It was sooooo bleugggghhhhh. Made me realise just how interesting Ian and Jade were.

The only highlight for me was Chris and Ola and even that wasn't a moving moment.

Seems to me that Ali and Ricky W are no better than the great they were week 1. Ricky G made errors - pretty poor for this time of the series. Natalie wasn't good but to be fair to her I never expect them to be with Samba. Laila was bleuuughhh. Where have the two dances a night gone too? Not that I think the are up to it, but just wondered.....it seemed a pretty short show tonight and clearly next week is a one dance per couple as well.

Thought of a two person final is, indeed, a dreaded thought this time. The best dancers are Ali and Ricky W and I wouldn't even be bothered to watch that! Be a bit more exciting if we had Chris and Ali or Ricky W but not from a dancing perspective.

Anyone else in the final and I think I shall give up on SCD completely!

Hadnt considered the two-dance-a-night angle... standards for the 'lesser' couples who are already struggling can surely only go downhill :sleep:

I still love the show, just not so keen on this year's celebs. I find them a bit blah and the overall dancing standard isn't great.

The show hasn't been as good this year. I just don't take to the front runners Ali and Ricky W.

As for tonight's show - it was boring frankly. I'm now enjoying Merlin far more than Strictly and it used to be the other way around.

I think the declining standard is definitely down to the dance off. Before that people were kept in by the public who were not necessarily the best dancers, but were entertaining. Now we're guaranteed the judges will get rid of them and we're left with all the boring people who can more or less dance, but wouldn't get very far in a real dance contest. Might as well get rid of the show and bring back Come Dancing. SCD has lost all it's fun for me.

its toooo long for a start - this series has lost any fizz it had......dont really care who wins....

I'm prompted to make my first post by this thread! I completely agree. I used to avidly watch ITT and to look forward to every Saturday night. The only attraction now on ITT is Claudia, who I like very much, and the possibility Marian Keyes might pitch up! I'm now finding myself getting distracted from the Saturday show by a magazine, or forum, or such.

I'm not rooting for any of the celebs (for the first year ever) and honestly don't care much who is voted off. It is dull, dull, dull. (D.U.L.L. x3).

A lot of the music is ABYSMAL, both the choices, arrangements and performances. As far as I'm concerned, it has totally ruined some otherwise not bad dances. The camera work means I've been bewildered by some of the judges' comments. We clearly can't see what they're seeing. A lot of the lighting also seems to have been inspired by a 1970s night club.

The professionals' group dances, with the odd exception, have been very samey and the guests, really lacklustre. And as for the BBC's own basement Cheryl Cole, I might have voted for her every week as a contestant but I have to put my fingers in my ears and hum every time she opens her mouth as a judge.

A well-established, prime-time Saturday night entertainment show with a huge, loyal fan base and millions of viewers. You'd think there would have been, at the least, good B list celebs, queuing up to be contestants and A listers with new stuff to flog queueing up to be guests, wouldn't you? Apparently not. I think it has taken real talent on the part of the BBC to c*ck it up to this extent!! My only concern is that if this was their idea of taking a successful show to a new level, what will they come up with next year to retrieve the mess they've made this year?

It's been a terrible series. Very few of the celebrities have done it for me, personality or dancing wise, the costumes are HIDEOUS and look like they were put together for 50p from a bargin box at the local joke shop, Alesha Dixon as a judge is ridiculous (and I was no Arlene fan but at least she had some authority), I'm bitter that the Pros who were axed aren't there, and the whole thing has just lost it's sparkle. Also, the music is APPALLING. Who decides on those song arrangements? The singers are often worse than the X-Factor contestants on ITV.

I wish they could just rest the show for a couple of years and then bring it back and try again. Won't happen, though.

I usually watch SCD avidly but I've dipped in and out this year. Next year I doubt I'll watch it at all. I can't be bothered anymore.

I think the judges voting off Hingis (one of the few genuine celebs in the show, and also with some dancing potential), rather set the tone in week 1.

Len choosing Ricky Groves over Tufnell was the final straw for me this year.

It has been pretty dire. The best bit was Claudia last week showing Tess how it should be done.

Yes it is. So mediocre, and the so called stars have been dredged out of nowhere. East Enders and Hollyoaks? Give me a break! I didn't know any of them!

