Check out this new poster from this tonight's season premiere! #DWTS pic.twitter.com/ZEzLloDwjs
— Official DWTS (@DancingABC) March 17, 2014
Tonight was the season 18 premiere of Dancing With the Stars and it was everything you could possibly hope for … Read on for all the facts on the new contestants, a rivalry between two of the celebrities, inspirational moments, new cast members, and more.
1. Jason Derulo Kicked Off the Season With a Performance
Jason Derulo not only performed his hit “Talk Dirty,” he actually did some ballroom dancing with the professionals as well. Then, of course, he went into his traditional hip-hop moves that killed it on the dance floor. It was a seriously awesome performance … probably the best one the show has ever had. And, on an interesting note, the dance was choreographed by Mandy Moore.
2. Maks Is Back
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Maks is back on the show and he’s paired with Olympic skater Meryl Davis … and they’re both very happy about the match. Meryl thinks Maks is sexy and Maks just wanted to make sure she wasn’t dating her skating partner Charlie. Don’t worry, boys. She isn’t. Clearly, Meryl has an advantage, as does her figure skating partner Charlie White and it definitely showed when she and Maks gave their performance. Check it out below:
3. New Co-Host Erin Andrews Was Introduced
After Jason Derulo’s performance, new co-host and past contestant Erin Andrews was introduced. In addition, the new musical band and contestants came out to make their debut.
4. Nene Was the First Contestant to Hit the Floor
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Nene said that having fun and showing personality is what’s most important to her. Her partner Tony Dovolani says he definitely wants to showcase her. Dancing the Cha Cha Cha, Nene brought smiles and fire to her performance. The woman definitely has rhythm and attitude and it was clear that the audience was enjoying watching her.
5. Peta Murgatroyd Once Dated James Maslow
Peta and James reportedly once went on a date and then James Maslow went away on tour. James says that he would definitely take Peta on another date, but Peta felt a bit awkward seeing him. She even said that he could have called her to warn her that he was going to be her partner. The two have highly visible chemistry and they carried it into their dance of the Fox Trot on tonight’s show.
MY IDOL DANCING #JAMESMASLOW #DWTS#TEAMJETA @jamesmaslow https://t.co/SLrjUJ0HFS
— ❤ (@ArianaHaveRush) March 18, 2014
Click the “Next Page” button below to read the rest of the facts on the Star Wars routine, to see which stars were rivals in the past, and more.
6. Star Wars Was in the House
Billy Dee Williams, 77, calls on the Force, oodles of charisma. But Han Solo froze him this time on #DWTS pic.twitter.com/CfVWpykN8s
— Howard Cohen (@HowardCohen) March 18, 2014
Billy Dee Williams made his dance floor debut with the help of Princess Lea, R2D2, and some troopers. There were also some Ewoks in the audience to cheer him on as he did the Cha Cha … While it wasn’t an incredible performance, it was nice to see. Judge Bruno Tonioli, though, told him he wanted to see more Darth Vader.
7. Danica and Candace Had a Rivalry Over a Boy
Apparently, Danica McKellar and Candace Cameron Bure were rivals over an ex-boyfriend Jeremy Miller in the past. Candace talks about getting a phone call from Jeremy that he was dumping her for his new girlfriend Danica … and the rest is history.
8. Cody Simpson’s Partner Asks Him if He’s Single
Cody Simpson is paired up with new professional dancer Witney Carson. Right off the bat, Witney asks Simpson if he has a girlfriend and of course he says, “yes.” His girlfriend is actually the drop-dead gorgeous model Gigi Hadid. Hadid is also the daughter of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Yolanda Foster. While Simpson tries to resist Carson’s charm, host Erin Andrews made it difficult for them to avoid awkward moments. It’s almost as if she was trying to put a wedge between Simpson and his girlfriend who was applauding from the front row. For more information on Simpson’s girlfriend, click the below link:
9. Paralympic Snowboarder Amy Purdy Kills It
If anyone can teach a double leg amputee, Derek Hough can … and this season he’s paired with Amy Purdy. The way she danced tonight, you’d never know she had such a disability. And, she’s got a killer body to go with those dance floor moves. It was a truly inspiring performance, which you can check out by clicking on the below link:
10. Charlie White Got the Highest Score of the Night
After performing a contemporary dance with Mark Ballas, Candace Cameron Bure was met with high scores and huge applause. Scoring a total of 25 points put them in the lead for the first night of the season … until Charlie White performed and got a score of 27. Do you think it’s fair to have Charlie White and Meryl Davis, Olympic figure skaters, in the competition?
