'Dancing With The Stars' Season 19 premiere: Dance by dance recap
LOS ANGELES -- Antonio Sabato's dimples, "Grandma Swag," a "duckling" taking flight, the "Waltrip Wedgie," gangsta' Grandpa, "grool," and a 72-year-old lands a cartwheel and the splits -- if you missed the debut of "Dancing With The Stars" you missed a lot!
"Dancing With The Stars" kicked off season 19 with an energetic music video that represented the history of the show featuring judges Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli waving to Queen Elizabeth and heading from England to the U.S. with the show; American judges Carrie Ann Inaba and Julianne Hough joining them here in Hollywood; and then the 13 new couples dancing in and out of frame. Emmy winner Mandy Moore choreographed the extravaganza that welcomed the new season in with a bang.
The competition began right away since we have 13 performances to get through in this first two-hour show. Here's a recap of the dances, from highest score to lowest:
ALFONSO RIBEIRO - 36 out of 40
Are we surprised that Alfonso was pretty terrific right out of the box? No. He started his career dancing on Broadway in "The Tap Dance Kid!" Alfonso admits he's only been dancing in his heart and his mind for quite a long time. Well, he seems to be able to prove you never really lose it. Witney Carson choreographed a tough, fast Jive and he nailed it. Len called it a beautiful routine and the best dance of the night; Julianne said she was blown away by his musicality and it's something that can't be taught; Carrie Ann old the couple they've already raised the stakes for season 19.
SADIE ROBERTSON - 34 out of 40
Everyone who said "Sadie who?" when the cast was announced now knows the potential of this adorable 17-year-old. This daughter in the hierarchy that is "Duck Dynasty" was sent to Hollywood with the instructions to "use her good manners and her Southern charm." She did; but who knew she could dance too! Sadie told us she isn't even allowed to dance at her school, any skills she has she learned in her bedroom. Sadie looks like pre-pixie cut and wild child Miley Cyrus. Partner Mark Ballas knows he has a diamond in the rough! He teaches her all the right move with the Cha Cha. Len said "quack, quack you'll be back!" Carrie Ann told Sadie she's a star but doesn't know it. And Bruno called her "a duckling no more."
LEA THOMPSON - 32 out of 40
Like Alfonso, Lea Thompson does have some dance in her background. When she was young, her dream was to be a ballerina. But she told us when she tried out for Baryshnikov he told her no because she was "too stocky." Ouch! Thirty-two years later, she gets to see her dance dreams fulfilled. Lea is partnered with newcomer Artem Chigvintsev (a winner of Britain's "Strictly Come Dancing" show). They play with the fact that she is a bit older than him and she jokes with being a cougar. The age difference does not seem to matter on the dance floor; their foxtrot is light and fluid. Carrie Ann called it one of the best "first dances" ever; Len called her future "rosy." And then Tom Bergeron piped in with "Here's to you, Mrs. Robinson!" (He was full of great zingers this week!)
BETHANY MOTA - 32 out of 40
And again, we start this part of the show wondering just what "YouTube star" means. Obviously, I am over the age of 20. But this 18-year-old is one of the most recognizable names on social media so I'm sure my niece and other young friends are familiar with her work. Bethany comes off as very likable and effervescent. She's partnered with five-time champ Derek Hough so you know she'll be challenged, and she seems to be more than up for the ride. They jive to Taylor Swift's current number one hit "Shake It Off" and the routine is filled with fun. Carrie Ann said she was happily surprised; Len told Bethany there was no doubt she would be hanging around; Bruno said her moves were tidy, precise, sweet and cute; and Julianne called her brother's partner "sunshine in a box."
RANDY COUTURE - 31 out of 40
File another one under "surprise!" Randy Couture is a world champion of the UFC and recently moved into the acting world with "The Expendables" series. Like Bethany's YouTube world, not my cup of tea. He is paired with fan favorite Karina Smirnoff so there's one reason to cheer! Karina sees there's a kitten hiding under the tiger, and she brings it out with a soft and flowing Foxtrot. Len and Bruno offered comments like "charming" and "light on your feet." The women were a different story! Carrie Ann was downright weak in the knees after the performance. She told Randy he made her want to dance with him. Julianne agreed and called him the "epitome of a man." (Which sparked another great line from Tom Bergeron: "you realize you've hit on three guys here tonight?")
