Originally Posted by maxiewaxie:
“Whilst I have nothing against Chris at all, he seems a nice enough chap I don't understand all this talk of personality. Why is personality only measured in terms of fun, catchphrases, acting childishly, being a comedian etc. Ali and Ricky both have personalities just a bit more reserved but both are hard working, enthusastic and all the other qualities that the contestants should be. Why is it that they are perceived as not enjoying themselves as much as Chris? Ali especially seems to be loving every moment and has shown some very good characteristics, bravery in particular but because she doesn't do slapstick humour she is said not to have any personality. Why can't being serious about something be seen as equally as valuable as having 'fun'. Why is FUN all that seems to matter these days?”
Reality shows are like dramas: they require the audience to engage with and invest in characters they like. They differ in that we, the audience, get to have a say in who stays on screen and who goes. So the onus is on all participants in these shows to somehow hook viewers in. This is more blatant in the likes of Big Brother; in Strictly, we are asked to invest in contestants as we watch them learn to dance.
When dramas are created, characters are devised to fulfil certain roles, embody certain characteristics, appeal to certain demographics. They are assigned traits that will promote conflict with other characters. While Strictly doesn't aspire to the kind of low-rent fights that litter the BB house, it nevertheless wants 'characters' to develop among its celebrity cast - hence the endless footage of the celebs training, rehearsing ... all of which is then carefully edited by the producers to generate interest in who the celebs are. In other words, they are trying to create and promote characters.
Where this series of Strictly, and its predecessor, have come undone is in the casting. There aren't enough distinctive characters and, in both shows, we have ended up with celebs who are technically proficient, but lack strong personalities. Ali seems nice and has undoubtedly had more than her share of medical scares ... but she isn't really that strong a character. All the potential drama lies unexplored between her and Brian, but with none of the mystique that we saw previously between Matt and Flavia. And last Friday said much more about Ricky's character than anything we have seen on camera, where he talks repeatedly about wanting to win.
So yes, Ali and Ricky are more reserved - and while there's nothing wrong with that in principle, it inevitably plays against them in the audience's mind. Chris and Ola have a strong professional chemistry between them and the fun we see them having in their training footage - which they brought to the dancefloor so well on Saturday - is infectious. They have engaged with the audience - Team Cola came from a DS poster and they have acknowledged this in the T-shirts. I don't know whose idea that was but it was a stroke of genius. It's like them connecting with us.
So sure, what we see of them has been edited together to help create a character (or, to be accurate, two characters) - but it's very clearly genuine. (I'd say the same of Natalie and Vincent, too - this series' other distinctive characters). And it leaps off the screen in a Saturday evening entertainment show which is supposed to be
fun. That is why he has such strong public support.
Chris isn't a comedy contestant - he needs to improve technically - and he is working just as hard as Ali, Ricky and Laila. But when the show is short of characters to easily latch onto - and that is how television works - it's no wonder that he and Ola have come to the fore.
(Sorry about the essay!
)
) & yet it sounds as though his schedule is as bad as it ever was this week and this might be his last appearance on SCD
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