As we first speculated in the hours after we learned of Michael Jackson's death, So You Think You Can Dance is gearing up for a tribute to the King of Pop and dance icon.

It would only be fitting for So You Think You Can Dance to pay tribute to Michael Jackson, whose dance moves were just as influential as his record setting albums. As a child of the '80s, it feels like there wasn't a person in the world who didn't try out the Moonwalk at least once. I'm convinced, at some point, even my parents tried a little Moonwalk move. There hasn't been a more influential or recognizable dancer in my life time. And it seems to me that MJ's moves captured our imagination in a manner that hadn't been seen since Elvis' first controversial hip swivels.

With the weight of Jackson's loss and influence in mind, the producers and choreographers of So You Think You Can Dance are doing their best to organize an all Michael Jackson episode. While the official details and date of such a show haven't been released, head judge Nigel Lythgoe has been busy tweeting all weekend about the tribute show.

It all started on Friday, when Nigel along with Adam Shankman asked Paula Abdul (over Twitter) to consider choreographing a Michael Jackson Tribute.

@PaulaAbdul along with@adammshankman I follow you too. Will you choreograph an MJ tribute for us this week?

Nigel even called for the help of "Twitter-Power" to get Paula Abdul to choreograph the piece, later joking he was having a hard time taking the talks off the Twitter-Verse.

People please use Twitter-Power. Ask @PaulaAbdul to choreograph a Michael Jackson tribute on SYTYCD.

@PaulaAbdul I would get my people to call yours? But I have 2 issues. 1. I don't know who your people are? 2. I haven't got any people? xox

Two days later, in the midst of Season Six auditions in Arizona, Nigel tweeted an update about the tribute:

At the same time as auditioning we're trying to put together a major tribute to him Michael's music works in every dance genre for the show

Nigel went on to say that the choreographers of the show, plus Paula Abdul, had been spoken to about the tribute:

Mia has chosen the song she likes, we've spoken to Wade. I've left messages for Paula. I've spoken to Shane. We have to make this happen!!?

Choreographing a tribute for Michael Jackson must be particularly emotional for Wade Robson, who was discovered by Michael at age 8.

As expected, with a superstar like Michael Jackson and his catalogue, there have been complications clearing Jackson's music:

There is a problem clearing Michael's music at the moment. We are trying to make contact with Sony to get clearance on an all Michael SYTYCD

Which led Nigel to reality-check fans who are hoping this All-MJ So You Think You Can Dance extravaganza would be this week:

Don't get carried away everyone. It won't be the NEXT show these things take time to organize, clear and choreograph. I'll keep you posted.


So there you  have it folks, all you ever needed to know about So You Think You Can Dance's forthcoming Michael Jackson tribute, all in 140 characters or less, straight from Nigel Lythgoe himself. When Nigel tweets more about the tribute, we'll let you know.


--Abbey Simmons, BuddyTV Staff Writer
(Image Courtesy of WENN)