Hey Everyone :D
It is that time again. Welcome to yet another season of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars. Before we get started, I just wanted to send out positive vibes to anyone affected by the floods in Colorado, the fires in New Jersey, and the shooting rampage in Washington. Whether you are personally involved or know someone, please know that the entire Country is behind you and as usual, we will come together as best we can to help those out who need it. We are going through some tough times these days, both domestically and internationally, and in the face of tragedy and loss, we always stand together and show our collective support. I hope for peace, health, and happiness for all.
I am thrilled to be back to live blog this 17th season of DWTS. My thanks to MJ for allowing me to do so. A big welcome back to old posters and new as we watch a new crop of celebrities pair up with professional dancers and rock it in the ballroom. This season has quite a few changes in place. Similar to FOX’s So You Think You Can Dance, we no longer have a result show. All the routines, troupe performances, special guests, and eliminations will take place on the same night. An entire week of DWTS happening over the course of two hours each and every Monday evening. Our hosts, Tom and Brooke will interview the couples after they dance on the floor. No more sky-box interviews for Mrs. Charvet. A few regular pros are gone and some troupe members have been promoted. Some things remain the same though, as our Orchestra and judges all return, as well as the same list of dance styles from season sixteen.
Tonight, for the season premiere, the couples will be tasked to perform the Cha-cha-cha, Foxtrot, or Contemporary. They will still be judged on a 30-point scale and America will vote via the same usual methods (phone, text, ABC.COM, and Facebook). Each couple will be eliminated at the end of each episode by combining the judges’ scores of that night, along with the public votes from the previous week, which will determine who gets eliminated every Monday night. This system will begin with Week 2, so the couples will have at minimum, two dances under their belts before we must lose our first pair. So now that we covered the major changes and the voting, let’s get season seventeen up and running!
The show opens with all the pros, troupe members, and celebrities being introduced red carpet style. Very cool. Even the judges come out and bust a few moves. Everyone is on the dance floor. A very exciting and spirited number to start the show choreographed by Mandy Moore.
Brant & Peta (dancing the Cha-cha-cha)
Nice chemistry already with these two. They look hot together on the floor. Brant is definitely giving it his all. Some really nice Cha-cha-cha moves. Brant is very nice to look at and he can actually dance. For a first week routine, this is strong. A little awkward in parts and some refinement is certainly necessary but this is above average for sure. I think Peta is going to work the sexy angle here and she should. If Brant can keep up with the changing dance styles and be adequate, he could last a bit in this competition. Really solid opener!
Len says Brant should sail on because it was fabulous. Bruno says it was hot stuff and easy on the eyes. He mentions one moment when Brant lost timing. Carrie Ann sees double threat potential and she loves the chemistry. She saw one little incident but sees the potential.
Carrie Ann- 7, Len- 8, Bruno- 7, for a total of 22/30
To VOTE for Brant & Peta, call 800-868-3403, TEXT the word VOTE to 3403, or use ABC.COM and/or Facebook. 12 votes per method allowed this week.
Leah & Tony (dancing the Foxtrot)
Aww. This is sweet. But it is very simplistic. Leah and Tony are playing things a tad bit safe. I’m not saying that that’s a bad thing because it is a rather delightful Foxtrot to watch. Leah is definitely nervous but she is using her acting abilities to pull off the tone of the dance. Tony choreographed something right up her alley and it is exactly what you would expect from her first slow routine. Fun to watch and definitely serviceable from start to finish. Let’s see what happens when she is challenged to a quicker-paced routine. She has the right attitude for sure and is very funny.
Bruno thought it was satisfying. He said Leah went Miley Cyrus a bit and wants her to twerk. Carrie Ann calls Leah sass and class. She just wants her to extend a bit more. Len thought it was a bit careful but it was definitely clean and precise.
Carrie Ann- 7, Len- 7, Bruno- 7, for a total of 21/30
To VOTE for Leah & Tony, call 800-868-3411, TEXT the word VOTE to 3411, or use ABC.COM and/or Facebook. 12 votes per method allowed this week.
