On Bruce and Craig

[danieldwilliam]

Strictly is looking a little like a pantomime this year. More so than usual.

I think Bruce is looking at his last season of Strictly. His timing is poor. I’m genuinely not sure he knows what he’s doing all of the time. His health and ability to compere the show are becoming a bit of story in their own right. An unwelcome distraction. He was in his time an excellent light entertainment host. Even a few years ago he was very good.  I think his time has passed. The man has worked long and hard at his career and I would rather see it end this year whilst he can, just about, still deliver,  rather than see him soldier on a season or so longer and his career end when he pisses himself on live television.

Tess looked more relaxed than I’ve seen her look in a while.

I’m disappoined with Revel-Horward. In the past I’ve respected his opinions and the bluntness with which he delivered them. Usually his critisism is well founded and constructive. If you listened to it and did something about it you improved and he would often notice this and comment on it.

This weekend he seemed viscous and drowned the contestents in a slew of, what appeared to me to be quite technical points. I’m not saying he was wrong, just that he put the boot in and seemed to enjoy doing so. Whilst it is inevitable that on a judging panel one of the judges will be strict and blunt I don’t want the show to revolve around Revel-Horward being nasty to people.

So far, I see a risk that this year the main focus will be whether someone hits Craig before Bruce falls over.

Comments

[danieldwilliam.livejournal.com]

I have no particular need to dislike her. She seems amiable enough even if I don’t warm to her. I don’t require a villan to enhance my enjoyment of the contest.

I’d rather not persuade myself into a dislike of her when what I think is that I’m indifferent towards her.

I think of the five you have put forward as potential winners she’s the least likely to win.

[widgetfox.livejournal.com]

I agree given existing data, but it is very early.

I would not have picked Louis Smith as a winner at this stage in 2012.

[danieldwilliam.livejournal.com]

No - I'd have picked Denise Van Outen.

[widgetfox.livejournal.com]

Yes, at this stage I probably would have as well. Lisa Riley was also still a contender.

[danieldwilliam.livejournal.com]

Yeah – which is perhaps a cautionary tale that early technical quality is not as straightforward to assess as it might appear at first.

Indeed, DVO is also a cautionary tale.

[widgetfox.livejournal.com]

I'm now inclined to look at her as a success story. She did falter early, mostly not due to her own fault, but she kept on like a trouper and she won the votes back and did better than expected. I and many others thought that she'd be out first in the final, as soon as it went straight to audience vote, but we were wrong.

I don't think she could ever have beaten Louis, as soon as he got to the point where the judges were happy with him.

[danieldwilliam.livejournal.com]

I’m trading on a combination of asset classes and relative dancing ability.

I think she’d have to be a markedly better dancer to get over what I think are the limitations in her asset class.

So long as Susanna gets to the final, I’m content.

[widgetfox.livejournal.com]

I think there is a good chance she will.

Right now if I had to pick a winner, I would pick Sophie. I think she and Natalie are in a different class from the rest - Natalie is the better, but not by so much that it shows - and I think she'll get the votes. But there's still a lot to play for. Ashley is very cute and voters will like him.

(Your friend Josh thinks it is hysterical that his sons are called Mason and Buddy, which are the names of the dogs where Marcus and Livs live.)

[danieldwilliam.livejournal.com]

The first dog that MLW was not scared of was called Giant Mason.

I personally would not call my children Mason or Buddy but, on reflection, I can’t think of a good reason not to other than signalling class, educational attainment, aspiration, familial loyalty and certain philosophical and literary alligances.

[widgetfox.livejournal.com]

You will not understand this - only YLW will understand this - but the only possible response to this comment is NO GIANT DOGS IN THE CITY CENTRE.

[danieldwilliam.livejournal.com]

Are they going to interfere with the fire breathing chickens?

[widgetfox.livejournal.com]

No, but the giant wooper swans might be at risk.

[danieldwilliam.livejournal.com]

They usually are.

I hate swans.

[danieldwilliam.livejournal.com]

I agree with your analysis in the main.

Sophie I find has a curious personallity. She appears very personable, witty and charismatic when she engages but she seems quite shy. Not sure how this plays out.

I think Natalie has to be the favourite.

I wonder what the best way to use my votes to help keep Susanna in is.


I have Ashley in the office sweapstake.

[widgetfox.livejournal.com]

I can't gauge relative popularity at this point, although I think we'll get more of a sense of that as time goes on. Ultimately that's going to be the only decider.

I was a bit surprised last year that the Olympian was more popular than the Girls Aloud singer, but maybe I shouldn't have been. I think his musculature was a factor, although that might be unfair.

I agree re Sophie. If it's an act, it's a darn good one.

Popularity - Mechanics

[danieldwilliam.livejournal.com]

My attempts to see inside the black box of the public vote last year were totally unsuccessful. I considered trying again this year but, upon re-opening my analytical spreadsheets remembered what a fool’s errand it was.

I’m wondering if there is any way I can use the efficient market hypothesis to steal someonelse’s ability to see inside or, more likely, their ability to bribe low level BBC staff members.

[danieldwilliam.livejournal.com]

Everyone was on a bit a high after the Olympics.

Thinking about my own voting intentions I imagine his musculature helped.

Is Louis gay? I am carrying a stereotypical but, I think not unfounded, assumption that gay men are more likely to vote than the average citizen.

[widgetfox.livejournal.com]

No, he is heterosexual and endearingly open about his desire for a girlfriend.

[danieldwilliam.livejournal.com]

I wonder where I got the impression that he was gay from. Perhaps I have him confused with someone else.

[danieldwilliam.livejournal.com]

I don’t think it’s an act. I think she’s a bit shy. It is a pattern I have observed often in the performing arts – someone who is shy in standard inter personal interactions but very not shy when on stage.

[widgetfox.livejournal.com]

After a month of jobhunting, my overwhelming conclusion is that I don't understand how anyone survives in the acting industry without a cocaine habit. I adore acting but I have realised I could never have a stage career. I couldn't cope with the rejection.

[danieldwilliam.livejournal.com]

How is MFJ finding Strictly?

[widgetfox.livejournal.com]

Shaky start but he is now thoroughly hooked.

[danieldwilliam.livejournal.com]

Well, that's nice.

[widgetfox.livejournal.com]

I am much relieved.