Strictly Come Dancing 2012

[Honeybadger]

She's had less dance training than Dani, Kimberley and Lisa. There has essentially been a witch hunt that has ruined the best dancer's chance of winning.

Kimberley has been dancing in a musical in the months leading up to Strictly.

Denise consistently at the top of the training schedules with Dani consistently at the bottom. She must be doing all that work for a reason.

That said, I backed Dani at 38-1 after week 2...

Hi Tal... Can you give more details about Denise's lack of dance training compared to Dani and Kimberley? My wife says it is not fair that Denise is in the show because she was in the musical Chicago for 4 years or something like that, and so she has lots more prior experience/training than the other contestants. But perhaps this is completely untrue? Is it correct that Dani/Kimberely have had more prior dance training that Denise? Also, what do you mean by 'top of the training schedules'?

[The Camel]

I can't believe how many intelligent and shrewd poker players / gamblers / Tal watch this drivel.

I despair, I really do.

[Tal]

She's had less dance training than Dani, Kimberley and Lisa. There has essentially been a witch hunt that has ruined the best dancer's chance of winning.

Kimberley has been dancing in a musical in the months leading up to Strictly.

Denise consistently at the top of the training schedules with Dani consistently at the bottom. She must be doing all that work for a reason.

That said, I backed Dani at 38-1 after week 2...

Hi Tal... Can you give more details about Denise's lack of dance training compared to Dani and Kimberley? My wife says it is not fair that Denise is in the show because she was in the musical Chicago for 4 years or something like that, and so she has lots more prior experience/training than the other contestants. But perhaps this is completely untrue? Is it correct that Dani/Kimberely have had more prior dance training that Denise? Also, what do you mean by 'top of the training schedules'?

This pretty much sums it all up:

http://m.digitalspy.co.uk/showbiz/s104/strictly-come-dancing/news/a444149/strictly-denise-van-outen-chris-evans-ruined-my-chance-of-winning.html

As for the training schedules...don't tell Camel...but...if you watch It Takes Two, there has been a feature where they list the partners in order of the amount of hours they have spent training. Michael Vaughan was top during his tenure but now Denise is consistently up there.

Dani is usually towards the bottom and obviously Kimberley has had weeks where she was light.

[Tal]

I can't believe how many intelligent and shrewd poker players / gamblers / Tal watch this drivel.

I despair, I really do.

I love that I don't fit into any of the other categories

[Honeybadger]

I can't believe how many intelligent and shrewd poker players / gamblers / Tal watch this drivel.

I despair, I really do.

Don't be such a snob Mr Camel!

Tbh, I have never watched Strictly Come Dancing before. But this year Max, my seven year old, got really into it - so it has become a family routine for us every Saturday night. We get the kids ready for bed, then all cuddle up together on the sofa and enjoy the show. Max knows everything about it, and gets hugely excited before every show ("Daddy, I can't believe Dani is going to do the Argentine Tango. I can hardly wait!" etc). Freddy - my three year old - cried his eyes out when Lisa Riley lost in the dance off at the weekend. He loves to dance along and try to copy some of the moves. Max, on the other hand, takes it extremely seriously and prefers to watch carefully and give his critique on each performance. We all guess the scores after every dance, get really excited when anyone gets a 10, and argue about who we are going to vote for. The kids LOVE it... and therefore so do we.

Apart from anything else it is something lovely to share together as a family. And as these sort of programs go, it is MUCH better than most of these celebrity/xfactor type things. It is a very positive and heart-warming program, and sets a great example to kids. It is abundantly clear that the contestants work extremely hard in training every week, and as such it is a celebration of excellence through effort. Moreover, all the contestants, dancers and judges clearly really like and support each other. I'd sooner have my kids watching this than most other things on TV. There is something wholesome about this program; it is just... well... nice.

Is is an intellectually stimulating show that deals with the topical issues of the day? Of course it isn't... it is Saturday night TV with the kids! But myself, Immy and the boys look forward to it every week. We have a big Strictly night planned for the final on Saturday, and Max in particular is beside himself with excitement about it. We will all be gutted when it finishes.

[Honeybadger]

@ Tal ... thanks for info. I will share this with Immy and the kids tomorrow.

[The Camel]

I can't believe how many intelligent and shrewd poker players / gamblers / Tal watch this drivel.

I despair, I really do.

Don't be such a snob Mr Camel!

Tbh, I have never watched Strictly Come Dancing before. But this year Max, my seven year old, got really into it - so it has become a family routine for us every Saturday night. We get the kids ready for bed, then all cuddle up together on the sofa and enjoy the show. Max knows everything about it, and gets hugely excited before every show ("Daddy, I can't believe Dani is going to do the Argentine Tango. I can hardly wait!" etc). Freddy - my three year old - cried his eyes out when Lisa Riley lost in the dance off at the weekend. He loves to dance along and try to copy some of the moves. Max, on the other hand, takes it extremely seriously and prefers to watch carefully and give his critique on each performance. We all guess the scores after every dance, get really excited when anyone gets a 10, and argue about who we are going to vote for. The kids LOVE it... and therefore so do we.

Apart from anything else it is something lovely to share together as a family. And as these sort of programs go, it is MUCH better than most of these celebrity/xfactor type things. It is a very positive and heart-warming program, and sets a great example to kids. It is abundantly clear that the contestants work extremely hard in training every week, and as such it is a celebration of excellence through effort. Moreover, all the contestants, dancers and judges clearly really like and support each other. I'd sooner have my kids watching this than most other things on TV. There is something wholesome about this program; it is just... well... nice.

