10/27 Update: Click here to read Maks’ latest interview on his comments and on Derek Hough


HOPE SOLO AND MAKSIM CHMERKOVSKIY danced the Rumba on Dancing with the Stars, Broadway Night, October 24, 2011. After the dance, Maks and the judges, especially Len Goodman, got into a war of words. Here is a recap:

Hope seemed a bit shaken after last week’s judges’ comments and was heard saying afterwards, “I don’t think I can do this!” Maks brought in three dancers from the DWTS Troupe to help her dance sexy. Hope got the moves while the dancers were there, but the next day, she seemed to have forgotten, prompting Maksim to tell her that he is losing faith in her as well. He tried to clean it up by saying he is the only one that still has not given up on her.

The duo danced the Rumba to Seasons of Love. Carri Ann Inaba said she sees all of the efforts Hope puts into her movements and said she saw her relaxing and trusting her natural sexiness for the first time, coming out in glimpses of a beautiful vulnerable girl. But she said Hope sometimes forces the moves so much that it distorts them. Carri Ann gave them a 7.

Len Goodman said he was at a loss because he never lost faith in her because he believes she still has a lot of potential. He told her this was her worst dance of the whole season. He said he was really disappointed. When Max tried to get the crowd to boo Len, Len said, “Max, don’t start all that because half the fault is yours.” Maks said, “As long as the audience liked our journey, we’re good.”  Len shot back, “Let me tell you Maks, the audience like the effect, I’ve been in this business for nearly fifty years, my criteria to judge is different.” Maks quipped, “Maybe it’s time to get out!” Carri Ann scolded Maks,  “WOAH! Don’t be disrespectful like that!” Maks said, “Don’t be disrespectful like that to everybody because everybody is putting in a lot of effort, dying and killing themselves always to hear your guys’ a little judgmental comments, you know what I mean? I am not being disrespectful, I am just protecting my partner!” Len gave them a 6.

Bruno Tolioni: “First, Hope, look at me, performance, difficult song and you portrayed the emotion…It worked sometimes but the Rumba never stops moving…It never gelled quite as well as it could have.” Bruno gave them a 7.

After the judges’ scores, Maks continued telling Brook Burke, “With all due respect, this is my show. I helped make it what it is. I love every aspect of it. I love every professional that has ever been here and every celebrity that puts effort in to every week. Having said that, I am a little tired that we’re being judged some on effort and some being picked on our heel leads.”

Here are their telephone numbers for voting: