America's Best Dance Crew-The First 3 Seasons & the Live Tour

Ok, I admit it. I'm over 40 and I am completely hooked on MTVs "America's Best Dance Crew" (also known as ABDC). Thanks to my teenage daughter, and MTV's website, I have not missed an episode of all three seasons and we went to the live show that made it's rounds through Texas in October 2008.

I discovered years ago, that I didn't care for TV that much. Sure, there are programs I can get into, but for the most part, I'd rather be doing something else. In a cost-cutting measure we made the family-decision to disconnect our satellite service to see if we really could do without TV. I'm pleased to report that after six months even my teenager hasn't missed it. She'd prefer to be online.

There is something so magical about ABDC. You can't help but feel good about yourself after watching the show. Even though the groups that perform come from all over the United States, they have nothing but admiration for each other and it shows. This is TV worth watching folks!

Luckily, we are able to watch all of the episodes of MTV's America's Best Dance Crew online at the official MTV website. You can catch up on all the back episodes, read the bios of each crew, etc. simply by clicking on their link provided below.

Click here to meet the producer, the hosts and panel of judges of America's Best Dance Crew.

• Randy Jackson, who you many know from the panel of judges from American Idol, is the producer for this MTV series.
• The host of the show is handsome, and all grown-up now Mario Lopez from "Saved by the Bell"
• Three celebrity judges are JC Chasez from NSync, Shane Sparks and Lil' Mama.

At the beginning of each season, dance crews from all over the United States and it's territories compete for the final selected crews that will perform on TV each week.

For Season 1, they began the show with twelve crews. For Season 2, they began with ten crews. For Season 3, they began with nine crews. The competition is fierce. Each season has improved over the last. Season 4 of America's Best Dance Crew begins Sunday, August 9, 2009.

Each week the teams are put through a series of challenges. Sometimes they are given specific dance moves they must each incorporate into their routine. Sometimes they are given certain props to use or a specific piece of music. In no particular order, the challenges we've seen in the three seasons are:

• Evolution of Street Dance
• Broadway Remixed
• Thriller
• Movie Characters
• Dance Craze
• 80s Theme
• Missy Elliott
• Bring the Beat
• Janet Jackson
• Speed Up
• Rock the Title
• Video Star
• Crew's Choice

After each performance the panel of judges evaluate the crews and point out the crew's strengths and weaknesses. Often, we are given some slow motion recaps of specific moves that impress the judges. I guarantee you'll see moves like you've never seen before. These crews perform bends and moves in ways I didn't know a body could move. The syncronization of the choreography is awesome.

After the first week, viewers at home are asked to send a text message to vote for their favorite crew. Based on these results the two teams with the lowest scores will face off the next week for elimination. This is pretty much how the remainder of the show goes. It's a mixture of popular vote with the judges sometimes making the determination of who stays and goes.

There are loads of behind the scenes moments where you see the crews learning their routines and all of the work that goes into creating the dances you see. You can't help but fall in love with each of them. It really is hard to see each of them leave. As each leaves we are shown a recap of their best moments on the show and some never seen before footage of them. It's usually a tearful moment.

I have never seen anyone say anything ugly or hateful on this show in spite of being a competition. Everyone takes the criticism from the judges and uses it to better themselves. Every week you seem them top their best.

As a birthday gift my mother purchased tickets for my daughter and I to attend the ABDC Live Tour held in the DFW area. We had really good seats about 17 rows from the stage. We saw all our favorites from Season One and Two. The JabbaWockeeZ, Super Cr3w, Fanny Pak, BreakSk8, A.S.I.I.D. and SoReal Cru were all there! They performed all the routines we had come to love and more!

They put on an incredible show. The lights, sounds and energy was fun for people of all ages. I saw lots of mother-daughter couples, older couples, and others saw it as a girls night out event and the guys saw it as a guys night out event. There was fun for everyone.

Like any live event, they had plenty of things to buy and I was impressed that they had a variety of prices that made buying something affordable for everyone. We opted for an ABDC t-shirt.

Here's the deal, folks. If you can watch these videos and not walk away feeling energized and good about yourself, I don't know how to help you. They are some awesome performances. Please enjoy! I'd love to know what you think about them.