Tonight on ABC the glitz and the glimmer returns to the ballroom as Dancing With The Stars when season 29 episode 1 premiere of DWTS airs! We have your all-new Monday, September 14, 2020, season 29 Episode 1 Dancing With The Stars recap below! On tonight’s DWTS Season 29 episode 1 “Premiere 2020,” as per the ABC synopsis, “Dancing with the Stars” is back and better than ever with a new, well-known, and energetic cast of 15 celebrities who are ready to add some glitzy bling to their wardrobe and break in their dancing shoes. The competition begins with a two-hour season premiere..”
Make sure to bookmark this spot and come back from 8 PM – 10 PM ET for our Dancing With The Stars recap. While you wait for our recap make sure to head over and check out all our DWTS recap, spoilers, news & videos, right here!
Tonight’s Dancing With The Stars recap episode begins now – Refresh Page often to get the most current updates!
Tyra Banks opens up the new season with judges Bruno Tonioli, Carrie Ann Inaba, and Derek Hough. Because of the pandemic, Len Goodman was not able to travel safely to Hollywood, but we might see him sooner than we think.
AJ McLean has been a BackStreet Boy for 28 years, but the greatest job he says that he has ever had is being a husband and father. He is being paired with pro-dancer Cheryl Burke. Tonight, they are dancing the jive to “Blinding Lights” by The Weeknd.
Judges Comments: Derek: “Great start to the show. I want a little more jive action, a little more pump-action, and bounce. With that said, I really liked it and you looked comfortable out there.” Bruno: “Power and strong, we expect that from you because you are a performer. Now, you have to polish a little bit the kicks and the flicks. You have all the talent to go a long way.” Carrie Ann: “That is exactly the way we have to start off this season, with a bang and a jump. There is nobody in here so you have to be the energy. With that being said, you could dance a little more out. Great start.”
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 6 Derek: 6 Bruno: 6 = 18/30
Actress Chrishell Stause (“Selling Sunset”) began her career in 2005 on All My Children. She is being paired with pro-dancer Savchenko and they are dancing the Tango to “Raise Your Glass” by Pink.
Judges Comments: Bruno: “My darling I know you can sell and you managed to get the Tango into escrow. But, we are a long way before we are closing my darling. You gave us all the selling points, but you went wrong, you lost your footing, your posture went wobbly. I wish you could do it again because so much went wrong.” Carrie Ann: “I feel like you have so much potential, you got knocked off your feet early on and you didn’t get back on. I am excited to see what you bring next week.” Derek: “I want to give you something to work this season, you are a little pigeon-toed, start from the bottom, it will straighten your core. Great job.”
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 4, Derek 5, Bruno 4 = 13/30
Super Bowl Champion Vernon Davis walked away from football and spends more time with his kids. He is being paired with pro-dancer Peta Murgatroyd and dancing the Foxtrot to “All of Me” by John Legend.
Judges Comments: Carrie Ann: “That was really impressive, you have quite a stage presence. You are able to mix tenderness and elegance with masterful control. You have a little more to learn, and just to let you know, we don’t allow lifts.” Derek: “You were so smooth, it was like gliding across the floor, your frame was good. I would say watch out for your arm.” Bruno: “You definitely got this dance to the sizzling point. It wasn’t all perfect, but you attempted to do rise and fall, congratulations on that.”
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 5, Derek: 6, Bruno: 6 = 17/30
TV and film actress Anne Heche who always dreamed she would be on Dancing with the Stars. She is being paired with pro-dancer Keo Motsepe and they are dancing the Cha Cha to “Don’t Start Now” by Dua Lipa.
Judges Comments: Derek: “You make me smile. So much fun, so clean and so neat. I would just say for the future, finish every single move before you move on to the next because it could look a little jerky sometimes. Great first dance.” Bruno: “I loved it, great performance. Put a little more hip action into it, it was so crisp and so clean that sometimes the hips got a little bit mechanical.” Carrie Ann: “You are incredible, I loved your strength and it was so precise. I was so impressed with the tension between you two. What an excellent partnership. You are a star in this ballroom.”
