“Dancing With the Stars” is back, and the ballroom is already sweating. Tuesday’s premiere opened with the men performing first, with the women saving their routines for Wednesday’s episode at 8/7c. That meant one couple went home by the end of the night, and the show’s own review has a verdict on who made the best impression — and who didn’t survive.
The Night’s Big Scores
Jackson Olson and Emma Slater opened with a cha-cha to “Wannabe” by the Spice Girls. The judges gave them 15 out of 30, with fives across the board — a throwback to the show’s early scoring days. The performance was frantic, with Jackson mugging for the camera and rolling his body, but the actual dance content felt rushed and stiff.
Tyler Cameron and Sharna Burgess followed with a tango to “Are You Gonna Go My Way” by Lenny Kravitz. They earned 17 out of 30. The routine was quick for a first attempt, and Tyler kept up with the pace and his partner nicely.
Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson danced a cha-cha to “Mr. Big Stuff” by Jean Knight. Guillermo’s attitude toward the competition has been “Eh, this is silly,” and even his pre-performance video package was more slapstick than those typically are for the weak dancers. The routine delivered minimal real cha-cha from him — Witney did most of the work, dancing for three. The judges scored 10 out of 30, which drew an “oof.”
Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach danced a tango to “Since U Been Gone” by Kelly Clarkson. The judges gave them 20 out of 30 and handed out the evening’s first sevens. That score stood out, given the low marks elsewhere.
Connor Wood and Rylee Arnold danced a cha-cha to “I Like It, I Love It” by Tim McGraw. The judges scored 16 out of 30. Connor kept up with Rylee well during a honky-tonk section in the middle of the routine, and the judges noted he showed promise for future episodes.
Taylor Hanson and Britt Stewart performed a quickstep to “Tell Her About It” by Billy Joel. The judges scored 16 out of 30. Taylor faced dense, precise choreography and made mistakes, but he recovered quickly.
Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson closed with a cha-cha to “Let’s Groove” by Earth, Wind & Fire. The judges gave them 16 out of 30.
Bruno’s Reaction
Bruno Tonioli’s reaction to Harry’s dance was memorable. He told him, “Excuse me! Look at me, Dr. Steamy! I’m having a seizure!”
The Elimination
The review does not reveal who was eliminated first. That detail is left to the show’s own recap, which runs through all ten performances in order.
A Glitch in the Voting System
Tuesday’s broadcast was not without drama. A glitch in ABC’s online voting system caused all votes submitted on the website to be scrapped, leaving contestants with only text message-based support. The show’s control room likely felt the heat.
Our Verdict on the Performances
The standout was Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach. Their sevens were a compliment in a night where the scores were all over the map. Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson’s routine was fun but technically weak, and the judges’ 10 out of 30 reflected that.
Connor Wood and Rylee Arnold offered a pleasant surprise. Connor isn’t the buzziest name on the roster, and that worked to his advantage in Week 1. His routine was competent and entertaining, and the judges’ 16 out of 30 showed they took him seriously.
Taylor Hanson’s quickstep was a brave choice for Week 1, though the mistakes were understandable given the difficulty of the choreography. The judges’ 16 out of 30 suggests he has potential.
Harry Shum Jr.’s routine was solid, earning 16 out of 30.
| Couple | Dance Style | Song | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson Olson / Emma Slater | Cha-cha | Wannabe | 15/30 |
| Tyler Cameron / Sharna Burgess | Tango | Are You Gonna Go My Way | 17/30 |
| Guillermo Rodriguez / Witney Carson | Cha-cha | Mr. Big Stuff | 10/30 |
| Ezra Frech / Daniella Karagach | Tango | Since U Been Gone | 20/30 |
| Connor Wood / Rylee Arnold | Cha-cha | I Like It, I Love It | 16/30 |
| Taylor Hanson / Britt Stewart | Quickstep | Tell Her About It | 16/30 |
| Harry Shum Jr. / Jenna Johnson | Cha-cha | Let’s Groove | 16/30 |
The premiere was a mixed bag. The scores were low, the glitches were real, and the entertainment value was high. The elimination detail remains undisclosed in the review. For now, the best impression belonged to Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach, whose sevens stood out among the night’s varied results.
See the video the story is built around at Tvline.
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