Quality is it just not the American Thing?

[+ purplekow]

Spoiler alert.....winner of DWTS will be mentioned.

 

 

I do not regularly watch Dancing with the Stars. Toward the end though, when the "stars" have become proficient, I enjoy watching bits and pieces of the show. Tonight was the finale and there were four couples left. Three of the "stars" which includes an internet personality, one of the secondary child actors from Harry Potter, a Disney teen were quite good. Two of the teams received 10 's on all six grades and the other had one set of all 10 and the other set of 9. There was a likable radio disc jockey whose dancing talents were pedestrian at best. He had a pleasing personality and he seemed to have built a fan base based on persona rather than talent. As a result, Bobby Bones, won dancing with the Stars despite having considerably less proficiency in dance.

It seems that this is symptomatic of America, all flash and little substance seems to win the day more often then not.

Anyone else watch the show?

Anyone else feel that this result represents a larger trend in the US?

 

This second question is the one that led to my posting here rather than in entertainment.

[+ sync]

It seems that this is symptomatic of America, all flash and little substance seems to win the day more often then not.

Anyone else feel that this result represents a larger trend in the US?

 

Have you noticed what made its way into the Oval Office?

[+ Pensant]

Well, if you think this is unique to America, then don’t go and buy a new generation Mercedes or BMW...you’ll be disappointed.

 

As to the show DWTS, I’d note that it is one of those “brain candy” shows...you’re getting what you tuned in for. I’ve never watched it...but I understand many people really enjoy it.

 

But since your final two sentences appear to be an admission that the show is just a stalking horse to a political discussion (a chance seized upon by @sync), I’ll simply limit my response to Mercedes and BMW and the apolitical caveat emptor that accompanies their ownership.

Audi owner here. I see you omitted Audi!

[gallahadesquire]

Well, if you think this is unique to America, then don’t go and buy a new generation Mercedes or BMW...you’ll be disappointed.

 

As to the show DWTS, I’d note that it is one of those “brain candy” shows...you’re getting what you tuned in for. I’ve never watched it...but I understand many people really enjoy it.

 

But since your final two sentences appear to be an admission that the show is just a stalking horse to a political discussion (a chance seized upon by @sync), I’ll simply limit my response to Mercedes and BMW and the apolitical caveat emptor that accompanies their ownership.

 

Audi owner here. I see you omitted Audi!

 

The local main East–West road in town has (eastbound) Kia, Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Lincoln, Mazda, Lexus, Honda, Ford, Nissan …… in a two mile stretch.

 

I opted for an Audi Q7 to replace my Lexus. A significant difference in philosophy. Very interesting.

[+ Pensant]

I moved to an SQ5 from a Lexus. I found the Lexus boring.

[+ sam.fitzpatrick]

Anyone else watch the show?

Anyone else feel that this result represents a larger trend in the US?

 

I taped most of the season and watched the finale late last night. For the first time I felt the show was rigged.

 

(1) All four routines received perfect scores for their second dance. No way that the winner's routine was on par with the other dances. As value of the judges' scores are represented as a percentage of the total scores for all teams. As a result, this improved the score for the eventual winner compared to the other dancers.

(2) The fan voting was real time and thus only available to the audiences watching the show live. I suspect that the eventual winner's fan base is skewed to those time zones and thus it helped him more than his competitors. I wonder if the fan voting would have had the same result if the standard overnight voting was allowed with a results show the next night as in many of the past seasons.

[+ purplekow]

I taped most of the season and watched the finale late last night. For the first time I felt the show was rigged.

 

(1) All four routines received perfect scores for their second dance. No way that the winner's routine was on par with the other dances. As value of the judges' scores are represented as a percentage of the total scores for all teams. As a result, this improved the score for the eventual winner compared to the other dancers.

(2) The fan voting was real time and thus only available to the audiences watching the show live. I suspect that the eventual winner's fan base is skewed to those time zones and thus it helped him more than his competitors. I wonder if the fan voting would have had the same result if the standard overnight voting was allowed with a results show the next night as in many of the past seasons.

I do not know if the show is rigged but the judge's score tend to skew to higher values as the season progresses. As the judge's seem loathe to give a score less than 5 no matter the quality of the dance or the point in the season, the leeway for judge's votes is quite limited. However, those with a large fan base, as I understand Bobby Bones has though I had never heard of him before this show, are at a large advantage over contestants like Evanna, who was at best a third tier character in Harry Potter movies. Bobby received 24 and then an inflated 30 which comes to 54. Compared to Evannas 60. That 10% difference in score is easily overcome with a dedicated fan base. I believe judge's scores are 50% and audience 50%.

Now if Bobbhy's scores would have been more in line with the scoring of others, 21 for the first dance, 24 for the second, that 45 and 25 differential would have likely turned the decision in another direction.

I believe the Manhiem young man came in second. His was a Disney based fan base and young girls tend to vote more so he at least stood a chance.

[paulsf]

It was the huge fan base that created the difference. Elvis Duran is a good friend of his. He pushed Bobboy every day on his morning radio show. Telling all his listeners to vote for Bobby. Between Bobby and Elvis radio shows has to be millions of potential votes.

[+ sam.fitzpatrick]

I do not know if the show is rigged but the judge's score tend to skew to higher values as the season progresses. As the judge's seem loathe to give a score less than 5 no matter the quality of the dance or the point in the season, the leeway for judge's votes is quite limited. However, those with a large fan base, as I understand Bobby Bones has though I had never heard of him before this show, are at a large advantage over contestants like Evanna, who was at best a third tier character in Harry Potter movies. Bobby received 24 and then an inflated 30 which comes to 54. Compared to Evannas 60. That 10% difference in score is easily overcome with a dedicated fan base. I believe judge's scores are 50% and audience 50%.

Now if Bobbhy's scores would have been more in line with the scoring of others, 21 for the first dance, 24 for the second, that 45 and 25 differential would have likely turned the decision in another direction.

I believe the Manhiem young man came in second. His was a Disney based fan base and young girls tend to vote more so he at least stood a chance.

 

Despite my concerns about it being potentially rigged, I have to admit I was pleased to see Sharna finally win.