All posts containing the tag: "dwts"
Following in the choreographed footsteps of Natalie Coughlin and Shawn Johnson, Brooke Burke's "Dancing with the Stars" Season 7 frilly gold getup (left) made it on Karina Smirnoff's back (right) for her Emmy show performance on Sunday.
The recession spares no one.
Filed under: Fashion, Dancing with the Stars
New season, new contestants, same old outfit.
Swimmer Natalie Coughlin was given the same frilly blue dress for her web promo that gymnast Shawn Johnson wore on the show last year -- giving the lovely ladies something else in common other than the 2008 Olympics.
The dress could turn out to be good or bad luck: Johnson won "Dancing" last year ... but she also gained an alleged stalker.
Filed under: TV, Dancing with the Stars, Shawn Johnson
There's a damn good reason bodybuilding legend Lou Ferrigno was parked in a handicap space when he hit Gold's Gym in Venice a few days ago -- and it all has to do with Michael Jackson. 
TMZ spoke with Ferrigno's wife, who told us the bodybuilding legend recently underwent a hip surgery -- not to mention he already has "a fake hip and two fake knees."
But here's the rub: Ferrigno -- who was Michael Jackson's personal trainer -- only scheduled his most recent hip surgery after following Michael's advice.
Ferrigno told us that while he was pumping MJ up for the ill-fated "This Is It" tour, Jackson encouraged him to do "Dancing with the Stars." Lou -- who knew he had a bad hip -- listened to MJ and met with the "Dancing" people.
Lou claims the "Dancing" people loved him -- so he decided to get hip surgery so he could be on the show. But Lou says after the surgery, the "Dancing" people "blew him off" and he was never officially invited to do the show.
So now Lou is still recovering from the surgery -- hence the handicap parking. But due to the fact that Lou told us he dominated the stair-stepper earlier this week ... we're assuming he'll be back to parking in a regular spot pretty soon.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Michael Jackson, Exclusives
So every season of "Dancing with the Stars" TMZ puts its intrepid spies to work -- and this year they are on top of it as ever.
The Diva: Multiple sources on the show say Macy Gray is hands down the most difficult. As one source put it, "She doesn't want to be there" and she has "regrets" she signed on. Another source says she gets so frustrated she leaves rehearsal early -- once after only 10 minutes. We're told another time she blew off a rehearsal altogether. As that source says, "She's just going through the motions and doesn't want to be there."
The Worst: We're told Ashley Hamilton -- George's son -- is not only the worst, he's "painful to watch"
The Best: This one is tougher to call. We're told Donny Osmond, Aaron Carter and Mya are all contenders, but the big surprise is UFC legend Chuck Liddell. Our spies say he's really good and practices like a mutha. One source says he gets to practice early and shuts the place down, with 6 hour, uninterrupted power sessions. And get this -- we're told he's already lost 20 lbs.
The Most Fun: "Iron Chef" host Mark Dacascos by a mile. We're told he's endlessly entertaining, he's having a blast and he's using his martial arts skills to shake it up.
Filed under: Dancing with the Stars, Exclusives, Chuck Liddell
Two physically disabled people are suing "Dancing with the Stars," claiming the show's studio is so disabled-unfriendly a cameraman threatened to run over a service dog.
Robert Carr and Arnie Pike claim in a new lawsuit they went to CBS Television City in L.A. last March to watch the show. Carr is a double amputee who is confined to a wheelchair. Arnie Pike is a quadriplegic who also requires a wheelchair.
The men claim they arrived with two companions and a service dog and were forced to watch as the majority of the audience was let in ahead of them.
The suit claims the studio has no "designated accessible seating for persons with disabilities." They claim the staff has "a policy of placing disabled persons where they cannot be seen by the camera or the public."
According to the suit, Pike was placed behind several rows of seats where he could not even see the action on the stage. The worst slight of all -- allegedly -- "his service dog was placed in the aisle where the camera man threatened to run over the dog."
The suit -- which also lists CBS as a defendant -- claims "Dancing" violates the Americans with Disabilities Act and asks for an order forcing the show to institute disabled-friendly policies. The plaintiffs also want damages.
