Why is the scoring so vastly different on DWTS compared to SCD? Bruno for example, only gave out three '8s' tonight out of 15 couples. Yet on DWTS week 2 of this season, he gave out five '8s', three '7s', one '5', two '6s' and a 9. Len used to be the same when he used to do the US version, he would give out 9s in Week 1 as well.

Is the standard of dancing much better on DWTS compared to SCD, or do the judges have a different marking criteria?

Because Dancing With The Stars is incoherent garbage.

LOL, the turtle dance

I'm trying to imagine a Paso to the Doctor Who theme now (biggest cross-over ever)

There was once utter disbelief when somebody gave a 3 on DWTS.

I'd love to see Craig guest judge there once - they wouldn't know what hit them.

I think - and it is only an opinion, not something I can back up with facts - that the US networks (and more crucially their advertisers) - want the impression created that this is "top class" dancing that the viewers are watching.

And it also helps to attract big name contestants if they know they are not going to be humiliated by the judges!

Totally contradicting what I've just said, there have been reports that ABC want Craig to replace Len when he retires!!!

e.g. http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...l-Horwood.html

After the Blofeld rumba, I fear nothing is beyond the pale

I see it. I visualise it (that's basically the same thing but more science-fictiony). Or maybe a tango... Either way - both on Halloween week where Vicky Gill has just vomited sci-fi cliches across each costume. Please.

True, but it has produced some great dances.

Everything is bigger in the good ol' U.S. of A.

Because they are different programmes in different countries.

Obviously the standard of dancing on DWTS is much higher than SCD, thanks to all the great pros and their creative choreography (Derek, Sharna, Mark, Val, Witney etc)! DWTS's dances has the WOW factor which SCD lacks... i have only seen the wow factor/creativity in Pasha and Aljaz's choreography on SCD. Brendan/Anton/Kevin/most of the pros lacks creativity ..they're more traditional. Watching SCD is like watching the early seasons of DWTS ..

PS. SCD pros often copies DWTS pros choreography/concepts...but i never seen any DWTS pros copying anything of SCD's. DWTS is superior to SCD anyday

Can't agree with that.

Foxtrots on DWTS, for example, are almost unanimously awful (no matter how flash they are) because they resemble nothing approaching a Foxtrot.

It doesn't help that the pros appear to choreograph all of their routines on Speed - hence them being danced at about 50mph (even the Waltz).

DWTS is rapidly shedding its reputation as a ballroom show and moving into the dreaded 'contemporary' middle ground. Let's not forget, one season last year only had one Paso danced for the show's entire duration. It's essentially So You Think You Can Dance: Celeb Edition nowadays.

Not true.

Exactly. When at least one of the pros of DWTS has barely any ballroom training, her celebs sometimes have more ballroom experience...

DWTS has so many SYTYCD contestants as pros or in troupe it's showing a lot in the choreography.

The Strictly scores are simply more honest and accurate.

To suggest the higher scores are an indication of better quality is just daft. The range of scores is generally only 7s, 8s and 9s - probably because the American celebs seem to need to be cossetted and flattered. You're perfectly entitled to prefer DWTS. I sometimes do think the standard of performance is better than on Strictly, but then it values 'show' over 'substance' (and that's neither better or worse - it's just different), but any pretence at proper technique has gone by the wayside on DWTS in the last few years. You can make a cha cha feel creative and modern if what you actually dance is hip hop! DWTS certainly has 'evolved'. Into a horrible frenetic mess.

Couldn't agree more fridgie..well said

LOL. But SCD pros often copies/rips off those so called ''horrible frenetic mess'' speaks lengths about who is better. Inferiors copies superiors, not the other way around.. so there you go!

DWTS used to be my favourite Tv show but the producers have ruined the show. I stopped watching after season 18. Hopefully the SCD producers will not copy DWTS format.

I remember Val & Bruno ripping off Artem's Strictly Swan Lake routine for one of his dances with Rumer, but I honestly can't think of any Strictly dances which were ripped off from DWTS - which ones were they? (Genuinely curious as I don't watch a lot of DWTS as none of the dances look like anything recognisable to me)

REALLY? Giving the same score (6s) to both Daniel and Anita's Charleston speaks a LOT about accuracy!

It does. Both deserved their marks.

Daniel's Charleston had a lot more swivel and actual Charleston steps in it than Anita's had so I don't really object to them getting the same marks (but then if you think DWTS is that much better than Strictly you probably aren't that bothered whether there are any recognisable steps in a dance ).

Nice one Ms. Ellie

Bruno gave the Swan Lake concept to Val, and not Val himself. So the pro (Val) never copied ...but Bruno as he judges both SCD/DWTS.

Here are some~
Candace-Mark's ''Under the Sea'' Samba ripped off horribly by Scott-Joanne last season.
NeNe Tony's ''Cruella de Ville'' Foxtrot by Anton-Judy.

And more recently, Giovanni copied Val-Rumer's jive's theme/routine during their premiere night dance. There are lot more ...but i don't have the time to write them and all...

Sounds like a pretty tenuous argument to me. Themes have definitely be re-used, but the actual dance content seems to differ.