Dancing with the Stars

Maksim Chmerkovskiy's days of sequin unitards are OVER ... 'cause TMZ has learned the Bad Boy of the Ballroom is officially leaving "Dancing with the Stars."

Sources close to the production tell us ... Maksim spoke with producers a few days ago and informed them that he wouldn't be returning for the upcoming season.

FYI -- the 33-year-old dancer has been on the show since Season 2 (2006) ... and partnered up with stars like Misty May, Laila Ali, Erin Andrews, Kirstie Alley and Mel B.

We're told Maksim wants to stay in the entertainment world ... and is currently pursuing movie and TV projects.

Deena Cortese from "Jersey Shore" can settle down ... the doppelganger whose boobs whipped up a Mardi Gras crowd says she -- and her tatas -- weren't trying to impersonate Deena. Or her yabos.

The look-alike flasher in question, Ashley Austin, tells TMZ she meant no ill will toward the 'JS' star ... claiming, "I personally really like Deena, and had no intentions of giving her a bad rap!"

TMZ broke the story ... Ashley flashed a New Orleans crowd and several cameras -- pissing off the real Deena, who fears the video will ruin her chances of getting on "Dancing with the Stars."

By the way, Ashley claims she "had no idea" she was being recorded, which is funny ... since she's looking DIRECTLY at the camera.

Then again ... lots of people forget things during Mardi Gras.

Deena from "Jersey Shore" says she's NOT a Mardi Gras booby flasher -- and claims she's getting a bad rap thanks to a sluttier doppelganger who looks just like her.

TMZ obtained video of a girl -- who looks EXACTLY like Deena -- partying her face off, lifting up her shirt and flashing her boobs down in New Orleans this week ... and people who witnessed the event first hand were convinced they were observing authentic MTV tatas.

But the REAL Deena tells TMZ it's not what it seems ... explaining, "I'm in Jersey right now ... plus if I were down in Mardi Gras I would NOT be showing off my boobs or any of my goods."

She continues, "I've been trying to work on changing my image especially since I want to be casted on 'Dancing with the Stars.' I get imitation is a form of flattery but this is definitely not the imitation I can ever hope for."

Fine. No beads for you.

Jerry Supiran -- the guy who played V.I.C.I.'s wholesome brother Jamie Lawson on the classic sitcom "Small Wonder" -- says he's ready to be famous again ... and now he's officially campaigning for a spot on the next season of "Dancing with the Stars."

Jerry ... (how do we put this delicately?) ... has "changed" a lot since his younger days after falling on some pretty hard times.

In fact, Supiran says he spent time living in a homeless shelter after a stripper ex-girlfriend stole his trust fund money.

But now, at 39 years old ... and after various restaurant jobs ... Supiran tells TMZ he wants to make a TV comeback and thinks he would be a perfect fit for "Dancing."

"I'm hoping there will still be interest since people are all about nostalgia these days ... hopefully producers will give me a chance."

Lindsay Lohan's ego might be her downfall -- because TMZ has learned, she just shut down a lucrative offer to do "Dancing with the Stars" ... because she doesn't want to do reality TV.

Sources close to Lindsay tell us, the actress was made several offers to join the DWTS cast this upcoming season -- offers that maxed out at $550,000.

But Lindsay -- who still owes hundreds of thousands in back taxes -- shut them down, telling friends she'd never consider doing reality TV ... she wants to stick to films.

But there's one problem -- after "The Canyons" fiasco, she's basically made herself unhireable. And as the saying goes, beggars can't be choosers.

Ann Romney was offered a consolation prize -- first lady of Rumba -- but after seriously considering it she turned down "Dancing with the Stars" ... TMZ has learned.

Sources connected to the show tell us ... "DWTS" honchos approached Ann about the gig just after her hubby lost the election and she was "very interested." You may recall, Ann showed up at last season's finale and gushed that she was a big, big fan.

Our sources say Ann and producers had several meetings to try to hash out the details, but Ann ultimately decided against it.

A rep for Romney tells TMZ, "Ann Romney was approached, but she declined. She will not be appearing on 'Dancing with the Stars.'"

So how's her singing?

Bristol Palin is begging for protection against an obsessed stalker ... claiming the dude sent her a creepy wedding proposal -- complete with a ring -- and even showed up at her mom's house on her son Tripp's birthday ... TMZ has learned.

According to court docs ... the "Dancing with the Stars" all-star obtained a temporary restraining against Michael Cummings -- a 39-year-old Texan she claims she's never met ... and only came into contact with after he sent her an engagement ring, along with a note saying, "I (heart) you."

Bristol alleges Cummings was later spotted at her mom Sarah Palin's house on December 27 -- Tripp's fourth birthday -- at which point she immediately filed for protection.

She's hoping to make the order more permanent at a hearing later this month.

According to docs filed in Broward County, Taylor and his wife Katina hired a company called HouseWall back in April 2009 to install a posh garage storage system in their $3.6 million Weston, FL mansion.

HouseWall claims they transformed the garage as requested ... but the couple refused to cough up the $11,619.50 they owe.

