Dancing with the Stars

Checkout Chaz Bono and Lacey Schwimmer's long awaited "Dancing With the Stars" debut -- a Cha cha cha that earned them a standing ovation.

Chaz wasn't exactly light on his feet, but still scored 17 out of 30 ... which was better than two other guys -- Metta World Peace (aka Ron Artest) and Rob Kardashian.

Before scoring a 17 out of 30 doing the Cha cha cha with Lacey Schwimmer on "Dancing with the Stars" last night, Chaz Bono showed off his bare chest while leaving rehearsals shirtless on Monday.

David Arquette is donating his "Dancing with the Stars" gift basket to Habitat for Humanity. Big deal you say? Well it is, 'cause the goodies are worth $50,000.

The basket contains luggage, jewelry, spa treatments, skin care products, sheepskin boots, Swedish men's clothing, weight loss products, handbags, eyelash care products and bikini waxes.

ABC believes there are "crazies" out there who have a thing against Chaz Bono ... and network execs have taken precautions by ordering security for Chaz both on and off the "Dancing with the Stars" set.

Sources connected with the show tell TMZ ... there have not been any specific threats against Chaz, but the honchos know there's an element of hatred out there and they feel it's necessary to block Chaz from harm.

As a result, we're told Chaz will get security while he's on the CBS Television City lot -- where the show is filmed -- and off the premises as well.

Nancy Grace ... IS A FRICKIN' DANCE MACHINE!!!!!!!

The "Dancing with the Stars" contestant just hit the TMZ newsroom with her partner Tristan MacManus ... and gave us a little preview of what's to come on the show ... AND IT WAS PRETTY DAMN GOOD!!!

With her blonde octopus extensions in full effect, "Dancing with the Stars" pro Lacey Schwimmer left rehearsals on Thursday (left) rockin' a pair of interesting dungarees very similar to Jessica Simpson's infamous high-waisted mom jeans from 2009 (right).

The relationship they said would never last ... didn't last.

"Dancing with the Stars" pro Mark Ballas and "American Idol" hottie Pia Toscano have officially broken up ... according to People.com. The split is said to be "mutual."

Nancy Grace is perplexed that Ryan O'Neal dropped out of "Dancing with the Stars" because of her, telling TMZ, she never said anything bad about him.

Sources directly connected to Ryan tell us ... the actor was all set to do DWTS but dropped out because Nancy has said bad things about his son Redmond, who has had chronic drug problems, and also suggested he was a bad parent.

But Grace tells TMZ, "We have never covered Mr. O'Neal nor his family on our show," adding, "I hate that he dropped out of DWTS; I would have loved to compete with him and wish him the very best."

Grace says she considers O'Neal to be one of the great actors of our time and she finds his relationship with Farrah Fawcett "an inspiration to me."

Ryan O'Neal said he backed out of "Dancing with the Stars" because of a bad knee, but multiple sources connected with the show tell TMZ ... he REALLY backed out because he can't stand Nancy Grace.

Sources tell TMZ O'Neal feels Grace has been "disrespectful" to his family ... claiming she has gone after Redmond, who has had ongoing drug problems, and even suggested the reason Redmond is messed up is because Ryan is a bad parent.

Chaz Bono dancing the Cha Cha on TV ... in front of your kids ... will NOT make them want to have a sex change -- at least according to the American Psychiatric Association.

In a recent article, psychiatrist and former talk show host Dr. Keith Ablow suggested kids could develop Gender Identity Disorder (GID) just from watching Chaz on "Dancing With the Stars."

John M. Oldham, M.D. -- the APA President -- acknowledges GID is a psychiatric disorder ... but also told TMZ, "There is no evidence that viewing a television game show with a transgender contestant would induce Gender Identity Disorder in young people."

With the premiere of "Dancing With the Stars" a little over a week away, Chaz Bono hit up a local barbershop yesterday to get a haircut.

Ricki Lake is learning the hard way ... dancing HURTS -- and today she hobbled out of the "Dancing with the Stars" studio sporting one hell of a bruise on her shin.

Lake tweeted, "Not sure how my bruise turned into a medic showing up? I'm fine!!"

Our spies at "Dancing" tell us Ricki is actually one of the best dancers ... and judging from the nature of the injury, it looks like it won't cramp her style.

Moments ago, Lake explained her boo boo to TMZ ... saying, "I injured myself yesterday by hitting my heel into my shin ... I'm fine."

Chaz Bono will make a splash on "Dancing with the Stars," but people who have known her and him well tell TMZ ... it may be more like a belly flop.

Our sources say ... as a woman Chaz had NO rhythm, and there's no evidence any of Chaz' recent changes improved the situation.

The people we spoke with were very surprised Chaz agreed to the DWTS gig, but say it's more about making a statement than the dancing itself.

On the bright side, our DWTS spies tell us Chaz is well-liked among the professional dancers and contestants -- "a very cool dude," one source says.

Cher's rep is taking issue with a TMZ story, in which we said she's going to show up for at least one taping of "Dancing with the Stars" ... but we know that is precisely her plan.

Cher's rep, Liz Rosenberg, is saying Cher supports Chaz but has no plans to be at the show.

But here's the deal -- Cher's friends say that's not what the singer is saying. Cher says she will indeed be at one of the tapings but doesn't want to make a big spectacle in advance, and that's why she won't say which day she'll show up to support her son.

Cher will make a surprise appearance on "Dancing with the Stars" to support her son, Chaz Bono ... TMZ has learned.

Sources connected with both Cher and Chaz tell TMZ ... the criticism over a transgender contestant has given Cher even more resolve to stand behind Chaz.

Cher is not saying which day she'll show up, but has made it clear she will be in the audience for at least one show.

And, we're told, Cher's motive is NOT to drive votes for her son -- rather to make a statement of support and a statement against what she considers to be bigotry.

Chaz Bono believes his stint on "Dancing with the Stars" will have a "positive impact on kids with gender dysphoria" -- and says it's "crazy" that people are boycotting the show.

Chaz appeared on "Good Morning America" and told George Stephanopoulos, "When I was growing up, if I would have seen someone like me on a show like this, it would have made all the difference in the world."

In the end, Chaz says he's just "a regular guy."