Maksim and Valentin Chmerkovskiy are used to squeezing into tight spots (cough, leotards) -- but after watching their hysterical attempt at moving furniture ... they should stick to ballroom.
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"Dancing with the Stars" pro Maksim Chmerkovskiy -- who was with Melissa Gilbert when she hit her head on the show yesterday -- is strongly insinuating ... "Dancing" producers conspired to overstate the actress' injuries to drum up ratings.
"Dancing" host Tom Bergeron announced at the end of yesterday's show -- Melissa had injured herself during her and Maks' Paso Doble routine (below) ... and was rushed to a nearby hospital.
Melissa later announced on her Twitter she had sustained whiplash and a mild concussion during the performance -- but Maks tells us a different story ... insisting the actress just "bumped her head."
We asked if "Dancing" producers tend to play up celebrity injuries on the show for ratings -- and Maks responded ... they don't fake it ... but they "amplify it a little bit."
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.
"Dancing with the Stars" booty shakers Mark Ballas, 25, and Maksim Chmerkovskiy, 31, both showed off their smooth, ripped & tatted core moves in Vegas this weekend.
Kirstie Alley had to pick herself up off the ground last night after Maksim Chmerkovskiy suffered a "charlie horse" type pain that made his leg give out.
Kirstie eventually forgave Maksim -- tweeting after the show, "I salute u... U r a gladiator .... A champion... I'm honored to be your partner."
Everything went according to plan for Maksim Chmerkovskiy Monday -- because the special plans he organized for a fan dealing with cancer treatments went off without a hitch ... and TMZ has all the details.
TMZ has learned ... Maksim's special guest -- a woman named Lisa -- had a VIP parking spot waiting for her when she arrived to the studio ... and was greeted by the "Dancing" star himself.
Sources connected to Lisa tell us ... she was then treated to a full tour of the backstage area where she met Kendra Wilkinson and Tony Dovolani. In fact, Tony even took Lisa to his trailer to hang out and take pictures!!!
The best part -- Maksim is currently getting every single cast member of the show to sign an official "Dancing with the Stars" t-shirt for Lisa which will be sent to her within the next couple of days.
Maksim Chmerkovskiy isn't just "making time" for a "Dancing with the Stars" fan who's going through cancer treatment -- he's hooking her up with the experience of a lifetime ... TMZ has learned.
Sources connected to the production tell us Maksim had been furiously trying to set up the perfect evening for a special VIP guest ... asking for front row seats for tonight's show along with special backstage passes ... and now we've learned there's a reason he's so motivated.
We're told a friend of Maksim's informed the dancer about a woman who was having a really tough time with recent cancer treatments -- and she happened to be a fan of the show. So Maksim sprung into action, instantly trying to do everything he could to help get her mind off the pain.
Of course, Maksim came through -- and the woman is all set for a night she'll never forget.
Amazing how some people find time for the things that matter.
WWE star Chris Jericho is locked in for the next season of "Dancing with the Stars" ... along with Kirstie Alley, rapper Lil' Romeo, and Kendra Wilkinson ... TMZ has learned.
So far, we've confirmed 6 of the 11 celebrities who will appear on the show as well as their partners -- check it out:
-- Chris Jericho & Cheryl Burke -- Lil' Romeo & Chelsie Hightower -- Kendra Wilkinson & Louis van Amstel -- Kirstie Alley & Maksim Chmerkovskiy -- Wendy Williams & Tony Dovolani -- Disney star Chelsea Kane & Mark Ballas
"DWTS" will officially announce the celebrity cast tonight during "The Bachelor."
While showing off their incredible tans -- dancers Maksim Chmerkovskiy, 30, Evan Lysacek, 25 and Tony Dovolani, 37, grinned for a photo while attending an after-party for "Dancing With the Stars."
Before Tony Dovolani and Maksim Chmerkovskiy inject their brute masculinity into the "Dancing with the Stars" ballroom ... the duo takes part in a very secret ritual -- a little tea party.
Sources close to the show tell TMZ, Tony and Maks turn over a new leaf before every performance -- but it ain't your average brew.
We're told Maks' favorite drink is a white tea infused with blueberries ... and Tony prefers a sweet herbal tea with notes of caramel ... both from a company called Dr. Tea's.
The two ballroom pros are known for keeping things steamy.
Maksim Chmerkovskiy admits he was driving like a speed demon when cops pulled him over in Hollywood last night -- but according to the "Dancing" star, that's not why he got in trouble.
We just spotted Maksim out in L.A. -- just a few hours before the big "Dancing with the Stars" finale ... and dude told us the cop merely warned him about his lack of license plates on his brand new Mercedes.
Problem is -- the cop was driving in the other direction, and probably wouldn't have even noticed Maksim if he wouldn't have gunned it out of STK.
As for why the cop let Maksim off the hook, dude told us, "Apparently, he's a fan."
Before Justin Bieber went toe-to-toe with a photographer -- sparking a police investigation -- he trained with "Iron" Mike Tyson! Wondering how they ended up together? Well, we got Tyson on the phone ... and you won't believe his excuse for kicking it with Biebs. Plus,…