JONATHAN BENNETT - 30 out of 40
Jonathan has been a working actor since his breakout role in "Mean Girls." The question of "why now?" as far as his "DWTS" career was answered when he revealed his father had very recently passed away. And what was Dad's favorite show? "Dancing With The Stars." Jonathan thought it would be a lovely, and probably cathartic move, to participate. He's paired with newcomer Allison Holker (a star from the Fox series "So You Think You Can Dance?"). They assign the two a tough one: the jive. But Jonathan appears to be all in on this competition. Len complimented his potential; Carrie called him a polished performer; and Julianne said he was "grool" (for non-"Mean Girls" fans that's a combination of "great" and "cool").
JANEL PARRISH - 29 out of 40
Fans of "Pretty Little Liars" know Janel as a top TV villain. She shows us that was all an act and shows a fun playful side with her partner Val Chmerkovskiy. He's excited at the natural chemistry they seemed to find right off the bat. They were also assigned the tricky jive. Julianne called a week one "jive" assignment "cruel," but also called Janel sharp, raw, sexy and fierce. Bruno thought she channeled a bit of JLo (and that's a good thing). After the dance, Janel told Erin Andrews that at their first meeting Val told her she had the "swag of his Grandma." Luckily, Erin knows Grandma (remember she was partnered with Val's brother Maksim), and told Janel that was a complement!
TAVIS SMILEY - 29 out of 40
Talk show host and author Tavis Smiley is looking to do one last silly thing to celebrate turning 50. (He did so on Saturday). He worries that people only think he has one side: serious. His partner Sharna Burgess is determined to prove that wrong. They do a very competent Foxtrot. Carrie Ann told Tavis he is a natural and feels he has what it takes to grow; Len called him "nifty at 50;" and Julianne said she plans to call him "T Smiles."
TOMMY CHONG - 27 out of 40
So again with the surprise meter! A 76-year-old who has made a name for himself by being a stoner ends up with a "DWTS" standing ovation. His comedy partner, Cheech Marin, makes a cameo by dropping Tommy off in a low rider. Peta Murgatroyd has Tommy get his best "gangsta" on for an entertaining Cha Cha. Julianne called him sexy, like Rico Suave; and Bruno said he was expecting "Bad Grandpa" and instead got "Cool Grandpa." Tom commented that Tommy looked like "the most interesting man in the world."
ANTONIO SABATO JR - 25 out of 40
Antonio and his partner Cheryl Burke had the bad fortune of having to dance first; it seems like scores are always a little lower the earlier you dance in the telecast. Their Cha Cha was perfectly fine. He admits he has trouble moving his hips. Cheryl told him just to smile and show those dimples. Yes, it works! Len advised him to work on his footwork; and Bruno applauded the amount of content Cheryl was able to have him do in week one.
MICHAEL WALTRIP - 25 out of 40
Remember comedian Bill Engvall from last fall's competition? These two are friends and Michael offers the same good old' boy personality. He's pretty funny, too! And like Engvall, he is paired with pro Emma Slater. The judges all like his personality, but all asked for more content in the dance. Len said it looked like the engine was running but he never got out of first gear. Michael joked that one issue he had was his costume; he said the onesie they had him in kept giving him a wedgie!
LOLO JONES - 22 out of 40
Former Olympian Lolo Jones is one tough cookie. She has that strong athlete mentality, and admits she has a hard time letting people get close to her -- physically and emotionally. That makes it a little tricky for her partner, newcomer Keo Motsepe. She literally recoils when he tries to bring her close. Lolo has a problem with a prop during the routine and she just can't recover. She loses timing, confidence and her smile. And then completely beats herself up for it! The judges try to give some encouraging words but I don't think she was listening. Well, not until Bruno tried to warm things up by singing: "Let it go! Let it go!"
BETSEY JOHNSON - 20 out of 40
And last but not least is the colorful 72-year-old Betsey Johnson. Tony Dovolani realizes what he's gotten into at their first meeting and she greets him with a cartwheel. And the splits. The duo Cha Cha's to Madonna's "Material Girl" and the number is light and fun, if not spectacular. And then there's a wardrobe malfunction. Not in the Janet Jackson sort of way (thank goodness) but a feather boa she was supposed to grab off of a rack just did not budge and she literally got tripped up in the aftermath. Betsey gets a lot of cheers from the audience and that brings her to tears.
Who goes home after just one week of dancing? We'll find out Tuesday night at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT on ABC.
