Nigel Lythgoe

Nigel Lythgoe became a television insider because of his 10 year association with the granddaddy of all reality talent competitions, "American Idol." But this son of a dockworker from Northern England started out as a hoofer. And after striking gold with America's vocal chords, he returned to his first love on the dance reality program "So You Think You Can Dance," a show that transformed a defining obsession into gold for this producer-turned-reality television celeb.