STRICTLY COME SINGING

Series three of TF1's Danse avec les Stars, the French Strictly Come Dancing/Dancing with the Stars, starts on Saturday 6 October.

Called Strictly Come Dancing in the UK and Dancing with the Stars in the US, the BBC Worldwide format features celebrities with professional dance partners competing in Ballroom and Latin dances in front of three judges. Danse avec les Stars arrived in France on TF1 in February 2011, six years after the private channel tried a similar concept called Celebrity Dancing.

The contestants of DALS's third series are singer Amel Bent, singer Chimène Badi, former model Estelle Lefébure, olympic champion fencer Laura Flessel, singer/actress Lorie Pester, Swiss singer Bastian Baker, former international rugby player Christophe Dominici, singer Emmanuel Moire, roller champ Taïg Khris, and Gerard Vives. Vives is an actor who got fame with in the 1990s as gym gay employee Gérard in French sitcom Les Filles d'à côté and its sequel. Until recently he was the sidekick of host Vincent Lagaf' in the French The Price is right.

They will team up with dance pros Christophe Licata, Julien Brugel, Maxime Dereymez, Grégoire Lyonnet, Katrina Patchett, Candice Pascal, Fauve Hautot and Silvia Notargiacomo. Plus newcomers in the show, Denitsa Ikonomova and Christian Millette - both seen in the fourth series of the Canadian So You Think You Can Dance. Like the previous two series, Danse avec les Stars is hosted by Sandrine Quétier and Vincent Cerutti.

Salsa world champion Chris Marques and Canadian dancer and choreographer Jean-Marc Généreux - who was a judge on the Canadian edition of So You Think You Can Dance - remain aboard as judges but Alessandra Martines, pregnant, cannot participate this year. Judges will be four for this series as Marques and Généreux are joined by dancer and choreographer Marie-Claude Pietragalla and singer Shy'm, winner of DALS 2. Danse avec les Stars is co-produced by BBC Worldwide and TF1 Production.

In French:

http://tvmag.lefigaro.fr/programme-tv/article/divertissement/71681/danse-avec-les-stars-tout-sur-la-saison-3.html
http://www.ozap.com/actu/gerard-vives-je-dirai-non-au-remake-des-filles-d-a-cote/443090
http://www.ozap.com/actu/bastian-baker-quand-on-m-a-contacte-pour-danse-avec-les-stars-j-ai-dit-je-danse-avec-quelle-star/443086

DANSE ENCORE AVEC LES STARS

Series two of TF1's Danse avec les Stars, the French Strictly come Dancing/Dancing with the Stars, starts on Saturday, 8 October.

Called Strictly come Dancing in the UK and Dancing with the Stars in the US, the BBC Worldwide format features celebrities with professional dance partners competing in Ballroom and Latin dances in front of three judges. Danse avec les Stars arrived in France on TF1 in February 2011, six years after the private channel tried a similar concept called Celebrity Dancing.

The contestants of DALS's second series are singer, actor and media personality Francis Lalanne, former figure skater and olympic champion Philippe Candeloro, singer Nâdiya, singer Shy'm, former Miss France Valérie Bègue, model Baptiste Giabiconi, actress Véronique Jannot, French variétés singer legend Sheila, and former tennis pro Cédric Pioline.

They will team up with dance pros Fauve Hautot, Katrina Patchett, Grégoire Lyonnet, Julien Brugel, Silvia Notargiacomo, Candice Pascal, Maxime Dereymez, Christophe Licata and Grégory Guichard (who's new in the programme).

Danse avec les Stars is still hosted by Sandrine Quétier and Vincent Cerutti. Chris Marques, Alessandra Martines, and Jean-Marc Généreux remain the Gaullic counterparts of judges Craig Revel Horwood, Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli and Alesha Dixon

http://www.tf1.fr/danse-avec-les-stars/ (In French)
http://www.tf1.fr/danse-avec-les-stars/candidats/ (In French)
http://twitter.com/#!/DanseStars_TF1 (In French)

MATT POKORA WINS DANSE AVEC LES STARS

[23.32 - French Time] Singer Matt Pokora (aka M Pokora) has won the finale of Danse avec les Stars with his dance pro partner Katrina Patchett.

