Reality Ravings

In February this year I wrote a blog that Bonnie Lythgoe and Nigel were going to reconcile. They had split after 33 years of marriage and Nigel had been doing the wild thing with plastic fantastic Priscilla Presley. I am not alleging marital infidelity.

I thought this had all gone pear shaped when it was revealed he may have been having a dalliance with Sophie Monk..

However in interview today in Sydney Confidential (sorry at this stage I cannot find the link) Bonnie Lythgoe is again saying by appearing on So You Think You Can Dance Australia she has saved her marriage.

She said " Without question I have found myself..... that is what I needed to do because when you have such a high profile husband you work so hard in you own right but can be left behind in the shadows," Lythgoe told TV editor Erin Mc Whirter.

""Now I am my own person again, that has helped [our relationship]."

"It's great for Nigel because I am not whining or moaning any more. If I don't agree I say so. I have found my voice again."

Nigel is in Australia to see his family who live on the Gold Coast, and also to hold a reunion of sorts with his wife. He will also record a guest spot on the local dance show.

"He is a very big part of my life and always will be" she said. "Nigel is in Australia at the moment and I am seeing him tomorrow. It will be a great moment and I can't wait to work with him again, because we work well together."

Nothing in what she was saying indicates they are back together, but I get the feeling she would like them to be. Maybe Nigel his happy to keep things this way as he may not want to divorce her as there would be a significant property settlement.

Sydney auditions are at the Overseas Passenger Terminal this weekend.

The Bitching From Make Me A Supermodel Continues - Keep It Coming Girls.
Sheridan Seekamp who was eliminated last night Make Me Supermodel decided to give a last swipe at Kassie.

She said "Luke had a crack but I wasn't interested.... I thinks that's why Kassie hated me so much."

Does she mean Kassie hated her because she rejected Luke, Kassie's own paramour or that Kassie hated her because Luke had shown interest in her?

Am I going to spend anymore time thinking about it? NO.

Is Ruby Rose the female equivalent of Shane Warne?
Actually I don't think so. But the mainstream media thinks that if she is hanging out with a girl she must be sleeping with the - because really every girl now has been brainwashed by that Kate Perry song.

The latest rumour involves third place getter from Australia's Next Top Model Samantha Downie when they turn up to the Rolling Stone Party together. Of course Sam has form due to her kiss with Leiden Kronemberger on the show.

Anyway it is all bollocks Sam has a boyfriend in Melbourne, though for how much longer is unclear as an agent from Milan has shown interest in the photogenic Samantha.

Syd Confidential has the full story.

Natalie Bassingthwaite To Launch Solo Album in November.
So You Think You Can Dance Australia host Natalie Bassingthwaite will be juggling her SYTYCD duties with promoting her new solo album.

Apparently going solo was harder then she thought it would be.

Auditions for the show are currently occurring around Australia. Details here. Apparently Bonnie Lythgoe will be on the judging panel again this year. Is this part of her divorce settlement?

Micheal Johns From American Idol Media Clips Whilst In Australia.
Considering this years season of American Idol was only shown on Fox 8, Michael Johns appears to have plenty of fans here.

His fan site Michael Johns Online/ has clips from Kerry Ann Kennerley and his performance on the Sunrise program.

He is hotter then any of the male contestants we have on this years Idol. Apologies to the eight year old Tom Williams fans.

Greatest Conspiracy Blog Ever on SYTYCD.
Marndizz Goss Blog has this great theory on how So You Think You Can Dance was a scam. Now I am a conspiracy theorist but this person beats me hands down.

Her theory which goes into some detail, says the she did not even think the final was live, as there were no public tickets available, which is unusual for those type of show.

She also raises how the routine prior to the announcement of the winner was the one between Jack and Rhys, and how the girls had not had a similar dance together. I have to pay that.

