Also there is a maximum of 5 points up for grabs in this compared to 40 potoential points in the other 2 dances. In the overall scheme of things its not going to make much difference.

In fact given they have 3 dances to learn this week if I was a Pro I would just do some basic choreo for the swingathon and focus far more time on the other 2 dances.

For once, I laughed at Bruno miming using a machine gun to eliminate them.

I see your point, but I think that could occur even if they danced the swingathon first, I would say that is favouritism, as judges that shouldn't happen surely

...and - to answer all of our questions, there is only one voting period for the public and that's on Saturday as usual.

ETA - Oops - you said that too
Last edited by Bonnie96 : 07-12-2010 at 14:25

Do we know if they are dancing a specific swing style?

He'll have the stamina, it just depends if the judges will give him a chance to use it.

The voting is strange this series. I agree that there seems to be favouritism amongst the judges for certain contestants. I may as well hang my colours to the mast! I think that Matt is undermarked and Scott tends to be overmarked. I won't name individual judges, but you can draw your own conclusions about that. Matt can'y do right for doing wrong it seems , whereas, Scott can be diabolical and still get 9's!!!
Had my rant!

Scott will win because the judges won't want him to be in danger. I suspect Kara/Pamela will be 2nd, and Matt 4th. Poor Gavin is a certainty to be last I think.

Or, Scott could do well because this style of dance genuinely suits him. He proved it with his Jive.

Just what I was thinking, Sid!

Maybe. We'll see, but he has been overmarked way too much for my liking so if he does get top marks then I hope he actually deserves it.

I hope now that Ann's gone, the judges will stop trying to manipulate the vote by overscoring and underscoring to keep their favs in. Now that 'the fab four' are still there and only three can go into the final, I really hope they score accordingly now there's no need to protect the better dancers from the threat of Ann.

My feeling is that, of the big 4, Matt may be the one in danger from the judges.

Pamela and Scott seem to get excellent scores for dances that are simply 'good', whereas Matt and Kara have to actually be excellent to get the corresponding scores.

So far Kara seems to be one most capable of delivering truly excellent performances, so if Mr Baker isn't at the very top of his game, he could be in a tricky position!

His jive was head and shoulders better than any of the others in the competition, but I'm sure they're all practising like mad, and as they all have the same basic 'routine' and music, I think it'll be very close.

In response to the OP, I think I trust the judges' objectivity more than I trust that of many posters on this forum. If the outcome of this swingathon is anything other than a triumph for Kara and Matt, with the other three trailing behind, I get the impression it will be regarded as a dark conspiracy by some people: a pity, as I think the top four are remarkably close in ability and have all had good and bad weeks.

Think of it from the producers point of view, they want to keep any tension about who is going to win for as long as possible.

It's a distribution of 5 distinct marks. There is no way of simply giving everyone just another four points, that would serve no purpose at all. It's a chance to send all or most of the dancers into the Saturday show still with a chance of winning or at least improving their position with the judges. That is, to narrow any gaps in scoring that might have opened up after the first dance. Ballrooms tend to be more evenly marked anyway, that's why they will take them first.

Maybe I'm just an old lacy doily, but ...
all those extra lifts in the swingathon on top of extra pzazz for showdances etc - is going to put a heck of a strain on the male dancers.

If Kara and Pam were going to do their fair share of the heaving, would be fairer for Matt and Scott - reckon Gavin has the muscles for it..

Just watched the US version again. Does anyone heartily disagree with the order they were eliminated in?

Couldn't see much of the first couple in blue but the blonde in pink should've gone earlier.

Exactly. The best approach is to do basic choreography for the celebs that can be repeated for the whole routine. The pro can do the fancy stuff and involved the celeb when they need a breather!


Haven't heard anything about that.


I think Pamela is the one in danger, because the swing style will not suit her.


That's the point I was trying to make earlier. Even when a less able celeb is doing well, they get an early tap on the shoulder. It might be different though with only 5 couples.

If and as it should be on dance value then Gavin will be first off
The business of bumping into other dancers is not a point off each time or out you go every bump no judge is going to waste time on who was to blame (unless not able to judge on dance) but continue to mark dance as seen
The exercise is not same same as in a normal dance contest where judges are spread around the floor and given 32 bars you have to pick the judge(s) you need to impress and give them 3/4 more bars than those judges you are comfortable will mark you through by familiarity
Judge on the dance values and go with the musicality should be a great night

I agree Gavin is most likely to get the first tap. I think at the beginning each couple will only be allowed to dance within a circle of light created by a spotlight, so there should be no bumping in the early stages. On DWTS all the judges stand together discussing who should go next and then someone (no one we know) goes on to the floor and taps the couple on the shoulder.

I'm looking forward to this being much better than last year's VW, when there was the fracas with Brian and Ali!

Yeah, I think Pamela only stayed that long because Bruno adored her... much like Ssssssssccootttttt (Sorry, Scott fans, if I'm wrong about this I'll happily hold my hands up. )

Ooh, a blonde named Pamela, liked by the judges and overmarked? Hmmm, I spot a weird symmetry...

I'm sure that's true but only because there is a huge gulf in ability between Gavin and the others. For Gavin to genuinely be better than any of them they would have to fall over two seconds in and go and sit on the step and refuse to dance like Matt di Angelo....and then the public would save them

Gavin will probably be the worst, so no big surprise there.

It would seem to have the potential to increase the chance of a tied leaderboard, or infact reverse placings that contestant's had earned by dancing a full routine rather than a 16 beat repeated.

I'm wary at best

An endurance test isnt really in keeping with the show and it seems particularly cruel to introduce a Slogathon near the end of the series - which have been fine without one in the past - when the contestants are naturally tired.

Psst, I bet James is regretting the amount of faffing about he has done in all his routines. I don't think Pamela has danced a full minute yet let alone 3!