SCD '20 #13: The FINAL thread

[PolkadotsAndMoonbeams]

(Probably for the final, rather than last overall, considering how much we talk )

Last thread here, please check there first as I'm setting this thread up early so we can move over easily later!

SPECIAL VERDICT :

TOO MANY FUCKING JIVES

NOT ENOUGH TANGO OR ARGENTINE

EARLY SERIES UNFAIRLY OVERLOOKED

FUCKING JUSTICE FOR NATASHA AND BRENDAN'S PASO S'IL VOUS PLAIT

@EvilRingahBitch

The list of 25 dances you could vote for were pre-selected according to unspecified criteria and put up on the BBC website a couple of months ago. Hence the inclusion of Aston’s apparently “iconic” Trolls dance, and Simon Webb’s Argentine Tango (which I grant you is brilliant) but not Ramprakash’s AT.

Totally agree. Ramps’ AT is the best they’ve had on the show since they first started using it, total travesty that they didn’t include it.

My personal Top 4 would be:

1. Jill Halfpenny Jive
2. Mark Ramprakash Argentine Tango
3. Jay McGuiness’ Jive

4 Danny Mac Samba

I can’t think of a 5 for now but I wouldn’t rate any of the rest of the Top 10 as deserving to be in there

Bloody autocorrect! “Old fussy daddy” should be “old fuddy duddy”

I was disappointed not to see Mark Ramprakesh's Argentine tango in the list too.

Glad that Danny and Oti's samba was in the top 3.

I'm not reading (don't want spoilers), but watching on catch up now. I thought Ore was gay for some reason, obviously I was wrong!

@EineReiseDurchDieZeit

SPECIAL VERDICT :

TOO MANY FUCKING JIVES

NOT ENOUGH TANGO OR ARGENTINE

EARLY SERIES UNFAIRLY OVERLOOKED

FUCKING JUSTICE FOR NATASHA AND BRENDAN'S PASO S'IL VOUS PLAIT

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

Outstanding summary from EineReise

This obsession with the jive is not warranted, SCD producers. A classic ballroom waltz, tango or foxtrot is more true to the spirit of Strictly.

I was pleasantly surprised by some of the older ones in there, and I loved the talking heads. Mark Ramprakash is still very good looking!

I also thought Mark and Karen's AT should have been in there (their salsa was good, but, ignoring the microphone issue, I'd have preferred their VW for Karen's dress alone!).

I'd have had Rachel and Vincent's rumba too.

Pro dance godawful - costumes appalling, ugly set, less said about Tony Beak's solo the better.
Tess and Claud dressed badly again.
Anyhoo, 25-11

25 Ashley Pasha jive 40
24 Frankie Kev paso 45 (5 judges incl Donny ten)
23 Debbie Gio salsa 35 (39 final)
Oh lawd Tess's spelling/little face comment. Kill Me.
22 Alexandra Gorks jive 39 (40 final)
21 Alesha Matt cha cha 39
Looks even better now. Strictly really did boost her career.
20 Aston Janette cha cha (that'll be the protest votes!) Iconic? 35
19 Simon Kristina AT 38 (40 final)
On their feet! Thanks Tess...
18 Abbey Aljaz waltz 40
17 Widdy Anton samba 13 (one from Craig)
Buuullllllsssshhhhiiiitttttttttttt is that a nation's favourite
16 Jake Janette salsa 35
15 Louis Flavia salsa 30 (39 final Len goes from a 6 to a 10)
14 Ore Jo jive 39 (wk 4)
13 Chris Ola charleston 34 (50 final 5 judges)
12 Tom Camilla showdance
11 Ramps Karen salsa 36 (40 final)

From record breaking Sambas to scene stealing Salsas we're counting down Strictly's most memorable moments. We've pulled together a list of 25 unforgettable routines, assembled by a panel of Strictly alumni and superfans but we want you to have the final say.
Cast your online votes and we'll reveal the nation's favourite Strictly routine during our Christmas special on the 25th December.

10. Ore Jo AS 35

1. Faye Gio Goat-bothering Charleston 40
2. Caroline Pash Showdance 40
3. Karim Amy jive 40
4. Jill Darren jive 35 (40 final)
5. Caroline Pash charleston 39 (40 final)
6. Ed Katya Gangnam salsa 25 (4 from Craig despite the lifts)
7. Kelvin Oti samba 32 (39 final)
8. Danny Oti samba 40
9. Jay Aliona jive 37 (wk 2)

So...from 17 series before latest, 25 nominees and we end up with
Jive 6
Salsa 5
Charleston 3
Samba 3
Cha cha 2
Showdance 2
AT 1
Paso 1
Smooth 1
Waltz 1

No Natasha, Darren, Kara, Harry, Joe, Stacey
No foxtrot, quickstep, rumba, tango, VW!
No Brendan, Erin, Ian, Nat, Artem!

