So You Think You Can Dance Australia

This rumour has been floated around quite a bit now, but it seems news is slowly firming that a reboot of Ten’s once-popular Australian edition of So You Think You Can Dance Australia is set to return on a yet-to-be-determined network.

What’s more is that news of Sarah Murdoch taking over hosting roles from Natalie Bassingthwaighte are also resurfacing after her name was floated late last year. Murdoch, who is currently married to Lachlan Murdoch, and hosted Australia’s Next Top Model from 2009 to 2011, hinted to The Daily Telegraph that she was ‘in talks’ for a television project in the ‘second half of 2012′.

If this news is true, it will be the first time the show has aired on television since mid-2010 when Robbie Kmetoni won the third season. Since then, it was put on hold.

Former judges included Bonnie Lythgoe and Matt Lee. Star of Channel 9′s Celebrity Apprentice Australia 2011, Jason Coleman rounded out that panel, and after rumours that show executive producer Nigel Lythgoe was keep to give the format to ‘another network’, rumours recently tipped Nine to resurrect the show.

Currently, no official word has surfaced on whether the show is coming back, what channel it will air on and who will host it.

But stay tuned, because a return is looking more and more likely.

Rumours are surfacing that The future of So You Think You Can Dance Australia is in question.

Usually part of Ten’s reality line up airing from February to April, the 2010 season was the show’s worst performing to date, leaving Ten considering whether to renew the show or not for 2011.

After poor figures in 2009, Australian Idol was “rested” for 2010 with one of the reasons being quoted as there being a timing clash in 2010 with the Commonwealth Games in October. Freemantle Media who product Idol are looking at the possibility of a revamped Idol in 2011, but nothing has been confirmed.

The Biggest Loser – also seen on Ten February to April – has also been subject to speculation in relation to its future. In 2010, the show had its worst figures to date. In 2011, the focus will be on families with families of three or more invited to apply for the 2011 season – applications are still open, suggesting the show should go ahead for 2011.

Then there is the speculation that Ten were looking into a reality show based on photographers, and loosely based on Australia’s Next Top Model. According to an interview by TV Tonight, there will be no such show.

With Masterchef doing so well for Ten, it’s no secret that the network are looking for ideas to replicate that sort of success. Without Australian Idol – usually seen from August to November – Ten does not have a reality competition show for the last few months of the ratings year.

Sources: Daily Telegraph, TV Tonight.

Masterchef Australia has claimed the top ratings spot in a competitive Wednesday night line-up.

The Ten reality show drew just over 1.6 million for their third show of the second series, with Seven’s war drama The Pacific pulling nearly 1.5 million.

However Nine’s headline show Hey Hey It’s Saturday slipped to just over 1.2 million and failed to take top spot in home state Melbourne over The Pacific.

Just over a million viewers watched Robbie Kmetoni take out the finale of So You Think You Can Dance Australia on Ten.

In a spectacular, dance-packed finale, Robbie has been crowned Australia’s favourite dancer winning $200,000 and a unique opportunity to choose one of three amazing dance contracts.

In the offering; tour America as part of Jason Gilkison’s dance sensation “Burn the Floor”, a role in Australian Dance Theatre’s “Ignition” at the Adelaide Festival Centre, or a part in the Australian production of the Broadway musical “Hairspray”.

Robbie, 18 from Allawah NSW, has chosen “Burn the Floor”, saying he “couldn’t resist the idea of travelling overseas and learning from the master himself, Jason Gilkison”.

As for the prize money, well he’s got plans for that too!

“I will give more than half to my family and use the other half to go to America to do workshops for about three months. I’d also like to buy a hot car, a Jeep Wrangler I’m thinking…” 

Robbie Kmetoni, 18 from Allawah NSW is this year’s runner up. He’s been a hot favourite all year and has dazzled us week after week with some of the most spectacular dancing we have seen on the show. Proof that great things come in small packages, this won’t be the last we see of this pocket rocket!

Jessie Hesketh, 19 from Sylvania NSW is this year’s runner up. She has been a hot favourite all year and has dazzled us week after week with some of the most spectacular dancing we have seen on the show. This will not be the last we see of her! 

So that’s it for another year – remember, keep stretching and always always always point those toes….

8.30pm Tuesday, April 20 on Ten

Series finale!

After 12 weeks on air, So You Think You Can Dance Australia will culminate tonight in a spectacular Finale.

The journey for the Top 20 has been physically and mentally enduring but our Top 4 have risen to the challenge and enter the Finale tonight with the hope that Australia will pick them to take out the title of Australia’s Favourite Dancer.

Each week the contestants have been required to push themselves to the limit, learning new chore- ography and routines on a weekly basis in a host of genres including; Salsa, Broadway, Jazz, Con- temporary, Hip Hop, Rumba, Bollywood and Waltz. For the first five couples eliminated from the com- petition, their fate rested in the hands of the three judges, Matt Lee, Bonnie Lythgoe and Jason Cole- man. However the Top 10 have been solely relying on the Australian public to get them through to the next stage of the competition. The finale episode will also include a dazzling display of routines choreographed by some of Aus- tralia’s best choreographers.

