SCD #11 Blackpool (drink) Blackpool (drink) Blackpool (drink)

[ThursdayLastWeek]

Continued...

Thanks Orchid The choroeography is so repetitive and lacks imagination too.

I did ballet early on and contemporary dance at college so I do know a bit about it.

Agree about the wrong music too. I was wondering why they couldn't have a WHOLE programmed dedicated to one style of dancing and music. Notice that none of the couples have chosen tap as their "stage dance".

Minimammoth

Ah cassandra in that case they do need to say that head judge is worth 2 votes, and remind us often.
And someone does need to give feedback to the judges on ‘oh my goodness’ and ‘ I applaud you’ and anything Bruno saysgrin put him in a straight jacket please.

Yes yes yes!

I'm pretty sure that they do scan all sorts of social media to get an idea of how well the show is being received and what they can do to attract and keep more viewers. They would be foolish not to, this is better than any market research focus group and it's free for them to gather data. Between MN, Twitter and the Facebook groups they have a great cross section of their audience. If they're hearing feedback, e.g. about Shirley having obvious favourites and not judging objectively or not liking things to be over-themed, from several platforms then I would expect that to mentioned at the planning meetings for next year. Look at what happened to the stupid computer voice on ITT, nobody liked it, lots of people complained about it, the computer voice was axed. Although that might have been as much to do with Zoe hating it as with the viewers not liking it.

Oh my goodness (!) I agree with all of these complaints wholeheartedly!

I think I might be responsible for kicking off the costume whinge last night

Maybe they ought to do a theme week "Vintage Strictly" and see if it catches on:

No props (just dance ffs!), appropriate music, glamorous frocks and as pp said, men in ballroom tails or black trousers/stretchy single colour shirt for latin!

At the risk of sounding like Len, I don't understand why producers felt the need to fix something that wasn't broken. They were getting the ratings, Strictly was overtaking XFactor - why did they need to "appeal the the yoof" (none of whom are interested in this cringey wacky stuff I'm sure - teens I know have better taste). The budget must be enormous (going by the judges' and hosts' salaries ) - give some of it back to wardrobe

Over time I've muted increasing amounts of the show. Tess, judges (including their entrance), VTs, adverts for ITT, scores, Clauditorium bits are all on mute lest I cringe myself inside out. That only leaves the dances and the contestants entrance down the staircase at the start. I'm barely even watching them anymore as the quality is so reduced it makes me cross.

My other massive peeve is that the past series are unavailable on iplayer etc. WHY? (all I can think of is music rights, I don't know how that works)
I could probably cope with present day dumbed down Strictly if I was able to watch the old series (esp. 1-5 that I missed).

Rant over

Gareth - I was about to come on and suggest a traditional show also, mend in dj’s, women in floaty dresses, a bit like the celebration dance they did on len’s last show.

I get the impression they don't have enough Ballroom AND Latin expertise on the show anymore in terms of pro dancers/ background choreographers. I know some of the pros are top ranking but even their choreo seems tired/ repetitive.

A lot of the choreography seems west end/ theatre based to bridge the gaps. I first noticed this in the Sunday pro dances (overthemed, prop heavy, messy) when they brought in Jason Gilkinson. I fear it's spilled into the Saturday show.

I was wondering why they couldn't have a WHOLE programmed dedicated to one style of dancing and music. In earlier series it was a bit more like this –half of the couples all did one Latin e.g. a salsa and the other half one ballroom e.g. a quickstep. You could compare and contrast their performances a bit more meaningfully, IMO.

Notice that none of the couples have chosen tap as their "stage dance" Well, it comes under Theatre/Jazz, I assume, and so they can presumably put a bit of tap into a routine if they want.

I never watch either Saturday or Sunday shows live anymore, I always record and then watch back, even if I'm only 15/20 mins behind. That way, I can fast forward through the opening, the judges dancing on, Tess, any VTs I don't want to watch and and other bollocks that doesn't interest me. It's amazing how much shorter the programmes are after all that

The same with ITT every day.

I was wondering why they couldn't have a WHOLE programmed dedicated to one style of dancing and music

In earlier series it was a bit more like this –half of the couples all did one Latin e.g. a salsa and the other half one ballroom e.g. a quickstep. You could compare and contrast their performances a bit more meaningfully, IMO.

It was so much better - and every slab had to have experience of each type of dance somewhere in the series, so they couldn't hide behind their strengths and ignore their weaker areas. Judges were very strict on lifts/ foot placement etc as well - couples got away with NOTHING!

The training and practise sessions were about training and practise (!) and there wan't al this cringey crap about how thrilled their Auntie Noreen was that they were going to do the dance that she did for her Brownie Ballroom Badge in 1957.

"Twas much better.

On the other hand, although Tess is insufferable, we don't have the walking human dollop of embarrassment that was "Brucie" to put up with, so at least there's one little ray of sunshine.

Oh yes Pawnee I forgot about Halloween week. Hate it!

And definitely agree about returning to two dances each week so we can compare like with like.

Grr. Much as I would like to support my namesake, and my small child made me do the "exercise class" 4 times in a row, no way should he have gone instead fo DJJ.

