Recap: Dancing With The Stars Season 20, Episode 1

So is anyone of the opinion that they should just hand the mirror ball trophy over to Nastia and Derek? I mean c’mon … Olympic champion!!! So she’s basically the most graceful, flexible and super-humanly strong woman on the planet. Derek wasn’t announced as a returning pro when the Dancing With the Stars Season 20 list of pro-dancers was first announced on Feb. 12 (and season 19 rookie pro Keo Motsepe was a late addition too), did Derek hold out until he was guaranteed the woman — who on paper at least — is the best dancer?

I can’t wait to be surprised by some of the other contestants this season. Riker Lynch (who is Derek and Julianne’s second cousin!) brings Glee-thusiasm while Rumer Willis and 14-year-old Willow Shields may pull out some secret dance moves.

From the top of the show, we know that Season 20/ the 10th Anniversary season (can we use each interchangeably) is going to be a season of celebration. The show’s opening package was amazing and the opening dance, where the female pros were in nude and sequins and the male pros all wore black was tight!!!

Dancing With The Stars Season 20
Willow & Mark
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Willow Shields & Mark Ballas 1-855-234-5612
Dancing a Cha Cha to Lips Are Movin’ by Megan Trainor
Willow is only 14!! Her production package was too cute with Mark yelling, “I volunteer, I volunteer as partner!” Willow brings a fresh exuberance that young fans will adore and she was the perfect way to start the season. I can’t believe the poise the brings to the ballroom and perhaps she will inspire other young girls to give ballroom dancing a try! Mark is the perfect partner for Willow, he is so respectful of younger dancers and his creativity finds a way to put forth fresh and age-appropriate routines for women who aren’t ready to be sexy.
Len: “Like a sparkling glass of Alka-Seltzer — sparking, bubbling, refreshing and makes you feel good.”
Julianne: You might be the youngest dancer we’ve ever had, but you’ve got some saaaaaaaass!
Bruno: Aah, Tribute Willow, the odds are in your favor!
Carrie Ann: I’m so impressed. You showed age-appropriate pizazz, but also a lot of sophistication!
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 6, Len: 6, Julianne: 6, Bruno: 7, total 25 out of 40

Dancing With The Stars Season 20
Robert & Kym
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Robert Herjavec & Kym Johnson 1-855-234-5609
Dancing a Cha Cha to Bills by Lunch Money Lewis
FYI-Robert is rich. And handsy. And Kym may be in love. Is Robert married? If not, this couple could be the romance de jour. It’s great to see Kym back, and hear her charming Aussie accent. The performance was a little too prop-heavy for my taste, but DWTS isn’t about subtlety, Robert is rich. That will likely be  a recurring theme for this season.

Robert isn’t a terrible dancer, but he’s not great either. But what he lacks in skills, he more than makes up with enthusiasm, his perma-grin … and his handsy-hands. I mean seriously, that smile, is either endearing, or terrifying. You decide.
Julianne: I am completely blown away; I was not expecting that! You are so infectious.
Bruno: I was expecting a fearsome competitor; what we got was Flipper, the crazy dolphin!
Carrie Ann: You were like a 14 year-old kid!
Len: I expected the shark to be a fish out of water.
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 7, Len: 7, Julianne: 7, Bruno: 7, total 28 out of 40

Dancing With The Stars Season 20
Riker & Allison
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Riker Lynch & Allison Holker 1-855-234-5608
Dancing a Jive to What I Like About You by The Romantics
I am SO glad to see Allison Holker back this season! I interviewed her last season and she is just a dream of a woman who has so many ideas for exciting and inspiring dances. (Related: 7 Questions with Allison Holker)
Things to know about Riker. Riker is a member of the bang R5 (With his brothers and family friend). Riker also was in Glee so he knows how to move to music. He’s actually quite a good and powerful dancer, but I want to pull his terrible bleach-blonde hair back into a brony-tail so badly.
Bruno: Riker, the rocket rocker! You’ve got the coolest vibe since Billy Idol.
Carrie Ann: I wouldn’t call that graceful but it was exciting!
Len: You’ve got to think refinement now. You need to refine it for next week.
Julianne: I’m excited for this partnership!
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 8, Len: 7, Julianne: 8, Bruno: 8, total 31 out of 40

Dancing With The Stars Season 20
Charlotte & Keo
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Charlotte McKinney & Keo Motsepe 1-855-234-5601
Dancing a Jive to Shake a Tail Feather by The Blues Brothers
Beautiful Charlotte is dancing to prove she’s more than her boobs, but then proceeded to do nothing bot talk about her ample bosom. She has wonderful legs and is a pretty peppy dancer and I’m sue she’ll have legions of hungry fans watching to see if her assets pop out of her skimpy wardrobe; she’s a busty wardrobe malfunction waiting to happen.

