Dancing with the Stars Season 17 Premiere 

It’s back! And a few things have changed.  This season the show will only be one day a week instead of having a results show on Tuesday.  The judges’ scores from tonight’s episode will be combined with the judges’ scores from next week’s episode. Those scores will then be combined with the fan votes from this week to determine who’ll be the first to be eliminated. Other changes to the show: The judges are on a different side of the set (I don’t think it makes a difference, but what do I know); the cast sits in the audience instead of having their balcony green room (As my 2 ½-year-old nephew says: “I don’t like this.” The scores come immediately after judges’ comments; there are real time social media updates; and there is an audience right outside the stage who get to comment and such (The jury is out on this).  Does this make the show better and new, not sure just yet but let’s get to the dancing!  Here is my breakdown of tonight’s show:

Brandt and Peta

Dance: Cha Cha

Peta flirted with Brandt the first moment they met.  (Why not, she’s single!  And apparently so is he.) The two have great chemistry and did a good job.  Brandt’s Mom is a big fan of the show, so the guy has that pressure.  Even though he had a mistake, it was a good start to the first week.

Score: 7-Carrie Ann, 8- Len, 7-Bruno; Total: 22

Voting number: 800-868-3403

Leah and Tony

Dance: Foxtrot

Leah has been in the news lately and during the taped piece she stated that this year was about facing her fears.  She is pretty funny and very hard on herself.  I thought she did great but I think she can do so much more! I’m a fan.

Side note: Her bestie, Jennifer Lopez, was in the audience supporting her. Loyalty is awesome.  And doesn’t it seem like it would be cool to hang out with her?  Just saying!

Score: 7- Carrie Ann, 7- Len, 7-Bruno; Total: 21

Voting Number: 800-868-3411

Corbin and Karina

Dance: Contemporary

Let’s be honest: we all knew the boy can dance.  Karina was so happy about him being her partner.  This was the first Contemporary dance she had ever done!  She was really nervous and the only other time that has happened is when she had to do hip hop!  She also said she is usually the one with crazy ideas and Corbin went along with it.  Karina said she has met her match.  They did lifts on the first night, that usually comes much later in the competition.  Cray Cray!

Score: 8-Carrie Ann, 8-Len, 8-Bruno; Total: 24

Voting Number: 800-868-3406

Jack and Cheryl-

Dance: Foxtrot

Jack was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis last year and is doing DWTS to raise awareness of the disease.  This was a great first dance for Jack and considering he is not a performer, he did an amazing job making his mom, Sharon cry and his father Ozzy cheer. He has some work to do but the real test is the Latin dances!  One word seemed to sum up this dance and that was: Joyful.

Side note: His sister Kelly came in third when she participated.  Will Jack beat that?  Could happen…..

Score: 8-Carrie Ann, 8-Len, 7-Bruno, Total: 23

Voting Number: 800-868-3402

Amber and Derek-

Dance: Cha Cha

When I heard Amber Riley was going to be on DWTS, I was really thrilled.  Yes, this girl can sing, but can she dance?  Well I knew she would be good but she blew everyone away!  Even the judges gave the girl all nines cause they can’t give out 10s on Week 1! (I would have given you 10s!!!)  Could Derek be a 5-time champion?

Just a side note:  I love that so many of Amber’s cast mates from Glee were in the audience.

Score: 9-Carrie Ann, 9-Len, 9-Bruno; Total: 27

Voting Number: 800-868-3407

Elizabeth and Val

Dance: Contemporary

Here is another person we all knew could dance. (Not only can she dance but she can dance on a trampoline! If you get that reference, you’re okay in my book.)  It was a beautiful dance. Tom, the best live host in the business, reminded Elizabeth that back when she was watching her buddy Mario Lopez compete, he suggested to her that she should be on the show.  And now here she is all these seasons later!

Just a side note:  Val, you never tell Jessie Spano that you liked Kelly Kapowski better!  Especially when Jessie Spano is your dance partner.  When will these Chmerkovskiys learn?

Score: 8-Carrie Ann, 8-Len, 8-Bruno; Total: 24

Voting Number: 800-868-3405

Bill Nye and Tyne

Dance: Cha Cha

Here’s where I begin my uproar toward the judges.  Here is a man who is so far from his comfort zone, but is trying something for the first time in front of millions of people.  Before this point in the show I was thinking to myself, gosh what did Len smoke because he is in a good mood!  But then Bill Nye danced with a brand new pro and cranky Len and rude Bruno came back to life. Was this a good dance, not really, but again the man went for it.  Instead of giving him constructive criticism they both told him in one way or another how bad he was.  Of course Carrie Ann saved the day by explaining that people who didn’t dance and then came out and tried is what Dancing with the Stars is all about!

Bill Nye (I can’t just call him Bill!) gave himself and Tyne a team name: Hot Knowledge.  Go Geek!

Score: 5, 4, 5; Total: 14

Voting Number: 800-868-3404

Keyshawn and Sharna

Dance: Cha, Cha

Here’s my issue with this dance:  Sharna did most of the dancing.  Keyshawn is going to have to step up his game (no pun intended) if he is going to go farther in the competition.  He has to loosen up and if anyone can get him to do it, Sharna can.

Score: 6-Carrie Ann, 5-Len, 6-Bruno; Total: 17

Voting Number: 800-868-3408

Christina and Mark

Dance: Contemporary

Being an R&B singer makes Christina Milan another contestant that most people thought knew how to dance.  Christina couldn’t believe that J-Lo was there in the audience, a person that she admires and it made her nervous.  She did very well, but needs a little more confidence in herself.  As Carrie Ann said to her in so many words: I think you are better then you realize.

Score: 7-Carrie Ann, 7-Len, 8-Bruno; Total: 22

Voting Number: 800-868-3401

Bill and Emma

Dance: Foxtrot

Bill Engvall declared that he wants to be the “Redneck’s Dance King.”  Well I have to say: not bad for the comedian!  He is on his way to his throne. (That was cheesy, but it works)  I think everyone including myself was really impressed with him. Bruno even said he had an air of sophistication!

Score: 6-Carrie Ann, 6-Len, 6-Bruno; Total Score: 18

Voting Number: 800-868-3409

Valerie and Tristan

Dance: Foxtrot

I think this was the couple that everyone was waiting and rooting for.  How can you not?  For a woman who was diagnosed with a terminal disease, what she is doing is not just inspiring but a miracle.  I think Valerie said it best: “It’s good to be alive and it’s even better to be dancing!”

Score: 7-Carrie Ann, 7-Len, 7-Bruno; Total: 21

Voting Number: 800-868-3410

Snooki and Sasha

Dance: Cha Cha

I have to admit, the girl can dance.  Wasn’t it nice to see this girl on a dance floor sober?  Just saying.  I hope this really is the change that this girl needed.

P.S.  I loved that they owned it when they said they were the shortest couple in the competition.  As Tom said, “As a man that is 5’9″, I’ve never felt so tall!”

Score: 8-Carrie Ann, 8-Len, 7-Bruno; Total: 23

Voting Number: 800-868-3412

What do you think?  Who will be the first to go home?  See you next week!

Dancing with the Stars airs Monday nights at 8/7c on ABC.