Fall TV Blog

Russell Ferguson, So You Think You Can Dance’s 20-year-old krump phenomenon from Boston, utilized his raw talent and a fiery spirit to walk — er, limp — away with the title of America’s Favorite Dancer Wednesday night in the thrilling season 6 conclusion of FOX’s dance competition. The following day, the dancer, nursing a sprained ankle, spoke to the press about the injury he sustained in the finale, his plans for the future and how, although he’s had some dance training, he “really did just come from the streets.” –Jed Dreben

Take us through Wednesday night’s injury. What happened? You seemed better at the end.
At the end I was pretty much running off of adrenaline. After I jumped off the stage into krump, when Kevin [Hunte] and [Jonathan] “Legacy” [Perez] pulled me back up, I had come down on my leg wrong and something shifted over my ankle and it caused it to swell up. And it was real tight, so I wasn’t cleared to be able to dance for the rest of the night. But I could walk. (more…)

In its first fall season, So You Think You Can Dance overcame injuries, baseball, scheduling conflicts and the loss of one of its most revered choreographers, Mia Michaels. So, it was fitting that Wednesday’s season finale had to overcome some issues.

It ended triumphantly, however, with Russell Ferguson, the charismatic krumper from Boston, beating the odds — as well as his well trained competitors — and winning the title of America’s Favorite Dancer, $250,000 in prize money, a spot on the cover of Dance Spirit magazine and (along with Kathryn McCormick, the female dancer with the most votes) a part in the 2010 Oscars telecast (care of judge Adam Shankman).

“It feels crazy, a dream come true [and] everything into one,” an elated Ferguson told PEOPLE backstage after the results. “It feels like everything has just fell into place … everything is so perfect right now. I couldn’t ask for anything more.”

Despite his post-show bliss, Ferguson spent the majority of the broadcast masking pain and frustration onstage after he injured himself during a hip-hop routine with fellow contestants Jonathan “Legacy” Perez and Kevin Hunte. (more…)

Wow, it happens so fast. Here we are and it’s time to choose a winner. That means the performances have extra fire, extra funk!!! Each dancer has proven to be quite stellar in the realm of performance. I love how they switched partners for both dances.

First off, I definitely have to disagree with Nigel about Ellenore and Ryan’s jazz piece. He said it was a little devoid of emotion, but I found it more fascinating than disturbing. It says a lot about a performer when they can emote without giving you crazy facial expression. And Ellenore has performance quality in spades.

Another standout piece for me was Russell and Ashleigh’s lyrical jazz number by Sonya Tayeh. I found it raw and complete. The judges mostly gave praise to Russell (I don’t blame them after going back and watching it again). I’d like to say that Russell’s commitment is what it takes to get through a competition like this. There is no time for second-guessing and feeling unsure. I feel Russell has never given an inkling of being unsure. I definitely have to agree with Mary when she said Russell was “on fire.” (more…)

From jazz routines to the paso doble to hip-hop, So You Think You Can Dance’s season 6 finalists have performed for votes for the last time! And now, all Ryan and Ashleigh Di Lello, Ellenore Scott, Russell Ferguson, Kathryn McCormick and Jakob Karr can do is wait to see whom America has picked as its favorite dancer. The results will be announced tonight on FOX (8 p.m. EST) during a star-studded show that includes performances by the season 6 dancers, Jennifer Lopez, Mary J. Blige, Leona Lewis and American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert.

Kelsey McNeal/FOX

Jennifer Lopez is taking a mulligan.

After a spill at the American Music Awards, the “Louboutins” singer is teaming up again with So You Think You Can Dance choreographers Tabitha and Napoleon Dumo (known as Nappytabs) to do a holiday-themed number for the season finale of the show.

Although Lopez redeemed herself with a performance on Ellen, Tabitha says they’re not taking any chances this time.

“We’re steering clear of some big jumps,” Tabitha says. “I feel like we don’t have to be dangerous anymore … Though I appreciated seeing guys with their shirts off personally — [there will be] no sweaty backs, no shirtless guys. We’re going to have some classy looking guys.”

At the AMAs, Lopez fell — but quickly recovered — after climbing on the bare backs of her male dancers.

