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Maksim Chmerkovskiy returning to 'Dancing With the Stars' to judge semifinals

The bad boy of the ballroom is back! After sitting out the last two seasons of "Dancing With the Stars" as a pro competitor, Maksim Chmerkovskiy is returning to the show to judge the semifinals round on Nov. 18, ABC announced Thursday.Chmerkovskiy, who was known for his passion for dance and disagreements with the judges, will be sitting alongside Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba.Ba
Image: Maksim Chmerkovskiy
Maks is back, so get ready for some serious passion in the ballroom next week!Today

The bad boy of the ballroom is back! After sitting out the last two seasons of "Dancing With the Stars" as a pro competitor, Maksim Chmerkovskiy is returning to the show to judge the semifinals round on Nov. 18, ABC announced Thursday.

Chmerkovskiy, who was known for his passion for dance and disagreements with the judges, will be sitting alongside Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba.

Back in September, pro Valentin Chmerkovskiy wrote in his blog for TODAY that he'd love to see big brother Maks at the judging table, especially after former pro Julianne Hough would be scoring her own brother, Derek. Not only that, he noted that the elder Chmerkovskiy was already in talks to join the panel in some way.

"My brother said to me hat that was definitely a conversation that was had, and that it was something he would be very, very interested in doing," the younger Chmerkovskiy wrote. "If the right people sit down and come up with the right plan and a common language, I think it could work out incredibly for the show."

Though the brothers are tight, viewers won't have to worry about any favoritism. Val and his celebrity partner, Elizabeth Berkley, were cut after a surprise elimination on Monday.

But even if he were still in the competition, there would be no issue, Val had assured. He noted that Maks is someone "who would be an incredibly professional judge, a very refreshing voice, and a pretty cool, pretty fresh perspective."

When Maks joins the ballroom bash Monday as a judge, he'll be critiquing actress Leah Remini, "Glee" star Amber Riley, comedian Bill Engvall, TV personality Jack Osbourne and Disney star Corbin Bleu. 

"Dancing With the Stars" airs Mondays at 8 p.m. on ABC.