Judges Comments: Carrie Ann: 6, Derek: 6, Bruno: 6 = 18/30
Jeannie Mai, co-host of “The Real” and “Holey Moley” and admits she has no dance experience. She is being paired with pro-dancer Brandon Armstrong and they are dancing the Salsa to “Tell It to My Heart” by Taylor Dayne.
Judges Comments: Bruno: “Look at you, so energizing and so radiant; a little ray of sunshine. You got the spirit of the dance spot on. You have to place your feet a little better, you lost balance for a fraction. Fantastic performance.” Carrie Ann: “Fantastic, that was amazing, you lit this room up. Sometimes your energy with your arms is really high and kind of small, even that out. If this is where you are starting, you are on a fantastic path.” Derek: “Holy Moley, doing that coming out of the gate, that lift week one, I see you. Be careful on your turns, work on them, but a great start.”
Judges Comments: Carrie Ann: 6, Derek: 6, Bruno: 6 = 18/30
TV and film actor Jesse Metcalfe became famous on Desperate Housewives when he played the shitless gardener and has no formal training in dance, but wants to come out of this knowing how to dance. He is being paired with pro-dancer Sharna Burgess and they are dancing the Quickstep to “Part-Time Lover” by Stevie Wonder.
Judges Comments: Carrie Ann: “That was one of the most passionate quicksteps I have ever seen. We need to tame the beast a little, the intensity is right, we need a little more posture and form.” Derek: “That was great, you are the leading man on the dance floor and in the ballroom. But, shoulders down, something you can work on. Great job.” Bruno: “This dance is very tricky and hard to do on week one and you did it.”
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 6, Derek: 6, Bruno: 6 = 18/30
Disney Channel actress Skai Jackson is the youngest contestant at 18 years-old. She is paired with pro-dancer Alan Bersten and they are dancing the Tango to “Super Bass” by Nicki Minaj.
Judges Comments: Derek: “That split was beautiful, so clean and so strong. I would have liked to see more bent legs, but that was good.” Bruno: “My little shining jewel for you the sky is the limit. For someone as young as you to give such a mature performance on week 1, the shapes were fantastic. Beautiful baby.” Carrie Ann: I think what you did so well, aside what was already said, you coped with the height difference so well. That was beautiful and exciting performance.”
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 7, Derek: 7, Bruno: 7 = 21/30
Kaitlyn Bristowe (“The Bachelor,” “The Bachelorette”) found love with her husband Jason from Bachelor Nation. As a little girl, it was always her dream to be a dancer. She is paired with pro-dancer Artem Chigvintsev and they are dancing the Cha Cha to “Stupid Love” by Lady Gaga.
Judges Comments: Bruno: “What a cha cha cha, you really got it on the toe in week one. You could get a little sharper finish at times, but it was so good, brilliant.” Carrie Ann: “A great first dance. I think you can work on the pointing of your feet, watch that.” Derek: “Great first dance, beautiful cha cha. You have a lot of potentials, your arms were beautiful but just placed. The dancing was safe, I want more bite and more attack. Well done.”
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 6, Derek: 7, Bruno: 7 = 20/30
TV host Nev Schulman (“Catfish”) is paired with Jenna Johnson and they are dancing the Foxtrot to “The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra.
Judges Comments: Carrie Ann: “The world needs a little more of Nev. That was incredible, it was so uplifting and refined. I think you could work on is your rise and fall, smooth that out a little bit.” Derek: “You are a great dancer, so pleasant to watch and wonderful. Your booty was out a bit, tuck that tush and keep your elbows down.” Bruno: “I would agree, you are a great dancer. I love the way you went down the classic Hollywood style and you acted it beautiful. Side by side it was fantastic.”
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 7, Derek: 7, Bruno: 6 = 20/30
Olympic figure skater and on-air commentator Johnny Weir has never shared the stage with another performer until now. He is being paired with pro-dancer Britt Stewart and they are dancing the Cha Cha to “Buttons” by The Pussycat Dolls.
