Now, don’t get me wrong — I have loved “Dancing with the Stars” for years. It has become an annual tradition for my friends and I to crowd around the television eating popcorn every Tuesday to tune into what we deem one of the best reality television shows.
However, when the cast list for season 33 came out, I was shocked to see that amidst the Olympians, Bachelor Nation leads, and actors was none other than the con artist and faux German heiress, Anna Delvey. Known for scamming upper-class New York socialites, Delvey made her “DWTS” debut on Tuesday, Sept. 7 at the season 33 premiere.
As a whole, the famed dancing competition consists partially of scores by the judges, Derek Hough, Bruno Tonioli, and Carrie Ann Inaba, and partially of fan votes. Over 11 weeks, contestants work with professional ballroom dancers to learn routines of different styles, competing for the Mirrorball Trophy. And each week, someone is sent home.
So what happened on Tuesday?
The season premiere introduced the new celebrities to fans. Each contestant chose a song they think of as their personal anthem, and their assigned professional dancer choreographed and taught them.. Here are the highlights:
The first pair to perform was the Bachelor Joey Graziadei and professional dancer Jenna Johnson. They danced a Cha-Cha to “Dancin’ in the Country” by Tyler Hubbard. Sporting a cowboy hat, Graziadei scored a 21 out 30, with the judges saying he had good confidence and musicality, but needed to work on arm placements and hip movements.
Ilona Maher, Olympic women’s rugby medalist and social media sensation, was arguably one of the most anticipated contestants this season. She and her partner, Alan Bersten, performed a Cha-Cha to “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!” by Shania Twain, highlighting Maher’s reasoning for accepting a role on the show: to express her femininity and inspire young girls. The pair scored an 18 out of 30, which I would deem low for the quality of their dance.
After a devastating on-air heartbreak, the Bachelorette Jenn Tran partnered with Sasha Farber and danced a Cha-Cha to “Flowers” by Miley Cyrus. Tran expressed that she wants this experience to be empowering and allow her to regain her independence. The judges, though praising Tran for her liveliness and potential, noted that her lines need to be straighter. The judges gave the two a 19 out of 30.
Actress Chandler Kinney and her partner Brandon Armstrong wowed with a tango to “HOT TO GO!” by Chappell Roan. With Carrie Ann Inaba saying the pair set the standard for this upcoming season, the two scored a whopping 23 out of 30, with two eights — an unheard-of score on night one.
Stephen “Pommel Horse Guy” Nedoroscik, the Olympic gymnast, made his debut with youngest pro Rylee Arnold. The pair performed a lively Jive to “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen. Nedoroscik hopes to make his mark on “DWTS,” since many female gymnasts have competed on the show previously, but no male ones have. The judges gave the pair a 21 out of 30, asking them to work on the details.
Lastly, the long-awaited Anna Delvey made her appearance with first-time pro Ezra Sosa. Sporting a bedazzled ankle monitor, Delvey stated that she wants to show America a different side of herself. In her Cha-Cha to “Espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter, however, Delvey seemed unenthusiastic. Carrie Ann Inaba noted an energy shift in the crowd, imploring the audience to give Delvey as much love as they do to the other contestants. Ultimately, the judges gave the two an 18 out of 30. When asked how she felt about the score, Delvey said she was happy she did not have to do the dance again.
At the end of the night, it was revealed that no one would be eliminated. However, next week there will be a double elimination — only time will tell who.
