Mary Murphy reports that Nigel Lythgoe isn't letting his axing from "American Idol" get him down — at least, not around the set of their show.

"He's doing good; he's keeping his sense of humor about it, which is kind of funny," she says. "He walked in and said, 'I hope you're not going to fire me from 'So You Think You Can Dance.' He's always light-hearted. He's been off that show and come back before, you know," she adds, speaking of the producer whose affiliation with "Idol" goes back to its formation and includes his selection of original judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson. Lythgoe has been quite vocal that he's angry over being let go. "No matter what, he came up with one of the biggest shows in television history, and they'll say later, Nigel was really the start of the whole reality wave," Murphy notes.

Filled with dazzling performances and energy, "SYTYCD" is having a better season this year than "Idol." Tonight's (May 18) two-hour episode will unveil the Top 20 finalists, which Murphy says is a great time to see them shine. "Everybody's dancing in their own style, and people will get to see why it is these contestants are so great at what they do, before we start asking them to go outside of their style."

She already sees winner potential from several of the competitors, she says, particularly three girls who rose to every challenge in the Las Vegas show. "They annihilated everything, to the point there was nothing for us to critique."

Murphy herself would love to get back onstage. The ever-effervescent dance champ-turned-choreographer/teacher/judge has fought hard to get her body back in shape ever since her 2010 bout with thyroid cancer.

"It is a struggle and I am working on it. I have a really bad right foot with two working ligaments in my right ankle. And now I have plantar fasciitus from running down steps every day." That's in addition to shoulder problems. She says Marie Osmond talked to her about a stem cell treatment she'd undergone in Las Vegas for her knees when she guested on Marie's Hallmark Channel show recently. Now, Murphy plans to try Marie's recommendation. "Who knows? Maybe it will make my dream come true."

She'd love to be in shape to dance on the season finale. And, she says, "I'm bound and determined at the age of 55, I'm going to go back at least one more time to Broadway."

Meanwhile, Murphy isn't holding out hopes that her legal battle with former manager Mark Sanchez is over, despite a judge's ruling in her favor. "No, not at all. I got the judgment back. Now he's appealing that judgment, then we'll start all over once that is denied. Then it'll all hit the fan again. I can honestly say for anybody going through this kind of thing in your life, it's one of the biggest emotional things you can go through." Magnifying the unpleasantness of Sanchez' verbal attacks and breach of contract suit, "It seems like some people are kind of relishing it.

"I just want to watch great dancers and go home to my dance studio," says the San Diego native, who headquarters in the nearby seaside town Carlsbad. "I lead a very simple and normal life and I like being out of L.A. and what they're all doing up there. That's not me. I learned that after a few years up there. It's not where I want to be."

Whatever the travails of her life, Murphy's upbeat energy seems indomitable. But she says, "I'm human like everyone else. I remember Chelsea Handler getting on my case on her show: 'Oh, you laugh at everything, Mary. You'd laugh at a funeral.' I said, 'You know, I've been down for the count. I've cried about something for three days straight.' But then I pop up again. I choose to laugh."