Well, it looks like Adam Shankman just got his wish granted.

Remember that?  I can't really find the exact tweet--this was some time last season--but Shanks did ask us, the So You Think You Can Dance faithful, to convince Nigel (through Twitter, of course) to make him a permanent judge on the show.  Now, that is the case.  Good one, Shanks.

Now, the obvious question: what about the guest judge slot?  With three permanent judges, it definitely means less space for critiques from Mia Michaels, or Tyce Diorio, or Debbie Allen--or the possibility of Paula Abdul doing it, too.  Well, Nigel said there will still be space for guest judges, although it means it won't happen as often as in the past.  Sad, because I actually enjoyed seeing how different choreographers see one dancer, and for someone like me who's eager to learn, it does for pretty good insight.  That, and a smaller chance of being treated to Lil C's wonderful, wonderful poetry.

But Shanks' move finally gives the SYTYCD panel an extra dose of consistency.  I always thought that the way the third opinion differs every week somehow dilutes it--I may say you're good this week, but the next week someone will say the complete opposite.  Well, it never was that extreme, but you get me, right?  I think nothing wrong can come out of this move, with Adam being an accomplished choreographer (and, of course, no stranger to the show), and all I can say is this: come on, bring on the Shanks!

Oh, and if you're wondering whether the show could go overtime like American Idol has when they got four judges, well, SYTYCD is taped.  That aside, I thought Nigel said he'd rather keep a three-judge set-up?

But I should say, Shanks did get his wish.  Amazing, amazing Twitter.  I think the show has been taking this on a lot.  We did some Twitter tracking last season, and you must've heard of other stuff happening on that little nifty website.  Say, Nigel asking Paula whether she can help with the (ill-fated) Michael Jackson tribute.  Or Nigel going against fans who didn't like Katie Holmes' performance on episode 100.  I say, Shanks knows where to go.

And since we're talking about supernatural stuff this week, wasn't the Phoenix auditions an odd one?  I did feel a bit underwhelmed, feeling that aside from the feel-good story from Allison Becker and the same-sex ballroomers--and "stupid" Jonathan Perez--it felt like I watched a freak show of sorts.  The spaceship has landed, Mary.  Aye.

I mean, what's the name of that guy who was really, really, really excited?  I literally switched channels until I realized I had to watch the whole show.  I'm a hyperactive fellow, too, but that's an extreme case.  I can't feel that annoyed at him, though, because from the moment his asthma kicked in, I was reminded of my own asthma attacks when I was younger.  Scary, we have a bit too much in common.

But if there's something good with the space oddities that Phoenix (and by consequence, Roswell) brought, it's how Allison transformed from this deaf woman to utter brilliance the moment she stepped on the dance floor.  Chalk one more up for supernatural forces.

Ground control to Major Tom...





- Henrik Batallones, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
(Screen capture courtesy of Fox)