The 'Grasshopper' comment was about Jo's dancing wasn't it? - Not about her personally.
It's impossible to give comment on a dance without resorting to some sort of simile.
And mild similes at that - below the belt?
It would be very boring if the judges just passed positive comment all the time, it is a 'light entertainment show' you know

Somtimes it is not what is said - but how it is said that. It is the tone of voice which both Bruno and Crag employ when talking to a celeb that is unacceptable. Both are a couple of vicious wasps who have been buzzing round the studio for too long.

Personally I found Brunos raucous laughter equally as insulting as Craigs comment ,Its one thing to give judgement and another to laugh out loud when someone else likens a dancer to a kangaroo .

It should be possible to critique constructively without being insulting.

Sometimes you have to say ' you were crap' it can't always be just constructive.
I don't think any of the judges are insulting. I don't think your dance being compared to a kangaroo is insulting for example -but maybe that is just me?

No, I entirely agree with you.

I never said anything about the judges protecting their favourites. However, the judges have been getting their knickers in a twist over the public judging for years now. It hasn't made any difference - indeed, as Thenetworkbabe states, it's getting worse. This should indicate that sounding off against the public is a dangerous game. I personally think anyone who votes for negative reasons (e.g. to spite someone else rather than because they actually like the couple in question) is being childish but, on the other hand, they're still entitled to do so.

Of course, the judges are also entitled to voice their displeasure about it but it still makes me smile every time they fume about it. I know it can't be easy to grin and bear it when they have a vested interest in seeing the better dancers go further but it would be better for their blood pressure and, possibly, the show in the long run. Their current stand is certainly not the answer.

Wish I hadnt started this thread now. Shouldnt have used "hate" in the title. Very grateful to the poster who pointed that out.

Three or four days on it seems like such a trivial thing to get upset about. Brought back to earth with a bump just by life in the last few days.

However, SCD is sheer escapism and brings a lot of joy.
The show will continue to divide people in this way because it has done since the first series.

Would like to point out however, that I am actually supporting Ali and Brian and have been since the start.

I disagree. The votes of the voting public are what makes the show.

If no-one voted, there would be no show.

If people are prepared to spend their money voting, then they should be the ones who decide who goes.

It is not for Craig to say ( as it did on ITT on Monday) that it is unfair of the voting public to put him in that position.

I do not vote myself, but I am grateful to everyone that does, and for the fact that the way that people vote make it unpredictable & exciting.

Aw, it's all pantomime with the judges - it's nearly Christmas, after all! Let them entertain us - it's just bit of fun on a Saturday night.

I know just how you feel and it beats me why some people are still watching this show, after six previous series using the same three judges being moaned about now.


Exactly.

People who have been in the audience have said on here the banter between the judges is all for show and as soon as the cameras are off the judges, they are all laughing and smiling with each other.

Do I like some of the 'insults' the judges come out with? No, but I wouldn't ask them to stop change how they are on the show either.

I dont find squabbles entertaining . I like a bit of fun and banter and am open to the bit of craic, but the pointing fingers and such like doesnt entertain me at all

Good or bad feed back can really be constructive. It doesnt always need to be this stupid attention seeking Bruno/Len/Craig. They are starting to bore me.
SAME SAME SAME........its gets abit wearing after a while......

It is never acceptable to say someone is "crap" - that is just downright rude and highly offensive. Kangaroogate was insulting because Bruno and Craig laughed like a pair of hyenas and the tone in which grasshopper and "Skippy the Kangaroo" were said was highly insulting. Bruno has been extremely vicious lately - it is not funny and it is not entertainment. - Alesha was very unkind to call Laila "You was like a drunken rag doll" when she had put in hours of work. Ironic really when Ms Dixon had studied the dance for a week two years ago!

Only just read this post. I wish I'd written it. Excellent stuff.

The judges are probably genuinely angry and also trying to shock - and the target is more rationally the people who don't vote rather than trying to get the ones that vote for anything else to vote on the dancing. Agree it doesn't seem to work - except near the end when anyone good who has survived may get a few more votes.

The show doesn't seem to be able to use the usual reality TV ways to get rid of people because dancing isn't that obvious and the camera work makes it less visible still. Andrew Lloyd Webber often just gave people he wanted out of the competition dire songs they couldn't sing or get votes with and claimed there was a reason they shouldn't stay. The X factor puts you on early and/or with a dull song or something that will put people off. Here on SCD its only the judges pointing anything out and if no one listens they shout louder because there's no other means open to them.

If anything, SCD goes the other way and most people seem to get music that leads to choreography that means they don't impress as they might. Perhaps if the format was loosened, different dances were introduced and the choreography was better, it would be clearer who was doing something notable and who was doing something weak? I think its mostly random who gets better opportunities, but I also wonder sometimes if working for the BBC means you get the good piece of music more often.

No you didn't. Sorry, my mistake.


Although I do think that the tone as expressed by Craig & Len on ITT has been more conciliatory and indicates that they accept the situation (and you can of course accept something without actually liking or agreeing with it).

Yes , Craigs "" Dahlings"" and supercilious face, every week the same bull

Len , acting like a teenager and being a right pain the the bum and shouting over everyone .

Alesha trying to look knowledgeable and look like she knows what she is talking about , and failing

Bruno , a caricture of himself , jumping up and down and trying to act the excitable Italian and being a bit of a bore .

Same old story , week in week out .

I don't hate them but there must be other dance-pundits out there.
But the BBC seem to think they have made them into stars in their own right. I mean, why else put Alesha on the panel?
Craig doesn't even really claim to know much about actual steps or suitability or style. I think he does a lot of homework but why not just employ people who know more?

It really is getting tired and old now. Keep Len (not because I like him but because he is the best qualified) if you must but sack the others.