Dancing with the Stars

It really pays to go the distance on "Dancing with the Stars" -- just ask U.S. Olympic gymnast Laurie Hernandez ... who just made a TON OF CASH on her way to winning the Mirrorball Trophy.

Since Laurie is only 16 ... producers had to get a judge to sign off on the terms of her contract in order for it to be enforceable. And those documents included the entire 'Dancing' pay structure.

Laurie got a cool $125k just for being on the show -- but she got more cash the further she made it.

Surviving to Week 3 and 4 got her $10k per week.

Week 5 paid $15k.

Weeks 6 and 7 paid $20k per week.

Weeks 8 and 9 ... $30k per week.

Weeks 10 and 11 ... $50k per week.

Grand total ... $360,000!!!

"Dancing with the Stars" producers are doing everything they can to avoid an encore performance from protesters ahead of Tuesday night's season finale.

Cops and K9 units lined the check-in area Tuesday afternoon at The Grove in L.A. where they're shooting the finale. We're told security is on high alert due to the anti-Ryan Lochte protesters who stormed the dance floor in September. A criminal court hearing for those 2 guys has been delayed until next month.

Lochte is out of the competition, but he'll still be in the audience tonight. Sources tell us producers are also concerned about new protesters in the current political climate.

"Dancing with the Stars" front-runners Sharna Burgess and Indycar driver James Hinchcliffe got the highest score on last week's episode, but it might've been their swan song ... TMZ has learned.

Our 'DWTS' sources tell us Sharna went down hard during last Monday's dress rehearsal, tumbling on an already banged up knee. She danced with a brace on, but now doctors want her off of the joint for 3-6 weeks. There are only 3 weeks left.

Sharna's definitely out Monday night and possibly the rest of the season.

Amber Rose has 2 new things in her life ... a $371k Rolls-Royce Wraith and a guy to drive it.

Amber was spotted leaving the new WeHo hotspot Delilah with Val Chmerkovskiy -- younger brother to her "Dancing with the Stars" partner, Maxim. There are rumors the two might be a thing -- hell, she's letting him drive her Rolls for what must be the first time ... based on this clip.

Still, Amber says she's making new Halloween plans ... with a different guy in her life.

Amber Rose is feeling the pressure of her next -- and possibly last -- appearance on "Dancing with The Stars" ... she even broke down in tears during rehearsal.

We got video of Amber going through her Monday night routine with partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy, and after a few missteps, the frustration finally poured out.

Check out the clip -- Amber confirms ... professional dancing ain't no walk in the park.

Sources close to the production tell us there's a lot more going on behind the scenes that pushed Amber to being so emotional. We're told Monday night's theme is "Most Memorable Year" -- and Amber's is 2013 ... when her 3-year-old son, Sebastian, was born.

The guys who rushed Ryan Lochte on "Dancing With the Stars" now have to steer clear of him until their trial, and they're also banned from some good eats and shopping.

A judge has ordered Sam Sotoodeh and Barzeen Soroudi to stay 300 yards away from Ryan, and since their attack/protest went down on the CBS Lot ... they're persona non grata at CBS Studios, CBS Television City, and the L.A. office for BBC Productions.

One more swift kick in the ass for 'em -- the judge's order also includes The Grove shopping center and the Farmers Market off Fairfax, which are both right next to the 'DWTS' studio.

That hurts almost as much as getting tackled by giant security guards.

The protesters who bum-rushed Ryan Lochte on "Dancing With the Stars" could end up behind bars now that prosecutors are hitting them with 2 charges.

We've learned the L.A. City Attorney's Office is charging Sam Sotoodeh and Barzeen Soroudi with leaving a spectator area and entering upon a stage, as well as interfering with a performance -- both are misdemeanors.

As we first reported, the protesters went to 'DWTS' because they blamed Ryan for a family member getting arrested in Brazil.

No one's going to San Quentin -- the ballroom floor got the worst of the protest -- but if convicted, they could get up to 6 months in county jail, and a $1,000 fine.

The real reason the Ryan Lochte protesters went to 'DWTS' is because one of their family members got arrested in Rio, and for some reason they're trying to blame Lochte for the mess.

We've learned Justin Sotoodeh McNeil -- nephew and cousin of the 2 stage crashers -- was busted 3 days after Lochte claimed he was held up at gunpoint. McNeil was allegedly selling fake tickets to a Team USA Beach Volleyball match ... according to Brazilian reports.

Cops say he had 51 tickets and a fake ID. He was arrested and indicted for embezzlement and document forgery. He's out now, but authorities are holding his passport until he meets a list of requirements ... including paying a $264 fine.

