So You Think You Can Dance (American TV series) season 17

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So You Think You Can Dance
Season 17
Hosted by Cat Deeley
Judges
Winner Alexis Warr
Runner-upKeaton Kermode
Release
Original network Fox
Original releaseMay 18 (2022-05-18) 
August 10, 2022 (2022-08-10)
Season chronology
 Previous
Season 16
Next 
Season 18

So You Think You Can Dance is an American dance competition reality show, which returned for its seventeenth season on May 18, 2022. [1]

A 17th season of So You Think You Can Dance had originally been set to air in the summer of 2020, with a judging panel composed of series creator Nigel Lythgoe (his seventeenth consecutive season as judge), Mary Murphy and Laurieann Gibson. However, in June 2020 the show was postponed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [2] The season was finally produced in the summer of 2022, now with an entirely different set of judges: freestyle hip-hop dancer Stephen "tWitch" Boss, who had been a Season 4 runner-up and Season 15 judge; entertainer and YouTube celebrity JoJo Siwa; and actor Matthew Morrison. [3] Cat Deeley returned to her role as host for a sixteenth consecutive season.

In May 2022, Morrison was fired from the show, after having sent direct messages on social media to a female contestant that were deemed by producers to be inappropriate. [4] [5] He was replaced by actress Leah Remini, starting with the season's fifth episode. [6]

On August 10, 2022, Alexis Warr was crowned "America's Favorite Dancer", making her the first ballroom dancer to win the show. (While Season 2 winner Benji Schwimmer was also a partner dancer, his specialty, West Coast Swing, is generally not considered a ballroom dance).

This was the final season to feature Stephen "tWitch" Boss, prior to his death in December 2022. [7]

Auditions

Initial auditions, for dancers ages 18 to 30, were due to begin in March 2020 but were postponed amid in the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Auditions would likely be continued for this season during the delay. Those who were originally submitted in 2020 and could be getting an extended age limit to 32. Production was rescheduled for March 2022 including the start of auditions. [8]

Choreography Round

This season, the Callbacks/Academy Round was renamed the Choreography Round and took place over the course of one day, as opposed to one week like past seasons. The Choreography Round consisted of three rounds led by creative producer/choreographer, Mandy Moore. The first round had the contestants dancing in their own style, the second round focused on partner work and the third round was a group routine. 42 contestants made it to the choreography round and contestants were eliminated after each round until 12 remained to advance to the studio shows.

Contestants

Top 12 Contestants

Female contestants

ContestantAgeHome TownDance StyleElimination datePlacement
Alexis Warr 21Orem, UtahLatin BallroomN/AWinner
Essence Wilmington20Davenport, IowaHip HopAugust 3, 2022Top 3
Ralyn Johnson18Walker, LouisianaContemporaryJuly 27, 2022Top 6
Anna Miller18San Ramon, CaliforniaContemporaryJuly 13, 2022Top 8
Jordan Betscher24Cincinnati, OhioJazzJune 29, 2022Top 10
Virginia Crouse21Hammond, LouisianaContemporaryJune 22, 2022Top 12

Male contestants

ContestantAgeHome TownDance StyleElimination datePlacement
Keaton Kermode20Fairland, IndianaContemporaryAugust 10, 2022Runner-Up
Beau Harmon23Kennesaw, GeorgiaMusical TheaterJuly 27, 2022Top 6
Carter Williams20Sandy, UtahLatin BallroomJuly 27, 2022Top 6
Waverly Fredericks20Washington Heights, New YorkContemporaryJuly 13, 2022Top 8
Thiago Pacheco18Boston, MassachusettsContemporaryJune 29, 2022Top 10
James "Lord Finn" Thomas26Chicago, IllinoisHip HopJune 22, 2022Top 12

Elimination chart

Contestants are listed in chronological order of elimination.

Legend
Female Male Bottom 3/4 contestants Eliminated
Result show date:6/156/226/297/137/207/278/38/10
ContestantResults
Alexis WarrBtm 4Btm 3Winner
Keaton KermodeRunner-Up
Essence WilmingtonBtm 4Elim
Beau HarmonBtm 4Btm 3Elim
Carter WilliamsBtm 4Btm 4
Ralyn JohnsonBtm 4Btm 3
Anna MillerElim
Waverly FredericksBtm 4
Jordan BetscherBtm 4Elim
Thiago PachecoBtm 4
James "Lord Finn" ThomasElim
Virginia CrouseBtm 4

Studio shows

Once again, the Bottom 2 vote-getters of each gender will face elimination & the judges vote, with one male & one female leaving each round. However, for the first time this series only the studio audience can vote for which dancer should stay in the competition.

