Even if Maksim Chmerkovskiy does want to dance with stars again, the Ukrainian pro needs ankle surgery before he can even consider a return to "Dancing with the Stars."
As TMZ first reported, Maksim sat out the most recent season to pursue other entertainment gigs ... so far he's got an appearance on "General Hospital" to show for it.
Sources tell us, producers at "DWTS" desperately want Maksim to return to the show next season. But sources close to Maksim say that won't be possible until he gets surgery on one of his ankles.
We're told the wear and tear of working with untrained dancers each season has taken its toll Maksim (as opposed to dancing with another pro, which is way easier).
Our sources say producers are throwing around various ideas to make Maksim a part of the show in any way possible ... perhaps as just a choreographer.
She's only 16 years old, but "Dancing with the Stars" front-runner Zendaya is on track to rake in $345,000 during the ballroom battle ... IF she can make it to the finale.
According to her "DWTS" contract ... Zendaya collected $125,000 to kick off the competition and appear on the first two weeks of the show. After that, she gets paid weekly -- SOP for all the contestants.
The good news for the dance-savvy Disney star -- the $$$ goes up, the longer she can last. Here's the breakdown:
Weeks 3 & 4: $10,000 per week ($20k total) Weeks 5 & 6: $20,000 per week ($40k total) Weeks 7 & 8: $30,000 per week ($60k total) Weeks 9 & 10: $50,000 per week ($100k total)
Grand total for all 10 weeks: $345,000
You gotta understand, Zendaya's been blowing away the competition -- meaning there's a good chance she could take home the mirror ball ... and with it, all that cash.
With every new season of "Dancing with the Stars" ... a new diva shall emerge amongst the cast ... and this season it's "The Bachelor" Sean Lowe. Sorry ladies.
Sources close to "DWTS" tell TMZ ... ever since filming began, Sean has caught a baaaad case of DIVA-itis ... demanding to be shot from certain camera angles, talking down to crew members, acting like a brat and bragging to other cast members, "This show NEEDS me."
We're told Sean's ego has gotten so big ... he now considers himself a brand and must "market accordingly".
As for other cast members ... we're told they've already started brainstorming nicknames for the reality star in light of his behavior -- like Princess Sean -- but have yet to find just the right one.
We could probably think of a couple.
FYI -- The executive producer of "DWTS," Conrad Green, tells TMZ, "Sean is a pleasure and there is nothing diva-like about him."
Attention "Dancing with the Stars" fans ... wanna live in the lap of luxury a la host Brooke Burke? Well now you can ... by renting out her Malibu estate for a cool $50,000 A MONTH!!!
It's interesting ... Brooke and her husband David Charvet originally tried to sell the mansion back in 2011 for $12.5 million, but no cigar. Now the couple's trying their luck at renting ... listing the primo digs as a Summer lease.
The price tag may be hefty, but the house is ridiculous ... 6,800 square feet, 5 bedrooms, 5 baths, beach access, screening room, 4,000 bottle wine cellar, giant fruit orchard ... and a freshwater pool complete with cabana.
There could be a canine calamity tonight on "Dancing with the Stars" ... because we've learned Lisa Vanderpump's pooch Giggy will dance his paws off.
Giggy -- a permanent fixture on "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" with more than 65,000 Twitter followers -- has been added to Lisa's inaugural dance number ... and if all goes according to plan (i.e. no poo mishaps) the pooch will hit the floor LIVE.
In fact, we're told Giggy -- who's slated to make his entrance at the end of the routine -- has been rehearsing non-stop with Lisa and her pro-partner Gleb Savchenko.
Gleb might make the Pomeranian a permanent fixture ... it all depends on his performance ... and how well he wears sequins.
Didn't take long for Julianne Hough to come down with a case of post break-up hotness ... 'cause Ryan Seacrest's ex-GF was SMOKIN' during a night with girls this weekend ... and TMZ has the footage.
Hough -- along with her brother Derek and former old "Dancing with the Stars" pal Maksim Chmerkovskiy -- kicked it outside Beacher's Madhouse at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood this weekend ... just days after calling things off with Seacrest.
Judging by her tight, short dress ... it seems Julianne is on a mission to rebound.
Another interesting point -- we noticed Hough puffing on a cigarette ... something she probably couldn't do while dating Ryan (a well known health and clean freak).