Napoleon says the finale performance of the song will be different from the boxing-theme she did previously. “The idea is kind of a cross between a Marilyn Monroe, ‘Santa Baby’ and a ‘Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend,’ but using shoes. Shoes are a girl’s best friend nowadays instead of diamonds.” (more…)

Labeled immature early in the competition, 18-year-old Mollee Gray, a lyrical jazz dancer from Upland, Calif., made her dream come true just by making the top 10 on So You Think You Can Dance. But after giving what the judges called her best performance of the season, she was unexpectedly cut just before the show’s first fall finale. Meanwhile, Ashleigh Di Lello, who was unable to perform this week due to a shoulder injury, moved on. Mollee spoke with reporters about losing a spot in the finale to someone who didn’t dance, how the immaturity comments affected her and what’s next for this triple threat. –Jed Dreben

Was it difficult to be eliminated before someone who didn’t even dance?
Of course I was bummed. Anybody would be because this is a huge, most amazing experience I’ve ever been through. But people voted on Ashleigh based on what she’s done throughout the season — and honestly, I am so proud of her … and I’m very proud of Ellenore, and all three of those girls deserve to be in there. It was a tough one. Any of the top 8 could have been in the top 6, so I’m very proud to even be where I am right now. (more…)

With such an amazing group of dancers fighting for a spot in the first fall finale of So You Think You Can Dance, it made sense that Wednesday’s results were surprising.

Despite an injured shoulder that prevented her from competing Tuesday, Ashleigh avoided elimination — and didn’t even end up in the bottom four. And while her husband Ryan did land in the bottom (again), America pushed him through as well.

“There was a huge groundswell of emotion that has swept Ryan and Ashleigh into the finals,” Nigel Lythgoe told PEOPLE backstage after the show, referring to Ryan’s emotional plea to America to consider his wife’s accomplishments so far.

So, after a record 8 million votes, Mollee Gray, 18, the jazz dancer from Upland, Calif., and Jonathan ‘Legacy’ Perez, 28, the b-boy from L.A., missed the final performance show of the season, which because of scheduling, will feature six dancers rather than the usual four.

“If [Ashleigh's injury and Ryan's plea] hadn’t happened, I don’t know who would have been there,” Nigel continued. “Ashleigh and Ryan have both proved that they have both grown in this competition, but Mollee and Legacy are outstanding. I’m really sorry to lose both of them. It just goes to show that we are voting for America’s Favorite dancers and America will be swayed by emotions.” (more…)

Hello citizens! It’s great to be back in L.A.! Tuesday’s So You Think You Can Dance performances were stellar. Each dancer left their heart on the stage last night. Before I move along and share my thoughts about the show, I have to say that my heart goes out to Ashleigh, who injured her shoulder and couldn’t perform. I wish her a speedy recovery.

Jakob and Mollee were the standout couple of the night! Both pieces were absolutely magical! Jakob has the Midas touch! His progress and growth has been consistently golden. I definitely agreed with Nigel when he said that everything in their waltz “fit together like a jigsaw puzzle.” It was beautiful to watch. (more…)

After fielding criticism week after week on what the judges called his “immaturity,” Nathan Trasoras, the 18-year-old contemporary wiz from Downey, Calif., gave it his all right up until the end. An early favorite, who sadly was unable to mend his relationship with America after comments he made on stage, became the first male dancer to be cut from So You Think You Can Dance’s illustrious top 10. Trasoras spoke to reporters the day after his elimination and answered questions about all that negative feedback from the judges, what he took away from his SYTYCD experience and why he’d love to be Broadway bound. –Jed Dreben

Were you surprised to find yourself in the bottom two last night?
No. I wasn’t the smoothest through the competition and I thought that I deserved to be in the bottom. And I thought that first week where I got saved, I should have been in the bottom in the first place also. I expected it because I could have done better.

(more…)

After a strong show of performances Tuesday, it was up to America (with the judges merely assisting now) to determine which of So You Think You Can Dance’s talented top 10 would be the first two to go.

After the votes were counted, Noelle Marsh, 18, the contemporary darling from Sandford, N.C., and Nathan Trasoras, also 18, of Downey, Calif., received their walking papers.

“America got it right this week,” a satisfied Nigel Lythgoe told PEOPLE backstage after the show. “I think they’ve looked at the whole of the time that these kids have been on the program [and] not just the routines that they did [this week].” (more…)