UNICEF Ambassador

AUDIO DISCUSSION

Cat Deeley, host of Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance," takes you behind the scenes of the reality dance competition.

For more, connect with Cat at her Web site, officiallycatdeeley.com, and follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/catdeeley

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washingtonpost.com: Cat is running a few minutes late, and will begin taking questions at 12:10 ET.

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Washington, D.C.: Cat, you seem incredibly personable on the show and also give the impression that you know and like the dancers. I was wondering if you spend much time with the dancers during the season, and do you remain in contact with any of them post-production?

Cat Deeley: I spend quite a lot of time with them during the season, doing rehearsals and things together all the time, but I don't socialize with them at all during the season. I have to remain very fair. But afterward, they come to my house and we have a barbecue on Fourth of July. And all of the past dancers come into the studio to visit us. It's lovely, it's quite like a family.

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Washington, D.C.: Hi Cat,

I used to watch you on Top of the Pops when I was living in Bath. I have 2 questions.

Can you dance? Anything funny or different you found upon living in the States?

Cat Deeley: I think the first thing is no, I absolutely can't, and if I did, America would bleed from their eyes. Now, if I'm out with some friends on a social situation, I will, but it's not something I want to inflict on America in general.

Secondly, the real difference for me is the audiences here in America are so different in the studio. The Americans are so enthusiastic, that enthusiasm is so infectious -- they get up and sing and dance. Where as English people are very reserved, they have the stiff upper lip, and getting them to clap is a miracle. So it's lovely to have the American audiences you have to tell to sit down rather than stand up.

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Washington, DC: Cat, my partner and I adore you - we're convinced that you could mount the stage in a burlap sack and make it work. How much do you get to participate in picking out your ensembles for the show?

Cat Deeley: I do it all myself, actually. I am my own stylist. I love fashion, I love everything about it, I like high street and designer, but my favorite thing is going to vintaage stores and finding hidden jems, and I rework them sometimes to raise hems or take straps off, and wear them on the show.

The reason I am my own stylist is that no one can tell you what you're comfortable wearing on any given day, so I prefer to be my own stylist.

I'm also working on a line of vintage-inspired jewelery for QVC, but it probably won't be ready until right before Christmas time, maybe beginning of Dec.

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Bramley, UK: A lot of us UK fans know you best for SMTV Live, a Saturday morning kids show. Would you ever consider doing a one-off show for charity with Ant & Dec or have you moved on now?

Cat Deeley: Yeah, I would absolutely consider working with Ant and Dec at any time in the future. We're incredibly good friends, and we try to see each other whenever we can. When they're in LA we get together, and when I'm in the UK, we get together for dinner, have a few glasses of wine and we are instantly like we used to be. I think we're going to be firm friends forever.

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Boston: Hi Cat! So tell us, when Phillip was eliminated and started talking about his father, you were totally fighting tears during the wrap and lead in to the local news, right? Awww. And can someone please give you an Emmy soon?

Cat Deeley: That's delightful, you can be in charge of my Emmy campaign for me.

That's the first time ever I've broken down on TV. It's always really difficult anytime anyone has to leave -- you just can't help getting attatched to the dances. But the thing that really got to me about Phillip was when he started talking about his father. He had told me stories about him the week we met.

Then the week of that show, his father died, and every remaining dancer was at the funeral. And all anyone needs to do is mention fathers and I become a weepy mess, because i'm so close to mine.

So it was an amalgamation of a lot of things, and I just felt so sad for him.

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Syracuse, N.Y.: Kat, Do the judges think that a tie is possible this Season? Thank you.

Cat Deeley: No, I don't they would ever have a tie. Last season, 23.6 million Americans voted -- it would be absolutely incredible if two people managed to get exactly the same votes. So I doubt that a tie is possible.

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Washington, D.C.: Nigel sometimes makes the viewer uncomfortable with his borderline inappropriate comments to female dancers. How is he in real life?

Cat Deeley: Oh, he's just making jokes. He's totally cool.

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Burke, Va.: Hello Cat, I love you!

With all the hot bods on the show, what are the living arrangements and do the dancers have to sign a non-fraternization agreement to limit romances during the season?

