Audrina Patridge Talks Heidi Montag, DWTS Filed under ( Audrina Patridge, Dancing With The Stars, Heidi Montag, Maksim Chmerkovskiy )

She’s geeked to be part of the new season of “Dancing with the Stars,” and Audrina Patridge shared a little about her experience up to this point.

The “Hills” hottie explained, "It’s so much fun, it’s a lot of work, ballroom dancing everything. There's a lot that goes into it."

When asked if she’s dating partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Patridge replied, "What?!? Oh my God! Oh my God!" she said, laughing. "It’s just the beginning and [there's rumors] already!"

And as for the claim that her ex-costar Heidi Montag has a lesbian sex tape, Audrina chimed in, “Gosh, I mean possibly… I wouldn’t put it past them.”

Credit: Celebrity Gossip

Maks Caught in the Crossfire Filed under ( Dancing with the Stars, Elizabeth Hasselbeck, Joey Fatone, Kym Johnson, Laila Ali, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Rosie O'Donnell, The View )

How dare The View involve Maks in their petty disputes! People magazine reports that as Rosie O'Donnell and Elizabeth Hasselbeck were having it out onstage last week, Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Laila Ali, of Dancing with the Stars fame, were waiting backstage, feeling awkward. Well, and I guess Joey and Kym were there too:

"All four of us were at a loss," Dancing with the Stars' Maksim Chmerkovskiy tells PEOPLE of his time waiting out the argument with dance partner Laila Ali and fellow Dancing stars Joey Fatone and Kym Johnson. "It was a straight-up brawl."

Chmerkovskiy says the guests had been warned by View staffers that the show could get "intense" – and it quickly did. "At first everyone was sort of laughing, [like,] 'See, I told you it gets intense.' Then it was like, Okay maybe it's one of those very intense ones. But people were still giggling. But then it became a fight between Rosie and Elisabeth."

What made it particularly shocking? "It was like a domestic dispute, like relatives fighting. We came to their house and we were witnessing something a little embarrassing. It was really uncomfortable."

At the commercial break, Chmerkovskiy recalls stone-faced View staffers running out of the room to deal with the fallout. Actress Alicia Silverstone, who was also in the greenroom, was not happy that her segment was next: "She was like, 'I don't want to go on now.' She had one of those hyperventilating moments where she was like, 'Okay, I'm really nervous.' "

But the show went on, and Chmerkovskiy and Ali performed their dance without incident. "It was like nothing had happened," he says. "I thought great, this must be a normal day at The View."

So You Think You Can Dance Premiers Filed under ( Cat Deeley, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Reality TV, So You Think You Can Dance )

One of my favorite summer reality shows premiered last night, So You Think You Can Dance. Although it's not Maks TV, it should fill the gap nicely for now. The folks at TV Guide magazine sat down with the hostess with the mostest, Cat Deeley, to get the skinny on what we can expect this season.

TVGuide.com: Hi, Cat. We're all excited for So You Think You Can Dance to return. Should we expect anything different this season?
Cat Deeley: Basically, it's everything you know and love, but bigger and better. I think people really understand the show now, they understand the concept, they understand the level of talent that's required, and they understand that the tricks have got to be more spectacular, even more outlandish. The characters have got to be even bigger and quicker to come to the surface. I think people now understand that there's no point in finally showing your personality Week 4; it has to be out there and people have to see it warts and all. Quite often that's what makes America fall in love with these dancers. It's the trials and tribulations that someone goes through, as much as the happy, jokey stuff, that people are attracted to. That's something we can all relate to, whether we're dancers or not.

TVGuide.com: Are there any returning dancers who didn't make it last season?
Deeley: Well, you might want to sit down for this: "Sex" [aka last year's most delusional wannabe from New York] is back. You might want to have a cold shower on standby for afterwards.

TVGuide.com: Did the producers call him up and ask him to return?
Deeley: No! It didn't take any persuasion for either him or his mother. There have been a couple of other people who've come back, and some have even made it through. I can't tell you any more than that. It's very interesting.

TVGuide.com: Are we going to see some tear-jerking stories?
Deeley: I think you will. There was one lady who was so incredible and such a lovely woman. She had been in a horrendous accident in Israel — it was on the news. There was a wedding and the whole floor dropped and fell through three floors to the parking structure. I think she was in a coma for months and months. They had to rebuild her face. This is the thing about dancers: They can dance through any injury that would make us cry in pain. They somehow just manage to pick themselves up off the floor and get on with it.

