Dancing with the Stars

Mr. T damn near popped a vein breaking down why bodyguards aren't supposed to know how to dance ... which only fired us up more to watch him on "Dancing with the Stars."

We got the bodyguard-turned-actor Wednesday in NYC, and he explained why the rhythm never got him back in the day, and still hasn't. T just ain't about that life.

So, why is he doing 'DWTS'? Check out his plan to conquer.

After suffering her 3rd loss in a row, Holly Holm needs to take a break from UFC and try to get on "Dancing with the Stars" ... so says UFC champ Tyron Woodley.

35-year-old Holm hasn't won a single fight since KO'ing Ronda Rousey back in 2015 -- and after her latest loss at UFC 208 over the weekend, some people are saying her fighting career is over.

Woodley isn't ready to stick a fork in Holm -- but says she needs to focus on building her brand OUTSIDE of the Octagon while she's still famous ... and thinks 'Dancing' could be the perfect fit.

The only flaw in Woodley's logic ... is it too little, too late?

Enough with the sequins and the cha-cha ... Calvin Johnson needs to get his ass out of the ballroom and back into the NFL ... so says his ex-teammate, Nate Burleson.

The ex-WR -- who's now hosting "Good Morning Football" on the NFL Network -- was out in Houston Wednesday night when he stopped our guy and sent a personal message to the Detroit Lions legend.

He also shouted out Marshawn Lynch ... saying BOTH dudes still obviously have more gas in the tank.

Paige VanZant didn't hold a grudge after Michelle Waterson choked her out at UFC on FOX 22 this weekend -- and graciously congratulated her opponent backstage ... so says Michelle herself.

The Karate Hottie say she has the ultimate respect for Paige -- and thought it was classy when VanZant spoke with her after the fight. "She's a really sweet girl."

Waterson says she has 2 opponents in mind moving forward -- and also wants to capitalize on her high profile victory ... maybe even taking Paige's place on "Dancing with the Stars."

Check out the clip ... Michelle's awesome.

Erin Andrews is officially engaged -- she told us so -- and has the bling on her finger to prove it too.

We got Erin at LAX ... she just got back from watching the Packers beat down the Seahawks in Green Bay, and she's finally confirmed she's getting hitched to NHL free agent Jarret Stoll.

Erin played it coy when it comes to wedding day plans, but at least we have more details than emojis can provide ... like who she wants to cater the event.

#ErinRunsOnDunkin

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.