Cat Deeley: I don't think they are allowed to have romances during the actual season. I think occassionaly it happens afterward, when they go on tour on stuff. When they are doing the show, they are all so incredibly focused, and we work them SO hard. By the end of the competition they are physically and emotionally battered and bruised. There really isn't much time for romance while the show is airing. But afterwards? Just occassionally...

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London, U.K.: What was up with the chair with Paula Abdul's name on it? Will she be coming on the show or did she reject the offer?

Cat Deeley: No, I think the offer is still open to her, and I think she is still deciding on what capacity she wants to come up to the show -- as a judge, choreographer, does she want to do one amazing group number, etc. So fingers crossed, we'll see her at some point or another.

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Kensington, Md.: Love the show! You bring to it a great mix of spirit and compassion. How did you all manage to keep up the energy for season 5 while flying out to all of those season six auditions?

Cat Deeley: You know what, it was difficult at times, because we would do a live show on Thursday night, come off air, fly a red eye, then go strait into hair and makeup, which was incredibly difficult.

But to see new talent emerging is incredilby exciting. So I would be tired, on the way from the airport I'd be wishing for an hours sleep, but then you get to the line and the energy from the new talent rubs off on you.

So it was tough, but I love my job.

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Washington, D.C.: Do you still pursue journalistic endeavors in Europe or elsewhere when SYTYCD is not filming?

Cat Deeley: Yeah, I'm definitely open to all different jobs. I interviewed Kylie Minogue after her breast cancer, I went on tour with U2 and did a special with them. I went to Ireland recently to do a special on 250th birthday of Guinness.

It's definitely something I enjoy. I like doing research, collaborating with my producer, coming up with questions. It's definitely something I want to continue.

But at the moment I'm doing SYTYCD in the US and in the UK, so I'm doing a transAtlantic flight once a week. There's no time at the moment, but it's something I want to pursue in the future.

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Philadelphia, Pa.: Do you observe any differences between being a star in America versus being a star in Great Britain?

Cat Deeley: You're probably asking the wrong person -- you would be better of asking Will Smith or Tom Cruise. But I thank you for asking me. There's not really any difference. To be famous is great if you're famous for doing something that people enjoy, that's wonderful. The trappings of fame I don't really enjoy, but I like that I can do something positive with it, like doing documentaries for UNICEF in Brazil -- that's the nice part of it. But there's very little difference between being famous in the UK and in America.

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DC: Hi Cat. I absolutely love the show -- much, much better than DWTS, even though some of the pros are former contestants on SYTYCD.

My question is -- what happens to the top-tenners after the champion is crowned? In the last season, I was mesmerized by Brandon (who ended up the runner-up) and I thought he was the hugest talent I'd ever seen. I'm really hoping that some dance group picked him up and that he's employed (or will be, after the tour is done). Jacob this season comes in right after Brandon as an astonishingly great dancer.

Cat Deeley: I think it very much depends on what the dancers themselves want to do after the show. They do the show, and that brings them to a level where people start to take notice of them. So Mariah Carey, for instance, rings into the studio and asks about taking someone on tour.

After the show and the tour, it's up to the individual what they want to do. Some want to join a dance group, some want to go on tour with a music artist or do video. But some want to go home and open a studio, or to become choreographers.

Some go into movies -- Kerrington is in Fame, Twitch is in a movie. It really depends on the individual dancer and their aspirations.

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Wash, D.C.: Hi Cat! So excited that you are here! You truly seem like you are one of the nicest, most genuine and personable hosts on TV. That likely means you are too nice to gossip about your colleagues, but... do you have any dish on the judges? Do you socialize or hang out with them?

Cat Deeley: You know what? Yes, we do, we very much do -- if we go to any awards or celebrations, we always see each other. And when we are on the road, we are always going out together. No one wants to sit alone in a hotel room in a strange city.

We work hard and we party hard.

As for dish, Mary Murphy, I've had a couple of really fabulous nights out with her. Just from seeing her on the show, you can imagine how much fun she is on an evening out.

Thank you so much for all your questions, and keep watching the show, it's going to be a great season.

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