Mary Murphy is returning to So You Think You Can Dance.
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"I am thrilled and already dancing in my seat to be back as a permanent judge this season, which I'm sure will be the best ever," Murphy said.
Murphy had served as a permanent member on So You Think You Can Dance's judging panel since its third season but was replaced by Mia Michaels on last year's seventh-season judging panel, which also featured producer Nigel Lythgoe and Adam Shankman as regular judges.
"I am delighted to have Mary back on the show. Her expertise in dance, coupled with her warmth, compassion and humor, make her an excellent judge and fun to work with," said Lythgoe, who co-created So You Think You Can Dance and has anchored its judging panel since the show's first season.
While it noted Murphy will "sit alongside" Lythgoe on the eighth-season panel, Fox's announcement made no mention of Shankman, who served as the third regular judge on So You Think You Can Dance's sixth and seventh seasons.
Although she wasn't a regular judge, Lythgoe had initially said he expected Murphy would still occasionally serve as a guest judge or choreographer on So You Think You Can Dance's seventh season but she did not end up participating.
Michaels had revealed she was leaving So You Think You Can Dance in November. It marked her second departure, as she had originally served as a guest judge and choreographer for So You Think You Can Dance's first five seasons but left to focus on "other projects" following its Summer 2009 fifth season and did not participate in its subsequent Fall 2009 edition.
Michaels had also revealed that Murphy would possibly be returning to reclaim her judging role.
"I heard they're bringing Mary Murphy back and I'm really happy for her," Michaels told E! News. "I've sat in that chair, but I feel like that was Mary's chair."
In addition to Murphy's return, Fox also announced the three additional eighth-season So You Think You Can Dance casting calls auditions:
Salt Lake City, UT
Wednesday, February 2
The Jeanne Wagner Theatre
138 W. Broadway
Salt Lake City, UT 84101
Los Angeles, CA
Friday, February 25
Orpheum Theatre
842 S. Broadway
Los Angeles, CA 90014
Charlotte, NC
Tuesday, March 1
McGlohon Theatre
301 North Tryon St.
Charlotte, NC 28202
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
