'Dancing With the Stars' recap: Controversial Sean Spicer dazzles with outfit, if not with dance

Spoiler alert: This recap contains performance details from Monday's season premiere of ABC's "Dancing With the Stars." There were no eliminations.

The Season 28 premiere of "Dancing With the Stars" had a talker moment before anyone broke a samba: Controversial contestant and former White House press secretary Sean Spicer wearing a flouncy, day-glo green shirt that nevertheless fit better than that ill-fitting gray suit he wore after President Donald Trump's inauguration. Wow!

After his much-awaited performance, the second-to-last of opening night, judge Carrie Ann Inaba told Spicer: "I'm going to give you the best fluorescent shimmy of the night."

And now back to our regular recap. After nearly a year's wait for fans, ABC's dancing competition made a welcome return and opened with a twist: Celebrity-pro pairings weren't revealed until just before the first dance. Hosts and judges promised other changes during the season.

In addition to Spicer's participation, which has drawn more backlash than any recent celebrity selection, the season opener followed up on an unplanned drama with the last-minute substitution of Sailor Brinkley-Cook for her mother and fellow model, Christie Brinkley, who broke her arm during training.

Monday's opener featured judges' scores but no eliminations. Viewers will get to vote starting next week, with the show promising more details on the ballot process.

Here's a brief rundown of the pairings and first performances:

A more-than-able assist: 'DWTS' video shows Christie Brinkley breaking arm, before daughter wows as fill-in dancer

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'Bachelorette' Hannah Brown and pro Alan Bersten (20/30)

ABC went all cross-promotion, revealing Brown's partner via "Bachelorette" limo arrival, with Bersten exiting the vehicle and getting a rose. "You know how I say break a leg?" "Bachelor/Bachelorette" host Chris Harrison told Brown. "Don't do that this time."

The couple opened the season with a cha-cha-cha, earning strong scores and praise from head judge Len Goodman: "It was crisp. It was clean. It was confident. … Good way to kick off the show."

Comedian and actor Kel Mitchell and pro Witney Carson (16/30)

The "Kenan & Kel" and "Good Burger" star made a distinctive stage arrival: He emerged from a picture of his face, riding down a pink slide that substituted as a tongue. "You're the first person in 28 seasons to start a dance by sliding out of your own mouth," co-host Tom Bergeron said.

Mitchell, in a white and black suit with multiple colors in the middle, and Carson performed a tango, earning praise from judge Bruno Tonioli.

"You have the right attitude, the determination and it was a real tango," he said. He praised Carson but cautioned Mitchell: "You were a little bit jumpy and you went on the wrong foot. But Week 1, great!"

'The Office' star Kate Flannery and pro first-timer Pasha Pashkov (15/30)

Flannery, who played Meredith, called on her waitressing experience, opening in a red uniform as if she were waiting on a table, before ripping off the waitress garb to reveal a bright blue dress as she began a cha-cha-cha with Pashkov.

"I am so impressed. That was really good. Your movements are very clear, very defined," Inaba said. "You rushed the music at times, (but) great first dance."

Former NBA star Lamar Odom and Peta Murgatroyd (11/30)

A big height differential turned out to be an opening-night issue for 6-foot-10 Odom and 5-foot-7 Murgatroyd, back after spending "the last two years (as) a full-time mom."

After the couple's fox-trot, Goodman said, "It's not a good sign, but it's so difficult when you're as tall as you are," he said. "I don't think the fox-trot is your dance. It lacked finesse."

Inaba disagreed, praising Odom for listening to Murgatroyd and suggesting the possibility of a "slow, steady route to win this competition."

Country singer Lauren Alaina and pro Gleb Savchenko (19/30)

After "American Idol" runner-up Alaina danced a cha-cha-cha to Shania Twain's "I Feel Like a Woman," Tonioli said she looked like a "sultry Southern belle" and that the pair had performed "a steamy cha-cha." He criticized a back-step, but added: "Overall, it was a very polished performance."

Model Sailor Brinkley-Cook and pro Valentin Chmerkovskiy (18/30)

With only three days to train after her mother's surprise exit, Brinkley-Cook performed splendidly in her fox-trot with Chmerkovskiy.

After hugging her mother, who was seated next to the stage, Brinkley-Cook received praise from the judges.

"You have poise (and) an incredible carefree spirit that moves through your dance," Inaba said to Brinkley-Cook, who was standing with her mother. You've got a gold mine here."

More: Christie Brinkley breaks arm in 'Dancing with the Stars' rehearsal, daughter Sailor fills in

"Queer Eye" culture expert Karamo and pro Jenna Johnson (17/30)

Karamo and Johnson wowed the crowd with their salsa, but the judges were less impressed. "It was all a bit disappointing, really. Not enough hip action. … It lacked a bit of rhythm," Goodman said. The judges' scores were better than their comments.

More: Will Karamo Brown go shirtless on Dancing with the Stars?

Super Bowl winner Ray Lewis and pro Cheryl Burke (15/30)

"Someone brought their A game," Inaba said after Lewis and Burke danced their salsa. "You turn this audience on."

Singer Mary Wilson and pro Brandon Armstrong (17/30)

Inaba fell into "fangirl" status, praising the former Supreme, who is 75, as an example of "true elegance, true sophistication." Goodman added: "I'm the same age as you and I'd like to be able to come out and do a fox-trot as well as you do."

Singer Ally Brooke and pro Sasha Farber (16/30)

Goodman commented on the "hip-thrusting and gyrating" in the couple's cha-cha-cha. "There was a lot of Beyoncé stuff in there, which I don't like a lot. But having said that, you're a very competent dancer," he told the Fifth Harmony singer.

Former presidential press secretary Sean Spicer and pro Lindsay Arnold (12/30)

Spicer seems to be the early front-runner for this season's comic relief, as Arnold, in practice, cited his skills as being at "a pre-preschool level."

Spicer then opened the salsa on the bongo drums, with Tonioli telling him he was "going bonkers on the bongos." He added that he found the performance "strangely entertaining."

Goodman applauded Spicer's participation amid controversy: "I admire your courage coming on this show. You brought fun to the ballroom."

More: 'Dancing With the Stars': President Trump says Sean Spicer will do 'great' amid backlash

Actor James Van Der Beek and pro Emma Slater (21/30)

The evening closed with the highest score and perhaps a competition front-runner, a tango by the popular "Dawson's Creek" alum and Slater.

"What a way to end the night! We have a leading man in the house," Inaba exulted, praising Van Der Beek's "style, technique, flavor."

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Dancing With the Stars' opens with Sean Spicer in fluorescent shirt