Ep 1. Week 1

Dancing with the Stars is an American reality television show featuring celebrity contestants paired with professional dancers. Season 23 marked the show's return to the airwaves after a hiatus, and was eagerly awaited by fans of the show. The first episode of the season was titled "Week 1", and brought all the excitement and glamour that fans have come to expect from the show.

The episode started with a dazzling opening dance number featuring all the professional dancers and celebrity contestants, showcasing the diverse range of dance styles that were going to be on display throughout the season. The show's long-time hosts, Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews, then welcomed the audience and viewers at home, and introduced this season's cast of celebrity contestants.

The season 23 celebrity contestants were a diverse group, including Olympic champions, actors, musicians, and reality TV stars. Some of the notable contestants this season included gold medal-winning gymnast Laurie Hernandez, actor Jake T. Austin, singer-songwriter Babyface, and Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte. Each of the contestants was introduced accompanied by a brief video clip that gave viewers a glimpse into their personal lives and career highlights.

After the contestants were introduced, the competition began in earnest. The contestants were paired with their professional dance partners, and each couple performed a dance in their chosen style. The judges for the season were head judge Len Goodman, along with returning judges Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli. Each couple was scored by the judges on a scale of 1-10, with a perfect score being 30.

The first couple to take to the dancefloor was former Texas governor Rick Perry and his partner, Emma Slater. They performed a cha-cha, and while Perry's enthusiasm was evident, his dancing skills left something to be desired. The judges gave them a score of 20.

Next up was actress Amber Rose and her partner, Maksim Chmerkovskiy. They performed a foxtrot, and while their chemistry was good, the judges felt that Rose's footwork was a bit sloppy. They received a score of 21.

Country singer Jana Kramer and her partner, Gleb Savchenko, were next to perform. They danced a Viennese waltz, and their performance was smooth and graceful. The judges gave them a score of 27, the highest score of the night so far.

Former football player Calvin Johnson Jr. and his partner, Lindsay Arnold, were next. They performed a cha-cha, and Johnson's natural athleticism was evident in his moves. The judges gave them a score of 26.

One of the most anticipated performances of the night came from Olympic gymnast Laurie Hernandez and her partner, Valentin Chmerkovskiy. They performed a cha-cha, and Hernandez's energy and precision wowed the judges. They received a score of 31, the highest score of the night so far.

Actor Jake T. Austin and his partner, Jenna Johnson, performed a jive that showcased Austin's youthfulness and energy. The judges gave them a score of 22.

Next up was singer-songwriter Babyface and his partner, Allison Holker. They performed a foxtrot, and while Babyface's charm shone through, the judges felt that he could have been a bit more graceful in his movements. They received a score of 26.

Former reality TV star Terra Jolé and her partner, Sasha Farber, performed a jive that was full of energy and fun. The judges loved their performance, and gave them a score of 25.

Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte and his partner, Cheryl Burke, closed out the night with a foxtrot. While their performance was elegant and had some impressive lifts, the judges felt that Lochte needed to work on his footwork. They received a score of 24.

Overall, the first episode of Dancing with the Stars season 23 did not disappoint, with some standout performances and a diverse group of celebrity contestants. Fans will undoubtedly be tuning in for the rest of the season to see who will come out on top.