TVGuide.com: Generally speaking, dancers are not like actors, and are not the most verbally expressive people. What do you do to bring out their personality for the camera?
Deeley: You're absolutely right. The other thing is that normally dancers are part of an ensemble, they're team players, not the star. That's what's really interesting about this show — it's their chance to step into the spotlight and shine.

TVGuide.com: Do you have a trick to make them talk?
Deeley: Not really, just to make them feel as comfortable as possible. Above and beyond anybody else, I am completely and utterly on their side. Basically because I can see just how talented they are and just how much effort goes into it, and I'm not a dancer myself, so to me, whatever they do is spectacular, whereas a choreographer might go to them and say, "Well, your lines weren't quite even and... " blah-blah-blah.

TVGuide.com: Are you seeing any new trends in the people trying out?
Deeley: There are more breakers this year. They've learned that you have to do different styles, so you have to go take a class in ballroom or contemporary. Just a class, so they can get through the choreography. If you haven't had that technical training, it's very difficult to get through that 15-minute dance class and be able to perform the routine at the end.

TVGuide.com: You keep saying you're a terrible dancer, but you have to have picked up something while hosting this show.
Deeley: This is a bit of a sore point. Every once in a while, I'll mention to Shane Sparks, "Oh, I'd really love to do something." And then the subject just gets changed and never brought up again. So maybe I'm beyond help. I'm not entirely sure.

TVGuide.com: They've all seen you dance?
Deeley: If you want to call it "dancing." You can, if you're just trying to be polite. I do a bit of a shoulder shimmy. But you know, somebody's got to make the dancers look good. I could spin on my head if I wanted to....

TVGuide.com: At least you are surely becoming a more educated observer of dance. Are you able to guess what the judges will say about some of the performances?
Deeley: Sometimes, a little bit. Or because I know the backstory. Maybe one week, a breaker has struggled to learn the fox trot, I'll be looking out for whether they've improved. But it's interesting, you can tell the people who have star quality, too. That "x" factor, or charisma or whatever that thing is, you can tell it just from them walking on the stage. And you cross your fingers and go, "God, I hope you can dance brilliantly, too." It's like last year, Travis [Wall] and Benji [Schwimmer] were our final two, and Travis was an amazing dancer and had a great personality, and Benji was a great dancer but had an amazing personality. It was the personality that won at the end of the day.

TVGuide.com: Especially since it is a popularity contest.
Deeley: It is "America's Favorite Dancer," not the best dancer, not the best technical performer.
TVGuide.com: Neither Benji nor Season 1 winner Nick Lazzarini has taken the complete prize. [Nick declined a year of rent-free living in New York City, and Benji didn't take the contract with Celine Dion's Las Vegas show.] Are they going to offer something more enticing this year?
Deeley: It hasn't been announced yet. But I know it's bigger.

TVGuide.com: Have you kept up with what some of last year's dancers are doing?
Deeley: I know some have been auditioning for movies. Benji was in the Christina Aguilera video. Natalie [Foutopoulis] was out choreographing SYTYCD in Greece. They've been doing great stuff.

TVGuide.com: How about getting a girl to win this time?
Deeley: Well, that could very well happen. We actually have a girl breaker this time, too. It's about time, I think.

TVGuide.com: I'm saving my best question for last: What are you going to do to top last year's wardrobe?
Deeley: A-ha! Put it this way: I have a black skirt that's entirely made of feathers. It's kind of wild.

TVGuide.com: You have to dance in that!
Deeley: Even if I just did Swan Lake. I love the fact that people watch and go, "What is she wearing this week?!" It's part of the show now. I'm in the process of putting together outfits as we speak.

TVGuide.com: I think the dancers' costume designers have their job cut out for them to keep up with you.
Deeley: That's the thing. If I went out there in jeans and a vest, and I stood next to someone doing a salsa or a paso doble, I'd just look ridiculous. They're all there in their sparkly outfits, with flowers in their hair and all the rest of it. A girl's got to put up a bit of a show to stand next to these kids!

Photo from TV Guide.

Rewind: Dancing with the Stars Finale Filed under ( Apolo Anton Ohno, Dancing with the Stars, Joey Fatone, Julianne Hough, Kym Johnson, Laila Ali, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Reality TV )

I'll miss you, Maks! At least he made it all the way to the end. Sigh. How much longer till we get to see sparkles and see through shirts (and that's just on the men)? It was an eventful week, full of outstanding performances. Wouldn't you agree this was the best finale ever? I'd say so.

The freestyle performances were a fun way to end the show. I was convinced it was down to Joey and Apolo after Laila and Maks pretty much failed to impress during their freestyle (and you know it pains me to say that). Apolo ended up winning and I think it was definitely well deserved after the progress he made and the performances he gave.