French private channel TF1 aired tonight the finale of Danse avec les Stars, a French adaptation of BBC Worldwide's global hit format Dancing with the Stars/Strictly come Dancing co-produced by BBC Worldwide and TF1 Production. This format, licensed to more than 30 countries, teams up celebrities with professional dance partners competing in Ballroom and Latin dances in front of three judges. And viewers can vote.

Matt Pokora and Katrina Patchett were facing singer Sofia Essaïdi and her dance pro partner Maxime Dereymez, after former football player David Ginola and his partner Silvia Notargiacomo were eliminated sooner in the evening. Danse avec les Stars is hosted by Sandrine Quétier and Vincent Cerutti. And the judges are dancer and actress Alessandra Martines, Salsa world champion Chris Marques, and Canadian dancer and choreographer Jean-Marc Généreux - judge on the Canadian edition of So You Think You Can Dance.

Who could have guessed (beyond the circle of his loyal fans) that RnB singer Pokora would be so impressive during all the competition to the point of this deserved victory versus a rival who can be considered as DALS's equivalent of Strictly's Alesha Dixon (in 2005 Sofia Essaïdi was in Celebrity Dancing, a similar format tried by TF1). The other contestants of the six-week primetime dance extravaganza were former model Adriana Karembeu, stage actress Marthe Mercadier (82 years), Spanish actress Rossy de Palma, composer and former French Pop Idol judge André Manoukian, and comedian Jean-Marie Bigard.

The other pros were Fauve Hautot, Grégoire Lyonnet, Julien Brugel, Candice Pascal, and Christophe Licata. The pros were fantastic, the contestants were aptly chosen and most of them amazed by their efforts. The programme was pleasant and entertaining even if it needs some adjustments, should a second series be ordered by TF1.

http://www.tf1.fr/danse-avec-les-stars/ (In French)
http://www.mpokoramusic.fr/ (M Pokora's Official site - In French)

MUJERES AL BORDE DE...

[11.00 - French Time] French private channel TF1 aired yesterday the second episode of Danse avec les Stars, the French adaptation of BBC Worldwide's format Dancing with the Stars (Strictly come Dancing in the UK). A global hit licensed to more than 30 countries.

Last week's premiere won the evening with only 4.840.000 viewers and a 23,9% share and it seems that some minor adjustments were made to improve the ratings: Canadian judge Jean-Marc Généreux spoke normally and stopped screaming, and everybody insisted on the spirit of fun vs the competition aspect (episode one was in many respects reminiscent of the French Got Talent). « The show sticks to its promises with beautiful sensations at the beginning of the programme, » heavily stated co-host Vincent Cerutti right after the first number by singer Sofia Essaïdi and dance pro Maxime Dereymez.

Some years ago Essaïdi was a contestant on Celebrity Dancing, a similar concept/format tried by TF1, which makes her definitely a favourite. It also makes her a kind of counterpart to Brit singer Alesha Dixon, who won Strictly come Dancing in 2007 and became a judge two years later. Former football player David Ginola, who must know his SCD perfectly, and hearthrob singer M Pokora, emerge as serious rivals with their performances.

Drama was provided by talented Almodovar actress Rossy de Palma, who slipped on a prop and asked to start again her tango with partner Christophe Licata. And viewers probably took that into account when they voted her off and surreally prefered stage actress Marthe Mercadier (82 years!) after the Dance Off. Even if de Palma was blatantly better but the "Dance Off" segment is the show's Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None.

Last week's vote off was for André Manoukian. Regardless of his weak performance the treat to send a former Reality TV judge at home must have been a bonus for voters. But Manoukian was in two of those cringy pre-recorded sequences which seem escaped from Star Academy. And Robbie Williams and Take That, who last december managed to perform on BBC One's Strictly and ITV1's The X Factor the same night (1), were there to sing The Flood.

Co-host Sandrine Quétier jokingly invited the band to come back and dance next year for series two. She can start to dream of a second series as ratings improved with 5.034.000 viewers and a 24,6% share (2). The other programmes were far from glorious anyway: the unnecessary NCIS: Los Angeles followed with 3.544.000 viewers for TF1's private competitor M6 and a tribute to singer/composer Serge Gainsbourg on pubcaster France 2 was 3rd.

