Season 33 of “Dancing With the Stars” kicked off with an exciting premiere episode.
Although there were no eliminations in the first week, the show introduced a fresh lineup of celebrities competing for the prestigious Len Goodman Mirrorball trophy. Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough returned to co-host, while the judging panel featured Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli, and Derek Hough.
Right from the start, former Bachelor Joey Graziadei and his partner Jenna Johnson surprised everyone by scoring 21 out of 30 for their dynamic cha-cha, a commendable achievement for the first week.
Chandler Kinney raised the stakes with an outstanding tango alongside Brandon Armstrong, earning the top score of 23 out of 30. They were closely followed by Dwight Howard and Daniella Karagach, who finished second with a score of 22 out of 30.
In rehearsals, Olympian Stephen Nedoroscik seemed to struggle with rhythm and dance technique. However, when he hit the floor with partner Rylee Arnold, their energetic jive captivated the audience and garnered them a score of 21 out of 30.
The final celebrity to perform was Anna Delvey, a convicted felon who humorously noted her ankle bracelet during her introductory segment, saying it was challenging to leave jail. She declared her ambition to transform into a ballroom dancer. After her routine, which prominently featured her glittering ankle bracelet, Inaba addressed both Delvey and the audience, acknowledging the shift in energy upon her entrance and encouraging everyone to give her a chance. “This is about your dancing here, so let’s all give her this space, please,” she stated.
Viewers can catch all the performances and scores from the premiere below: