Dancing With the Stars is reaching its 20th anniversary, and in honor of the occasion. The November 11 episode will have a special guest: Tom Bergeron. He hosted the series alongside Erin Andrews since its inception in 2005 and exited the reality TV show in July 2020 (via E! News).
Having been part of the show for 15 years and nearly 450 episodes, he chose to part ways, reportedly due to the casting of Sean Spicer. Not wanting the show to take a political turn, he did not like it when the show’s executives disregarded his advice not to cast the highly controversial former press secretary for Donald Trump.
Tom Bergeron Was Unhappy With Sean Spicer’s Casting
A still from Dancing With the Stars | Credits: ABC
Tom Bergeron was the original host of Dancing With the Stars, but left abruptly back in 2020. Over the years since his exit, he has been quite vocal about his decision to step away while being particularly critical about the reality TV show’s casting of Sean Spicer.
Back in 2023, he appeared on Cheryl Burke’s Sex, Lies, and Spray Tans podcast, revealing the disagreement he had with the show’s executives.
I said, ‘Guys, this is exactly what we said we wouldn’t do. Don’t go there. This is, you know, not the right time, play to our strengths, be the show that gives people a break from all this bulls—.
However, the producer and the showrunner at the time did not listen and were determined to bring on board the former Secretary of the President Donald Trump.
In the summer of 2019, I had two lunches — one with that showrunner person and another one with his boss. ‘Well look, 2019 is the threshold to an election year in America, we are a very divided country. Just nobody, of any party, don’t go there — just make us the wonderful escape from all that divisiveness for two hours a week.
He then told the executives that he would take this season off and return the following season. Instead, they allegedly told him they could just let him out of his three-year contract, which really pissed him off.
At that moment I knew, this was probably my last season. Because of that one betrayal. Because I’d been lied to by people who were in charge. Up until that point, there were people of character there.
Bergeron remarked about the morning when Spicer was announced. Following his exit, Tyra Banks joined him in Season 29, and in Season 31, Alfonso Ribeiro joined as co-host. Later on, Ribeiro and Julianne Hough took over from Season 32.
Who Is Competing on Season 34 of Dancing With the Stars?
Season 34 of Dancing With the Stars has so far featured several stellar performances, as well as faced several eliminations. However, a few couples remain who will be competing for the winning spot this season.
Here are the remaining couples in Season 34:
Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa
Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy
Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach
Elaine Hendrix and Alan Bersten
Robert Irwin and Witney Carson
Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas
Andy Richter and Emma Slater
Apart from these, several original pro dancers who were once part of the series will be making an appearance in this season. What do you think about Tom Bergeron’s return to Dancing With the Stars, and which couple do you think will win this season? Let us know in the comments below,
Dancing With the Stars airs on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+, and streams the next day on Hulu.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