Judges Comments: Derek: “I want to welcome Britt as a new pro. Great job, great first dance. When you are in your element, I can tell you feel comfortable and confident. Stay consistently Johnny, stay confident and stay good.” Bruno: “Great opening, you have a wonderful liracle quality, you feel the music through the body. You just need to be a bit sharper, but otherwise very well done.” Carrie Ann: “I feel like you should have been on this show years ago. Stay connected the whole way through. Well done.”
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 6, Derek: 6, Bruno: 6 = 18
Actress Justina Machado (“One Day at a Time”) says her break out role was in six feet under. She is being paired with pro-dancer Sasha Farber and they are dancing the Cha Cha to “Respect” by Aretha Franklin.
Judges Comments: Bruno: “Respect you got it, baby. The confidence, the musicality.” Carrie Ann: “You were on fire, thank you for dancing like that. Well done.” Derek: “You are oozing charisma, there is no doubt about that whatsoever. But, watch the turned-in feet. Great dance, so good.”
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 7, Derek: 7, Bruno: 7 = 21/30
NBA superstar Charles Oakley (“The Last Dance”) has played in 1282 games and was known as the enforcer. He is being paired with Emma Slater and they are dancing the Salsa to “In Da Club” by 50 Cent.
Judges Comments: Carrie Ann: “The good news is that this isn’t your last dance. But the bad news, I need you to listen to music a bit more. Synch back into the beat and fill the space.” Derek: “Flat-footed, ahead of the music, but with that said, I felt joy and that goes a long way. Work on the technique.” Bruno: “You got into the spirit of it, your own way. Layed back, cool. Next time put more chili in it.”
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 4, Derek: 4, Bruno: 4 = 12/30
Head coach Monica Aldama (“CHEER”) has won fourteen national championships and now she is coming for the Mirror Ball. She is paired with pro-dancer Val Chmerkovskiy dancing the Foxtrot to “My Wish” by Rascal Flatts.
Judges Comments: Derek: “Beautiful, graceful, and pleasant to watch like a breath of fresh air. Beautiful frame, your turns got a little congested, a little stiff. Other than that, it felt good to watch, great first dance.” Bruno: “Wonderful and elegant, you looked exactly how it should. You have to be careful on the underarm turns not to raise your shoulders up. Very difficult dancer for the first time, well done.” Carrie Ann: “It is a tough dance, but I was impressed. You went for it and I could feel when you went for it. The foot did come off the ground.”
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 6, Derek: 7, Bruno: 6 = 19/30
GRAMMY-winning rapper Nelly is looking forward to the experience and growing as a person. He is being paired with pro-dancer Daniella Karagach and they are dancing the Salsa to “Ride Wit Me” by Nelly.
Judges Comments: Bruno: “Such a wonderful ride, the connection between you two was so much fun. Be careful, don’t tighten up the shoulders, with salsa you have to keep the elastic fantastic going.” Carrie Ann: “Your groove is right and nobody has that here tonight. You have that, but you have to open up. Show us who you are underneath all of that.” Derek: “Sneakers are cool for this dance, but ballroom shoes will help you better as you go on in the season. Great dance.”
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 5, Derek: 5, Bruno: 6 = 16/30
Animal activist Carole Baskin (“Tiger King”) has zero dance experience but has tried to practice. She is being paired with pro-dancer Pasha Pashkov and they are dancing the Paso to “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor.
Judges Comments: Carrie Ann: “All my summer dreams are coming true, I love you and I love the connection you had. You did not hold back, you went full out. It was fantastic.” Derek: “You danced that Paso, you smashed it. I commend you for what you did, you are here and you are doing it.” Bruno: “I thought you were going to dislocate your shoulder, for me you didn’t kill the paso doble, it was sedated. I want to hear you roar, but I am sure you will be back next week.”
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 4, Derek: 4, Bruno: 3 = 11/30
THE END!