I have been a fan of So You Think You Can Dance since Season 2. Yes, I admit it, I never caught the U.S. show’s inaugural season but I’ve watched every hour since.

Two years ago, I was ecstatic when Canada decided to launch their own version — one, because I know how much talent our country exudes; and two, because I knew there would be a chance that I could catch a live show every now and again (which I have, and all have been awesome). Nico Archambault and Tara-Jean Popowich were Canada’s first and second champions, respectively, and as So You Think You Can Dance Canada searches for a third, I thought I would be just as happy about Season 3 as I had been about the past two seasons.

Sadly, I was wrong.

Shortly before the Season 3 debut, we learned of SYTYCD Canada’s schedule. Instead of the usual twice-a-week airings, the audition episodes were going to be broadcast back-to-back (to back-to-back-to-back). So basically, if you relish the audition parts of the series, it was going to be chaotic for your viewing schedule since the show was getting a month or so of programming out of the way in little more than a week. But if you don’t care for the tryouts and just want the actual performances to start, then this is the season for you.

While I lean towards the latter, unfortunately for CTV, the network made a hasty decision. The U.S. version just wrapped last week, so those who prefer a bit of a Dance break got the complete opposite and were overwhelmed by all the Canadian episodes.

I must admit, I am one of those people who is getting a tad tired of SYTYCD. I enjoyed the final three left in the U.S.’s recent season (though I was partial to underdog Robert), but for me, the season itself was just meh. Sure, there were the moving numbers (Billy and Ade’s homeless man/business guy routine; Kent and Neil’s friends turning on each other) and astounding routines (my all-time favourite, Vancouver native Alex Wong dancing hip hop with Twitch), but I thought it was dominated by contemporary routines. Yes, a lot of them are emotional, but after a while, all the contemporary numbers start to look the same. Plus, there just wasn’t enough ballroom for me (which meant not enough Pasha, but I digress).

Hopefully Canada’s version can learn from the U.S.’s mistakes. We like variety here in the Great White North, and while we appreciate lyrical numbers, I’d take a jive, house or samba instead any day. Hopefully lead judge and ballroom expert Jean Marc Generaux will ensure that all dance styles get equal airtime.

The rub? We at TVGuide.ca have yet to see a ratings release for the first week — something CTV usually loves to send out (because they’re typically decent, boast-worthy numbers) — so that makes me think that jamming all the auditions into one programming week hasn’t been what the network had hoped for. Pure speculation, of course.

Next week, it’s more bam, bam, bam, as the Top 20 is revealed, they perform and they get their results, all in three consecutive days. And finally, the following week will be back to normal, with just the performances and results. Thank goodness. It’s still early for the homegrown hit, and SYTYCD Canada will learn from this experiment, but here’s hoping viewership picks up as the weeks go on. With Mary Murphy bringing her Hot Tamale train back to the judges' panel for the first performance show, and Nico choreographing in the Top 20 show, it should definitely pick up.

What do you think of this rejigged season? denette@tvguide.ca or comment below.

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So You Think You Can Dance Canada’s Top 20 is revealed, Sunday, August 22, 9 p.m. ET, the Top 20 performs on Monday, August 23, 9 p.m. ET and the results air Tuesday, August 24, 8:30 p.m. ET, CTV.

 

 

Denette’s not ashamed to say she has loved TV for as long as she can remember, whether she was rolling her eyes at Polkaroo on Polka Dot Door, catching up on soaps recorded on her family’s trusty Betamax, crushing on Face from The A-Team or laughing along with Balki and Larry on Perfect Strangers.

Nowadays, Denette digs Glee, Mad Men, Castle, dance competition shows, Friends reruns and the the one-two punch of Modern Family and Cougar Town. Things that annoy her are trying to find time to catch up on Breaking Bad and Dexter on DVD, incontinuity on soaps, her PVR crashing, and anything and everything associated with Toddlers & Tiaras. If you’ve thought it, it’s probably crossed her mind, too. Denette will gladly praise a show, but she’ll be more than happy to slam something if it sucks.

 

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