Corbin & Karina (dancing Contemporary)
Wow! It helps to have some dance experience for sure. Corbin is really shining here. This is Karina’s first contemporary routine ever and she said she was nervous. You wouldn’t know it by the dance. A beautiful contemporary piece. Now of course, nothing here is anything we haven’t seen before perfected on this and other dancing programs but again, but for week one, fantastic. Corbin has a little issue during the lift (he was shaky) but he pulls it off. A nice emotional piece nailed by someone who I can see as a very early front runner. He mentioned earlier that this type of dance comes a little more natural to him as opposed to next week’s Jive, so we will see how much his former dancing helps him in a more traditional ballroom routine. Fab job though!
Carrie Ann is screaming. She thought it was beautiful and passionate. She loved the emotion. Len is confused that this is week one because the standard has been fantastic. Bruno said that Corbin can cut the mustard. Bruno is all complimentary.
Carrie Ann- 8, Len- 8, Bruno- 8, for a total of 24/30
To VOTE for Corbin & Karina, call 800-868-3406, TEXT the word VOTE to 3406, or use ABC.COM and/or Facebook. 12 votes per method allowed this week.
Jack & Cheryl (dancing the Foxtrot)
Jack wants to raise awareness about MS. Ozzy and Sharon are in the audience and crying. Like Leah, this is a very sweet and elegant Foxtrot. A few awkward and rather stiff moments from Jack. You can tell that he is a bit nervous. I am enjoying the choreography here as Cheryl once again (as usual) knows how to put a routine together to show off her partner. There’s that smile from Jack. He needs more of that. A happy Jack with decent routines will go a very long way to him staying on the show. Another dance, that for week one, is impressive. To me, the least impressive of the night so far but still, very good.
Len is impressed. He says he is going to give his sister a run for her money. Bruno loved how playful it was. He loved the footwork was great but he told him to watch his turns. Len and Carrie Ann disagree. Carrie Ann wants to know how Sharon is feeling because she should be proud. Carrie Ann says that Jack is a ballroom dancer.
Carrie Ann- 8, Len- 8, Bruno- 7, for a total of 23/30
To VOTE for Jack & Cheryl, call 800-868-3402, TEXT the word VOTE to 3402, or use ABC.COM and/or Facebook. 12 votes per method allowed this week.
*Note- celeb sightings in the audience- Jennifer Lopez and her boyfriend, and many members of the Glee cast.
Amber & Derek (dancing the Cha-cha-cha)
WOW! This is awesome. Amber is absolutely rocking it. This is just crazy good. Derek and Amber are going to make a hot team if they can keep up routines like this. Amber is firing on all cylinders, from the tone of the dance to the actual steps. She is totally in-sync with Derek and she looks like she is having an amazing time. Derek has once again landed himself a great partner who he can choreograph well for. This absolutely exceeded my expectations. I figured Amber would be able to do okay during the competition but I never thought she would come out and be stellar in a Cha-cha-cha in week one. Dynamite!
Bruno calls Amber the tigress of season 17. He loved it. Carrie Ann is going nuts. She bows to Amber. Len can’t believe how good it was for week one. He calls it incredible and fabulous.
Carrie Ann- 9, Len- 9, Bruno- 9, for a total of 27/30
To VOTE for Amber & Derek, call 800-868-3407, TEXT the word VOTE to 3407, or use ABC.COM and/or Facebook. 12 votes per method allowed this week.
Elizabeth & Val (dancing Contemporary)
And…another fabulous routine. This is very much like Corbin’s contemporary in that it is nothing we haven’t seen before but it is still technically on point. Elizabeth’s former training helps as well. Add to that that she is an actress and she has the tone down of the dance as well. A nicely choreographed routine to “Imagine” and a lot of emotion from Elizabeth and Val. Once again and I know I keep repeating myself, but this is an incredible night for week one routines. Beautiful!
Carrie Ann calls her an angel and says this is so superior to “Showgirls“. Len thought it was lovely. Bruno says to watch out to the rest of the cast because the original showgirl is back. His only critique is to extend her arms even more.
