SCD2019 #5 6,7,8 ITT has moved to late(r)

[PolkadotsAndMoonbeams]

Previous thread here.

Apparently, and as the source is the DM I have my cynic's glasses on, there was quite a set-to backstage last week involving Katya and Neil the reason for it doesn't sound credible to me which is why I'm a bit "yeah, really? However, Katya does seem to be behaving a bit odd and I think the events of last year, the demise of her marriage and the working on the same show with her ex are at the root of it.

Overall I agree with the comments from everyone else here about the completely bonkers marking, no way did Chris's quickstep deserve a 9 but then I think we have another BBC favourite a la Hollins scenario.

Not sure whether it's fair to blame Neil for Alex not being as good as they expect her to be. He teaches and choreographs for functions at his own dance school, so he must be decent teacher.
They had a very good first dance that was under marked but Moana rumba was a bit meh. Last night really wasn't that bad. She does seem very timid as a dancer hence her asking Michelle Visage about being sassy and Motsi telling her not to worry about pleasing everyone and just enjoy herself.

Neil tried to clarify that in Twitter.

Also I didn't say he should have a fake tan. Sun does not equal fake tan. He has the same colouring as DP who despite working in the sun every day looks like he could benefit from some Vitamin D.

Something about Alex journey on SCD reminds me of Jamelia's time on the show. Almost there but not quite, doing better than others yet it not being reflected in the scores.
I think the female celebs have a harder time. I love him but seriously Kelvin could have come and just stood there in his mesh shirt and the judges would have lost it.

I don't think Neil did Alex any favours by grinning away like a tipsy guinea pig through that whole tango while Alex was doing her best to do a tango face.

Some shockingly bad song choices in there, have the producers handed over song choosing to some sort of computer algorithm?

Yes imagine if Neil had been the celeb, the judges would have picked up on that.

The song choices were all shit.

I don't think that Neil would look right with anyone. I have never liked him and whilst I thought he might grow on me by being in the main show, that really hasn't happened. He doesn't do justice to Alex at all and just comes across as being totally in love with himself.

I didn't like Johannes either but he is slowly growing on me. The comment about him living his best life is why I think that's happening. I thought he did a great job with Catherine but the music was awful (great song but not for that dance). Catherine, however, bugs me - there's something off-putting about her facial expressions. Just seems fake.

I don't think that Neil would look right with anyone. I have never liked him and whilst I thought he might grow on me by being in the main show, that really hasn't happened.

I don’t like him either, but I reckon if they gave him some of anton’s usuals - the type like Anneka Rice he might be alright

That's true @ShirleyPhallus as he may have been more humble then and more caring (although I imagine he'd come across a bit more like Kevin, who I also can't stand!

There is nothing I've seen in either the main program or ITT that makes me think Neil is uncaring towards Alex or even in love with himself.
On the contrary, I think he's been very supportive of her and when she made a comment about letting him down, he said she could never let him down.
Posters from previous year's threads have wanted Neil to be paired up instead of Graziano, but now that he is, there seems to be a lot of negativity about it.

Kurri Some people are naturally white as snow without low Vitamin D .Me for one i deliberately go into the sun early in the day , to get a vitamin D boost, but I either get covered in not very beautiful freckles or I burn,, Some of my ancestors come from northern Europe.

It's fake tan or nothing and I hate fake tan so I'm quite pale (I do wear a natural looking tan coloured sunscreen in the summer if I have to go out in the midday.)

I wasn't ever one of those posters @xsquared - he always annoyed me with his antics and camera hogging but I used to get shot down if I criticised him because of his dancing credentials. I did feel the same about Johannes but he is slowly growing on me despite me not being a fan of his partner. I really like Alex and wanted to be wrong about Neil but feel exactly the same about him as I have always done!

I'm another of those people @ppeatfruit - always get asked if I'm not well anytime I'm not wearing make up! Even my mum comments on how pale I am and tells me to get a 'bit of colour in my cheeks'

Invisible My mil told I looked well when I had a high temperature and a flushed face!!!!

I think now that he's been paired up with a sleb, he is not as jumpy in the Clauditorium. Janette on the other hand still jumps around and pulls faces, when they announce the voting lines. Still, she seems very good with her partner too.

It is odd that unless you come back from holiday with a tan no one thinks you've been away!! I really don't get the tan culture it's become soo ingrained in us now , I find myself looking at myself without make and thinking I look too pale

without make up .Of course duh silly me

Heads Up

I didn't realise that Shane Jenek had done DWTS Australia as his drag persona Courtney Act. So another show has done a same sex pairing.

Some of the dances are amazing :

Too many additional dancers on stage however

How is saying 'somebody who danced last night' is leaving a spoiler? EVERYONE danced last night.

It's the other comments that were hints at the spoiler.

Oh people bigged up Neil as if he would be the bloody second coming. I think its because he was a stalwart part of the team and it was rumoured he did a lot of the co-coreographing (not a word, but you know what I mean). So v v high hopes.

But it turns out he's only human after all.

I have to hand it to him for professionalism though. You would never know he was going through some stuff. You wouldn't have a clue.

Oh people bigged up Neil as if he would be the bloody second coming. I think its because he was a stalwart part of the team and it was rumoured he did a lot of the co-coreographing (not a word, but you know what I mean). So v v high hopes.

Surely though, you can only do your best with the partner & themes you have, I think if he'd have had a ringer it would have been different. But so far, this week he's had awful tango music, and last week a bloody Moana rhumba! I think he's done well with Alex so far & look forward to hopefully seeing more.

I'm with you @covetingthepreciousthings about Neil. It's his first season as a pro with a celeb and I believe they have more to offer.

Most new pros do not get given an amazing celebrity straight away.

Off the top of my head:
Gorka was out in week 3 in season 14 with Tameka, and out with Katie Piper in week 4 last year.
Graziano and Vick were out in week 4.
Nadiya did very well to get Davood in the quarter finals in her first season but was out in week 3 last year.
Katya also did very well with Ed Balls up to quarter finals.
Luba and James went out in week 2.
Oti was out in week 3 with Daniel Ogogo in her first series of Strictly.

All in all, I think if Neil and Alex stay after tonight, then they are not doing too badly!

Sorry, Vick and Graziano were out in week 5.

Just caught up thought everyone improved so much We were laughing so much at David and Mike no idea how they did it but both had really good dances! Did think Katya was over emotional, hope she’s just happy about the dance but she looked really fragile. Loved Karim and Amy. Alex just didn’t attack the dance as much as she could so she may go out, and thought the excessive crying of Saffron with the Nan card was really OTT , I’m not a fan even though I love AJ ,s dancing.