Strictly week 9/Blackpool week
Nov. 21st, 2023 08:00 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shallownessYesterday was a wipeout, so I'm only posting this now.
Live show
We opened with a Strictly/Blackpool lovefest VT.
There was a lot to digest in that opening routine – great singing – which was mainly Charleston based. The storyline came through clearly enough, although it’s not exactly new. As well as the pros and extra pros, there were judges and celebs. At one point Nikita was sitting in Angela R’s lap (heh). In as much as I could make out (new hair colour from Layton and new fringe from Ellie) some of them looked great, but Angela R not so much.
Shiny black from Tess, matte white from Claud (in homage to the routine?) Shirley in a flounce that I thought was more pink than purple, Motsi in a very pink jumpsuit, Anton in a white jacket, and Craig in a patterned white jacket that looked great in close-up.
Opening: Bobby and Dianne with the jive (really liked his look) and the theme was eighties graphics given that the song was by Wham! I thought it was well done and he kept the stamina levels up throughout. Bobby could have exaggerated everything a little more, for me, and I feel he’s probably too tall for a jive. Craig’s 8 felt about right, but the dance got three 9s from the rest for Bobby’s best score. Would they be generous because it was Blackpool?
Kelvin returned to do the Ts and Cs and for us to be reminded of his 2019 jive.
Angela R and Kai were next, performing the American Smooth IN BLACKPOOL. Her gown was very snazzy and the choreography/theme was very clever, reminding us of Come Dancing and Blackpool’s role as dancing Mecca. There were nice ballroom bits, and she sold it as ever, but we’d clearly see more dynamic ballroom dancing. The first lift was very gingerly done, but the other two were better. I didn’t spot the mistake(s). 6 from Craig (ouch), 7s from the ladies and a generous 8 from Anton.
Layton and Nikita had a couples choice, so the VT focused on how much he loves his mum, but because he’s so young, it had to also talk about the biggest thing in his life – he was a good enough untrained dancer to get to play Billy Elliot at 10/11 and has been dancing on stages since then.
So, ‘anything goes’ in the couples choice, and they went for pole dancing (in corsets). Also acrobatics. Also, to be fair, showing off balance and partnering skills. Commercial is more Layton’s style than Nikita’s, and I thought he almost put Nikita in the shade, so while I thought Craig was exaggerating by going on about them not being in sync, there might be something in what he said. (Choreography Corner on Monday’ ITT would show that you had to slow down to show the one bit where this was true.) As to the general outrage at Craig, it was evident he wasn’t going to give him a 10 after those comments.
Annabel and Johannes danced the second American Smooth of the night, and it was gorgeous. Clever Johannes kept her in hold as much as possible and mainly used the extra dancers to help with spectacular lifts. Beautiful, he was moved and it deserved the three 9s.
Ellie and Vito had a Charleston and it was so good! I loved that there was light and shade, shifts of speed and such details. So many (amazing) lifts that it was a bit of a showdance Charleston. As soon as Craig spoke, I knew it was going to be 39 again (but I’m going to pretend it was a 39.5.)
Angela S and Carlos would be eschewing extra dancers for their Argentine tango (right call.) I loved what they did to the song (‘Back to Black’). I was excited about this dance given Angela’s legs, but it turned out to be extraordinary. So intense, I loved the intimacy, the fact the big lift was in the middle and they pulled back a little in the ending.
Craig expounded on his singular ideas about the Argentine tango. His 8 was when I most disagreed with him all night. Ah well, the rest gave it a 10 and Carlos got all emosh.
Nigel and Katya would be closing with the quickstep, there was a casual reminder of his musical theatre background in the VT, and Katya got another beauty of a dress. The style suited him, they did indeed seem to be flying across the floor, but I didn’t quite feel it (after being reminded of Danny Mac and Harry’s quicksteps past at Blackpool on ITT), and then the judges pointed out that there had been mistakes, which I hadn’t seen. (Kevin Clifton suggested on ITT it wasn’t so much he’d gone wrong with the steps as that they weren’t in sync.) After seeming to be the leader of the pack after Layton and Ellie last week, it wasn’t a good time to make mistakes. Nigel was crushed.
I don’t think it will be too costly, too many of the audience fancy him or at least have a soft spot for him, but he deserves to be in the bottom group of the recap along with Angela R, who has to be bound for the dance-off again, what with being the lowest scoring celeb, the only one who’s been there before and having come to the natural end of her journey. This week it was Angela S who distinguished herself enough to come after Layton and Ellie, and probably be grouped with them. But in the middle Bobby improved and Annabel repeated her highest score in a proper ballroom. We’ll find out who’s popular soon enough.
FWIW, I voted for Annabel, Ellie and Angela S (and once again for Annabel.)
