...The sad thing, is that his progressive degeneration and the apparent reduction in his cognitive faculties during his final series, will for many now, be for what he will be remembered.
Sadly, you are absolutely correct. In his day he was one of the better not actually the best though, game show presenters. He was a good all-round entertainer in his earlier days.
The problem is - it was in the past. Had he retired at his peak he would have been fondly remembered by many, even on here and on this thread.
But, having dragged things on too much the good memories have been lost.
Better to have retired at earlier time and folk would had said "He has been a great/good entertainer"
By leaving it too late the message has changed to "He used to be a great/good entertainer in his day"
Bruce was successful in his heyday because he was a Jack of all trades, but as the saying continues - he was a master of none.
His ability to sing (badly), dance (quite well) and tell (bad) jokes gave him an advantage over other more specialist stars when it came to presenting shows and I grudgingly admit that his ability to ad lib was second to none - in his day!
Even when Strictly started he was still pretty good - but he really should have gone when he stopped doing the results show - as a lot of others have said - the degeneration of his presenting ability was actually quite sad to watch, and especially in the last series, I really did have fears of him doing a Tommy Cooper in the middle of the live show.
All round, Im glad he has finally gone, I much prefer Tess and Claudia - and its been great watching then overcome their jitters over these first few weeks. They really are beginning to make the show their own, although I would like to see their roles reversed - with Claudia doing the main role!
Bruce was successful in his heyday because he was a Jack of all trades, but as the saying continues - he was a master of none.
His ability to sing (badly), dance (quite well) and tell (bad) jokes gave him an advantage over other more specialist stars when it came to presenting shows and I grudgingly admit that his ability to ad lib was second to none - in his day!
Even when Strictly started he was still pretty good - but he really should have gone when he stopped doing the results show - as a lot of others have said - the degeneration of his presenting ability was actually quite sad to watch, and especially in the last series, I really did have fears of him doing a Tommy Cooper in the middle of the live show.
All round, Im glad he has finally gone, I much prefer Tess and Claudia - and its been great watching then overcome their jitters over these first few weeks. They really are beginning to make the show their own, although I would like to see their roles reversed - with Claudia doing the main role!
Agree, but would leave Claudia where she is. When the numbers have whittled down a bit more Claudia will come into her own. She is far better at the after dance interviews than Tess
Bruce was successful in his heyday because he was a Jack of all trades, but as the saying continues - he was a master of none.
His ability to sing (badly), dance (quite well) and tell (bad) jokes gave him an advantage over other more specialist stars when it came to presenting shows and I grudgingly admit that his ability to ad lib was second to none - in his day!
Even when Strictly started he was still pretty good - but he really should have gone when he stopped doing the results show - as a lot of others have said - the degeneration of his presenting ability was actually quite sad to watch, and especially in the last series, I really did have fears of him doing a Tommy Cooper in the middle of the live show.
All round, Im glad he has finally gone, I much prefer Tess and Claudia - and its been great watching then overcome their jitters over these first few weeks. They really are beginning to make the show their own, although I would like to see their roles reversed - with Claudia doing the main role!
You missed out his pretty average piano playing. I've only ever heard him play "There'll Never Be Another You," (two or three times on differen't shows) and not that well. The pianists on here will know it isn't that hard a tune to play.
You missed out his pretty average piano playing. I've only ever heard him play "There'll Never Be Another You," (two or three times on differen't shows) and not that well. The pianists on here will know it isn't that hard a tune to play.
He was certainly no Bobby Crush and he had a lot of nerve even daring to stand his ground when singing with Sammy Davis.
Where he was brilliant though was in working an audience. I never saw anyone better. The only person that came anyway near as close was Michael Barrymore at his peak, but even Barrymore was a distant second.
Also he had this larger than life personality that was somehow infectious - He totally dominated his environment. In my opinion that was why he was so good in the first few seasons of Strictly. It was a new era of all-powerful judges such as Simon Cowell, but Strictly had the perfect counter point to that in Brucie, because he had such character, such presence, and such a warm wit, that he absolutely dispersed the acerbic criticisms of the judges. As such, he gave the show a much friendlier, warmer tone, a factor which other "bare your soul" shows lacked. His wit waned after a few seasons, and he did begin to struggle later, but I always thought the warmth remained and I suspect that is the missing element of this season that so many other posters have apparently noticed.
