So You Think You Can Dance's "shocking" seventh-season changes will involve changes to the show's format, according to executive producer and lead judge Nigel Lythgoe.
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"I can't say anything just yet, not until all my ducks are in a row, but it's going to be huge. I will tweet when we're going to release the news."
According to Lythgoe, his tweet was not referring to the potential departure of Mary Murphy, who has served as a regular judge since So You Think You Can Dance's third season but reportedly missed several of the seventh season's audition tour stops.
"I wasn't talking about that, but she did miss a bunch. You know, I'd like to see Mary choreographing this season. But her absence gave me the opportunity to use more people as judges, to move around more," he told The Post.
However whether it's a non-permanent judging role for Murphy or something else, Lythgoe suggested the seventh season will likely feature some judging panel changes.
"I hope so," he told The Post when asked whether the rotating judges format the seventh-season auditions have used will continue into the season's live show.
"I know [Adam Shankman] wants to stick around, but this last season with me, Adam and Mary was a little predictable. I sort of felt like I knew what everyone would say before they said it. But I am not moving!"
In addition, Lythgoe also clarified that his teaser tweet wasn't referring to guest judging appearances by former American Idol judge Paula Abdul -- whom Lythgoe, a former Idol producer, had repeatedly unsuccessfully attempted to get to appear on So You Think You Can Dance last fall.
"No. I spent an entire season wooing her and if she was ever going to do it, she would have. The timing was perfect for her," Lythgoe told The Post.
Lythgoe suggested that -- similar to her Idol exit -- Abdul rejected his So You Think You Can Dance offers because the show was unwilling to meet her financial demands.
"I was rather shocked she didn't pick up and join us at any point. I mean, Katie Holmes was there, Jennifer Lopez was there. I know we don't have Idol money and so does Paula, but at the end of the day I do plenty of things for no money because I want to support dance," he told The Post.
"And as an dancer/performer/choreographer, I would have thought she'd like to support us."
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