Carrie Ann- 8, Len- 8, Bruno- 8, for a total of 24/30
To VOTE for Elizabeth & Val, call 800-868-3405, TEXT the word VOTE to 3405, or use ABC.COM and/or Facebook. 12 votes per method allowed this week.
Bill Nye & Tyne (dancing the Cha-cha-cha)
Well, this night was going so darn well. LOL. I kid. I’m not going to bash him too hard. Bill Nye is obviously going to bring the funny, like Andy Dick for example. I mean, Bill Nye is super cool and I think he is going to have a big fan base calling in for him weekly but it would be a shame if he starts to outlast better dancers. Let’s face it- this isn’t a traditional Cha-cha-cha. And that’s okay if it was good otherwise. But it really isn’t. It is just an attempt at being funny. I give Bill credit for two things. One, keeping in time with his partner in parts and two, having the guts to do this. But clearly and without question, the weakest of the night so far. Watch it for the LOLZ and that’s about it.
Len said it was painful to watch. He said there wasn’t enough Cha-cha-cha. Bruno said the elements were there but were all backwards and forwards. Carrie Ann says that Bill Nye is the type of contestant that makes the show what it is. She loves that he loves to dance and says he is the heart of the show.
Carrie Ann- 5, Len- 4, Bruno- 5, for a total of 14/30
To VOTE for Bill Nye & Tyne, call 800-868-3404, TEXT the word VOTE to 3404, or use ABC.COM and/or Facebook. 12 votes per method allowed this week.
Keyshawn & Sharna (dancing the Cha-cha-cha)
Well, the usual “football players are going to rock” thing might be out the window with Keyshawn. He is really awkward and stiff here. Sharna is doing SO much work. At points during the dance, Keyshawn is just standing there as Sharna does some great moves on her own. That’s not going to work for a long time. Keyshawn needs to work on just about everything from head to toe. Also, he has a real issue with the musicality and that is going to hurt him a whole lot if he doesn’t work on it. He said in his package that he didn’t want to look feminine and actually came off (at least to me) with a bit of an attitude. I hope that doesn’t last. I want to say he has the potential to improve, so let’s see what happens next week.
Bruno said it was like the Empire State Of Building trying to be a Rockette. He mentions that he needs to work on his timing. Carrie Ann says to be confident. He was a bit stiff in the beginning. Len loves his attitude but the technique needs to be worked on.
Carrie Ann- 6, Len- 5, Bruno- 6, for a total of 17/30
To VOTE for Keyshawn & Sharna, call 800-868-3408, TEXT the word VOTE to 3408, or use ABC.COM and/or Facebook. 12 votes per method allowed this week.
Christina & Mark (dancing Contemporary)
This is my favorite of the contemporary dances tonight. Christina was really nervous in her rehearsal package but she didn’t really need to be. Mark, surprisingly to me, choreographed something that did both himself and his partner very well. This has a lot of content. It feels like more content that the previous contemporary pieces had but that might be because Mark choreographs with hard moves if you will. Christina is doing very well and turning on the dramatics when needed. At some point, all these contemporary pieces mesh together for me and I need something different so I can be excited. This routine did that for me. I am really looking forward to seeing how Christina does with a regular ballroom routine because again, she is another one that could be a potential contender here. Good job.
Carrie Ann thinks she is better than she thinks she is. She wants her to open up. Len loved the choreography but wants to see Christina not be so careful. Bruno loved the intensity and how it was played. Bruno tells her to watch her hands.
Carrie Ann- 7, Len- 7, Bruno- 8, for a total of 22/30
To VOTE for Christina & Mark, call 800-868-3401, TEXT the word VOTE to 3401, or use ABC.COM and/or Facebook. 12 votes per method allowed this week.
*Note- Bill Nye is super popular. He has a high percentage of folks talking about him on Facebook and folks in the audience at the show are mentioning him as their favorite. Dude is going to get tons of votes people!
