07.51
BBC website (http://www.bbc.co.uk/)
Everything is upside-down. The climate is changing - the economy evaporating and last Saturday the winter prematurely ended.
Let me explain this. Most of us function in rhythms, circles, time loops if you like. You know these things. On Monday you wear your best suit to work, to remind yourself the weekend is over. After a Sunday visit to the inlaws, you plan a boys night out with the guys from the office during that week as you think you deserve something, etc... Little routines that become the beacons in life.
For me the winter season, which I hate with a passion, is over when Strictly come dancing finishes as this is normally in January and the days will slowly start to lengthen again.
Strictly ended Saturday evening for me, as the winner is known now. It's John Sergeant, and by a landslide.
The judges obviously have a problem with the way the results are produced in this show, or rather, with some of the results the public votes produce. They forget that it's their own slag that provokes this. Or perhaps they don't care.
You see that's the problem. Unlike the contestants, they can't be voted off and what's more, they are in a position to judge the performance of people who, in other capacities, are very successful in life. If this does not produce a supersized ego, I don't know what will.
So, in the words of David Mitchell, (who is actually really funny) you get a sixty-some year old political commentator in there, let him compete with an olympic swimming champion, a professional rugby player and others half his age and then slag him off for not being the best dancer. Yeah go on then - great fun!
Then something happens. The public turns against you. Imagine, the nitwits out there, who clearly have no clue about how a hold should look like when performing a tango, keep voting for him, so he won't even be in the dance-off. They've got a cheek. Who're the experts here?
So you react like an insulted child and make nasty remarks. (Come on Len, even you have to admit your comments stink). Of course, you keep saying it's nothing personal, but with a tone like "you should feel guilty for still being here" it can hardly be anything else. As a result, public support almost doubles overnight.
What everybody forgot of course is that you can't be a successful political commentator and journalist if you are clueless about how public opinion works. And John Sergeant may not have been the most technical dancer, he's highly intelligent and a master of his own trade.
In addition, he's hugely popular. And the judges reckoned they could get rid of him just like that. What were they thinking?
John quickly understood that voting behaviour was at least partly meant to punish the smug attitude from the Graigs and Brunos of this world, not to mention the Gran-with-the-one-track-mind. The other part really had to do with his dancing, which was, let's face it, well choreographed and showed that performances can be entertaining. Not in the least because, if one thing became clear, it's that John and Kristina genuinely enjoyed dancing together.
Kristina is beautiful and John a likeable fellow, now who would not vote to see that one more week? The reality was that, although the jury would prevent them from winning, the public would not have them lose. It resulted into a stalemate and tensions began to rise above the normal levels of entertainment.
John's steps may not always have been perfect, his timing was excellent and I don't mean just his rhythm, which was definitely not the worst of his talents. He knew something had to be done in secure to a graceful exit. Stop while you're winning, and leave them hungry.
And what a way to go! A smoothly performed waltz, to underline the romantic element. Lift at the end, to show he can do it, rewarded by a standing ovation from everyone (except the judges but remember, it wasn't personal - as if). To top it off, a gracious speech with just one subtle hint as the key message and her goodbyes in tears, in which she stopped short of saying she loves him. What better prize for a true winner?
Now that's talent!
Off you go Len! But don't worry - you're my favourite!
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