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Zendaya and Dick early favorites: 'Dancing With the Stars' new season begins

By April Neale Mar 19, 2013, 13:31 GMT

DWTS hopeful Zendaya - Picture copyright by JJPhotoz / PRPhotos.com.

The Glitter Ball was dusted off and buffed up as hosts Tom Bergeron and Brooke Burke-Charvet as unlikely crowd favorite (and often times bad boy in the news) Andy Dick put on his best charm offensive to win the crowd and judges alike last night on the premiere.

Also turning heads was Disney prodigy Zendaya, who also caught the attention of the judges.

The dance reality competition is in its 16th season, as the makeup and hair trailers buzzed with the looks for the night, the assembled cast of characters each had their moment to show what they've got.

The Glitter Ball was dusted off and buffed up as hosts Tom Bergeron and Brooke Burke-Charvet presided over the festivities, chatting up the judges and the stars. No one delivers the zingers like Bergeron. Judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli were back in their seats on the judges' panel, ready for grading the famous hoofers.

Zendaya, 16, is the youngest cast member ever on the show. She said,  "I'm a singer, actress, hip-hop dancer, and now I'm going to try to become a ballroom dancer." Her partner Val Chmerkovskiy perfectly displayed the young woman's natural ballroom floor moves, and she smiled while she did it. Said Carrie Ann: "That was amazing!" Len swooned: "That was great!" Bruno rated it "superb."

Scores: 8, 8, 8 = 24

Olympian Dorothy Hamill won the gold medal for ice skating in 1976, and beat back breast cancer. She's a fighter. Her contemporary performance to Tiny Dancer with pro Tristan MacManus made Len praise the dance's "outstanding beauty." Bruno said she "told the story beautifully."

Scores: 7, 7, 7 = 21

Kellie Pickler is paired with pro Derek Hough. "We have the same haircut!" he said, when the two met. "Our rehearsals are like a circus," she said. Their cha cha to Jessie J's Domino sizzled, with Len giving it a thumbs up,  "Yum, yum, pig's bum, that was fun!" Bruno shared. Carrie Ann told Kellie: "You have incredible torso movement, my darling."

Scores: 7, 7, 7 = 21

Olympian Aly Raisman took her skills in gymnastics and danced with partner Mark Ballas, performing a cha cha cha. "You are ready to burst out, big-time!" said Bruno, joking about her cleavalicious costume. Carrie Ann wanted her to "push just a little more." Len loved the "vitality," but noted she needed to have "crisper" leg moves.

Scores: 7, 7, 7 = 21

Soap hunk Ingo Rademacher is an athlete off camera. "I swim, I bike, I run, so why not add ballroom dancing to the list," he says. Paired with lean and leggy Kym Johnson, the two danced barefoot. But Len no likey. The judges all began arguing. Bruno: "Listen to me. That was good. I thought it was a bit like watching Bradley Cooper in Silver Linings Playbook."

Scores 7, 6, 7 = 20

Footballer Jacoby Jones busted out a cha cha with athletic dancer Karina Smirnoff.  "You definitely have the moves," said Carrie Ann, who likened it to a "big ol' medley of touchdown dances." Len no likey, saying "technique was terrible..." Jacoby shot back: "I love you, too." Bruno said, "You can grind it... but you have to really work on your foot placement."

Scores: 7, 6, 7 = 20

Bachelor man Sean Lowe and partner Peta Murgatroyd did a foxtrot that seemed to delight the crowd, while his wife to be Catherine Giudici watched. Said Len, "It lacked finesse." Bruno says, "For a dance virgin, you have a very good pelvic thrust." Ha!! Carrie Ann praised his "fearless exuberance." I say enough, this guy's fifteen minutes expired.

Scores: 7, 6, 6 = 19

Boxer Victor Ortiz's backstory was the gut punch of the night. His mom walked out when he was just 7; his dad when he was 12. No wonder he became a boxer to deal with this constant abandonment. He did a foxtrot with pro Lindsay Arnold to Maroon 5's Daylight. Bruno says he dug the "boyish charm and Latino passion" despite finding fault with his footwork and frame. Carrie Ann said, "You sparkle." Len warmed to his performance, but not effusively.

Scores: 6, 6, 6 = 18

Another Bravo reality dame, Lisa Vanderpump, danced a foxtrot with partner, Gleb Savchenko.   Len noted her "fluidity," but said it was "acceptable, not exceptional." Bruno said that "the lines were good." Carrie Ann: "You were out of sync a little bit... Hold your own." Giggy the dog was there with her to receive the scores.

Scores: 6, 6, 6 = 18

Orangina chanteuse Wynonna Judd shared the story of how her hubby Cactus Moser, lost a leg in her B roll backstory. Then she did a cha cha cha to I've Got The Music in Me. Out in the audience was sis and soon to be politician Ashley and mom Naomi. Len said it was "a little bit careful," but said he liked it. Bruno gave her props for her timing but told her to "go more for it." Carrie Ann says: "Give it more. You got it, honey. It's there."

Scores: 6, 6, 6 = 18

Recovering addict Andy Dick talked plainly about his demons, that his career was going "brilliantly but my drinking and drug use got out of control and I lost everything." The actor/comedian says he's sober and "working hard at it." He and his partner Sharna Burgess did a foxtrot. "It was like watching Woody Allen do the foxtrot," said Bruno. Carrie Ann said there's "something quite charming about you," but she said he has to work on "pancake hands and pancake feet." Len was kind, saying there were "moments of a sophistication," but it lacked "fluidity."

Scores: 6, 5, 6 = 17

Comic D.L. Hughley was the weakest link. "I have legs of a chicken but heart of a lion," he shared with his partner Cheryl Burke. Carrie Ann summed it up best: "That was yikes. Whoa." Len drove the final nail into DL's dance coffin: "This was no good."

Scores: 4, 4, 4 = 12