Kelly Monaco, Apolo Anton Ohno early ballroom dazzlers

Apolo Anton Ohno was back in fine form in the All-Stars “Dancing with the Stars” ballroom. The season four champ (with Julianne Hough) is partnered this season with Karina Smirnoff, and the duo will be one of the couples to be reckoned with down the road.

Ohno’s cha-cha-cha looked better on TV than in the ballroom for Len Goodman who called the Olympic gold medalist’s dance a “bronze medal performance.” OUCH!

Of course, Carrie Ann was beside herself with giddiness, proclaiming that Ohno was “3,000 times more sexy” than his previous stint on the show five years ago.

His score: 22. Look for that to go way up in the weeks to come.

On the ladies’ side, “General Hospital” star Kelly Monaco, and the very FIRST “Dancing with the Stars” champion was a firecracker out there with a sizzling cha-cha-cha (a dance she never did on that very first, six-week long DWTS season!).

Bruno Tonioli called her “hotter than ever”…..

Consider Monaco in this for the long-haul unless her fan base is asleep at the wheel.

Monaco’s score: 21.5

Interesting how nobody’s mentioned the famous dance-off Monaco endured after season one was over, against the second place finisher, actor/game show host John O’Hurley (O’Hurley ended up winning the trophy!)

I’m just saying.