Strictly 2023

[sheepdog]

Strictly is back and I've just realised how long ago I logged in. Still, it's that time of the year when our Saturday evening viewing highlight is Strictly. @Cleoriff we get to fill the off-topic section for a couple of months 🙂

This year, the BBC seems to have discovered "celebz" by utilising the Sonar Mapping technology. Just watch this informative video on how the BBC uncovers the latest contestants for this year. Yep, it's not going to be pretty again...

To start, it's Layton Williams who's apparently an actor and starred in such things as musicals so obviously the ringer of the series. Sonar ping did take a while to return: 

Next up, is someone who has apparently been acting for 3 decades and yet remains completely anonymous to me. Here is Amanda Abbington who's claim to fame is Martin Freeman's ex. Apparently causing a stir on Twitter for a tiny minority. 

Lo and behold, we now have a household name: Angela Rippon! Apart from reading the news way back when there were 3 channels, she's also presented Strictly's predecessor Come Dancing for a while.  Also 79 so out by week 2. 

Celebz number 4 is Channel 4 news presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy. Since I have never watched C4 news ever, I've just seen clips of him in passing. Sheepdog's Strictly Score: probably mid-table mediocrity.

Sonar pinging is really taking its time with our next Celebz: Eddie Khadi. According to the webpage: "Recognised as one of the most globally celebrated stand up personalities...". Though the page fails to specify which planet. Could be fun, could be gone before his time and maybe putting in a job application for Claudia.

Returning an audio signal is the nice but rather bland TV presenter Angela Scanlon. Could be the dark horse of the series or could be a better presenter than Claudia next year.

Come in Contestant number 7, your time is up. This year's nominee for "Who's that?" award is Zara McDermott. Her wiki page classes her as an English media personality which you can guess, means looks pretty for the cameras. Cynicism aside, seems to be forging a career in documentaries and has a bit of career on television shows before Love Island.

 

So that's the first un-magnificent 7 announced. I suspect that we'll be getting the current vogue of a Drag Queen announced as a new feature and some other obscurities over the next few days. Maybe we may see a controversial choice of Philip Schofield now he's out of work on ITV. 

Unfortunately, we're still stuck with the same judges as before so more Motsi who's bound to be even more annoying this year so I shall look forward to muting "Motsi's Mumblings" and the still boring Tess and more of the same from Claudia.  Only real change (so far) from the pro's is that Amy Dowden won't be there due to recent cancer/Chemotherapy treatment. 

As for It Take's two, Jeanette Ranarama is back but seems someone likes Fleurgh East enough on the Beeb to give her a job co-presenting as Rylan's replacement. 

I think I'll be using iplayer on fast forward rather a lot this year.

[Pipstop78]

Oh god definitely 

[sheepdog]

And Week3's opener was a rather bland Disney inspired routine which looked more like a dress rehearsal. Not bad not impressive. Tess in a dress and Claudia in a dress with definition. Black of course but not overtly. Who knew a Darth Vader mask would suit it too 😂 Judges and presenters both escorted on with Disney characters but sadly, none of them were judge though the scoring was as usual Mickey Mouse. Also a welcome surprise to see Amy Dowden. 

My thoughts in the order I more or less remember it so not accurate:

Nigel and Katya: Jive. Oh dear, first on which doesn't bode well. More like a Flabman inspired dance. Definitely not his dance and its a good thing he had a mask. Outfit was worse than a catalogue dress-up outfit which didn't help. Still better than Nikita though. 

Zara and Graziano: Paso. Nice outfit. I really like the cat look on Zara 😍 Difficult choice between her and Nadiya's looks tonight 😎  Oh yeah, she brought attitude and apart from the ugly snarling, thought she did well. Perhaps this may be the dance to push her closer to the front runners? Purrrrrrr. 

Amanda and Giovanni: Rumba. Oh. Dear. Not her dance and totally disagree with the judges on this one. I thought her walks were too fast and too stompy. Needs to do a little more work on transitions in the slower dances. Think we may see this one again should she reach the final.

Layton and Nikita: Viennese Waltz. I'll give him a plus on wearing high heels but no, you really can't turn a VW into a contemporary version (you know the sudden walk away and stop move). Needs to stop adding his own style and just do the simple stuff. Also nowhere near as good as Ellies VW. 

Nikita and Gorka: Jive. Apparently a jive but more of the same from last week. Pretty much the worst jive we've seen for a long while. The VT's showed the crying bit and obviously the confidence has now gone as it was noticeable in 99% of the routine. Everyone else was far better and she won't be saved by the judges. 

Angela R and Kai: Quickstep at the new 20mph speed limit in Wales. Not bad not good not particularly quick but better than Nikita. I won't describe my thoughts on Kai's outfit. 

Angela S and Carlos: Charleston. See the video above I posted with Bob Fosse. Think she pulled off a pretty darn good replica for a novice. Deservedly top of the leaderboard and a top 5 for me. 

