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Dancing with the Stars season ten sputters and starts

By April MacIntyre Mar 23, 2010, 6:44 GMT

03/07/2010 - Buzz Aldrin and wife Lois - 20th Annual Night of 100 Stars Awards Gala - Arrivals - Beverly Hills Hotel - Beverly Hills, CA, USA © Glenn Harris / PR Photos

Say what you will, this reality competition, ABC's long-running "Dancing With the Stars" is going to have a very interesting season ten.

Brooke Burke has replaced Samantha Harris, and she needs to learn how to manage the mic a bit better, but overall she did a very good job her first show.

The first night is the culling: Who are the serious contenders, the dark horses, the hopeless causes and the brave souls?

Long, leggy contestants were NFL star Chad Ochocinco, skater Evan Lysacek, Pamela Anderson and ESPN sideline reporter Erin Andrews. 

Ocho had a ball with Cheryl Burke doing a cha-cha that was energetic, and he made Carrie Ann squeal.  Burke is a compact athlete and she seems almost too short to be his partner, but we will see how their pas de deux unfolds.

Olympian Evan Lysacek did a great job, as did Pussycat Dolls' Nicole Scherzinger who caused the first Brunogasm of the night.  Scherzinger earned almost universal praise except for some withering comments from judge Len Goodman.

ESPN sideline reporter Erin Andrews did a lovely cha-cha and is well matched with leggy Maxim.  Pamela Anderson and her hair danced the cha-cha too, her famous assets were securely strapped down.

Tears for actresses Shannen Doherty and Niecy Nash.

Doherty got me with her story about her dad. Nash is large and proud and very funny.  Louis van Amstel is her partner, and he feeds her burgers. "If I lose my jiggly parts, you're gonna get it."  Niecy is comedy gold and her "Clean House" reality TV show with Matt Iseman and her run on "Reno 911" has forever made me a fan of hers.

Former "Bachelor" star Jake Pavelka is not a natural dancer but very nice.  He is in the dark horse category.
   
Astronaut Buzz Aldrin, at 80 years old, is the sentimental favorite and did damned good for a man that age.  He is up against fierce athletes and I don't know how long he can last in this series, despite his famous Moonwalk - on the actual MOON.

"Shopping cart" reality TV mom Kate Gosselin got the opposite of a Brunogasm, she got a Brun-not, he was not happy with her wooden performance. Her energy with Tony is non-existent.

Who did you like? Talk back.