Yes you need. Comparisons have never been more odious .

We the public will decide who is best - or we should be able to. Now it looks like four judges will again be able to override the votes of millions as they did this week if Tom goes next week.

Its an entertainment show - not the Nobel Peace Prize!

What? Didn't you hear Len say it was LITERALLY a tragedy that someone had to go? I'm sure they took Austin out back and shot him once the show was over.

It will LITERALLY BE A TRAGEDY if the judges get rid of Tom next week, though

It certainly looks as if the judges are trying for that result.
I cannot understand all the anti-Tom feeling on DS. He was clearly a natural dancer from the start, he has been consistently good throughout and is probably the most entertaining of the dancers left.
I think a Tom v Rachel final would be great..contrasting styles, technical excellence versus performance.
If Lisa gets to the final it would be a travesty..and produce the most boring final imaginable.

There are very few outcomes re: leaderboard/public vote that would knock Tom into the dance-off next week. I guess it's possible, but they would involve him being bottom of the leaderboard and Rachel beating Lisa in the public vote. I don't think this is happening now (public vote wise, anyway) and I don't think it will change next week. Since the supposed voting figures were published a few weeks ago, it's been very predictable who will be in the bottom two.

I admit that though I am quite keen on Lisa and her vast improvement in SCDVI, I cannot stand the volatility of Brendan. One moment he's alright, the next the old self crept back and left a bitter taste. So I don't want see Brendan after all. He almost got me converted until that silly strop he threw over Lisa's commendable but ultimately mediocre jive attempt.

Actually I totally agree. What is more, I now have gone off Lisa completely. I wasn't impressed with those two petulant children complaining about another couples score (bearing in mind that the couple had been placed at the bottom of the leaderboard anyway). I assume that they were more annoyed that they had not been placed in the top position. I think it is a big no no to do something like that.

Once upon a time you used to get someone who both the public and the judges broadly liked (although Craig was obviously not HP about Darren Gough's victory) winning. Sure people whom both sections loved didn't do as well as expected and some people unloved by one section went a lot further than people in the other camp wanted but it worked in the end.

This year it came popularized and it is the fault of both sections of the public and the judges. The JS affair showed a serious conflict between the two sections - perhaps last night proved that JS was wrong that he wouldn't have won as the judges could get rid of someone popular by marking them at the bottom of the leaderboard. However we've seen serious fault lines - the public love those the judges do not and the judges love people the judges do not. Tom is the last man left standing who has the support of both and if he goes next Saturday then the popularization will be complete and the show will have become as much of a farce as if John Sargeant had won. There has to be balance and the favoritism of both judges and public has got out of hand without either trusting or considering what the others hold dear and each battling to enforce their will on the other. Ultimately this series has lost through it and I fear that it may kill the show totally.

When did they both complain about another couple`s scores?

Was it last night on the results show?

it was brendan complaining, not LIsa and he was right. Their dance WAS an 8, but so was Austin's salsa

Even if you feel that Lisa's jive was marked too high (I don't), all that might have meant would be that Austin would have been third on the leader board and Lisa fourth. The general consensus seems to be that Tom has been leading the public vote so unless Rachel was bottom of the public vote Austin would have still been in the dance off and the result should have been the same.

On the other hand had Austin and Erin had a better AS then they could also have jumped over Lisa. If still third they would quite possiblt still have been in the dance off but then they might have had a stronger dance to compete with and the result might have been different.

One of the four couples had to leave and based on their performances on Saturday it was only fair it was Austin and Erin. It wasn't down to the judging, it was down to their not having a strong American Smooth. That dance should have played to their strengths and brought the best out in them. Instead they muffed their chance.

Well, neither girl could beat Tom in the final.
But will he get through?

I'll watch next Saturday but I've had it with ITT and results shows.

If BOTH girls go through it'll be a travesty.

How to pick up Austin`s floating votes in one easy lesson by Brendan Cole

I really hope it's not gonna be a Lisa v Rachel final.

Both have been majorly overmarked for a while now. Lisa's jive WAS not very good. Tough truth.

Tom might not have had his "shine" moment but he's the ONLY one who has been consistently good & also capable of doing both, while keeping the fun in the program and not coming across as desperate like puppy dog Rachel. Eurgh.

So, everytime one of the pros thinks they got the wrong marks or someone else gets the wrong marks they should have a strop?

not at all, I loathe and detest Brendan and always have

but just because they have a tantrum doesn't mean they're wrong. His point was entirely valid, but unfortunately he acted like a child as always

well thats one of teh two popular ones gone. Next week if Tom is in the dance off then hes gone too (depending on dance of course).

Lisa V Rachel would be the lowest voting final in history.

Go on Tom! Do it for the majority public.

Well, the OP asked if it was a foregone conclusion that Tom will now win SCD6 - but of course, even if he wins the public vote he can still easily fall into the dance off if the judges have placed him last, and let's face it, their luuurve for Rachel and Lisa is showing no signs of abating.

In fact, at this stage I'd say a Lisa v Rachel final is all too likely unless Tom can dance his socks off next weekend and make it impossible for the judges to ignore his claims. As the best performer left in the competition, he's well capable of it, but I fear he may be lumbered with the least talented choreographer of the three remaining pros.

I agree with Katmobile's post about the polarization of the judges and public votes this year. I think it has got out of hand, mainly because the judges have stoked up a lot of feeling against themselves especially with the extra-curricular comments in the press etc about JS, and also because the dance-off scenario gives them too much power and this year has really made that perfectly clear, with public favourites being picked off one by one. I think the producers do need to take public criticism into account and look at ways of sorting this problem out for next series. The easiest solution would surely be to get rid of the dance off. I think we the public have had it drummed into our heads that SCD is a dance competition - but now the judges need to hear from their employers that it is also a Saturday evening light entertainment show. And for a bit of perspective, the judges also need to remind themselves that no contestant is perfect or even at the level that would win them any medals if they were competing with properly trained amateurs, let alone professionals, so SCD contestants that at least produce the most entertaining dances should be looked upon with some generosity when the marks are handed out.

but does it really matter how many votes are cast

well yes because its a public voting show

Perhaps someone could explain to me as my understanding may be flawed -

Next week there are 3 couples therefore after the judges vote -

Couple A - 3 points
Couple B - 2 points
Couple C - 1 point

After the public vote (potentially) -

Couple A = 1 point
Couple B = 2 points
Couple c = 3 points

Therfore all couples have 4 points.

Is this possible and if it is what happens next?

Yes - it's an indication of to what degree the public are engaged by the show. Lower voting figures, less engagement = lower viewing figures (ultimately).

I think what the judges, for some reason, have still failed to grasp is that not only can their comments and marks make a bad dancer a public favourite - they can also make a better dance less popular ... which leads to more hyperpole in the commets and more elevation of the marks (Bruno/Emma Bunton) and less popularity of the celeb.

These things generally find their natural level and the winner. when all the dust has settled is the person who combines an acceptable level of dancing with public popularity.

Series 3 was always going to be a male winner. It was the 'big' topic. Would a man ever be able to win?

I actually think Tom will get to the final and win. It will give them a symmetry of 3 male/female wins and it will also show that a non-sportsman has just as much of a chance of winning.

Not only that but you'll have a final between the 6th and 7ththe most popular contestants and whoever wins will not be the public favourite but the one they hate the least/are least apathetic about. Hardly a shining end to the series!

In the event of a points tie, the public vote order takes precident, couple C would go through and dance off be between couples A & B for judges choice.