Dancing with the Stars

Despite rumors he's quitting ... TMZ has learned, "Dancing with the Stars" pro Maksim Chmerkovskiy is COMING BACK TO THE SHOW -- and we got the video to prove it!!!

Maksim touched down in LAX yesterday for his first practice -- he didn't say much ... but as soon as he landed, guy made a beeline for an L.A. dance studio ... where he met with Melissa Gilbert -- one of the stars on the upcoming season.

TMZ broke the story ... Sherri Shepherd and Heather Locklear's ex Jack Wagner are also set to compete on the show.

TMZ has learned the secret identities of THREE new celebrity contestants on the upcoming season of "Dancing with the Stars" -- most interesting ... Heather Locklear's ex and "Melrose Place" actor Jack Wagner. You'll recall Jack and Heather got into an epic fight in December that triggered a 911 call.

Sources connected with the production tell TMZ, Sherri Shepherd from "The View" will also be competing in the upcoming season ... which kicks off next month.

As for the third -- that would be "Little House on the Prairie" star Melissa Gilbert, who was rumored to be on last season ... but that deal fell through.

We shot Melissa on her way into practice today at an L.A. dance studio (below) -- she was pretty tight-lipped.

DISCLAIMER: We are not saying women are worse drivers than men -- BUT ... Mark Ballas' girlfriend totally just destroyed the "Dancing" pro's Audi SUV ... and TMZ has obtained pics of the wreckage.

The 3-car pileup went down Saturday night on the Sunset Strip in L.A. -- sources tell TMZ, Mark's Pia Toscano replacement Tiffany Dunn was driving his Audi and accidentally rammed some dude's Porsche from behind ... sending him careening into another car.

Thankfully, everyone was fine ... and the damage on the other two cars wasn't too bad -- but that's a heckuva lot more than we can say for Mark's poor Audi, which was left in undriveable condition in the middle of the road.

We're told the car was eventually towed to safety -- and Mark's insurance company is taking care of everything else.

So -- now that we got that out of the way -- we gotta ask ...

After winning "Dancing with the Stars" and flying through the night with his trophy, Army veteran J.R. Martinez got a hero's welcome from fans outside "Good Morning America" in NYC this morning.

Martinez and his booty shaking partner Karina Smirnoff beat out Rob Kardashian and Ricki Lake for the "Dancing" crown.

Chaz Bono could be the voice trying to sell you soap -- it's all part of his grand plan after getting booted from "Dancing with the Stars."

Bono's rep/manager, Howard Bragman, tells TMZ ... Chaz took no meetings during "DWTS" -- but his team will get together this week to plot out a strategy for the next chapter.

Bragman says they're looking at several options -- including acting, voice-over work, and endorsements -- and Chaz also plans to continue booking speaking engagements.

As for whether he'd be into continuing his dancing career, Bragman says Chaz is "open to all reasonable discussions."

So we might not have seen his last Tango after all ...

Chaz Bono was eliminated from "Dancing With the Stars" tonight, and his farewell speech was one part inspiration ... and one part 'screw you' to his critics -- saying, "I wanted to show America a different kind of man."

Chaz came under fire from groups that claimed -- among other things -- he would be a bad influence on children watching 'DWTS' because he is transgender. Chaz tackled the controversy head-on after getting voted out ... saying, "If there was somebody like me on TV when I was growing up my whole life would have been different."

Chaz continued, "I dedicate everything I did to all the people out there like me -- and especially to kids and teens who are struggling."

A battle over the crapper is underway at the studio where "X Factor" and "Dancing with the Stars" are taped ... rife with allegations of toilet squatting ... and TMZ has obtained a photo of the sign that set the whole thing off.

Both shows tape at the legendary CBS Studios in Hollywood -- and recently, one of the common restrooms contained a sign with the "X Factor" logo.

Someone named Rob who works at "Dancing with the Stars" felt the "X Factor" people were claiming the bathroom as their own ... so he left an angry note right on the door which reads, "These restrooms are for everyone. If you have a problem with that, come see me. I’m on stage 46. Just ask for Rob. I’m the 6’ 3” black man.”

"Dancing with the Stars" dudes David Arquette, Val Chmerkovsiy and Chaz Bono busted a move before last night's competition and showed off their bare chests.

Safe to say the guy suing Ricki Lake for allegedly burning down his Malibu mansion is NOT a fan of "Dancing With the Stars" ... because he claims the show has derailed his lawsuit!

According to docs filed last month, the owner, Hovsep Kousouyan, has been trying to get Lake to sit for a deposition for months ... but she claims she can't because of her commitment to "DWTS."

Kousouyan's lawyers claim they've offered up at least eight different dates -- including nights and weekends -- but Lake's attorneys have repeatedly said she's unavailable until December.

Sources close to Lake tell TMZ she has no problem sitting down for the depo ... she's just been working seven days a week on "DWTS." We're told he lawyers are working on setting a date.

Kousouyan says he's out $20,000 a month on lost rent, so Lake could be on the hook for a HUGE chunk of change.

The U.S. got the shaft when it comes to "Dancing with the Stars" ... because on the Argentinian version of the show, the contestants get completely naked ... and dry hump each other ... fo' realz.

Derek Hough was just trying to party with his fellow "Dancing with the Stars" castmates ... when he got slammed into from behind ... by some dude in a Porsche.

Hough was waiting to valet his car at STK last night ... when another driver banged into the back of D's Audi.

After the accident, the two exchanged information in front of the paparazzi ... and the giddy other driver couldn't have been happier ... sporting a big ol' smile on his face as the snappers took shot after shot.

Mark Ballas may be a dancing machine by night -- but he's also a sweaty, half-naked ass-kicking machine by day ... and TMZ has the video to prove it.

We caught the "Dancing with the Stars" pro kicking, punching, and kneeing the crap out of his trainer at True Warrior Fitness in L.A. yesterday -- and we gotta say ... it's pretty impressive.

After the session, Mark said his trainer told him, "If you can dance, you can fight."

Lacey Schwimmer is proving those Jessica Simpson mom jeans comparisons are a huge stretch -- striking a yoga pose yesterday in West Hollywood that shows the only thing big about her ... is her flexibility.

Nancy Grace has a new excuse for the mystery fart on "Dancing With the Stars" this week ... she's pinning it on her partner, Tristan MacManus.

As the old saying goes ... the one who denied it, supplied it.

A fart fetish group has made an offer to ABC to license the rights to the infamous Nancy Grace "Dancing with the Stars" fart footage ... we repeat, a fart fetish group ... apparently, they exist.
A rep for the fetish site Clips4Sale.com tells TMZ, the company made an official offer to ABC yesterday -- writing, "After viewing and hearing Nancy Grace's alleged 'toot' after her performance on 'Dancing With The Stars,' [we] would like to acquire the rights of the three-second footage." (below)

The rep adds, "We wish to acquire this for our members of our web site who are 'Flatulophiliacs' or simply put, 'Fart Fanatics'."

It's unclear how much the clip would cost -- or if it's even for sale -- but we're confident these guys can sniff out a good deal.