No real talent emerging other than Ali and Ricky W, except that Ali can't do Latin to save her life. And now the only really fun lively couple have gone.

I will miss Jade.

The BBC should do what they did with Dr Who. Give it a year off (perhaps a special or two). Then re-launch with no Bruce, revamped format and set, new band (why not play the originals?) and some good quality celebs (10 preferably and 12 max). Oh, and no Alesha please.

I don't agree tbh. On DWTS the celebs are taught routines that contain far less of the technical content of each dance and a lot more of what Len would call faffing about. The level of technique learned on SDC is higher than on DWTS, but the routines on DWTS are more pleasing to the public. I'd say Kelly would be on a par with Natalie if she was on SDC. Mya is a pro dancer as far as I'm concerned. Donny and Joanna are like Ricky and Ali.

I still think this series is miles better than the last, but it is a terrible blow to lose Jade and I hope Chris can raise his game to make the final more exciting.

Excellent post. I think you have hit the nail on the head..or several nails in fact.
I have found this series to be particularly lacklustre. I couldn't quite put my finger on why, but have now come to the conclusion that it's a combination of things. On their own, they would probably have been insignificant..but combined together it has certainly spoilt the series for me.
Tonight was the dullest show I can remember, and I have watched every series. The dances, music, celebrities, presentation, camera work, lighting, and the guest "stars"..they have all been below par.
The professionals must also shoulder some of the blame. They know too well that it pays dividends to "play safe" with the routines, the longer they stay in the competition, the greater the exposure for them and their celebrity partners. None of them seem keen to "push the envelope" this year..as a football fan, it's like watching teams that are desperate not to lose rather than go all out for a win. The advice to "keep it simple" might be very sensible for dance competitions attended by a small audience of avid ballroom fans..but not for prime-time tv.
I supported Alesha initially, but now have to agree have to agree with the naysayers..her appointment was a failure. Her marking has gone from the sublime to the ridiculous, and seems based on who happens to be one of her showbiz "mates".
Oh well, let's hope they get it right next year.

Agreed, my favourite dances have come from the first four weeks, with the exception of Rickys jive last week

I just want a WOW dance to happen, something WOW happened on X factor tonight and i'm waiting for it on strictly!

The problem with the public vote has got worse since the dance off was introduced to stop it being too destructive . Its become more crucial to stop everyone any good going and to counter the trend for anyone hopeless or who enough voters have some crush on to stay.

From series three to 4 the "entertaining people" who stayed were there because the judges gave them enough marks too. In series 3 and 4 they could win and still look credible because they showed real improvement and got to a good standard. In the background the public kept the hopeless cases longer and more of the competition left early and by series 4 the real competition to the winner doesn't make the final.

Since then its been all downhil. In series 5 key competitors went early. In series 6 the hopeless lingered on and on and better and better people went early. The voters gave no votes to the best 3 female dancers and managed to vote for probably the fourth best dancer to win in a final where he female competition had no chance at all. We had progressed to the point at which "entertaining" had lost its meaning and required neither doing anything entertaining or having the journey story about change, learning and succcess that it had in series 3 and 4.

This series the females have no votes again, the best male dancer in years may not have many votes. Entertaining has become even more meaningless when used to refer to Chris than it was to refer to Tom. Ola is entertaining but that was a reason for Kenny to win or Anton to win now for telling jokes. Chris is a worse dancer than people like Ray or Spooney who the same voters refused to vote for. He's not funnier than Ali or Ricky or as good an actor , nor is he trying harder than anyone else or making much progress. He is just the default white male who looks like he needs mothering. Nat can be comic in the same way as Ricky Groves tried to be but so far she's only about as able as Christine and not as lively as Louisa.

There's no point in complaining that the best dancers are not entertaining when its impossible to claim logically that the alternatives who can't dance anything like as well are entertaining either. The alternatives, now we can't have a 3 or 4 horse race are either that the good dancers will do something entertaining if someone gives them the right music, or it will be a tight race between two people who are technically good, or we will have a onesided competition between someone who dances far better and someone who is no more entertaining but may win anyway.

With 1 going out injured, wont it finish 1 week early?

Yes it's the worst yet. My partner is convinced that certain couples are being scored so that they do not end up in the dance off.