Now, HouseWall is suing them for breach of contract ... and asking for the original balance, plus interest and attorneys fees.

We reached out to Jason's lawyer for comment -- so far, no response.

"Dancing with the Stars" judge Carrie Ann Inaba is super accomplished ... but she's definitely NOT the most famous person to graduate from her high school ... not even close.

C.A.I. was leaving Fred Segal in L.A. yesterday ... when she told us a pretty cool fun fact -- she went to the same high school in Hawaii as President Barack Obama.

Buuuuut ... Inaba might not even be the #2 biggest celebrity grad from the Punahou School in Honolulu either -- 'cause that place has churned out LOADS of famous people ... including:

-- Manti Te'o ('09) ... Notre Dame football star, 2012 Heisman Trophy finalist
-- Kelly Preston -- actress, married to John Travolta
-- Hiram Bingham III ... former U.S. Senator (Conn.)
-- Kaui Hart Hemmings ... wrote the book "The Descendants"
-- Ellery Chun ... invented the Aloha Shirt.
-- Charles L. Veach ... former astronaut

... and TWO former Miss USA winners.

Honey Boo Boo should stay the hell away from "Dancing with the Stars" ... even if producers lowered the age to make her eligible to compete ... this according to "Dancing" pro Karina Smirnoff.

Smirnoff was leaving the Dream hotel in NYC last night -- the same place where Lindsay Lohan was arrested back in Sept. -- when we asked her if "Dancing" would be better with a little Boo Boo in the ballroom.

But Karina wasn't laughing ... telling us, "I don't think that should happen."

As for Mama June -- Smirnoff doesn't think she should get a shot on the show either ... saying, "No ... I think we're pretty good with the people we have on the show."

The chick in this photo isn't just hot ... but she can impale you from 57 meters away ... 'cause she's former Olympic javelin thrower Leryn Franco.

The Team Paraguay athlete hit the beach in Miami this week ... showing off her world class physique in an itsy-bitsy bikini.

Franco shot to fame at the 2008 Beijing Olympics ... but it wasn't because she excelled in her sport. In fact, she downright sucked on the global stage -- finishing in 51st place.

Still, she wins.

He may be on "Dancing with the Stars," but based on this pic ... it's all about watching Apolo Ohno's massive gun show.

After a kickboxing session on Sunday, the 30-year-old Olympian tweeted a humble pic of himself ... flexing his huge yoked arms.

Doing the Cha-Cha-Cha with Karina Smirnoff does the body good.

The FBI and the LAPD have launched a joint investigation into the suspicious package that was addressed to Bristol Palin at "Dancing with the Stars" this week, TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us both agencies are taking the package's threat very seriously and are looking into the possibility that the latest incident is connected to the white powder scare back in 2010.

As we reported, a package containing a white powdery substance was opened on the CBS lot in West Hollywood Wednesday, addressed to Bristol. The package also contained a note, demanding Bristol be removed from the show ... or else.

Someone has it out for Bristol Palin on "Dancing with the Stars" -- TMZ has learned, the suspicious package that was sent to the CBS lot yesterday came with ONE demand ... remove Bristol from the show ... or else.

Sources at CBS tell TMZ, a note was attached to the white-powdery package that read something like, "This is what will happen to you if Bristol Palin stays on [the show]."

The white powder was later determined to be harmless -- but we're told law enforcement is still treating the situation as a credible threat, and is currently investigating the situation.

FYI -- this is the SECOND time Bristol has been targeted by a suspicious letter while appearing on "Dancing with the Stars." The first package was sent when Bristol first appeared on the show in 2010. It also contained a threat.

"Dancing With The Stars" is not even one week into the competition but all-star contestants Pam Anderson and Kirstie Alley are already laying down unique demands behind-the-scenes ... TMZ has learned.

Sources close to the production tell us ... Pam requested her trailer be fully stocked with cases of bottled coconut water called Beyond. Not so crazy, you say? Well the brand is imported from Australia ... and almost impossible to find in the U.S.

Meanwhile, we're told Kirstie REFUSES to eat the craft service food provided by "DWTS" ... and instead chooses to stick to her custom designed diet program Organic Liaison -- which gets hauled in for her daily.

FYI -- Kirstie's rep tells TMZ ... the actress lost 100lbs on her frou-frou diet and is committed to sticking with it ... and adds, "Steve Jobs didn't listen to music on a Zune."

Maksim Chmerkovskiy is adamant ... he NEVER slapped Hope Solo across the face behind the scenes at "Dancing with the Stars" ... despite allegations she made in her new book.

TMZ has learned ... Maksim was absolutely shocked when he heard about the "completely false" story in Hope's book, "Solo: A Memoir of Hope" ... in which the Team USA soccer star claims Maksim pulled a Rick James while trying to put her head in the correct position for a dancing move.

The two were partners on "DWTS" in 2011.

Sources close to Maksim tell us ... he has no idea why Solo would publish such a false and defamatory statement and doesn't know why she would have such ill will towards him ... especially because they've had dinner several times since the show ended.

In fact, Hope JUST tweeted Maksim right before the Olympics, offering him free seats to one of the Team USA soccer games.