...and I'm not ashamed!

Anyone else watching it this time around?

Was sad to see Spoony go

My top bets so far - Mark Ramprakash (my word, he's coming out of his shell ), Emma Bunton (with the delightful Darren ), and Louisa wotsherface did a great jive on Saturday (though I find her partner SO annoying!). Couple of other ones with potential but those are my favourites so far.

Anyone else as sad as me?

We're watching it, Sarah. We were amazed at Spoony going - the other couples must have gained sympathy votes after the judges slated them so much!

I watched it last time but have yet to get into it this time.

That's what I hate about these kinda programmes! Fair enough to get expert judges along to judge them... But the competition isn't a fair representation if the public gets to vote as well... How many people just think "Oh, he's got nice hair, I'll vote for him!" or "She's really good-looking - I'm gonna vote for her!" or similar?

The public (including myself!) are NOT experts... How many of the viewers knew what to look for in a Jive or a Tango? Probably not many... And yet they get get to vote for who stays... Meaning that the system is not at all meritocratic, and it becomes less of a dance competition and more of a competition to "win the people's hearts" by whatever means!

These are exactly my thoughts.

It would be a totally different programme, and not nearly as interesting, if the public did not get a say in the matter. It's a shame in a way that it means people like Spoony get knocked out (he'll be missed ) but I bet the ratings would not be nearly so high/it would not interest nearly so many people if the public vote wasn't included, and more importantly, there would be no revenue for CIN.

I think Spoony fell foul of the middle ground: he did well and got reasonable marks, so people assumed he was safe. Jan and Georgina got bad marks and the sympathy votes/people voting on personality and fame.

Personally I'm not sure whether G got many marks on personality... - but she's blonde with long legs, and she was slated by the judges. That was enough to drag her up to the second-last place. Though, let's face it, it only brought her up one notch, which suggests she doesn't have THAT much support.

I haven't watched the whole of last weeks show, I have it recorded and I've been really budy, but I was so sad to see Spoony go!! I thought that because Jimmy left they wouldn't chuck anyone out this week but maybe they'll do it another week. Georgina gets on my nerves so much, I hope she's feeling really guilty nos two better dancers than her have gone out instead of her. And Jan won't go out for a while unless she does really badly because of Anton, you've gotta love him
I thin Mark and Karen should win, Marks a great dancer and I really like Karen, she has a great personality and I love her choreography.

I agree on Mark and Karen - I'd love to see him at least get to the final. I think he has the potential. And I think both he and Karen seem just lovely people

I read somewhere that it's been suggested they may do a "vote your favourite couple back in" thing later in the series, but I don't know if that's true. I think they probably feel that someone has to either come back or go out to keep the tension up.

Yeah, that's a point, or they could just have two in the final like the first series... I've been looking at the Digital Spy SCD forums and thinking how sad everyone on there is... then realised that really I'm just as obsessed...

It's too early to tell who's going to win yet. Some of the boys haven't tried latin yet. Spoony was no way the weakest, infact all the Tango's were reasonable.

I thought the girls were all weak at the Jive. Where was the bounce? Georgina was particularly poor. I know they're amatures with a limited time to learn a routine but their partners should have ensured they got such an important basic right. It's like playing a Grade 5 piece with out the technical expertise to pass Grade 1!

spoony definately did not diserve to go. Was unexpected as well.

Im supporting Emma Bunton, whilst all others around me are busy supporting Peter Schmeichal. (Thats not how you spell it)

Well said. She was bad! By the look on her face, though, she knew it, and was horrified that she was saved instead of Spoony.

We watch it here too. My wife even watches the BBC 2 programme most weekday evenings. We watch the repeat of X factor on a Sunday afternoon.

I'll be interested in how the powers-that-be sort out the wrong number of weeks left, now that Jimmy has left prematurely.

But I Looove Vincent!!!

But then I've never seen him actually do a whole dance!

I just find his accent really irritating - I'm sure he can't help it, but a thick Italian accent with a lisp just sounds like he's extracting the michael!

"I will show them la pathione".....

Never heard him speak either...its just his eyes...

I'll get over it.

eyes-wise - I'll heartily recommend Darren Bennett and Mark Ramprakash - gorgeous eyes, both of them

I was watching the BBC 2 tonight, Jan was also really bad last week. too many mistakes! I really didn't like what she was wearing either.

Did anyone see him on ITT last night??

I don't think Jan will go out for a while with Anton as a partner, I expect they probably get as many votes for him as her!!

Yes, Anton has a mahussive fan base!

Yes, I saw Vincent last night. He's... an interesting character.........!

I enjoyed the training clips

You could say that...

Did you notice how much more the men have trained than the women?? And it really amazed me that Louisa and Vincent only did 7 hours training and came up with something like that, although I don't think it quite deserved a 10...

Yes - my guess is partly that the men have to lead and so it takes more practice - especially for ballroom - to get (or attempt to get) good enough to be leading a professional. Also I think it reflects (in some cases) on the different professions - ie Mark and Matt are somewhat in their off-seasons, whereas the actresses won't stop, and simply have less time. It takes some dedication to put in the hours when you've got a lot on, although of course celebs have pulled out all the stops in previous years.