Top 12 Perform Part 1 – The Male Dancers Dozen (June 15, 2022)

In this round, each pair danced a routine in the Main Style of the Male Pair. This is the 300th episode of the show. No elimination took place this week.

CoupleStyleMusicChoreographer(s)Results
Virginia CrouseHip Hop"Drop It Like It's Hot" — Snoop Dogg ft. Pharrell Williams Luther Brown Bottom 4
James "Lord Finn" ThomasSafe
Jordan BetscherContemporary"Bob in the Rain and the Lizard of Hope" — Tom Rosenthal Mandy Korpinen & Elizabeth PetrinSafe
Waverly Fredericks
Anna MillerBroadway"Dancing in the Dark" — Frank Sinatra Al BlackstoneSafe
Beau Harmon
Essence WilmingtonContemporary"No More 'I Love You's'" — Annie Lennox Tessandra ChavezBottom 4
Thiago Pacheco
Ralyn JohnsonJive"I'm Still Standing" — Elton John Alan Bersten Safe
Carter WilliamsBottom 4
Alexis WarrContemporary"Rome" — Dermot Kennedy Talia FaviaSafe
Keaton Kermode

Top 12 Perform Part 2 – Girl's Night Out (June 22, 2022)

Each pair will now dance the main style of the Female Pair. Two contestant (each gender: one female & one male) will go home at the end of the show

CoupleStyleMusicChoreographer(s)Results
Ralyn JohnsonContemporary"Mindless Town" — Roman LewisTeddy ForanceSafe
Carter Williams
Alexis WarrCha Cha"I Like It Like That (Uproot Andy Remix)" — Pete Rodriguez Pasha Pashkov & Daniella Karagach Safe
Keaton Kermode
Virginia CrouseContemporary"Eight" — Sleeping At Last Jaci RoyalEliminated
James "Lord Finn" Thomas
Jordan BetscherJazz"Can't Buy Me Love" — Michael Bublé Dominique KelleyBottom 4
Waverly Fredericks
Anna MillerContemporary"exile" — Taylor Swift ft. Bon Iver Talia FaviaSafe
Beau Harmon
Essence WilmingtonHip Hop"The One" — Mary J. Blige ft. Drake Mel CharlotSafe
Thiago Pacheco

Top 10 Perform – Around the World (June 29, 2022)

This week, the Top 10 contestants were assigned new pairs & danced styles originating from different countries around the world

CoupleStyleCountry of OriginMusicChoreographer(s)Results
Anna MillerSalsa Havana, Cuba "Don't Go Yet" — Camila Cabello Jonathan & Oksana Platero Safe
Carter WilliamsBottom 4
Essence WilmingtonBollywood Mumbai, India "Chikni Chameli" — Agneepath (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)Achinta S. McDanielSafe
Waverly Fredericks
Jordan BetscherViennese Waltz Vienna, Austria "Fall On Me" — Andrea Bocelli & Matteo Bocelli Sasha Farber & Emma Slater Eliminated
Beau HarmonSafe
Ralyn JohnsonAfrican Jazz Nairobi, Kenya "Into The Light" — District 78 & Sean Cheesman Sean Cheesman Safe
Keaton Kermode
Alexis WarrBroadway New York City, United States "City Lights" — Liza Minnelli Al BlackstoneBottom 4
Thiago PachecoEliminated

Top 8 Perform – Turn Back Time (July 13, 2022)

The top eight contestants were once again given new pairs & performed a routine inspired by a previous decade, as well as a solo in their own style

Duet

CoupleStyleDecadeMusicChoreographer(s)Results
Ralyn JohnsonJazz1950's"I Want You To Be My Baby" — Georgia Gibbs Jonathan RedavidBottom 4
Beau Harmon
Essence WilmingtonDisco1970's"Boogie Wonderland" — Earth, Wind, & Fire Doriana SanchezSafe
Keaton Kermode
Waverly FredericksPop-Jazz1980's"Straight Up" — Paula Abdul Sean Cheesman Eliminated
Anna Miller
Alexis WarrContemporary1990's"I Have Nothing" — Whitney Houston Robert RoldanSafe
Carter Williams

