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

[ThursdayLastWeek]

Continued...

In the end, the judges are the experts

In reality, only Len and Shirley have any expert knowledge of ballroom and Latin dancing. The others have knowledge and expertise in other dance forms, but they're definitely not ballroom/Latin experts.

But then again, neither are a lot of the pros, and the actual dancing is subsumed beneath stupid themes most of the time, so I suppose it really doesn't matter, as what they're judging is rarely proper ballroom/Latin anyway

I won't ever watch again...will leave it to those who believe the rubbish published

It's a bit of a non sequitur to suggest that anyone who doesn't immediately stop watching a light entertainment show that you've taken umbrage with is inevitably a gullible tabloid reader 

I do think the scoring was rigged. Ok I don't know much about dancing but other people who do also say the scoring was rigged. How was Graeme or even Joe marked higher than Danny?

Every week Joe gets praise and scores he doesn't, in all honesty, deserve. Some people seem to think he is running away with the public votes so the judges have to make it seem like he is a better dancer than he is in the event he wins. But we all know that a lot of the public vote for the celeb they like the most not because they dance well.

Surely a lot of the winners have not been the best dancers? Joe McFadden and Chris Hollins to name just 2

I like Joe and I think he may well win but I hate the fawning over him by the judges, particularly Shirley.

Having seen him dance - very stiff in places, very balletic in others - and neither being ironed out by week 7, I agree he was not going to win. Before the show began though...I thought he had finalist-like-Debbie-McGee journey written all over him: A large fanbase from red dwarfers, as well as the middle-class elderly demographic from the murder in Paradise series, an edge because he could dance but ringer-status backlash going more towards Ashley, his age (58) getting him a certain respect for still being able to produce the goods, the Welsh support for Amy and a general warmth when he was mentioned as a contestant.
Until the last fortnight I thought he was going to make the semi-finals and I thought he stood a chance as a compromise candidate (of the I'm not voting for Faye or Ash as they're too good so I'll vote for Danny ilk). His lack of warmth/personality, ill-advised interview and then leaked spat did for him and the low samba scores which I still disagree with (like Brendan, I saw more in Danny's than Joe's).

Good post Ozzy
Totally agree with everything you have said
I honestly don’t think that he came across well in interviews.
Let’s be honest, SCD is also a popularity contest and he didn’t endear himself to the public

Having seen him dance - very stiff in places, very balletic in others - and neither being ironed out by week 7, I agree he was not going to win

I agree with this completely. When the contestants were announced he was my favourite from the outset, but sadly there was always something a little bit 'off' with his dances.

Still, I'd guess he's delighted to be out, all things considered, as I don't think he enjoyed the experience. Not many do seem to be having a great time of it this year: S & K's thing, Vick's allegations of vote manipulation, DJJ and his tabloid mauling/bullying accusations, Charles and his unwanted 'bottom 2 goddess' role.

It's all been s bit of a sour year so far 

I've put forward that argument, yes, that the judges don't want egg all over their faces when the worst dancer beats the others...because Darren and Chris are the only winners who have been judged lacking after the fact and they were many many series ago: Joe last year was consistent, a good example of the compromise candidate mentioned above.
Joe this year is an anomaly: They cannot name him People's Champion because he's not bad enough, nor is he doing as well as say, Stacey, who was also a novice. The truth is he can dance alright for a novice - nothing standout or breakthrough but meh, nice enough.
So aside from infantilizing him they don't (yet) have much of a strapline.
This could of course be bollocks...we will see as the leaderboard gets smaller whether they then place him last as it will increase the odds of them being able to get rid in the DO.
I reckon we are currently looking at Ash, Faye, Stace, Joe final. The Joe Fandom will be tested in the semis? (if I'm wrong on both counts - that he is leading the vote and that judges know this and are compensating because they cannot express disbelief for his support/make a joke of him/say he's the entertainer choice).
I like Joe but he is beige.

Sorry, that was to your dogISthebest's 'Some people seem to think he is running away with the public votes so the judges have to make it seem like he is a better dancer than he is in the event he wins.'
I am aware I should get Vicky Giggles to make me a hat of tin foil but otherwise I am just flummoxed as to the marking.