(1) http://www.metro.co.uk/tv/850211-take-that-confuse-tv-fans-after-appearing-on-x-factor-and-strictly
(2) http://www.ozap.com/actu/audiences-danse-stars-ncis-gainsbourg-simpson-cible-dos/399016 (Ratings - In French)

http://www.tf1.fr/danse-avec-les-stars/ (Official Site - In French)

See also:

http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2011/02/danse-avec-les-stars-tf1.html (Including names of the contestants and dance pros)

DANSE AVEC LES STARS (TF1)

Private network TF1 aired yesterday the premiere of Danse avec les Stars, the French adaptation of BBC Worldwide's global hit format Dancing with the Stars (Strictly come Dancing in the UK).

Licensed to more than 30 countries, this format teams up celebrities with professional dance partners competing in Ballroom and Latin dances in front of three judges, and viewers can vote. Co-produced by BBC Worldwide and TF1 Production, Danse avec les Stars arrives in France six years after TF1 tried a similar concept/format called Celebrity Dancing.

The contestants are former model Adriana Karembeu, former football player David Ginola, stage actress Marthe Mercadier (82 years), singer M Pokora, Spanish actress Rossy de Palma, composer, jazz pianist and former French Pop Idol judge André Manoukian, singer Sofia Essaïdi (who was a contestant in Celebrity Dancing), and comedian Jean-Marie Bigard. They team up with dance pros Fauve Hautot, Katrina Patchett, Grégoire Lyonnet, Julien Brugel, Silvia Notargiacomo, Candice Pascal, Maxime Dereymez and Christophe Licata.

The show is hosted by Sandrine Quétier and Vincent Cerutti. And the judges are dancer and actress Alessandra Martines, Salsa world champion Chris Marques (who worked on Strictly), and Canadian dancer and choreographer Jean-Marc Généreux (judge on the Canadian edition of So You Think You Can Dance). And the voice-over is provided by France's most reputed voice-over and dubbing artist Richard Darbois. French-speaking voice of Harrison Ford, Danny Glover or Richard Gere, Darbois is also the voice of radio station NRJ and the gaullic equivalent of American trailer God and voice-over master Don LaFontaine.

In spite of high production values and an astute celebrity casting, the entertaining Danse avec les Stars won the evening with only 4.840.000 viewers and a 23,9% share. There are certainly adjustments to be done with the young hosts (Quétier is 40 and Cerutti is 30) and the judges, who both often recall the French Got Talent instead of Strictly. Don't forget that in Reality TV it's the jury who makes the programme strictly worth watching, the judges who makes the "stars" dance. Ask the amazing Craig Revel Horwood, Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli.

http://www.tf1.fr/danse-avec-les-stars/ (Official site - In French)
http://www.ozap.com/actu/audiences-danse-stars-oubliez-paroles-sang-vigne-ncis/397026 (Ratings - In French)

Update (February 20): http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2011/02/mujeres-al-borde-de.html

DANSE AVEC LES STARS

[17.52 - French Time] BBC Worldwide's format Dancing with the Stars arrives in France on Saturday, 12 February as Danse avec les Stars.

Called Strictly come Dancing in the UK (on BBC One since 2004) and Dancing with the Stars in the US (on ABC since 2005), the format features celebrities with professional dance partners competing in Ballroom and Latin dances in front of three judges. Danse avec les Stars arrives in France on TF1 on February 12, six years after the private network tried a similar concept/format called Celebrity Dancing.

The contestants are former model Adriana Karembeu, former football player David Ginola, stage actress Marthe Mercadier, singer M Pokora, Spanish actress Rossy de Palma, composer, jazz pianist and former reality TV judge André Manoukian, singer Sofia Essaïdi (who was a contestant in Celebrity Dancing), and comedian Jean-Marie Bigard.

The show is hosted by Sandrine Quétier and Vincent Cerutti. And the Gaullic counterparts of judges Craig Revel Horwood, Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli (1) will be Salsa world champion Chris Marques, dancer and actress Alessandra Martines, and dancer and choreographer Jean-Marc Généreux. Remember that in Reality TV it's the judges who make the programme strictly worth watching.