All of the Top 20 will perform on stage in both duo routines as well as group numbers with special performances by the Top 4. Not to mention surprises galore from the best Australian dance has to offer. It will be an unmissable Finale filled with breathtaking, unforgettable performances. Who will win the Season Two of So You Think You Can Dance Australia and take away the title of Australia’s Favourite Dancer? You’ll have to watch to find out.

8.00pm Wednesday, April 7 & 8.00pm Thursday, April 8 on Ten

We have the six remaining dancers ready to give it their all on the So You Think You Can Dancestage on Wednesday night’s performance show. If they can just make it through this week thenthey get that much coveted ticket on the hot tamale train – next stop, Finale – toot toot!!Jump aboard and travel with them as the journey intensifies in the final few weeks of the competition.One of these four dancers will win So You Think You Can Dance Australia and will be crownedAustralia’s Favourite Dancer.

It’s set to be one of Ten’s biggest weeks of the year, with the premiere of the second season of Masterchef Australia and season finales for Biggest Loser, So You Think You Can Dance and Talkin’ ‘Bout Your Generation all happening within the space of one week – week 17 from April 18 to 24.

The Biggest Loser finale starts at 6.30pm Sunday April 18 with the weigh in of Phil and Joe having just returned from the Commando training in the Northern Territory (previously this was to happen during the week of April 11-17). One of them will be instantly eliminated while the other will earn a plac ein the final four. Meanwhile, the existing four contestants in the house must also go through a weigh in which sees one of them eliminated.

Then, at 8.30pm, all 18 contestants from the Biggest Loser come back to the stage for their final weigh ins. The eliminated contestants have been on their own since being eliminated from the competition. One will be crowned Biggest Loser 2010. If that person is wearing the double bracelet, they will win double the prize and go home with $400,000 instead of $200,000. If that person is wearing the nothing bracelet, they go home with nothing.

In 2009, it was Bob from WA crowned Biggest Loser, after losing 87.6kg. He was also the oldest Biggest Loser in the show’s four year history. So far, we have not seen a female Biggest Loser. All will be revealed on Sunday April 18.

Biggest Loser’s last weekly weigh in at 6.30pm. Biggest Loser finale night from 8.30pm.

Sandwiched between The Biggest Loser’s final night, is the season finale of Talkin’ ‘Bout Your Generation at 7.30pm. For the last time for now, Amanda Keller, Charlie Pickering, Josh Thomas and their guests (yet to be announced) will battle it out to see who will be the winning generation.

And, on Wednesday, April 21, from 8pm, it’s the finale of So You Think You Can Dance. The top 4 will find out their fate as to who will win the competition for 2010. All of the top 20 perform on the night, as well as a special performance from the final four. There will be a dazzling array of routines choreographed by some pf Australia’s best choreographers.

8.00pm Wednesday, Mar 31 & 8.00pm Thursday, Apr 1 on Ten

We’re down to just 8 dancers – that means that all but one couple will be dancing for their lives this week and of course, for your votes.

The fate of the dancer’s position in the competition rests completely in the hands of the Australian public. Judges Jason Coleman, Bonnie Lythgoe and Matt Lee are on hand to comment on each performance but they no longer have a say in who stays and who leaves. That decision rests solely with the voting public.

The six contestants that don’t receive enough votes from Australia will be announced on Thursday night by Natalie Bassingthwaighte and have one more opportunity to showcase their talents before the announcement of which two contestants will be leaving the competition. Sharing the stage with them on Thursday will be multi ARIA award winner Gabriella Cilmi to perform “On a Mission”.

The So You Think You Can Dance dream has come to an untimely end for Newcastle ballroom dancer Jessica Prince.

As seen in last week’s show, she suffered an injury to her lower back muscles which was causing her a great deal of discomfort but like a trooper, she battled through her routines. Unfortunately, the rigours of the Top 8 choreography schedule have not proved conducive to her recovery and, upon specialist advise, she has left the competition. 

As per the rules of the competition, the last one to leave returns, so welcome back Sydney hip hop girl Jess Stokes.

Wednesday 31 March 2010 at 8.00pm & Thursday 31 March 2010 at 8.00pm on Ten

THURSDAY NIGHT SPECIAL PERFORMANCE – GABRIELLA CILMI

We’re down to just 8 dancers – that means that all but one couple will be dancing for their lives this week and of course, for your votes.

The fate of the dancer’s position in the competition rests completely in the hands of the Australian public. Judges Jason Coleman, Bonnie Lythgoe and Matt Lee are on hand to comment on each performance but they no longer have a say in who stays and who leaves. That decision rests solely with the voting public.

The six contestants that don’t receive enough votes from Australia will be announced on Thursday night by Natalie Bassingthwaighte and have one more opportunity to showcase their talents before the announcement of which two contestants will be leaving the competition.

Sharing the stage with them on Thursday will be multi ARIA award winner Gabriella Cilmi to perform “On a Mission”.