'NSYNC fans go two little hellos during Joey's performances. If it was a ploy for votes, it worked on me. In the cha-cha, we got the marionettes from No Strings attached (I couldn't help but think that the ruffles weren't doing Joey any favors, by the way). In the freestyle, we got the little stomping/lasso move from the choreography to It's Gonna Be Me. I know, I have issues. I think their freestyle was the best DWTS performance I have ever seen.

Maks and Laila Free Style - Yes! The Kid n' Play! Thank you, Laila, for ripping Maks' shirt off (twice). I didn't know I had been waiting for it all season until it actually happened.

After watching this week's shows, Annie is convinced there's a little something something going on between Apolo and Juilianne. There was some "almost kissing" and petting moments during their performances and she did recently call off her engagement. I think I'm going to have to keep my eyes on those two.

Here are some clips for you to treasure until next season:

Joey Fatone and Kym Johnson dance the Freestyle:



And the Cha-Cha:



Laila Ali and Maksim Chmerkovskiy dance the Paso Doble:



And the freestyle:



Apolo Anton Ohno and Julianne Hough dance the Rumba:



And the freestyle:



A fitting way to end this season? The hilarious Jimmy Kimmel DVD commercial:

Rewind: Dancing with the Stars, Week 9 Filed under ( American Idol, Apolo Anton Ohno, Cheryl Burke, Dancing with the Stars, Ian Ziering, Joey Fatone, Julianne Hough, Kym Johnson, Laila Ali, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, The Bachelor )

Why do I love Maksim Chmerkovskiy so much (and yes, I am showing off the fact that I can spell his name)? I generally don't like the bad boys. I'm going to need to think about this. I might need some therapy.

The stars seemed to really let loose this week. Maks and Laila's cha-cha was definitely my favorite, with the cute butterfly at the end (and not just because I love Maks). Joey and Kim had lots of fun, Apolo got all funky and Ian wore a freaking Elvis suit.

Is anyone surprised that Ian left? Was anyone even rooting for him? The way The Bachelor and Dancing with the Stars are going this season is astounding - each week the right person goes home. If only the same could be said about American Idol.

I'm still disappointed that there wasn't an NSync reunion this week, but I'm still holding out hope that JT will ditch Jessica Biel and fly across the pond to support the Fat-one.

In other DWTS news, did you hear that Karina and Mario moved in together? People is reporting it, so that means it must be true, right? Getting pretty serious for Mario, who is typically a man-whore.

People also has some behind the scenes scoop of what went on this week, including the professional dancers' reaction to the flamenco dancer on the results show, the news that Joey Lawrence will return for the second Dancing with the Stars tour, and from Monday's show, all the deets on Apolo's 25th birthday party.

Here are some video clips from this week's episodes:

Enrique Igelsias performs Hero while professionals perform:



Joey Fatone and Kym Johnson perform the Jive:



and the Foxtrot:



Laila Ali and Maksim Chmerkovskiy perform the Cha-Cha:



and the Quickstep:



Ian Ziering and Cheryl Burke dance the Jive:



and the Tango:



Apolo Anton Ohno and Julianne Hough dance the Cha-Cha:



and the Quickstep:

Rewind: Dancing with the Stars, Week 8 Filed under ( Apolo Anton Ohno, Dancing with the Stars, Joey Fatone, Julieanne Hough, Kym Johnson, Laila Ali, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Nelly Furtado )

I have two words to say about last night's results show for Dancing with the Stars: Center Stage. Ever since that kick ass performance by Maks and his brother to Canned Heat, I have felt like watching that movie four times in a row. What's that? Karina and some other chick were dancing with them too? Oh, I didn't notice them. I watched it three times, even with all the head flicking by Maks.

This was a stellar week for Dancing with the Stars. We had judges yelling and getting all up in eachother's grills, we had a paddle/computer malfunction, we had Muhamed Ali in the audience and, best of all, we had Billy Ray Cyrus going home. Even his most diehard fan had to admit that it was time. Seriously.

TV Guide focuses on Dancing with the Stars this week and even includes the opinions of the judges on the final five. Only the pieces on Joey and Laila are included online. For Joey, who has lost 25 pounds, Carrie Ann Inaba says he is a true performer: "He knows how to switch it on and off. Sometimes I think he overrelies on his humor, which could hold him back in the long run because that can get tired."

