Rumor ran rampant all summer about who would be in the new celebrity cast of "Dancing With the Stars," and it looks like an interesting lineup for Season 17. Borrowing from sister-show "So You Think You Can Dance," the premiere program began with a big opening number choreographed by Mandy Moore, a regular on SYTYCD, that featured all of the pros and their celebrity partners, plus the members of the DWTS Troupe, the hosts and judges. It was glittery fun, performed in front of two bleachers filled with stands. Wonder if those will be there next week?
There were many changes inside the ballroom -- gone was the "celebriquarium," co-host Brooke Burke-Charvet's interview lounge; the judges' table was switched to the opposite side of the hall; and all the celebs and pros are now sitting at the side of the dance floor in what host Tom Bergeron called "a sexy bus stop." Since the scores for each dance were given right away on the dance floor, there was plenty of time for chatting. Unfortunately, Brooke popped up in various places to do her own style of interviewing, too.
No one was going home tonight -- the judges' scores will be added to viewers' votes and scores for another dance next week. Then, at the end of Monday night's program, someone will be sent home.
First up was Brant Daugherty of "Pretty Little Liars," dancing the cha-cha-cha with pro Peta Murgatroyd. He was terrific and won the judges over immediately. Head judge Len Goodman thought it was "fabulous," and judge Bruno Tonioli said it was "hot stuff," but Brant needs to keeping his timing going. Judge Carrie Ann Inaba said Brant made "one little boo-boo," but he has lots of potential. Great start to Week 1.
Actress Leah Remini and pro Tony Dovolani took on the foxtrot, and did a good job for a beginner. Bruno said Leah did some surprising turns for not doing it before, followed by some double-entendre give and take with her. Carrie Ann said she had "sass and class" and her hands were gorgeous, while Len thought it was "a little bit careful in place" but was clean and precise.
After a short break for Brooke chatting in the new warm-up room (former lounge), Corbin Bleu took on a contemporary routine with pro Karina Smirnoff, and they really did an outstanding job. Karina was even shaking when she came off the floor. Carrie Ann just screamed "woo hoo" ala Mary Murphy on SYTYCD and called the choreography, "great." Len asked, "This is Week 1, right?" and said that the pair had set the standard high with a full-on attack. Bruno told Corbin, "You can cut the mustard," but with a tender touch.
Suddenly, it looked like it was going to be one great number after another. I did notice that some of last season's pros are in the DWTS Troupe, instead of dealing with difficult celebrities again. Hmmm. Next up were Jack Osbourne and pro Cheryl Burke doing the foxtrot. Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne were in the audience, and Sharon broke into tears as Jack danced. Len said, "Jack, you can dance!" He added that he loved Jack's footwork. Bruno cautioned him to watch his turns -- it seemed that Bruno was the only judge consistently giving advice tonight. Carrie Ann said Jack was really a ballroom dancer and nothing but class.
The producers may need to build a small fence between Bruno and the dancers. Tom had to keep telling the judge to sit down and stop talking with the celebrities. Oh well. It was time for Amber Riley and Derek Hough to dance their cha-cha-cha, and they burned up the floor. Bruno called her the "tigress of Season 17," Carrie Ann bowed to her over and over and said she was breathless, and Len had the line of the night: "I need a medic -- I'm palpitating, perspirating and flatulating! It's Week 1 and you come out and dance like that? Incredible! It was full-on, flat-out fabulous!"
Elizabeth Berkley Lauren performed a beautiful, romantic contemporary routine with Val Chmerkovskiy, and wowed the judges. "It's Week 1. What's going on?" asked Carrie Ann. Len called the dance, "lovely, a mix of light and shade," and Bruno said it was a great piece of dancing but that Elizabeth should extend her lines more.
And then things took a turn. Bill Nye ("the Science Guy") showed off his swing-dance moves in rehearsal but they didn't translate over to the cha-cha-cha he did with new pro Tyne Stecklein. He was really stiff and awkward, and Len said the dance was "like being waxed: painful while happening, lovely when it was over," without enough cha-cha-cha. But Carrie Ann pointed out that it was contestants like Bill, smiling and happy, that makes the show the special thing it is. Bill may not be around for another week to improve, and teaching him to dance may be beyond Tyne's instruction abilities as a first-timer.
Former NFL wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson, dancing the cha-cha-cha with Sharna Burgess, may have had smooth moves in football but not so much on the dance floor. His timing was almost nonexistent and Bruno said it was like "the Empire State Building trying to be a Rockette." Carrie Ann thought he did a good job, and Len said he had great attitude but needs work on his technique.
It was a contemporary routine for Christina Milian and pro Mark Ballas, and with all the dry ice on the floor, Tom called it "a new dance style: spooning in the smoke." Carrie Ann told Christina she was a gorgeous dancer but she needs to open up and look up, and Len agreed, adding that the dance suited her. Bruno loved the intensity but reminded her to extend her hands.
Oh, there was Brooke again, out interviewing fans in the bleachers. Sigh. Comedian Bill Engvall and pro Emma Slater danced the foxtrot and I was pleasantly impressed. He has some smooth moves and should improve quickly. Len told him that "Week 1 is about holding your nerve and remembering your routine, and you did it." Bruno felt there was some sophistication and elegance but Bill needed to be smoother. And Carrie Ann was happily surprised by Bill's good frame and musicality.
Then there was the tear-jerking, heart-wrenching moment as Valerie Harper explained about her terminal cancer and how she is outliving the doctor's expectations. She and pro Tristan MacManus did a foxtrot that was very appealing, and at the end, she said, "It's good to be alive, and better to be dancing." Wow! Bruno said she was radiant, stylish and light on her feet, Carrie Ann told her to work on her spots and Len called the routine, "gently understated -- a great job of choreography." Everyone had tears in their eyes during the dance.
The final couple of Week 1 was "Snooki" Polizzi, who said she thought she should be "Nicole" now that she is a mom, but Tom insisted on calling her "Snicole." She and pro Sasha Farber, who are probably this show's Team Small, danced the cha-cha-cha and did a great job. Carrie Ann was "really impressed" and that Nicole "just went for it." Len called her a "pocket rocket," but Carrie Ann's mind went right into the gutter and with a giggle, she chided Len for it. Confused, he just told Nicole, "well done," and Bruno told her to keep stretching her legs but that he liked it.
All in all, it was a great showing for the first week of Season 17, and I look forward to the rest of the season. I especially liked how Amber and Derek really brought it tonight.
The celebrities, partners and scores:
Amber and Derek: Carrie Ann, 9; Len, 9; Bruno, 9 = 27
Elizabeth and Val: 8, 8, 8 = 24
Corbin and Karina: 8, 8, 8 = 24
Jack and Cheryl: 8, 8, 7 = 23
Nicole and Sasha: 8, 8, 7 = 23
Brant and Peta: 7, 8, 7 = 22
Christina and Mark: 7, 7, 8 = 22
Valerie and Tristan: 7, 7, 7 = 21
Leah and Tony: 7, 7, 7 = 21
Bill E. and Emma: 6, 6, 6 = 18
Keyshawn and Sharna: 6, 5, 6 = 17
Bill N. and Tyne: 5, 4, 5 = 14
After Week 1, who do think will rise like cream to the top and who will sink out of sight? See you next Monday. Until then, keep dancing!
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