Dancing With The Stars Recap: Week 1

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This past Monday at 8pm, ABC introduced the 18th cast of Dancing With The Stars…LIIIIIIVE! I am a member of the Official #DWTSMirrorBallFanClub (I just made that up), so I thought I would be the perfect person to break down the hits and the misses, the jives and the cha-chas, the awkward Bruno comments and the awkward Erin comments. Ladies and Gentlemen…The judges scores…

  • Nene Leakes and Tony Dovolani opened up the new season with an incredibly fun cha-cha, set to Robin Thicke. Her facial expressions were freakin’ amazing, but her footwork needs work. For a first dance, however, it was pretty darn good. Straight SEHVENs across the board. (For those unfamiliar, Len Goodman enjoys yelling that number that way and I can’t get enough of it.)
  • James Maslow and Peta Murgatroyd followed it up with a super weird encounter (they dated once…that awkward moment when) and a foxtrot that, again, had potential. Frankly, Peta Murgatryod will be my bae until the end of time. AND SHE’S AUSTRALIAN. Stick her with Billy Dee Williams and I would still love her (we will get to him in a second). Straight SEHVENs again.
  • With Danica McKellar and Val Chmerkovsky’s dance came the first 1980s/1990s sitcom dancer of the night, which is part of a rivalry between Winnie Cooper and DJ Tanner that DWTS made up to give Erin something to “report” about. She danced a very successful foxtrot, but the judges saw her as a little too tight on the dance floor. Her excitement for the show might be a little too much for reality programs, BUT NOT FOR THE BALLROOM! Eights from all 3 judges.
  • Sean Avery and Karina Smirnoff danced contemporary and he made me feel like he would break into my room and kill me at night if I didn’t vote at least 6 times for him. His dance was really awkward, but the style didn’t really help. He seemed to just jump around. A lot. With no gaol in mind. Two SEHVENs and a six (from Len).
  • Billy Dee Williams and Emma Slater’s cha-cha to a Star Wars medley was…woof. It was really bad. Like, Bill Nye bad. The stormtroopers and ewoks in the audience couldn’t even help him (don’t worry…DWTS jumped the shark the day it premiered). It caused me physical pain watching him dance…but he gets “you tried” points! Fives from the judges.
  • Meryl Davis and the elusive Maksim Chmerkovskiy danced a cha-cha that was so much fun. This was my second favorite dance of the night, but it might have to do with my obsession with Meryl Davis. While no twizzles happened on the dance floor, they did recreate their gold medal ceremony. She is a clear favorite after this performance. Eights were given by all three judges.
  • Candace Cameron Bure and Mark Ballas danced contemporary and WOW! THE DEEJ CAN DANCE! I thought Stephanie was the dancer in the Tanner family?! Who cares though, ‘cause she killed it and she is my favorite contestant this season. In the words of Erin Andrews “Uncle Jesse would be proud.” Heck, he might even book her for a performance at the Smash Club! A nine from Carrie Ann and two eights.
  • Cody Simpson and Witney Carson got asked really uncomfortable questions about if their partnership will turn into a relationship, but their dance was kind of uncomfortable too. Cody was too “pop star” on the floor, as if trying to hook up with an 18 year old viewer watching at home. While I thought there was a lack of dancing and more “smolder, smolder, wink, collar pop,” the judges gave them two SEHVENs and an eight (from Bruno).
  • Drew Carey and Cheryl Burke danced a foxtrot and surprised the heck out of me. Drew was good, like REALLY good! I can see him as the “most improved” by the end of the show, because he shows a ton of potential. Heck, Len even said he “enjoyed it from the first beat” and he never says that! Three SEHVENS from the judges.
  • Amy Purdy and Derek Hough danced a wonderful cha-cha, but there’s a problem. I loathe Derek. He is cocky and makes everything about him. When asked about having a double amputee as a partner, he replied with “It will be my hardest challenge yet.” UGH! So obnoxious. Amy looked stunning, however, and her dancing was pretty fantastic for a first dance. Three eights from the judging panel.
  • Diana Nyad and Henry Byalikov danced a foxtrot to “Beyond the Sea” (get it?) and was just eh. She can work more on posture and footwork, but it was a solid first effort. At least she won’t be the first one to go home (Thank you, Billy Dee!), so she has more time to work on her moves. Three sixes were given for her dance.
  • Charlie White and Sharna Burgess closed out the show with a contemporary number that stunned the judges, but just left me feeling alright. I preferred Candace’s but the judges loved everything about the dance (if they could’ve, I feel like they would have complimented them on toe placement). The dance received three nines.

The new set and band were great, but I do miss Harold Wheeler, as he played the theme song coming back from every commercial…and now they “sometimes” play it and I’m ticked. It was the best part of the show and I feel like it should be added to the medley that plays at Hollywood Studios. Erin Andrews also made her first appearance as co-host and she was a tad shaky at first, but she is worlds above Brooke “I don’t show any emotion” Burke.

Let me know your thoughts below or on the discussion boards and I will be back next week with my Week 2 recap!

(photo courtesy of puredwts.com)

Marshal Knight
Marshal Knight is a pop culture writer based in Orlando, FL. For some inexplicable reason, his most recent birthday party was themed to daytime television. He’d like to thank Sandra Oh.