He was certainly no Bobby Crush and he had a lot of nerve even daring to stand his ground when singing with Sammy Davis.
Where he was brilliant though was in working an audience. I never saw anyone better. The only person that came anyway near as close was Michael Barrymore at his peak, but even Barrymore was a distant second.
Also he had this larger than life personality that was somehow infectious - He totally dominated his environment. In my opinion that was why he was so good in the first few seasons of Strictly. It was a new era of all-powerful judges such as Simon Cowell, but Strictly had the perfect counter point to that in Brucie, because he had such character, such presence, and such a warm wit, that he absolutely dispersed the acerbic criticisms of the judges. As such, he gave the show a much friendlier, warmer tone, a factor which other "bare your soul" shows lacked. His wit waned after a few seasons, and he did begin to struggle later, but I always thought the warmth remained and I suspect that is the missing element of this season that so many other posters have apparently noticed.
There's a lot of truth in what you say, but it depends what you want out of the show.
Some people enjoyed his contribution.
Others thought it added nothing to the show and became an irritation.
I 's'ppose it depends how more like "Sunday Night at the London Palladium" or "Come Dancing," is your personal choice.
There's a lot of truth in what you say, but it depends what you want out of the show.
Some people enjoyed his contribution.
Others thought it added nothing to the show and became an irritation.
I 's'ppose depends how more like "Sunday Night at the London Palladium" or "Come Dancing," is your personal choice.
Yes that is true, people have different tastes and so it is to be expected that we will all have different opinions.
I thought he was terrific until the last couple of years when his age meant that he should have stopped. I thought his dance experience gave him credibility among the other professionals. And he had enough "clout" to tell the judges off when they got too abusive to the learners. I miss both of those. And he certainly didn't letch over the female performers in the way that the present presenters letch over some of the men. He had too much sheer class.
Against all that ......... The problem with live performers who have spent all their lives working with audiences is that it gets very difficult for them to give up the "rush." Also it seems that those around them don't have the bottle to advise them top stop.
Yes, he needed to retire, but no the present set up is nothing like a replacement.
I thought he was terrific until the last couple of years when his age meant that he should have stopped. I thought his dance experience gave him credibility among the other professionals. And he had enough "clout" to tell the judges off when they got too abusive to the learners. I miss both of those. And he certainly didn't letch over the female performers in the way that the present presenters letch over some of the men. He had too much sheer class.
Against all that ......... The problem with live performers who have spent all their lives working with audiences is that it gets very difficult for them to give up the "rush." Also it seems that those around them don't have the bottle to advise them top stop.
Yes, he needed to retire, but no the present set up is nothing like a replacement.
Sir Brucie should have been given the opportunity to retire at a time of his choosing.
Rob Brydon would do well with SCD. Very funny guy. Quick witted and would handle the judges with ease.
Think his banter would fuse nicely with the judges. Would deffo improve the show.
Tess, would be ok returning to a supporting role. She's just too gushing and sycophantic. She's doing her best but she's just doesn't cut it as the main presenter.
Don't worry about it, Terry said exactly the same thing last year.
Bruce is gone.
He outstayed his usefulness.
It's just sad that'll he'll only be remembered by some for how bad he became.
Don't worry about it, Terry said exactly the same thing last year.
Bruce is gone.
He outstayed his usefulness.
It's just sad that'll he'll only be remembered by some for how bad he became.
Rob Brydon would do well with SCD. Very funny guy. Quick witted and would handle the judges with ease.
Think his banter would fuse nicely with the judges. Would deffo improve the show.
Tess, would be ok returning to a supporting role. She's just too gushing and sycophantic. She's doing her best but she's just doesn't cut it as the main presenter.
Now if he would do it, that is the best suggestion yet.
I agree. It all runs so much more smoothly without Bruce.
Although I shouldn't be, I was impressed that Zoe was brought in as Claudia's replacement.
