I thought from what we saw tonight that this series promises to be more exciting than the last, which I found to be a disappointment.

Lil Kim: Is it good publicity to go onto a show like this and instantly mention having been in prison? Strange. But good cha cha - nice straight legs, and good potential. [21]

Belinda C: Looked lovely in her dress, but her dancing - waltz - was stiff and awkward. She needs to relax. [17]

Lawrence: cha cha flat footed and very heavy. [16]

Steve o: Clearly very popular, but possibly the worst waltz ever on the show! [17]

??? & Cheryl: Cha cha great potential, good timing - best dance [24]

Chuck: An American Smooth waltz that needed to be a whole lot smoother. [20]

Holly: Cha cha - good attitude and potential. [18]

Ty : Chelsy had one of the nicest dresses on the show - ever! Ty - oh dear! [14]

Shawn: My favourite waltz song & the dance was OK too [23]

Steve: Cha cha - on the wrong show! This belonged on Dance for Comic Relief!!!!! [13]

David: good potential, light on his feet, but poor posture [19]

Denise: I love watching Maks dance so much I didn't even notice Denise - whoops! [18]

Melissa: 48 hours is hardly any time to train, but she was well overmarked because she didn't do a waltz; nice ballet moves though. [23]

Lil Kim: I found her prison mention strangely endearing - she's so excited to talk about her "girls". I like the attitude she brings and with less nerves/more training I think she'll be greaet. She also looked gorgeous, which is more than I expected

Belinda: Nothing overly "wrong", it was just stiff, as noted.

Lawrence: Don't even remember this!

Steve: I can't even call that a waltz. Was it a waltz? It lfelt like a paso/tango/AT combo with some showdance and the odd "gentle" twirl thrown in.

Giles: Loved it. He threw himself into that.

Holly: I thought she was awful. Stiff, clumsy, out of time.

Ty: Yes. Oh dear.

Shawn: Less of a dance and more of a display of gymnastics in the shape of a dance. It was good artistic gymnastics though.

Steve: LOL. Entertaining I suppose.

David: Pleasant enough but not a stand-out.

Denise: What were her arms doing? Why can't these pros get them to do their arms properly? It's not hard to correct. Overmarked IMO.

Melissa: It was an impressive dance of some sort considering the lack of time, and more of a waltz than Steve-O's attempt!

Watching Holly was like watching Kim Kardashian all over again.

Ty - indeed, oh dear is about the only thing that can be said.

Denise - was better than I was expecting, but I don't think her and Maks were exactly getting along!

Gilles was fab, but mostly the others were either terrible or forgettable!!

They should give the trophy to Giles now.
He was excellent and clearly has it won.

I didn't think much of Shawn. Denise for Top female.

He was good, but he's not that well known, which may go against him, especially against someone like Steve-O. Having said that, the dance-off may work in his favour, if he doesn't have much support early on.

I think Denise and Maks are going to have problems - I want them to stay in just 'cause it's Maks, but I do think they'll struggle. I also expect Shawn to get loads of support for a) being young and b) dancing with Mark.
I thought Melissa came over really well, but she needs to do a proper dance next week to show she can. I'd agree she was overmarked this week, but I think she did well just to go out on the stage, so I'd let her get away with that one!
Last edited by Lilystar : 13-03-2009 at 14:14

It would be interesting to know if posters are watching in UK or USA, and to see if opinions vary, especially as the celebs are obviously far better known in the USA.

Holly for being a last minute replacement isn't that bad. Granted she won't go far & she was stiff & clumsy but overall it's wasn't horrendous.

I thought Steve 'O and the cowboy (can't remember his name) were a bit bad, but it is the first show. I quite liked Holly and Melissa.

I'm in the UK.

Holly was way better than Kim Kardashian. Holly looked as if she were having fun out there & she actually moved. As awkward as she was out on the floor you could tell she put in far more effort to really dance than Kim K ever did. You could just tell that she wanted/wants to learn.

She really didn't come over that way to me. I accept there may have been marginally more effort than Kim K (although you could say that about just about anything!), but other than that I just found it awkward to watch.

I don't know if you're interested in this much reaction to the first show in the US, but here's a link:

http://forums.televisionwithoutpity....c=3183016&st=0

Oh and I'm in the US myself. And I didn't know ANY of these people. I actually live under a big rock in the US, and only come out to see DwtS!

I liked Holly and she seemed sweet. I didn't like the peroxided hair with those dark brown eyes, but I guess that's nothing I should hold against a girl in H'wood trying to make it on her big boobies. (I guess that's what's going on.) Her partner Dmitry is my new DwtS eye-candy though - cutest smile ever - 6'1" and says he's straight on Facebook or MySpace, of all things. If he doesn't succeed on tv, his dance studio will have a fangirl all-flank assault!

But the Frenchman's got my number - er, I've got his - to VOTE, I mean. Sacre Coeur!! Gilles is A-MA-ZING !!!!!!!!!!!!

