Strictly 2017 launch show
Sep. 10th, 2017 08:59 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shallownessAh, autumn has begun, what with this and Victoria being back (I’m behind, I’ll post about it when I’m caught up, and will be watching Strike live over it). I had seen the line-up, and, as ever, I didn’t know who half of them were, but that’s as per usual, so I didn’t make much of the sniffiness about the line-up, although last year I was convinced Olly Murs and Tony Robinson would be of their number. You get to know them over the weeks.
Lots of trying to figure out who the pros were – no change on the male side (and Neil and Chloe are still the back-ups). No Natalie and Oksana (sad face). Jo, I knew about, as she’s gone and done what the celebs do and gone to the West End.
Top marks to Claudia ‘I’ll be here all series’ Winkelman, who wore a colour. Tess would have looked better in a dress with one slit, but she strained towards authentic human (and was obviously in distress talking about Bruce and Claudia’s subtly comforting her was nice. I genuinely believe they have a supportive relationship.) There were only one or two times where she was discomfortingly lustful, although a couple of the celeb ladies hammed it up and went there, too.
The biggest change is the new top judge, Shirley Ballas, who was evidently nervous and a bit wordy, but she’s got the experience and did not seem fazed at Bruno being Bruno by her side, so let’s wait and see. I hope she’s strict when it comes to the marking. The other three were themselves, but I like the new gender balance on the judging panel. Shirley looks a wee bit like Arlene.
Some of the couplings were easy to call because of height – Janette and Aston (she must be happy) etc. I am pleased Oti got Jonny, because she’s a choreographer par excellence, and I am relieved Karen and Brian were not paired together, because that would have been TOO MUCH. But I am DELIGHTED that Kevin got Susan. I hoped he might because she’s so short, but it’s long past time since he got a non-ringer. And then it transpired that she was a superfan of the show and him and got genuinely emotional and nobody quite knew what to do with that.
My first impression of her off the Saturdays is that she seems a bit dim, although AJ’s back must be relieved that there’s less height difference, between him and his new partner. His hairstyle doesn’t make him look any older, so the show is not going to let go of the boychild gag; I desperately want Debbie McGee to have a good time; and Richard made me laugh a lot.
I cannot believe this, but Rita Ora was better dressed (and sang better) than Shania Twain (although both songs were meh, and Shania’s dancers plus Aljiaz were easier on the eye).
I liked the opening number fine, I thought they took way too long to bring in the new pros for the number introducing them. Fly Me To The Moon was a fitting-ish tribute to Bruce, although they shouldn’t have used the roof-camera the second they did. The dancers all doing his pose was the best bit. Ore had obviously been keeping trimmer than Jay had this time last year, and it was a pleasure to revisit his jive. The advice to enjoy themselves is sound, because it’s always infectious, but I think Susan was helpless to stick to the bit about not crying. And a lot of the celebs were obviously very nervous about discovering who their partner would be – I hope that doesn’t translate to their dancing.
As Jonny said, ‘Footloose’ was a tasteless choice for the group routine. Some people looked good (but I am not naming names because at least one of them always turns out to be embarrassing) and some looked dreadful while others got lost in the mix.
It cranks you right up, although the show will have to prove itself (especially its new judge).
Lots of trying to figure out who the pros were – no change on the male side (and Neil and Chloe are still the back-ups). No Natalie and Oksana (sad face). Jo, I knew about, as she’s gone and done what the celebs do and gone to the West End.
Top marks to Claudia ‘I’ll be here all series’ Winkelman, who wore a colour. Tess would have looked better in a dress with one slit, but she strained towards authentic human (and was obviously in distress talking about Bruce and Claudia’s subtly comforting her was nice. I genuinely believe they have a supportive relationship.) There were only one or two times where she was discomfortingly lustful, although a couple of the celeb ladies hammed it up and went there, too.
The biggest change is the new top judge, Shirley Ballas, who was evidently nervous and a bit wordy, but she’s got the experience and did not seem fazed at Bruno being Bruno by her side, so let’s wait and see. I hope she’s strict when it comes to the marking. The other three were themselves, but I like the new gender balance on the judging panel. Shirley looks a wee bit like Arlene.
Some of the couplings were easy to call because of height – Janette and Aston (she must be happy) etc. I am pleased Oti got Jonny, because she’s a choreographer par excellence, and I am relieved Karen and Brian were not paired together, because that would have been TOO MUCH. But I am DELIGHTED that Kevin got Susan. I hoped he might because she’s so short, but it’s long past time since he got a non-ringer. And then it transpired that she was a superfan of the show and him and got genuinely emotional and nobody quite knew what to do with that.
My first impression of her off the Saturdays is that she seems a bit dim, although AJ’s back must be relieved that there’s less height difference, between him and his new partner. His hairstyle doesn’t make him look any older, so the show is not going to let go of the boychild gag; I desperately want Debbie McGee to have a good time; and Richard made me laugh a lot.
I cannot believe this, but Rita Ora was better dressed (and sang better) than Shania Twain (although both songs were meh, and Shania’s dancers plus Aljiaz were easier on the eye).
I liked the opening number fine, I thought they took way too long to bring in the new pros for the number introducing them. Fly Me To The Moon was a fitting-ish tribute to Bruce, although they shouldn’t have used the roof-camera the second they did. The dancers all doing his pose was the best bit. Ore had obviously been keeping trimmer than Jay had this time last year, and it was a pleasure to revisit his jive. The advice to enjoy themselves is sound, because it’s always infectious, but I think Susan was helpless to stick to the bit about not crying. And a lot of the celebs were obviously very nervous about discovering who their partner would be – I hope that doesn’t translate to their dancing.
As Jonny said, ‘Footloose’ was a tasteless choice for the group routine. Some people looked good (but I am not naming names because at least one of them always turns out to be embarrassing) and some looked dreadful while others got lost in the mix.
It cranks you right up, although the show will have to prove itself (especially its new judge).
