This is just my opinion but I thought Lisa's waltz was good, but not worth 39 and I thought she was even more over marked on her jive. I just feel Arlene and Bruno have been over marking Lisa for weeks. I honestly think they treat her more favourably than any other celeb when it comes to her weaknesses. Maybe only one mark per dance at a time, but enough to make a difference with a competition this close and especially at this stage. Len's attempts to compensate for Craig's low scores has also been a factor in Lisa getting this far imho. I know others won't agree with me, but that's how I feel and it has been dawning on me gradually over the last few weeks.

so she would have still been in the bottom 2 if she'd been maked lower for her Jive but she would have still done her waltz in the dance off so how did that affect things

Because had Austin not been bottom he may - and I stress MAY - have survived the vote.

but that's all it is a MAY have survived the vote you just don't know unless the BBC release the voting figures we'll never know

Honestly, I think they will do their uttermost to keep Tom (and I don't even like the fella that much!). If he doesn't come last on the judges leaderboard, he'll get into the final. If he does come last, my guessing he'll be facing Lisa (Vincent not getting a 40 on his AT? unthinkable with the rumba-pole dancing one by his side). I honestly believe the judges, no matter how much they love her, will give Tom the benefit of the doubt because they know they'll be facing an unpopular final if not. I don't think they would enact a complete travesty - if he falls over, or forgets his routine, then, he's out. But if its close, he'll get the benefit over Lisa. Saving her a 4th time would look a bit bad. Len likes his cheeky chappies, you know.

This seems a weird interpretation of the series to me - Austin had been showered with 10s, but Tom, who only got his first, grudging, 10 last week, had somehow been the intended finalist from way back? something I've never seen suggested before tonight.

I still think it all boiled down to Lisa's Jive, which I'm convinced was too awkward and untidy to warrant 8's and a 9

Had she received a fairer and more realistic score, and fallen below Austin in the table, he might have escaped the dance-off.

Rachel and Tom both had routines that could have eclipsed Lisa's Waltz and the right person might have been sent home.

But she didn't have to dance the jive in the dance off.

Both Lisa and Austin were given the opportunity to perform their best dances - and on this occasion Lisa's best dance was, without question, better than Austin's.

That waltz coupled with the music almost brought a tear to this cynical eye.

I was glad to see Austin go. Such a show-off and so full of himself. He never danced one dance that came close to achieving what other couples have in this series. He was light-footed but if he wanted to win a dance competition he should've laid off the weight training and worked on his flexibility. Maybe his latin would've improved. But doing flips off the stage and flexing your pecs doesn't really cut it when you can't move your hips, lift your legs or lift your arms above your shoulders.

He was given far too much leeway just because he was a sportsman. He had enthusiasm but he had little to no ability to engage with his partner (as anything other than an object) and never really engaged directly with the audience. We've seen better.

I like a Rachel and Lisa final. Tom is hugely likeable and has his moments but he always looks so distressed during the dancing. At some point, you have to lose yourself in it like the women do and he hasn't done that consistently.

Lisa loves it and has really improved; Rachel is the only one who brings real lyricism to the proceedings.

Austin stripping off at the end was just so inappropriate. What a moron.

Then we are agreed

I think the judges have scored very strangely the last few weeks.

One dance getting a 7 and a 10. All very odd.

Rachel to me is getting hugely overmarked - sorry.

That's where the problem lies in my opinion.

The weaker dance should have more bearing on the outcome. There is more scope for improvement if the lower scoring routine is performed in the dance-off - the couples can really go out there and show us what they're made of.

Instead, the rules permit a couple to focus on their trump card all week - and for Lisa & Brendan, this was their Waltz.

Lisa won fairly and squarely tonight. She played by the rules. But I think those rules need changing because at present the show is something of a lottery.

Lisa is a below average performer and for this late stage, it makes a joke of the show. She has been over marked for weeks and been in the dance off now 3 times....even a blind man can she she does not have the public support. Now why would that be.?

The judges tell us she is wonderful, my eyesight tells me something else.......which is then supported by her lack of public support.

ps
You had your eyes tested lately?

I think everyone benefitted from the judges generousity on Saturday. I mean, Austin getting 9s for that cha-cha when his legs were like planks of wood?

Lisa's jive was lumpy, I'll give you that. But ultimately the standings were just.