Ty's sweet as a lamb but dances like Bruno said - like a cadet learning a military march (badly.) But his "I think they scored it fair" and his cowboy manner and accent - it's hard to not love the guy. I thought Jewel's expressions throughout the whole thing were bitchy though. Well, maybe I'd act the same with two fractured legs watching my husband and my gown on another woman (and Holly!) etc etc

Shawn under-whelmed. She's gained some weight since the Olympics and at 4'9" or whatever, it makes her look too stocky/squat. And Mark thinks he can design good costumes for women (think Sabrina's blue paso-doble monstrosity.) Maybe he does ok on perfect dance body-types but they should bring in Trini & Susannah for this one. (heart-melting little face though - so pretty - so sweet - I think maybe swath her with those strips of fabric that float around everywhere but when you're still they lay down ??)

Melissa's adorable and nice (and for a cheerleader!) I hope she goes far -- if not for her, her partner Tony's been getting geriatrics and too-short pudgies - and all manner of hopeless partners since his first season (when he had Stacy Keibler who almost won - and was robbed, at least of 2nd place)

Karina said Woz was the nicest man alive and that made me happy. His dancing, well, the boa and knee spins were cute. I didn't like DAG this week - I'm an old fuddy duddy and agree w/Kym, I don't get his humor. LT was miserable (I wish he had a partner other than Edyta - I'm tired of her) Belinda looked and DANCED older than she is, ugh. Cloris had more zip. Maybe next week she'll improve - how can a former bouncy pop princess be so slow and labored? Susan Lucci at 62 bounded around at twice the pace of Belinda, who's not much past 50.

I was charmed by Steve-O gasp! And Gilles said he had a man-crush on him. Him? Hope Lil Kim is a sleeper - she was better than most, 2nd or 3rd highest of them imo - Gilles best, Melissa or Kim 2nd (Melissa had very little waltz and very much ballet - can't wait to see her really do the dance, and with more than 48 hours practice! graceful as a gazelle though, WOW!)

Is the results on next Friday on Watch? I've had a squint and I notice the main show is on then as well. Is that week 1 again and the results afterwards

Oh I'm so pleased someone else said that! I've never seen/heard of her before, but I found it very difficult to see her as a gymnast!

You are right about costume designing: whether professional dance costume designers or those just designing for their own pro partners (a lot of male dancers do this and are very good!) most are only used to designing for very very slim figures .... When it comes to designing for "real" figures, they haven't got a clue! And yes, the 'floaty' skirted dresses are the most flattering for most figures, and especially for novice dancers who perhaps don't move as they should.

There's no results show for week 1.

In week 2, in America, I think the main show is Monday and then the Results show Tuesday night, when they'll combine the scores for both weeks, then announce a bottom two, and then a new thing for DwtS, our "version" of the dance-off.

It's different from strictly's. The two couples dance again, the judges score again, just like usual (with their old scores thrown out) -- and then the combined fan vote gets combined with the new judges' dance-off scores

I'd rather we do it your way, though I know plenty people don't like the dance-off on SCD either. I do like it -- but not the dwts way - though I guess it's better than nothing. ymmv

My faves were Gilles, Shawn, Melissa, Kim. I like Lacey's choreography and although I am sure it's not to purists' taste I enjoyed her and Steve-O's waltz.

I think Lawrence might have potential to improve as although it was a bit clunky he looks like has fairly good timing and rhythm. Well done to Holly (and Melissa) for stepping in late, although Holly looked very uncertain as did Denise. Nice to see Jonathan back and I hope he can work with Belinda to improve so they stay in. Ty was so speedy in the cha cha I hardly saw what he did, I doubt he's a natural but I bet he'll work hard. Woz, well good on him for trying and enjoying it.

I've never watched this show before, but going on the winners of SCD, not being well known to the audience at the start is no real disadvantage.
Ramps, Gough or Alesha were hardly known to your average viewer at the start of the show.
Giles ticks all the boxes. Good dancer, good looking and from the little I've seen he seems a decent bloke.
A very worthy favourite.

Just managed to watch week one in time for week 2!

L'il Kim & Derek - Great start - she can dance & perform!

Belinda & Jonathan - Not very elegant - bit clumpy for me.

Lawrence & Edyta - Hard going - needs to straighten up

Steve-O & Lacey - She looked stunning (although she's been Tango'd) - not a lot of waltz though - he could be good, but I'm not sure I like him

Giles & Cheryl - He is cute! - banana hands and needs to point his toes - but could be a contender

Chuck & Julianne - Also cute! - very good - good feet - complicated for wk 1 - bit frantic

Holly & Dimitry - Hated music - quite good but bit boring but not sure why, maybe not a natural performance - annoying laugh

Ty & Chelsie - Oh dear! - not bad though! - made me laugh - great try for a cowboy and I hope he stays in!

Shawn & Mark - Fabulous - great music - she's so little - finishes moves well & not worried about moving across the floor alone and can perform - a definite contender!

Steve & Karina - Oh dear! Daddy on the dance floor - good trier, but won't get far.

David & Kym - Not bad at all - bit flat footed - but great first dance

Denise & Max - Tears in week 1! Looks stunning, but not as good a dancer as I hoped - off the mark a lot - could be 1st night nerves (also she's been Tango'd)

Melissa & Tony - Looks like she's done ballet - very nice for such a short time in training!

I'm in the UK btw.