[La Rhumba]

Originally Posted by Midnight Moggy

I think he doesn't always know which lift is which. He's not exactly an ice skating expert!

Like Craig Revel Horwood, and Darcey ofcourse, he uses the Ballet terms for particular Lifts and referred to the phantom lift that never was as a "pressage lift", but in Skating it's called the Platter Lift (when the man holds the lady on the hips above his head, with her in a platter position).

Tony Gubba was getting on my nerves last night! Why is he there? All that tosh about the moves with bizarre made up names. Gareth did a beautiful Star Lift - there's a name for it already in Skating, has been for decades - why not just use the proper names of moves? It's as though ITV cannot bear any aspect of the show to remind viewers it's about the Skating and not Showbiz.

[La Rhumba]

Originally Posted by Meanaunty

I thought the same, I thought his point was he commended him for still doing some kind of lift despite the wrist!! I also thought Karen was rude/unprofessional for making an issue of it on the show like that.

You've got to be kidding?! I thought she was restrained in the circumstances, so was Chris Dean when he pointed out that Luke had done 4 rotational Lifts, more than any other celeb man.

I don't always like the terminology Jason uses but he seems to be the only judge who doesn't really play favourites. He was very harsh on Beth and Luke but now he is giving them positive feedback because they are starting to deserve it. He is bound to judge differently to Karen and Robin because his remit is different.

I would've thought the N0.1 remit for any Judge is to actually watch the performance of each skating couple and concentrate, rather than let your mind go wandering off because you're so bored and think you're the star of the show, and care more about flying to Madrid the next day - ie go on auto-pilot during the live show, make a humungus blunder, and just make a brief apology on Twitter about it. He rightly looked to be cringeing inside when Karen pointed out there was no "pressage lift", and I'm glad she did. Someone had to, and neither Pip nor Bleakley did. But strangely Jason did notice that Luke licked his lips whilst skating? So is his remit to just watch their facial expressions and ignore everything technical?

Ashley is totally redundant, she has nothing of any relevance to say.

[La Rhumba]

Originally Posted by Susan_A1951

It is the credibility of the judges' panel that seems so suspect.

Karen is a choreographer and involved in each performance. How can she possibly be dispassionate? Jason is a blank eyed mouther of media bites to be picked up by Daily Mail - and most of which is either total nonsense or sound bites. I honestly don't understand most of what he says.

Ashley....well - I have absolutely no idea why she is there.

That leaves the one remaining credible judge - Robin Cousins - who rarely says anything helpful or original.

Which is why I rarely pay any attention to the scores or the comments.

I would have to disagree with some of your comments.

Karen is not a choreographer on DOI (she may choreograph outside of it). She is more a Coach/trainer who gets the performances ship shape after T&D do the choreography.

Robin does always say helpful things, giving tips about technique of skating and his comment to Luke and partner about "looking like a Junior Team" and needing to start looking more Senior was very relevant, I'd say.

[Ignazio]

Originally Posted by fredsnail

Jason Gardiner ‏@officialJasonG
I apologise profusely for my blunder tonight with Luke's routine. It was a genuine lapse on my part and not like me at all.

Really?

[Grumpy_Alan]

Originally Posted by La Rhumba

... Tony Gubba was getting on my nerves last night! Why is he there? All that tosh about the moves with bizarre made up names. Gareth did a beautiful Star Lift - there's a name for it already in Skating, has been for decades - why not just use the proper names of moves? It's as though ITV cannot bear any aspect of the show to remind viewers it's about the Skating and not Showbiz.

With you there. I thought I was the only one who couldn't stand his in put.

His pretentious twaddle really does annoy me more than the Judges and their little foibles, fine.

But Gubba - so in love, so besotted with sound of his own voice that he doesn't listen to what he actually says.

A pretentious buffoon, and not even vaguely entertaining. Even Joe, for all of his faults was never pretentious.

[Susan_A1951]

Originally Posted by La Rhumba

I would have to disagree with some of your comments.

Karen is not a choreographer on DOI (she may choreograph outside of it). She is more a Coach/trainer who gets the performances ship shape after T&D do the choreography.

Robin does always say helpful things, giving tips about technique of skating and his comment to Luke and partner about "looking like a Junior Team" and needing to start looking more Senior was very relevant, I'd say.

Positive disagreement is the life blood of a forum - and you make some good points. However, I did say that Karen is "a" choreographer - not that she choreographs these routines. But I can see your point.

But surely the fact that she is involved in training must colour her judging - if only subconsciously? If she sees a contestant sail through a difficult step or routine in rehearsal - but another sweating blood and tears before finally triumphing on the night - it must make a difference. Some of her comments bear this out (please don;'t ask me for specific quotes ) BTW - I rate Karen and think her comments are professional and helpful. Just unsure whether anyone involved in the performances at the training stage can be a truly dispassionate judge.