In all honesty, I think the BBC had a particular aim in mind when putting her on the panel - I think they wanted someone there whom the audience could relate to (following last year's shenanigans), someone to reflect the 'entertainment' element of the show (vs the technical element, again after last year) and someone who could also offer the contestants a bit of confidence-boosting reassurance. If I go on that assumption, she's doing exactly what they want her to do.
She is undoubtedly too nice on occasion, but equally my view has long been that SCD sometimes misunderstands how important the consideration of feelings can be. And when she does venture into commentary on technical elements, she makes a lot of the same comments as the other judges - the fact she doesn't word them in technical language (thinking about her comments about flyaway arms, for example) probably has some people thinking badly of her, but as that's the same way I am expressing my views at home, it doesn't really bother me (see reason 1 above). It's not like the other judges are providing searing insights through their comments either!
Plus I really didn't like Arlene by the end of the last series, so her not being there is a blessing for me. I'm willing to forgive a lot because of that. Last series just wasn't enjoyable to watch a lot of the time and I want this year to be better!
I'd originally started this post by saying I didn't have particularly strong feelings either way, but as it became clear while I was writing it that actually, I do, I've deleted that bit! :-)
but as that's the same way I am expressing my views at home That's what I don't like actually, if I could say the same thing then why's she getting a huge salary for it? It could be anyone on the panel for that. I wanted her to focus more on general performance and musicality because she is good at that. I wondered if maybe she was a bit nervous knowing people were judging her judging, so to speak. In a way it's good Matthew's gone so early I felt a bit weird when she was commenting on his performance. Maybe she'll relax a bit next week.
It did get a bit annoying last year when someone was really entertaining then the judges got all hung up on the technical aspects. Hopefully she'll even that out a bit.
And I think that's the heart of the issue, really; in general your view of whether she's any good on the panel or not is going to depend on what you want from the panel. Different viewers will want different things (you can please all of the people some of the time etc).
I do think she was nervous on yesterday's show (because she would have known that people would be judging her because of the press coverage/supposed ageism row etc), if not so much tonight, and perhaps when she settles into the role the type of comments she gives will change. It's hard to judge on only two episodes.
It did catch my notice that she called him 'Matt' during the dance off voting when everyone else was all 'Matthew'. Tess did the same immediately afterward. Personally I think it would have been very entertaining if she jumped over the desk, grabbed Martina by the hair and screamed "he's mine!". I think my husband would have enjoyed the catfight as well...
I think it would have been very entertaining if she jumped over the desk, grabbed Martina by the hair and screamed "he's mine!". LOL That would have been hilarious! I noticed she called him "Matt" as well.
It is hard to judge on only two episodes, there's a lot of criticism out there, I lurked on the Strictly forums earlier and it was a bit scary! I think we need to give her a chance.
I've consciously decided to stay out of the wider SCD universe this year because all of the bitching involved inevitably spoils my enjoyment of the show. It's fine here, because the people on my flist who watch the show (like you!) are rational, eloquent in expressing opinions and perfectly comfortable with the idea that someone can have a different view. Eerywhere else, daring to disagree tends to descend into an orgy of moaning, whining, name-calling and trolling. So yeah, I'm staying in an SCD bubble this year, and if that means I end up being the only person on the planet who loves/hates Alesha by the end of the series, so be it!
She is undoubtedly too nice on occasion, but equally my view has long been that SCD sometimes misunderstands how important the consideration of feelings can be. And when she does venture into commentary on technical elements, she makes a lot of the same comments as the other judges - the fact she doesn't word them in technical language (thinking about her comments about flyaway arms, for example) probably has some people thinking badly of her, but as that's the same way I am expressing my views at home, it doesn't really bother me (see reason 1 above). It's not like the other judges are providing searing insights through their comments either!
Plus I really didn't like Arlene by the end of the last series, so her not being there is a blessing for me. I'm willing to forgive a lot because of that. Last series just wasn't enjoyable to watch a lot of the time and I want this year to be better!
I'd originally started this post by saying I didn't have particularly strong feelings either way, but as it became clear while I was writing it that actually, I do, I've deleted that bit! :-)
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That's what I don't like actually, if I could say the same thing then why's she getting a huge salary for it? It could be anyone on the panel for that. I wanted her to focus more on general performance and musicality because she is good at that. I wondered if maybe she was a bit nervous knowing people were judging her judging, so to speak. In a way it's good Matthew's gone so early I felt a bit weird when she was commenting on his performance. Maybe she'll relax a bit next week.
It did get a bit annoying last year when someone was really entertaining then the judges got all hung up on the technical aspects. Hopefully she'll even that out a bit.
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I do think she was nervous on yesterday's show (because she would have known that people would be judging her because of the press coverage/supposed ageism row etc), if not so much tonight, and perhaps when she settles into the role the type of comments she gives will change. It's hard to judge on only two episodes.
It did catch my notice that she called him 'Matt' during the dance off voting when everyone else was all 'Matthew'. Tess did the same immediately afterward. Personally I think it would have been very entertaining if she jumped over the desk, grabbed Martina by the hair and screamed "he's mine!". I think my husband would have enjoyed the catfight as well...
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LOL That would have been hilarious! I noticed she called him "Matt" as well.
It is hard to judge on only two episodes, there's a lot of criticism out there, I lurked on the Strictly forums earlier and it was a bit scary! I think we need to give her a chance.
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