SCD 13 - Anyone but a HOLLINS

[PawneeParksDept]

Shiny new thread - my apologies to Satsuma for the title, you are the minority!

I really enjoyed watching Graeme each week. Obv whoever is voting for Lauren isn't basing it on the dancing unfortunately. I was pleased for Charles though, he though he was a goner.

I'm watching on a bit of a delay (which is a good thing as I could ff the shambles at the beginning and the dreadful Rod Stewart)

It does rather defeat the object of the show though doesn’t it?

Not really. The point of the show is entertainment, it's not a 'proper' dance competition, and it never has been. There have been trained dancers in since series 1, and there will trained dancers in every series as long as the show is on air. Sometimes the ringers win, sometimes they don't even make it to the final.

I like watching the triers improve, and I like watching the ringers knock it out the park. None of it matters in the slightest anyway. It's the overall exposure that the show provides that's career-changing, not whether you win or lose.

I’m pretty sure Lauren is only getting through because of AJ.

And why was Bruno so unnecessarily cruel when delivering his result, so unlike him.

We’ll have to agree to disagree shecame.

IMO you either have ‘non-dancers’ or ‘professional dancers who are celebrities’ but mixing it up isn’t fair on anyone and makes for shit viewing.

And most people agree given no ones voting for Ashley.

Really gone off Bruno

Ah G&O were lovely there

I agree about Bruno. Not only has he gone mad this series with his flailing about but his judgement seems to be impaired. Of course Ashley was better! G & "O knew they were out before they got on the floor. No need to be nasty about it. I don't think many people bother voting for Ashley because they don't think she needs the votes. And she doesn't. She could stand still in a DO and get through.

I think people are being very harsh.

I've seen no evidence of Ashley being a "miserable cow" and even if she is, surely if your father committed suicide eight months ago, you would be entitled to your low moments?

And think how tedious the show would be if every contestant shambled about in an amateurish fashion. Everyone would tire of it quite quickly.

Graeme showed so much class there when Bruno delivered that nasty comment.

If I was Ashley I’d be completely mortified by that. Totally
Not her fault but it won’t help her popularity

Lauren is at least 3rd in the public vote and Ashley bottom 2 for whover asked - people better than me at maths were working out the variables on DS at stupid o'clock this morning.

IMO you either have ‘non-dancers’ or ‘professional dancers who are celebrities’ but mixing it up isn’t fair on anyone and makes for shit viewing

I that case I don't understand why you watch the show

There have always been trained dancers in the show, and there always will be. It's never going to change, so if you feel it makes for 'shit viewing' why bother watching at all?

In the QFs of her series, Alesha Dixon (trained dancer ) was in the dance off, but went on to win, so being in a dance off isn't necessarily proof that 'no one' is voting for you. Being in several dance-offs does rather suggest that, however.

Loved Charles and Karen’s reaction to going through, and so pleased for them. I think that he has more to give, unlike Graeme (as Graeme would be the first to admit tbf). He’s inconsistent, and his Ballroom isn’t a patch on Joe’s, but when he’s on top form I think he’s my favourite dancer.

Lauren must be in at least the top 3 of the voting public and quite possibly the top 2. She could easily be in the final on that basis.

The thing is, the best dancing contestant isn't necessarily the same as the most impressive contestant.

It's a bit like the kid in class from a lovely, supportive home life who gets A stars all the time, versus the kid who overcomes obstacles to get Bs and a few As, against all the odds.

Who's more impressive?

AJ has a big twink following and given that we've seen Debbie, Alex, Danny, Louise, Ore et al all in bottom 2 before it's not that
Faye vs Ashley rather than Charles vs Lauren next week would be a bigger shock but the maths won't happen if the former are joint top of leader board with only 6 couples remaining.

I think schoolgirl/schoolboy level ballet is fine, anything more is pointless and unfair

Oh for the days of the early Series were they were all crap to start

Remember Quentin Wilson ? Craig Kelly? Jan Ravens? Chris Parker?

It was about learning something

Will catch up later with the thread later but just wanted to say I cheered so loudly when Ashley was in the bottom two.

As much as I wasn’t keen on Graham I was so chuffed when Oti said he was the spirit of strictly. Well done Oti for saying it as it is.

Notice they didn’t focus on Sophie & Louise this evening- is that to keep up the pretence of when it’s filmed? Unless I missed it though.

I don't actually mind Ashley or care that she's a ringer. I just don't vote for her because I like the others better than I like her. She doesn't need the votes anyway as she'll win every dance off she's in unless she's up against Faye, which is another reason why I vote Faye.

She's not the first ringer to have been in a dance off; Danny Mac and Alexandra Burke were, when they were on towards the last few weeks of Strictly.

given that we've seen Debbie, Alex, Danny, Louise, Ore et al all in bottom 2 before it's not that

If anything, this series is quite unusual in that this the first real 'shock', as so far it's pretty much always been the bottom 2 on the leaderboard in the dance off. There are shock leader-board plummets / shock boots much earlier in most series, so a surprise bottom 2 appearance is long overdue

@IPromiseIWontBeNaughty

Unless Sophie and Louise didn't stay for the results show, which is plausible, long night

Please can someone tell me what Bruno said? I didn't bother watching after they finished dancing.

I do hope they won't be insulting the viewers next week for their voting choices

Actually without a bottom bounce Ashley might find herself in the dubious spot of two DO like Alex against Charles unless his rumba is electric.

Oh for the days of the early Series were they were all crap to start

Ah yes, series 2, won by trained dancer (and junior ballroom competitor) Jill Halfpenny

Claire Sweeney in the first series was a ringer though. And Jill Halfpenny was a serious stage school ringer.