(Spoiler alert: Please do not read on if you haven’t yet seen Monday’s premiere of “Dancing With the Stars”)
ABC welcomed back “Dancing With the Stars” for the 20th season on Monday and the latest batch of contestants started the show off with a bang.
Hitting the dance floor for Season 20 are actress Rumer Willis, Redfoo from LMFAO, football player Michael Sam, “Glee” star Riker Lynch, “Three’s Company” star Suzanne Somers, former Olympian Nastia Liukin, singer Patti LaBelle, model Charlotte McKinney, “Hunger Games” actress Willow Shields, “Bachelor” Chris Soules, U.S. Army veteran Noah Galloway and Robert Herjavec from “Shark Tank.”
The biggest stars of the night, however, were Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, who were in the crowd cheering on their eldest daughter, along with the “Die Hard” actor’s new wife, Emma, and other daughters Scout and Tallulah.
An even bigger surprise was Rumer’s outstanding performance, which won her not only cheers from her famous family, but also a standing ovation from the audience and the highest score of the night (totaling 32) for her foxtrot with Val Chmerkovskiy. “This could be your season,” Goodman told her, while Hough said she gave her the “chills.”
Julianne Hough, Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba all returned to the judge’s table for the 10th anniversary of ABC’s competition series, with Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews resuming their hosting duties.
ABC also welcomed a new face to U.S. audiences, “Dancing With the Stars: All Access” host and former “Blue Peter” presenter Gethin Jones, who was a contestant on the U.K. version of the reality show, “Strictly Come Dancing.”
Shields kicked off the action, as she was told by Hough, “you are the youngest competitor we’ve had,” and Tonioli quoted “Hunger Games” to tell the 14-year-old “the odds are in your favor.”
But it was Lynch who really got the audience amped up out of the gate, prompting Bruno to climb up onto the desk and gush: “You have the coolest vibe! Brilliant.” However, Goodman warned that he has to find some refinement for the foxtrot next week.
LaBelle pulled a diva move as she came out dancing to her own song, “Lady Marmalade.” Inaba called her wonderful, graceful and fabulous, prompting tears from the 70-year-old singer.
Hot off his engagement to Whitney Bischoff last week, “Bachelor” star Soules showed off his country roots reenacting Kevin Bacon’s moves in “Footloose.”
Iraq war veteran Galloway, who lost his left arm above the elbow and left leg above the knee in a bomb blast, later brought Inaba to tears for his inspirational performance. “What I’m lacking in limbs, I’ll make up for in determination and hard work,” said, before scoring a total of 26.
Somers performed a throwback to her 80s past in neon leg warmers and sparkles as she was flipped around to “Physical” by partner Tony Dovolani, who got into the retro spirit with a headband and blue tights.
Tonioli called openly gay football star Sam’s butt “a work of art,” but Hough said his “feet were a little bit sloppy.”
“Dancing With the Stars” airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
See the full list of performances below.
- Noah Galloway, U.S. Army veteran, athlete and amputee, partnered with Sharna Burgess dancing a Cha Cha to “I Lived” by OneRepublic
- Robert Herjavec, “Shark Tank” star, partnered with Kym Johnson dancing a Cha Cha to “Bills” by Lunch Money Lewis
- Patti LaBelle, singer, partnered with Artem Chigvintsev dancing a Foxtrot to “Lady Marmalade” by Patti LaBelle
- Nastia Liukin, former Olympic gymnast, partnered with Derek Hough dancing a Foxtrot to “New York, New York” by Ray Quinn, featuring Ultra Love
- Riker Lynch, “Glee” actor and member of the band R5, partnered with Allison Holker dancing a Jive to “What I Like About You” by The Romantics
- Charlotte McKinney, model who starred in the racy Carl’s Jr. Super Bowl ad this year, partnered with Keo Motsepe dancing a Jive to “Shake a Tail Feather” by The Blues Brothers
- Redfoo, LMFAO band member, partnered with Emma Slater dancing a Cha Cha to “Juicy Wiggle” by Redfoo
- Michael Sam, football player, partnered with Peta Murgatroyd dancing a Cha Cha to “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson, featuring Bruno Mars
- Willow Shields, plays Prim in “The Hunger Games” series, partnered with Mark Ballas dancing a Cha Cha to “Lips Are Movin’” by Meghan Trainor
- Suzanne Somers, “Three’s Company” and “Step by Step” actress, partnered with Tony Dovolani dancing a Cha Cha to “Physical” by Olivia Newton-John
- Chris Soules, recent “Bachelor” star, and Witney Carson dancing a Jive to “Footloose” by Kenny Loggins
- Rumer Willis, daughter of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, partnered with Valentin Chmerkovskiy dancing a Foxtrot to “Take Me To Church” by Hozier