Results show - 7 become 6
Opening the pro dance was some action from Carlos’s shoulders, before he went to join Nancy and her hair extensions in a very stylised dance that made great use of the three colours in the Bugsby Berkeley session.
After that Tess’s lime green dress was quite something, Claudia’s metallic blue was more relaxing to my eyes, which is apt, as they turned out to be luxury PJs.
The recap did group the couples as expected, but Craig also gave their positions out.
First to be called safe: Annabel and Johannes, then, Angela…wait for it…and Carlos. First to be under the red lights: Bobby and Dianne. Shirley was SHOCKED, but given that more of the viewing public fancy Nigel, and however motherly you feel towards Bobby, Layton and Ellie have got the young and talented thing all covered. With the same score, Annabel’s dance was more moving, and maybe dancing first was a disadvantage. So, it was deeply unshocking.
Tune reveal for Angela S’s next dance, Claudia brought in the whole audience to try (and fail) to cover her screeching.
Madness (aka no Gloria Estefan) performed a new song. Fortunately three pro couples, starring Graziano and Nadiya and her hair extensions, came along to take most of my attention very nicely.
Claudia repeated her ‘are you all right’ schtick with Craig, who started to enumerate all that he thought was not deserving of a 10 from Ellie’s Charleston. The people getting the sets ready for each dance got a nice spotlight.
Second batch of names, and the producers stopped torturing Ellie and Vito and Layton and Nikita. Nigel deserved to be tortured, but inevitably the red light fell on Angela and Kai who must have been expecting it.
More tunage reveals, more shrieking the songs. I hate to say it, but I’m tired of that.
Dance-off, and Bobby was equally good although I did think they need to focus a bit more on his hands in the next dance – obviously, he had enough to be getting on with just to keep up with the jive. Angela maybe improved, but did they skip the first lift, or did the camera do something different, or was it me? Although Dianne seemed to be suffering, the judges unanimously decided to save her and Bobby (but he’s a marked man now.)
Angela gave an absolutely wonderful speech, and Kai wept. They’ve been a smashing partnership.
Live show
We opened with a Strictly/Blackpool lovefest VT.
There was a lot to digest in that opening routine – great singing – which was mainly Charleston based. The storyline came through clearly enough, although it’s not exactly new. As well as the pros and extra pros, there were judges and celebs. At one point Nikita was sitting in Angela R’s lap (heh). In as much as I could make out (new hair colour from Layton and new fringe from Ellie) some of them looked great, but Angela R not so much.
Shiny black from Tess, matte white from Claud (in homage to the routine?) Shirley in a flounce that I thought was more pink than purple, Motsi in a very pink jumpsuit, Anton in a white jacket, and Craig in a patterned white jacket that looked great in close-up.
Opening: Bobby and Dianne with the jive (really liked his look) and the theme was eighties graphics given that the song was by Wham! I thought it was well done and he kept the stamina levels up throughout. Bobby could have exaggerated everything a little more, for me, and I feel he’s probably too tall for a jive. Craig’s 8 felt about right, but the dance got three 9s from the rest for Bobby’s best score. Would they be generous because it was Blackpool?
Kelvin returned to do the Ts and Cs and for us to be reminded of his 2019 jive.
Angela R and Kai were next, performing the American Smooth IN BLACKPOOL. Her gown was very snazzy and the choreography/theme was very clever, reminding us of Come Dancing and Blackpool’s role as dancing Mecca. There were nice ballroom bits, and she sold it as ever, but we’d clearly see more dynamic ballroom dancing. The first lift was very gingerly done, but the other two were better. I didn’t spot the mistake(s). 6 from Craig (ouch), 7s from the ladies and a generous 8 from Anton.
Layton and Nikita had a couples choice, so the VT focused on how much he loves his mum, but because he’s so young, it had to also talk about the biggest thing in his life – he was a good enough untrained dancer to get to play Billy Elliot at 10/11 and has been dancing on stages since then.
So, ‘anything goes’ in the couples choice, and they went for pole dancing (in corsets). Also acrobatics. Also, to be fair, showing off balance and partnering skills. Commercial is more Layton’s style than Nikita’s, and I thought he almost put Nikita in the shade, so while I thought Craig was exaggerating by going on about them not being in sync, there might be something in what he said. (Choreography Corner on Monday’ ITT would show that you had to slow down to show the one bit where this was true.) As to the general outrage at Craig, it was evident he wasn’t going to give him a 10 after those comments.
Annabel and Johannes danced the second American Smooth of the night, and it was gorgeous. Clever Johannes kept her in hold as much as possible and mainly used the extra dancers to help with spectacular lifts. Beautiful, he was moved and it deserved the three 9s.
