Dancing with the Stars

Nancy Grace is adamant ... her nip did NOT slip on "Dancing with the Stars" last night ... and insists the object that poked out of her dress last night was merely a PASTY!

Grace tells TMZ ... "When I got dressed, I was wearing Petals (nipple covers) and an industrial strength bra ... my dancing dress also had a bra sewn into it."

Nancy adds, "I have been judged guilty without a trial ... I will go to my grave denying the nip slip."

Nancy Grace's bra has been a key factor during her performances on "Dancing with the Stars" -- not JUST for support, she's also using it to SMUGGLE various lucky charms onto the ballroom floor.

TMZ has learned ... Nancy's 3-year-old twins LOVE watching their mom on the show -- and they've been giving her various "special" objects for good luck -- including a barrette and a little stone.

But since they don't exactly make pockets on Nancy's teeny, tiny cocktail dress costumes -- she's been stuffing the items into her bra ... so they're close to her heart when she's doing her thing.

Derek Hough proved he can stomach his "Dancing with the Stars" competition by showing off his lean, ripped and hairless chest & abs this weekend.

Doing the Viennese Waltz with Ricki Lake does his body good.

There's no transgender jealousy going on between Thomas Beatie and Chaz Bono -- because everyone's favorite pregnant man told us ... he's pulling for Chaz to take home the title on "Dancing With the Stars."

Beatie, his three children, and wife Nancy were out at CityWalk yesterday -- where he told our photog he thought it was "awesome" that Chaz was doing the show, saying, "It's wonderful and it's good to see other transgender people in the media."

Call him Ron Artest, Metta World Peace, Mr. Peace -- or just ... First Guy Voted Off "Dancing With the Stars."

The Los Angeles Lakers star lost with grace -- unlike his Cha cha -- and tipped his hat to "Jerry Maguire" on his way out the door Tuesday night.

Ron Ron was joined by Nancy Grace in the bottom two.

Gloria Allred celebrated Chaz Bono's debut on "Dancing with the Stars" last night -- gender-bending her way through a transgender dance party in West Hollywood ... and the video clip is incredible.

Gloria wanted to address critics of Chaz, who claim his presence on the show is a bad influence on children.

Checkout Chaz Bono and Lacey Schwimmer's long awaited "Dancing With the Stars" debut -- a Cha cha cha that earned them a standing ovation.

Chaz wasn't exactly light on his feet, but still scored 17 out of 30 ... which was better than two other guys -- Metta World Peace (aka Ron Artest) and Rob Kardashian.

Before scoring a 17 out of 30 doing the Cha cha cha with Lacey Schwimmer on "Dancing with the Stars" last night, Chaz Bono showed off his bare chest while leaving rehearsals shirtless on Monday.

David Arquette is donating his "Dancing with the Stars" gift basket to Habitat for Humanity. Big deal you say? Well it is, 'cause the goodies are worth $50,000.

The basket contains luggage, jewelry, spa treatments, skin care products, sheepskin boots, Swedish men's clothing, weight loss products, handbags, eyelash care products and bikini waxes.

ABC believes there are "crazies" out there who have a thing against Chaz Bono ... and network execs have taken precautions by ordering security for Chaz both on and off the "Dancing with the Stars" set.

Sources connected with the show tell TMZ ... there have not been any specific threats against Chaz, but the honchos know there's an element of hatred out there and they feel it's necessary to block Chaz from harm.

As a result, we're told Chaz will get security while he's on the CBS Television City lot -- where the show is filmed -- and off the premises as well.

Nancy Grace ... IS A FRICKIN' DANCE MACHINE!!!!!!!

The "Dancing with the Stars" contestant just hit the TMZ newsroom with her partner Tristan MacManus ... and gave us a little preview of what's to come on the show ... AND IT WAS PRETTY DAMN GOOD!!!

With her blonde octopus extensions in full effect, "Dancing with the Stars" pro Lacey Schwimmer left rehearsals on Thursday (left) rockin' a pair of interesting dungarees very similar to Jessica Simpson's infamous high-waisted mom jeans from 2009 (right).

The relationship they said would never last ... didn't last.

"Dancing with the Stars" pro Mark Ballas and "American Idol" hottie Pia Toscano have officially broken up ... according to People.com. The split is said to be "mutual."

Nancy Grace is perplexed that Ryan O'Neal dropped out of "Dancing with the Stars" because of her, telling TMZ, she never said anything bad about him.

Sources directly connected to Ryan tell us ... the actor was all set to do DWTS but dropped out because Nancy has said bad things about his son Redmond, who has had chronic drug problems, and also suggested he was a bad parent.

But Grace tells TMZ, "We have never covered Mr. O'Neal nor his family on our show," adding, "I hate that he dropped out of DWTS; I would have loved to compete with him and wish him the very best."

Grace says she considers O'Neal to be one of the great actors of our time and she finds his relationship with Farrah Fawcett "an inspiration to me."

Ryan O'Neal said he backed out of "Dancing with the Stars" because of a bad knee, but multiple sources connected with the show tell TMZ ... he REALLY backed out because he can't stand Nancy Grace.

Sources tell TMZ O'Neal feels Grace has been "disrespectful" to his family ... claiming she has gone after Redmond, who has had ongoing drug problems, and even suggested the reason Redmond is messed up is because Ryan is a bad parent.

Chaz Bono dancing the Cha Cha on TV ... in front of your kids ... will NOT make them want to have a sex change -- at least according to the American Psychiatric Association.

In a recent article, psychiatrist and former talk show host Dr. Keith Ablow suggested kids could develop Gender Identity Disorder (GID) just from watching Chaz on "Dancing With the Stars."

John M. Oldham, M.D. -- the APA President -- acknowledges GID is a psychiatric disorder ... but also told TMZ, "There is no evidence that viewing a television game show with a transgender contestant would induce Gender Identity Disorder in young people."