"So You Think You Can Dance" has dazzled viewers over the last 10 years and 12 seasons with an array of talented performers and produced some of the country's most respected choreographers and dancers.
Fox paid tribute to all those that have contributed to the dancing competition series with a hour-long special on Tuesday. The show brought back some the audience's favorite dancers and choreographers as well as a reprise of the best musical productions over the years.
"It's going to have all the best routines you loved from all the greatest choreographers and the dancers you've followed for years," host Cat Deeley told Headlines & Global News and other reporters on July 20. "Some old faces you haven't seen in a while will be back and there'll be some goofy moments and emotional moments. It'll be an hour of really good TV."
And a great anniversary special wouldn't be anything without a hilarious gag reel.
"If I am involved I'd say so," Deeley joked about the chances of the show including a bloopers clip. "I'm sure Nigel [Lythgoe] gets whacked in the face with a microphone once or twice."
Former contestants Travis Wall and Stephen "tWitch" Boss are serving as choreographers on the show now. Their fellow dancers Chelsie Hightower, Lacey Schwimmer, Whitney Carson and Artem Chigvintsev have also become household names thanks to their stints on ABC's 'Dancing With The Stars'.
It's not just the success of "SYTYCD" and its 13 Emmy Awards that co-creator and executive producer Lythgoe is proud of. He really appreciates how the show has changed the public perception of dance.
"It's given dance in this country a whole new respect," the judge said. "It's given it an integrity I don't think America realized before. The very fact they know choreographers names. The fact that guys can dance and be respected for it and the fact I get fathers coming up to me saying, 'My boy wants to dance, I'm really proud of him.' That means a great deal to me."
Paula Abdul compared the show to her former series, "American Idol," which has also launched the careers of some real super stars.
"It's such an important show for what it does for dancers," Abdul said. "The blessing of being on network television for 10 years is that it vindicates a show. A lot of people didn't know if they would find it interesting or compelling and it has grown to different demographics. People you wouldn't expect have come to dearly love it. They may not know how to dance [but] they have this visceral feeling that only dancers bring."
Judge Jason Derulo agrees. "I feel another special thing about the show is that it educated America. You'll hear your aunt or uncle say, 'He missed that pirouette. It wasn't clean he didn't point his toes,'" Derulo said.
Cat Deeley also reflected on the first episode where she was most thankful to not fall flat on her face trying to walk in her heels.
"I think I remember going, 'Please God, just let me get from the back of the studio to the front without falling over in these ridiculous shoes,'" she said, laughing. "I don't remember anything else because I am the clumsiest person. Whenever I make it up and down those stairs in one piece I am happy."
Twelve seasons and five Emmy nominations later (including one this year for Best Reality Host) Deeley is still happy to carefully walk that live tightrope every show.
"It's lovely to be nominated and I never thought in my wildest dreams I ever would be," she admits. "Doing the show for ten years here has changed my life. I love living here and doing the show, I never imagined we'd be going in season 12. Every single day is a bonus."
"So You Think You Can Dance" airs on Mondays at 8 p.m. on Fox.
