Eurovision 2019

This, for me, just pips Sweden's two efforts. Nine years on this still gives me chills.

Yes - a very different take that really worked for Oslo in 2010. Really freshened up the contest - and removed the need to rehearse a complex interval act from the live stage schedule.

I have a very soft spot for the 2010 contest. NRK did an outstanding job - and the hosts were great (with an Edward af Sillén script...)

On the subject of Edward, do we know if he's written the script for Friday? Or is he back on the Melodifestivalen team?

He was responsible for the Mello interval act on Saturday (the medley of Israeli entries - with Sarah Dawn Finer as Netta)

I was gonna say - that had him writ large all over it!

Nice idea, shame about the God awful generic song.

Looks like SBS showing the BBC how it's done again with Australias first ever selection show.


https://tvtonight.com.au/2019/02/stage-set-for-eurovision-battle.html

Thunder and lightning, it’s getting exciting....

Sergey Lazarev has been chosen by broadcaster RTR to represent Russia at the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest in Tel Aviv! #DareToDream #Eurovision pic.twitter.com/82EsUiysSN

— Eurovision Song Contest (@Eurovision) February 7, 2019

He also (co)wrote the script. Here’s one of his gems:

The hosts are mentioning that Marika Carlsson has won the Swedish Female Comedian of the Year Award twice. "Oh, this must have been when Petra Mede was on sick leave?" Sarah comments. #Melfest

— Melodifestivalen (@SVTmelfest) February 2, 2019

Also:

Sarah jokes that hosting Melodifestivalen is a great honour – and if you do it very well, you can get promoted to getting hired for TV4. (Cause moving to that channel is what happened for Gina Dirawi.) #Melfest

— Melodifestivalen (@SVTmelfest) February 2, 2019

Petra Mede is also now of course on TV4!! Lol

A word for the #100DaystoEurovision SocMed event, some of the official feed's special features have in the past been a bit crass (notably their attempts to continue interest after the contest is over in convoluted ways) but today's effort has been fun and very worthwhile.

A repeat 50 Days out once all the competitors are known wouldn't be a bad move to run.

To be fair, even if we won, would the BBC actually do a good job of staging the modern Eurovision? Many would think they're one of the few HBs who could meet the Gold Standard set by SVT, but I wonder if they would.

The BBC just don't make these sort of shows as a matter of course now. There isn't anyone of the standard of, say, Michael Hurll who would know how to make it look good. You'll see it tonight - it'll lack the finesse and polish that other National Finals do, and if you go to last year's thread you'll see the same opinions about Brighton.

We're not exactly going to see Mans and Mel sending up previous Israeli winners whilst Holly Tandy sings under a rain shower, let's be honest.

I'm kind of glad I'm missing it as I have theatre tickets to a show locally.

Thus ruling her out of a third hosting turn if Sweden win again soon. That said, methinks Sarah Dawn Finer deserves the gig.