And I adore Keo. He really shines in Latin numbers and I hope he goes far. After Charlotte’s less-than stellar scores, I hope that America’s votes can keep him round for a few more weeks.
Len: I enjoyed the way you came out.
Carrie Ann: You had a rough start, but you are so much fun to watch!
Julianne: Jive is a tough dance to do for tall, beautiful girls. The top half is really great.
Bruno: It must make a monumental effort to carry America’s most imposing frontage … and dance the cha cha cha. (Bruno, they danced a Jive)
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 6, Len: 5, Julianne: 5, Bruno: 6, total 22 out of 40.

Dancing With The Stars Season 20
Patti & Artem
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Patti LaBelle & Artem Chigvintsev 1-855-234-5606
Dancing a Foxtrot to Lady Marmalade by Patti LaBelle
Patty is fabulous and came to show America that “Miss Patty can dance!” I love that between taking the photo at right -> and tonight, Patti cut her hair shorter which really suits her face. She looks cute with her short and sassy hair.

Patti moves with a regality that fits a woman of her elegance, but at the end she brought out a massive dose of charisma! And everyone in the ballroom simply adores her. After receiving the judges’ praise, Patti was in tears. I can imagine that Patti is used to applause, but she is still humbled by praise.
Len: It had such an ease. 24 karat.
Julianne: When you dance, you are a gorgeous, graceful goddess.
Bruno: You rung my bell, Patti. True Showbiz royalty.
Carrie Ann: You are incredible. You kept it simple so we could see the grace of this beautiful woman.
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 7, Len: 6, Julianne: 6, Bruno: 6, total 25 out of 40

Chris & Witney 1-855-234-5602
Chris & Witney
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Chris Soules & Witney Carson 1-855-234-5602
Dancing a Jive to Footloose by Kenny Loggins
Can Prince Farming dance? Just a week after the former Bachelor got engaged to a blonde beauty named Whitney, he’s dancing on TV with a different blonde and beautiful Witney.

Does this mean that Chris has only had a week to practice? It’s hard not to be charmed by Chris. He looks great in right jeans, he has an “Aw-shucks” demeanor and he’s smokin’ hot! Is it too soon to ask that we are treated to a shirtless dance? This week he wore jeans, but can they be even tighter jeans? Maybe he could do some roping? Wait, he’s a farmer, not a rancher.
Julianne: I love a country boy, and I’m a little biased, I do love Footloose. And your feet were a little loose.
Bruno: Rough and rugged but totally charming. But don’t lean forward, you look like you’re chasing a hog, not a beautiful girl.
Carrie Ann: Tons and Tons of potential…but watch your arms, you have t-rex arms going on.
Len: You’re like this truck; you need some polish.
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 7, Len: 6, Julianne: 6, Bruno: 7, total 26 out of 40

Dancing With The Stars Season 20
Michael & Peta
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Michael Sam & Peta Murgatroyd 1-855-234-5603
Dancing a Cha Cha to Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson, featuring Bruno Mars
Michael is hoping to be drafted through football free-agency this season so hopefully dancing will help him get in shape. Football players have done well on the show in the past, which bodes well for him. Michael and Peta are dancing to my current favorite song. Michael is a joy to watch, he is strong, he has fantastically-fast feet. I think he will do well this season. And at the end of his performance when he rolled his hips, I almost fainted!
Bruno: That was hot. And I tell you, that butt is a work of art!
Julianne: Your feet were sloppy but overall you have a groove within you that is fun to watch. And you and Peta look so good!
Len: The only difference between us is you could win rear of the year and I would be ass or the past. The dancing was terrific, but your feet were atrocious!
Carrie Ann: You are a beautiful, gorgeous man and you have an incredible body.
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 6, Len: 6, Julianne: 7, Bruno: 7, total 26 out of 40.

Dancing With The Stars Season 20
Nastia & Derek
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Nastia Liukin & Derek Hough 1-855-234-5604
Dancing a Foxtrot to New York, New York by Ray Quinn, featuring Ultra Love
2008 Olympic all-around gymnastic champion is here to win. He’s beautiful, she’s flexible and she’s a serious competitor. She’s been a college student for a while, so she’s relishing being back on the competitive scene.
Carrie Ann: It was fantastic! It was polished, it was clean, it was a show-stopper, but there was a lift.
Len: It was a bit staccato. But like the big apple, it was sweet an delicious.
Julianne: it was the most explosive first dance you can have.
Bruno: There is nothing nasty about Nastia!
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 7, Len: 7, Julianne: 8, Bruno: 8, total 30 out of 40.

