KEY POINTS:
The stars came out to shine on the season premiere of Dancing with the Stars last night but some proved more dazzling than others.
Megan Alatini and her partner Jonny Williams impressed viewers with their smooth moves and undeniable chemistry, becoming strong contenders for the 2007 crown after claiming the top score of the night.
Suzanne Paul proved she is a woman of many talents, as she and partner Stefano Olivieri cha cha-ed their way around the room with seamless ease.
If talkback radio is to be believed, Ms Paul looks to be a strong favourite to win the series.
Former basketballer and TV host Brendan Pongia showed he was a born entertainer with his animated facial expressions, which earned him and dance partner Hayley Holt the second highest score of the evening.
However, not all the dancers fared so well.
Wanganui Mayor Michael Laws ended bottom of the table after failing to impress the judges with his cha cha.
New judge Craig Revel-Horwood had little sympathy for the walking wounded Laws - who broke his toe during rehearsal last week - awarding the Radio Live host just one point out of 10.
Phone and text voting to decide who will be the first couple to be eliminated began last night.
Dancing with the Stars was the highest-rating series among all New Zealanders in both 2005 and 2006. On average, 804,000 people watched each episode in 2006, up from an average of 730,000 people per episode in 2005.