Anthony Ikin Tore Shoulder Muscle - So Had An Excuse For Bad Disco Routine In Finale

It was reported yesterday that Anthony Ikin tore his shoulder muscle right at the start of Laura and his disco routine. Which would explain a lot as it looked pretty shoddy. Poor bugger as Laura is probably the biggest (tallest) girl in the competition to lift. Her part of the routine was not to good, but then she was probably wondering if she was going to get dropped doing the lifts.

Nigel Lythgoe told Bonnie Lythgoe Not To Dance In Group Dance at the Finale.

Now this was a spurious rumour that was posted by a reader on http://www.bloggingsytycd.blogspot.com/. It said that Nigel told Bonnie not to dance in the routine as she would make a fool of herself. Nice to know that even after their separation he is still trying to reduce her self esteem.

Interview with Rhys here

Interview with Jack Chambers here he states the person he would turn straight for would be Beyonce - I cannot get that image out of my head, she would squash him.

Interview with Demi here and one with Kate here.

So You Think You Can Dance - Jason Gilkison to replace Bonnie tonight.
The SYTYCD panel will be without Bonnie Lythgoe tonight as she has a family commitment to attend to.

Her replacement will be Jason Gilkison. It will be interesting to see what another person has to say. Also I hope this means he does the group number for Monday night's elimination show.

Rob Mills Former Australian Idol Contestant Has Scored a Lead Role in Wicked.
Wicked now has two former Australian Idol contestants in the cast. Rob Mills will play the lead male role Fiyero.

Anthony Callea will also be playing a taller then usual munchkin. The show opens in Melbourne in July.

Project Runway Style guru Tim Gunn May be Here for The Logies.
The organisers of the Logies have stopped shipping in D grade American TV stars, and are now trying to get US reality TV stars. In my opinion this is a definite step up on the TV food chain.

US Project Runway style guru Tim Gunn is going to try and "make it work" so he can visit Australia as a special guest for the TV Week Logie Awards.

Unfortunately he probably won't be commentating on the red carpet.

If the timing was right he could have a guest appearance on the Australian version of the show as it starts filiming in Melbourne at that time.

The show to be hosted by Kristy Hinze, still has not locked in the judging panel.

Auditions are still ongoing . Lining up for their chance in Sydney were Aung Thu Ya and Emily Hubble.

The Melbourne Herald Sun has a very revealing article with Bonnie Lythgoe, judge from So You Think You Can Dance Australia highlighting why her marriage to Nigel Lythgoe fell apart.

If she is hoping for a reconciliation (which I thought was on the cards) she may have wanted to be a bit more circumspect.

Some quotes from the article:

• Lythgoe says Nigel liked being the leader and so her career always came
  second to his. ‘‘He's denied me a lot of roles and ... it saddens me, because
  I'm so supportive of him and just wanted him to give me that same support back
  and he didn't,'' she says.
• Lythgoe says her husband didn't seem to want her to
  be on the SYTYCD judging panel and would cut her off mid-sentence, leaving her
  feeling insecure and full of self-doubt.
• ‘‘The good thing with Nigel is that he can do a show with me and at the end of the day he can walk away and forget about it,'' she says. ‘‘I couldn't. I was taking it home with me and I was getting more and more upset and more and more frustrated.''
  
• Lythgoe says Nigel's growing fame made their rift worse.
• ‘‘I need somebody to put their arms around me and love me just for me,'' she says. ‘‘We all need to be told that we're loved and Nigel kind of didn't have the time. Though I knew he loved me, he didn't have the time for me. ‘
• ‘We used to go out for dinner, and I'm a real romantic, some candles and a nice glass of wine mean everything to me. Nigel's on the phone half the night making this person feel OK or that person feel OK. Well what about me? I want to feel OK too. It was a problem for me.
• ‘‘Sometimes I'd be on his arm and I felt like Mrs Cellophane. They'd look right through me. I was just nobody.''
• Lythgoe says it was only after she found independent success as a judge on the UK series E4 School of Performing Arts that she felt confident enough to work on SYTYCDA.
• ‘‘I'd been knocked down so much by Nigel that I got to the stage where I thought I was probably not very good,'' she says.’’So I did this E4 series and I just grew and grew and felt so comfortable. It gave me the most amazing confidence.''
• Lythgoe now hopes that her success on SYTYCDA may help to reunite her with her husband.

