Some people can't stand her, and some people are just annoyed, but either way, So You Think You Can Dance choreographer and judge Mary Murphy makes an impression.

You would think that growing up with four brothers, and being somewhat of a tomboy would have led Murphy to anything but a dancing career. And indeed through school, she was quite the athlete, participating in sports such as track and field, basketball, volleyball, and even football. She graduated from college majoring in physical education and minoring in modern dance. Yet looking for employment in Washington, D.D., she found herself answering an ad the utilized her interest in dance, not sports. She began instructing, and after watching a ballroom championship, it awoke something in her, and she wanted to spend the rest of her life dancing.

Murphy began taking lessons herself and also began a search for a dance partner. She landed in San Diego, California, and began her own school, the Champion Ballroom Academy, still searching for that dance partner. While operating the school, she was also representing Austria in competition, and began having a hard time being transcontinental. She was forced to part ways with her dancing partner, but continued competing and winning titles in the United States, still searching for that perfect partner.

Eventually Murphy retired from dance to concentrate on instructing. While still running her school, she also organizes the Holiday Dance Classic in Las Vegas and works as a judge for many dance competitions, including the U.S. National Ballroom Championships. Eventually, Hollywood came calling as well, and she has appeared as Julia Roberts' dance double in Something to Talk About, and has also appeared in the film Dance With Me.

Yet, what has gotten Murphy the biggest recognition in Hollywood is her gig with So You Think You Can Dance as a judge and choreographer. She had actually auditioned first to be a judge for the other dancing reality television show, Dancing With the Stars, and while she didn't make the show, it brought her to the attention of the people at Fox who were looking to start So You Think You Can Dance. Each season has seen her do less and less choreography and more and more judging, and for the current season, she will be judging full time, right alongside creator and executive producer Nigel Lythgoe.

One interesting thing to come out of Murphy's tenure on So You Think You Can Dance is her choice of dance partners that assist her in teaching. Season two Murphy used season one finalist Artem Chigvinsev to help her teach her ballroom moves. Interestingly enough, Chigvinsev seems to make his way around the reality TV dancing shows, as he's also in a romantic relationship with Carrie Ann Inaba from Dancing With the Stars. This season Murphy has last season's contestant, Dmitry Chigvinsev helping her. She seemed to struggle so much in her dancing career finding the perfect partner, so perhaps all that was needed all this time was some new meat.

The best thing you can say about Murphy is that at times she can be just as entertaining as a judge as the dancing she is judging. Although whether you enjoy her entertainment is purely speculative. She giggles, screams, and teases her way throughout the auditions and performances. And if the show is now offering her permanent status as a judge, they must be seeing her as a larger contributing factor to their success.

Most people point to Murphy's cackling as reason to dislike her. It is a little disarming at first, as it's loud and just doesn't stop. And no matter what dance is going on, if she is tickled by it, she'll let loose with one of her famous cackles. But if she particularly enjoys a dancer or routine, she'll let out a shrill scream or "Whoo!" While very annoying at first, you can become accustomed to it. She also likes to tease the contestants as well, making it seem like she doesn't like the performance, only to throw in a "just kidding" and hurriedly say she actually loved it. Last season's winner, Benji Schwimmer, was her victim of that seemingly every week.

So why is Murphy successful on the show then, given people are so annoyed by her antics? It has to be because she is right. Once she stops giggling, the critique she gives those performances are usually right on, as she explains it just wasn't good, or that the dancer was especially fantastic. What she's really great at is pulling out every colloquialism possible to explain a situation, as she calls people shining stars, a breath of fresh air, and firecrackers. Some of her comments are odd, even for her, as she recently told one of the competing women that the hot tamale train pulled up and let her off.

Maybe it's not so much that Murphy is successful on the show, as it's a formula that works. In some ways, it resembles it's older sister show, the grandmother of them all, American Idol, also on Fox. American Idol has a British judge that has worked behind the scenes, a former professional female, and a professional male that is ultra cool, as some would see it, using phrases like Dawg and a'ight. So You Think You Can Dance has the British judge, and ultra cool judge, such as Shane Sparks or Dan Karaty, and Mary Murphy, very much fulfilling the Paula Abdul role on the show.

Besides the fact, Murphy has proven she knows her stuff. After years as an athlete, she turned to dancing, and gave herself quite the crash course. It now seems to be her goal to do that for others on the show, provide them that avenue for fame that she worked so long and hard for.

You can contact me at LauraBelle@realityshack.com

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