Is is an intellectually stimulating show that deals with the topical issues of the day? Of course it isn't... it is Saturday night TV with the kids! But myself, Immy and the boys look forward to it every week. We have a big Strictly night planned for the final on Saturday, and Max in particular is beside himself with excitement about it. We will all be gutted when it finishes.

^^^^^^^

This is fine.

That's what the show should be, a bit of a laugh and family entertainment.

But, debates about training regimes, and "not putting their heart and soul into it" etc etc

Dear oh dear oh dear.

[Honeybadger]

That's what the show should be, a bit of a laugh and family entertainment.

But, debates about training regimes, and "not putting their heart and soul into it" etc etc

Dear oh dear oh dear.

But that is part of what makes it entertaining Keith! For example, Max will LOVE reading the link that Tal posted and will definitely form an opinion on the issue of hours trained by each contestant. It's part of the experience for him. This sort of show is much more fun if you suspend your disbelief and pretend that it is 'serious'. Max certainly thinks it is very serious!

[The Camel]

That's what the show should be, a bit of a laugh and family entertainment.

But, debates about training regimes, and "not putting their heart and soul into it" etc etc

Dear oh dear oh dear.

But that is part of what makes it entertaining Keith! For example, Max will LOVE reading the link that Tal posted and will definitely form an opinion on the issue of hours trained by each contestant. It's part of the experience for him. This sort of show is much more fun if you suspend your disbelief and pretend that it is 'serious'. Max certainly thinks it is very serious!

A 7 year thinking it's serious is great.

Hardened degens thinking it's serious is sighworthy

[Honeybadger]

A 7 year thinking it's serious is great.

Hardened degens thinking it's serious is sighworthy

Like I said, you've got to suspend your disbelief! Of course I don't really think it is serious. But I enjoy it more for finding out a bit about the contestants, and stuff like that.

Also, there is nothing wrong with watching a bit of mindless non-serious TV from time to time. Not everything has to be high brow or intense. Which is why I think it is a bit mean-spirited and snobby of you to say you can't believe how many intelligent people watch the program and that you 'despair'.

Some would say the same thing about an intelligent person spending countless hours of his time watching sport on TV.  Many of us spend ages watching/reading about/analysing football for example. Yet to many people football is merely a bunch of grown men kicking a piece of leather around an area of grass, and they would struggle to understand how others think this is 'serious'. And these people most likely think it is 'sighworthy' that we waste our time watching sport when we could be doing other more useful things. It is the same type of judgmental attitude.

[Tal]

It might help if - in my rôle as counsel for the defence - I go back to one of my opening posts on this subject, which was in response to some of the Blonde Illuminati's calls for a ban (in just about jest):

It's an odd situation. Abhor reality TV as a rule.

My mom was a qualified ballroom and Latin teacher from the age of 18. I've grown up with her taking lessons and music on in the house, with the relevant dance pointed out to me. Even on the radio: "Lovely samba, this" and then she'd pick out the time for me: "one and two, one and two".

I saw Come Dancing when I was young and so was exposed to how it all works and what to look for.

With Strictly, we sit and watch the action, reviewing the dancing. Who is doing it is kind of ancillary, although we have our favourites!

Dad, to his eternal credit, diplomatically says that he "doesn't mind it".

I enjoy watching people learn a new skill. With Brucie, it's made charming light-entertainment and there's something warmly old-fashioned about it.

That's all there is to it.

X Factor with all the feint praise, hyperbole and chavvy lunacy summons up so much bile I could develop ulceritis during the theme tune.

Big Brother is a parody of itself now, when I had hoped naïvely that the first series would be a social experiment. Even I satirised it in 2004 (but that - as a famous philosopher once said - is for another day).

DOI does nothing for me and although I don't watch it, I'm largely ambivalent towards it.

Jungle is an ITV 4:58pm concept that must surely be reaching the final layers of lacquer in the barrel.

As for the in-depth stuff, I love knowing things. Watching something when you understand what is going on is miles beter than just seeing colours and shapes. If I want to watch people on a show, seems only fair that I want them to be trying their best. At the very least, it is OK to make the observation if you think there is room for improvement.

It won't change my life but I love the show and pretty much everything that comes with it.

[tikay]

I can't believe how many intelligent and shrewd poker players / gamblers / Tal watch this drivel.

I despair, I really do.

Does this help Keith?


http://www.oddschecker.com/tv/strictly-come-dancing/strictly-come-dancing/winner


5/1 about a 15/8 shot gives me a warm feeling down below.

[tikay]

Hypothetically, of course.

[TightEnd]

Hypothetically, of course.

He said Intelligent.

Someone else (me) who likes this stuff fancies Nimble Kimble pre-start at a good price. I am so unintelligent that it remained unbacked by me thouh

[The Camel]

I can't believe how many intelligent and shrewd poker players / gamblers / Tal watch this drivel.

I despair, I really do.

Does this help Keith?


http://www.oddschecker.com/tv/strictly-come-dancing/strictly-come-dancing/winner


5/1 about a 15/8 shot gives me a warm feeling down below.

Not much.

I have no beef with people betting on it, 7 year olds engrossed in it or adults sitting back with a large g and t and enjoying it.

What I find distressing is the hoopla surrounding the show and normally intelligent people getting in a tizzy over some technical aspect or other.

It's not a dancing show, it's an entertainment show ffs.