Ore (Jo) and Caroline appear twice
Janette, Gio, Oti, Pash appear with two partners each
Pash has 3 dances from the 25

The Radio Times conducted their own poll in November (I thought it was a shortlist of 15 from the original but it was a separate poll with some different candidates e.g. Vincent's rumba iirc). 5000 votes
Top 5 were
5 Bill's couple's choice 3%
4 Faye's fever jazz 3%
3 Danny's samba 8%
2 Jay's jive 30%
1 Jill's jive 41%

Meh. I enjoyed it and have no complaints 😂

I’d forgotten just how good Ore’s jive was
Aw he was such a lovely guy

Loved Ore, my absolute favourite ever!

I thought Denise Van Outen might have been in there too. Probably her Charleston or showdance.

I did enjoy it, I think it was better than some of the recent "normal" Christmas specials.

I remembered DVO Charleston being amazing and Louis and Flavias show dance.
I think Denise Van Outen was not especially popular as she had not long been in Chicago which was seen to give her a big advantage (and James Jordan also not as popular as other pros) so maybe that's why they were left out.
I remember Pamela Stephenson being very good, and Artem and Kara Tointon.

I would have liked to have seen Kimberley and Pasha's Tango or Viennese Waltz somewhere on the list. Surprised they didn't include DVO Charleston or Paso.

I really enjoyed the archive segments on ITT this year with Ian and Gethin. I'd love more of this format. They could make an entire series out of the previous highlights - Top Ten American Smooths, Tangos, etc.

With the restrictions and difficulties on making new TV at the moment I'm surprised the BBC haven't mined the Strictly back catalogue more heavily. Either by making the old series available on iPlayer or as Jellyfish suggests giving us endless top 10s.

I enjoyed seeing how the set has changed from the early series. DD pointed out how squished together the judges were in the very early series.

It just shows you cant keep everybody happy all of the time

The judges were so squished together weren't they! That must have been a health and safety nightmare with Bruno 😂

I'm fairly easily pleased TBH. As I don't understand any of the technical aspects of dancing, I'm just happy with being entertained. It's why I loved Gangnam Style so much.

@Fizbosshoes

I enjoyed seeing how the set has changed from the early series. DD pointed out how squished together the judges were in the very early series.

I noticed that as well, but wasn’t sure if I was seeing it through my 2020 goggles or they really were sitting in each other’s laps.

Also how loud is the crowd?

I suffer from insomnia so number crunch when it's particularly bad. Pro dance aside and Tess being Tess, I didn't hate it: I watched all the specials and think the Beeb did a great job all round.
Nor would the results be that dissimilar had it been fully open as opposed to produced, Monkseal used to do his own and last year Jay came out on top of that one too.
monkseal.wordpress.com/2019/04/26/strictly-world-cup-of-dahnce-2019/

I do think though, that a top 25 with not all dances represented was a wasted opportunity and wondered how the supposed alumni, judges, and superfans created the original shortlist. Frankie's paso and Louis's salsa didn't strike me as iconic. Sophie's charleston, Harry's quickstep, Katie's VW could have slotted in. Tis all subjective
but I suspect producers looked at the other three specials and if certain dances eg Anita's and Susannah's pasos had already made an appearance earlier they omitted them so the fourth special wasn't 'samey'. Maybe?

2021 Who do we want to compete?!!!

One thing though

Ed Balls Gangnam was way better than I remembered!!!!

Might have been Christmas drinks goggles but actually that was a really tough routine and he did amazingly with it.

@EineReiseDurchDieZeit

One thing though

Ed Balls Gangnam was way better than I remembered!!!!

Might have been Christmas drinks goggles but actually that was a really tough routine and he did amazingly with it.

I always thought there was more dancing than he was given credit for.

It was worth more than a 4 - he looked genuinely crushed at the time. I think he did an excellent job of the lift at the end and also when he unfurls her (not the technical term but sure you know what I mean). It still cheers me up immensely watching it and iirc Brendan Cole said at the start (when Ed was counting his moves and was generic) it seemed poorly practised...until the teabagging move, crowd going wild and the whole cast realised he'd stolen the show and it defined a 'watercooler moment'.

Thoroughly entertaining. I don’t normally bother with the Christmas Strictly - way too cheesy. This was a treat - and my favourites made the top 3. Will watch again.

We gasped at the squished judges! In one clip they were shoulder touching shoulder on a one person sized desk