Results show ........... perrrrrfect!

Fabulous music throughout AND (for me!!) the right person sent home. Couldn't be better.

Could scd produce a show as good? Sadly, I think not.

I think the BBC could, if they were allowed to, but they are hampered by cost, Bruce and not competing with X-Factor, so whatever they do will always seem slightly cheap and not so slick.

Maybe, but the answer is in their own hands.

Cost - they have spent a fortune (their words) on a new set etc..... who cares about a new set? The money would have been better spent on better supporting acts.

Bruce - get rid of him - simples!

Not competing with X-Factor? That's the very thing they do want to do.

Loved the way it started backstage with the cameras following the dancers. Music was sooooo good!

Also very glad to see the back of the Hoff. Man is such a berk!

No, SCD can't match this. It's not about money, it's about having a modicum of style and vision - and the right people on the show and, sadly, SCD doesn't have the former and never had the latter.

I want SCD to compete, I really do, but it's firmly wedged into cheap and tacky end of the market with matching random soap 'stars' and terrible presenters. Even the band is not up to par.

I feel for the pros: they give so much and yet are treated like disposable 'casual staff' who come bottom of the list. The set gets more TLC than they do!

No wonder incredible dancers like Ian and Matthew walk away. Who can blame them?

I think you are being a bit harsh on SCD there. Remember the BBC daring to spend over the odds for a big British film star or ultra-famous singer would have to justify the cost to 'the court of public opinion"

Doctor Who fans want massive week long stories awash with CGI....Every "cult" show has a loyal fanbase who want more than the national broadcaster can afford.

I agree, plus when they did try to compete with X-Factor, there was a sustained campaign against it in the press, and the producers were essentially told 'Don't do that again'. I think that may have been an issue with the musical acts too, they are competing against X-Factor for the very high profile guests, and as X-Factor has the bigger budget, it can get them. Can you imagine if SCD outbid TXF for a guest? Cowell would be everywhere complaining!

I think they have the same problem with Bruce, after all the outcry about Arlene getting sacked for being too old, (whether that was the reason or not, that's how it was seen) there's no way anyone will get shot of Bruce and replace him with a younger host. We are sadly stuck with him until he realises he's too old for it. I don't like it, but I can understand why.

I'm not sure our celebs are much below the standard of the celebs on DWtS, but they do have a lot more to choose from!

Basically I think the differences have nothing to do with money .... it's simply down to the fact that America take ballroom dancing seriously and gives their all, and the UK generally never has, and probably never will, take it seriously.

The BBC in particular is completely blinkered; it cannot see ballroom dancing as anything more than a "bit of fun", and is entirely unable to grasp the fact of it also being a SPORT that deserves respect.

Absolutely loved the show as usual......glad the hoff went home.

Well said kaycee and Jan. I totally agree.

Don;t know if that is entirely fair. It's not as though DWTS has absolutely fautless, by-the-book ballroom, is it? If anything, SCD is far more 'textbook', it just doesn't have the budget....

Just watching it now, I already knew the Hoff was out (thanks Daily Mail), I love Maksim, he is hotter than a hot thing on a hot day, looking forward to seeing more of him and Brandi. Why does poor Cheryl always get the tall blokes. I'm just up to Britol Palin, I'm enjoying it so far, the band are brilliant as always.

I love Maks but I'm not keen on Brandy. She comes over a bit Kelly Brook/Naomi Campbell, if you know what I mean?

Not to give the wrong impression, I have been really enjoying the clips on YouTube. I don't want to start having inappropriate thoughts about Bristol =!

Exactly. Well said.

Watching her in rehearsal just got on my nerves. I think you've summed it up nicely without resorting to adjectives!

I commend you on your loyalty to the good old Beeb, but reserve my right to find SCD cheap and rather tacky. I would love it to be good.

I suppose, not being a Brit, I don't feel the need to criticise DWTS in order to defend the BBC, nor blame DWTS' success on the fact that it is an American production or that they 'have more money'.

Who cares about 'textbook ballroom'? I may know a great deal about dance, but ultimately I want to be entertained.

Well, i tuned in on Friday at 9 and found myself watching the results show before i'd seen the main show!!

I obviously missed something as i had no idea it started on Thursday Anyway i caught up on Saturday and thought it was pretty good. I really loved watching Kyle and Lacey, i didn't expect so much energy just going by his waistline but i should obviously not judge by size in future!! Can't wait to see him dance ballroom.

I also enjoyed Jennifers dance as Derek really does come up with great routines.

I've always liked Brandy when i've seen her in anything but she wasn't coming across well this time, she'll need to sort that out if she wants to get anywhere in this comp which i suspect she does!

I felt sorry for Bristol as she was really shy and i really didn't warm to the Situation, so i hoped he would go as his dancing was awful aswell. Shame the Hoff went as i don't mind him so much.

As for the music acts on the results show, way too many and definitely not my cup of tea at all! I ran them all on :sleep:

I liked Kyle and Lacey too hope he slims down a lot with all the exercise and then I think he will be great (I am allowed to say that as I am not a skinny person)

Heh, fair points well made.

I have a great fear that the Beeb will be undone by both plaudits and critics, that those who defend its cost will ultimately kill it with love. Those who don't understand it have a blood lust which will not relent until its is partially or completely sold off.

SCD is not "tacky". In the best tradition of British Saturday night TV, it is cheap and cheerful - the Beeb has always done this kind of mainstream Saturday night television on a budget, it's why the viewers are so consistently loyal. Maybe the expectations of American viewers is warped by not having grown up with the cut-price entertainment we have enjoyed ?

I am American and I can that in no way is SCD tacky. If anything to me it is elegant.

Fair point Doc

I grew up with no TV at all until I came over here. I suspect my desire for better than cheerful is down to me being a media person and a fussy so-and-so

I fear the Beeb will be undone by itself The recent stories coming out of the place do not do its management any favours at all

I would agree that, as far as the celebs are concerned, SCD focuses more on the technique of a dance than DWTS, which, coming from Hollywood, not surprisingly, focuses on the entertainment side of things.

But the routines of the pro dancers in dwts are far superior to those of scd. The routines danced by the pros in the launch show were lacked any sort of imagination, and overall were rather sad by comparison.

And it isn't really down to budget; rather it's a case of dwts bubbles with an enthusiasm & vitality that is lacking in scd. And, as I said once before, on dwts the dancers - pros & celebs alike - are actually allowed to be "over competitive" without being lambasted as they are in the uk.

I watched this for the first time. I was very impressed on how polished the male presenter was, not so keen on Brooke though. Made me want rid of old Brucie even more than I thought possible.

I was pleased to see the Hoff go first, he makes me cringe, I thought he would be more popular with the US audience.....

And whose bright idea was it to get Jennifer Grey to dance to "these arms of mine"? Fabulous song but anyone would know that would of brought up emotions about Patrick Swayze, I thought it very unfair.

I agree and while the Hollywood style is not everyone's taste or cup of tea it is the way of dwts. They want you to be entertained and wowed. They welcome competativeness because it draws you in.

That is why I hate the comparisons between the two shows. They are different flavors of fruit.