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The 33rd season of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” (DWTS) has taken the media by storm as the likes of rugby star Ilona Maher, pommel horse hero Stephen Nedoroscik, former “The Bachelor” bachelor Joey Graziadei and convicted felon Anna Sorokin — also known as Anna Delvey — donned their dancing shoes. The season premiered Sept. 17 at 8 p.m. and featured all 13 celebrity contestants dancing to their “personal anthem.” Although there were no eliminations this week, there was certainly a hierarchy.
“The Bachelor” star Joey Graziadei and his partner Jenna Johnson started out the night strong with a silk cowboy shirt and Tyler Hubbard’s “Dancin’ In The Country.” Aside from occasionally robotic movements, the pair brought the energy with their upbeat cha-cha choreography, scoring a 21.
Next up, supermodel Brooks Nader and partner Gleb Savchenko performed the tango to Britney Spears. I think I speak for everyone when I say it seemed like we were interrupting something. Although it was nothing too extravagant, their performance had a dramatic catch that brought their score up to an 18.
It is impossible not to love Olympic rugby player Ilona Maher, who has gained popularity for her “Beast Beauty Brains” mentality on and off the pitch. When asked in the episode why she chose to do the show, her heartwarming response was that she wanted to make it easier for young girls to love their body. There was certainly room for improvement in her simple cha-cha with partner Alan Bersten, but it didn’t seem to matter, as her sassy facial expressions and infectious energy made the dance. But perhaps the best part was her over-the-top celebration for her score of 18, for which she told the judges, “I think you guys are being a bit too nice.”
It wouldn’t be DWTS without a loveable, yet stationary, older contestant. This year, it’s 72-year-old “Die Hard” and “Family Matters” star Reginald VelJohnson, who’s partnered with Emma Slater. Despite Judge Bruno Tonioli’s friendly quip that “only the eyes” were dancing and request for “a bit more steps please,” VelJohnson’s movements, although miniscule, earned him a 16.
Former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver, Danny Amendola, impressed the audience — despite the visible amount of effort — with his tango, accompanying returning veteran Whitney Carson. While in the NFL, Amendola “didn’t even have a touchdown dance,” so the two-time Super Bowl champion put everything out on the dance floor, making up for years of missed dance moves and earning himself a 20.
After 32 seasons’ worth of invitations, “Beverly Hills, 90210” actress Tori Spelling finally decided to grace the glittering ballroom with her presence to the tune of P!nk’s “Trust Fall,” which Spelling noted resonated with her as she is currently going through a public divorce and now self-discovery. While her foxtrot with Pasha Pashkov was brimming with energy, the dance certainly had some strange elements; for example, it opened with Spelling swimming on the floor, which ultimately resulted in a score of 17.
After watching Jen Tran and Sasha Farber’s cha-cha to Miley Cyrus’ “Flowers,” no one would have guessed she had only decided to come on the show two weeks before. From a helicopter-esque floor spin to a dramatic drop to finish, their footwork and chemistry wowed the ballroom and the judges, scoring a 19.
The highest scorers of the night were “Pretty Little Liars” star Chandler Kinney and her partner Brandon Armstrong. Throughout the pair’s snappy tango to Chappell Roan’s “HOT TO GO!,” it was almost impossible to distinguish between the “star” and the “pro.” The judges awarded a whopping 23 points, with Tonioli even ripping off his jacket and dancing as he complimented the duo.
Dubbed the “giraffe” dancing with the “gazelle,” 6-foot-10 NBA star Dwight Howard and 5-foot-3 pro Daniella Karagach are the duo that we never knew we needed. In addition to nailing their choreography, the pair used the height difference to their advantage. In their humorous routine, Howard dangled a blank-faced Karagach, eliciting chuckles from the crowd and judges, and granting them a 22.
The lowest scorers of the night were Hollywood legend Eric Roberts and Britt Stewart. Even with a live band and singer behind them, the lack of coordination from both parties was evident, resulting in a 15. However, Roberts is sure to have touched the hearts of all viewers with his unwavering enthusiasm for the show.
Though most commonly known for her role on “The Real Housewives of Atlanta,” viewers were impressed to learn Phaedra Parks is, among other things, an attorney, author and — yes, you heard it right — mortician. She seemed to have no difficulty adding “dancer” to her list of professions as she shimmied around the ballroom with Valentin Chmerkovskiy. Her timing and facial expressions were flawless, warranting a 19 from the judges.
Up next was pro Rylee Arnold and Olympic gymnast — and Rubik’s cube aficionado — Stephen Nedoroscik. Just like before his pommel-horse routine, the gold medalist took off his thick lenses before performing an upbeat jive to “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen. It’s no surprise the pair had a few tricks up their sleeve, including a front handspring, high kicks and a dramatic standing leapfrog. The fun they had with the choreography permeated into the audience and judges; their effervescent routine earned them a 21.
Last, but most certainly not least, was this year’s most controversial star: Anna Sorokin. The “scam-artist-socialite” who was found guilty of grand larceny in 2017 turned heads with her bedazzled ankle monitor and stoic facial expressions. While her cha-cha with Ezra Sosa had potential, she was very stiff, resulting in an 18. Judge Carrie Ann Inaba noted the “shift in the energy” when Sorokin performed and implored the audience to give her dancing “a chance.” That being said, I’m not sure how successful Sorokin was in “reinventing” herself this premiere: When asked how she felt after the performance she responded, “I feel happy that I don’t have to do this dance again.”
This season’s premiere was certainly not one to miss, with Kinney, Howard and Nedoroscik taking the stage by storm. However, the premiere left me itching for more from personalities like Maher, Parks and Spelling, whose passion for the competition promises us much potential.