JC Chasez calls MTV's new series "Randy Jackson Presents: America's Best Dance Crew" one of the best ideas the network has invested in in quite a while.

"I'm glad they're putting their money where their mouth is and bringing music and dancing back to music television," Chasez, a former member of 'N Sync, told the Daily News. "Everybody loves 'The Hills' and 'Laguna Beach,' but it's good to have music and dancing and entertainment on MTV. It's an important thing."

Chasez, who is a judge on the show, says he was recruited by pal Jackson to bring his knowledge of group dance to the show, premiering Thursday night at 10.

Follow up:

"When it comes to choreographing, the group that I was in, 'N Sync, we did the largest production tour in the history of recording, so I guess it kind of made me an expert," said Chasez. "My goal is to give the dancers insight to what it is that I like or dislike, or both, about their performances so that they can take that knowledge and apply it in the future."

Already, MTV has aired a live casting showdown, giving viewers a sneak peek at the talent that will appear on the main show. In addition to Chasez, choreographer Shane Sparks will judge and Mario Lopez will host. Eight teams of five to seven members will compete each week, showing off their choreography skills, to be crowned the country's best hip-hop dance group.

"On first glance, there's definitely some potential," Chasez said of the crews who made it through the auditions. "I don't have a favorite, but I see great potential in probably three or four groups."

Though the style of dance that will be showcased is mostly hip hop, Chasez points out that there's a difference between just popping and locking and really dancing.

"When I see a routine and it's just every B-boy [breakdancing] move in the book, it's like, 'Okay, but what else can you do?'" said Chasez. "If I see somebody come up and drop into some kind of freeze, it shows me they're athletic. Then if they do something very clean and sharp, all off a sudden, it's like okay, this guy can also dance in a group, he's not sloppy. I want to see range."

[source]