1st Yoko Ono now LEGO UNO....

The spectacle of ex-Beatle Paul McCartney's estranged wife Heather Mills fox-trotting across the floor on her artificial leg proved a big ratings draw for ABC's hit show "Dancing with the Stars."

Nearly 22 million viewers tuned in on Monday night to see a visibly tense Mills fox trot without stumbling, or worse, as the TV dance contest kicked off its fourth edition, Nielsen Media Research reported on Tuesday.

That tally marks the biggest audience yet for a season premiere of the ballroom dancing show. By comparison, the third installment of the celebrity-filled series debuted last October with 20.2 million viewers.

Monday's two-hour broadcast was by far the most watched show of the night on U.S. television and posted ABC's largest overall audience in the 8-to-10 p.m. time period with regularly scheduled non-sports programming in more than 15 years.

Capitalizing on the curiosity factor surrounding Mills' much-ballyhooed appearance as the first contestant on the show to compete with an artificial leg, ABC saved her performance with professional dance partner Jonathan Roberts for the last half-hour of the telecast.

The pair fox-trotted to the Irving Berlin classic "Cheek to Cheek." The former model turned social activist, who lost her left leg below the knee in a 1993 traffic accident, seemed stiff as she danced in a long, pink and creme sequined gown.

But she was a hit with the judges and the studio audience, some of whom gave her a standing ovation.

"You've got more guts than Rambo," judge Bruno Tonioli enthused. Fellow judge Len Goodman called her "an inspiration."

Mills, 39, apparently relieved to get through the dance without mishap -- she even managed a high kick during the routine -- remarked, "I'm just glad I did not fall over."

The judges gave Mills and her partner a score of 18 out of 30 points, which was higher than tallies received by several other teams. All 11 pairs will dance again next week before one couple is eliminated based on the combined rankings of the judges and viewers, whose votes count for half.

Other contestants include world female boxing champion Laila Ali (daughter of Muhammad Ali), country music star Billy Ray Cyrus, former 'N Sync boy-band member Joey Fatone and Olympic speed-skater Apolo Anton Ohno.

Mills separated from McCartney last year in what has grown into a highly publicized and increasingly nasty divorce, as Britain's tabloid newspapers portrayed her as a gold-digger seeking to cash in on the beloved former Beatle's fortune.

Online reaction to Mills on the show's Web site was mixed, with postings ranging from, "We dislike you just as much as the Brits" and "Shame on ABC" to "Heather Mills RULES!!"

(thank you Mike , for the Lego Uno reference.....it's wonderful)