I always love reading your posts, they're so true

[quote=thenetworkbabe;36827546]The problem with the public vote has got worse since the dance off was introduced to stop it being too destructive . Its become more crucial to stop everyone any good going and to counter the trend for anyone hopeless or who enough voters have some crush on to stay.

From series three to 4 the "entertaining people" who stayed were there because the judges gave them enough marks too. In series 3 and 4 they could win and still look credible because they showed real improvement and got to a good standard. In the background the public kept the hopeless cases longer and more of the competition left early and by series 4 the real competition to the winner doesn't make the final.

Since then its been all downhil. In series 5 key competitors went early. In series 6 the hopeless lingered on and on and better and better people went early. The voters gave no votes to the best 3 female dancers and managed to vote for probably the fourth best dancer to win in a final where he female competition had no chance at all. We had progressed to the point at which "entertaining" had lost its meaning and required neither doing anything entertaining or having the journey story about change, learning and succcess that it had in series 3 and 4.

This series the females have no votes again, the best male dancer in years may not have many votes. Entertaining has become even more meaningless when used to refer to Chris than it was to refer to Tom. Ola is entertaining but that was a reason for Kenny to win or Anton to win now for telling jokes. Chris is a worse dancer than people like Ray or Spooney who the same voters refused to vote for. He's not funnier than Ali or Ricky or as good an actor , nor is he trying harder than anyone else or making much progress. He is just the default white male who looks like he needs mothering. Nat can be comic in the same way as Ricky Groves tried to be but so far she's only about as able as Christine and not as lively as Louisa.

There's no point in complaining that the best dancers are not entertaining when its impossible to claim logically that the alternatives who can't dance anything like as well are entertaining either. The alternatives, now we can't have a 3 or 4 horse race are either that the good dancers will do something entertaining if someone gives them the right music, or it will be a tight race between two people who are technically good, or we will have a onesided competition between someone who dances far better and someone who is no more entertaining but may win anyway.[/QUOTE]

I agree wholeheartedly with your last point, but I'm not so sure about your view of last year's competition.
I thought Tom was a worthy winner, he was entertaining and could dance. He may not have been technically the best dancer, but he tackled some very difficult routines and entertained. Contrast his performances with Rachel and Lisa, both technically excellent but rather dull..in my opinion.
If we look back through the series, three winners were great dancers who also "entertained"..Jill, Alesha and Mark. Two were good dancers, but they were stronger in giving entertainment value than actual technical ability..Darren and Tom.
In series one we had Natasha..she looked great, but it was the first series and we didn't quite know what to expect. I doubt she would have got very far in subsequent series ?
This year we have two very good dancers (it might have been three with Jade) but they seem to be "playing safe" at the moment. I get the feeling that Ricky and Ali are just "doing enough" every week, going through the motions. As you say, we could have a very dull few weeks unless those two really produce something extra special.
Therefore, Chris could win on the strength of his "journey" without doing much to actually entertain.

Too many actors in it for my liking. Not GREAT actors either. Soap actors.

Making it dull for me. Such a shame about Jade.

This has been my favourite Strictly ever so far

There are a couple of reasons why this year's show is not as good as previous:

1. The Beeb got rid of Arlene - big mistake, even I'm missing her.
2. No Karen or Camilla.
3. The music choices haven't been up to much.
4. The costumes haven't been great. Only Ola has had decent dresses.
5. A few of the couples are mismatched.

Its not going downhill. Jade's injury is unfortunate. Zoe's elimination was an act of public stupidity. Without either we would have Ricky W, Ali, Zoe and Jade still in as the top 4 which would be a pretty high standard.

Instead, we have Ricky W and Ali and then a huge gap to the rest of the field.

You can't build a series on ifs and maybes though.

Series 5 had two similar episodes of bad luck/stupidity with Gabby going early and Kelly's unfortunate withdrawal. However, the top four was still reasonably competitive and the top three even more so.

This series started with something of a blunder. Martina was never given a chance to show what she could do. That little change in dynamic could have changed the whole series and the judges (mainly Len ) have only themselves to blame for that one. On the other hand it might have changed very little but you never know.

I agree. I like Team Cola, but they are also not fizzy..