The magazine offers a little inside dish on the relationship between Laila Ali and her partner, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, they often "butt heads," she says. "And not in a good way. Maks has a teaching style that he likes and he’s not gonna change." Maksim Says "Laila’s got to keep bringing the funk, her flavor, her personality. We had that problem in the paso doble, a complicated routine, and she was so preoccupied that she couldn’t bring it. She just wasn’t comfortable with the steps."

Bruno had this to say about Laila: "I love the fact that she’s a real woman," says Tonioli. "Curves in all the right places and proud of it. She’s stunning and dances beautifully, so smooth and silky. What she has to watch in the ballroom dances is not to tighten up. If you tighten up, you tend to look a bit rigid." I'm a Maks fan, so it pains me to say it, but I think that after Ian goes home next week (is there any doubt about that?) Laila will be the next one to go. I think she peaked too early in the competition.

Since I can't leave you without any information about the cuter than cute couple of Apolo Anton Ohno and Julianne Hough, I thought I'd share this story from People. The 18-year old Julianne is engaged, but she decided to postpone the wedding from this summer to a later date due to her busy schedule with the show. Hmmmm. Interesting, no?

Check out some of this week's peformances and let us know who you think is headed home next. And make sure you go add Center Stage to your Netflix (unfortunately, no one has posted that video online, so that's as close as you are going to get!).

Laila and Maks perform the waltz:



Apolo Anton Ohno and Julianne Hough perform the paso doble:



Tony Dovolani and partner perform while Nelly Furtado sings "I'm Like a Bird":



Louis Van Amstel and Cheryl Burke perform as Nelly Furtado sings a new single:

Rewind: Dancing with the Stars, Week 7 Filed under ( Apolo Anton Ohno, Billy Ray Cyrus, Dancing with the Stars, Joey Fatone, Julieanne Hough, Karina Smirnoff, Kym Johnson, Laila Ali, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Mario Lopez, Reality TV )

This was the first week of Dancing with the Stars that I have been upset with America's choice on who went home. Does anyone think Billy Ray Cyrus should still be there? Or is this a Vote for the Worst kinda thing? Maybe he's got the Tween vote since he's on the Disney show Hannah Montana? Who the heck knows.

TV Guide went behind the scenes this week and found out some good dish on Carrie Ann Inaba's notes from the judging. Here are some excerpts of the choice pieces:

Laila Ali: "I‘m so happy that Laila showed us the beef!" says Inaba. "She finally let loose. I knew she had it in her. And it wasn't in the way I thought she would do it. I thought it would be this very powerful and dramatic thing. But it was very light and elegant and graceful."

Apolo Anton Ohno: "Apolo had a rough night tonight," says Inaba. "I think Len was a little hard on him for the first round [the fox trot]. But Len is the ballroom expert, so maybe he saw things that Bruno and I didn't. But I think that critique rattled Apolo a little bit. Tonight, he had a bit of the Ian syndrome, in that he was in his head. And then he was off rhythm, he was dancing ahead of the beat, and he and Julianne weren't connecting. They were out of sorts with each other."

Joey Fatone: "Joey decided he was going to leave Apolo and Laila in the dust. He finally realized we're getting close to the end and now he's giving 100 percent. It's amazing he's done so well up until now. I feel like he's only been giving 85 percent."

Ian Ziering: "Ian finally came out of his shell," says Inaba. "Authenticity reads so well on this show. When Ian's not comfortable, it shows. Tonight he decided, ‘You know what? I have nothing to lose.' He had a few missteps. But we're going to see a lot of growth in him. And he saw how the people reacted, so I think it's going to be a little addictive for him."

I pretty much agree with Carrie Ann, but I didn't think Apolo did that bad this week! Poor Julianne had the front of her dress fall off on national television, leaving only a sheer layer with her white bra showing through. Give them a break!

Sadly, my favorite thing about the the episodes was looking at who was in the crowd. There was a little 90210 reunion, with Tori Spelling, Jason Priestley and Jennie Garth. Mario Lopez, who is still dating Karina Smirnoff, and his mom were there to cheer her on. Shandi and Brian were there, too. When do you think Justin Timberlake will show up to cheer on Joey? Can't he get his priorities straight and put his tour on hold to be there?!

Here's some video from this week's episode.

