6 Things To Expect For So You Think You Can Dance Season 11

The reality dance competition show returns for its 11th season Wednesday (8/7c, Fox) amidst a glut of reality shows that are all struggling to retain the audiences that once turned up in droves. "Like most shows, we've been losing viewers and the viewing figures have been going down," executive producer and judge Nigel Lythgoe told reporters on a call last week. Perhaps SYTYCD learned its lesson from last season's excruciatingly failed attempt at voting someone off at the top of the episode, after which the eliminees then had to cheerfully dance their rehearsed routines through the rest of the program. The winner for each of those match-ups will perform live on the show, and the crew with the most Twitter votes overall will perform on the finale. There can be only one Unlike most recent seasons in which viewers could vote for one each of their favorite male and female dancers, this season will revert to the original formula of just one ultimate champ. Superstar judges The revolving judges seat will once again bring in some big names from the entertainment, dance and even Olympic worlds. Following her popular commentary at the Sochi Winter Games, figure skater Tara Lipinski will join Adam Shankman, Stephen "tWitch" Boss and Irina Dvorovenko to help judge the callbacks in Los Angeles. Throughout the audition rounds, the guest judges will be Wayne Brady (New Orleans), actress Jenna Elfman and 6-foot-5 ballet dancer Fabrice Calmels (Chicago), Jenna Dewan-Tatum (Atlanta), Kinky Boots' Billy Porter and ballerina Misty Copeland (Philadelphia), and Christina Applegate (Los Angeles). Innovative dance forms Although not every new dance form will make it to their own competitive routines like Bollywood did, they could show up in the auditions or as part of showcase dances. Familiar faces Fans of the show will be happy to hear that a few standout favorites who never went far enough in the competition will return for another shot. In particular, the quirky-dorky bowtie-wearing Caleb Brauner, who danced with his father last year, will be back with some surprising news and a renewed determination.