Having to dance the weakest dance sounds a good idea. That way, you avoid the Brendan tactics - admitting to focussing on the waltz and not worrying over the jive so much, because the best dance does two jobs . Much better if they danced their worse one - or even both of them again.

Er...Austin's cha cha cha????????????????????????? Were we watching the same programme???????? Am I missing something?

Her ballroom is very, very good; latin less so and it was on her ballroom that she was judged last night.

re: eyes - I wear very flattering specs when necessary - all that fishing around with contacts fair turns my stomach.

We should have a goodnight thread on this forum. I'm away to my calm and tranquil bedroom.

Sleep well everyone.

I think they should not be doing the dance off at this stage of the competition.

If you do the maths Austin could have got the most votes tonight.

And then next week Tom could get the most votes and go out if he is bottom of the judges' points leaderboard.

So we could be left with the situation with a Lisa vs Rachel final when neither of them are getting the votes. The people are not really getting a say in who they want to win.

Sorry, I guessed. Whatever latin dance he was making a hash of.

Oh please. It was no better than Austin's AS. Not saying Austin deserved a higher mark - but Lisa's was overmarked (despite the undeniable entertainment value of her cocking the leg as a dog near a hydrant at the beginning).
And her jive was absolutely awful, again was slightly overmarked.
Not that it was the only scandal of the night - Tom's rumba was dreadful, bless him, and Rachel's cha cha overmarked too.

The person who has been in multiple dance off's

The person who has never been in a dance off.

and who goes......duhhhhhhh

yes, good night.

Oh please. So Austin was robbed

You will of course be aware that in the post you quote I made clear that this is my opinion.

Presumably your post is opinion not fact.

[quote=jonah_242;29324862]I think they should not be doing the dance off at this stage of the competition.

If you do the maths Austin could have got the most votes tonight.

And then next week Tom could get the most votes and go out if he is bottom of the judges' points leaderboard.

So we could be left with the situation with a Lisa vs Rachel final when neither of them are getting the votes. The people are not really getting a say in who they want to win.[quote]

These two points say it all for me - but I also agree with the many excellent points made by BuddyB and ElectraPalatine.

What I find most striking about all this is that neither the judges nor the producers have learned from the JS shambles. One thing at the heart of that was the public feeling that the judges were telling them how to vote and who their favourites should be - and given the huge amount of bad feeling that caused, you would think the judges would have twigged and stopped ... but, instead, they, and the producers, have continued.

The dance-off isn't the point - it's the scoring that preceded it. If Christine had turned in a jive like Lisa did, she'd've got 5s, 6s and 7s. So we now have one of the public's favourite contestants voted off the show. And if the same fate befalls Tom next week, the bad feeling will only get worse.

The judges are out of control. Some of them - take a bow, Arlene - seem to think that they are are the official champions of some of the contestants. They, and the producers, know that Rachel is not that popular with the public so are going out of the way to hype her up, in the hope that the public will vote for her, so they have a more evenly matched final. Unfortuantely for them, all it does make their favouritism ever more blatant ... If I hear "they're just the perfect package" again, I will not be held responsible for my actions. (And a Rachel vs Lisa final will just have me not switching on at all. :yawn

I never thought I'd hear myself saying this, but SCD needs to take a leaf out of The X Factor's book - and stick to the public vote in the final weeks of the competition. And if the judges don't like that, tough. They're still out to pick a fight with the public - and, ultimately, it'll be one they won't win.

So, out of the 16 couples who have performed this series, you would rank Lisa as 9th or lower? How bizarre. But who am I to question your eyesight?


Lisa's jive was absolutely awful? Tom's rumba was dreadful? We'll have to disagree there, then. Gary Rhodes' jive was surely more "absolutely awful" than Lisa's...

To be honest, I think everyone was overmarked. Far too many 10s on all sides...

[quote=Servalan;29325788][quote=jonah_242;29324862]I think they should not be doing the dance off at this stage of the competition.

If you do the maths Austin could have got the most votes tonight.

And then next week Tom could get the most votes and go out if he is bottom of the judges' points leaderboard.

So we could be left with the situation with a Lisa vs Rachel final when neither of them are getting the votes. The people are not really getting a say in who they want to win.
Classic mate, some people are still refusing to see the obvious but thanks for articulating what I just can't be bothered with to do any more.

Comes to something when Simon Cowell is more democratic.

Er, how can you say he was making a hash of it when you don't know what the steps are supposed to be?