Paula Abdul to guest judge on ‘So You Think You Can Dance’

Paula Abdul has been out of the reality TV competition-judging game for a couple of years, but she’s sitting back down behind the table Tuesday night for a guest spot on Fox’s other long-running competition show, “So You Think You Can Dance.”

Of course, most people remember Abdul from her eight seasons as a judge on “American Idol.” And though she had a very successful career as a pop singer in the ‘90s, she had another successful career as a choreographer before that. So she’s more than qualified to critique people’s dancing as well as their singing.

Abdul’s “SYTYCD” appearance will reunite her with Nigel Lythgoe, who served as executive producer on “Idol” during Abdul’s tenure on the show. Lythgoe has been a judge on the dance show since it premiered in 2005.

PHOTOS: Celebrities by The Times

After leaving “Idol” in 2009, Abdul has been making the rounds as a judge, serving for a season on Simon Cowell’s new singing-competition show, “The X Factor,” and creating her own show, “Live to Dance,” which was canceled by CBS after seven episodes. She’s also served as a guest judge on the all-stars edition of “Dancing With the Stars.”

Producers are no doubt hoping that Abdul’s appearance will recapture some of that old “Idol” magic. Like “Idol,” “SYTYCD” has seen a ratings slide, with the current season drawing an audience well below the audience the show had last summer.

In an effort to draw more eyes, producers have had a series of guest judges this season, including Minnie Driver, Wayne Brady and Jesse Tyler Ferguson.

ALSO:

Meredith Vieira to launch daytime talk show in 2014

‘Mad Men’s’ Vincent Kartheiser talks getting animated for Fox

Jeff Daniels confirms ‘Dumb and Dumber’ sequel on ‘Late Night’