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TWoP 10: So You Think You Can Dance Guest Judges

On this season of So You Think You Can Dance, a famous face has graced the judging panel for every live show. Overall, we were impressed by the quality of these mostly articulate celebs who seemed to be genuine fans of the franchise and who were able to actually spout opinions instead of just clap like seals. So we've ranked the special guests (though not the choreographers who were plucked to be on the panel, because we'd never be able to decide between Lil 'C and Travis Wall) to determine who was the best this summer.

10. Megan Mullally
She started out strong with talk of leg extensions and then devolved into a puddle of "wows" after a Travis Wall routine. And we personally blame her indecision during the elimination round as a contributing factor to four people going home in one brutal sweep. Nigel, too, but mostly Megan.

9. Robin Antin
Technically, she was a choreographer and shouldn't be on this list, but she didn't really do much in the way of choreography (we're not counting her Dance Day routine) but instead was a "famous" face who used the show as a casting call. Listen up, Robin: this is not The Pussycat Dolls Present, It's So You Think You Can Dance, where dancers do more than just gyrate in their underwear (most of the time at least).

8. Carmen Electra
She didn't have as much experience as some of the other panelists with the dancing (her performances with the Pussycat Dolls form the bulk of it), and said things like "Dag, girl, you were poppin' so hard!" Still, she was largely inoffensive.

7. Katie Holmes
She knows a thing or two about dance and is highly familiar with the show and the dancers -- as well as Saturday Night Fever. She was excited to be there (or perhaps just to be allowed out of the house on her own), but she could have been a bit more critical instead of spending time admiring the fashions.

6. Debbie Reynolds
The classically trained dancer spent the entire night hitting on some of the attractive young male dancers, basically trying to convince them to come home with her. Not that we blame her at all.

5. Christina Applegate
Her major dance credit seems to be Sweet Charity on Broadway, but she tapped into the emotional dimension when she talked about how Sasha destroyed her with a quiet movement of her fingers. She also made us laugh with her talk of whacking and dropped crotches -- we're always suckers for saucy innuendos.

4. Neil Patrick Harris
He was almost a perfect judge, and had he been on before Jesse Tyler Ferguson, he probably would have been a notch or two higher on this list. He did a great job and was both eloquent and critical, but he just lacked the humor that the Modern Family star brought. We like our judges to appear to really enjoying themselves.

3. Lady Gaga
We were expecting the worst when we saw the sunglasses and the Sgt. Peppers get-up, but she was hypercritical and actually put together some amazing critiques. And she threw a shoe! That's something we've never seen before on this show. But we loved her even more when she dissed Tabitha and Napoleon's hip hop choreography. Way to know your stuff, Gaga.

2. Jesse Tyler Ferguson
He took time out from the show to express how badly Miss Deeley deserved an Emmy nomination (which she received the next day, finally), proposed to Clarice (even though they both have boyfriends) and was utterly adorable and witty with his critiques. And he was such a super fan that we just wanted to squeeze him.

1. Kristin Chenoweth
It was a close race between Cheno and JTF for this top spot, but given that Kristin can often come off -- how shall we say this nicely -- annoying, she was pretty great here. She was self-deprecating, conscious of not sounding "like a Paula" and her "shut the front door" monologue gave Cat fodder for the rest of the season. And she made out with Lil' C, which is something we never saw coming.

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30 Comments

August 12, 2011 9:45 AM
S
Reply

Katie Holmes @ #7... really? She told Marko SHE LIKED HIS JUMP.

August 12, 2011 12:05 PM
sb
Reply

katie holmes was the worst!

August 12, 2011 12:28 PM
Faith
Reply

I'd have to put Katie Holmes at either #9 or #10 (Megan Mullaly's indecision was really brutal), and JTF should definitely be #1.

August 12, 2011 12:38 PM
annabelle
Reply

I never thought I'd ever be defending Carmen Electra, but I thought she had fairly extensive dance background as compared to some of the others. I'm just saying.

August 12, 2011 12:52 PM
violetr
Reply

Katie Holmes was easily the worst!

August 12, 2011 1:04 PM
Tonya
Reply

Katie Holmes shouldn't even be on this list, she was useless and had no business judging on this show, much less on the finale.

August 12, 2011 1:11 PM
burgh-girl
Reply

I love Kristen Chenoweth, BUT, she was a little too Mary Murphy for me at times. I would place NPH and JTF as my top 2. I was surprised that I liked Carmen Electra. She knew her limitations, but still had more knowledge of dance than, oh, Katie Holmes. Someone I watched with though Mrs. Cruisebot was fed key phrases to use throughout her critiques.

August 12, 2011 1:13 PM
burgh-girl
Reply

Gaga subtly but obviously dissing the NappyTabs (yuck, did I write that) choreography was THE best panel moment of the season!!!

August 12, 2011 1:32 PM
Nina
Reply

Katie Holmes BY FAR the worst, but your top 5 are all equally worthy.

August 12, 2011 2:30 PM
cat
Reply

Ugh...I couldn't decide who was worse - Holmes or Chenowith.