Filed under: TV, Dancing with the Stars
Shawn Johnson won "Dancing with the Stars" last night -- but in more important news, she just banked $365,000 doing it. Repeat: THREE HUNDRED AND SIXTY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS.
We got a hold of Shawn's "Dancing" contract a while back, which stated she would bank $125,000 up front, then incremental paychecks that topped off at $50k a week for the last 2 episodes.
That's a lotta cheese...
Filed under: TV, Dancing with the Stars, Shawn Johnson
Melissa Rycroft and partner Tony Dovolani got a perfect score last night on "Dancing with the Stars" -- but was the score for their dance, or Melissa's left breast, which made a surprise appearance towards the end of the routine.
Listen carefully -- after ending the routine by jumping on the judges booth, Melissa gets flustered and clearly says "My boob came out!"
Unfortunately, the camera dude missed the money shot...
Filed under: TV, Dancing with the Stars
A preliminary hearing has been set for the trial of Robert O'Ryan -- the man accused of stalking Shawn Johnson.
O'Ryan and his impressive gathering of chin hair appeared in L.A. County Criminal Court today -- where a judge set the date for June 11.
O'Ryan faces three charges for the March incident -- one felony count of stalking and two misdemeanor counts of carrying a loaded firearm in a vehicle.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, TV, Dancing with the Stars, Shawn Johnson
Looking like an overweight version of Nick Nolte trying out for a "Flashdance" remake -- this completely normal guy was hanging out (all over the place) at the dance studio where Shawn Johnson practices for "Dancing with the Stars."
This isn't the first time we've seen this guy... check out the piece we did about him on TMZ-TV.
Filed under: Paparazzi Photo, TV, Dancing with the Stars, Shawn Johnson
Karina Smirnoff from "Dancing With The Stars" was headed to practice when we asked her if she knew how much bank Shawn Johnson was getting paid for doing the show.
Unfortunately for Karina, we had to be the ones to inform her that she makes chump change compared to her 17-year-old competitor.
Filed under: TV, Dancing with the Stars, Shawn Johnson
So the plot thickens at "Dancing With The Stars."
"Bachelor" reject Melissa Rycroft told us the show never notified the other contestants that an alleged stalker had gotten on the lot and near the building where they were all rehearsing. Members of the crew told us they didn't know about Robert O'Ryan either.
True enough, O'Ryan allegedly had his sights set on Shawn Johnson, but an alleged stalker with two loaded guns in his car -- would have been nice to share with the others, don't you think?
Filed under: TV, Dancing with the Stars
As we first reported, Shawn Johnson could score up to $365,000 for appearing on "DWTS" -- so of course we asked her how she's gonna spend all that money.
Filed under: TV, Dancing with the Stars, Shawn Johnson
"Dancing with the Stars" chick Julianne Hough said boyfriend Chuck Wicks is "the same person" as her brother Derek ... with darker hair. 
Well, she is into country music ...
Filed under: TV, Dancing with the Stars
Shawn Johnson is raking in the cash on "Dancing with the Stars" -- although she may not think it's worth the hassle of dealing with alleged stalker Robert O'Ryan ... and we have her contract to prove it.
We've obtained a copy of Shawn's "Dancing" contract -- a public document filed with the L.A. County Superior Court. A judge had to approve the deal because she's a minor. Under the contract, Shawn gets a guarantee of $125,000 for appearing on the show. By surviving the first elimination, she gets an additional $10,000 a week for weeks 3 and 4.
If Shawn survives the next eliminations, the rate doubles to $20,000 a week for weeks 5, 6 and 7. For weeks 8 and 9 she scores $30,000 a week.
And here's where it really gets sweet. In weeks 10 and 11, if Shawn makes it through, she gets $50,000 a week.
Total take if Shawn makes it to the final 2 -- $365,000.
Under the contract, Shawn must train approximately 20 hours a week. As for the all important issue of injuries ... the contract makes it clear that "Dancing" has no liability. It reads, "Artist releases Producer, Network ... from any and all claims ... arising from physical or other injury resulting from Artist's appearance in the Series..."
Nice work if you can get it.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, TV, Dancing with the Stars, Shawn Johnson, Exclusives
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