexy and saucy. She was incredibly versatile, not that it would matter in this all star format where she’d be trapped in the hip hop ghetto. I actually don’t think any of their current stable of hip hop choreographers would know what to do with her.

Ballroom

Artem – The original hot Russian, and one of Mary’s first boytoys. He was an amazing dancer. Great partner.

Season Two

Great, great season. My second favorite. It was also the season that ushered in the permanent until top 10 partnerships, which I enjoyed when it resulted in something as fabulous as Benji and Donyelle, but hated when it resulted in someone like Ivan getting saved week after week by having a fabulous partner like Allison and then outlasting her. No! It’s just wrong. And of course, this season was also the birth of the shipping. Dear god, the shipping. How I hate it! Benjelle? Really? Again, I say no. But there were some fabulous dancers.

Contemporary

Travis – Travis Frikkin’ Wall!

Donyelle – She was a chameleon. She made Benji a better dancer. She held it down for the “big” girls everywhere even though in the real, non-crazy world she’s not big at all. She’s fierce.

Allison – I don’t think there’s anything she can’t do. She’s a gorgeous dancer and it still rankles that she went home before Ivan, although that did lead to the best dance out ever with Allison and Travis Frikkin’ Wall. She’s dancing circles around Ivan in Why (which is Tasty not Mia, even though everyone always thinks it’s Mia). And of course, Ivan got all the credit for making that piece great. Feh. Allison rules.

Natalie – I loved her from the moment she got someone to fly her in a private plane to the auditions. She was so sassy. And she danced practically half the season with a bum knee and turned it out every single time. She survived Dan Karaty, y’all! That’s something.

Ben – He went out way early and he was a quirky little thing to boot (and kind of funny looking). But this kid was the truth. If you look closely at the pre-dance clips, you’ll see him assisting several of the current choreographers. He’s a beautiful dancer.

Hip Hop

Musa – He could pop a little, break a little, he was a very complete hip hop dancer. And he turned out to be a solid partner for Natalie. He could’ve easily been overpowered by her because she was so good and so dynamic, but he really held his own.

Ballroom

Benji – One of the best partners ever on the show. And whatever you feel about the personality or the mugging for the camera, he is one of the dancers who showed the most growth over the course of a season. And from the jump, too. Too Much Booty is one of the best first week routines ever.

Heidi – This smoosh faced girl really grew on me. By the time she and Travis did the bench dance, I was really loving Heidi. And again, she’s just an awesome partner. Any guy getting her as an all star for a latin ballroom routine would be getting a real prize.

Dmitri – Hot Russian 2.0. And he’s an amazing choreographer as well. Two for the price of one.

Season Three

Oh, how I love S3. More than I can even say. I’d take more than half of the dancers from that season as All Stars any day of the week. Best season ever.

Contemporary

Danny – My favorite dancer of any season. He’s gorgeous. I could watch him all day.

Neil – Yes, I would even take the Hunchback. I know! This little troll grew on me. I don’t think he had any business being in the final 4. Pasha was robbed. But you just know that Nigel is going to throw some undeserving fan favorites up in the mix and he is by far the least objectionable candidate. And who knows? Maybe he’s actually learned how to pull up by now.

Jesus – My sweet Chuy. He’s so good, y’all. Triplets of Belleville is Wade at his best, and Chuy really laid it down in that, and all of his other routines. It’s criminal that he didn’t make top 10 while folks like Kam and Dom skated through on the backs of their partners.

Ricky – Criminal that he went home week one instead of Cedric. Criminal that they ever even paired him with that giant Ashlee and then had her twirl him around in that Tango like a little doggie chew toy. I shared Mia’s outrage. He’s a lovely dancer and we never got to see all that he could really do.

Sabra – She really did have a spark. I don’t think she should’ve won, but she certainly should be an all star. So versatile. So light on her feet. Such expression in her movement. And now we won’t have to hear all about how she’s only been dancing for 2.5 seconds and isn’t it amazing? She can just come on and dance and be great.

Jaime – Her personality is incredibly annoying but watching her dance is a joy. She has great extension and exquisite body control. The Hummingbird is still one of my favorite dances.

Shauna – She had one of the best “dance for your life” moments ever. Super talented girl who had the misfortune to be paired with Cedric. I don’t wish Cedric ill, but he really was not ready for the show and Shauna paid the price. Imagine surviving Jimmy only to wind up with Cedric. Wow.

Hip Hop

Hok – Best breaker ever on the show. Just look at his work with Qwest post show. Phenomenal.

Sara – She’s not a B-girl, even though the show tried to bill her as such. I’d want her in the all star stable as a contemporary dancer. That said, she’s great. Versatile, tons of personality, a solid partner. Love this girl.

Ballroom

Pasha – My favorite of all the hot Russians! I just adore Pasha from Russia. He’s a great dancer, great choreographer. No matter what, he’s going to showcase his partner and make her look good. And he’s a cutie patootie!

Lacey – Just as polarizing as her brother, but she’s a much better dancer than he is. Lacey is no joke. And she’s a terrific partner and a capable choreographer.

Anya – Maybe the best latin dance girl ever on the show. This girl is sex. And again, another choreographer and she’ll always, always know how to make the man look like a strong lead even if she’s having to basically commandeer the floor.