Tom Bergeron made his long-awaited return to the Dancing With the Stars ballroom to mark the twentieth anniversary of the present.
Bergeron, 70, served as a visitor decide in the course of the Tuesday, November 11, episode of the ABC actuality competitors collection, becoming a member of Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough on the judges desk to attain the remaining {couples}’ dances.
Present host Alfonso Ribeiro kicked off the evening by asking his expensive good friend Bergeron to introduce the present.
“I’d love too,” he mentioned, shortly earlier than new cohost Julianne Hough began tearing up once they all walked down the ballroom steps. The veteran host added, “I’m thrilled to be right here, it’s such a rush. So nice to see you all, and we now have various acquainted faces within the audiences.”
Earlier than taking a seat on the decide’s desk, Bergeron revealed simply what he was searching for from the remaining rivals.
“You’e per week away from the semifinals, so I’m searching for the kind of dance that induces goosebumps,” he mentioned. “However since I’m sitting subsequent to Bruno, I’m additionally making an attempt to keep away from a concussion.”
Tonioli, for his half, confirmed off his signature hand gestures.
The twentieth anniversary episode of Dancing With the Stars additionally included first spherical dances set to music from iconic freestyles all through the present’s run and, for the primary time ever, aggressive dances by the movie star contestants with out their professional companions for bonus factors.
As for Bergeron, he hosted Dancing With the Stars for its first 28 seasons. Over time, he was joined by cohosts Lisa Canning in season 1, Samantha Harris for seasons 2 via 9, Brooke Burke for seasons 10 via 17 and Erin Andrews for seasons 18 via 28.
After serving as the principle host because the June 2005 premiere, Bergeron and his then-cohost, Andrews, now 47, have been axed in July 2020. Tyra Banks changed the pair because the host of season 29, whereas present hosts Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough took over in season 32.
Ever because the 2005 debut of Dancing With the Stars, followers have been very vocal about what they do and don’t like — and who deserves to be on the present. Thank You! You have got efficiently subscribed. Subscribe to newsletters Please enter a legitimate electronic mail. Subscribe By signing up, I conform to the Phrases and […]
“I feel it’s all about evolution. I feel any present like this that has been on many, many seasons must proceed to evolve,” govt producer Andrew Llinares instructed reporters in September 2020 of the choice to half methods with Bergeron and Andrews. “I feel altering the host was all about evolution, it was about making the present really feel contemporary, making it really feel new [and] sort of make it attain out — possibly to a brand new viewers as properly, in addition to the viewers that’s been there for years.”
Bergeron’s exit got here after he publicly criticized Dancing With the Stars for casting former White Home press secretary Sean Spicer for season 28. He later confirmed the mounting tensions behind the scenes of the present factored into his departure.
“In all candor, the present that I left was not the present that I liked,” he mentioned throughout an October 2021 episode of the “Bob Saget’s Right here for You” podcast. “So, the top of the season that turned out to be my final season [in 2019], I sort of knew. So I took every part out of my dressing room that I actually needed. … It was sort of apparent that we have been sort of butting heads.”
Regardless of lingering disappointment about his dismissal from the present, Bergeron appeared again on his time there fondly.
Dancing With the Stars has discovered loads of success since its debut in 2005. Over time, the ABC dancing competitors has launched the careers of many new professionals and has mentioned goodbye to a couple OGs alongside the way in which. Julianne Hough, who competed from seasons 4 to season 8, introduced in 2009 that she […]
“I take a look at the maths and 95 p.c of my expertise was actually fairly great,” he famous throughout an October 2023 episode of Cheryl Burke’s “Intercourse, Lies and Spray Tans” podcast.
Bergeron just isn’t the one acquainted face to return to Dancing With the Stars throughout its milestone twentieth yr. Burke, 41, stopped by Halloween Evening on October 28 to function a visitor decide after concluding her prolonged tenure as a professional in 2022.
Whereas some Dancing With the Stars contestants are understandably eradicated for his or her two left ft, different entrants are despatched dwelling far too early. The voting system received an overhaul for season 28, following the controversial victory of radio host Bobby Bones one season prior, however the changeup didn’t cease formidable rivals from leaving the ballroom. […]
“It’s so particular to return dwelling, I suppose, to a spot the place I’ve spent most of my life in that ballroom,” Burke completely instructed Us Weekly on October 23.
Burke additionally mirrored on her “heartbreaking” exit, describing it as “the toughest resolution of my life.”
“I imply, I’ve spent most of my life on that present, so I feel the umbilical wire remains to be connected,” she defined. “Like, I like the present, and I’ve so many nice recollections, and it’s modified my life. It helped me discover my voice normally, like, after I look again at my audition, it’s simply madness. I might say that I’m the girl I’m as we speak due to the present, and I’m grateful to simply even be requested again and to additionally deliver one other perspective.”
