That's why I asked if the show was known for been sensationalist. In any situation the comments of the first judge to speak would be unacceptably rude. I don't think I've ever heard a judge question the proficiency of a pro before.

The people to blame are the producers for employing that pro in the first place .

I thought most top pros specialise in either Ballroom or Latin and it's difficult to find a top pro who specialises in both .

The most annoying person there was that presenter, way too OTT .

He really shouldn't have been selected as a pro should he? He is also too short for the celebrity and I think that's unforgivable of the producers.
Pros should be exactly that - professional. It appears this guy, however nice he may be, is just a competition winner?

Very uncomfortable to watch and it doesn't reflect well on the producers at all.

The producers have to decide what kind of show they are running. Is it the SCD that started up originally (based on learning the 10 dances), or is it some concocted mix with no specific standard for the pro/celeb to achieve?

Dancers will do auditions and its up to the producers to hire the correct cast for the show. If they hire someone who isn't experienced enough to do the job properly, the fault should lie with the producers. As long as the dancer gives 100% effort and does his best then he is doing the job as best he can.

Its the producers that the criticism should fall on in that situation.

I felt really bad for him! But the judges were right there was not enough foxtrot in there. They should have not been so rude though!

Cringeworthy but it needed to be said.

Why was she with such a small pro though. That girl was taller than Robbie?

I thought they were extremely rude and disrespectful to both the pro and especially the celeb.

Granted there was precious little Foxtrot in there, but make the point and move on - don't humiliate the guy at length on (inter)national TV. The producers chose him, for whatever reason, knowing he wasn't a ballroom dancer - and his choreography led to a watchable routine ( albeit not a foxtrot). He taught it to his celebrity who performed it to the best of her ability, and they both entertained.

Surely that assassination would have shattered Torahs confidence in her pro, and she was punished for his shortcomings.

Appalling incident all round!

Completely the producers fault. They should not be hiring people who don't have the technical knowledge and experience to do the dances. I also thought the judges were extremely cruel when they were asking "do you know what a foxtrot is?" The evidence has already suggested no and they've already said he wasn't good - why try and humiliate the poor man who took it all in his stride admirably.

The song choice was also utterly appalling for a foxtrot and did not help him. A cha cha yes - a foxtrot absolutely NOT.

How do the latin & ballroom pros cope with choreographing and dancing contemporary dances? They are very very different disciplines and styles. Why not stick to the ten dances - maybe chuck a couple of crowd pleasers in (like charleston and salsa like we have on scd) for fun and variation - and hire professionals specifically because they can dance them. It's like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole to do otherwise.

O.M.G. that was horrendous. Total shame on the folk that hired him. I'm mortified for him and his unfortunate partner. Poor lad.

I have a feeling Jason Gilikson had a hand in that

I think there's a conflict there - between what the dance fraternity want, and the problems of 'the entertainment' industry.

It had to be said. Poor chap was caught in the crossfire and handled it well. But that fox was a JOKE.

And if the show wants to be something other than a ballroom and Latin show, let them STATE that, not pretend it's something it's not.

Yes, I can see that being true.

I'm worried about their contemporary next week, which usually has a lot of lifts - she looks bigger than he is.

Pretty shocking way to run a show. Don't hire people unqualified. Don't destroy them on air for ratings. You have to wonder if the producers knew what they were doing when they put him on the show...