Dancing with the Stars

Dancing With the Stars saw plenty of strong performances last night. Chynna Phillips and J.R. Martinez in particular stood out atop the Season 13 crowd.

Ron Artest (a.k.a. Metta World Peace)? Rob Kardashian? Not so much.

"It's a new season, we've got a new set, but it's the same old shimmying-about stuff," head judge Len Goodman told the newly-named Los Angeles Laker.

"Your footwork was atrocious. It was all sizzle, no sausage."

BLAM. As for Kardashian, he wasn't quite as terrible, but Chaz Bono scored better than he did, as did sister Kim a few seasons back. Not a good sign.

See the performances that left both men at the bottom of the scoreboard and likely a little nervous about their status tonight by following the jump:

Ron Artest & Peta Murgatroyd - Cha-Cha (DWTS Week 1)

Chaz Bono stood tall and held his own, David Arquette showed that his life is more under control than people thought and Kristin Cavallari sizzled.

None could hold a handle to J.R. Martinez or Chynna Phillips, however.

The Iraq War hero/soap opera star and the former Wilson Phillips member tied atop the scoreboard on Monday's Dancing With the Stars season premiere.

J.R.'s Viennese waltz showed that he's got the hips to match his courage (so to speak), while the judges gushed over Chynna's poise and talent.

Watch the performances that netted them 22 points each below!

J.R. Martinez & Karina Smirnoff - Waltz (DWTS Week 1)

Former MTV bad girl Kristin Cavallari (Laguna Beach, The Hills) says the opportunity to go Dancing With the Stars came along at the perfect time in her life, allowing her to turn the corner after her broken engagement to Jay Cutler.

It seems like she's off to a good start.

"You have the body to ballroom-dance, girlfriend! You looked great," judge Carrie Ann Inaba said. "I want to watch you dance more and more. You shine. You sparkle."

Kristin Cavallari & Mark Ballas - Cha Cha (DWTS Week 1)

"It was a very good cha-cha, and it's hard to keep up with Mark," Inaba added. "He gives you very challenging choreography, and you have to keep up with him."

Kristin scored a 19 last night, landing her in the middle of the pack, but she even won praise from hard-to-please Len. Hornball Bruno? That was a given.

"You know I love a bad girl; a bad girl with hot hips. I know you've got the full package to give that action," he said. Agree? How do you think Kristin did?

Were it not for Chaz Bono, much more attention would be paid to David Arquette's stint on Dancing With the Stars, given the up-and-down year he's had.

Between his depression over separating from Courteney Cox, his banging of Jasmine Waltz and so many TMI interviews, we were wondering what state he'd be in.

The answer: A much better one than we thought:

David Arquette & Kym Johnson - Waltz (DWTS Week 1)

As he danced the Viennese Waltz to Queen's "Someone To Love," David looked euphoric as Courteney and their daughter Coco cheered him on.

He scored an 18, one better than Bono and four behind the lead.

David said when he asked Coco if he should do DWTS, the little girl replied, "initially my feeling is no but let me go to school and speak to my friend Ashley about it."

Good thing for everyone that Ashley consented.

"It's just so beautiful to see her and she's the light of my life and I'm just happy she's here and I love her so much," David said of Coco. Sniff.

As Dancing With the Stars' first transgendered contestant, Chaz Bono has been the subject of remarkably hateful criticism by certain viewers and groups.

Chaz's debut on Monday's Dancing With the Stars premiere wasn't notable for his cha cha skills - dude's not exactly light on his feet - but for his charisma.

His 17 points actually beat four other people, too, including NBA star Metta World Peace. Watch Chaz and Lacey Schwimmer earn a standing ovation:

Chaz Bono and Lacey Schwimmer - Cha Cha (DWTS Week 1)

Not only did Chaz Bono look like he was having the time of his life, he seemed confident, despite all the controversy and virtually no dance experience.

Those factors, boosted by sufficiently low expectations for the dance itself, garnered him widespread praise from the judges, even crotchety Len.

"You really came out with the right attitude. You came out to enjoy yourself, and that's what I felt you did. You're so joyous out here," Goodman said.

"Great debut, Chaz. You should be proud." Indeed.

What do you think of Chaz going on DWTS?

Dancing With the Stars kicked off its 13th season Monday night, with all eyes on Chaz Bono. While the producers (sagely) saved his performance for last, we won't make you wait for the verdict on his parquet debut:

Not altogether terrible!

