Game Show Newsnet - Dancing with the Stars: Season 8

It's a new season of DWTS. Time to go to work! Season 8 of the show is upon us. We're keeping the flow with more dancing than ever before. And the plan is more stimulus than....the economy. With that said, here comes your lineup.

STARS
Chuck Wicks (country singer)
Shawn Johnson (gymnast)
Lawrence Taylor (Former NY Giant; "Blitz The League")
Gilles Marini (actor)
Steve-O ("Jackass")
Holly Madison ("The Girls Next Door", subbing for Nancy O'Dell)
Melissa Rycroft ("The Bachelor" subbing for Jewel)
Lil' Kim (rapper)
Belinda Carlisle ("The Go-Go's")
David Alan Grier ("In Living Color")
Steve Wozniak (founder of Apple)
Ty Murray (PBR legend)
Denise Richards (actress)

DANCE PROS
Cheryl Burke (2x champion; Giles partner)
Chelsie Hightower (SYTYCD alum; Ty's partner)
Lacey Schwimmer (took Lance Bass to the finals; Steve-O's partner)
Edyta Sliwinska (Only person to appear in every season; Lawrence's partner)
Karina Smirnoff (took Mario Lopez to finals; Steve's partner)
Johnathan Roberts (Belinda's partner)
Maksim Chmierkovskiy (Denise's partner)
Kym Johnson (Took Joey Fatone to the finals; David's partner)
Derek Hough (Won a title with Brooke Burke; Lil' Kim's partner)
Tony Dovolani (partnered with Stacy Keibler; Melissa's partner)
Mark Ballas (Took Kristi Yamaguchi to the title; Shawn's partner)
Dimity Chaplin (SYTYCD alum; Holly's partner)

The gloves have been thrown off, and it's...TIME! The season is underway.

To kick it off, Gilles & Cheryl dancing a cha-cha to "Addicted to Love" by Robert Palmer. Cheryl did a few spins and both did a slow swerve. Cheryl did a split and ducked for cover with a kick thanks to Gilles. Now let's recover for safety with our judges. Carrie Ann said it had great potential, Len said it pulled it off and Bruno said it was sharp & sexy. Let's get the tablets and use a hammer to edge out the numbers.

CARRIE ANN: 8
LEN: 8
BRUNO: 8
Total Score: 24

Remember, it'll be a cha-cha or a waltz. SO pay attention! Next up, Shawn & Mark doing a waltz. One highlight you might see was a foot drag by Shawn. Their score is a 23, one edged out by a tie for the lead.

Next up, Melissa & Tony waltzing to "Moon River." Melissa did a spin twirl and a slow kick. Everything else was elegant. On to the judges. Carrie Ann wants her to be careful of not taking her so lightly, Len said everything was on the toe and Bruno said it was a revelation. That 23 from the gang ties Shawn for 2nd.

Next up, The Queen Bee takes her place in the ballroom hive doing a cha-cha to "Nasty" by Janet Jackson. Both wowed the crowd with some arm work and Kim did a split. Even one cane by the end of the song. One sample of the judges critique came from Len, and he said it was first class, but it's a 21 for 3rd, and Gilles so far, has the first class plane.

Flying up to the cockpit is Chuck & Julianne dancing together in the ballroom with a waltz to "Are You Lonesome Tonight" by Elvis Presley. One good highlight is Julianne doing a leg hold spin. To the judges again. Carrie Ann talked about a lift in the routine, Len said he needs better work on refining and Bruno said it was like chasing her. a 20 means they got a long way to go.

Next up, David & Kym doing a waltz to "You Light Up My Life" by Debby Boone. I guess they did elegant throughout. Bruno said it was leaning too much to water. But a 19 gave them a splash just barely.

It'll be Holly & Dmitry's turn to uh....what was it? Oh yeah, "Just Dance." That's the song in the cha-cha category sung by Lady Gaga. I think it was fiery, don't you think? On to the judges. Carrie Ann said it had a lot of charisma, Len said it wasn't bad and Bruno said it was plenty to look at. Let's look at the scoreboard:

CARRIE ANN: 6
LEN: 6
BRUNO: 6
Total Score: 18
Not a good score, but they come in last place.

Next up, Denise & Maks doing a cha-cha to "Nothing But a Good time" by Poison. Denise did a split and everything else was good...but it wasn't. A tie for last means she'll make good for next week.

Belinda & Johnathan will be next to waltz to "What The World Needs Now." Both spun around and she did a ballerina spin. She even did another ballet spin and that was it. But she spun out too much to a score of 17.

We're keeping things going with Steve-O & Lacey doing a waltz. Steve-O did a flip ahead and Lacey did a slow split at the end. But in a split second, a 17 gave them a tie for last.

Next will be Lawrence & Edyta doing a cha-cha to "25 Miles" by Edwin Starr. Edyta did a split and that's pretty much it. They get a 16. Not good.

Ty & Chelsie get to cha-cha to "Train In Vain" by The Clash. Chelsie did a heel drag, then ran to a corner and did a squat kick. Chelsie did a split to end it, but that didn't save the show. No siree, bob. Or did it? Let's go to the judges. Carrie Ann said to work on his dancing, Len said he did come out & try it and Bruno said it looked more like an army drill. Maybe I was 2 sentences behind. On to the scoreboard:

CARRIE ANN: 5
LEN: 4
BRUNO: 5
Total Score: 14
That'll give them last.

To wrap it up, Steve & Karina doing a cha-cha to "You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet" by BTO. After a pretty bad solo....never mind the cameras....and took knee bends. To the judges one last time. Carrie Ann said it went out on a limb, Len said it was a disaster and Bruno said it was watching a Teletubby going mad. It's time we exit with this:

CARRIE ANN: 5
LEN: 4
BRUNO: 4
Total Score: 13
Not....really...good.

So, we get to award our top 3 stars and a big ball of tinfoil.

GOLD-GILLES & CHERYL-24
SILVERS-SHAWN & MELISSA-23
BRONZE-LIL' KIM & DEREK-21

Big Ball of Tinfoil-Steve & Karina

Well, the first week is in the books. Tune in again next week to see if 2 more routines could put anyone in Gilles' way. Hope you don't watch naked. See you in 7, gang. I'm out.