Dancing With The Stars Season 20
Redfoo & Emma
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Redfoo & Emma Slater 1-855-234-5607
Dancing a Cha Cha to Juicy Wiggle by Redfoo
Redfoo was lots of fun when he guest-judged last season. His music videos for LMFAO prove that he can dance, but can he ballroom dance? The jury’s still out on this one, because his cha cha steps looked really heavy (not quite Master P-level clunkiness) and the moments where he could dance a little more freely, he showed his charismatic personality that is a party personified. He will be lots of fun to watch this season, and I know he can succeed up tempo, let’s see how he handles something slow, like the Viennese Waltz.
Len: You dance like your hair— a little wild and unkempt.
Julianne: I wanted to see more juicy jiggle wiggle. You guys look like Zebra Gum
Bruno: I love the lunacy, more of that please.
Carrie Ann: You’re like your own kind of wonderful. You know how to work the hook, but there’s more to the dance than the hook.
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 6, Len: 5, Julianne: 5, Bruno: 6, total 22 out of 40.

Dancing With The Stars Season 20
Noah & Sharna
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Noah Galloway & Sharna Burgess 1-855-234-5605
Dancing a Cha Cha to I Lived by One Republic
As soon as I heard that Noah was competing this season, I was intrigued. He’s a veteran who lost his left arm and leg in combat but he hasn’t let that stop him from becoming a fitness expert and model. After seeing him in his TV package, I am inspired. He hopes that people don’t look at him and see his limitations. “What I am lacking in limbs I will make up in hard work.” Look for Noah to inspire America with every turn, and watch for a flood of tears each time we are amazed by his strength, grit, (and three adorable kids).
Julianne: Your connection is beautiful. We know what your challenges are, but I hope that people know that a man usually leads with his left arm. Sharna’s chorography is amazing.
Bruno: You are a titan among men.
Carrie Ann: Thank you for challenging yourself. Thank you for challenging me as a judge. You are broadening my scope on what dance is.
Len: That is a major triumph. I salute you.
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 7, Len: 6, Julianne: 6, Bruno: 7, total 26 out of 40

Dancing With The Stars Season 20
Suzanne & Tony
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Suzanne Somers & Tony Dovolani 1-855-234-5611
Dancing a Cha Cha to Physical by Olivia Newton John
Suzanne looks wonderful and I don’t believe that she’s 68. Someone check her I.D!! She’s not the world’s most graceful dancer, but her dance was a little tame.  The judges want Suzanne to be a little more raunchy; but can the woman who was sweet Chrissy Snow be anything but sunshine? I think that anyone who is willing to wear a leotard on TV deserves a vote. (And when I interviewed Tony, he called me “Darling!”)
Related: 7 Questions with Tony Dovolani
Bruno: Very well executed.
Carrie Ann: I want to be you. You are a ray of sunshine!
Len: I thought it was fun.
Julianne: I loved your feet and ankles when you brought them together.
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 6, Len: 6, Julianne: 6, Bruno: 7, total 25 out of 40.

Dancing With The Stars Season 20
Rumer & Valentin
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Rumer Willis & Valentin Chmerkovskiy 1-855-234-5610
Dancing a Foxtrot to Take Me To Church by Hozier
The last dancer of the night, Rumer has been waiting for her change to dance for 2 hours. Ironically, Rumer and Val know each other through mutual friends. Rumer looks beautiful, and she is bringing a passion that I love. And Ray Chew Live is murdering this song, and not in a good way.
Carrie Ann: Season 20 just got real, real fast. That was passionate and intense!
Len: It had a lovely light and shade. Fire and Ice. Val, this could be your season.
Julianne: I had chills. You are the ones to watch.
Bruno: Rumor definitely has it, big time!
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 8, Len: 8, Julianne: 8, Bruno: 8, total 32 out of 40

Fans can check out 6 live-streaming cameras from locations around the ballroom using the Twiter hashtag #DWTSAllAccess. Check out the behind-the-scenes goings on in the Red Room, Judges’ Table, Sky Box, make-up mirror, a wide shot of the dance floor and an exclusive behind the scenes series hosted by Gethin Jones that will feature exclusive interviews with celebrity couples.

Viewers can cast votes for their favorite couples via phone on Monday nights during and up to 60 minutes after the end of the Dancing with the Stars broadcast in each time zone. Phone numbers can be found here. Fans can also head online and cast votes at www.ABC.com and on Facebook at https://apps.facebook.com/votedwts/for 24 hours, beginning from the start of each episode on the East Coast at 8:00 p.m., ET/5:00 p.m., PT and closing at 8:00 p.m., ET/5:00 p.m., PT on Tuesday evenings. One couple will be eliminated on Monday, March 23.