The show's first-ever transgender contestant is not exactly a natural dancer - his mom Cher made that clear - and it showed. However, with the guidance of Lacey Schwimmer, Chaz more than held his own out there. 

Bruno even called them "cute and cuddly." Whether you agree with that or not, they should easily be safe this week, given how much attention he'll get and how many people he may win over by simply being there and making a positive impact.

Besides, Chaz's 17 points Monday actually beat four other people!

Perhaps the second biggest celebrity name this season is David Arquette, who celeb news readers know hasn't had the best year, but was cheered on by his daughter Coco and separated wife Courteney Cox in a sweet show of solidarity.

Like Chaz, he didn't knock anyone's socks off, but with his energy and enthusiasm, he more than acquitted himself in his DWTS debut and tallied 18 points.

In terms of actual talent AND charm, though? Watch out for J.R. Martinez.

Dancing With the Stars is set to kick off its 13th season in a matter of hours, and ABC is on high alert for "crazies" who have a thing against Chaz Bono.

Given the surprising backlash against the transgendered star's casting, network execs and producers are taking no chances for Monday night's premiere.

There have not been any credible, specific threats against Chaz Bono, TMZ reports, but the unprecedented level of hatred and controversy he's generated are no joke.

Until further notice, Chaz will be given extra security while he's on the CBS Television City lot, where the show is filmed, and off the premises as well.

This isn't the first time DWTS has had to deal with security issues - there were several incidents with Bristol Palin - but it may be the most serious.

It's good to hear ABC will do whatever it takes to keep Chaz safe. Shielding the public from his bad dance moves, however, is a whole 'nother story.

What are your thoughts on Chaz going Dancing With the Stars?

[Photo: WENN.com]

Chaz Bono stopped by the Ellen DeGeneres Show today to chat about competing on the new season of Dancing With the Stars, and the hurdles he's faced.

While he knew that, as the show's first transgendered star, some people would have a problem with him, he never expected the backlash to be this bad.

After he explained what it felt like to be in his shoes, Ellen was less diplomatic in pointing out the ridiculousness of those (cough, Dr. Keith Ablow) who are anti-Chaz:

Chaz Bono on Ellen

Later in the interview, they received a phone call from his biggest fan - mother Cher, who didn't hesitate to lash out, like she has before, at the haters.

"If you got that excess time and that amount of hostility, I'm not sure I can say anything to you that would make you change your feelings," she said.

"I don't know that I would have any magic words to soothe you, to comfort you into not being terrified of my child on Dancing With the F--cking Stars."

How awesome is Cher?

She did admit that she's worried about one thing: Chaz's dance moves. "You doing this dance is about as scary as you making 'the change,'" she says.

Ryan O'Neal was all but confirmed to appear on Dancing With the Stars this season ... until he wasn't. The reason, sources say, is his disdain for Nancy Grace.

Sources close to the Ryan say he was set to do the show but pulled out late when he learned Grace would be a part of the Dancing With the Stars cast.

The actor is steamed about Grace's recent harsh words for his son Redmond O'Neal, who has drug problems, and for suggesting Ryan is a bad parent.

For her part, Grace is perplexed that O'Neal dropped out of her, telling TMZ, she never said anything bad about him ... even loosely or tangentially.

"We have never covered Mr. O'Neal nor his family on our show," the pundit said, adding that, "I hate that he dropped out of Dancing With the Stars."

"I would have loved to compete with him and wish him the very best."

Grace says she considers O'Neal to be one of the great actors of our time and she finds his relationship with Farrrah Fawcett "an inspiration to me."

Well, somebody's clearly not telling the truth here.

[Photo: WENN.com]

Dr. Keith Ablow recently suggested that watching Chaz Bono on Dancing With the Stars could "confuse" American youth and make them consider a sex change.

Not the case, a major industry group says.

The American Psychiatric Association says Ablow's assertion that seeing Chaz on DWTS will cause a spike in Gender Identity Disorder (GID) is unfounded.

John M. Oldham acknowledges that GID is a psychiatric disorder but told TMZ that as far as watching Chaz do the samba is concerned, there's no connection.

"There is no evidence that viewing a television game show with a transgender contestant would induce Gender Identity Disorder in young people," he said.

It may, however, infect you with bad dance moves if you try to emulate Chaz, if recent reports are to believed. We'll find out next Monday, September 19.

What's your take on Chaz joining DWTS?