Full article here

I like her honesty, but I am not sure what Nigel would think if he read the article.

Bonnie Lythgoe a judge in So You Think You Can Dance Australia said in an article in the Sunday Telegraph, that her and her separated husband Nigel Lythgoe, the popular judge from the US version of the show may be reconciling.

Earlier this year they had separated after 33 years of marriage, and Nigel had even been seeing the Priscilla Presley, who I think looks like a Stepford Wife with all the surgery she has had.

Bonnie said she remained optimistic about their future together.
"I needed a new challenge and to not just be in Nigel's shadow all the time," Bonnie said.

"It was always the question on So You Think You Can Dance in America: is she doing it because she's good or because she's married to Nigel?"

Lythgoe denied she had left the US series - on which she worked as an audition judge and producer - as a result of the pair's separation. "We get on pretty well and always worked well together."

"Part of the reason we've gone our own ways is work commitments. He's so involved with America, there was just not enough time for us and that was the problem.

"To be honest, me being out here has done us the world of good. He's ringing me every day and it's kind of knitted us back together."

Well I hope it works out for them as they both seem like nice people.

Another newspaper appears to picked up the story so here is the link.

Expect to see masses of hype this week to coincide with the start of the Australian series of So You Think You Can Dance.

The Guide in the SMH are first to kick it off this week. The article states Channel Ten have indicated they will stay pretty faithful to the US format.

"We felt it was worth a punt," says Ten's head of programming, David Mott. "Actually, another network had the format but let it lapse. Maybe that was for a good reason, as I think that was the network that went with Dancing With The Stars. But we thought maybe there was something in it.
"The overseas version rated about a million for us. So we engaged Fremantle Media, because of the great job they've done with Idol, and we've stayed pretty faithful to the format."

Another interesting tidbit from the article was that another TV channel had had rights to the show but did not use them. The elude that it was Channel 7 who concentrated on their high rating Dancing With the Stars.

Also they state that Bonnie Lythgoe won't play the hanging judge like her (?ex) husband Nigel Lythgoe does in the US. That role will go to the Jason Coleman, who has had a host of choreography experience.

Also they have been surprised at the dancing depth Australia has produced. So it should be a great series.

Just as I was pontificating when the Oz So You Think You Can Dance promotion machine would commence to try and push the American Idol media hogging out of the way - The Age has published an interview with Bonnie Lythgoe who is currently have a holiday in Thailand. Bonnie is one of the three judges on the up coming Australian version of So You Think You Can Dance.

A couple of interesting things she said:
1. The quality of dancing is good, and she thinks the Australian top 20 would give the US top 20 a run for their money.

2. Lythgoe has noticed a distinct difference in presentation between the US and Australian contenders. She said:

"The Americans are very forceful and really love themselves, and good or bad they will try and make you believe that you love them. Australians hold back. They're not sure if they're good enough as dancers and they're very sensitive, and sometimes I have to push them. But they are hungry. It's very refreshing to see your kind of dancers that are down-to-earth and honest and want it very badly."

In other So You think You Can Dance News ebroadcast has biographies of the judges and the choreographers . It is a good article to whet the appetite with just over a week to go to showtime!

So You Think You Can Dance will commence on Sunday 3 February at 7.30pm

Pop Republic TV a free mag and internet site has an interview with the Bonnie Lythgoe, Jason Coleman, and Matt Lee the judges of the Australian version of So You Think You Can Dance.

The show will commence on 1 February 2008.

They say it is going to be just as good as the US show!

