In one of the most dramatic episodes ever of
Strictly Come Dancing last night (6 November 2008),
Isidingo star
Hlubi Mboya became a sacrificial lamb to the bloodthirsty hordes who have adopted Blogzilla - also known as
Gugu Zulu - as one of their own on TVSA.
Hosts
Sandy Ngema and
Ian von Memerty, the entire panel of judges and Hlubi herself were dumbfounded after she was ejected from the show after being placed in the bottom two after viewer voting and losing the dance-off to
Tessa van Duuren.
None were more surprised than Gugu himself, however, whose shocked expression of disbelief at being told he was safe told the whole story.
It was a bitter pill for Hlubi to swallow, having consistently been safe in previous weeks. She is clearly a better dancer than Gugu, but the episode serves as a timely reminder to contestants that the show is based on two factors: talent and popularity.
It's weighted in favour of popularity, however, as Hlubi's demise proves.
What made the episode even more peculiar, however, was the obvious, pointed outpouring of anger by first the judges and later Ian and particularly Sandy.
Clearly they all felt Hlubi should have stayed, but why the massive prejudice againt Gugu? None of them complained about
Die Nutsman winning Season 2, despite the fact that
Tamara Dey was
clearly the best dancer and
Riaan couldn't dance his way out of a paper bag.
On to the show - when the judges’ scores and viewer votes were tallied, Hlubi and partner
Khutso Khunou came head-to-head with Tessa and dance partner
Grant Esterhuizen in the dreaded dance-off.
Tessa has been a top scorer through the series and managed to achieve the third highest score from the judges. But viewers and their votes were obviously not there for Hlubi or Tessa.
Gugu's racing fans and colleagues and the TVSA AmaBloggaz mobilised to keep their fave speed freak out of the hot water, after a massive surge in the past week to keep Gugu in the competition.
Numerous AmaBloggaz put their hands up after the surprise eviction, claiming to have voted this week. Those are the ones who were heard - TVSA members who actually post comments on the blogs make up less than 1% of all blog readers.
The silent majority, propping up the vocal minority, who in turn influence the slient majority. It's a circular thing. Can make your head spin.
Viewers’ votes account for 50% of the final scores. As per usual, when judges’ scores and viewer votes were tallied, the two couples with the lowest combined scores had to perform their routines again during a dance-off.
The judges’ scores (before viewer votes were added) were as follows:
Rob van Vuuren and Mary Martin: 32
Garth Collins and Hayley Bennett: 28
Anele Mdoda and Brandon Eilers Le Riche: 28
Tessa van Duuren and Grant Esterhuizen: 27
Cindy Nell and Jonathan Broadway: 27
Hlubi Mboya and Khutso Khunou: 26
Gugu Zulu and Sarah Cooper: 23
This means they had the following points after the judges' votes:
Rob and Mary: 7
Garth and Hayley: 6
Anele and Brandon: 6
Tessa and Grant: 4
Cindy and Jonathan: 4
Hlubi and Khutso: 2
Gugu and Sarah: 1
There are numerous ways in which the viewer voting could have panned out, but from those scores we can deduce that if Tessa had the least viewer votes she would have had 5 points in total after both rounds.
Gugu would have had to have scored at least 5 points from the viewer round of voting to beat her, which means at the very least he had the third most viewer votes. In all likelihood it was higher than that.
After the dance-off, the judges were forced to elect either Hlubi or Tessa to leave, which they clearly found a highly distasteful exercise (in much the same way as
So You Think You Can Dance SA head judge - and ex-SCD dancer -
Harold van Buuren berated South Africa for
forcing him to send popular dancer
Megan home).
Here's who the judges voted to save:
Tyrone Watkins: Tessa
Salome Sechele: Hlubi
Dave Campbell: Tessa
Head Judge
Lilian Phororo also vouched for Tessa, immediately extinguishing Hlubi's spotlight.
All couples performed the Samba – that festive dance, inspired by the sexy moves in the streets during the Rio Carnival. Think lots of sensual hip action, energy, fire and passion.
The couple that managed to stay in the competition after surviving the dance-off in both the previous episodes, Gugu and
Sarah Cooper, opened the floor dressed in party outfits of striking yellow and shocking pink.