Just checked the rankings by average
Ashley 35.1
Faye 33.9
Stacey 30.6
Joe 30
followed by Charles, Lauren, Graeme and Kate.

Do I think Joe is worse than the 4 above? I think Danny and Charles were/are better dancers.
The other 3 have just got lucky (Lauren's ccc and contempowaft, Graeme's ccc and samba and Kate's samba and AT could all have been DO dances in a parallel universe).

SCD is dying a slow death and really should be put out of its misery. The problem is that it is a bit of a golden goose and is going to be sucked dry of the fun ...
They are running out of contestants
The judges are jaded and have their favourites
Some of the professional dancers are better known than their partners ..

SCD should NOT be put out of its misery, that and gin are the only things getting me through autumn term. I love the dancing, I prefer happy people doing some great dancing but moody people doing some ok dancing is better than nothing. Although if they do cancel it then I would be happy enough for it to be replaced with evil Aljaz and evil Oti (from the halloween pro dance) having a dance to the death every Saturday instead.

...then make it Strictly Mum Dancing and have MN as contestants I bagsy Aljaz

Seriously...if you're out of contestants then get the hoi-polloi to do it but a proper mix as opposed to 5 minutes of fame seekers. Not all trained like Strictly Dance Fever had, not all worthy causes like The People's Strictly had but a mixture. I'd still watch that.

Judges:
you could also have at least one rando Joe Public each week (like the gogglebox lot but us)
one blogger or journo like Heidi (Guardian), Chris (Monkseal) or Michael Hogan (Telegraph) NOT Dan W,
Brenda/James/Kristina/Ian/Anton can take turns.
The previous winner and Craig as permanent per series for continuity.

You can have Aljaz, I'm having Gorka, he's going to teach me to Paso.

Yes Theknacktoflying the golden goose story (and moral) sounds apt here. SCD was doing just fine before the greed for ratings at all costs started to snowball and kill the joy.

Just read up on it; - that the legendary goose that laid one golden egg a day and was killed by its impatient owner, who wanted all the gold immediately.

Sort of “Great British Dance Off” Ozzy?😁

Professionals:
I don't mind them being better known/contracted > 1 series. The earlier one series only pros I can barely remember. Apart from Jared. I was his only fan.

Yes fleas perfect!!!

Don't grimace, it could work, dammit!

I think Joe is an interesting choice this year. Ie. No one over the age of 25 (approx) had heard of him. Consequently, in theory he should have gone out in the first couple of weeks.

However, his likability factor has endeared him to an older fanbase, as well as younger.

My teens, who know of him, don’t watch Strictly, so wouldn’t think of voting, so he must be picking up the votes elsewhere.

In manyways, the opposite of how DJJ should have succeeded (as explained by Pzzy above), but hasn’t.

@LIZS

He'll be airbrushed out like Will Young

What happened to will young?!

I warmed to Pissy Gorka (thank you and f--- you to the judges with one look) but I am a larger lady and liked how Aljaz treated Alison.
No gapping though, he's going to be pressed right up against my ample chest in QS til he likes it oops I'm not going to last long, am I?!

Will Young dropped out. There were unkind rumours at the time about it being because he thought he'd win easily and flounced off when he saw that some of the others were quite good too, but he did an interview in (I think) the Guardian a while back in which he talked about it being due to him being very ill with (again, I think; shite memory) an anxiety-type disorder.

Yes Darling it was anxiety - something he's apparently suffered from all his life. He got criticism from Craig I think, and couldn't take it, not because he's a diva but because he genuinely couldn't hack such public exposure and vulnerability.

He got criticism from Craig I think, and couldn't take it, not because he's a diva but because he genuinely couldn't hack such public exposure and vulnerability

Isn’t it ironic, though, that the thing that suddenly launched Will Young into the public’s consciousness from relative obscurity was his reaction to criticism. He wasn’t afraid to call Simon Cowell out for saying he (WY) gave an average performance. I guess that’s the confidence of youth.