When Tom Bergeron was summarily fired from Dancing with the Stars in 2020, fans were both heartbroken and furious. Subsequently, the popular show host insisted he would never, ever, ever get back together with DWTS.
At the time he said, “When people say, ‘I’m not gonna watch until you’re back,’ I say, ‘Well, there’s really no ‘until’ here.’ This train has left the station.”
Fast forward five years, and Tom may be softening that stance. Recently, he hinted at a possible return to the show he helmed for 15 years. Maybe, just maybe, he’d return if the stars aligned, so to speak.
Could Tom Bergeron return to Dancing with the Stars?
The first season without Tom, Tyra Banks took over hosting duties. Though nearly universally despised by the fans for seeming to make the show all about herself, she lasted three seasons. Fortunately, Tyra was replaced by more affable Alfonso Ribeiro, with Julianne Hough as his co-host.
But as the show nears its landmark 500th episode, Tom might be having second thoughts about ever returning to DWTS. Now that the show’s original showrunner, Conrad Green, has returned, Tom admitted he might consider a cameo. It was no secret that Tom and executive producer Andrew Llinares never liked each other.
When Tom and Conrad had lunch a few weeks ago, Tom “presented to him a scenario in which I would come back for one night.”
“I’m going full Ringo: peace and love,” Tom told TV Insider. “I have great fondness for the impact that DWTS had on my career and the friendships that resulted.”
“In all candor, the show that I left was not the show that I loved,” he said on the late Bob Saget’s podcast Here For You in 2021. “At the end of the season that turned out to be my last season, I kind of knew. So, I took everything out of my dressing room that I really wanted.”
Nevertheless, he has nothing but “great fondness” for his time on the show. In reality, Tom had only planned to host for two more seasons at any rate. “My contract went to season 30, at which point I was going to leave anyway,” he said.
Dancing with the Stars Season 34 premieres September 16 on ABC and Disney+.
TELL US – WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE TOM RETURN TO DANCING WITH THE STARS? HOW DO YOU THINK ALFONSO IS DOING AS HOST OF THE SHOW?