John Ratzenburger and Edyta Sliwinksa do the foxtrot:



And the rumba:



Billy Ray Cyrus and Karina Smirnoff do the waltz:



And the samba:



Joey Fatone and Kym Johnson do the foxtrot:



And (my favorite of the night), they did the jive:



Ian Ziering and Cheryl Burke to the tango:



And the mambo:



Apolo Anton Ohno and Julianne Hough perform the foxtrot:



And the mambo:



Laila Ali and Maksim Chmerkovskiy perform the quickstep:



And the samba:



The professionals dance while Meatloaf performs Bat out of Hell:



Junior Champions perform:

Your Dancing with the Stars Fix Filed under ( Apolo Anton Ohno, Dancing with the Stars, JC Chasez, Joey Fatone, John Ratzenberger, Laila Ali, Maksim Chmerkovskiy )

To tide you over until my Dancing with the Stars post for this week (which will no doubt be hee-larious), I thought I'd share some behind the scenes info kindly provided by our dear People magazine. Because I know your gossip reading time is limited by jobs and other silly little things, I pulled out all the best from this article. And no, I didn't cut out anything that Maksim said (mostly I just cut Leeza Gibbons...).

A Champ in Training: Hard-to-please Maksim Chmerkovskiy couldn't stop raving about how much his partner Laila Ali has improved. Their cha-cha was a crowd pleaser and Chmerkovskiy told us, "It was our easiest dance yet. I feel like she knows what she's doing now and she knows what it takes. It takes so much pressure off of me." And though the pro boxer was pleased to hear her partner's praise, she's still looking to completely unlock the key to her inner dancer. "It's halfway open. We have a lot more to do. There's gotta be more – we didn't get three 10s yet."

He's in Sync: JC Chasez was at Monday's show to root for fellow 'N Sync-er Joey Fatone and he's not surprised with how well he's doing in the competition. "Joey can remember dance steps from when 'N Sync was on tour 10 years ago," Chasez told us. "What I am surprised is how much fun he is having. He isn't just coming out here and doing a dance, he is having the time of his life."

Bruno's the Bomb: Dancing judge Bruno Tonioli is a fan favorite and received a shout-out during a commercial break from a female audience member who yelled, "Bruno is hot!" Pleased with the comment, Tonioli pulled out his number 10 paddle and waved at the young woman. House comedian Cory Almeida shook his head and joked, "We're going to have to stop serving alcohol in the balcony."

Everybody Knows Your Name: Actor George Wendt was on hand to support friend and former Cheers costar John Ratzenberger. And when he entered the stage to take his seat, fans in the balcony yelled, "Norm!!" Wendt, probably used to this greeting wherever he goes, acknowledged with a wave and a smile.

The Kindest Cut: Apolo Ohno has been training for his day job – speed skating – while working on DWTS, which leaves very little time for much else – including getting a haircut. Good thing Ohno's father, Yuki, was in town on Monday to give his son a trim. "He gave me a haircut today before the show," Ohno said of his shorter – but still shaggy – locks. And the elder Ohno is plenty proud of his son. "He was smiling so much. He was cheesing from the time he saw the pre-judge rehearsal this morning. When my dad is here I try extra hard." So, what did Dad think of his son's ballroom maneuvers? "I was so entertained tonight. I hope he teaches me so I can go on a cruise ship," Yuki said.

Rewind: Dancing with the Stars, Week 6 Filed under ( Dancing with the Stars, Derek Hough, Joey Fatone, Joss Stone, Julianne Hough, Kym Johnson, Laila Ali, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Tony Dovolani )

You know why people like Dancing with the Stars (other than the silly costumes)? Because it's freaking fun. It's easy to get jaded about reality TV, but Dancing with the Stars just embraces its cheesiness and goes with it. Plus, the stars really try hard (even Billy Ray, in his sad, sad, way).

This week's standout for me was Joey. Partly because JC Chasez was there (are we working our way up to Justin?) and partly because I freaking love the song they danced to. Joey got his groove back this week and showed some amazing dancing skills.

Maks and Laila also wowed me. Although, I think Maks should be limited to only one head flicking thingy per episode. He had about 10 of them, which made it seem rehearsed and dorky instead of spontaneous and hot. The first one, I liked. The last one, I was annoyed. It's hard for me to criticize Maks, so you know I really mean it.

Was anyone else underwhelmed by the group dance and totally wowed by the professionals' performance with Joss Stone? The group dance was just all over the place and confusing. I have no idea what they did at the end, but whatever it was, it didn't work. And I think Julianne's brother should join the cast next year - he rocked!

I think it was time for Heather Mills to go home, so I can't say I'm too sad about it. Who's next? Billy Ray or John? Here are some videos from this week's episode.

