Paula Abdul Guest Judges On ‘So You Think You Can Dance’

Paula Abdul returned to reality television Tuesday night, but this time she wasn’t judging singing – she was judging dancing on So You Think You Can Dance.

Abdul, who was a judge on American Idol for seven years, began her career as a choreographer, making So You Think You Can Dance a natural fit. Sitting beside her on the judges panel were guest judge Erin Andrews, an alumnus of Dancing With the Stars, and regular judges Mary Murphy and Nigel Lythgoe. Lythgoe, who also serves as So You Think You Can Dance executive producer, broke the news on twitter yesterday.

Thank you all for your birthday Tweets. I don't know what you got for YOUR birthday but I got @ErinAndrews @PaulaAbdul and @HOTtamaleTRAIN.

— Nigel Lythgoe (@dizzyfeet) July 9, 2013

Abdul herself confirmed the news on Twitter.

This time, the rumors are true!! Lol!! I WILL be joining the #SYTYCD panel tomorrow night! xoP https://t.co/woVsdxnPBC

— The Real Paula Abdul (@PaulaAbdul) July 9, 2013

This is the first time Lythgoe, who also worked as a producer of American Idol for 12 years before being fired this year, has succeeded in getting Abdul on the judges’ panel, though it is far from his first attempt. In fact, a few years after Abdul’s departure from American Idol, Lythgoe extended an open invitation to her on live television.

Abdul watched the Top 18 dancers perform, saw dancer Jasmine Mason eliminated, and Jade Zuberi forfeit due to injury.

So You Think You Can Dance airs Tuesdays at 8 P.M.