Cost cutting. I don't think Chris the shouty guy would have choreographed Scott's Let's hear it for the boys Salsa, which was the beginning of his being overmarked time and time again.

Maybe that's the story they were trying to tell, in which case bravo

For a few weeks now, there has been a real effort on the part of the judges to champion Pamela and Kara over Matt. I think the public are being told that Matt isn't that good. And maybe it'll stick.

One hug yes, but I won't let go!

As for Kara, thanks again for voting on my behalf. I will miss tomorrow's show again.

Though I think the judges seemed to favour Scott more than Matt in general, I won't mind him being in the final. Heck, I don't even mind if Pam's in the final, as long as Kara's there.

And please, we have a horrible puppetgate, then Lisa's turkey showdance, they are enough to haunt me for the rest of my life!

"I really liked the opening lift. I actually thought that was very brave of you to do that and a lot of the lifts were really, really good. And yes, there was a lot of basic salsa. I would have liked to see a lot more of the armography that comes with the salsa. I didn't like that grinding section down there - that was unnecessary. And you are still a little bit stiff - I want you to just relax. The salsa's a social dance. He's very much in his head - I want him to be more in his body and relaxed."

I can't see anything "blatantly harsh" about Alesha's assessment there. I agreed with her. She pointed out what she liked, what she didn't like, and what Matt had to work on.

I have to wait for the iplayer to put up the main show again to watch once more. It felt harsh at that time but I stand corrected, of course.

Then again, I believe she scored the same Gavin's Samba with Matt's Salsa?

I just added to my previous post that the bookies now have Kara ahead of Matt to win Strictly 2010.

What is this mysterious job you have anyway? - please tell me you're a big burly bouncer or something equally horny lol

Completely unglamorous, I can only venture to say I have to do something that will help others a great deal (with little personal financial gain) on Saturdays, and I will do so till I am not needed or become ill again.

Hate to disappoint you, that I am not doing anything sexy on Sat evenings.

Aww bless you SCD-O - I'm happy for my sexual fantasies to take a back seat when you're doing something so worthwhile!

Keep up the good work

Thanks for telling me that Kara's now the bookies fav. Hope tomorrow's rhumba will not be too bad. I am in the minority here, I hated the music choice, but many people seem to like the M&S sleazy number, so I guess that can't be bad because they will hopefully vote for her anyway.

The song choice is unusual but I trust Artem, and think it will work when accompanied by the dance.

On it's own it did sound a bit odd.

C'mon, it's background music purely for boinking. But it's too blatantly obvious for a rhumba, if that makes sense?

Maybe that's when they got their inspiration to use it

I believe that the pro's have a choice whether or not to use specialists for the dances that aren't "routine" for them, ie salsa, AT, charleston. They're always there but a pro can say no. I would guess Aliona did just that. I'm really quite gutted for Matt. He's my least fave semi finalist but I think he's a more natural and more talented dancer than Gavbot and Sccccccccccccottttt. I deffo think Kara and Pam should be in the final, but if those two are there with Scott I'd be narked - it should be Matt. He hasn't wowed me like Scott has (in two dances) but he's been brilliantly consistent which Norman hasn't.

The problem for me is that the judges (well Bruno, Alesha and Len) overscore most of the contestants but then suddenly go all realistic when it comes to Matt. I didn't think Matt's Salsa tonight was that great but he has never done a really bad dance and it must be totally demoralising to have heard over the weeks judges giving praise and encouragement to worse dancers and then become incredibly critical and picky when it comes to him.

I felt that 7 was the right score for Matt tonight (although not in the context of how the contestants have been marked this series) but I felt that most of the judges appeared out to deflate him, spoil his enjoyment of the semi-final and crush his enthusiasm for dancing.

Well, perhaps. But I am getting (perhaps irrationally?) protective of Kara. I don't want Len to say "it's too raunchy" or something like this. I recall him saying they were sexy in their cha-cha and he dreaded to see their rhumba, and then THAT rhumba number came along!

I know I've said this elsewhere but I think the judges are playing mind games with Matt and us (to an extent anyway).

They brought Matt down so that he can be the comeback boy tomorrow. And his popularity will swell.

That's my hunch anyway....

Have one from me - though I think I'm second in the queue behind Sid.

Aww, thank you and Sid for the hugs. Now I can sleep tight.

Nite nite! :yawn:

I'm starting to feel that way too. But as we know the GBP don't like being told who to vote for, even sublimily (apologies for spelling - it's late). You'd think after 8 series the producers and judges would have figured this out IFwhat you say is true, then it won't do Kara or Pamela any favours, sadly.

you are correct on that one.

the judges are first class head picklers apart from Craig who has integrity. It's their way of doing business with us I'm afraid.

I think that's spot on. Matt's been the bookies' favourite since the beginning, but now that Ann's out, the show's focal point of drama and outrage has gone. Nice, but not very charismatic Matt might have a big fanbase but he's saddled with an unpopular partner, he hasn't done the "J" word and the show might have been perceived to risk losing its momentum. He simply doesn't polarise opinions: those who prefer other dancers can't be too scathing about him as often they can't feel very strongly about him at all (Craig's "insipid" comment sums up how I feel about him in general to be honest)

And the outrage created by the judges' comments (which imo weren't particularly rude but were very forthright) was exactly the result they'd intended and planned.

have you read my above post?

I have now. I don't type very fast, I'm afraid, and I hadn't read the last page when I responded to Sid's post which was much earlier.
Last edited by ilovesooty : 11-12-2010 at 02:50