Bobby and Dianne: Samba. The first 20 or 30 seconds were rather insipid. Then the entire dance just snowballed into what was a very decent samba by a male that we haven't seen in years. Wow. Also Diane in dark hair was a bonus!

Eddie and Karen: Couple's Choice. Ah, I think I'll coin a new term "Eddie-ness". Which is defined by adding your own style without contrivance (see Layton). You'll see it in a few moves of Eddie's but this was a good one for him. Not worth a ten from Shirley.  Wish the producers would stop with the stupid special effects in-dance as it really takes away from the couples. 

Jody and Jowita: American Smooth/VW: Didn't realise he'd only had 2 days of training but not at all bad. Whether or not it will be enough to avoid the dance-off is another matter. Still far better than Nikita. 

Ellie and Vito: Viennese Waltz. The timing of this girl is impeccable and few will better her in this dance let alone other dances. Undermarked. See Layton, this is how you do a VW. 

Annabel and Johannes: Waltz. She looked the part of Audrey Hepburn and the dance was oh so nice. Providing she can sustain this level in Latin, she won't disappoint. Two things: need some acting lessons and a bit more fluidity. 

Adam and Luba: Jive. A jive yes, an exciting jive? Perhaps no but he's fun and progressing rather than regressing. Yet still better than Nikita.

Krishnan and Lauren: Charleston. I like Lauren, she does bring out the best in Krishnan and as I expecting a pretty poor effort, this was rather good. As in rather good compared to his previous weeks. That's harsh as it was good and he's comfortably safe. However he won't better it as most of the routine involved him standing still and doing a couple of moves followed by walking to the next segment. 

Obvious exitee is Nikita so tomorrows show is really about the opening number (sadly its a Barbie themed attempt rather than Oppenheimer) and the Mega Musical Mediocre Monstrosity Masocist being Maddison Beer. I have no idea either so I've endured the obligatory ads on youtube to build anticipation to discover and a new artist.....and is that a squirrel? Yep, another wannabee with auto-tune who should be replaced with an AI generated facade that the SCD are so fond of using. 

[Cleoriff]

Nigel and Katya. Jive

Pretty poor really. A few mistakes Scored 25

Angela and Kai. Quickstep

A slow quickstep! Scored 26

Zara and Graziano. Paso Doble

Not a bad dance. Much improved Scored 25

Angela S and Carlos Charleston.

What an absolutely stunning routine. The dance of the series for me. Scored 35 (well deserved)

Layton and Nikita Viennese Waltz.

Annoying. Why Layton thinks he needs to outperform Nikita beggars belief Overscored 28

Amanda and Giovanni. Rumba

I loved it. One of the best I've seen Scored 30

Nikita and Gorka. Jive.

Agree, a very poor jive. Scored 21

Bobby and Dianne. Samba.

A great dance from this pair. Great hip movements Bobby. Scored 32

Jody and Jowita. American Smooth.

For 2 days training, he did well Scored 20

Eddie and Karen. Couples Choice 

Just brilliant. Really played to his strengths. No, Shirley, not worth a 10! Scored 34

Ellie and Vito. Viennese Waltz.

Just really beautiful Scored 33

Annabel and Johannes Waltz

A very nice waltz Scored 30

Adam and Luba. Jive.

Not bad. Kicks and flicks need a bit of work. Scored 26

Krishnan and Lauren. Charleston

What a surprise. A damn good effort Scored 30

[sheepdog]

And the results show opened to a rather awful Barbie/Ken routine with utterly bland tunes which are probably on the soundtrack. I think they mentioned at least 3 choreographers were involved and I think all of them should be sacked. 

I completely forgot to complement Motsi last night. The straight hair wig does suit her.  Please frame this comment as it is rare 🤣

Maddison Beer was exactly what I predicted and exactly what is wrong with today's pop puppets. All desperate to show they can sing all the scales in all of the lines without conveying any of the emotion of the meaning. Which incidentally was a cover version not of the original (The Byrds) but more of the cover done by one of my favourite underrated groups: The Lightning Seeds slowed down and massacred. 

Onto the dance-off. Surprisingly Zara Tiktok got voted along with the really unsurprising Nikita. As predicted, Nikita got kicked out. Rather amusing was her face after seeing Zara dance beforehand. Didn't stand a chance, technically, performance or ability. Dragged out goodbye speech as well. 

Onwards to next week!

[Cleoriff]

I was surprised to see it was Zara as I enjoyed her Paso. I think Jody avoided the dance off due to his 'only 2 days training. Those who expected it to be Krishnan were probably surprised  at his dance last night.

No surprise about Nikita, who made so many mistakes in her dance off, she may as well have thrown in the towel half way through.

Had no time for Madison Pale Ale. I just watched the dancers.

The opening number was pretty poor.

[sheepdog]

Week 4 already and the questionable music choices are out.

