America’s Best Dance Crew returns tonight, and executive produder Randy Jackson says it’s the best season yet. That’s what they always say! But he also says he doesn’t know how long he’ll be on his other show, a little up-and-comer called American Idol, and that losing Paula and getting ready to lose Simon is like “breaking up a family.” Ouch. EW spoke with Jackson this week to get the low-down on the b-boys and girls, Adam and Kris, and how old Dance Crew fans are supposed to be.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: How did Omarion wind up as Shane Sparks’ replacement on America’s Best Dance Crew this season? (Sparks was arrested in December on charges of child molestation.)
RANDY JACKSON: Shane is going through some personal things, and we wish him the best with all that, but we had a role to fill. I’ve been a fan and friend of Omarion for a long time — I knew him in his group days (in B2K). He’s an amazing dancer; he has movie stuff and TV stuff that he’s done. We looked at a lot of people, but he was just the right fit.