Bill & Emma (dancing the Foxtrot)
Color me surprised. This isn’t half bad. I expected Bill to be pretty bad quite honestly. But it wasn’t. Sure, this needs tons of refinement and Bill came come off awkward at times but he is keeping up with the routine and staying with Emma here. Put it this way- this might be one of the weaker routines of the night but it was better than the other Bill. I don’t think Bill is going to survive long on this show but he should be proud of doing an adequate week one routine. It could have been so much worse.
Len said Bill needs more fluidity but he went out there and did it. Bruno felt something. Bill says maybe it was gas. Bruno mentions heartburn. But he compliments him a bit. Carrie Ann was happily surprised. She wants Bill to be more smooth but she was impressed by a few things.
Carrie Ann- 6, Len- 6, Bruno- 6, for a total of 18/30
To VOTE for Bill & Emma, call 800-868-3409, TEXT the word VOTE to 3409, or use ABC.COM and/or Facebook. 12 votes per method allowed this week.
Valerie & Tristan (dancing the Foxtrot)
Aww. This woman deserves all the credit in the world. May she have all the blessings. What a trooper and a true American treasure. Okay. Honesty time. So, it isn’t perfect. Valerie goes off the music a few times, her frame could be better and she has a few balancing issues during the routine. All that being said, I really don’t care. LOL. I’m sorry but she makes me smile. I can’t imagine anyone will watch that routine and despite the obvious issues, not be inspired by this woman. Will she last longer than she probably should? Maybe. But so will Bill Nye. Who cares? Let people vote for whom they want and if they are inspired and adore her, more power to her. Valerie is crying post-dance and honestly, so am I.
Bruno says she was radiant and stylish but he does mention some basic ballroom issues. Carrie Ann is crying. She thanks Valerie for being on the show. She mentions for Valerie to work on her spots. Len liked the ease of the dance and gave Tristan props on the choreography
Carrie Ann- 7, Len- 7, Bruno- 7, for a total of 21/30
To VOTE for Valerie & Tristan, call 800-868-3410, TEXT the word VOTE to 3410, or use ABC.COM and/or Facebook. 12 votes per method allowed this week.
Snooki & Sasha (dancing the Cha-cha-cha)
Again, color me impressed. Snooki can move. And not just the club type moving. She has already surpassed her Jersey Shore co-star The Situation, who was terrible. Snooki actually seems like she wants to do well with this. She is having fun on the floor and she and Sasha make a good pair. They have the size connection and I think Sasha knows exactly how to choreograph her. I am definitely pleased with her bringing the fun. In her package, she calls herself a hot mess but this is far from one. One of the better routines of the night for me. I’m not sure how the audience is going to react to her but I was thoroughly entertained.
Carrie Ann was really impressed. She loved that Snooki went for it. Len loved that it was fast. And he loved the footwork. Bruno loved the way Snooki went for it. He wants her to make sure though that she keeps stretching the back. The other judges want him to shut up.
Carrie Ann- 8, Len- 8, Bruno- 7, for a total of 23/30
To VOTE for Snooki & Sasha, call 800-868-3412, TEXT the word VOTE to 3412, or use ABC.COM and/or Facebook. 12 votes per method allowed this week.
Week 1 Judges’ Leaderboard:
Amber- 27
Corbin- 24
Elizabeth- 24
Jack- 23
Snooki- 23
Brant- 22
Christina- 22
Leah- 21
Valerie- 21
Bill- 18
Keyshawn- 17
Bill Nye- 14
And with that, week one comes to a close. What did you guys think of the show? Did it live up to the hype? Are you satisfied with how the new format seems to be playing out? And of course, what did you think of our cast and their future potential to entertain us? Were you shocked by how good these celebs are in week one? I thought it was a really solid premiere with some great dancing and as usual, some not so great dancing. But I definitely don’t see this as a boring cast. Couple in the changes, and I think we have an exciting and really suspenseful season ahead.
I’ll put up a new post soon with some fun POLLS dedicated to this week’s premiere. Head on over and vote/comment if you like. I hope you all enjoyed the premiere along with me and hope to come back each and every Monday night. It has been a pleasure! :D