August 12, 2011 3:33 PM
Jill
Reply

"Kristin can often come off -- how shall we say this nicely -- annoying"

I'd say you put it EXTREMELY nicely.

August 12, 2011 3:59 PM
Alli
Reply

Angel, were you watching the same show I was on Wednesday? I emphatically agree with many here that Katie Holmes should have been - without a doubt - the bottom of this list. I realize that both Rob Marshall and Kenny Ortega are both technically choreographers, but that hasn't been their bread and butter for so long they should have been counted here for the slaughter. (Really, both were pretty useless)

And as much as I love Chenowith, JTF should have taken first place. He was funny, adorable, witty, insightful and actually provided some great critical feedback in a way that didn't feel abusive or dismissive. And he loves Cat as much as we do! He was the shining star of the season, hands down (which is why I'm sure he was the one non choreographer asked back for the finale). Then I'd put Gaga at 2 (LOVED HER), NPH at 3, Christina Applegate at 4 and Chenowith at 5. But that's just me.

August 12, 2011 4:32 PM
christine
Reply

you lost all credibility when you put katie holmes on this list. and JTF should have been first.

August 12, 2011 4:52 PM
Jocelyn
Reply

I cannot stand Kristin Chenoweth. She's annoying and scary looking. Robin Antin is totally what made this season a stripocalypse. I was over joyed when Jordan went home and I didn't have to watch her make what could have been a beautiful dance into something crass and cheap.

August 12, 2011 5:41 PM
B.L.
Reply

JTF should have been #1-4. He was freaking hilarious.

August 12, 2011 5:42 PM
B.L.
Reply

JTF should have been #1-4. He was freaking hilarious.

August 12, 2011 7:33 PM
Rachel
Reply

The "shut the front door" thing was so annoying. I hope Kristin Chenowith does not get invited back to judge next season. Holy shit, I wanted to strangle her.

August 12, 2011 8:15 PM
Aquarius121
Reply

I'm biased, being her #1 fan and all, but I'd put Gaga in the top spot.

JTF was so cute though! He was legitimately funny too, which is really rare on this show. Hmm...tie?

I feel bad for Katie Holmes. She's obviously a nice girl, but still - that was pretty damn awful.

August 12, 2011 8:17 PM
Aquarius121
Reply

I'm biased, being her #1 fan and all, but I'd put Gaga in the top spot.

JTF was so cute though! He was legitimately funny too, which is really rare on this show. Hmm...tie?

I feel bad for Katie Holmes. She's obviously a nice girl, but still - that was pretty damn awful.

August 12, 2011 11:33 PM
mara
Reply

Lady Gaga was the best. Katie Holmes was so appallingly bad I started calling her Paula and hitting the mute button.

August 13, 2011 3:09 AM
Absurdist
Reply

I certainly had higher expectations for Carmen Electra, given the amount of dance training she's had. I guess she was just high.

August 13, 2011 10:31 AM
Denise
Reply

I'm a Kristin fan, but I wouldn't put her any higher than 5th on this list. JTF was the best by far!

August 13, 2011 12:51 PM
hephastia
Reply

Loathed Robin Antin. Somebody should have explained that her purpose for judging in the tryouts was not to cast another Pussycat Dolls troupe. Glad Mary smacked her down, but what was she doing here anyway? Burlesque isn't done on SYTYCD.

August 14, 2011 2:49 AM
Soleil
Reply

My list:

1) JTF
2) Gaga
3) NPH
4) Applegate

(gap in quality)

5) Reynolds
6) Cheno

(even bigger gap in quality)

7) Electra
8) Antin
9) Mulally

(Grand Canyon)

10) Holmes

August 14, 2011 2:44 PM
britesons
Reply
replied to comment from Soleil

I agree with your list almost 100%. JTF, while super fun and entertaining, was not nearly as "useful" as Gaga and NPH, both of whom offered legitimate critiques and suggestions that the dancers could apply to future performances. And they both slammed shitty choreographers (Nappy Tabs and Tyce, respectively) for shitty routines instead of slamming the dancers for doing their best to muck through the shit (as Nigel is wont to do).

That top four of NPH, Gaga, JTF, and Christina were a solid group. I'd trade any of them to get rid of Nigel.

August 14, 2011 5:39 PM
Vanessa
Reply

While I appreciate Gaga's criticism of coreography, her criticism of the dancers made me want to vomit every single time. She barely said anything remotely useful for them and repeated things that had already been said. Her ridiculous fake crying pair with her ridiculous use of words to describe the dancers "you're magicaaaalll, you shine, you were born this way baby..." WHAT THE F? I'd put her at the bottom. In fact, I'd put Gaga, Antin, Electra and Mullally together in the bottom. Katie Holmes doesn't even count to me she was that bad. She doesn't even deserve to be on the list. What an airhead.

August 15, 2011 9:51 AM
Sharon
Reply
replied to comment from Soleil

Why, that's my list! I didn't realize we were watching together :D

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