Tom Bergeron is stepping back into the “Dancing With the Stars” ballroom, but not as the charming host fans remember. The longtime emcee, who helmed the series for 28 seasons, is returning for the show’s 20th Birthday Celebration as a guest judge. In an exclusive interview with Parade, Bergeron opened up about his return, revealed which celebrity he always hoped would join the competition, and gave a candid answer about whether he’d ever compete himself.
Tom Bergeron Returns to the Ballroom
After hosting “Dancing With the Stars” for 28 seasons, Tom Bergeron is heading back to the ballroom, this time as a guest judge. Ahead of his highly anticipated return for the show’s 20th Birthday Celebration, Bergeron spoke with Parade about his years on the ABC series and the one star he always wished had joined the cast.
Bergeron and co-host Erin Andrews were unexpectedly dismissed from the show in 2020, but the beloved host says it feels good to return in a different capacity. “I’ll probably come at it a little differently than the other three,” he said, referring to fellow judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli. “I’m not going to presume to have their level of technical knowledge about hand placement. What I am good at is discerning honest emotion, and whether the intent is to move us to tears or to laughter.”
The Celebrity He Always Wanted
When asked which celebrity he would have loved to see compete, Bergeron didn’t hesitate to name one longtime friend: William Shatner. “I know he wouldn’t do it now. But years ago. I’ve been friends for quite a few years with William Shatner,” he revealed. “I could never get him to do ‘Dancing with the Stars,’ but I thought he would have been absolutely great. He’s such a funny, charming guy. But I think that ship has sailed.”
The two men share a connection beyond the ballroom—they both competed on “The Masked Singer.” Bergeron appeared as “Taco” in Season 3, while the “Star Trek” legend suited up as “Knight” in Season 8. “I was a little irked at him when he did “The Masked Singer” after I did it,” Bergeron joked.
No Desire to Compete Himself
While Bergeron is game to judge others, he made it clear he has no plans to ever compete on “Dancing With the Stars.” When asked if he’d ever consider joining as a contestant, his answer was blunt: “F—k no!” he laughed. “Hey man, I’m 70 years old. I don’t need that kind of hassle. I have such respect for what the contestants put themselves through. I have no desire to do that.”
For now, Bergeron is simply enjoying life away from hosting duties. “I have no desire to host anything anymore, really,” he said. “To be able to go on the show and watch my buddies do the heavy lifting, that’s just lovely.”
