Kick Off Season Two of 'America's Best Dance Crew' Backstage with Me & Get The Early Scoop On Tonight's Premiere

June 19, 09:28 AM

Go hard or go home. Those are the words of judge Lil' Mama (pictured left with me, backstage at the premiere taping) and it seems to be the unofficial theme of this second installment of America's Best Dance Crew. For those who caught the live casting special a couple weekends back, you know there's a great deal of talent in the ten crews that made the cut. But tonight, you'll see more than a few of the finalists falter. In fact, judge Shane Sparks went so far as to call one of the crews -- a crew that he dug in the casting special -- "whack." Mmmhmmm. Harsh words, but they ain't playin' this season.

Judge J.C. Chasez (pictured left at Monday's taping) was a bit kinder when we spoke moments before the cameras rolled: "There's more talent on this first show than there was on the last first show, because the first season gave us exposure. People lined up to get into this one. So I think these ten are maybe stronger than the eight we started with last time around."

Las Vegas' Super Cr3w (pictured left with show stylist, Kara Saun -- yes, that's Project Runway's Kara Saun!) hangs out in the crews' backstage quarters, hoping to live up to J.C.'s expectations.

The suburban boys of Chicago's Xtreme Dance Force huddle before showing the crowd what they've got. With only a week to put their choreography together -- as opposed to the month everyone got before the casting special -- will they live up to their initial performance? Like I said, the judges are looking for perfection this time around.

A member of California's Supreme Soul gives our photog the thumbs up before walking on stage. Great attitude now, but will he be in this good mood after hearing the judges' critiques? Remember, this is the crew that claims they battled season one winners JabbaWockeeZ and won. So everyone's expecting big things.

Washington D.C.'s Boogie Bots get a few last minute tips from show consultant Napoleon (pictured left). Yes, if you squint your eyes and look closely, that's Napoleon, one half of So You Think You Can Dance's Napolean and Tabitha). If you didn't notice during the casting special, the husband and wife team were the two who traveled the country hand-picking the crews that would make it to L.A.

Uh, yeah, that's me and the Dawg, executive producer Randy Jackson, chillin' before the show. "Do we look like family?," he asked the photographer after she snapped this shot. She said "You do" and he promptly responded with a fist pound. Yep.

Three members of Detroit's A.S.I.I.D. pose for the camera, confident in the performance they've got planned. Did they turn it out? Let's just say Shane had a big old sexy smile on his face when they graced the stage.

Yeah, it looked something like this. A.S.I.I.D.'s Tristan (aka T.A.) grins big as he and his friends return backstage, premiere performance put to rest. To see for yourself how it all went down, don't forget to tune in to MTV tonight at 10 p.m.