(1) Goodman and Tonioli are in both Strictly and Dancing.

Update (February 13) - Premiere Review: http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2011/02/danse-avec-les-stars-tf1.html

http://www.tf1.fr/danse-avec-les-stars/news/l-emission-evenement-danse-avec-les-stars-arrive-sur-tf1-danse-6238412.html (In French)
http://www.toutelatele.com/article.php3?id_article=30379 (In French)
http://twitter.com/#!/tf1etvous (In French)

OLD DOGS WITH 8 MILLION NEW TRICKS

Ageism seems to be amongst the latest issues tormenting the BBC these days, with the expenses of its executives (1) and the state of its dramas - catalyzed by the debate between eminent producer Tony Garnett and Ben Stephenson, the controller of BBC drama commissioning (2). After the controversial replacement of Arlene Phillips, 66, a veteran choreographer, by pop star Alesha Dixon, 30, as a judge in the popular Strictly Come Dancing show (3), the return of the acclaimed New Tricks on BBC1 for a sixth series comes with an unsuspected irony.

Launched in 2003 with a pilot episode and shown since 2004, New Tricks is a "cold case" comedy/drama show with a difference. Headed by Detective Superintendent Sandra Pullman, played by Amanda Redman, UCOS (Unsolved Crime and Open Case Squad) is a very special unit composed of retired and burnout aged police officers: Jack Halford (James Bolam, of the Likely Lads fame) - haunted by the death of his beloved wife, Gerry Standing (the legendary Dennis Waterman) - a gambler and a ladies man with three ex-wives and three daughters, and Brian Lane (the wonderful character actor Alun Armstrong) - a recovering alcoholic with OCD.

Both the humour and the sensibility of New Tricks come from the simple idea of these men coping with their personal demons but proving you "can't teach old dogs new tricks" when they're back to the job. And they are with virtuosity but also with a total lack of discipline and professional orthodoxy, plus the weaknesses of age (but the strength of experience). The ensemble cast of this great show is solid and it's a treat to watch British television legend Dennis Waterman (the original Minder) ageing well in the shoes of John Thaw - his former "Guv" in The Sweeney.

Faithful to his own myth, Waterman sings It's alright, "da feem toon" (as his parody by comedian David Walliams would say in Little Britain) of the show. Unfortunately French viewers were deprived of the song when New Tricks arrived on French public channel France 3 in 2008, with It's alright replaced by Rien n'est écrit, a song in French performed by Murray Head (whose brother Anthony played in one episode). With all the respect due to the talented Murray Head, say it ain't so, Joe please... (sorry, couldn't help).

The sixth series of New Tricks, launched with more than 8 million viewers on July 16, claimed 34% share in 9pm slot, beating nearest rival by more than 4 million viewers (http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/jul/17/bbc1-new-tricks-tv-ratings). In many respects the ratings of the series premiere echo with a poetic irony not only to the Arlene Phillips replacement but also to the "Hollyoaksing" of the cast of Doctor Who - Matt Smith (the new Doctor) being 26 and Karen Gillan, the Doctor's new assistant, 21.

New Tricks star Amanda Redman, 49, fears she could lose out on top jobs because of her age, in the wake of the Phillips situation (http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/news/2009/07/14/exclusive-new-tricks-star-amanda-redman-fears-the-sack-after-bbc-ageism-row-115875-21518495/). This would be a terrible mistake because Redman is all charm, class and talent. Anyway the Beeb can argue that the main character of its flagship franchise is 905 years old, which is far far more older than the Strictly Come Dancing iconic presenter Bruce "Brucie" Forsyth, 81.

« It's alright, its OK
It doesnt matter if you're old and grey... »
(Dennis Waterman, the Guv of British television)

(1) http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/jul/17/bbc-expenses-christmas-dinner-flowers
(2) http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/organgrinder/2009/jul/15/tony-garnett-bbc-drama + http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/jul/15/tony-garnett-email-bbc-drama + http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/organgrinder/2009/jul/16/ben-stephenson-tony-garner
(3) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/5844671/Strictly-Come-Dancings-Arlene-Phillips-is-a-victim-of-ageism-says-Harriet-Harman.html