"It was surprisingly good."

That was the response that awaited Bridgeport native John Ratzenberger Monday night as he completed his inaugural spin as a contestant on ABC's smash hit reality competition "Dancing with the Stars." And while the comment, uttered by "Dancing" judge Carrie Ann Inaba, doesn't sound like overwhelming praise, perhaps Inaba was simply commenting on the fact that Ratzenberger has had less time to practice than any of the other contestants and is, as he said during the show, "the oldest buffalo in the herd."

Ratzenberger is an author and actor best known for playing know-it-all mailman Cliff Clavin on the classic sitcom "Cheers." His partner is Edyta Sliwinska, who, with her lush blond curls and apple-cheeked sunniness, sort of resembles an Eastern European version of that indestructible cheerleader from "Heroes."

As most "Dancing" fans know, Ratzenberger was tapped to fill in for "Sopranos" veteran Vincent Pastore. Pastore dropped out early, stating that he couldn't handle the rigorous physical training involved. As a result, Ratzenberger and Sliwinska began rehearsing together two weeks after the rest of the other dancers.

In a DVD that ABC sent to the media featuring pre-recorded interviews with the show's contestants, Ratzenberger and the ever-smiley Sliwinska were asked about their late start and were cautiously optimistic. She complimented him, calling him a "very, very quick" learner.

"He looks great," she said. "I'm really impressed."

Ratzenberger's modest reply: "If you say so, boss."

Ratzenberger and the other men danced the cha-cha-cha (the women danced the foxtrot). He and Sliwinska cut the rug to the Aretha Franklin song "Chain of Fools," and, though Ratzenberger is no Astaire, he acquitted himself fairly well on the dance floor. No falling. No staggering. No dropping of his partner.

The judges seemed impressed — sort of. In addition to Inaba's admission of surprise, there was an equally backhanded compliment from fellow judge Len Goodman. "I thought this was going to be a disaster," Goodman said.

But he also admitted that the couple was "very good." The couple's overall score was 17 out of a possible 30. Not great, but not the lowest score of the night, either. Total scores are tabulated by adding up the judges' scores and votes from viewers. Those with the lowest scores are gradually eliminated throughout the course of the season.

Not only is Ratzenberger at a disadvantage rehearsalwise, he's also the oldest contestant this season. When "Dancing" co-host Samantha Harris asked about this following his performance, Ratzenberger nodded. "As you know," he replied, "I'll be 72 next week." Actually, he'll be 60 next month.

Despite these setbacks, Ratzenberger seemed to be giving it his all.

There even was a blink-and-you-missed-it shout out to his hometown. In a teaser shortly before his performance, Ratzenberger was shown rehearsing wearing a Sacred Heart University sweatshirt.

This is the fourth season of "Dancing," and Ratzenberger is dancing against such competitors as former boy-bander Joey Fatone, boxer Laila Ali and Heather Mills, activist, estranged wife of Paul McCartney and the first "Dancing" contestant to compete with an artificial limb.

We won't find out until next Tuesday whether Ratzenberger will make it past the first cut. This season, the show adopted a new format, in which voters will get to watch all the dancers perform twice before any eliminations are made. Ratzenberger and company will dance again next Monday, from 8 to 10 p.m. on ABC.