Sources connected to the family tell us they think Lochtegate made Justin, and other Americans, a target for cops. We're told they deny he did anything wrong.

Lochte's team thinks it's laughable the family's blaming him, when Justin was busted for a felony -- not to mention the 2 guys getting arrested this week at 'Dancing.'

Norm Macdonald says the security guard who violently took out the Ryan Lochte protester at "Dancing with the Stars" is just like Ray Lewis ... except he didn't kill anyone.

Norm was at LAX with Fred Stoller when we showed them the crazy video of the Lochte incident ... and that's when Norm did what Norm does, he cracked a hilarious joke.

For the record ... Ray was charged with murder back in 2000 following an incident after a Super Bowl party in Atlanta. But the charge was dismissed and he later pled guilty to obstruction of justice.

The protesters who rushed Ryan Lochte on "Dancing with the Stars" wanted to get revenge for the swimmer embarrassing Americans at the Olympics ... and they say they'd do it again.

59-year-old Sam Sotoodeh and 25-year-old Barzeen Soroudi -- who are related -- explained their antics when they got out of jail Tuesday ... still sporting their "No Lochte" shirts. Barzeen says he was in Rio for the games, and Lochtegate made him a target while he was down there.

Even though he put himself in the line of fire with the protest ... Sotoodeh has a major issue with the way security guards took him down on the dance floor. Watch, everything about his reaction reeks of lawsuit.

Ryan Lochte was on the verge of being attacked Monday night during the live season premiere of "Dancing with the Stars" ... and the men who rushed the stage were taken down by security and detained.

Lochte had just finished a foxtrot with Cheryl Burke and they were standing next to Tom Bergeron to get the judges' feedback, when a group in the audience ripped their shirts open to reveal the round symbol for "No Lochte" on their t-shirts. The group was booing the swimmer when one rushed the stage.

Both men were arrested for criminal trespassing.

Ryan Lochte was a man of few words after he learned he's being benched for 10 months.

Lochte was on a plane Wednesday afternoon when TMZ Sports broke the story about the USOC's decision to suspend him. When he landed at LAX he was stoic, declining to say if he felt the punishment was too harsh, especially given the 6 months Michael Phelps got for 2 DUIs.

He had more to say about "Dancing With the Stars" ... he has a bad case of the nerves, and says why.

Ryan Lochte's a "loving" and "caring" person ... people just don't realize it, YET.

TMZ Sports talked to Lochte at LAX Tuesday ... when we asked if his upcoming appearance on "Dancing With the Stars" would help repair his image.

(In case ya missed it ... dude's got a little bit of a PR problem.)

Lochte's answer is really interesting. It's clear he believes he's totally misunderstood.

We also asked Ryan about his skills on the dance floor ... and whether his work in the pool gives him an edge in the ballroom.

MEGATRON IS BACK ... kinda ... 'cause Calvin Johnson is competing again, wearing his tights again, but this time as a new contestant on "Dancing With the Stars."

ABC just announced the new cast to the world ... making it official that Johnson will be following in the fancy footsteps of gridiron greats like Hines Ward, Emmitt Smith, and Jerry Rice.

Johnson shocked the football world when he retired earlier this year at 30 ... but never fear Detroit fans, you can watch him once again going head to head against Vanilla Ice & Ryan Lochte.

Erin Andrews is on thin ice with Peta Murgatroyd and Maksim Chmerkovskiy after spilling the beans on the couple's baby news -- their SECRET baby news.

Erin's loose lips struck during Monday's rehearsals for the "Dancing with the Stars" finale. Our production sources say Erin was mic'd up when she walked up to Peta and Maksim and congratulated them ... and everyone heard it.

We're told the couple was pissed since they hadn't told some of their closest friends and family yet -- and they were still planning a big announcement.

Erin apologized, but we're told she kept trying to blow it off as a joke ... which only made it worse.

Ironically, the next night, Peta did some blabbing of her own. After she and dancing partner Nyle DiMarco won the 'DWTS' title, she posted on Facebook ... before it aired on the west coast. Some fans immediately ripped her on social media.

At least Erin can make up for her mistake with an expensive baby gift.

Donald Trump's candidacy will have an impact on the "Dancing With the Stars" finale -- the show's doubling its police detail because his daughter will be in the audience.

Sources close to production tell us Tiffany Trump will be there to support her mom, Marla Maples. The Donald's ex-wife was a contestant this season. We're told there will be 17 officers patrolling in and around the studio tonight, instead of the usual 9.

There's no specific threat, our sources say it's just precautionary.