Full article here in the mag. Unfortunately PDF so you will have to download the magazine.

http://www.poprepublic.tv/popjan08.pdf

Channel 10 has released footage which shows some of the dancers who auditioned for Australia's version of So You Think You Can Dance.

It looks hot, hot, hot and I wonder if any on this tape will end up being in the final 20.

This tantalising look just continues to whet my appetite for this fantastic show.

So You Think You Can Dance looks like it is going to be huge here when it starts in February following on from the increase in ratings the US version received here this season.

Jason Coleman looks like he will be the outspoken judge, and Bonnie Lythgoe just looked gorgeous.

Check it out here.

TV week online edition has an excellent article which strongly hinted that Mad Mary Murphy may come to Sydney to be a guest judge on Australia's version of So You Think You Can Dance.

I so hope so, I think it would be a great boost to our Australian debut season of So You Think You Can Dance.

Come on down Mary and bring that hot tamale train with you!

It is great to see the producers of this show are taking the antipodean series seriously. We have Bonnie Lythgoe as judge.

Nigel just about confirming he will also be a guest judge. Nigel and Bonnie's son lives on the Gold Coast, and apparently they have visited often to see their grandchildren.

It would be great if Mia Micheals, and Wade Robson come out as well both for the viewing audience and the top 20 dancers.

With the American version ending tomorrow night, at least we won't have to wait long for the Australian version to commence in February 2008.

So You Think You Can Dance audition train has hit Sydney this weekend. It is at the Sydney Entertainment Centre, hopefully the people queuing are not getting too soaked.

More info on audition process here.

The judges are Bonnie Lythgoe, she was a judge in the American version on So You Think You Can Dance, however did not make it to the second season as a judge, but was still a producer. Was this when their marriage started falling apart?

I think she is great already.

Matt Lee and Jason Coleman - A quick Q&A about them is on Channel 10 website . Never heard of these do, however I hope they are not a pair of bitchy queens. There should only be one on these shows.

The Adelaide auditions put a handful of dancers through to Sydney (which is Australia's equivalent of getting through to Vegas) and five more through after the afternoon choreography sessions. So Adelaide may just reach double figures in their representation.

Photos from Melbourne, perth, and brisbane. Looks like a weird and wonderful bunch, cannot wait to see the actual footage.

Go Sydney I hope the dancers do really well.

Just as the American So You Think You Can Dance is about to finish. The Australian one is just beginning.

This weekend the auditions hit Sydney, and this will be the city they will expect to give them a lot of talent.

I have decided I already like Bonnie Lythgoe, after an article I read in the Sun Herald. She was full and frank about her separation from head honcho Nigel Lythgoe.

To summarise what she said, as I interpreted it:

• When she was a judge on Season 1 she felt she could not be herself and was stifled;
• Nigel is a workaholic and it was good to be out of his shadow;
• She auditioned for the Australian show and won it herself (not sure about that claim);
• Nigel is admiring the new independent Bonnie; and calls her five times a day.

You go girl I now bequeath you are the No 1 member of the "I am no longer an invisible wife" club, what a way to make plastic Priscilla Presley worried. Last item I read was that Nigel and Priscilla had been making out in a restaurant. I don't mean to be ageist but that is just wrong.

The first part of tonight's episode was filler where they showed more audition pieces that supposedly had not been shown before. The gay tap dancing cowboy was a highlight. However it does raise the issue of whether TV shows such as this and Idol should exploit people auditioning who have obvious mental health issues.

Frank was one such case. He claimed to be a geneticist, and the highlight of his life was Anna-Nicole coming to his 25th birthday party.

Then he went onto say he still spoke to her. Obviously was more then just kooky. I don't see any value in havingpeople like this shown for their so called comic value. The producers are just mocking them.

To give the judges credit they did handle the situation sensitively. If Simon Cowell, or Mark Holden had been in the same scenario I think it would have been ugly.

Cat Deeley wore a sequin mini number, but appeared to be channelling Madonna in Desperately Seeking Susan with some very bad roots. These had disappeared by the elimination episode.

