Break out the rhinestones and the sequins, "Dancing with the Stars" is back for its seventh season with the biggest cast ever: 13 stars of stage, screen and the kitchen!
"Hannah Montana" star Cody Linley and two-time "Dancing with the Stars" champ Julianne Hough got the competition off and running with a fierce cha cha. Head judge Len Goodman told the youngest couple ever to compete, "You came out full of confidence. It was high-energy dancing. Sometimes too much energy gives it a wildness. You need to temper that, but great job." Carrie Ann Inaba joked, "Your combined ages are younger than mine. I see incredible potential. Your lines were good. I hope you make it back tomorrow. I want to see your next dance." And Bruno Tonioli added, "You were bursting with energy and excitement. I know [Julianne] was good and you couldn't keep your eyes off her, but you need to make it technically clean." The first couple out scored an 18.
Celebrity chef Rocco DiSpirito and Karina Smirnoff took to the floor to foxtrot. Bruno felt that Rocco's feet were all over the place, but added, "I am sure you will be better tomorrow." Carrie Ann commented, "I think what you have going for you is a great connection with the audience. Keep going with that." Len said, "Good attempt." Rocco and Karina were awarded 14 points.
Next up were Toni Braxton and Alec Mazo, who wowed the judges with their first dance. That doesn't mean there wasn't some criticism with Len suggesting to Toni, "You've got to straighten your legs more. That will give you hip action." Bruno said, "Everybody knows I like my divas. You are all of that." The couple earned 22 points.
They were followed by Olympic gold medalist Maurice Greene and two-time "Dancing with the Stars" champ Cheryl Burke dancing the foxtrot. Len said, "There were parts that were wild and parts that were wacky. This competition is a marathon, pace yourself." Bruno told Maurice, "You have a great presence. You obviously like dancing. You lost your posture in hold and your footwork was poor. You are promising." Carrie Ann pointed out, "You can definitely dance. You have to work on the style that we are asking you to do. Try to bridge between being James Brown-y and ballroom." The judges scored them 18 points.
Dancing the cha cha cha were Brooke Burke and Derek Hough. Carrie Ann commented, "Four babies and your torso moves like that! You have an amazing body designed to dance. A lot of our models haven't done well, but you have the strength." Bruno added, "Brooke is going for broke. Your legs! All I can say is, what a debut." Len kept it simple: "Best dance so far." Brooke and Derek received the highest score of the night: 23 points.
Ted McGinley and first-time professional partner Inna Brayer rounded out the first hour of the competition with a foxtrot. Bruno told Ted, "At moments, you had the elegance of Cary Grant in 'To Catch a Thief' and then you turned into Steve Carell." Len thought: "You had style and elegance and your footwork was very, very good. Over all, well done." Carrie Ann pointed out, "The hardest thing you are going to overcome is your fears. You can see the movements are there. You have great potential in this contest." Ted and Inna were awarded 18 points.
Lance Bass and newcomer Lacey Schwimmer danced the cha cha cha. Len told them, "What you did, you did well. It was young and modern. The problem is I am old and traditional. I don't want a hodge podge." Carrie Ann disagreed, saying, "I thought that was hot hot hot. Great sharp movements. You knew what you were doing. You nailed it." Bruno agreed, pointing out: "That was edgy and spunky. You should be proud. It was a cha cha cha for now." Lance and Lacey tied with Toni and Alex at 22 points.
Cloris Leachman and Corky Ballas were stylin' to the foxtrot. Bruno started, "You were floating out there with geriatric presence." Len joked, "I was going to say at your age, I am surprised how well you danced, Corky." Then he added, "The dance had a nice feel about it." Carrie Ann remarked, "This is what we call a golden oldie. You were nothing but grace on the dance floor." They scored a 16.
Jeffrey Ross, who danced with an injured eye from earlier in the day when his partner Edyta Sliwinska accidentally poked him, got kudos from the judges for getting out on the floor. Carrie Ann said, "It is hard because I know you injured yourself, but the musicality was off." Bruno added, "Nothing really worked." And Len simply said, "I think everyone who comes on to 'Dancing with the Stars' is a winner because of the commitment you all make." Jeff and Edyta had the low score of the night: 12 points.
Up next were Kim Kardashian and last season's champ Mark Ballas performing a foxtrot. Len felt it was clean, saying, "It had a nice musicality, but it was cold. There was no chemistry between you two." Bruno commented, "You are such a dusky beauty. It reminds me of Princess Jasmine in 'Aladdin,' but you need to make it more available." Carrie Ann agreed, adding, "I think you move very well. Your weakest point is that you are not used to moving your head. I think that is why we feel disconnected." Even so, Kim and Mark earned 19 points.
Soap opera diva Susan Lucci and new dad Tony Dovolani, whose wife recently gave birth to twins, hit the dance floor with a cha cha cha. Bruno stated, "You are a gorgeous lady, but the cha cha cha needs a slut. If you come back, let yourself go a little more." Carrie Ann added, "Dancing is quite athletic and trying. I think you need to put on weight, because you looked a little frail." Len declared the dance, "Neat." Then he added, "It was precise and it was a bit too careful. I think ballroom dancing will be more up your alley." That said, the couple were awarded 15 points.
They were followed by Misty May-Treanor and Maksim Chmerkovskiy dancing the foxtrot. Carrie Ann declared, "I have never seen anyone attack a foxtrot with so much intensity. I am sure that intensity will go well for you. Try not to muscle everything. Relax into it." Len disagreed with Carrie Ann, saying, "I thought that had an elegance about it. I though your arms were really nice. I thought in hold you did a really good job." Bruno advised, "If I was you, I wouldn't worry about being lady like, you were glowing on the floor. You will go a long way." Their score reflected the compliments: 21.
NFL great Warren Sapp and Kym Johnson were the final couple of the night to perform the foxtrot. Len exclaimed, "You are a great big bundle of joy. One of the secrets of the cha cha is to come out and have fun and that is what you did!" Carrie Ann said, "You were so cute. We watched so many dances tonight and [it was great] to end on such a positive note. You brought joy to the dance floor." Bruno enthused, "Big boys can dance! You were so light on your feet. You were right with Kym all the time." Warren and Kim tied with Misty and Maks with 21 points.
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