‘So You Think You Can Dance’ Season 17 Canceled, Will It Affect ‘Dancing With The Stars?’

COVID-19 has officially claimed another victim, at least when it comes to television. FOX has announced that production on Season 17 of “So You Think You Can Dance” was not going to resume.

In a statement, a network rep admitted that the pandemic, which halted the audition process for the show in March, was too big of an obstacle for the show to overcome, which led to it becoming necessary for the production to be stalled.

“Production on Season 17 of ‘SYTYCD’ will not be moving forward due to health and governmental restrictions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” the statement read. “As a result, while we were looking forward to its return this summer, we cannot meet the standards we’ve set for viewers and contestants in light of the show’s unique format, intricate production schedule and limited time.”

However, the show could once again return to production in the future, meaning its future is not entirely sealed. Still, it could raise some questions about how other similar shows will be able to go forward with production—including ABC’s popular “Dancing With the Stars,” which is not only planning to go ahead with filming and has a planned home still on the network’s Fall schedule but even went as far as to announce their first celebrity contestant in former “Bachelorette” Kaitlyn Bristowe.

“I have seen the presentation from the ‘Dancing With the Stars’ producers on how we are planning to produce this show, post-COVID and with the health regulations in place because they have the advantage of making it in other territories and I am blown away by the ingenuity and the care which they are producing it,” ABC Entertainment President Karey Burke said. “We are bringing all of those innovations to the American broadcast. I’m really confident in their plan.”

Of course, while “DWTS” may be able to still work, “SYTYCD” no longer airing new episodes could hurt the show in the future when it comes to producing some new pros as others leave an pursue other projects. Past dancers who came from “SYTYCD” included Artem Chigvintsev (who placed in the top 8 of Season One), Allison Holker and Dmitry Chaplin (Season 2), Lacey Schwimmer (Season 3), Chelsie Hightower (Season 4) and troupe members Hayley Erbert and Brittany Cherry (Season 10).

Current pros still on the “DWTS” roster who came from “SYTYCD” are also all Mirrorball winners. Lindsay Arnold (who won Season 25) and Witney Carson (who won Season 19) were both in Season 9, while Season 26 and Season 28 champs Jenna Johnson and Alan Bersten were both also part of “SYTYCD” Season 10.