While Randy Jackson resumes Dawg Pound Duty on FOX's American Idol this week, he also launches the third season of his pride and joy, MTV's Randy Jackson Presents America's Best Dance Crew, which has crowned JabbaWockeeZ and Super Cr3w as past champions. Jackson tells PEOPLE what to expect from the thrid season, which airs Thursday (10 p.m. ET). -- Cynthia Wang
Nine new crews. What's different?This season we're going to blow it through the roof. You are going to see some here from So You Think You Can Dance, who have danced with Justin Timberlake. Everybody's going for it now because we've always wanted to present the best of the best of the best that there is, and I love seeing how the show has permeated. You're going to see some unbelievable stunts.
Did you expect the show to be such a hit?No ... but it has the same thing that Idol has ... We are in the eighth season there, we are going to our third season at ABDC and I tell you, I thought that it was something that this country should know about. What I love about these kids is the heart and passion they have for what they do. They would be doing this and they have been doing this whether or not there was a camera, a TV show or money, or whatever.
You work in music but are not a dancer. Why the passion for this show?People always ask me, "So dawg, why you, a music guy, doing this dance thing?" Well, guess what? There is no dancing without music, right? So my thing is I want everything in my wheelhouse. When I'm in the studio making music, I am making beats. I go out to clubs because I have friends who are deejays, and I want to see what are dancing to because I'm making music are dancing to, so it makes perfect sense for me to do this show.
Will your famous friends make some cameos this time?Dude, I love this. Missy Elliott was on this season; Flo Rida was on the season before. You are going to see more surprises this season. I just love that friends come up to me and go, "Yo, I need to get on that show, man!" Justin Timberlake said to me, "You know, that show's mad cool." I love that are embracing it.
Scott Gries/MTV/AP
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