Joey Fatone and Kym Johnson perform the Samba:



Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Laila Ali do the cha-cha (now you'll notice the head flicking):



John Ratzenburger and Edyta Sliwinka do the mambo:



The paso doble that sent Heather Mills and Jonathan Roberts home:



Ian Ziering and Cheryl Burke perform the paso doble:



Apolo Anton Ohno and Julianne Hough perform the rumba:



Billy Ray Cyrus and Karina Smirnoff perform a sorta-jive:



Julianne Hough, her brother Derek Hough, Tony Dovolani, and Elena Grinenko perform as Joss Stone sings:



Dreamgirls cast performs:



Group Swing performance:

Laila Ali Talks About Dancing with the Stars Experience Filed under ( Curtis Conway, Dancing with the Stars, Heather Mills, Joey Fatone, Laila Ali, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard )

Laila Ali's dance last week with her professional dance partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy was smoking h-o-t, and she and Maks are going strong. She recently took a break from rehearsals to sit down with AOL editor Kelly Woo about her "all-important costume decisions, post-'Dancing' plans and Joey Fatone's silly 'Star Wars' dance."

Why did you sign up for 'Dancing with the Stars'?
It just looked so interesting to me. It looked like so much fun -- the glamour and the glitz of dancing. I'm always boxing, so this seemed like a great thing to try.

How much do you practice every week?
I practice for five hours a day, and that ends up being about 20 hours a week. You have to do it!

How long does it take you to learn a dance? Do you learn it right away and then just tweak it?
[My partner] Maksim [Chmerkovskiy] comes in the first day and choreographs the piece, teaching me step by step. That usually takes two days, learning the actual routine, and the last three days we actually work on perfecting and learning the routine correctly.

Does Maksim decide the theme and song, or do you get some input?
The show gives us a song and then if we just hate it, they will give us something different. But, for the most part, we're stuck with what they give us. Max actually comes up with the choreography. Lately, I've been getting more involved because when the judges don't like something, if they didn't like the choreography or whatever, they seem to always point at me and blame me. So I said, "I might as well get involved, I'm going to be taking the blame anyway."

What kind of input do you usually have?
Max is a dancing purist but, you know, he's been on the show for three seasons and he's never won. I think the key to winning is make this more of a show, to have a story line, not just steps. People see that I can dance, so we need to give them something more exciting -- the wow factor -- so we're working on that.

Do you have any choice in your costumes? Some of the costumes can get pretty crazy.
Oh yeah! All of us get to say what we want our costumes to look like. I'm 100 percent involved in that. I pretty much design the costume and then the designer on the show makes it happen.

Do you have a certain style that you like to follow?
No, I pretty much always ask. What does this dance need? This is a Cuban dance, I'll look at some Cuban dresses and then I'll kind of just go off of how they look, tweak it and make it my own.

The judges have been hard on you recently. Do you feel like you're held to a higher standard than some other contestants, like Heather Mills?
The judges actually haven't been that hard on me. They haven't said anything rude or crazy to me. One week we did the tango, they loved our dance, they thought it was a great performance. But there are rules, and Max's choreography broke the rules. We broke apart too soon in our dance, when we should have held ourselves together. So that wasn't a big deal to me; it was just the rules. All it does is make me want to get more involved and make sure that when we come out there, the judges enjoy our performance.

How much do you interact with the other contestants?
The other contestants and I see each other pretty much the day of the show, on Monday. We have to come to the studio for camera blockings and fittings, but we don't see any of the dancing from the other couples until it's actually time to do the dance.

Are you all buddies?
Oh, yeah. Everyone gets along real well.

What has been your favorite dance personally?
My favorite dance, I would have to say, would be the mambo, which I did and I actually won that week. Once I got the steps and I got really comfortable doing the dance and my confidence just showed up on the dance floor. I think the Latin dances will be my best dances.

Why do you think that is?
Because you can be sensual and sexy and move your hips, you're not stuck in a frame like you are for the quick step and the fox trot. I can really break away from Max and really put my own flavor on it. And that's what makes my dancing unique. I don't have him to cover up my dancing. Let me be seen, let me move my hips, let me be sexy. And I think people like to see that.

Do you think, as an athlete, you have an advantage in the competition?
I wouldn't necessarily say I have a big advantage. The main advantage of being an athlete is that we're used to working hard, we're used to taking criticism and taking instruction. While we're learning I don't have to worry about getting tired, having to sit down, it's more a mental issue. I think Joey [Fatone] has the biggest advantage. He can dance, he's used to coming up with routines, he can go out there and be comfortable. He knows what people want to see, so he has the biggest advantage over anybody.

Joey did that 'Star Wars' dance. What did you think of it?
I think Joey always wants to be a showman. He's kind of silly and he likes to have fun. He likes to bring that into the dances. I don't know what the votes are; some people might think it's silly and not like it. I think showmanship is very important. You only have a minute-and-a-half to do your routine, and it's about coming with something new and fresh and he's definitely been doing that.

