There's been a lot of chatter this season about the changes to the judges' panel, namely the sabbatical of Mary Murphy, the addition of Mia Michaels as a "permanent" judge in her stead, and the choice not to have a rotating additional judge each week. At the beginning of the season, many people (myself included) were excited to see Mia return after her absence last season, and we looked forward to what she would bring to the panel. Many folks also lamented the loss of a rotating judge, but were willing to see how it would play out. So, how has it gone?
Hm. Well, I miss Mary. And I don't think I'm alone, judging by the comments to that effect on the Facebook and Fox SYTYCD pages. Who'da thunk we'd find ourselves longing for "the Hot Tamale Train" and her rollercoaster emotions bookended by rivers of tears and screams in a range generally heard only by dogs? But alas, we do miss her, and I'm afraid it's because her replacement hasn't lived up to expectations. On the contrary, Mia has been on the receiving end of some of the most viscerally scathing fan commentary for a wide range of behaviors this season, from incoherent, babbling feedback to inappropriate and often downright insulting critiques. With all due respect to Ms. Michaels, who I genuinely believe to be a brilliant choreographer, I have to agree that she's been the weak link in the judging chain this year, and I am hoping Season 8 will see her return to the studio and vacate her seat on the platform.
In my opinion, while the other criticisms generally have at least a kernel of validity, Mia's greatest offense has been that she has so obviously and indefensibly endorsed favorite contestants. (As an aside, kudos to Cat for calling her on it after the infamous Adechike Bollywood fiasco.) That not only harms the dancers in their development (because really, what has Jose learned, other than that a pretty smile goes a loooooooooong way?), but it also diminishes the credibility of the judging panel and ultimately the show. While Nigel, and to a much lesser degree Adam, have also been guilty of pandering to pet performers, it's not a giant leap (er, jete?) to think that it's Mia's influence that has changed the tenor of judging on the show this season. Would we really have seen no one go home last week if Mary had been the third judge? Or if the fourth judge hadn't been a true "guest," but one of the show's own choreographers? Mary may have been an emotional firestorm, but she respected the show's format and, for the most part, the voting audience's contribution.
So I'm really hoping she returns next season. (Of course, I'm also hoping they'll decide to incorporate audience/voter feedback, by, say, appointing a "fan judge," but I digress.) What about you?
I agree. I really wish Mia would choreograph again. She's a genius choreographer and her comments may be well intended but what comes out out of her mouth needs to be censored by her brain. I like Adam well enough but I miss the varying opinions of different judges. I kinda like what they've been doing the past 2 weeks with a rotating guest judge and keep Nigel and Adam. I can only take Mary in small doses and not all season. They should have a contest or something and have a "fan judge" rotate in one week. Something like that....
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