Ellie and Vito had a Charleston and it was so good! I loved that there was light and shade, shifts of speed and such details. So many (amazing) lifts that it was a bit of a showdance Charleston. As soon as Craig spoke, I knew it was going to be 39 again (but I’m going to pretend it was a 39.5.)
Angela S and Carlos would be eschewing extra dancers for their Argentine tango (right call.) I loved what they did to the song (‘Back to Black’). I was excited about this dance given Angela’s legs, but it turned out to be extraordinary. So intense, I loved the intimacy, the fact the big lift was in the middle and they pulled back a little in the ending.
Craig expounded on his singular ideas about the Argentine tango. His 8 was when I most disagreed with him all night. Ah well, the rest gave it a 10 and Carlos got all emosh.
Nigel and Katya would be closing with the quickstep, there was a casual reminder of his musical theatre background in the VT, and Katya got another beauty of a dress. The style suited him, they did indeed seem to be flying across the floor, but I didn’t quite feel it (after being reminded of Danny Mac and Harry’s quicksteps past at Blackpool on ITT), and then the judges pointed out that there had been mistakes, which I hadn’t seen. (Kevin Clifton suggested on ITT it wasn’t so much he’d gone wrong with the steps as that they weren’t in sync.) After seeming to be the leader of the pack after Layton and Ellie last week, it wasn’t a good time to make mistakes. Nigel was crushed.
I don’t think it will be too costly, too many of the audience fancy him or at least have a soft spot for him, but he deserves to be in the bottom group of the recap along with Angela R, who has to be bound for the dance-off again, what with being the lowest scoring celeb, the only one who’s been there before and having come to the natural end of her journey. This week it was Angela S who distinguished herself enough to come after Layton and Ellie, and probably be grouped with them. But in the middle Bobby improved and Annabel repeated her highest score in a proper ballroom. We’ll find out who’s popular soon enough.
FWIW, I voted for Annabel, Ellie and Angela S (and once again for Annabel.)
Results show - 7 become 6
Opening the pro dance was some action from Carlos’s shoulders, before he went to join Nancy and her hair extensions in a very stylised dance that made great use of the three colours in the Bugsby Berkeley session.
After that Tess’s lime green dress was quite something, Claudia’s metallic blue was more relaxing to my eyes, which is apt, as they turned out to be luxury PJs.
The recap did group the couples as expected, but Craig also gave their positions out.
First to be called safe: Annabel and Johannes, then, Angela…wait for it…and Carlos. First to be under the red lights: Bobby and Dianne. Shirley was SHOCKED, but given that more of the viewing public fancy Nigel, and however motherly you feel towards Bobby, Layton and Ellie have got the young and talented thing all covered. With the same score, Annabel’s dance was more moving, and maybe dancing first was a disadvantage. So, it was deeply unshocking.
Tune reveal for Angela S’s next dance, Claudia brought in the whole audience to try (and fail) to cover her screeching.
Madness (aka no Gloria Estefan) performed a new song. Fortunately three pro couples, starring Graziano and Nadiya and her hair extensions, came along to take most of my attention very nicely.
Claudia repeated her ‘are you all right’ schtick with Craig, who started to enumerate all that he thought was not deserving of a 10 from Ellie’s Charleston. The people getting the sets ready for each dance got a nice spotlight.
Second batch of names, and the producers stopped torturing Ellie and Vito and Layton and Nikita. Nigel deserved to be tortured, but inevitably the red light fell on Angela and Kai who must have been expecting it.
More tunage reveals, more shrieking the songs. I hate to say it, but I’m tired of that.
Dance-off, and Bobby was equally good although I did think they need to focus a bit more on his hands in the next dance – obviously, he had enough to be getting on with just to keep up with the jive. Angela maybe improved, but did they skip the first lift, or did the camera do something different, or was it me? Although Dianne seemed to be suffering, the judges unanimously decided to save her and Bobby (but he’s a marked man now.)
Angela gave an absolutely wonderful speech, and Kai wept. They’ve been a smashing partnership.
no subject
Date: 2023-11-21 04:58 pm (UTC)If you mean Claudia doing that, yes, it is past annoying 🙄
no subject
Date: 2023-11-22 07:46 am (UTC)I missed Nikita sitting in Angela R's lap! How, I don't know.
Oh, there was so much going on, I missed loads.
Claudia was the shrieker in chief, yes. I hope it stops!
no subject
Date: 2023-11-22 12:07 pm (UTC)Oh I agree about that shrieking. Just shut up. It's just Claudia trying to get attention IMO.🙄
no subject
Date: 2023-11-23 07:55 am (UTC)Yes, it was the opening routine for the Sunday show.
I think Claudia finds it fun to do and thinks it's funnier than it is.
no subject
Date: 2023-11-23 11:45 am (UTC)Hopefully Claudia will get over the screeching and move on!😣