Country music legend Wynonna Judd is weighing in on the "Is Taylor Swift really country?" debate -- and let's just say Swift's country card might be in jeopardy.
Wynonna, and her "Dancing with the Stars" partner Tony Dovolani were at LAX when we asked if Taylor's music should be considered country -- and she replied, "Yeah, it all fits in there somehow."
Hardly a ringing endorsement -- but the real test came when we asked ... "What's your favorite Taylor Swift song?"
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"Dancing With the Stars" contender Victor Ortiz is already a champion in the boxing ring -- and tells TMZ he already thinks he's got the moves to be a ballroom champ too.
Victor was taking a little breather from his hardcore "DWTS" training -- when we asked how the season 16 rehearsals were shaping up for a pro-athlete like himself.
That's when the gloves came off ... Victor said he's training harder than ever with partner Lindsay Arnold (a new 'pro' this season) to snatch the coveted mirror ball trophy, and boldly added ... "I'm definitely winning it!"
He also laid out his feelings about one particular competitor -- Andy Dick -- so, enjoy.
"Dancing with the Stars" doesn't want Chelsie Hightower this season, but Reebok (and Reebok's money) sure does ... the shoe company's sticking by the dancing pro, despite the fact she was axed from season 16.
Chelsie inked a major endorsement deal with Reebok earlier this year to be the face of its new dancewear line (which launched in Feb). A great choice for Reebok, considering CH's been a staple on "DWTS" since 2009.
TMZ broke the story ... Chelsie was NOT asked to return to ABC's hit show this year -- begging the question, WHAT WILL REEBOK DO NOW????
A rep from Reebok tells TMZ ... "While we believe Chelsie was the perfect choice for the upcoming season [of 'DWTS'], our relationship with her will not change moving forward and we look forward to continuing to work with her.”
Chelsie tells TMZ, "I am just thrilled to be the face of Reebok's new dancewear line ... the line is FABULOUS!"
Who needs sequins and spray tans when you got sneakers -- and $$$?
Bobby Brown's going to jail ... Lisa Vanderpump's going to "Dancing With the Stars" -- we're not sure what they have in common ... but they were buddy buddy last night after a fancy celebration dinner.
TMZ broke the story ... on Tuesday Bobby was sentenced to 55 days in jail for his third DUI -- but on Wednesday night he enjoyed dinner at Madeo with family and friends ... and walked out of the restaurant arm-in-arm with Vanderpump.
It's news to us that BB and the 'Real Housewives' stars are pals ... but last night they even joked (we hope) about sharing custody of LV's pooch, Giggy.
Bobby wouldn't say when he'll turn himself in -- he has until March 20 -- but referring to the sentence he did say ... "It's what has to happen."
"Dancing with the Stars" producers are taking a HUUUGE gamble, because they just signed Andy Dick to join the cast ... a notorious loose cannon whose last stint in TV was "Celebrity Rehab."
Sources close to the production tell us ... Andy was on the set today ... along with Lisa Vanderpump, and D.L. Hughley (who are also believed to have signed contracts to compete on the show).
We're told Andy has been paired up with one of the new dancers ... and one connected source tells us, "He's more for comedy ... nobody expects much from him."
Still, one source insists Andy is taking the competition very seriously and wants to prove that he's for real.
Andy's a risky cast choice for LIVE TV -- to say the least -- considering the troubled actor's been in and out of rehab, has been arrested a whole bunch of times ... and has a reputation for being unpredictable.
As TMZ previously reported ... Wynonna Judd, Kellie Pickler, Aly Raisman, Jacoby Jones, Sean Lowe and Victor Ortiz have already signed on.
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are planning to take their newborn baby on the road during his worldwide tour! Is this a healthy decision for an infant?Plus, Eazy-E doesn't get enough respect in the rap community because he died of AIDS -- the guys from Bone Thugs-N-Harmony…
Even if Maksim Chmerkovskiy does want to dance with stars again, the Ukrainian pro needs ankle surgery before he can even consider a return to "Dancing with the Stars."
"Dancing with the Stars" doesn't want Chelsie Hightower this season, but Reebok (and Reebok's money) sure does ... the shoe company's sticking by the dancing pro, despite the fact she was axed from season 16. 
