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Nigel Lythgoe
Nigel Lythgoe OBE (/ˈlɪθɡoʊ/; born 9 July 1949) is an English television and film director and producer, television dance competition judge, former dancer in the Young Generation and choreographer. He was the producer of the shows Pop Idol and American Idol and created the 2009 competition Superstars of Dance. He is also the creator and executive producer of So You Think You Can Dance, on which he served as a permanent judge for the first sixteen seasons.
Lythgoe was born in Wallasey, Merseyside, to dockworker George Percival Lythgoe and Gertrude Emily Lythgoe. He became interested in dance at the age of ten and began tap dancing,. He studied at the Hylton-Bromley School of Dance and Drama and the Perry Cowell School of Dance, both in Wallasey, where he studied classical ballet, modern jazz, ballroom, character, classical Greek and National dance from various countries. Lythgoe's first professional job was in the corps de ballet for the English National Ballet tour of The Merry Widow. He trained in London under Joanne Steuer and Molly Molloy. Beginning in 1969, Lythgoe performed with the BBC's dance troupe known as The Young Generation. He became their choreographer in 1971 and has since choreographed over 500 television shows.[citation needed]
Early in Lythgoe's career, he learned to use techniques (e.g., multi-cameras) to film choreography, a skill that would help lead to a TV career.
During the 1970s and into the 1980s, Lythgoe performed with dancers including Cyd Charisse and Gene Kelly. He also choreographed for Ben Vereen, Shirley Bassey and the Muppets. Lythgoe, in an interview with People said that he was "the only person to dance, choreograph, produce and direct the Royal Variety Performance."
After working in the television industry, including at TVS, by 1995, Lythgoe held the post of Head of Entertainment and Comedy at London Weekend Television, where he commissioned and produced shows including Gladiators and Blind Date.
In 2000, Lythgoe became the so-called "tough judge" on Popstars and was nicknamed "Nasty Nigel" by the British tabloid press. He was loaned by London Weekend Television to Bob Geldof's television company Planet 24 to executive produce and direct the British version of Survivor. Lythgoe then joined Simon Fuller's 19 Entertainment group as President of 19 Television. He developed and produced a new show created by Fuller, Pop Idol. This then became a global franchise that includes American Idol. He moved to the U.S. in 2002 to produce American Idol and then became producer/judge and co-creator of So You Think You Can Dance on the FOX television network.
Lythgoe, and his production partner Ken Warwick, initially agreed to produce the 2007 Emmys, but could not due to scheduling conflicts with SYTYCD.
In 2007, Lythgoe worked with a number of California-based Brits, including then-British Consul-General Bob Peirce, to found BritWeek, an annual program of events held in Los Angeles and Orange County to celebrate the business, historical, and entertainment ties between the UK and California. On 4 August 2008, Lythgoe confirmed that he was leaving American Idol and decided to move on with So You Think You Can Dance.
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Nigel Lythgoe
Nigel Lythgoe OBE (/ˈlɪθɡoʊ/; born 9 July 1949) is an English television and film director and producer, television dance competition judge, former dancer in the Young Generation and choreographer. He was the producer of the shows Pop Idol and American Idol and created the 2009 competition Superstars of Dance. He is also the creator and executive producer of So You Think You Can Dance, on which he served as a permanent judge for the first sixteen seasons.
Lythgoe was born in Wallasey, Merseyside, to dockworker George Percival Lythgoe and Gertrude Emily Lythgoe. He became interested in dance at the age of ten and began tap dancing,. He studied at the Hylton-Bromley School of Dance and Drama and the Perry Cowell School of Dance, both in Wallasey, where he studied classical ballet, modern jazz, ballroom, character, classical Greek and National dance from various countries. Lythgoe's first professional job was in the corps de ballet for the English National Ballet tour of The Merry Widow. He trained in London under Joanne Steuer and Molly Molloy. Beginning in 1969, Lythgoe performed with the BBC's dance troupe known as The Young Generation. He became their choreographer in 1971 and has since choreographed over 500 television shows.[citation needed]
Early in Lythgoe's career, he learned to use techniques (e.g., multi-cameras) to film choreography, a skill that would help lead to a TV career.
During the 1970s and into the 1980s, Lythgoe performed with dancers including Cyd Charisse and Gene Kelly. He also choreographed for Ben Vereen, Shirley Bassey and the Muppets. Lythgoe, in an interview with People said that he was "the only person to dance, choreograph, produce and direct the Royal Variety Performance."
After working in the television industry, including at TVS, by 1995, Lythgoe held the post of Head of Entertainment and Comedy at London Weekend Television, where he commissioned and produced shows including Gladiators and Blind Date.
In 2000, Lythgoe became the so-called "tough judge" on Popstars and was nicknamed "Nasty Nigel" by the British tabloid press. He was loaned by London Weekend Television to Bob Geldof's television company Planet 24 to executive produce and direct the British version of Survivor. Lythgoe then joined Simon Fuller's 19 Entertainment group as President of 19 Television. He developed and produced a new show created by Fuller, Pop Idol. This then became a global franchise that includes American Idol. He moved to the U.S. in 2002 to produce American Idol and then became producer/judge and co-creator of So You Think You Can Dance on the FOX television network.
Lythgoe, and his production partner Ken Warwick, initially agreed to produce the 2007 Emmys, but could not due to scheduling conflicts with SYTYCD.
In 2007, Lythgoe worked with a number of California-based Brits, including then-British Consul-General Bob Peirce, to found BritWeek, an annual program of events held in Los Angeles and Orange County to celebrate the business, historical, and entertainment ties between the UK and California. On 4 August 2008, Lythgoe confirmed that he was leaving American Idol and decided to move on with So You Think You Can Dance.