‘Dancing with the Stars’ week 1 review: Watch us debate the premiere and preview upcoming ‘Oscars Night’
“Overall I thought it was a great season opener,” says Gold Derby contributor Cordell Martin about the “Dancing with the Stars” season 33 premiere episode. “Definitely there were a few contenders that lived up to the expectations.” He discussed the return of the dance competition series with fellow contributor Jeffrey Kare and senior editor Daniel Montgomery. Watch above.
“I’m with Cordell,” says Kare. “I did enjoy the night overall. I mean, there probably weren’t many that I thought were home runs, but I thought a few of them were really good, a few others were solid,” though he admitted there were “a few other weak ones.” Overall, though, “this should be an exciting season to follow with all the variety of different talents on display here.”
But what about next week? There’s a double elimination on the horizon on “Oscars Night,” when the celebrities and their pro partners dance routines inspired by films ranging from “La La Land” to “Die Hard.” Chandler Kinney, for instance, is performing a “Barbie” rumba to “What Was I Made For?” “I know it’s going to be good and it might be the best of the night, but I’m not as excited to see it,” argues Montgomery. “I’m really excited, though, to see Stephen Nedoroscik try a [‘Superman’-inspired] paso doble, and to see Dwight Howard do a [‘La La Land’] foxtrot, because it’s both people who are walking headlong into potentially their weak spot.” Nedoroscik needs to control his energy better than he did during his premiere night jive, while pro Daniella Karagach will need to figure out how to choreograph a dance in hold with a man who is almost two feet taller than her.
Martin says, ” I think Chandler, of course, will do well. I think Stephen will probably do well … Maybe Danny [Amendola] might be the one that might sees a bump in his scores with his [‘Top Gun’] jive, curious on that, so those are the ones I think will probably do well this week.” Who do you think will excel? Watch our video above to find out what other routines we can expect for next Tuesday night and who we think might be at risk of going home early.