Leah Remini, the actress and activist, joined the long-running dance competition TV show next week as SYTYCD enters its live phase. She is taking over for Matthew Morrison, who exited the show on May 27 after violating its competition production protocols, and joins fellow judges Stephen “Twitch” Boss and Jojo Siwa.
Remini’s first appearance on the show will be on the June 15 episode, the show, is also the long-running show’s 300th installment.
Remini said “I am thrilled to join So You Think You Can Dance on its milestone 300th episode,.” “I look forward to guiding these incredibly talented artists through this competition as a fan of the show and a great admirer of dancers. I can’t wait to see the artistry that the contestants bring to the stage.”
Morrison, who exited the show after violating competition protocols that he had sent “flirty” messages to a female contestant, said in a June 3 Instagram post that he sent a single text message that read, “Hey, it’s Matthew. If you don’t mind, would love to get your number and talk you through some things.” Morrison, responding to comments that he had sent “flirty” messages to a female contestant, said in a June 3 Instagram post that he sent a single text message that read, “Hey, it’s Matthew. If you don’t mind, would love to get your number and talk you through some things.” He said he contacted the contestant because they shared a mutual interest in a choreographer, for setting his record straight. Nonetheless, off-camera interaction between judges and contestants on talent competitions is against the regulations for such shows. He has appeared in two pre-taped episodes after his exit but won’t be around as So You Think You Can Dance begins filming live episodes, with viewers voting on which dancers continue to advance.
Remini, the former star of CBS’ The King of Queens and Kevin Can Wait, the dance show marks a return to broadcast primetime for her. She has won two Emmys for A&E’s docuseries Scientology and the Aftermath and recently had a guest host run on The Wendy Williams Show. She also hosts the game show People Puzzler on GSN and earned a Daytime Emmy nomination for her work. She was a contestant on ABC’s Dancing With the Stars in 2013, finishing fifth with partner Tony Dovolani. She has also served as a guest co-host and guest judge on the series in later seasons.
So You Think You Can Dance is produced by Sony’s 19 Entertainment and MRC Live & Alternative. The latter’s parent company.
