Otherwise, the live, two-hour episode of DWTS kicked off just like it used to (pre-pandemic, that is) with plenty of openings, an enthusiastic (but scantily clad) studio audience and a grand entrance from host Tyra Banks. A few updates have also been made to the old franchise: DWTS veteran Conrad Green is back as executive producer, and Season 19 Champion Alfonso Ribiero is now providing some much-needed help with hosting duties, lobbing softball questions into the Sky Box. Here’s what happened on the first night: Jason Lewis and Peta Murgatroyd. The Sex and the City actor greeted his two-time champion partner with flowers and a warning that he can only dance after consuming whiskey or tequila. He was very sober when he performed the cha cha, so use your imagination if you missed the show. “What I need you to do is breathe. That’s what’s missing. You need to breathe and relax,” said Judge Carrie Ann Inaba. Rating: 18 out of 40 Vinny Guadagnino and Koko Iwasaki. The Jersey Shore alum says she’s a fish out of water in the ballroom. Apparently, he’s much more comfortable stripping down with the Chippendales in Las Vegas, where he’s based. Maybe he should have ripped his shirt off during his salsa because his number lacked heat. “I don’t get it, Vinny,” said Judge Len Goodman. “This of all dances is a club dance and you didn’t show me that. It was rough, your legs were very bent. I really wanted you to come out and knock my socks off.” Rating: 17 out of 40 Jesse James Decker and Alan Bersten. The country singer admitted to being a longtime DWTS fan, but expressed reservations about her chances since she was kicked out of dance class as a child. Luckily, her cha cha to “Sweet Home Alabama” didn’t sour the judges. “You went out and sold it. The performance level was really high,” Goodman said. Rating: 20 out of 40 Teresa Giudice and Pasha Pashkov. The former Real Housewives star said she’s doing DWTS because she wants viewers to see the real Teresa — not the one who went to jail for fraud. He is also working with a therapist to learn not to be provoked. That should be good news for the judges, I imagine? Anyway, her tango to “We Found Love” wasn’t awful except the way she was looking at the ceiling was just weird, man. “I saw you get a little high. Think really wide, not up or down or wide,” said Judge Derek Hough. Rating: 20 out of 30 Sam Champion and Cheryl Burke. The former Good Morning America weatherman was stunned to learn that Champion has been her partner since she encouraged him to do the show 10 years ago. As a gay man looking to step “out of his comfort zone,” Champion made his ballroom debut by performing a foxtrot to “Tiny Dancer” in a cloud of dry ice. “It was so tender and so sweet. You were a little nervous out of the gate,” Inaba said. Rating: 20 out of 40 Cheryl Ladd and Louis Van Amstel. The former Charlie’s Angels star reminded us that she is 71, but was thrilled to learn that Van Amstel, who has been absent from the show for 7 seasons, is her partner. He has his work cut out for him. Ladd admitted she’s not a dancer and was careful with her cha cha. But it has a pair of great wheels, so it’s halfway there! “Cheryl Ladd is having a blast! You have an elegance about you. I think the routine might have been too simple for you,” said Judge Bruno Tonioli. Rating: 21 out of 40 Trevor Donovan and Emma Slater. Apparently, the 90210 actor is afraid of dancing. Like, an “irrational phobia. There’s something in my head that prevents me from moving at all.” So definitely do Dancing with the Stars. What could possibly go wrong? His first quick step to “Dancing With Myself,” perhaps? “It was hectic, it was manic. you just came out and flew on that floor,” Goodman said. Rating: 21 out of 40 Joseph Baena and Daniella Karagach. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s son got lucky scoring last year’s champion as a partner. His dad wasn’t in the ballroom for his jive, but he paid tribute by flexing his arms at the top of his jive and doing a burpee at the end. “We’re all jealous of biceps! But actually, your musicianship was good. You weren’t heavy. I’m telling you, you’ll be back,” Tonioli said. Rating: 23 out of 40 Heidi D’Amelio and Artem Chigvintsev. Most viewers probably won’t recognize D’Amelio — a YouTuber with her own family show. But the producers seemed to like the idea of both mom D’Amelio and her much more famous daughter Charli doing the show together. D’Amelio was first for the family with a cha cha to “Lady Marmalade.” “Put all the energy, thought and interpretation behind every step. You really have to project your personality through your body,” Tonioli said. Rating: 24 out of 40 Jordan Sparks and Brandon Armstrong The platinum-selling artist reminded us that she won American Idol at age 19 and enjoyed a successful singing career. But one thing missing from her life is a mirror ball trophy! She kicked off the night with an impressive cha cha to Whitney Houston’s ‘I Want to Dance with Somebody’. “Jordan you have such an amazing presence on the floor,” Howe said. “That parting in the middle, girl! I saw that. That was fantastic.” Rating: 26 out of 40 Daniel Durant and Britt Stewart. The CODA actor wants to show people that “deaf people can dance too.” (Oh, we knew that. Who can forget Season 22 winner Nyle DiMarco?) Dressed in neon green, Durant danced a neat tango that drew rave reviews. “You moved well on the floor. I’m really excited to see you evolve as this series goes on,” said Goodman. Rating: 27 out of 40 Wayne Brady and Whitney Carson. The Let’s Make a Deal host is doing the show to make his grandma proud. This shouldn’t be difficult. His cha cha began with a mean pop and lock that immediately served as a warning to his competitors: Brady is coming hard for that mirror ball trophy. “Welcome to Wayne’s Track! Performance level through the roof. You have it and you know what to do with it,” Tonioli said. Rating: 29 out of 40. Shangela and Gleb Savchenko. Let’s hear it for the change makers! In addition to appearing as the first drag queen on DWTS, Shangela also announced that she will be performing all rehearsals outside of drag (her pronouns are he/him). Finally, two men dancing with each other under the mirror ball! If only it didn’t take 31 seasons and a new digital home for true integration to happen. “You have so much energy, so much power so much charisma,” Hough said. “Well done.” Rating: 28 out of 40 Gabby Windey and Val Chmerkovskiy. It is traditional for singles from the Bachelor/Bachelorette franchise to make an appearance DWTS. And like her predecessors, Windey has some weaponry experience. The animal showed her that she won’t be going home anytime soon. “For me that was, I think it was the best dance of the night so far. So sharp, so clean,” Howe said. “Your spin was unexpected.” Rating: 28 out of 40 Selma Blair and Sasha Farber. The longtime actress was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in August 2018, so issues with stiffness and balance will make the competition a challenge. But the judges were overwhelmed by her plight and bravery, so they were generous with their support. “Nice to see you here. You really created magic tonight. It was great,” Tonioli said. Rating: 28 out of 40 Charli D’Amelio and Mark Ballas. The social media star (and daughter of Heidi D’Amelio) is this year’s songstress: she’s amassed millions of followers on TikTok thanks to her stylish moves. She’s also a natural in front of the camera, which is why her cha cha was the last dance of the night. “Season 31 got really hot, really fast. It’s like I saw 20 different people dancing! You were something amazing,” Inaba said. Rating: 32 out of 40 The bottom two were Lewis/Murgatroyd and Giudice/Pashkov. All the judges saved Guidice, so poor Lewis went home. Next week is Elvis night!
