‘Strictly Come Dancing’ Launch Show And Teams Review By Nathan

How about more sprinkles of Nathan? He’s a hoot as always with his unique UK sense of humor as he reviews the Strictly Come Dancing Launch show and the couples who will be dancing this season. For those watching the show, see if you agree and let us know what you think as always (I love what he said about Gleb & Anita and Tristan & Jamelia. So, I’m good. 😀 ).

Blog 2: The Launch Show
by Nathan

Hello and welcome to my second blog in the series. This week I will be covering the launch show and all the goings on. The way I will structure this is talking about my thoughts on each couple and what I think their projection will be over the course of the series. So without any further ado…

The series started off in spectacular style with all the pros, judges and the presenters getting ready to board the “Strictly Express”. The setting was a quaint 1950s style English village. Fun fact this was set in a county (state) called Essex, a county that boarders London and to the north of my county of Kent. The train in question grabbed a lot of media attention due to the fact that the train was used in a porn movie, but enough of that I think. 🙂 Particular highlights include:- Kevin in the shower (coz hilarious), Kristina reading the latest scandal the Daily Mail have embroiled her in, Pasha polishing his glitter ball trophy (ooo pardon), Natalie just being epic-mazing, Len telling Bruno to shovle the glitter in to the engine (you folks on DWTS are going to miss the codger so much), Darcey being a trolley dolly in a outfit fit for old time porn movies (Oi Nathan, I said enough of the porn talk. *slaps self on the hand*). Anyway, where was I on to the next part of the show….

The Strictly Express arrives at the Red Carpet show filmed the day earlier. This was broadcast on an Interactive Broadcast a few days previous to Saturday, but there was no live feed, so you did not see this. The Celebs and Pros reveal themselves in full splendor to the public. This is when the pros start a Cha-cha-cha to the Jennifer Lopez hit “Let’s Get Loud” on the red carpet. Then by some power of editing and a bit of sci-fi power, BBC also owned Doctor Who. So, it figures. This Cha-cha-cha then more “Cha-chas” into the studio and over 24 hours later to an amazing light show on the famous “Srticly/DWTS arches”. The presenters, Tess and Claude, join in and the “Lets Get Loud” segues into one of the biggest tunes of the year, a song that reigned supreme in the charts all January here in the UK. Next played “Uptown Funk” with Bruno surrounded by the female pros being-well-Bruno really. The female pros (especially Natalie and new Girl Otlile) do a Cha-cha-cha with Len. Darcey pranced around and Craig (boo hiss) does a Charleston (!?) with Kevin and Tristan. Then Joanne and Kristina danced and that was that really.

So on to the couples:

Ainsley and Natalie
I think this is a good partnership. He should be a hoot and she has so much personality and experience. She has danced on SCD and DWTS Australia and has been a Pro for 11 years now. She should be fine. He needs to be able to convey the serious dances though as he does not seem to have a serious bone in him, bless.

Anita and Gleb
Well this is a gear change for Gleb after Adelina Sotnikova. Anita is far from a ringer, but, it is what you do with the unknown that provides the show with the excitement. I think she may be the journey contestant, coming from being all humble to coming out of her shell. And what a better pro to do that than Gleb who is on his fourth version of DWTS more than any pro in the history of the franchise.

Anthony and Oti
Good young pairing. He has a shoulder injury at the moment, though it seems that it might be coming to an end. So, I hope that does not hinder him too much as I think that they have the capability to produce the sexy routines of the series.

Carol and Pasha
So Pasha has had 4 pretty young girls (one of them is his current girlfriend). Pasha has achieved two second places and he won last year. So, this year he goes on full duffer duty ( I swear this is National Service for dancers).

Daniel and Kristina
Hahahahahah enough said really. She is always embroiled in some scandal in taking away other peoples husbands/significant others. She also had a relationship with Corky Ballas I hear. Looking at Daniel, I don’t think that his wife will be having any problems with her allegedly having her wicked game with him. In terms of the dancing, Ballroom will be his forte and he will be quite bad at the Latin, especially Samba I think.

Georgia and Giovanni
Being the new pro always means that you are an unknown quantity. So, I do not know how Giovanni’s choreography will shape up. Georgia being young should mean that she has a high level of quality. Seeing she comes from a stage school like every single actress means that you have done some dance classes. She even admits to the standard Hip-Hop stuff. So I say we will be seeing a lot of this couple and for a few weeks as well. Latin will be the talisman, but, she needs to show a personality as personally I don’t take to people with anodyne personalities.

