Eurovision Pet Peeves

What are you biggest pet peeves with Eurovision? I'll get the ball rolling...

1. Announcement order

This seems to happen every year, where the weaker entries (surprise qualifiers) are announced first or near the start. Take (Switzerland/Iceland for example from the first semi last year) once those two had been announced, I knew there was little to no hope for Latvia/Slovenia and sure enough after Iceland was announced the next qualifiers were exactly who I expected.

I know this is done as a way of ramping up the tension (leaving the favourites for last, so we can wonder, omg what if they don't make it!? And they almost always do). It gets a bit boring when noticing it, for instance for this year's SF1, If they announce Ireland/Azerbaijan are the first 2 qualifiers I'll have little hope that Latvia/Malta are going to make it. They'll probably leave Norway/Sweden for last, but there won't be much tension as we already know the outcome.

I'd want it where the announce the obvious first so imagine the announcement order went like this Sweden/Norway/Finland/Israel/Moldova/Czech Republic/Serbia so 7 qualifiers people were expecting, now the tension is high because anyone could come next... sure it's more likely to be Switzerland/Croatia, rather than Malta/Ireland but those last three spots... it would make it a lot more interesting to know which of the remaining has made it.

Sure the announcement order doesn't have to go like this every time and in that exact order, (otherwise it would be predictable) but I'm a bit tired of leaving the obvious favourites to be the last announced because by that point, I've tuned out and know which countries aren't making it before the announcement has even finished.

(But hey maybe I'll be proven wrong this year, they might leave Sweden for last, and then announce Ireland which would be shocking moment, but I'm not holding my breath).

2) Unbalanced Semi's

Again using this year for as an example, entries I love like Malta/Latvia are likely not qualifying because they're drawn in death semi. If they had a different draw and had ended up in Semi 2, they would be much more likely to qualify.

I wish there was some sort of way the entries could be more evenly distributed through both semi's. I don't know how it would work, maybe the producers would take a look at fan polls/betting odds etc... after all the songs have released and then put an even number of lower ranked songs, next to the higher's one's...

Let's say Czech Republic/Sweden/Moldova were moved to Semi 2. And Poland/Greece/San Marino came over to Semi 1. Instantly gives the underdogs of SF1 a much better fighting chance and makes Semi 2 more competitive. Of course what a good/bad song entry is, is subjective to everyone and maybe some people like a more open/unpredictable semi-final but for me I feel like balancing the semi's more fairly would make a much stronger final show.

3) Announcers giving their life story, before giving the points

Yes it's been a great show, yes you've all been loving it in (Insert country name here) Yes your jokes are hilarious, now can we have your points plea...

Oh you were in Eurovision yourself X number of years ago, good for you.

So can we have the poin...?

Oh it's nice to hear how much you loved your experience

So can we have...?

Yes, all the artists are amazing this year and we all wish them good luck

So can we...?

Oh you like the traditions/culture/language of the host country? That's very nice...oh you have a story for us (5 minutes later) oh how nice (fake smile fully in place now)

So can...?

Announcer: And this also reminds me...

GODDAMIT JUST GIVE US THE FUCKING POINTS!

4) San Marino coming dead last in 2008.

Still not over it.

Anyone have any other pet peeves, share them below!