Monday's Dancing with the Stars: What You Didn't See

Wednesday April 11, 2007 11:20 AM EDT

Ian Ziering and Cheryl Burke

CAROL KAELSON/ABC

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Tressed to Impress: With her long extensions woven into her signature shag do, Cheryl Burke almost went incognito on Monday's Dancing with the Stars. "I didn't recognize myself," joked Burke, who endured the 90-minute process to give herself a princess look for the waltz she and partner Ian Ziering performed. "I have so many rows (of extensions) in my head and just having to straighten all the pieces, it was a long time in that hair trailer."

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Mind Games: Billy Ray Cyrus, whose paso doble with partner Karina Smirnoff was praised by the judges, confessed that he frets each week as he learns a new dance. And the learning doesn't stop when he's not practicing. "I do this thing where if I'm not asleep I'm running the dance in my head," he told us. "My mind can actually be as useful as the dance floor itself. Once I learn the steps I can keep going through the dance in my mind."

Basic Math: Does Dancing judge Len Goodman know how to add? That's what all of the celebrity and pro dancers were wondering after he admonished the group on the air for not training enough. Goodman said this year's cast is only averaging 13 hours of rehearsals in between performances while last year's cast put in 19 hours each week. An impromptu PEOPLE poll concluded that with the exception of basketball star Clyde Drexler (whom we couldn't ask because he made a hasty post-show exit), most couples are averaging 20-25 hours of training each week. "Ask my kids about my commitment. Ask my coworkers at my job about my commitment," talk-show host Leeza Gibbons, who was still reeling from Goodman's "dull, dull, dull" review of her paso doble with partner Tony Dovolani, snapped.

Joey's Crew: Joey Fatone had former 'N Sync bandmate Lance Bass and actor Alfonso Ribeiro in the house to cheer him on as he and partner Kym Johnson performed an aggressive paso doble (which gave them the only 10 of the night). Did having his pals there make him nervous? "Not at all," the singer-actor told us. "Next week is going to be tough if we make it through because my mom and dad are going to be out here."

Special Bond: Heather Mills had a young friend in the audience to root for her as she performed the waltz with partner Jonathan Roberts: 12-year-old fellow amputee Spencer Dolan, who was born with a club foot and had a bone missing from her left leg. When she was 5, her foot was amputated and she was fitted for a prosthesis. After the show, the pre-teen went from fan to working journalist as she took the mic and conducted interviews for The Insider on the press line.

Apolo Anton Ohno and Julianne Hough Photo by: CAROL KAELSON / ABC

Mama's Boy: John Ratzenberger had his 91-year-old mother Bertha in his cheering section. When the judges trashed the actor-author's paso doble, it kicked off a running joke on and off the air that Len Goodman – who was stingy with high scores on Monday – would encounter an angry mob in the parking lot after the show starting with Bertha, who was visiting from Florida to help her son celebrate his 60th birthday last Friday.

Sew What: Apolo Anton Ohno's brown suit looked regal and elegant as he performed a seamless waltz with partner Julianne Hough. That is, until after the show he removed the jacket to reveal – tricks of the trade spoiler alert! – his shirt sleeves were missing. What's up with that? The speed-skating star's shirt cuffs were sewn onto the jacket and going sleeveless allowed him to move more freely. Hey, whatever works!

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