'Dancing With The Stars' Recap: Stars Face Off Against The Pros

by uInterviewApril 16, 2013, 12:00 amNews >

Dancing With The Stars returned on Monday night with a show that forced the celebrity contestants to battle toe-to-toe against returning professional dancers.

Zendaya Coleman was at the top of the leader board at the end of the evening, having scored a total of 29 points for her Argentine Tango with partner Val Chmerkovskiy. In their face off against Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Anna Trebunskaya, they received the first tens from the judges of the season.

As has often been the case, comedians D.L Hughley and Andy Dick found themselves at the bottom, with 18 points a piece. Hughley and Cheryl Burke had danced a Tango, and Dick and Sharna Burgess had taken on a Paso Doble with a Zorro theme.

Former General Hospital actor Ingo Rademacher performed a Cha Cha with Kym Johnson, as pros Tony Dovolani and Emma Slater took on the same routine. Although praised for his general attitude, his technique was found lacking; he earned 21 points from the judges.

Baltimore Raven Jacoby Jones and Karina Smirnoff danced a jive beside Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Anna Trebunskaya. Jones’ enthusiastic performance earned him a standing ovation and 26 points.

Despite getting a fair amount of praise from the judges, Victor Ortiz’s Waltz only saw him receive 21 points. Aly Raisman and Mark Ballas danced a Samba for 25 points.

The Bachelor’s Sean Lowe and pro Peta Murgatroyd took on a quickstep beside Tristan MacManus and Chelsie Hightower that the judges unanimously agreed was his best dance so far.

Kellie Pickler continued to impress the judges with her foxtrot with partner Derek Hough, which Len Goodman dubbed “a hot trot.” She received 27 points for the performance.