How times have changed. When Bruce was ill some time ago, rather than bring in Zoe (who knows the programme backwards) they parachuted Ronnie Corbett in as the alpha male.
I agree. It all runs so much more smoothly without Bruce.
Although I shouldn't be, I was impressed that Zoe was brought in as Claudia's replacement.
How times have changed. When Bruce was ill some time ago, rather than bring in Zoe (who knows the programme backwards) they parachuted Ronnie Corbett in as the alpha male.
Alpha ?? A bit further down the alphabet in my book!
Rob Brydon would do well with SCD. Very funny guy. Quick witted and would handle the judges with ease.
Think his banter would fuse nicely with the judges. Would deffo improve the show.
Tess, would be ok returning to a supporting role. She's just too gushing and sycophantic. She's doing her best but she's just doesn't cut it as the main presenter.
Rob Brydon will never be a living legend like Sir Brucie
Rob Brydon will never be a living legend like Sir Brucie
FForsyth has never been a legend, and never will be except in the minds of a few oddities like you.
Let's set the record straight for you.
An average song and dance man. Just how average was clearly demonstrated when he appeared on the same stage as Sammy Davis Jr.
He was a competent game show host but was never indispensable. Shows that he left, for whatever reason, not only continued but usually improved their ratings.
I agree. It all runs so much more smoothly without Bruce.
Although I shouldn't be, I was impressed that Zoe was brought in as Claudia's replacement.
How times have changed. When Bruce was ill some time ago, rather than bring in Zoe (who knows the programme backwards) they parachuted Ronnie Corbett in as the alpha male.
It was Fforsyth who asked him to stand in without consulting the producers. They just went along with Fforsyth's done deal.
It's often said that "x" (insert famous presenter's name here) must be popular because they have presented so many programmes with high viewing figures. Then time passes and people look back and say "Never liked him". As a girl back in the 70s I really disliked Bruce Forsyth on The Generation Game because to my child's eyes he was always mean to his guests. My parents disliked him because they thought him smug and overbearing. Since then, most of my friends said they never liked him either. But back then there were just three channels to choose from so it was practically Hobson's Choice.
I think many presenters are "Marmite" and producers care less about how popular they are and more about how memorable they are, for good or ill. Hence we end up with people who are often deeply irritating and divisive but none-the-less remembered- Huey Greene, Anne Robinson, Simon Cowell, Noel Edmonds, jeremy Clarkson etc etc
It's often said that "x" (insert famous presenter's name here) must be popular because they have presented so many programmes with high viewing figures. Then time passes and people look back and say "Never liked him". As a girl back in the 70s I really disliked Bruce Forsyth on The Generation Game because to my child's eyes he was always mean to his guests. My parents disliked him because they thought him smug and overbearing. Since then, most of my friends said they never liked him either. But back then there were just three channels to choose from so it was practically Hobson's Choice.
I think many presenters are "Marmite" and producers care less about how popular they are and more about how memorable they are, for good or ill. Hence we end up with people who are often deeply irritating and divisive but none-the-less remembered- Huey Greene, Anne Robinson, Simon Cowell, Noel Edmonds, jeremy Clarkson etc etc
If I've understood you correctly you're saying it's a There's no such thing as bad publicity" situation. Wouldn't surprise me if you're right tbh
Comments
Sadly, you are absolutely correct. In his day he was one of the better not actually the best though, game show presenters. He was a good all-round entertainer in his earlier days.
The problem is - it was in the past. Had he retired at his peak he would have been fondly remembered by many, even on here and on this thread.
But, having dragged things on too much the good memories have been lost.
Better to have retired at earlier time and folk would had said "He has been a great/good entertainer"
By leaving it too late the message has changed to "He used to be a great/good entertainer in his day"
All very sad.
Rod Stewart was recently asked if he were going to have any more kids.
He replied "No, otherwise I'd be still touring when I'm ninety."
His ability to sing (badly), dance (quite well) and tell (bad) jokes gave him an advantage over other more specialist stars when it came to presenting shows and I grudgingly admit that his ability to ad lib was second to none - in his day!