Your fiancé, former NFL player Curtis Conway, was on the show last week and he was joking about keeping you and Maksim apart. What is his reaction to you being on the show?
Curtis, my fiancé, is having a fun time watching me dance. He doesn't really like me boxing, he'll be happy when I'm done. So he's glad that people get to see the fun side to me and get to see the side that he sees all the time outside of boxing. He wants me to win the competition. He gives me an honest opinion, and if he thinks that it wasn't up to my full potential he'll let me know. It's great.

Are you guys going to do a tango at your wedding?
We're deciding that now. Whatever we do, we're going to have to take some lessons because people are going to expect us to put on a performance at our wedding.

Will you keep dancing after the show is over?
No, I won't. I'm not a dancer. All I know is what Max teaches me. People are like, "Well at least you'll know how to fox trot." But I only know that one routine and once we move on to the next dance, it's kind of erased out of my mind.

What is your plan after the show? Do you plan to continue boxing?
Right now, I'm looking into different charities I can get involved with. I'm really trying to develop myself in the lifestyle and fitness world. I just shot a boxing cardio workout DVD with Sugar Ray Leonard, which is in stores now. That will be the start of going into that whole lifestyle and fitness arena because that's what I'm interested in, that's what I know. People always ask if I want to act. I'm just not into the celebrity acting thing. I really respect the craft of acting and it's not really my high point. Right now, it's just not my focus.

Do you think that people recognize you more thanks to the show?
Definitely. There are 23 million people watching 'Dancing with the Stars' every week. That's way more people than have ever watched me fight. I have a limited audience in comparison to 'Dancing with the Stars' in female boxing. A lot of people are seeing me for the first time. It would probably to imagine me actually fighting now; they know me as Laila on 'Dancing with the Stars.' It's cool though. It's great and it's going to work out for the better because people are seeing me in a different light.

Photo from ABC.

Dancing with the Stars Week 5 Filed under ( Dancing with the Stars, Maksim Chmerkovskiy )

I'm not so sure about this week's Dancing with the Stars. First, the thing that we all worried about seeing but secretly wanted to see (Heather Mills falling because she only has one leg, for God's sake) finally happened. Then Joey Fatone finally shows a sign of weakness and it has to do with feminine hand movements. Apolo Anton Ohno comes out of nowhere with some crazy mad dancing skills. The best part of the whole deal though was the ejection of Clyde Drexler, who deserved more than anyone else. Well, maybe Billy Ray deserved it, too.

I have to say that, once again, Maksim exceeded all my expectations. And he danced, too. Don't be embarrassed if you watch the clip of Maksim and Laila three or four times. It'll be still be less times than Annie and I watched it.

Here are some clips from this week's episodes. Enjoy:

The professionals perform a jive/swing dance:



Heather Mills and Jonathan Roberts dance the Samba (if you just want to see the part where she fall, fast forward to the end):



The ousted Clyde Drexler and his partner Elena Grinenko perform the rumba:



Joey Fatone and Kym Johnson perform an ever so feminine rumba:



Ian Ziering and Cheryl Burke perform a (yawn) samba:



I really don't recommend watching this one unless you like to see a country music star stomping around making awkward arm movements. Here's Billy Ray Cyrus and Karina Smirnoff:



This is hot hot hot. Apolo Anton Ohno and Julianne Hough perform the samba with tiger-like ferocity:



And, saving the best for last, here's Laila Ali and Maksim Chmerokovskiy:

Rewind: Dancing with the Stars Week 4 Filed under ( Dancing with the Stars, Drew Lachey, Joey Fatone, Kym Johnson, Laila Ali, Leeza Gibbons, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Tony Dovolani )

It was Leeza Gibbon's time to go on this week's Dancing with the Stars. Now we just need to get rid of Clyde Drexler and we'll have a real dancing competition on our hands. Is that just me? It seems like everyone else has at least some talent or showmanship, with Leeza and Clyde having none of either.

I'm sad for Tony Dovolani though. I'll miss seeing him dance, but I am sure he will be back for some of the little shows that the professionals put on. Doesn't he choreograph most of those?

I was also glad to see the judges lay into the contestants for not being truly committed. They just don't have the polish that we've seen in previous seasons. Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Laila Ali especially let me down this week (probably because they have so much potential). I wish I could feel sorry for them, but if she didn't have time to committ to the show, why'd she do it? The most polished pair is clearly Joey Fatone and Kym Johnson. His natural dancing ability and charm are simply outshining everyone else, even if his moves aren't perfect.