Top 8 contestant's solos

ContestantStyleMusic
Waverly FredericksContemporary"Throne" — ASADI
Anna Miller"Me and Bobbie McGee" — Janis Joplin
Carter WilliamsLatin Ballroom"Bailar" — Deorro ft. Elvis Crespo
Alexis Warr"Sax" — Fleur East
Beau HarmonMusical Theater"Big Spender" — Shirley Bassey
Ralyn JohnsonContemporary"Nicest Thing" — Kate Nash
Keaton Kermode"I've Been Loving You Too Long" — Otis Redding
Essence WilmingtonHip Hop"Look At Me Now" — Chris Brown ft. Busta Rhymes & Lil Wayne

Top 6 Perform Part 1 – Starry Starry Night (July 20, 2022)

Since the judges could not reach a decision, no contestant was eliminated this week.

CouplesStyleMusicChoreographer(s)Results
Carter Williams
Bailey Munoz
Hip Hop"Alive" — Lil Jon, Offset & 2 Chainz Gabe de GuzmanSafe
Alexis Warr
Amy Yakima
Jazz"Escalate" — Tsar BEllenore ScottBottom 3
Keaton Kermode
Ezra Sosa
Jive"King Creole (Viva Mix)" — Elvis Presley Sasha Farber & Emma Slater Safe
Essence Wilmington
Koine Iwasaki
Contemporary"Slow Me Down" — Emmy Rossum Jaci RoyalSafe
Beau Harmon
Lex Ishimoto
Contemporary"Say I'm Sober" — Billy LockettTalia FaviaBottom 3
Ralyn Johnson
Comfort Fedoke
Hip Hop"Blick Blick" — Coi Leray & Nicki Minaj Luther Brown Bottom 3

Top 6 Perform Part 2 – Quarter-Finals - Head 2 Head (July 27, 2022)

Head to Head Solos

New to the series, each dancer was paired against each other in a head to head dance off. The loser of each pair is eliminated. There were no judge's saves this week.

Round 1
ContestantsStyleMusicResults
Carter WilliamsJive"Proud Mary" — Tina Turner Eliminated
Alexis WarrCha Cha/Paso Doble"Do It To It" — Acraze ft. Cherish Safe
Round 2
ContestantsStyleMusicResults
Essence WilmingtonHip Hop"Dior" — Pop Smoke Safe
Ralyn JohnsonContemporary"We Don't Eat" — James Vincent McMorrow Eliminated
Round 3
ContestantsStyleMusicResults
Beau HarmonMusical Theater"That's Life" — Frank Sinatra Eliminated
Keaton KermodeContemporary"At This Moment" — Billy Vera and the Beaters Safe

Top 3 Perform – Semi-Finals – The Final Cut (August 3, 2022)

Each contestants performed a duet with their fellow contestants as well as a duet in their own style with an All Star.

ContestantsStyleMusicChoreographer(s)Results
Alexis WarrBollywood
(w/ Keaton Kermode)
"Jai Jai Siva Sankaraa" — Benny Dayal & Nakash Aziz Nakul Dev MahajanSafe
Contemporary
(w/ Essence Wilmington)
"Hero" — Mariah Carey Chase Haley Bowden
Argentine Tango
(w/ Kiki Nyemchek)
"Obertura" — Forever TangoLeonardo Barrionuevo & Miriam Larici
Essence WilmingtonContemporary
(w/ Alexis Warr)
"Hero" — Mariah Carey Chase Haley BowdenEliminated
Hip Hop
(w/ Robert Green)
"Wipe Me Down" — Lil Boosie ft. Foxx & Webbie Mel Charlot
Jazz
(w/ Keaton Kermode)
"Vibe Check" — District 78 & Leah LeviEllenore Scott
Keaton KermodeBollywood
(w/ Alexis Warr)
"Jai Jai Siva Sankaraa" — Benny Dayal & Nakash AzizNakul Dev MahajanSafe
Contemporary
(w/ Audrey Case)
"A Song For You" — Donny Hathaway Robert Roldan
Jazz
(w/ Essence Wilmington)
"Vibe Check" — District 78 & Leah LeviEllenore Scott

The Season 17 Finale (August 10, 2022)

Each of the grand-finalists performed four times: a duet with a fellow Top 12 contestant of their choice, a duet outside of their style with an All Star, a solo and in a duet with each other.

