Why Don't More People Watch SYTYCD?

I try to hate reality TV. I really do. As an aspiring TV writer, I resent them on the basis that for every single one of them hogging a prime time spot, there are dozens of scripted pilots sitting on shelves in the networks' closets that will never see the light of day, and for each of those pilots, dozens of young aspiring-staff writers who won't get jobs because of it.

But there are a few shows that are just so lovable, I can't hate them. So You Think You Can Dance is one of them.

It really is tremendous, featuring gorgeous young dancers who perform routines so spectacular they outdo the set pieces in a lot of "dance" movies by a factor of a lot. The contestants are talented. The judges are crazy (although they do know what they're talking about). And the host Cat Deeley is thoroughly charming.

And yet, when it comes to ratings, SYTYCD gets trounced by CSI reruns.

Whereas fellow reality shows American Idol (SYTYCD and Idol are basically the same show, except they dance instead of sing) are ratings juggernauts. Even though in terms of looking at the episodes alone, they're not better shows.

I think the reason SYTYCD doesn't get the same amount of attention as Idol is the stakes. Nothing really happens if you win So You Think You Can Dance. So you're "America's Favorite Dancer". And you win a bunch of money. But nothing really happens after that.

Not so with American Idol. We get to see them have careers. Eight years later, and Kelly Clarkson's still topping the charts. When the producers use phrases like "Search for a Superstar" it's not just hyperbole--these people do very often go on to be very popular, very visible recording artists.

American Idol is a high stakes competition. We really want our favorites to win, or at least stay in long enough that they can score a record contract and not fade into obscurity. If they win, they're mega-stars. If they lose, we might not see them again. High stakes.

Not so with SYTYCD. Whether they win or lose, we usually don't see them again (unless they get a job as a choreographer on Dancing with the Stars or SYTYCD itself.) Maybe they go on to have great careers in Dance World, but most of us aren't linked in to Dance World, so we don't really see what happens to them after.

Maybe I'm reading too much into Reality TV ratings, but the fact is without stakes, there is no drama. If nothing good happens to the characters if they win and nothing bad happens to them if they fail, then why should we root for them? Answer, we don't. It's a rule that holds true for both scripted stories and real life competitions.

Stories need stakes. I sure wish more people would watch SYTYCD, though.