I don't know for sure, but I'd be surprised if Lousia and Vincent hadn't done some work on their Jive routine before this week: after all, they were dancing together for 4 weeks before the show even started. & I'd be most surprised if she wasn't practising as much she could on her own while Vincent was injured, though obviously that's not at all the same! Plus she has had some relevant dance experience to a jive routine, as opposed to basically little or nothing that would really be applicable to straight ballroom. (Yup, I'm becoming an anorak...) - still, I think they did exceptionally well on very little practice and it was impressive, though I think Bruno's 10 was more a reflection of him having given Darren and Emma 9 despite the mistake than of Louisa's dancing being perfect.

She's no Jill Halfpenny, (yet...) BUT, she did do very well - hers was the only routine I saw live on Saturday and I was very impressed.

one of my friends saw the whole second show live...if only it was me!

Oh I'm envious! I'd love to see it live.

Yeah I know, I'm a sad case - and I don't care!

It's quite interesting looking at the professional dancers own websites too.

Yes

Ridiculously excited about the Paso Doble this evening

Oh yes, gotta be one of my favourite dances
And Ray and Mark are using the cape, should be interesting!! WEll, as long as it actually is a cape, not like that silly little thing Dennis was using last series

From what I understand (SCD anorak that I am), Ray is using a proper cape similar to James' from last year - and *apparently*, Mark will have a matador sheet which, I am informed by those better versed than I, is one of the really huge dramatic things like wotshisface Killick had a couple of years back...

So, all being well it should be exciting and no stupid red hankies like Dennis last year!

Horror of Horrors! I missed Emma B dance!

My sis is horrified the Peter S is bottom of the judges Score!

Brendan was so rude tonight. He should have gone!

I'm glad Anton and Jan are still in, though they stand no chance of winning.

Did you think that Brendan was right in what he said though? Even though it was rude? Are the judges inconsistent? Does it matter? Len made the point that they all come from different backgrounds and look for different things, but even so they often contradict each other and sometimes seem to get quite annoyed and frustrated with each other!

And the right couple went out this evening... IMHO

Ok he's an arrogant ******* but i agree. I mean one week they tell him off for beign bad and the next they tell him of for being a good boy. Damn he's hot x lol x

So who went.

l went out to a concert so missed the end of the show and the voting

Georgina went out (PHEW!)

I haven't seen any of it yet, except for grainy pics on the website, but apparently Mark and Karen were fabulous. (35)

Thanks...I saw Mark and Karen, and yes they were good. Especially that shirt (or lack off) Mark was wearing

Yup, you should read the reaction to that shirt on the SCD forum.........

He should be afraid

Word is that Carol did a pretty good foxtrot, Louisa was disappointing, Brendon threw a paddy, UM, Emma was OK, Claire was OK, Ray was pretty good, *thinks* OK that's all I can think of atm.

I HOPE to see the programme sometime in the next couple of days!

Yeah that's pretty much it... I have to agree with Brendan. I think he was valid in what he said and I think and important part of the show is that, even if they mouth off at them, both the celebrities and dancers respect the judges and their marking. If things like this happen then the judges will lose their respect and then it really will just turn into a popularity contest by the public.
I'm glad Jan and Anton are still in aswell, they're such a laugh and poor Jan looked so worried last night!!
I missed Emma's dance aswell, I was on the phone to a very hyper and excited friend of mine at the thought she might be getting a puppy.
I thought Mark and Karen were great, shame they got out with the cape work at the beginning, when they were together it looked really good. But I have to say, what was Karen wearing??

I'm dying to see this cape stuff - I still haven't!

Yeah although I don't know if Brendan said what he said in the wisest fashion, from what I have heard the marks were all over the shop last night. It is a shame and will only exacerbate the whole sympathy votes problem.

I gather that Len and Arlene both had a go at him and said he should be out because of it, which is very unprofessional, and it's the celebs' dancing that should matter, not the pros' opinions.

The general consensus re Karen's costume seems to be divided between "Her dress was horrible" and "I didn't notice, I was too busy looking at Mark"

LOL!

I'm glad Peter and Errin didn't go... Despite a poor performance this time, he has demonstrated previously that he's got something - for instance, their tango was excellent...

I thought that the best were Mark & Karen and Ray & Camilla... Carol's was good too, though...

And yes - the right couple (or "coople" - Tess) did go this time around!

Yeah. Did you see how upset Camilla was ome some backstage footage they showed in the results show? She was really worried that they'd go out because of the marks the judges gave.
Also, on the subject of Mark and Karen, did anyone else see the silent movie thing they did on ITT? With Arlene going "I lose all perspective when I see you dance" and then Karen going "He's mine!!". Karen said she's never cry on the shw but she had tears of laughter after watching that...

I haven't seen the main show yet, never mind the results

I'd've preferred to see more training footage, but that WAS funny

Especially:

Karen: he's mine!
Arlene: we'll see about that!

Yeah... It must be great working on ITT, some of the stuff they come up with...

Yup, Claudia's a total nutcase... I bet it would be fun

I finally got to see the performances from Saturday.

I have to say, wow, what a paso doble from Mark and Karen! Fantastic!

Yeah I know... And they're doing salsa next week

So I've heard

I never get to see it as I'm either watching X factor or am out at friends' birthday parties!

You should watch it!

Not that I'm biased...........

I do love it but always forget! I should catch up in the week with the 'It Takes Two' shows but then I'm usually watching Home and Away!!
I'll get back into it hopefully.