LOS ANGELES — Gold medal figure skater Evan Lysacek and Pussycat Dolls frontwoman Nicole Scherzinger emerged as early favorites on the new season of “Dancing With the Stars.”
Scherzinger earned the highest score during Monday’s premiere, 25 points out of 30, for a Viennese waltz that judge Bruno Tonioli called “a performance of sparkling finesse.” Lysacek’s waltz landed him in second place with 23 points.
Scherzinger and Lysacek are among 11 celebrity contestants vying for the mirrorball trophy on the 10th season of the hit ABC dance show.
Astronaut Buzz Aldrin earned the night’s lowest score, collecting 14 points out of 30 for his cha-cha. The judges were reluctant to criticize the 80-year-old war veteran, whom host Tom Bergeron introduced as a “living legend,” but Tonioli summed it up by saying: “It looked like you still had your moon boots on.”
Other low-scorers Monday included soap star Aiden Turner, who earned 15 points for his cha-cha, and reality mom Kate Gosselin, who collected 16 points for her Viennese waltz.
Also competing this season are Pamela Anderson, reality star Jake Pavelka, sportscaster Erin Andrews, football star Chad Ochocinco and actors Shannen Doherty and Niecy Nash.
All will dance again on Monday, and one will be cut from the contest on March 30.
This season’s first episode also featured the debut of co-host Brooke Burke, who will share duties with Bergeron, and the return of judges Tonioli, Len Goodman and Carrie Ann Inaba.
On the Net:
abc.go.com/shows/dancing-with-the-stars/index
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