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'SYTYCD' Season 17: Fans slam Leah Remini, say a 'dance enthusiast' can't be a judge

While Remini believes her love for dance makes her the right choice, fans disagree

'So You Think You Can Dance' is a show many people grew up watching -- after all, it currently has 17 seasons. So when fans found out that longtime judges Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy would not be making a comeback in the current season, you can best believe that they were upset. While there was sufficient chatter around the new judges' panel, it looks like the newest addition of Leah Remini hasn't gone over too well with fans of the show.

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Seeing that Matthew Morrison is no longer a part of Season 17 on account of the recent scandal involving a female contestant, 'SYTYCD' had the ardent task of filling one spot on the judges' panel. The show recently announced that Leah Remini would be taking his place and fans were rightly skeptical, seeing that Remini's resume as a dancer was rather short. While she was a contestant on Season 17 of 'Dancing with the Stars', she also co-hosted Season 19 and Season 21, and was a guest judge in Season 28.

In a conversation with ET, Remini felt she was a natural choice for the role. "Makes sense, why wouldn't I be judging!" she said. "I love dancing, I love dancers, I love dance shows, I love artists. I got a dance studio. People don't know that I dance every day but that doesn't matter, I'm not trying to like make myself like, 'Oh duh, I'm a dancer, I should be a judge.' I'm not a dancer but I'm a fan of the show. I love dance," she added. 

However, as Remini made her appearance for the first time on the 300th episode of the show, announcing that she was a 'dance enthusiast', fans were far from thrilled. "I, too, am a "dance enthusiast." Guess I just need to play Zack Morris' girlfriend on the worst, weirdest summer "season" of SBTB and the "hot wife" on some sitcoms so I, too, can be a judge? #SYTYCD," asked a fan. "I honestly think they should’ve gotten another alumni to fill Matt’s chair #SYTYCD," stated another.

"I haven’t watched #SYTYCD in years, but I’m not impressed. Not impressed with a “dance enthusiast” being a judge and not impressed with the first routine at all," tweeted a fan. "#SYTYCD I really like Leah R but the only dance experience she has is dancing with the stars..is this true," another sked. "I enjoy this show. But straight up, this season has been garbage. I love that the stale judges were replaced. But shortening everything, doing all flash and story and little dance... they better fix it or I'll be done by next season #sytycd," someone said. "Trying to watch So You Think You Can Dance but with Jojo Siwa and Leah Remini as judges I just can't make myself do it. Good thing they kept Cat and brought back Twitch but I doubt it is enough. #sytycd going back to watch Seinfeld tonight," added another.

'So You Think You Can Dance' Season 17 airs on Wednesdays at 9 pm ET/PT.

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