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Returning So You Think You Can Dance judge Mary Murphy had surgery for a tumor in her throat in December, and at least right now, cannot scream, her signature method of expressing approval and appreciation. Mary told me this at a Fox party for TV critics last night, where she also shared the news with others. She told me that she learns more at the end of January, and said, “I’m a little scared.” However, she said doctors discovered she had an “encapsulated tumor,” which she said means it’s less likely that the cancer spread. She had a sore throat and eventually started losing her voice, and friends encouraged her to see a doctor, she told me. Now, she has no thyroid, and doctors are experimenting with medication to get her hormones in line. After officially re-joining the show yesterday , Mary will be part of its three remaining auditions , which start Feb. 2. View the original article here

As expected, choreographer Mary Murphy will return after a season-long absence to So You Think You Can Dance , replacing Mia Michaels, who quit and won’t be a judge on its eighth season. In a press release, Nigel Lythgoe said, “I am delighted to have Mary back on the show. Her expertise in dance, coupled with her warmth, compassion and humor, make her an excellent judge and fun to work with.” That “warmth, compassion and humor” is a nice contrast to judges Adam Shankman and Mia Michaels, who were pretty much the opposite of those three things, though it’s not quite clear why Nigel didn’t ask Mary Murphy to even choreograph last season if he’s so fond of her. (She was in the pool of choreographers, a “mutual decision” between her and Fox, she told me in an interview last May.) Auditions for the show continue in February. View the original article here