\n<\/p>\n
When <\/i>So You Think You Can Dance<\/i><\/span><\/a> debuted on FOX in 2005, a panel of dance experts were tapped to discover<\/span> the best up-and-coming performers<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n Nigel Lythgoe<\/b><\/a><\/span>, who cocreated the competition series alongside Simon Fuller<\/b>, served as one of the longtime judges since the season 1 premiere. However, after cueing the audition music and marveling over the Top 12\u2019s talents for 16 seasons, he announced his exit in March 2022.<\/p>\n Both <\/span>Lythgoe and Mary Murphy<\/b><\/span><\/a> \u2014 the conductor of the self-proclaimed \u201cHot Tamale Train\u201d \u2014 were replaced ahead of 2022\u2019s season 17<\/span>. Former contestant and <\/span>All-Star mentor Stephen \u201ctWitch\u201d Boss<\/span><\/a> joined forces with JoJo Siwa<\/b><\/span><\/a> and Matthew Morrison<\/b><\/span><\/a> to find the country\u2019s next top dancer.<\/p>\n Morrison left in the middle of the choreography round after a \u201cminor infraction\u201d<\/span><\/a><\/span> on set when <\/span>he was accused of sending \u201cinappropriate\u201d texts to a female contestant. The Glee <\/i>alum denied the claims before<\/span> \u201cdance enthusiast\u201d Leah Remini<\/b><\/span><\/a> took his place.<\/span><\/p>\n