ContestantStyleMusicChoreographer(s)Results
Alexis WarrSamba
(w/ Carter Williams)
SambaGloria Estefan Sasha Farber & Emma Slater Winner
Contemporary
(w/ Jason Glover)
"The End." — November Ultra Robert Roldan
Jazz
(w/ Keaton Kermode)
"Snake" — Rony Rex feat. Nani Castle Brian Friedman
Keaton KermodeContemporary
(w/ Anna Miller)
"Stayaway (Recorded at Electric Lady Studios NYC)" — MUNATalia FaviaRunner-Up
Hip Hop
(w/ Lex Ishimoto)
"Going Bad" — Meek Mill feat. Drake Nika Kljun
Jazz
(w/ Alexis Warr)
"Snake" — Rony Rex feat. Nani Castle Brian Friedman

Solos

ContestantStyleMusicResults
Alexis WarrSamba"Machika" — J Balvin, Jeon & Anitta Winner
Keaton KermodeContemporary"Love On The Brain" — Noah GuthrieRunner-Up

Ratings

U.S. Nielsen ratings

ShowEpisodeFirst Air Date Rating
(18–49)
Share
(18–49)
Viewers
(millions)
Rank
(timeslot)
Rank
(night)
1Dance is Back! Auditions Show 1May 18, 20220.332.07 [9] 38
2Auditions Show 2May 25, 20220.321.26 [10] 3 (tied)8 (tied)
3Auditions Show 3June 1, 20220.331.60 [11] 49 (tied)
4The Big Cut – Choreography RoundJune 8, 20220.321.40 [12] 312 (tied)
5The Dancers DozenJune 15, 20220.331.74 [13] 29 (tied)
6Girls Night OutJune 22, 20220.331.54 [14] 412
7Around the WorldJune 29, 20220.331.51 [15] 412
8Turn Back TimeJuly 13, 20220.331.55 [16] 36
9Starry Starry NightJuly 20, 20220.331.40 [17] 4 (tied)9 (tied)
10Head 2 HeadJuly 27, 20220.331.54 [18] 37
11The Final CutAugust 3, 20220.221.49 [19] 413
12The Season 17 FinaleAugust 10, 20220.331.46 [20] 310

References

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  2. "Fox Not Moving Forward With Production On 'So You Think You Can Dance' Due To COVID-19". Deadline Hollywood . June 18, 2020.
  3. White, Peter (April 4, 2022). "'So You Think You Can Dance': Matthew Morrison & JoJo Siwa Join As Judges Alongside Stephen 'tWitch' Boss As Cat Deeley Also Returns". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved April 23, 2022.
  4. Shafer, Ellise (May 27, 2022). "Matthew Morrison Out as 'So You Think You Can Dance' Judge After Not Following 'Competition Production Protocols'". Variety . Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  5. "Matthew Morrison Fired from SYTYCD for 'Flirty' Messages That Made Contestant 'Uncomfortable': Source". People . May 31, 2022. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  6. "Emmy Award Winner Leah Remini to Join Stephen "tWitch" Boss and JoJo Siwa on the "So You Think You Can Dance" Judging Panel" (Press release). Fox. June 10, 2022. Retrieved June 10, 2022 via The Futon Critic.
  7. Jackson, Dory; Chiu, Melody (December 14, 2022). "Stephen 'tWitch' Boss, Former Ellen DeGeneres Show DJ and SYTYCD All-Star, Dead at 40". People. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  8. "Emmy Award-Winning "So You Think You Can Dance" Returns For 17th Season on FOX". The Futon Critic . February 20, 2020.
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  19. Mitch Salem (August 4, 2022). "Wednesday 8.3.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals". Showbuzz Daily . Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  20. Mitch Metcalf (August 11, 2022). "Wednesday 8.10.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals". Showbuzz Daily . Retrieved August 11, 2022.