Originally Posted by *Topaz*:
“Although I would like the new producers to be fair in how they pair the pros and celebs I'm not holding out much hope if I'm honest........if they can get rid of a perfectly good pro for trivial reasons then I don't have much confidence that they'll do the pairings fairly!
I know people say it's only the ratings that matter and they're going to pair them to fit the criteria of getting high viewing figures............but surely it would be better to have different pros being able to shine and showcase their skills.............I don't dislike her but I'm now heartily sick of Aliona :yawn: we've had three years of Len having hissy fits at her and I really don't want to see her in the finals or even the semis this year - I hope the producers see that she should get a weaker celeb because I fear if she gets another contender her ego will go into overdrive.....perhaps they can now give the role of rebel choreographer to Karen! Artem needs a dud for his own sake - his on going injury issues are a worry and I'd like to see him being relaxed and having fun.
I'd dearly love Flavia and Vincent to get contenders but then I am biased because they are my favs - but it's been so long since they've had good celebs........I would love to see them being able to do the AT with their celebs - since it's what they excel in! I know he had a good celeb last year but I wouldn't mind seeing Pasha with another contender......I absolutely loved what hed did with Chelsie and would like to see him showcase more of his choreography.”
Originally Posted by ForerroRocher:
“I prety much agree with all of this, though I wouln't complain if Artem was to be give a contender, because I adore watching what he choreographs for as many weeks possible, but it wouldn't be a complete travesty if he was to be given a duffer. He's reached the final and the semi final two years running, so a couple of duffers is surely only fair? :P
Aliona and Artem were very lucky last year, especially given their run the year before. Since they've both either won, or reached the later stages in the last two series, I wouldn't mind seeing somebody else with a chance.
I wouldn't mind Kristina having another shot though, just hopefully with somebody a bit more appealing than Jason.
Flavia and Vincent are long overdue decent celebrities. Also, I know he's won before and had a few contenders, but I'd love to see Brendan with somebody decent again. His last decent celebrity was Lisa Snowdon, and she obviously wasn't popular enough, regardless of how good a dancer she was. I'd love to see Brendan with a Kara-type.
Robin's another I'd love to see go further. I know he lasted 9 weeks both series, but neither of the celebs he had were going to contend in the finals, I thought that was obvious (I did love Patsy though.) so to see him with a really talented celeb that could take him further would be amazing.”
Originally Posted by shefair:
“Some of Krisitna choreography at the beginning of last year was excellent and then it got weird and desperate so I dont want to see any more weirdness at the moment”
I agree with all these points to a certain extent. My thoughts on the pros and what sort of celeb they could get. Considering that usually there are probably 5 or 6 contenders any year (possibly 3 female celebs and 3 male celebs max), this is how I think it would be fair to play out:
Male pros:
Brendan: with the news that a little Cole is on the way (with every possibility that the baby might be due at the end of Strictly, I suspect that Brendan will get a middler celeb this year, one who might get half way and probably unlikely to get further - unless there is a Eureka moment. If Mrs C is due early or even middle of January, I doubt Brendan will want to be having to spend 24/7 in the run up to Christmas not concentrating on his wife.
Artem: With Artem having been injured in the last year's on the show and who has already been injured working this year and had surgery recently and who still really needs rehabilitation, I suspect Artem needs to have a duffer for his health and well being. I do wonder what would happen to his copybook if he was to get injured again during Strictly (3 years running) and the possibilities for future years. I am already wondering if the producers could ask themselves if he is the right pro for Strictly if he is one of the only ones who has been consistently injured - none of the other 13 pros seem to be hit with injuries like him.
Anton: I agree with Topaz. Anton shouldnt be given any kind of contender because his Latin is laughable and immediately basically scuppers any decent celeb's chance of getting to the final in this show.
Robin and James: Im a sort of kinda "could go either way" with these two. Both have had fair to middling celebs the last couple of years so I suspect that one of them at least will get a good celeb.
Vincent I think deserves a decent celeb, especially as it is years since he has had a celeb that was good enough to last in the series for him to do a decent Argentine Tango with.
That leaves Pasha. He worked wonders with Chelsee last year (and I freely admit that I didnt think he would tick my boxes when he started) and to a certain extent did traditional choreography much of the time. I think he could get another contender this year as well - although maybe a more mature contender. he might be young but I dont think he should necessarily get the youngest female celeb.
Female pros:
Aliona - definitely should get a more challenging celeb this year - not necessarily a complete duffer but maybe the comedy candidate? (but certainly not the youngest, fittest and most popular male celeb).
Natalie - Looking back, even though I was not really a Ricky Whittle fan for his personality, I do think she did a good job with him. Last year Natalie did a fantastic job with Audley. Whoever would have thought he would last 6 or 7 weeks when he was pretty much favourite to leave every week. I think she deserves to be paired with a middler to good this year.
Erin - not really too bothered but I do think she suffers a little from the Anton can't do Latin mantle - even if Erin's latin is streets ahead that of Anton.
Kristina: I thought what she did with Jason last year towards the end of the series got more and more desperate. I liked her choreography the early weeks but then it tailed off. Im on the kinda could go either way again fence for Kristina. In the fairness queue, she shouldn't be at the front, but not towards the back either.
Ola - Im sorry but I didnt think much of Ola's choreography last year with one of the big name celeb signings (even if Robbie was so shy and patently challenging to choreograph for). Given that I loved what she did with Chris, maybe a middler for her.
Karen (new pro). I have a feeling that Karen will be 1st or 2nd in the queue for a contender - the producers wouldnt have brought in another new face if they didnt have plans for her to have major exposure - and in this show that means a contender (cue: Artem, Aliona and Pasha from the last few years).
Flavia: Ok so Flavia is my favourite pro and yes Im biased - but surely she should get a contender this year. Like Vincent its been ages since Flav has had a real contender celeb and showed off her creative choreography.
Therefore in summary: the contender queue:
Girls: Flavia, Karen (probably) and Natalie
Boys: Vincent, Pasha and either James or Robin.
I still reckon there could be as many as 4 or 5 Olympians (or retired sportsmen) this season - as well as at least one musician so maybe this is the year that Strictly has more than the pre-requisite 6 ish contenders.
