It was definitely lacking something. I would suggest the following improvements:

1. Lose Matt the Judge Who Loved Everything and replace him with random choreographers like the US show does every week. Seriously, what's the point of that guy? You could just replace him with a bucket with a baseball cap that continuously says "I loved it! I loved it!"

2. Get a more excitable audience. I don't know, fit electric shocks in their chairs or something. The judges like something, nobody cares. The judges hate something, nobody cares. The Bass says anything at all? The silence is deafening.

3. Steal Wade Robson from the US show. Everything that man touches turns to freaking gold.

4. Get some better camera dudes and stuff. I don't know how that stuff works, all I know is that the US SYTYCD looks like TV magic and the Aussie version looks like dancing with the freaking stars.

5. Maybe just to spice things up a bit, the term "dancing for your life" could be taken literally for this version. Surely they'd dance that much harder if instead of being kicked off the show they were PUT TO DEATH. Or maybe the loser should be trapped in the Big Brother house or something, kill two birds with one stone. Just an idea.

Hmmm, I was largely impressed. As you pointed out, they didn't screw with the format too much and unlike most Australian reality shows, they didn't cast it with 20 bogans regurgitating the lines "keeping it real" and "stirring the pot".

I did think the choreographers made most of the routines a bit gimmicky, though. Like, yeah, we KNOW Male B-boy #8 can do backflips/breakdance/whatever, because you've been showing it for the PAST THREE WEEKS. Make him waltz.

And was it me, or was there are smaller range of styles delegated than the US show? It felt like almost more than half the couples were doing some version of jazz or contemporary dance. Part of the appeal of the show is seeing good dancers do an awesome (or rubbish) job of a completely alien style.

To me, this is why it lost momentum - not enough variety. I suspect this is the Australian reality producer thing coming into it: they're too scared to push any of them too much in case they all suck too much. Which is a very real possibility, but would be more interesting than the bazillionth spin on breakdancing.

I also take issue with the choreographer named 'Nacho Pop'.

I am mostly happy the Australian version features neither Cat Deeley nor Mary Murphy. They will not be missed. At least not by me.

As a fan of the US version of SYTYCD, I had high hopes for Australia that we too were going to raise the bar in dance. The audition process saw some amazing talent and things not seen in the US version. But after Sunday's opening night performance, I began to have my doubts.

The Dancers: The dance standard did not compare to the US level. For me it was Jack and Demi's Boogaloo performance that just barely scraped the surface. Maybe because choreographer Nacho Pop was also from the US? Ballroom music should not have changed as that and the costumes deterred from the dancing. If that was a way of being innovative then it didn't work. If you can't make ballroom special while keeping to it's culture then your not doing it right. Every drawn out card had at least one dancer who excelled in that field. I had high expectations especially given their backgrounds. But the performances did not impress me. Was it nerves? Who knows? But since it's only the first show it is forgivable. Hopefully the dancing will improve later on.

The Judges: Where is the critique? How are the dancers going to improve if they are just going to be congratulated all the time. I'm not sure if they are either scared of backlash from the audience, or not wanting to risk their reputation when they chose the Top 20. The standard level of feedback I expected should be from the likes of Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy. We've passed the stage of being sympathetic and now the dancers are under the scrutiny of the general public. Make the dancers prove why they deserve to be Australia's favorite dancer.

The Production Team: The camera angles, the lighting, the music cue. Need I say more? Up your game people. This show is suppost to be the biggest thing this year. Do it right!

and finally Natalie aka The BASS. If only you could portray your 'Rogue Trader' personality as a hostess.

Love you all, cheers! :D

Ohhhhh the Bass. Redefining the word inane. It kills me every time I see that HIDEOUS ad for a certain breakfast radio show. You get a good idea of her depth of thought when she proclaims, "You know, I've been thinking [looks incredibly thoughtful and ponderous] ... Why is it the Kyle and Jackie O show, why not the Jackie O and Kyle show"...
Yep.

I agree with nearly all the other comments, but the only thing missing was concerns I had about the music and sound.
The sound seems very off to me, they have obviously added it separately to the footage for the viewers at home instead of recording it from the performance, which has made it monotonous sounding because when the camera switches views it sounds exactly the same. The American version was presented in surround sound too which makes such a difference, wheras this one isn't.
The choice of music by the choreographers could be so much better. They need more tasteful, modern and captivating tracks. The American version didn't always necessarily have modern or popular tracks but they were always tasteful and suited for a big tv program, wheras the songs I've heard so far on the Aussie show are just weird, cheesy or lacklustre with of course the exception of 'The Varonicas' song, Kiss Kiss and the Nacho Pop song which is what they need more of.
Unfortunately they don't name each song and artist before the dances, which is always very useful to know. Then again I wouldn't either with the songs they are playing.

I do so hope that the show gets better though, as there is still quite some time to go. With any luck they will listen to the comments that are being said and improve the show. Otherwise I fear it could be almost not even worth watching.

I'm just wondering why on blogs and the actual show, mention hasn't been made of the fact that contestant Kassy Lee is actually judge Matt Lee's sister? I watched carefully last night and noticed that again, he made no criticism of her (boring) routine.

Wonderful thanks for that Kathleen:- what gave you the idea Kassy is Matt's sister. I'm her mum and I can assure Matt, loverly as he is, is not related to either of us. That you found any of her routines boring is a shame for you, as the pieces with Graeme were incredible, there are lots and lots of us who wanted to see more. I wonder what little tit bit you'll come up with next.