Adam and Luba: Waltz to I Wonder Why by Curtis Stigers

Amanda and Giovanni: Foxtrot to Everywhere by Fleetwood Mac

Annabel and Johannes: Jive to Feel It Still by Portugal. The Man

Angela R and Kai: Rumba to Rise Like A Phoenix by Conchita Wurst

And this is the week Angela Rippon gets voted out. I reckon its going to be a slow rumba to the point of tedium. Looking forward to see how Annabel does the jive as the track is pretty er, jivey! Should be a safe week for both Adam and Amanda. 

Angela S and Carlos: Viennese Waltz to You Are The Reason by Calum Scott & Leona Lewis

Bobby and Dianne: Tango to Fashion by David Bowie

Eddie and Karen: American Smooth to Sex Bomb by Tom Jones

Ellie and Vito: Samba to Copacabana by Barry Manilow

Jody and Jowita: Salsa to Samba de Janeiro by Bellini

Sex bomb has got be slowed down and remixed hasn't it? If not, I can't see how he's going to pull off an American Smooth. Bobby/Ellie have a lot to do after last week to avoid disappointing us but I suspect they won't by a very long way.  Jury is out on Jody as will be the judges comments. On the plus side, the track is a party number so may mask a few issues. 

Krishnan and Lauren: Paso Doble to By The Way by Red Hot Chili Peppers

Layton and Nikita: Cha Cha to Million Dollar Bill by Whitney Houston

Nigel and Katya: Salsa to Suavemente by Elvis Crespo

Zara and Graziano: Viennese Waltz to You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me by Brenda Lee

So Krishnan gets to walk around again in the Paso and straight into the dance-off. Likely to be saved over Angela Rippon though. Nigel really needs to pick up his game on this one after last week but safe enough for this week. As for Zara, it's a good dance/music combo. Bonus points if she returns with the cat look 😻

The running order may play a part. If she's before Angela Scanlon, Zara should get a decent score but if AS is first and maintains the consistency, she'll be marked down. Then again, they could both be very good. 

Layton: I actually think this is a difficult one but you know we'll getting the Layton-style to it. 

[Cleoriff]

@sheepdog 

Some good music choices there...and some bad!

My bottom two would be Angela R and Khishnan. There again, as people really don't know Zara, I feel she will be in the dance off again.

Robin, one of the professionals, now replaced, was tweeting and having a go at the judges marking last week. He said no-one deserved a 10 (sorry Eddie, I agree with him!) Really praised Angela S and Carlos for their damn near perfect Bob Fosse number.

Just checked out the Red Hot Chili Peppers music. I wonder how Krishnan will cope doing a Paso if Dave Arch keeps in the fast part (47 seconds in) NOT Paso music, either way!

[RunrigForever]

Thank you @Cleoriff and @sheepdog for posting and keeping my interest in SCD alive and kicking !

Won't be watching tonight's show, but maybe a bit of a catch up tomorrow evening.

Last Week ... ... ... 

Did Nadiya and Nikita dance to what's her name's effort ... Claudia just said 'the professionals' ... = ... Nah ! Claudia in Kninkcompoop Mode ... You address the professional dancers accordingly particularly when there are only 2 of them dancing ... ... ... The Professional Dancers are the Stars of SCD ... = ... Without the Professional Dancers there would be no SCD ... ?! ... What Would To$$er Tess do then to pay her household bills ?!

[Cleoriff]

Ellie and Vito Samba,

I was disappointed to see them go first as opening dancers never do well.

I thought it was a good samba with a little mistake. Scored 28 (undermarked)

Adam and Luba. Waltz,

Wow what a brilliant waltz. Loved it Scored 32

Jody and Jowita. Salsa.

Mmmmm. Very stiff with a few missteps. Good lifts but did look clumsy. Scored 19

Amanda and Giovanni. Foxtrot.

A good top line. Footwork not so good. Liked Antons comment re BREATHE. Scored 31

Krishnan and Lauren. Paso (to a modified Red Hot Chili Peppers) 😂

A decent Paso. A great start. Enough to get through I think. Stop counting Scored 28.

Zara and Graziano. Viennese Waltz.

A great beginning. Lovely routine overall. Scored 28

Annabel and Johannes. Jive.

Did a good jive, I thought it was a bit restrained. Loved the end cartwheel Scored 29

Eddie and Karen. American Smooth.

Not so good. Better out of hold. What a shame Scored 24

Layton and Nikita Cha Cha Cha.

I don't like Layton. However that was a good cha cha cha if a bit OTT. Scored 37

Nigel and Katya. Salsa.

Lovely salsa. Great improvement. (Patrick Swayze? You wish!!) Scored 33.

Angela S and Carlos, Viennese Waltz.

Stayed on toes all the way through. Very emotional dance but should sweep across the floor more. Scored 28

Angela R and Kai. Rumba.

Was it a Rumba? The judges loved it. Not enough Rumba moves for me. I'm sitting on the fence. Scored 31

Bobby and Dianne. Tango.

Absolutely great. Loved this. So did Shirley  and Anton. The other two not so much. Scored 30

Generally everyone raised their game.

[Cleoriff]

PS I'm  guessing Zara and Jody for dance off.

Beverley Knight on Sundays show. A good singer for once.