I don't think they should get marked for the choreography, but for how well they execute it. Scott basically didn't dance in that American Smooth, he forgot most of it and was dragged around by his neck, by Natalie.

I thought it was disappointment and shock, personally. He was almost in tears when waiting for the scores.

Those 9s for Scott in the AS were the biggest disgrace of the season. Blatant favouritism.

And Tess has a gall to say "Take out the tissue (for Matt)" or something like that after reminding him what Len said and added "Ouch!" gratuitously. Such professionalism.

The other couples all looked grim at the back when Matt was reduced to a whimpering pup with the tail between his legs after the mauling from the judges.

Thing is, I don't actually feel a score of seven was wrong, just that Pam, Scott and Gavin were ALL overmarked, that really riled me.

I didn't hear the "tissue" bit.

I thought it was going to be eights until I heard the comments. After all, Scott got nines for that AS, which was a complete and utter joke. Scott couldn't believe his scores either.

I thought the other couples looked ok with it, actually, probably thought they had more of a chance!

Watch it again on iplayer. Kara looked on worried for Matt, even Artem and James, the pros who'll be competitive, looked grim. Even Pam seemed to be showing some sympathy. Can't quite see Katya and Gavin as they were blocked by Matt and Aliona.

I think this is very much the case - but I also think there is a purpose to this 'drama' ...

For the past fortnight, we've had a growing tsunami of 'Aw, bless' about Gavin. His share of the audience vote obvoiusly increased for him to escape the bottom two last week and we had the horrific sight of Claudia, Zoe, Gloria and Fiona on ITT all making doe-eyes about him and behaving like they wanted to mother him. (Incidentally, I think this may be his appeal to a portion of the audience, too ...).

My guess is that the producers - who, after all, consantly monitor the public vote - are very aware of this and have made the same leap many on here (myself included) have made: that if Gavin reaches the final, he might win. That's not something that would enhance the show's credibility - and so, by creating 'controversy' about Matt's performance last night, the focus can be shifted away form Gavin. Matt will hoover up the sympathy vote and Gavin will end up in the bottom two.

And, judging by many reactions here, if that is indeed the plan, it will work.

It doesn't, however, alter the fact that that salsa fell some way short of what Matt could deliver if he had a different professional partner ...

I wish he'd had Lilia too, one of the best choreographers of the pros.

I don't agree that Matt was slated because the producers told the judges to. I think they genuinely didn't like the dance, and were disappointed in his execution of it.

I really don't think the producers really care who wins. If Gavin is so popular, it can only translate to higher ratings, so it would be in their interest to keep Gavin in as the conspiracy theory goes. Also, last year, a completely average-standard celeb lifted the glitter ball. Enough said, no?

No, no, please not puppetgate, I was hoping along the lines of bacofoil disaster, it's slow I need some entertainment.

Matt dances in his head, he thinks he is good, which usually translates as not as good as you think you are, baby.

Well, Michelle danced with Ian and did welll in that week.

Agree that Matt dances in his head. But he's a natural mover and has bags of potential, you have to be completely biased not to see that.

It's the pro job to ground him and correct his mistakes. Craig Kelly was completely delusional, and there's nothing Flavia could do, you know, you can't polish a turd as someone so eloquently puts it. But Matt is NOT in that category and Aliona could have brought the dancer out in him. I can imagine that under Flavia, Natalie or even Katya, Matt would have shone and be equal with Kara by now...

[quote=thenetworkbabe;46449760]Given its true that both females have been better, why would the judges send out any other message? Scott is often better too except those weeks when he mucks up. I can't see much case for giving Matt more than 7 tonight, and whatever you give him, he was behind Kara, Pamela and Scott in dancing, performance or acting terms.[/QUOTE]

Well, that's your opinion, and the opinion of the judges of course. I agree with one thing, Kara was streets ahead of any of them last night. Personally, I think it was a very close call for second place.
I didn't think Pamela's Paso was particularly good, average at best for this stage in the competition. Scott's AT was a fairly simple routine with a lot of (admittedly well executed) lifts cleverly making it look better than it was.
In fact, I would have placed Matt in second place..but not with any conviction, and it's open to argument. The audience reaction appeared to indicate the same ?

Chris may not have been as good as Ricky or Ali technically but Ola made sure he brought his personality onto the dancefloor, and he improved as the series progressed. He also had a signature routine in the Charleston.

Gavin may have improved in recent weeks but that didn't stop him delivering a dud jive. And Matt has been at pretty much the same level since he started, and has yet to come up with a signature routine.

And I think the producers care very much who wins ...

Well, I think Matt's Charleston and Samba were more than decent. I remember and enjoyed them immensely. Chris' Charleston just consisted of a lot of silly facial expression and that swimming movement towards the end. Nothing to shout about. His ballroom always contains pivots, and pivots and pivots and then... can't remember. His latin, save his rhumba, which was a revelation, was quite frankly pants. And he won anyway...

He is a natural mover, I didn't mean to imply that he wasn't. Unfortunately his gymnastics training counts against him because that is very much about being light on the floor and control, dancing is all about using the floor, while you do want control, there is also in the best dancers an element of abandonment (not sure if that is the right word). Aliona's choregraphy doesn't help and I think Matt can be a bit smug and really thinks he's very good, which can make someone difficult to teach, Finally he was good from the off which can lead to disappointment later on.

I wonder who would have told Matt he's 'really good'?

After all, Aliona was saying, as if her life depends on it, that it's her job to 'get Matt in the zone', and after that, 'he gives me all'.

Didn't see how Matt could be smug for giving Aliona whatever he's got. He would be smug if he refused Aliona's choreography and decided to add his own, or shouts at her in the training. And we don't see evidence of those.

So your thinking are just that, thinking, figment of imagination.

Oh Yes, He Is.

No better than when she danced with Brendan.:

If Matt can't handle simple choreography as was evidenced last night, what would the point be of giving him something harder?
Maybe he hasn't got the time to spend practicing because of other BBC committments. In that situation, no good blaming Aliona.
He has not improved much since he started, whereas most of the others have. No good getting carried away with the gymnastic content in his performances, they're in to deflect attention from his shortcomings and the judges aren't having it now.

For a "seasoned presenter" so he'd have been conscious of being on camera, he took criticism badly.

Conversely, look how well has Gavin taken it each week.

Matt could have lost a few supporters last night.

I don't think the judges marks/comments will do Matt any harm. My wife has been voting for Kara since the start, but this week she will also be voting for Matt. The judges marking was so bizarre compared with what we had just witnessed with our own eyes, it will have annoyed many viewers.
By the same token, the judges obvious bias in favour of Pamela will probably ruin her chances in the final..if she gets that far.

You are repeating yourself here and I have replied to your other similar comment but won't repeat here.

Except to say I completely disagree with you.

And sorry hun, but I completely disagree with you! Most of the time I agree with you.

Doghouse has some good points, Matt really was as poor as his score indicated for all sorts of reasons.

ETA I've just read what you have writtten to each other and I actually agree with both of you. Normally I have a problem with Aliona's choreography, but last night it was purely down to Matt's poor dancing, although the routine was very poor.

I think he just looked like they had spent all the time perfecting the tango and just threw the salsa together hoping his hip movement would get them through, but his hips were poor last night.

That's fine by me, kind of you to let me know, but really of no consequence.

Scores were right

Salsa routine was too slow music was all wrong and the floor bit in the middle was terrible Aliona's routine really let Matt down