Even when Strictly started he was still pretty good - but he really should have gone when he stopped doing the results show - as a lot of others have said - the degeneration of his presenting ability was actually quite sad to watch, and especially in the last series, I really did have fears of him doing a Tommy Cooper in the middle of the live show.
All round, Im glad he has finally gone, I much prefer Tess and Claudia - and its been great watching then overcome their jitters over these first few weeks. They really are beginning to make the show their own, although I would like to see their roles reversed - with Claudia doing the main role!
Agree, but would leave Claudia where she is. When the numbers have whittled down a bit more Claudia will come into her own. She is far better at the after dance interviews than Tess
You missed out his pretty average piano playing. I've only ever heard him play "There'll Never Be Another You," (two or three times on differen't shows) and not that well. The pianists on here will know it isn't that hard a tune to play.
He was certainly no Bobby Crush and he had a lot of nerve even daring to stand his ground when singing with Sammy Davis.
Where he was brilliant though was in working an audience. I never saw anyone better. The only person that came anyway near as close was Michael Barrymore at his peak, but even Barrymore was a distant second.
Also he had this larger than life personality that was somehow infectious - He totally dominated his environment. In my opinion that was why he was so good in the first few seasons of Strictly. It was a new era of all-powerful judges such as Simon Cowell, but Strictly had the perfect counter point to that in Brucie, because he had such character, such presence, and such a warm wit, that he absolutely dispersed the acerbic criticisms of the judges. As such, he gave the show a much friendlier, warmer tone, a factor which other "bare your soul" shows lacked. His wit waned after a few seasons, and he did begin to struggle later, but I always thought the warmth remained and I suspect that is the missing element of this season that so many other posters have apparently noticed.
There's a lot of truth in what you say, but it depends what you want out of the show.
Some people enjoyed his contribution.
Others thought it added nothing to the show and became an irritation.
I 's'ppose it depends how more like "Sunday Night at the London Palladium" or "Come Dancing," is your personal choice.
Yes that is true, people have different tastes and so it is to be expected that we will all have different opinions.
Against all that ......... The problem with live performers who have spent all their lives working with audiences is that it gets very difficult for them to give up the "rush." Also it seems that those around them don't have the bottle to advise them top stop.
Yes, he needed to retire, but no the present set up is nothing like a replacement.
Sir Brucie should have been given the opportunity to retire at a time of his choosing.
On what grounds?
Think his banter would fuse nicely with the judges. Would deffo improve the show.
Tess, would be ok returning to a supporting role. She's just too gushing and sycophantic. She's doing her best but she's just doesn't cut it as the main presenter.
Don't worry about it, Terry said exactly the same thing last year.
Bruce is gone.
He outstayed his usefulness.
It's just sad that'll he'll only be remembered by some for how bad he became.
But that's entirely his own fault.
He did retire when HE chose. So what are you trying to say?
BiB
Now if he would do it, that is the best suggestion yet.
Although I shouldn't be, I was impressed that Zoe was brought in as Claudia's replacement.
How times have changed. When Bruce was ill some time ago, rather than bring in Zoe (who knows the programme backwards) they parachuted Ronnie Corbett in as the alpha male.
Alpha ?? A bit further down the alphabet in my book!
I remember seeing a documentary about him.He came across as a peevish old man, counting out his sultanas on his porridge.
Rob Brydon will never be a living legend like Sir Brucie
FForsyth has never been a legend, and never will be except in the minds of a few oddities like you.
Let's set the record straight for you.
An average song and dance man. Just how average was clearly demonstrated when he appeared on the same stage as Sammy Davis Jr.
He was a competent game show host but was never indispensable. Shows that he left, for whatever reason, not only continued but usually improved their ratings.
Not even sure he was that tbh
Nice to see the back of you, to see the back of you nice
I think many presenters are "Marmite" and producers care less about how popular they are and more about how memorable they are, for good or ill. Hence we end up with people who are often deeply irritating and divisive but none-the-less remembered- Huey Greene, Anne Robinson, Simon Cowell, Noel Edmonds, jeremy Clarkson etc etc
If I've understood you correctly you're saying it's a There's no such thing as bad publicity" situation. Wouldn't surprise me if you're right tbh