2024-09-18 12:00:02
Season 33 of “Dancing With the Stars” kicked off with a bang.
While week one didn’t include an elimination, it did introduce the audience to a new group of celebrities vying for the coveted Len Goodman Mirrorball. Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough returned as co-hosts with judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough.
At the top of the two-hour episode, former Bachelor Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson were shocked to receive a 21/30 — a very high score for week one — after a very impressive and high-energy cha-cha.
It was Chandler Kinney who “set the bar so high,” according to Inaba. She and partner Brandon Armstrong absolutely killed their tango, topping the leaderboard with a score of 23/30. However, Dwight Howard and Daniella Karagach came in second with 22/30.
During rehearsals, Olympian Stephen Nedoroscik didn’t appear to have rhythm or dance skills. Then he stepped onto the dance floor with partner Rylee Arnold for a very high-energy jive that earned them a 21/30.
The last “star” to hit the dance floor was convicted felon Anna Delvey, who during her package, laughed while explaining that she’s wearing an ankle bracelet because she was in jail and “it was hard to leave.” She added, “I reinvented myself many times, and this time, I’m going to be a ballroom dancer.”
After her routine — which began with a zoom in on the bedazzled ankle bracelet — Inaba spoke to both Delvey and the audience. “When you came out on the dance floor, there was a shift in the energy in this room. I just want to say, let’s all just give this a chance, because I can imagine that this is scary for you,” the judge said. “I’m not pro or against that you’ve done, but this is about your dancing here, so let’s all give her this space, please.”
See the all dances and scores from the premiere below:
