When Dancing With the Stars started in 2005, host Tom Bergeron was the calming father determine eagerly holding the microphone — and all the time able to crack jokes with the nervous celebs and their professional companions who had simply left all of it out on the dance flooring. After 15 years of A+ banter and gracefully surviving stay TV fiascoes, Bergeron was let go from his contract by ABC. The choice got here after the Emmy winner publicly denounced the sequence for casting former White Home press secretary Sean Spicer in Season 28.
However now Bergeron is able to put the previous behind him. In an interview with TV Guide Magazine, the onscreen favourite discusses his Dancing legacy and what might carry him again into the ballroom.
Trying again, when did you first understand how huge the present could be?
Tom Bergeron: I obtained over my hesitancy to [host] it once I noticed the DVD of the British present. That gained me over rapidly, however the realization wasn’t actually till Season 2 that “Holy crap, this can be a hit!”
What do you recall from internet hosting Season 1? Dancing should’ve felt completely different for you.
It was, and to be trustworthy, I used to be discovering my tone all through. I don’t suppose my internet hosting hit the mark till Season 2, once we removed scripted stuff and the producers gave me sufficient rope to hold myself. I mentioned to them, “It’s a stay present — let me reply genuinely. Generally that’ll be with sarcasm, or with heat. However let’s make it natural, as a result of that’s what a stay present is at its finest.” And it supplied, for me, an unbelievable playground the place I might be very protecting, all the time, of the {couples}. However the whole lot else: the spray tans, the goofy trophy, the irritable judges — all of that was truthful sport to poke enjoyable at.
Why do you suppose DWTS has resonated with followers for therefore lengthy?
There are simply so many layers to it. It was harking back to the range exhibits that I grew up watching. It has a modern-day actuality present aspect. It showcased unbelievable artistry with the professional dancers and ranging ranges of ineptitude with the celebrities. There was loads happening if you happen to loved huge productions.
What are a few of the defining onscreen moments of the present to you?
The primary one which anyone mentions to me is Marie Osmond fainting [in Season 5]. However there have been nice surprises, like Jerry Springer [in Season 3], who turned out to be the sweetest — he did the present to discover ways to waltz for his daughter’s wedding ceremony. [In Season 11], Florence Henderson and I had a friendship. After she competed, she’d come again and we’d go consuming. Boy, did she have tales.
You used to throw midseason events for the solid. What did these appear to be?
On the heyday of the present, [I wanted] the completely different departments to mingle. A present that huge, you possibly can undergo a whole season and never know folks. In order that was the idea. The profit was that, post-party, I’d hear tales of hangovers and hookups.
However there was one time, I have to admit, I partied somewhat too hardy, and one other workers member and I had been strolling down the steps. I used to be assembly my driver to take me house, and I noticed, “Oh my God, I’m sh-t-faced.” And the paparazzi was on the backside of the steps. And fortunately, whoever the coworker was, tripped and fell down the steps. and all of the cameras turned to him. I believe it ended up on TMZ. I obtained off straightforward. [Laughs.]
Your time on the present was minimize quick in 2020. Now that it’s been 5 years, how do you’re feeling about it?
The reality of it’s, my plan was to depart after Season 30. As circumstances performed out, I left two seasons earlier than. However these seasons had been throughout COVID, so what would’ve been my final two—I might’ve hated them. Every little thing I beloved in regards to the present, the camaraderie, hanging out—none of that may’ve been obtainable. I’m glad it didn’t finish that method. And never surprisingly, the showrunner that I locked horns with didn’t final for much longer anyway.
You had been host when Alfonso Ribeiro gained in Season 19. What has your relationship been like now that he’s succeeded you?
I’m a giant Alfonso advocate. After I determined to depart America’s Funniest Movies, I [told] ABC, “That is the man who ought to observe me.” He had simply come off the win. He’s the right family-friendly host. We’ve stayed good mates.
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Would you, if requested, ever return to the ballroom — for, say, a milestone season?
Conrad Inexperienced, who’s the showrunner now, was my first showrunner. When the present hit its five hundredth episode, he [asked], “Would you come and sit within the viewers?” And I mentioned, “No, I’d get too fidgety.” However we had lunch six weeks in the past [prior to this interview], and I introduced to him a state of affairs by which I might come again for one evening.
It’s good to listen to the door isn’t closed.
I’m going full Ringo: peace and love. I’ve nice fondness for the affect that DWTS had on my profession and the friendships that resulted.
For extra Dancing With the Stars, decide up a replica of TV Information Journal’s Dancing With the Stars: twentieth Anniversary Particular Collectors Difficulty, on stands now or obtainable at DWTS.TVGM2025.com.
Dancing With the Stars Season 34, Stay, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 8/7c, ABC, Disney+ (subsequent day on Hulu)