Dancing With the Stars returns for Season 35 with 16 celebrities competing for the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy. That ties Season 9 and Season 31 for the largest cast in the show’s history.
With so many performances to showcase, premiere week is a two-night affair, with the male stars taking the stage on Tuesday and the ladies following on Wednesday. They will each perform a No. 1 song from the year they were born, and one contestant will be eliminated at the end of each night, so we’ll be down to 14 celebrities before long.
Tuesday night’s hoofers are The Bachelorette runner-up Tyler Cameron, Paralympic athlete Ezra Frech, Hanson lead singer Taylor Hanson, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Conner Leavitt, Savannah Bananas baseball player Jackson Olson, Jimmy Kimmel Live sidekick Guillermo Rodriguez, Grey’s Anatomy and Glee alum Harry Shum Jr., and comedian Connor Wood. Also making her DWTS debut is Adele Zaikman, the winner of this summer’s Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro. She’s partnered with Leavitt.
Wednesday’s lineup includes The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air actress Tatyana Ali, Emmy-winning chef Giada De Laurentiis, actress and dancer Jenna Dewan, Olympic figure skater Amber Glenn, The Traitors and Love Island reality TV personality Maura Higgins, Summer House star Ciara Miller, Love Thy Nader star Sarah Jane Nader, and Save the Last Dance actress Julia Stiles. Nader will dance with another new pro, Hailey Bills, marking just the third same-sex team to compete on DWTS.
Season 19 winner Alfonso Ribeiro returns as host, alongside double Mirrorball champion Julianne Hough. Back at the judges’ table are Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli, and six-time Mirrorball champ Derek Hough. But as always, their scores are only half of the equation. They’re combined with the votes of viewers at home to determine who stays and who goes at the end of each episode, so connecting with the audience is the ultimate key to victory.
Who stands out as early favorites among the men on night one? And which unlucky couple will be eliminated? Read on for our Dancing With the Stars premiere episode recap.
Jackson Olson with pro partner Emma Slater
Performance: The Savannah Bananas entertainment baseball player cha cha to “Wannabe” by Spice Girls.
Carrie Ann’s comments: “You have potential to be a crowd favorite,” she praised, but he rushed through his movements.
Derek’s comments: “You are a natural born performer. That was a great way to start the show,” he said. But he criticized Jackson’s bent legs and poor technique. “The bottom half needs a lot of work.”
Bruno’s comments: “You really are able to put the spice in your performance,” Bruno said, but the details were off in the foot placement.
Scores: Carrie Ann (5), Derek (5), Bruno (5) = 15 out of 30
Tyler Cameron with pro partner Sharna Burgess
Performance: The reality star tried to get his frame and posture under control for a tango to “Are You Gonna Go My Way” by Lenny Kravitz.
Carrie Ann’s comments: “I am beyond impressed,” he didn’t finish his moves at first, but did once he settled in.
Derek’s comments: “You have this Patrick Swayze aura about you,” but his frame was a problem throughout.
Bruno’s comments: “I’m pleasantly surprised.” He’s built like a tank, but he can move and has “natural musicality, despite “a few hiccups.”
Scores: Carrie Ann (6), Derek (5), Bruno (6) = 17 out of 30
Conner Leavitt with pro partner Adele Zaikman
Performance: The fun-loving magic enthusiast from Secret Lives of Mormon Wives performed a salsa to “Whoomp! There It Is” by Tag Team.
Carrie Ann’s comments: “That was fun, and I love your enthusiasm,” but it was chaotic and he needs to focus more.
Derek’s comments: He didn’t think there was enough salsa in the routine, and the salsa that was included didn’t have good hip action.
Bruno’s comments: His timing was “on and off,” and “the hips don’t lie,” so Bruno wants to see more hip action next time.
Scores: Carrie Ann (4), Derek (4), Bruno (4) = 12 out of 30
UPDATE: Due to technical problems with online voting, this week’s online votes will be thrown out. Only text message votes will count.
Guillermo Rodriguez with pro partner Witney Carson
Performance: The popular Jimmy Kimmel Live scene-stealer charmed the crowd with a cha cha to “Mr. Big Stuff” by Jean Knight.
Carrie Ann’s comments: “It was super entertaining,” and every movement was “clearly defined.”
Derek’s comments: “That was spicy,” but the technique wasn’t there. The effort was, however, so now he needs to work on his technique.
Bruno’s comments: “It will go viral,” and “the technique will only get better.”
Scores: Carrie Ann (4), Derek (3), Bruno (3) = 10 out of 30
Ezra Frech with pro partner Daniella Karagach
Performance: Frech and Karagach worked to adapt his prosthetic to a tango to “Since U Been Gone” by Kelly Clarkson.
Carrie Ann’s comments: “This is what’s so special about our show,” they matched their lines and danced like a unit.
Derek’s comments: He was emotional watching the performance. His frame was fantastic. “You can do it all.”
Bruno’s comments: “So focused, so in control, but what really impressed me, you really looked like a leading man,” he said, which was especially impressive with Daniella.
Scores: Carrie Ann (7), Derek (6), Bruno (7) = 20 out of 30
Connor Wood with pro partner Rylee Arnold
Performance: The comedian performed a country-western infused cha cha to “I Like It, I Love It” by Tim McGraw.
Carrie Ann’s comments: “I was pleasantly surprised with that dance,” she said. “There’s a sweetness and a softness to you.” It was smooth even through the mistakes.
Derek’s comments: “You two are like a double dose of dopamine,” and his timing was pretty good for the most part.
Bruno’s comments: Connor needs to keep up the performance level, but work on improving his timing and technique.
Scores: Carrie Ann (6), Derek (5), Bruno (5) = 16 out of 30
Taylor Hanson with pro partner Britt Stewart
Performance: Hanson used to avoid dance, but this week performed a quickstep to “Tell Her About It” by Billy Joel.
Carrie Ann’s comments: “That’s a proper quickstep,” she said, channeling Len Goodman. To perform this well on week one, he’s one to watch in this competition.
Derek’s comments: “That was a tough dance … but your communication was great.” But he needs greater consistency with his frame.
Bruno’s comments: “That was proper, real quickstep with so much content.” It was the hardest dance to do, and he covered well when he made a mistake.
Scores: Carrie Ann (6), Derek (5), Bruno (5) = 16 out of 30
Harry Shum Jr. with pro partner Jenna Johnson
Performance: The former professional background dancer performed a cha cha to “Let’s Groove” by Earth, Wind & Fire in a medical-themed number on an “Emergency Disco” ballroom set.
Carrie Ann’s comments: “You are so electric when you perform,” but he needs to watch his axis and not exaggerate his moves.
Derek’s comments: “I really enjoyed that.”
Bruno’s comments: “The chemistry between you two is off the charts. Sharp as a scalpel.”
Scores: Carrie Ann (7), Derek (7), Bruno (7) = 21 out of 30
JUDGES’ LEADERBOARD
1. Harry Shum Jr. — 21
2. Ezra Frech — 20
3. Tyler Cameron — 17
4. Taylor Hanson — 16
4. Connor Wood — 16
6. Jackson Olson — 15
7. Conner Leavitt — 12
8. Guillermo Rodriguez — 10
RESULTS
Safe From Elimination: Harry Shum Jr., Taylor Hanson, Jackson Olson, Ezra Frech, Tyler Cameron
In Jeopardy: Guillermo Rodriguez, Connor Wood, Conner Leavitt
Eliminated: Conner Leavitt