The guest judge tonight was Debbie Allen, who I thought would again be trying to plug her Debbie Allen Dance Academy, however I only heard it once. Maybe she did not want to be trapped handing out another scholarship like the one to Cedric.

Lacey & Pasha were paired up to do a Hip Hop number with Lacey a mannequin. It was so controlled. I thought they both did a brilliant job and it was my second favourite dance of the night. I think Lacey is going to be hard to beat.

Danny & Laura did a Mia Michaels contemporary number. Which as usual was to a high standard, however I did not think it showed off Danny's dancing enough. The dance was to a Celine Dion number with a lot of running around it ended in a titanicesque moment with them leaning over a balcony.

Neil & Sabre dance the best routine of the night with a Jazz number. It was oh so '80's, and reminded me of a sexed up Thomas Dolby video clip. When Neil did that plange over Sabre on the table my stomach dropped. It was soooooo sexy and intense.

Neil flew under the radar with me for most of the series but once he stopped partnering Lauren I thought he has been hot, hot, hot.

Lacey & Pasha second dance was the smooth waltz. I call this the death dance, as most people get eliminated after these routines, as there is no pizazz type moves that make people pick up the phone to vote. Yes it was lovely and they looked fabulous together. The song ended with their heads together, I surprised Lacey did not attempt to try and go for the snog! Pasha is so gorgeous.

Danny & Lauren danced a disco number, again I did not think it showed off Danny's talent. It was a fun number, but I have seen better disco this season. Lauren annoys me as her facial expression never changes throughout the routine. If she does not win she should go for some sort of toothpaste endorsement as her teeth are so blindingly white.

Last up were Neil and Sabre dancing the Pase Doble. Neil was like a gothic matador in black leather pants, and Sabre was in a fire engine read flamenco type outfit. Needless to say she looked wonderful.

The ending was sensational when she fell down his body to the floor. Her gymnastic training has meant she has done some wonderful original moves this season.

The elimination episode showed Lil C and his posse do some krumping straight from South Central 'hood. To me it is all poses mainly to do with crotch grabbing and pulling to big jeans up. I think I prefer traditional hip hop more.

First girl into the finale was Lacey, and first boy was Danny, ironic that last year her brother was the winner, and Danny's brother was the runner-up.

Then they did this weird clear the studio thing as the show was not live, and they did not want who had won leaked. So when Lauren was told she was eliminated it was only the gaffer clapping. So in a difficult moment for Lauren there were no fans able to cheer for her and boost her ego.

Again the same was for Pasha. Clearly he was a favourite with the ladies, whilst Mary was bawling, Cat was mauling him. You go girl.

Final four are Lacey, Sabre, Neil, and Danny. It is interesting this year as I don't think there is not clear winner as Benji was last year. If I had to make a bet I would say Lacey, but if I was voting I would be voting for Neil.

In the worst kept secret in TV land, it was announced that Natalie Bassingwaite would host the Australia's version of So You Think You Can Dance. Natalie a Neighbours success story, is also the lead singer of the Rogue Traders, a band which has some similarities to late '80's band Transvision Vamp.

Natalie was spotted doing the rehearsing for her new gig by doing the warm up for the Australian Idol acoustic night.

The judges are going to be Bonnie Lythgoe, Nigel Lythogoe's ex-wife - was this part of the divorce settlement? Does this mean Nigel will now not be a guest judge on the series. Bonnie has previously been a judge on the first season of So You Think You Can Dance. However has not appeared since, maybe that was when the marriage started breaking down.

They seperated earlier this year after being together for over two decades, and Nigel Lythgoe is currently dating plastic surgery addict Priscilla Presley. Credit must be given for him dating someone of his generation rather then a 20 something blonde as some men do once they split with their first wives.

Jason Coleman and Matt Lee will also be judges on the show. Further details including copy of the Channel 10 press release are here

It is unclear whether the judges will rotate as they do in the American series.