DWTS's Erin Andrews on Nerves, Needing a Change, and Those Pesky Romance Rumors

There's usually a romantic rumor every season or so on Dancing with the Stars, and this year the zoom lens is on you and Maksim. Is this frivolous scrutiny kind of fun compared to the mania of the past year?

Yeah, it's definitely different than having to deal with what I've had to deal with before. In my job, everybody's been trying to link me to somebody anyway. So this wasn't anything too new for me. But Max is great, and we're kind of just laughing about the whole thing.

How have the people you've known through ESPN reacted to your gig on Dancing with the Stars?

The one thing I can say is that people at ESPN and coaches and athletes have been so so supportive of this whole thing. There's been so many coaches that have texted me, "I've never watched the show before, but you can bet I'm going to watch now," or, "I'm so excited for you." I was actually kind of nervous going into the show because I'm very hard on the people I interview in college sports. I'll just say to them, if they lose a game, "Oh, come on. You put so much time and energy into this. How did you mess this up?" And I was thinking to myself, "God, if I make a fool out of myself, these people can turn the tables around and say, 'Come now, what happened, why wasn't that kick a little higher?'"

You call yourself a perfectionist. When you dance, do you feel like you're outside your body looking in, analyzing what's imperfect or needs improvement?

I can't get out of that mindset. I expect so much of myself day in, day out. A lot of that has to do with being around great coaches and great athletes in my job. You just see them hold themselves to a certain standard, and I do the same thing. That's kind of rubbed off on me.

Do any of those sports-world stars have words of advice that stick with you?

The one thing that everyone in the sports world has tried to get across to me is that they're big competitors, they just want to be the best. And be the ultimate champion within everything that they do -- and that you have to have fun. Because if you're not having fun, if you're not enjoying yourself, then what's the point?

Has legendary ESPN anchor and DWTS loser Kenny Mayne reached out to you?

No! And I broke the ESPN streak! And I don't understand! I didn't get eliminated the first week! He reached out to me when it was announced and everything, and he wished me the best of luck. But I was expecting a little more from Kenny. Maybe he's saving it for later on down the road.

Who else from ESPN would you like to see on the show?

He's been asked before, but I would love to see [Sportscenter anchor] Scott Van Pelt. He's 6'6, 6'7. He'd be so fun to watch. He has such a great, self-deprecating attitude. He's so fun. Digger Phelps really wants to be a part of it, so he'd be really great to watch too.

At this point, how do you plan approaching the rest of the competition? Did week one derail you?

I just want to get better from week to week. I just want to improve. Like I mentioned, I'm so hard on myself. I want people at home to see that, "Oh, she's gotten so better than week one." Or "So much better than week two." After the first elimination, I got really scared because I was like, "Wow, anyone can go home." I was thinking to myself, "Great, I'm going to go into practice and nail this thing." And then when that starts becoming a little challenging, you think, "OK, wait a minute, why am I not doing perfect? What am I going to do for next week?" I'm going to tell myself to stay level-headed and try from week to week.

And finally: Do the judges and their cutting remarks freak you out?

Nobody really freaks me out at all. Everybody's been nice and sweet and kind of funny. And I know that's the character that they play as well. You think about, "They've commented many times on my posture and finishing my lines and the death-grip I'm holding on Max." You think about that in the back of your head when you're practicing all week.

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