Lil Kim, Gilles Marini Performances Highlight 'Dancing with the Stars' 2009 Premiere Episode

Lil Kim opened the show and you had to cheer for her for making it there after a stint in prison and just dreaming of dancing on the show. Her moves need to step up to the perfected level of her partner, Derek Hough, but she has obvious charisma to carry her on to the next challenge.

Steve-O achieved a shining moment in his life as well. His performance was commendable and you had to applaud his effort at refinement after years of recklessness as the star of Jackass and his abuse of drugs and alcohol. His gangster outfit seemed appropriate and we hope he continues to channel his energy in a positive way and show the world his natural spunk. Steve-O and his partner, Lacey Schwimmer, made an attractive team and showed potential for more fun to come.

Gilles Marini, a little known actor, had all the inherent qualities of a professional dancer too-sleek, sexy, and a natural. Paired with Cheryl Burke, a two time winner, they easily took in the highest scores. Gilles seems to have found his niche and so far the couple has received the recognition they deserve. Taking it to the next level may mean they will need to take on more complicated dance moves to outshine the competition.

Holly Madison, with a mere 5 days of training, was another natural dancer. She managed to pull off her routine with Dimitry Chaplin all the while exuding her natural charm and magnetism. With more time devoted to practice to become more assured of herself, she has the potential to steal the show.

Belinda Carlisle, Ty Murray, Steve Wozniak and David Allen Grier have obviously devoted their lives to their respective highly-successful careers. My heart goes out to them for their hard work and monumental personal triumphs. Their challenge was to avoid looking awkward but there just didn't seem to be enough time for them to change lifelong habits. They certainly came a long way, but unless they change their style to more natural extensions of themselves, I don't see them as a competitive challenge in future shows.

Shawn Johnson, on the other hand, managed to successfully submerge most of her rigidity and stoic virtues-strengths that allowed her success as a young gymnast. She showed grace and fluidity in her waltz with Mark Ballas. I can only wonder what she will pull off next-perhaps something spunky and complicated to highlight her individuality.

Denise Richards and Maksin Chmerkovskiy made an attractive pair. They have all the right equipment to move ahead in the competition. Denise's greatest obstacle has been her self-confidence. She has come a long way in her effort to learn to dance. More practice, polishing, and perfecting her moves will allow her to strut her stuff with utmost confidence and come out the competition a stronger person at the very least.

Melissa Rycroft and Tony Dovolani made for a stunning finale that wowed the viewers. With only 48 hours to prepare, I was on the edge of my seat and immediately awestruck. This team earned my highest review. They were a graceful, confident, and strikingly beautiful team. The music, the costumes, and their routine was an exemplary combination. With little practice, Melissa is on par with the best dancers. So, if Melissa takes this challenge as seriously as she did on The Bachelor, she just may walk away with the prize this time.