Maks Chmerkovskiy Loses His Cool On DWTS

Week after week, people get the thrill of watching celebs get taken down a notch by the judges on Dancing with the Stars. But it's not often you see someone stick up for them so vociferously as DWTS pro dancer Maksim Chmerkovskiy, who blew up at the judges, particularly Len Goodman, after he felt Goodman had unfairly assessed his rumba with soccer star Hope Solo.

When the judges gave the duo a paltry 20 out of 30 points, even going so far as to find fault with Solo's shoes and calling their jaunt the "worst dance of the season," Chmerkovskiy had had enough. Goodman pointed an accusatory finger toward him, saying that "half the fault" was his, and defended his position with his 50 years of experience in the business. "Maybe it's time to go," the Ukrainian Chmerkovskiy shot back. Even comparatively sweet Carrie Ann Inaba got heated and stuck up for her panel mate. "Don't be disrespectful like that," she chided the dancer.

Later, backstage, Chmerkovskiy tried to defend his position further. "With all due respect, this is my show," he argued. "I helped make it what it is. I love every aspect of it. I love every professional that has ever been here, and I love every celebrity that puts effort into it every wek. Having said that, I'm a little tired that we are being judged, some on effort and some, being picked on ...."

In other DWTS news, favorites Ricki Lake and J.R. Martinez stayed on top with their show-stopping quicksteps. David Arquette, Rob Kardashian, and Chaz Bono struggled to hold on with some of the night's lowest scores. Judge Bruno Tonioli said of Bono's tango, "It was like watching a cute little penguin trying to be a big menacing bird of prey."