by Jeremy Rutherfurd

Created on: June 18, 2008

I have watched both "American Idol" and "So You Think You Can Dance" for several years now and I find myself growing more bored of the former and more riveted by the latter. Here are 10 reasons why:

1. "So You Think You Can Dance" has better stage performances than "American Idol." The reason for this is simple: there is music plus dancing on "So You Think You Can Dance," while there's only music (singing) on "American Idol." It's true that some "Idol" contestants put on a decent show while they sing, but the worst of "Dance's" top 10 put on better stage performances than any "Idol" winners have to date. There's simply more going on on stage in "So You Think You Can Dance."

2. "So You Think You Can Dance" has better music than "American Idol." It's odd that this is true, as "Idol" is all about singing, but it is. The music on "Idol" is limited by the vocal capabilities of the contestants, while dancers can pretty much dance to anything. As a result, there's a much greater range of music on "So You Think You Can Dance" than on "American Idol."

3. "So You Think You Can Dance" is more educational than "American Idol." This is what makes me look forward to watching each episode and each season of "So You Think You Can Dance." There is so much about dance I don't know that each episode is a true learning experience. You're shown different forms and styles of dance and you're exposed to different types of music you wouldn't normally listen to. "American Idol" seems to repeat the same old songs again and again. Yes, there are a few new and original songs every year, but they are rarely very good or even interesting. (At least to my ears.)

4. "So You Think You Can Dance" contestants are more talented. In order to make the top 20, competitors have to prove they are both exceptional dancers and able to learn complicated choreography in one hour. On "American Idol," all contestants have to do is demonstrate that they can sing and learn a few new songs overnight. Granted, singing is a talent (I should know, I am one and I get paid), and I'm not poo-pooing that. But it's much harder to dance at the level "So You Think You Can Dance" competitors dance at in the top 20 than sing at the level "American Idol" contestants sing at in its top 20.

5. "So You Think You Can Dance" contestants know more. It's impossible to make the top 20 in "So You Think You Can Dance" without having taken dance classes. There simply is no way untrained dancers can learn complicated choreography in short

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