BR
So the live shows kicked off tonight - and so much of it is wrong - and that's before we even consider the performances.
As I said from week 1, the judges are killing this show - but Brian Friedman might just about be saving it. He's the only one who seems interested in performing the role. David Ian is OK, but Gest just wants to take over and create conflict between the judges, while Sinitta isn't that convincing.
The set isn't brilliant - the doors don't seem to open wide enough to let the couples out, and it's all a bit disjointed. Also, what's the fascination with black stages lately - they just don't look that good on TV!
I personally quite like Zoe Ball, but I'd rate her as a second choice host overall - if you could get someone better, you would! Holly Willoughby is doing a much better job on ITV2 and should have been given the main gig IMO.
And the format overall - don't know if they're in these couples for good or if they'll mix them about each week, but as they'll always be couples where one is stronger than the other, eliminating them as a pair will backfire at some point.
There is a simple solution - as with all these shows nowadays once the viewers have voted when we get to the final two the judges will decide which couple goes.
I think at this stage they'd be better off voting out the Danny and Sandy seperately - rather than a specific couple, which from what I understand is the plan.
P.S. Performances wise they are now playing catch up with Joseph, where vocally and performance wise they are streets ahead - Grease seem to be going more on the dancing this week at least.
As I said from week 1, the judges are killing this show - but Brian Friedman might just about be saving it. He's the only one who seems interested in performing the role. David Ian is OK, but Gest just wants to take over and create conflict between the judges, while Sinitta isn't that convincing.
The set isn't brilliant - the doors don't seem to open wide enough to let the couples out, and it's all a bit disjointed. Also, what's the fascination with black stages lately - they just don't look that good on TV!
I personally quite like Zoe Ball, but I'd rate her as a second choice host overall - if you could get someone better, you would! Holly Willoughby is doing a much better job on ITV2 and should have been given the main gig IMO.
And the format overall - don't know if they're in these couples for good or if they'll mix them about each week, but as they'll always be couples where one is stronger than the other, eliminating them as a pair will backfire at some point.
There is a simple solution - as with all these shows nowadays once the viewers have voted when we get to the final two the judges will decide which couple goes.
I think at this stage they'd be better off voting out the Danny and Sandy seperately - rather than a specific couple, which from what I understand is the plan.
P.S. Performances wise they are now playing catch up with Joseph, where vocally and performance wise they are streets ahead - Grease seem to be going more on the dancing this week at least.
PR
The programme was excellent tonight. Most of the performances were top notch, dancing & singing. However a couple of the couples still need vocal work.
The stage is spectacular, same for the lighting. They pulled out all the stops and it looked great when the couples were performing.
I'm not sure I like Zoe Ball presenting this show, she is better on Soapstar Superstar etc.
With the show finishing about 7minutes early, I turned over to ITV2, where 'Greased Lightin' started earlier than billed and wow Holly is great on it! She's really into the role.
They were having a bit of sound problems at the start of 'Greased Lightin'. Overall the show was good!
The stage is spectacular, same for the lighting. They pulled out all the stops and it looked great when the couples were performing.
I'm not sure I like Zoe Ball presenting this show, she is better on Soapstar Superstar etc.
With the show finishing about 7minutes early, I turned over to ITV2, where 'Greased Lightin' started earlier than billed and wow Holly is great on it! She's really into the role.
They were having a bit of sound problems at the start of 'Greased Lightin'. Overall the show was good!
JE
Jez
Founding member
The first live show was good, but I cant seem to be as enthusiastic about this show as I am about The X Factor.
Zoe Ball is a good host IMO.
Its all very well for the judges to say the public need to get it right but thats the danger in letting the public decide the outcome in these type of shows - often the best acts dont win. However I would have thought all 8 couples were good enough to take on the roles as otherwise they wouldnt have been put through to the live shows.
As for the bottom 2 tonight, I actually preferred the couple who were sent home.
Zoe Ball is a good host IMO.
Its all very well for the judges to say the public need to get it right but thats the danger in letting the public decide the outcome in these type of shows - often the best acts dont win. However I would have thought all 8 couples were good enough to take on the roles as otherwise they wouldnt have been put through to the live shows.
As for the bottom 2 tonight, I actually preferred the couple who were sent home.
BR
Same here Jez - I'd have put them near the top of the board today.
