Tom Bergeron, the former host of Dancing with the Stars, left the show in 2020 due to a difference in opinions with producers over Sean Spicer’s casting. He will be returning as a guest judge for the 20th anniversary episode on November 11th. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Bergeron spoke to Good Morning America about the special occasion. “It feels really good”, he said. “I’m really looking forward to it.” Along with Bergeron, several original cast members will also return to make an appearance.
THR reports Bergeron had been hosting the show for 15 years when he was dismissed. He gave his reasoning on X, formerly known as Twitter. “A few months ago, during a lunch with DWTS’ new executive producer [Andrew Llinares], I offered suggestions for season 28″, he wrote. “Chief among them was my hope that DWTS, in its return following an unprecedented year-long hiatus, would be a joyful respite from our exhausting political climate and free of inevitably divisive bookings from ANY party affiliations. I left that lunch convinced we were in agreement. Subsequently (and rather obviously), a decision was made to, as we often say in Hollywood, ‘go in a different direction.'”
Bergeron had also mentioned that just before he parted with ABC, he had signed a three-season contract. According to THR, Bergeron had been working with ABC for quite some time. He had also hosted America’s Funniest Home Videos for 15 seasons. In 2012, he won an Emmy for hosting DWTS.
Bergeron said he wouldn’t mind “taking the season off”, but the producers weren’t satisfied with his response, releasing him from his contract. “It really pissed me off… my temper kicked in”, said Bergeron via The Hollywood Reporter. “I was at least going to let people know that they fucking lied to me.”
The Hollywood Reporter says Bergeron finished the season as host before his departure. Spicer was voted off the show after eight weeks, mocked by viewers countrywide as well as the judges.