Ahead of the sentimental “Dedication Night” for season 34 of “Dancing with the Stars,” former co-host Tom Bergeron shared a sentimental note of his own on social media. The DWTS alum has been sharing sweet posts on Instagram regularly in recent weeks in honor of the show’s 20th anniversary.
In Bergeron’s latest post, he paid tribute to former “Dancing with the Stars” champion and current co-host Alfonso Ribeiro. Fans loved it.
Tom Bergeron Credits Alfonso Ribeiro for His Great Work on DWTS and AFV
On October 12, Bergeron posted a photo on Instagram that showed him standing with Ribeiro and his “Dancing with the Stars” season 19 partner, Witney Carson. Bergeron stood in the middle, and both Ribiero and Carson held their Mirrorball Trophies as they smiled on either side of him.
Bergeron wrote, “This was the @dancingwiththestars season where my friendship with @therealalfonsoribeiro began.”
He then revealed that the friendship they formed led him to suggest that Ribeiro take over his hosting role on “America’s Funniest Home Videos.”
As E! News detailed in March 2014, Bergeron explained his decision to leave “America’s Funniest Home Videos” at that time.
He shared, “Next season will be the 25th year of the show and my 15th year as host of the show, so there was a certain symmetry to that that I liked. So it seemed like a perfect time to put a bow on it and pass the piñata stick to the new host.”
While Bergeron recommended Ribeiro for “America’s Funniest Home Videos,” things didn’t play out quite the same way on “Dancing with the Stars.” In his anniversary tribute, however, Bergerson wrote that he applauded “the decision to have [Ribeiro] take the helm of (the then rickety ship) of DWTS.”
“Both shows are sailing along nicely now (to continue that nautical metaphor) in no small measure to him,” he raved.
Fans Miss Bergerson & Thought His Note Was Classy
It did not take long for fans to show their love for Bergeron’s post and sentiments.
On Facebook, one of Bergeron’s fans wrote, “Alfonso is doing a great job succeeding you in 2 shows, Tom. You must be proud of him.”
A fan on Instagram gushed, “Tom, I’ve watched you on tv and followed you for so long; You are always a class act!”
“We love @therealalfonsoribeiro on both shows. He is a natural,” added another fan.
Someone else noted, “Tom you’re amazing and I miss you hosting!”
The Former DWTS Co-Host Gave Himself an ‘Award’ in Another Recent Post
A day before his kind tribute honoring Ribeiro, Bergeron revisited a difficult moment that happened during season 24 with Simone Biles as a contestant. He began, “Best Comeback Department: Overall, my live TV tenure had only a few ‘Foot in Mouth’ moments.”
He continued, “The most memorable, to me anyway, was my comment to @simonebiles after @carrieanninaba’s supportive words following more negative dance criticism from Len & @brunotonioliofficial.”
“Instead of asking, ‘What do you think of that split decision?’ I said something like, ‘I noticed that you didn’t smile when Carrie Ann praised your dance.’ (Because what woman doesn’t love it when a dude brings up smiling?).”
As Bergeron noted, Biles immediately gave him an epic response that is still brought up from time to time. The iconic Olympic gymnast told him, “Smiling doesn’t win gold medals.”
He explained, “Simone’s response was instantaneous & brilliant & a few days later, when she showed up wearing this t-shirt, I posed [sheepishly] by her side.”
One fan commented, “We all put our foot in our mouth sometimes. It takes a class act to own it like you have. We miss you, Tom!”
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