Umm, were you as excited as me when Drew Lachey ran out and danced with the pros? I about peed my pants. That boy can dance and looks like he has fun doing it.

Here are some clips so you can see what I mean. These folks need to kick it up a notch.

Big and Rich's performance starring Drew Lachey:



Joey Fatone and Kym Johnson perform the paso doble (featuring many shots of Fatone's buddy, Lance Bass):



Heather Mills and Jonathan Roberts do the waltz:



Billy Ray Cyrus and Karina Smirnoff perform the paso doble:



Clyde Drexler and Elena Grinenko do the waltz:



Apolo Anton Ono and Julianne Hough do the waltz:



John Ratzenburger and Edyta Sliwinska perform the paso doble:



Ian Ziering and Cheryl Burke try out the waltz:



And, the performance that got Leeza Gibbons and Tony Dovolani kicked off Dancing with the Stars:

Bring Dancing with the Stars Home Filed under ( ABC, Ashly DelGrosso, Dancing with the Stars, Kym Johnson, Maksim Chmerkovskiy )

It was only a matter of time before the folks behind the popular Dancing with the Stars leveraged its popularity into other venues, and that time has come. Dancing with the Stars: Cardio Dance is your opportunity to bring a few of the shows' stars home with you, and get a workout in the meantime.

Three of the professional dancers are involved with this one, Ashly, Kym and Maksim, and they'll guide you through heart-pumping dance routines (six in all), complete with big band music and colorful sets. Just for the Maksim drool-factor alone, it just might be worth picking up. Cha-Cha anyone?

Willa Ford Hits the Big Screen Filed under ( Anna Nicole Smith, Dancing with the Stars, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Mike Modano, NHL, Willa Ford )

Variety is reporting that Willa Ford, singer and former Dancing with the Stars contestant, Willa Ford, is heading for the big screen. She will be playing Anna Nicole in an independent film chronicling her life. The film begins production next week and will cover Anna Nicole's life from age 17 until her untimely death at 39.

Willa is the voice behind the hit single, "I Wanna Be Bad," and although we all speculated about a romance with her Dancing with the Stars professional partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy, she is engaged to NHL player Mike Modano.

Dancing with the Stars Week 3 Filed under ( Dancing with the Stars, Joey Fatone, Maksim Chmerkovskiy )

I love me some Dancing with the Stars. This is a show whose novelty factor has still not worn off. I mean, a one-legged woman? And Cliffy? On the same show? How do people not watch?

As I look forward to this week's episodes, I thought we should reminisce a little about last week's show. What do you think of Joey Fatone's performances? My favorite thing about him is that he obviously doesn't take the show seriously, but he sorta does take it seriously. He wears silly outfits with his name or initials on them and makes goofy faces, but boy can dance. I have to say I loved the Anakin Skywalker mini braid and can't wait to see what they'll come up with this week.

And is it just me or did Maksim become irresistible some time between last season and this season? He's definitely got new hair and teeth. Maybe that's all it took, but he is looking good. Real good.

Here are some highlights from last week's show:

Joey Fatone and Kym Johnson dance the tango to the Star Wars Theme:



Laila Ali and Maksim Chmerkovskiy:



Billy Ray Cyrus with Karina Smirnoff:



Josh Groban's performance:



Ian Ziering and Cheryl Burke:



Ciara's performance of Like a Boy:



Heather Mills and Jonathan Roberts:



And the performance that got Shandi Finnessey and her partner Brian Fortuna booted:



In other Dancing with the Stars news, here are Laila and Maks on the Ellen DeGeneres Show:

Dancing with the Stars Week One Filed under ( Billy Ray Cyrus, Brian Fortuna, Dancing with the Stars, Heather Mills, Joey Fatone, Jonathan Roberts, Karina Smirnoff, Kym Johnson, Laila Ali, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Shandi Finnessey )

So I am an idiot. I forgot to set up TiVo to record Dancing with the Stars last night. They are going to take my reality TV fan membership card away. Luckily, the B-list stars on the show have a cult-like following and posted videos on You Tube for our viewing pleasure. Enjoy!

Former Miss USA Shandi Finnessey and Brian Fortuna :



Laila Ali and Maksim Chmerkovskiy. I'm loving Maksim's hair:



Heather Mills and Jonathan Roberts:



Billy Ray Cyrus and Karina Smirnoff:



Joey Fatone and Kym Johnson (crappy video, but you get the idea) I'm calling it now. It's all about Joey, he will win. And yes, I am still an NSYNC fan:



Do you think they gave Joey to Kym because they felt bad for hooking her up with Jerry last year?