Seeing the old series clips of Gethin, Colin and Matt Dawson's best dances when they were on ITT the other night just showed up for me what a lacklustre strictly this series has been!

normally im a religious watcher of SCD but this year with the replacement of arlene, Zoe being put out far too early, Jade leaving, Them picking the charlston and rock and roll for two new dance when they have so much better ones to do !, and the random marking.

for me my favorite series was series 4, when the 10's were mostly handed out for a perfect performance, like for instance emma's american smooth only got 34 it would have gotten 37 in this series

I think a big problem this year is that Ricky W aside, the remaining celebs wouldn't have made the top 3 or 4 in the previous 3 series, possibly more...I've seen no real improvement in anyone, have yet to see a dance that sets my world alight and haven't been compensated for that by at least having a personality I could get behind or even be bothered about. My last flicker of interest died out with Jade and Ian's demise - who at least showed some sense of flamboyance in their performances...

I'm afraid that Ian's trousers may well be the highlight of this years show

It's funny coz it's true

[quote=SideshowStu;36959931]I think a big problem this year is that Ricky W aside, the remaining celebs wouldn't have made the top 3 or 4 in the previous 3 series, possibly more...I've seen no real improvement in anyone, have yet to see a dance that sets my world alight and haven't been compensated for that by at least having a personality I could get behind or even be bothered about. My last flicker of interest died out with Jade and Ian's demise - who at least showed some sense of flamboyance in their performances...QUOTE]

I couldnt agree with you more. I think that explains my concern if either Natalie, Laila or Chris win. Im not slagging them off but they arent as good as previous series' top five contestants.

I do think Ali is good enough to win though as well as Ricky. I think they both would have done well in previous series.

[quote=drbolognaise;36960254]


I agree Dr. B. I don't particularly enjoy Ricky's dancing, but I'd rather he or Ali win than the rest, just because anyone else would be a very low winner!

So far, the lowest averaging winner was Darren, on 31.23 (21st place with the judges). Will we see a lower one this year?

The only thing winding me up is the apparent inability to ensure a three couple final.

I'm glad Arlene was replaced, Alesha has lightened up the judging panel considerably, it's much less grumpy now, even the couple of little spats are nothing compared to the meanness in it last year. I also think she's been fair in her marking in that she's giving a mark based on her own opinion. I've actually agreed with a lot of what she's said. For the record, my appraisal of Craig's Cha Cha was 'tortuous' - I just didn't say it out loud, I chose to say nothing!

I've thoroughly enjoyed watching at least half the contestants, but would have liked Phil, Zoe and of course, Jade, to be in for longer. These three plus both Ricky's, Ali, Chris and Nat's best dances I'd have been quite happy to see in the final again, I've found some of them just as memorable and enjoyable as any other year.

I loved that they gave the celebs the chance to do both a latin and a ballroom before being eliminated, if they could just do away with the dance off from quarter final onwards now, that would be great. And ensure a 3 couple final of course!

[quote=zankoku87;36960981]
The problem is not only the numbers its the racheting down effect. You had winners for 5 series who were either the best or very near or very good with an enormous journey story. What happened before got more random , good people couldn't get votes, the competition increasingly failed to make the finals and bad dancers stayed longer and longer but the outcome made sense. Tom moved things on because he wasn't the best and didn't have a journey story either. This series you could have a middle ability celeb winning for no reason other than that people liked them (or their pro) or everyone better had an accident. Once you get to the point that the dancing didn't matter and you can have winners with 4 or 5 better dancers not winning you have a different show. The viewers and people involved will shift their expectations. If Nathalie can win why not anyone else who made it to half way? Next year it will be more logical and legitimate to assume that the cuddly comic with flat feet can win and to keep on supporting them to the end. The better celebs and their pros will also draw the conclusions - training hard is pointless as you won't get votes anyway, doing something difficult isn't worth it and can lead to injury and less dancing and more ham acting works. Indeed, some people this series already seem to have drawn those onclusions either before or after they left.

[quote=thenetworkbabe;36961313]


This is a thought-provoking post and suggests this series is leaving brand SCD sitting on the edge of a precipice - if one of the weakest dancers wins it (principally on personality), the casting for the next series will be mightily affected.

If training hard and producing competent dancing is not enough - why would talented and high-profile celebs sign up? (especially with BBC cuts and budget reductions making the monetary aspect less attractive).

You could add 'Why should the pro's bother to knock themselves out in future to produce memorable routines?' It might be my imagination but something else I've felt this year is that although the pro's are still performing and smiling in the right places, their hearts don't seem to be quite so much in it. It's just an impression I get...

It really went downhill last year and became something of a joke, what with the John Sergeant fiasco. He could even have won, based on popularity. (Not popular with me, though!)

The problems with SCD this year..

* The 'celebs' or lack of. How many people knew who Ali Bastian was? At least in DWTS they have Donny Osmond, Kelly Osbourne - actual famous people! SCD should pay more for good celebs who are actually famous. Without having 'former' before their occupation!

* Alesha didn't work, did she? She slumps herself on the desk, while her dull comments provoke tumbleweed in the audience. Alesha came across as a lovely person on ITT, but she's dull dull dull on the panel

* The show is far too long, with too many couples

* Leila has an injury and performs, Jade has an injury and goes straight through. Hmm, not really fair, is it?

* Couples who can't keep it professional - Brian and Ali etc.

1) I knew who they all were except Jo Wood - they're not especially famous but if I didn't know the name I knew the face...

4) If you can't see the why Jade's and Laila's injuries had to be treated differently, then I suppose it doesn't look fair. But they stuck by the rules, and Laila made her decision. *shrugs*

[quote=Jamie00353;36962806]The problems with SCD this year..

* The 'celebs' or lack of. How many people knew who Ali Bastian was? At least in DWTS they have Donny Osmond, Kelly Osbourne - actual famous people! SCD should pay more for good celebs who are actually famous. Without having 'former' before their occupation!

* Alesha didn't work, did she? She slumps herself on the desk, while her dull comments provoke tumbleweed in the audience. Alesha came across as a lovely person on ITT, but she's dull dull dull on the panel

* The show is far too long, with too many couples

Quote:
“* Leila has an injury and performs, Jade has an injury and goes straight through. Hmm, not really fair, is it?[/QUOTE]”

Thats down to the rules tho. Leila was not injured enough to get a bye - Jade was. It was up to Leila if she danced or not.
This is a doctor's advice these decisions are made.

I didn't see the point of the Charleston and Rock n Roll being brought in this week? I mean they've never been in the show before they're hardly ballroom or latin dances. Chris Hollins performance proved that ok you need good timing to do the Charleston but it's hardly a difficult technical dance. How much practice do you actually need for it? What has happened to the Argentine Tango they normally have for the quarter final no mention of it for next week? I can't imagine Arlene Phillips would have approved of the theatre like Charlestons we saw last night or the rock'n roll jigging about, had she been on the panel.

It wasnt fair.End of

End of?

Promise?

You're boring me now, Bhoy.

End of this argument but theres plenty more debating left inside me oe the rest of this series