Ella Kitler | Writer
September 20, 2024
The 33rd season of Dancing with the Stars premiered on September 17th on ABC and Disney+. The night kicked off with an electrifying performance of “I’m Alive” by Celine Dion, energizing the audience and setting the stage for the season. Following the opening number, the celebrity cast was introduced.
This year’s lineup includes Joey Grazidei (former star of The Bachelor), Brooks Nader (Sports Illustrated model), Ilona Maher (Olympic rugby player), Reginald Veljohnson (Family Matters star), Danny Amendola (former NFL player), Tori Spelling (reality tv star) Jenn Tran (former star of The Bachelorette), Chandler Kinney (star of Pretty Little Liars and ZOMBIES), Dwight Howard (former NBA player), Eric Roberts (famous A-List actor), Phaedra Parks (Real Housewives of Atlanta star), Stephen Nedotoscik (Olympic Bronze Gymnast), and Anna Delvey (notorious ex-convict). Over the next 11 weeks, these stars will compete for a chance to win the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy. Their scores, combined with viewer votes, will determine their fate and whether they face elimination.
Although there were no eliminations tonight, the contestants showcased their best moves as they performed to their “personal anthems.” The stars demonstrated their hard work over the past two weeks in various dance styles, including tango, salsa, cha-cha, and foxtrot. The Bachelor’s Joey Grazidei and his partner Jenna Chmerkovskiy dazzled with a cha cha to “Dancing in the Country” by Tyler Hubbard, earning a score of 21/30. Having won fans’ hearts on his season of The Bachelor in 2024, Joey continues to charm in the ballroom. Sami Christou, a junior at San Clemente High School was especially impressed by Joey’s moves stating, “He was so good, he sure can move those hips…I know he will go far in the completion.”
However, no one shined as bright as ZOMBIES actress Chandler Kinney and her partner Brandon Armstrong. They impressed the judges with an entertaining tango to “Hot to Go” by Chappell Roan, achieving the highest score of the night at 23/30. Junior Lilah Fontanes states, “These two are already my favorites. I cannot wait to see what they come up with next week.” Meanwhile, Eric Roberts and his partner Britt Steward found themselves at the bottom of the leaderboard with a score of 15/30, despite their cha-cha to “Old Time Rock and Roll” by Bob Seger.
Judging the performances were legendary panelists Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli. Although Derek is a relatively recent addition to the judging panel—now entering his fourth season—he has been part of the show since season 5 and has won six times, making him the most accomplished pro in the show’s history. His sister, Julianne Hough, also danced on the show and has recently joined as co-host alongside DWTS alum and actor Alfonso Ribeiro.
Next week promises to be even more exciting with the theme of Oscar Night. Each couple will dance to a song from an Academy Award-winning film. Tune in next Tuesday at 8 PM ET to see which two stars will hang up their ballroom shoes following a double elimination.
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