Strictly '22 #12 — Dig out your relatives from the north west, Blackpool begging has commenced!

[PolkadotsAndMoonbeams]

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SPOILER-FREE THREAD

I hope so!

Yes sorry as I was out last night
What happens when kids are yelling in your ear and you trying to catch up

Also was expecting more from Tyler, love the Paso but there didn't seem to be much actual dancing.

I was trying to work out what sort of monumental voting fuck up could lead to that 😂

Aside from Craig, and maybe Anton, the judges are completely disposable when it comes to the success of the show so it does feel unfair that they earn so much more than the pros.

If I were a celeb with enough leverage, I'd make it a condition of signing up that I had creative control over all my songs and themes. I wonder if any celebs have tried to do this and been rejected by the producers?

Another mood-killer I really hate is the little montages at the start of each show with the dramatic music and the celebs all staring into camera, saying things like, 'The competition is really getting tough but that makes me even more determined not to go home.' It's so repetitive and banal and obvious. It actually makes me miss the days of Judy Murray and Pasha displaying their comic timing in those terrible, but at least not miserable, sketches.

IIRC, when asked how much he wanted to get to Blackpool, Tristan once replied, 'Ahh, Blackpool Schmackpool.' Much preferable to the endless lines about being willing to sell the kidneys of orphans just for a glimpse of the Tower. I want to see people having fun, with a bit of drama and the occasional moment of genuine emotion or scandal. The producers seem determined to make everyone dwell on the worst times in their lives and simultaneously talk like particularly desperate Apprentice candidates.

When Claudia stood in for Bruce a couple of times, the public warmed to her because she was quick and smart and could go a little naughtily off-piste. The producers saw that she was popular but failed to appreciate why she was popular. Now all we get on the live show is these dull post-tennis match style interviews where the celebs are always asked 'How much did that/would that mean to you?' and other banalities she's been pre-programmed with.

The show needs its fun and sparkle back.

Are the pro dancers only on £30,000-£50,000? Assumed they would be paid a bit more than that.

The pro dancers have always been paid good but not great money for about four months' work which varies between part time and 200% of full time depending on how far you get in the competition. It's less than you might expect for such skilled people but you couldn't call it exploitative.

Of course the earning opportunities that you get as a Strictly pro are potentially huge, a decent slug of money from the tour, the pro tour, weekends at Warners hotels, cruises, a tour of your own, uplift in your teaching fees if applicable, panto, sponsorship deal with Bravissimo.....

Absolutely
Poor Alexandra was lambasted by the media despite having lost her mother.
She just got on with it and was brilliant

it will be interesting to see who is in the DO.
surely Tony should be.

Just watched Hamza’s and Jovita’s dance again. There were some timing issues ( probably should have been given a 9) but it was such a joyful dance.
I don’t usually like CC ( there have been a few exceptions) . However, I loved that this African inspired dance was different from the usual CC .
Jovita was fantastic. A great addition to Strictly

She got a ( very) hard time on here too lampzade. Cold, steely and too desperate to win, ironically...

I was at a friend's last night so wasn't here to comment and read others' comments. I really enjoyed Ellie and Jojo's charleston. I hope they don't go tonight but the charleston has been the kiss of death this year. Tyler was not good and he is going to need to up his game. He was really good at the beginning but it's been a while since he's produced something worth writing home about. I realise that's down to Dianne as well. There seemed to be more posing in their Paso than the meant to be quite posy, rumba. I think it's frustrating because we all know he can dance, he just needs to show us he can again and soon. Liked Kym's American smooth and it was a shame she fucked up near the end. If she is in the dance off and doesn't make the same mistake she should be safe.

Molly's rumba was good but I felt nothing which is as much to do with me as it is her. I don't think it helps that I'm not getting Carlos at all yet. Maybe he'll have grown on me next series as happened with Nikita. Helen didn't seem at all comfortable in her dance and that made it uncomfortable to watch. Not bad, just missing oomph. I honestly don't know how anyone could enjoy Tony's jive. I thought it was pretty awful and not in an entertaining way. I like him, he's a trier and has been fun to watch but I'm really hoping he goes tonight because it's obvious he's never going to deliver a passable latin.

Fleur, who I like but who is not a favourite of mine, knocked it out of the park. That was a v good samba.

I honestly think that Will's tears were real. Yes, I agree, too many sob stories and I fear this is going to continue from now on because Strictly seems to think it's The X-Factor now. On the one hand, I get it, sharing something can be cathartic and there may be a genuine notion that it will help others in a similar situation but I think if I was watching and had lost a child/had a parent die recently/someone die recently, then I'd find it all a bit triggering. I hope that all the sobs that can be sobbed have now been sobbed.

I loved Hamza and his tears were for very different reasons so I'm happy to let him off. The dance was so full of joy and fun, the lifts were amazing and the African moves were brilliant. Jowita was outstanding. It was a good way to end the show.

Fuck knows who'll be in the dance off tonight. If Tony avoids it again, and there's no reason to think he won't, then it could be just about anyone. I guess we'll all see later.

@PolkadotsAndMoonbeams I would have offered to start the new threads but I am out tonight as well. But thanks for your tidy housekeeping always. Perhaps someone else can do it? I normally don't watch the results show anyway; too much weeping. I just check the results. ( or sometimes look at the spoiler:)

They probably would have "encouraged" Ellie S to give us hers had they thought she might have been at risk last week. She's the first shock exit this series...

I agree @SolInvictus - and I'll bet she would have been the first sleb ever to say - "Nah. Not going down that road".

I didn’t like Molly’s rumba at all. It felt too sharp and staccato for me.

Bugger. Wrote massive post and then computer switched itself off halfway through, so: TL:DR version...

I had Claudia's lippy in 1989. Transvision Vamp phase. Bourjois. Loved it. Motsi, for all her weeping, gave more constructive criticism than I've ever heard her do. You go girl!

Ellie and Johannes- agreed with Craig, wasn't bad, wasn't brilliant. Not sharp enough, limbs too bendy. She might be in danger. I loved her VT, and love her obviously genuine relationship with Johannes. Someone else said they found him too full on last year- agree- his weeping about same sex couple and how fabulous it was just got too much (and I think, for all his agreeing, JW probably felt the same- despite their paso being in my top 5 of all time- there was just too much emphasis on the two gay men thing, we get it, we got it, it's fine, move on)

Tyler and Dianne- I loved it. I'm a sucker for a paso anyway, and more so with just music accompanying it.

Helen- looked uncomfortable, don't know why. She looked like she just wasn't that into any of it last night. It was polished as usual, but for the first time she looked like she was just going through the motions, it was like she kept having to remind herself to smile.

Kym- I remember her documentary on neonatal death which she did a year after she lost her son. Kudos to her, she was much much less manipulative than I thought she might have been, or could have been had she wanted to, and I thought it was big of her to admit to the mistakes of which there were several.

Tony- Evil Genius Katya looked a-ma-zing and I love how she never outdances her partner. Others could take note of that. I thought that was Tony's best tbf.

Molly- loved it and didn't expect to. For the first time I warmed to her (though I did do a chinny reckon when she went on about the Blackpool night of Strictly always being her favourite. Are we to truly believe a young trendy whippersnapper sits at home on a Saturday watching Light entertainment schedules. I don't think so. Best rumba since the good old days of the early noughties though.

Fleur- excellent, brilliant. Her costumes are odd. Always. I wonder if she asks to be covered up? Her bum and thighs? I mean, if mine were like hers I'd have them out and waggling all day long, but she always seems more modestly clad than some of the others?

Will- I think apart from ridiculously contrived phonecall with mum where she summarizes the dad's death as though Will might have forgotten "it was just after Covid kicked in wasn't it?" etc his emotion was genuine. Loved the simplicity of the non-faffing-abaht of the routine. 10 was OTT though.

Hamza- agree that Jowita needed to hold back a bit there. The emotion and the story behind it kind of camouflaged the truth of the matter that it wasn't anywhere near his best.

My votes would have gone to Fleur, Molly and Hamza.
My least favourites were Helen and Ellie.
Bottom two should be Tony and Ellie with Tony to go.
Looking at the leader board Kym and Ellie might be the bottom 2 if Tony still gets through.

Just caught up and I'm back to rooting for Will again. His honest emotion brought that x factor back into his dance. What's been lacking for me this year is that emotional connection with the music or partner that carries them away.

I'd offer to start the new thread but I've promised dd I will wait until she gets back from youth group to watch the results show.

Hamza was joyful in his dance and he moves well but Jowita was well pumped up but he didn't match for match. She compensated for that.

I've just watched last night's show and I don't think I've stopped crying. Bloody hell that was emotional

I volunteer as tribute, should we need one.

It's not. It's red and green chilliest for hot hot hot. Fleur even had chilli earrings.

Very late as I'm just catching up on last night now before the results show.

Ellie quite enjoyed it but had forgotten about her by the end of the show.

Tyler seems to have plateaued and may be in trouble. Dianne was giving it her all though.

Kym really lacks confidence I think. I think she's better than she thinks she is. Graz is trying so hard to keep her from a complete breakdown is my impression. I also love Chasing Cars but that singer couldn't do it justice, rather painful.

Helen did seem stiff to me. Where's the happy Latin smile? Technically good but no passion there. Gorka working his socks off as usual.

Tony makes me smile and Katya is dragging him through like a tiger mother along with the Arsenal fans. Wouldn't mind him going to Blackpool but not much further.

Molly, I know what you all mean about her being young and blah but I actually thought they did a cracking job tonight - rumba is so tough to make interesting and they did a really good job. The singer was pigging awful though. Agree with PP - never do Whitney.

Fleur - loved it, she did really well. I do love that song. It was lots of fun.

Will - we've all lost loved ones. Hated the looking up. Manipulative twat. Have really gone off him but I'm torn because I really like Nancy this year!!

Hamza has been my fave from the start and the VT was cute. Loved the dance and such a lift of the spirits after Will. Jowita is a little pocket rocket of power. Anton is right - he is sunshine and joy and perfectly paired with her. Love them and nice to have a change from the usual cringy CC.