These two get on like a house on fire, and it was clear that – despite the challenges the style involves – they enjoyed themselves like anyone would at a real street carnival.
Salome thought their performance rocked and that Gugu's two left feet were slowly but surely coming to terms with the ballroom floor. Lillian was disappointed that he seemed to run out of fuel and also that they appeared a bit under-rehearsed.
Timing remains an issue for Blogzilla.
Tessa and Grant gave the Samba a Wild West-theme, something that would prove a dodgy decision in the long run. Dave commented that she seemed to have one foot in Rio and one in Texas, and that they clearly disrespected the character of the dance.
All judges agreed that, once again, she was the belle of the ball. It certainly wasn't a Bottom 2 performance.
Dazzling in a yellow mini dress, Hlubi - all smiles and with fabulous glittery make-up - presented a competent routine alongside dance partner Khutso Khunou.
Tyrone complimented their choice of music, but found all the shaking a bit much. He thought their performance lacked quality and that her spine didn’t work at all.
For all Dave cared, Hlubi could have “shaken herself into a coma”. He noticed small technical faults and was delighted with the freshness she brings to the stage.
Lilian enjoyed her good arms and suggested work “on taking her lines right through her body”.
After last week’s disappointing Foxtrot,
Rob van Vuuren and
Mary Martin were obviously more determined than ever to not play safe and gave the judges a brave, daring routine.
With a performance full of lifts and delightful gymnastics, they managed to even get Tyrone to feel their contagious energy.
Lilian was once again impressed with his 100% commitment. Dave reminded the couples that the lifts are not essential and in actual fact something that get them penalised.
Aah, Dave. Dave, Dave, Dave. You may penalise lifts, but the public votes for them - and based on tonight's show we know whose vote we'd opt for.
Cindy Nell and
Jonathan Broadway have obviously won their war against the judges, but she was once again out of time and criticised for not including enough hip action, typical of the Samba.
Salome pleaded for her to stretch herself even further during this competition, but also said that their simplistic routine and her feathery pink outfit was a crafty choice that succeeded in masking their mistakes.
Gotta admit it - the girl looks good.
Wearing the night’s most unusual costumes,
Garth Collins and
Hayley Bennett delivered the night’s most entertaining performance, although judges found it hard to spot any Samba in their routine.
HHP (who conquered
Season 3 at Hayley’s side) made a surprise appearance, providing the soundtrack to their colourful performance.
Garth lacked the required knee action (possibly as a result of a problematic injury, possibly because of
burning his right leg and foot with a kettle of boiling water), but did succeed in bringing the glamour of the Rio Carnival to the Carlton Ballroom, according to Dave.
Although Garth clearly works like a demon, we reckon it will be the tight booty-shaking that might ensure that we see him in the competition for a while yet...
The shows bounciest couple, 5FM’s
Anele Mdoda and
Brandon Eilers Le Riche, once again lit up the dance floor with their wow-factor and energy.
Lilian thought the “party princess” once again delighted, while Tyrone suspected that too little time was spent rehearsing. She was reminded to pay attention to her arm line, but also complimented on the way her work on toe movements has paid off.
The week's guest artist was Aya (formerly known as
Ayanda, from
Idols) who combined jazz, classical influences and local sounds on her soon-to-be-released single, “Ntombi”.
Next week the couples will be performing a group Gumboot Dance (not scored) and a Viennese Waltz (for scores from judges). The Parlotones will be the show’s special guest artists.
If you haven't yet, check out what the celebs have to say each week in their TVSA blogs (or use the banner at the top of the page to access all the celeb blogs at once):
AdilAneleCindyGarthGuguHlubiJudithShugasmakxRobTessaOther SCD 5 links:Strictly Come Dancing 5 Mini-SiteOfficial Site
| STRICTLY COME DANCING 5: EPISODE 6 |
Hlubi Mboya and Khutso Khunou
Hlubi Mboya and Khutso Khunou
Anele Mdoda and Brandon Eilers Le Riche
Garth Collins and Hayley Bennett
Cindy Nell and Jonathan Broadway
Rob van Vuuren and Mary Martin
Tessa van Duuren and Grant Esterhuizen
Gugu Zulu and Sarah Cooper
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