DWTS 14 - Week 1

First of all, if I didn't tell you, would you know this is Martina Navratilova?  I didn't.  Who is this?  Is there another one?


First couple to dance - Maria Menounos and Derek Hough with a cha-cha.  She told Derek she's a tomboy and not a dancer.  Well, actually she said she's like a boy with boobs.  Energetic and good. Their score:  7, 7, 7 = 21.

Jack Wagner and Anna Trebunskaya danced the foxtrot.  Little intro Len won't like.  Dance was graceful and fun.  This is the first week, and he did well, according to Bruno and Carrie Ann.  Len not as much.  Score:  8, 7, 8 = 23

Donald Driver and Peta Murgatroyd performed a cha-cha.  He eventually got into it but was awkward, which is unusual for most of the football players who have been on there.  He had charisma and enthusiasm but lacked some technique.  Crowd pleaser for sure.  Bruno said he was like a rooster chasing a hen all over the place.  Score:  7, 7, 7 = 21.

Gavin DeGraw and Karina Smirnoff did the foxtrot.  Does he always wear that hat?  Brendan does.  He wears a cap and even sleeps in it.  They let him wear it at school.  We'll have to wean him off of it.  Back to the dance - it was pretty good.  Difficult dance, first week.  Score:  7, 6, 7 = 20.

The judges are keeping scores fairly consistent so far.  That leaves it up to the audience votes unless someone is exceptionally good or bad.  I'm getting good at predicting their scores after all these seasons. 

Roshon Fegan and Chelsie Hightower danced the cha-cha.  He's the youngest dancetestant, and Chelsie might be the youngest professional.  Great footwork and energy!  Fun dance!  Bruno and Carrie Ann loved him!  Len wanted more technique.  Score:  8, 7, 8 = 23


Sherri Shepherd and Val Chermkovskiy danced the foxtrot.  She did it.  The judges praised her happiness and fun dancing.  She apologized to everyone she criticized on The View   Score:  8, 7, 8 = 23. 

Melissa Gilbert and Maksim Chermkovskiy did a cha-cha.  Speaking of faces, she has those puffy lips.  Good job!  She said she broke her back.  Not sure when, but you couldn't tell from how she moved.  Difficult routine.  Score:  7, 6, 7 = 20.  I hope Maks behaves this season and doesn't hurt her chances.  That's happened.

William Levy and Cheryl Burke performed the cha-cha.  Because of his schedule, he started a week later than the others.  Cheryl is a taskmaster and got him on track.  Oh yeah!  Sexy!  Not quite the footwork he needs but the rest of him moved!  Who cares?  Score:  8, 8, 8 = 24.


Martina Navratilova and Tony Dovolani danced the foxtrot.  She looked like herself in rehearsal but had makeup and extensions and a dress and heels during the performance and looked the way she does in the photo.  I thought she'd had work done but don't think so ... or maybe not much.  Pretty!  She did pretty well.  The judges said she was too careful.  Score:  7, 6, 7 = 20

Katherine Jenkins and Mark Ballas did the foxtrot.  She's a classical singer from Wales.  Her dance was graceful and elegant.  Very good.  Score:  9, 8, 9 = 26. 

Gladys Knight and Tristan McManus did thee cha-cha.  Damn, she's just a few months younger than I am.  I sure couldn't do that.  She got a standing ovation and deserved it.  Score:  8, 7, 8 = 23.

Jaleel White and Kym Johnson performed a foxtrot.  Yes!  Smooth and musical!  Very good!  No trace of Urkel.  Score:  9, 8, 9 = 26. 

This is the best first week I can remember on this show.  Everyone did well enough and no one was annoying.  Hope it stays that way.  Some seasons have been unbearable because of it.  No gimmicky "stars" or wannabees or weirdos.  I'm looking forward to the rest of this season.  At this point I can't predict who might win or go home.  We can tell more when they do different dances.  No one sucked.  Some were definitely better than others, so we'll see.