Dancing with the Stars

Sources connected to the show tell TMZ ... producers are under direct orders to find "more high profile" people than in the past seasons ... after booking a string of D-listers like The Situation, Kate Gosselin, Audrina Patridge, Jake Pavelka and Holly Madison.

In order to lock down the BIG names, we're told producers are offering A-listers complete control over their rehearsal schedule -- telling them there's NO minimum rehearsal requirements ... and they can practice as little or as much as they want.

Celebs will also have final say on music selections and costume design ... including colors, cuts and styles.

Sources connected to the show tell us ... "Dancing" producers love the idea of having Evelyn on the show -- especially since she's engaged to Chad who was a previous contestant.

We're told the show is even hoping to involve Mr. Ochocinco ... since he's now an expert in the ways of the ballroom.

So far ... no comment from the show.

Mark has been hitting the ballroom floor with Kim and her fiance Kris Humphries in preparation for their GARGANTUAN wedding ... where the couple plans on performing a waltz for their first dance.

We're told K&K have been practicing up a storm over the last few weeks -- but Kris "is a perfectionist" when it comes to his footwork and has INSISTED on more training.

Kim and Kris have tried to throw some cash at Ballas for all of his help, but the "Dancing with the Stars" pro -- who was just nominated for an Emmy -- simply won't take payment from his former celebrity partner.

The 26-year-old showed off his pumped up pecs and biceps by going shirtless in L.A. on Wednesday.

Tens across the board.

According to DeKalb police, Ward was stopped about 2:30 AM on Buford Highway after an officer spotted his Aston Martin failing to maintain lane and hitting a curb.Ward reportedly failed a field sobriety test and refused to take a breathalyzer test.

Strap on your rhinestone pants ... 'cause this one's about to get NASTY!!!

Ballas has just been hit with a summons to appear in L.A. County Small Claims Court -- because Ace PR claims the "Dancing with the Stars" pro never forked over $2,637.75 he owed the company after he fired them back in September.

According to legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Ace claims Ballas agreed to pay them a "30 day termination fee" when he signed his contract ... which is basically severance pay.

But sources close to Ballas tell us ... the dancer believes he doesn't owe Ace a dime, because they breached the contract by doing such a terrible job.

Ballas and Ace PR are set to face off in small claims court on July 8.

Stay tuned ...

Hopefully the marriage lasts longer than Kim's stint on "Dancing with the Stars."

They both scored a perfect 10.

According to her rep, Kym -- who was paired with Pittsburgh Steelers great Hines Ward on the show -- got checked out by doctors for "precautionary reasons."

Johnson -- who's paired up with Pittsburgh Steelers great Hines Ward -- took a nasty spill while rehearsing with the NFLer for an upcoming show.

According to her rep, Johnson was taken to an L.A. area hospital for "precautionary measures to assure she is OK."

As TMZ first reported, Hines had a run-in with cops early Thursday morning after a mix-up with a car being reported stolen. Hines released a statement after the incident saying things were all good -- and when we spotted him out last night with "Dancing" partner Kym Johnson, he told our guy, "I actually thought I was on 'Punk'd' ... Something about guns pointed at me wasn't very fun."

The video clearly shows the female driver of a Honda Civic pulling into a gas station in Studio City, CA followed by a police car. The woman emerges from the vehicle and complies with the cops ...laying face first on the ground as officers ordered Ward out of the car.

Ward -- who was described as "cooperative" -- kept his hands in the air during the incident and followed orders until cops placed him in handcuffs.

After Hines was taken into custody, two cops approached the passenger side of the car with their guns drawn and took a closer look inside the vehicle. But they both quickly holstered their weapons once they realized nobody else was inside.

TMZ broke the story ... cops pulled the car over because it had recently been reported stolen. But it was all a mistake and Hines and the driver were released after cops discovered the stolen vehicle report was way outdated.

The "Dancing with the Stars" contestant was a passenger in a Honda Civic around 2 AM ... when LAPD officers flipped on their lights and sirens and pulled the car over.

Law enforcement sources tell us cops had run the license plate and noticed the car had been reported stolen. We're told police drew their weapons ... and ordered both Hines and the female driver out of the car and placed them both in handcuffs.

The female driver then explained ... SHE was the person who reported the car stolen in the first place after an incident involving a valet. But she got her car back ... and forgot to tell cops to call off the alert.