“DWTS”: Season 25 Premiere Reveals Surprising Frontrunners

Miraculous and inspirational were two words that came immediately to mind while watching Arlen danceamp160 She contracted Transverse Myelitis at age 11 which left her in a nearcomatose state unable to speak eat or move but aware of what was happening for four years and when she amp8220awokeamp8221 she was paralyzed from the waist downamp160 She learned to walk again only a year ago at age 21 albeit without feeling in her legsamp160 And yet she expertly executed a cha cha with partner Val Chmerkovskiy scoring a 19 and high praise from judge Carrie Ann Inaba who referred to her as a amp8220revelationamp8221amp160 Arlen is pictured at top center with DWTS host Tom Bergeron left and ChmerkovskiyVanessa Lachey and partner Maks Chmerkovskiyamp8217s intense cha cha earned the duo a 21 while Stirlingamp8217s cha cha had her tie for top of the leader board alongside Jordan Fisher with a 22Thanks to his breakout performance as Doody in Foxamp8217s Grease Live newcomer Jordan Fisher had some experience with live television Heamp8217s also been appearing onstage in Hamilton but neither of those experiences prepared him to tango in front of millions of viewersamp160 amp8220When you do anything that you have never done before it is a little nerve racking at the end of the dayamp8221 he revealed amp160amp8220But I think the bottom line of this show is to see growth happen and we are so excited to do thatamp8221Also high on the nerveometer was Frankie Muniz amp160His foxtrot with partner Witney Carson was flawless despite his nervous system being in overdrive amp8220Honestly I was a disaster as far as nerves all dayamp8221 he told me after his dance amp8220But I am so thankful that Witney is my partner because she put up with me asking a million questions and I almost didn39t remember the song we were dancing toamp8221The night had other memorable moments notably the revelation of the flirty side of Shark Tank shark Barbara Corcoran whose limited dance ability was far overshadowed by her exuberance at having Keo Motsepe for a partneramp160 Corcoran is pictured below center with Bergeron left and Motsepeamp160 One might have thought she was on The Bachelorette amp160Her Shark Tank costar Robert Herjavec met his bride Kym Johnson while dancing on the show amp160Postshow the usually composed dealmaker was attempting to seal a different kind of deal with her partner amp160amp8220Iamp8217m turned on buddyamp8221 she joked when I asked about her obvious excitement amp160amp8220Itamp8217s like God came down and chose me to be the luckiest girl on earth amp160So Iamp8217m more than blessed amp160Look at this guy amp160Do I deserve a man this ageamp8221When quizzed about what Motsepe found sexy about his gushing partner the prodancer diplomatically referred to her determination and work ethic However Corcoran was quick to interpret her partneramp8217s praise amp160amp8220I will decode it for you itamp8217s like thisamp8221 she laughed amp160amp8220amp8216Honey youamp8217re rich and can I marry you just for a couple of years and be set for lifeamp8217 amp160Just come out with it you donamp8217t have to beat around the bushamp8221Most of the seasonamp8217s competitors replied amp8220everyone is my greatest competitionamp8221 when I asked who they had their eye onamp160 Still there was no denying the incredible story of Victoria Arlenamp160 The execution of her cha cha had everyone agreeing she is a force to be reckoned with this seasonamp8220I thought that everyone had an amazing performanceamp8221 admitted WWE champ Nikki Bella amp160amp8220But Victoria amp8230 her story and to go out there on live TV and do what she did and she was so amazing amp160That is beyond inspiringamp160 She made me cry and she literally is the epitome of never giving upamp8221Those words were echoed by Debbie Gibson whose own shocking revelation of dealing with Lyme disease for the last four years surprised everyone Despite her own health issues Gibsonamp8217s praise of the brave Arlen was high amp160amp8220She blew my mindamp8221 Gibson exclaimed amp160amp8220How could you even think youamp8217re struggling with learning steps after watching that amp160I almost felt I should hang up my hat and go home in fact my whole family is voting for her amp160She was really amazingamp8221Next week the DWTS competition continues with two nights of competition and two eliminations Monday and Tuesday at 8 pm on ABCClick the social buttons above or below to share this content with your friends and colleaguesThe opinions and points of view expressed in this content are exclusively the views of the author andor subjects and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillagecomMyersBizNet Inc management or associated writersamp160

Click to Make Your 2025 Contribution to Support the MediaVillage Education Foundation

“DWTS”: Season 25 Premiere Reveals Surprising Frontrunners

Author

Publish date

Channel

Archived in

Steve Gidlow

Jim Lecinski | Clinical Marketing Professor | The Insomnia Cookies Case - The GOST Model Taught at Northwestern - By Mike Linton

More Videos:

Click to Make Your 2025 Contribution to Support the MediaVillage Education Foundation

“DWTS”: Season 25 Premiere Reveals Surprising Frontrunners

Enjoying This Commentary? There's More to Love

Steve Gidlow

Jim Lecinski | Clinical Marketing Professor | The Insomnia Cookies Case - The GOST Model Taught at Northwestern - By Mike Linton

The payment was successful

Cookies