I'm with DarlingNikita In my fantasy strictly land - everyone gets to do the same type of dance each week so you can really compare. Other benefit of this approach would be if it is contemptowaaft week you could make plans to go Out Out to save annoyance.

Other benefit of this approach would be if it is contemptowaaft week you could make plans to go Out Out to save annoyance.

Inspired!

I like Halloween week 😳

If Halloween week was the ONLY week in which people dressed up in ridiculous costumes, I might agree. But there seems to be a phase of having at least one or two unlucky couples dressed in pantomime costume every week.

This week it was Graham and Oti's turn (Charles/Karen also looked pretty bad), and unsurprisingly they landed up in the bottom. I wondered if Oti insisted they show the actual choreographer in the VT because she didn't want to be personally associated with the shit show dance herself!

@Chipstick10 glad someone agrees! She is v highly irritating. Catherine Tate indeed!

@CS12345 yes he is totally mesmerised by her... I'm fearful of the news he's left his wife following the series...

@Ontheboardwalk completely agree re head judge vote - doesn't work and Shirley is so smug...

Question from a non-dancer here! Why is the judges intro ‘dance’ such an ill timed mess? Doesn’t give you much faith in them.

I get that shirley and Darcy are wearing bizarrely high shoes and there’s a lot of ground to cover between the stairs and desk (where I assume they slip off the heels and have fluffy slippers waiting) but those are known factors. Why don’t they practice it until it doesn’t look like me after too many snakebite and blacks at the student union c. 2000?

Someone earlier mentioned Showdances in the Final in relation to this new 'Couples Choice' thingy. I generally find the Showdances disappointing and am rather hoping they don't bother this year as we have had the 'Couples Choice'. In the Final I'd like to see them do a Latin Dance, a Ballroom Dance (their best or favourite ones in each category) and the Couples Favourite Dance or the Public's Favourite Dance. Get rid of Judges Choice because it is always obvious who they are favouring to win by the dance(s) they choose.

Agree with a lot of what is being said - stop all the faffing with props and wearing of ridiculous costumes, get back to dancing in proper dancing outfits.

Watching old series of SCD the difference is remarkable - couples straight out onto the floor and into the dance, Len very grumpy if they faffed about or didn't do the dance properly. I reckon now they spend less than a minute actually dancing. In the series with Matt and Alesha the dances seemed to be longer, there was no faffing or props and they did five dances each in the Final.

I think there is some merit in doing a bit of background on the contestants otherwise people (like my dad who doesn't watch much TV) have no idea who they are/what they do but trips to their old Primary Schools or swanning off to Paris or Theme Parks is totally unnecessary. These filler bits are getting longer and longer purely because they have to build these daft, elaborate sets for each and every dance - cut the props and nonsense and the whole show will be quicker, I start to lose the will to live sometimes because it goes on for so long, thank goodness for the record function so I can whizz through all the crap.

On the subject of Judges, why does Darcy always do that weird stand up thing when she gives a 10? It makes me cringe.

Gethin Jones is woeful, I can't watch him.

I agree about returning to the old style of performing the dance and less "faffing abawt" as Len would say. I think this is the reason couples score higher - less actual dancing so less time to make mistakes - more playing with props. Len always penalised anyone who spent more time than necessary not getting straight on with the dance and performing lots of basic elements then moving onto more advanced steps.
Lifts were criticised too.

Darcey is getting worse, she always does an odd entrance with an extra step or two added in for some reason. And the ‘oh my goodness’ has got to stop! It’s almost as bad a the perpetual ‘yah’s from her first series judging. I so want to like her as she’s a dance legend but she’s not meant for strictly judging. And dear lord sit down when you give a 10!

And can anyone else tell me why Tess is never on her spot after the second dance off pair have finished?? It annoys me so much every week that she’s ambling through the audience to start her link! DH thinks it’s supposed to be like that but it looks so shit that I can’t believe that’s right. Get on your marker woman!!!!!

Phew that feels better

Oh god, how I agree with you, UnderMajorDomoMinor about the judges' entry dance. It always looks so awkward - do they mis-time it on purpose? And is it really necessary for Darcy and Shirley to wear those ludicrously high heels? I'm surprised they can even walk in them.

My dream judges' line-up would be Arlene (head judge), Karen Hardy, Erin and Craig. I am so bored with Bruno's antics, and Darcy's and Shirley's simpering. For presenters I'd keep Claudia but I'd rather like Steph McGovern from Breakfast for co-presenter, I think she's great.

@CS12345 yes he is totally mesmerised by her... I'm fearful of the news he's left his wife following the series...

If you're right, I think he'll regret it.

She certainly doesn't look mesmerised by him.

Agree about the judges' intro 'dance', it's terrible and if you didn't know that Darcy was a world-famous dancer, it wouldn't give any clues, she mistimes it every week!

BlackAmerican The BEEB have always worshipped 'yoof' against reason, sadly as you say most of the the kids don't watch Strictly anyway.
Retro is getting more and more mainstream now, they could go green and stop all the effing manic lighting and electric , moving props if they used their imaginations!