That's the problem when you use the voting audience to cast a role - it's quite different to allowing them to choose their favourite singer etc.
I want to say you shouldn't compare it to The X Factor, but it's inevitable considering it's set up to be virtually The Grease Factor.
Couple more comments on the show - firstly, noticed in the first they dropped an ad break - usually a 90-minute show would be divided into 5 parts, but they divided into just 4 which meant the whole thing flowed a bit better.
The results show could have done with another group performances to be honest - and when the started doing the Last Dance I thought for a minute they might announce the results in quite an innovative way, with Zoe going around tapping the couples on the shoulders and asking them to leave the dancefloor until the bottom two remained - but no, they quickly reverted to the usual format.
And even if it may be grammatically correct, it still bugs me that they announce "The first couple through is ..." rather than "are" - which too me sounds much better.
I think though they could have done with a vote free show to allow the couples to judge the couples on more than just the one song - perhaps extending the second show into a full edition to include a second performance from each couple as well before revealing the results.
That's the problem when you use the voting audience to cast a role - it's quite different to allowing them to choose their favourite singer etc.
I want to say you shouldn't compare it to The X Factor, but it's inevitable considering it's set up to be virtually The Grease Factor.
Couple more comments on the show - firstly, noticed in the first they dropped an ad break - usually a 90-minute show would be divided into 5 parts, but they divided into just 4 which meant the whole thing flowed a bit better.
The results show could have done with another group performances to be honest - and when the started doing the Last Dance I thought for a minute they might announce the results in quite an innovative way, with Zoe going around tapping the couples on the shoulders and asking them to leave the dancefloor until the bottom two remained - but no, they quickly reverted to the usual format.
And even if it may be grammatically correct, it still bugs me that they announce "The first couple through is ..." rather than "are" - which too me sounds much better.
I think though they could have done with a vote free show to allow the couples to judge the couples on more than just the one song - perhaps extending the second show into a full edition to include a second performance from each couple as well before revealing the results.
JE
Jez
Founding member
Well im not really compairing it to the X Factor, im just not as enthusiatic about this show as I am about the X Factor live shows. But while we are on the subject It is almost the same format right down to the bottom 2 performing again and the judges deciding who goes home.
A shame they only get to perform as Danny and Sandy in the results show, but I guess it would be boring if each couple did the same song from Grease one after each other in the earlier show.
I really like Zoe Ball as host - she was great on Soapstar Superstar, a shame really she isnt hosting the X Factor.
A shame they only get to perform as Danny and Sandy in the results show, but I guess it would be boring if each couple did the same song from Grease one after each other in the earlier show.
I really like Zoe Ball as host - she was great on Soapstar Superstar, a shame really she isnt hosting the X Factor.
JR
I saw last night's programme, and it is
banal
. Poor judges, poor host, and the quality of the performance was ignored in favour of the 'chemistry' going on between members of each couple. And as for what Andrew Tyne Tees said about the studio, I have to totally disagree - it's dull, boring, too large, unimaginative and overall quite naff. It reminds me of a lecture theatre in a university... 
BR
Well, not this one as it is from Mr Cowell - though he wasn't credited at all as far as I could see.
I don't like the studio either - but I was thinking it seemed too small!
:
Primetime TV posted:
Will Kate Thornton be hosting similar formats to the X Factor on ITV?
Well, not this one as it is from Mr Cowell - though he wasn't credited at all as far as I could see.
jrothwell97 posted:
And as for what Andrew Tyne Tees said about the studio, I have to totally disagree - it's dull, boring, too large, unimaginative and overall quite naff.
I don't like the studio either - but I was thinking it seemed too small!
:
JE
But the chemistry between the couples is part of it - if there isnt any chemistry between the couples it doesnt matter how well they can sing and dance as it wont work.
The studio is ok but ive seen better.
Jez
Founding member
jrothwell97 posted:
I saw last night's programme, and it is
banal
. Poor judges, poor host, and the quality of the performance was ignored in favour of the 'chemistry' going on between members of each couple. And as for what Andrew Tyne Tees said about the studio, I have to totally disagree - it's dull, boring, too large, unimaginative and overall quite naff. It reminds me of a lecture theatre in a university...
But the chemistry between the couples is part of it - if there isnt any chemistry between the couples it doesnt matter how well they can sing and dance as it wont work.
The studio is ok but ive seen better.