Helen and Aljaz
Basically rinse and repeat the previous couple, bar the fact that I am more acquainted to his choreography and it is quite good. He is better at the ballroom, but, he is a previous winner so he is not too shabby. I do not know what personality she has as she hasn’t done any interviews. So, this should be interesting.

Iwan and Ola
The award to biggest height difference goes to these two with about 9-10 inches between the two. He seems to be willing to shed the clothes. I do not know whether this is some mask to the fact that he does not think too well of his chances as a dancer, but, she is a previous winner with possibly and the only time ever a semi duffer has won. So, she has form.

Jamelia and Tristan
I think they may be one of the big couples on the show. She reminds me of another winner and a friend of Jamelia’s, Alesha Dixon, so that might be a plus. She also looked great on the launch show and, at last, Tristan has a celeb who is not old or Nancy Grace. So, he better get his best set of choreography out of his closet because he could be in for the longest time in his DWTS/SCD career.

Jay and Aliona
Aliona looked nervous on the launch show, but, I hope she sorts that out. Jay is the biggest ringer in the competition. She is a twice first out, twice finalist including one win. So she has not had the quietist of SCD experiences. She has the most avant garde of choreography. So this couple on paper is only going one way and that is to the final.

Jeremy and Karen
This couple on paper is the first boot. His fan base is unknown and so is hers. She is coming from the back of a finals appearance and, to be honest, I do not know her fan base. But, in terms of levels of excitement, this couple has the lowest. Oh well, moving on now.

Katie and Anton
So he finally has a partner with a hint of capability. His history on the show needs an essay in itself. I will let you YouTube Anton and I will be there later to offer counseling and prescribe brain bleach as some scenes may be shocking and those who are of a sensitive disposition really should not research Anton. In 11 years, he has never reached a final, nor scored a ten. So good luck, Katie.

Kellie and Kevin
His run in good, fit and able. Ladies carry on about him. Kevin is coming off the back of two runner up placing ladies and I do not think that he will win with Kellie. I think she will be good enough and get to Week 9 or 10. I do not think she will go any further although she is currently a leading character in one of the biggest shows on UK TV “EastEnders”. So that may get her so far. Add to the fact that “EastEnders” is a BBC show, so, that may also go to her advantage. So, she may surprise me.

Kirsty and Brendan
She is the token “For the Dadz” celeb. She is like Erin as she is a sports news presenter who has a large straight male following. Even though they may not vote by habit, they may vote for her. She is giving me good vibes and I like Brendan and I like her …so, this couple may be in for a long time. Ballroom may be the strong point as he is the best at choreographing Ballroom. There is hope there.

Peter and Janette
To me they are my pick to win the trophy come December. He is a notorious media whore and there are people who do not like him, but, there are tons of people who do. Janette, despite not being the best pro at Ballroom, is the best Latin dancer and she is very exciting to watch. Her Salsa and Samba with her partner last year are iconic. Her Salsa achieved a 35/40 in Week 2 ….one of the highest scores ever at Week 2. She is also the most diverse of pros as those who followed her on SYTYCD know she is fantastic at Disco, Jazz, Hip Hop and Argentine Tango. So, if they get to the final their Freestyle may be something.

Back to the Launch show…
During this process of what can be seen as arranged marriage, there was a pro number where the new pros were showcased in a Paso Doble. Gleb said his super power is international experience. There were guest performances via clothing enigma Gregory Porter and 6 time number 1 selling artist, Jess Glynne. Those were fairly under script. I won’t waste my time covering the musical things during the whole series. Word to the wise: there are no commercial/toilet breaks on the BBC, so, during musical performances I suggest you go to the loo/get a drink during as most of them are boring.

The show ended with the big celeb/pro performance. Celebs that stood out were Jamelia, Peter, Helen, Katie and Kellie in a good way. Ainsley, Jay, Anita, Kirsty and Iwan were middle and everybody else can claim their 11-15th positions.

After nearly TWO THOUSAND WORDS I will end it here. I hope you enjoyed this blog and I will join you lot with DWTS. Next week, I will reveal the best and worst performances in each dance style on SCD. KEEEEEEEEEEP DANCING!!

Next Shows
Friday, 25th September
9pm BST, 4 ET, 3CT, 2 MT, 1 ET
Saturday, 26th September
Times not known yet.