Dancing With the Stars, Season 21: Week 1

Recap

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The new cast of DWTS smile proudly at their televised cast reveal.

Evelyn Chan, A&E Editor

With a new judge and a whole new crew of celebrities, Dancing With the Stars is back―and here’s a recap of week one!

If you don’t know already, the always entertaining Len Goodman is absent from the judges panel this season, and in his place – joining Bruno Tonioli and  Carrie Ann Inaba – is two-time Mirrorball champion Julianne Hough! Back to host again are also Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews.

Fortunately, no one’s eliminated until week two, so here’s a quick look at who’s on this season and how they scored on their first dance, ranked from highest to lowest score:

  1. Best known for his time in the boy band Backstreet Boys, Nick Carter and partner Sharna Burgess earned a 24 out of 30 for their cha cha.
  2. Best known for her work as a wildlife conservationist, Australian Bindi Irwin and partner Derek Hough earned a 24 out of 30 for their jive.
  3. Best known for her seat on the daytime talk show The Real, Grammy-nominated Tamar Braxton and partner Val Chmerkovsky earned a 23 out of 30 for their quickstep.
  4. Best known for his role on the Nickelodeon show Big Time Rush, Carlos PenaVega and partner Witney Carson earned a 23 out of 30 for their jive.
  5. Best known for her role in the Spy Kids saga, Alexa PenaVega and partner Mark Ballas earned a 22 out of 30 for their jive.
  6. Best known for his heroic acts of preventing a massacre aboard a Belgian train, Army National Guard Specialist Alek Skarlatos and partner Lindsay Arnold earned a 22 out of 30 for their foxtrot.
  7. Best known for his catchy singles “Keep Your Head Up” and “Honey, I’m Good,” Andy Grammer and partner Allison Holker earned a 21 out of 30 for their foxtrot.
  8. Best known as a “Vine celebrity,” 15 year old Hayes Grier and partner Emma Slater earned a 21 out of 30 for their cha cha.
  9. Best known for her 14 cookbooks and her own lifestyle network, Paula Deen and her partner Louis van Amstel earned a 15 out of 30 for their quickstep.
  10. Best known as the first Hispanic jockey to ever win in the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, and the Belmont Stakes, Victor Espinosa and partner Karina Smirnoff earned a 15 out of 30 for their salsa.
  11. Best known for his starring roles in The Buddy Holly Story, Lethal Weapon, and Under Siege, Academy Award nominated Gary Busey and partner Anna Trebunskaya earned a 15 out of 30 for their cha-cha.
  12. Best known for her ten #1 Billboard charting songs, ten-time Grammy award winning Chaka Khan and partner Keo Motsepe earned a 13 out of 30 for their cha cha.
  13. Best known for her starring role on Real Housewives of Atlanta, Kim Zolciak-Biermann and partner Toni Dovolani earned a 12 out of 30 for their Egyptian-themed salsa dance.

Well, that’s week one all wrapped up! As seen from past seasons, those who are on top usually stay on top, but DWTS is known for crazy comebacks – and feel free to start placing bets on who’s going to take home the coveted Mirrorball trophy. Liam Quidore (11) gave his opinion on what’s to come this season, saying, “For now I’m rooting for Bindi Irwin, she was fast on her feet and with Derek [Hough] as her partner, they’re definitely going to be in the top three.”

Who do you want to win this season? Are you a fan of the contestants chosen this season? Let us know in the comments below!