Nearly four years after his abrupt exit from Dancing With the Stars, Tom Bergeron still feels the loss. In a February 2024 interview, the Emmy-winning host—who guided DWTS through 28 seasons from 2005 to 2020—revealed what he misses most about the ballroom competition that defined much of his career.
'It's Like Losing a Part of Your Own Family'
For Bergeron, the absence cuts deeper than sparkles and sequins. "I miss the people, the cast, the crew, the judges," he said. "It's a big family, and when you're not a part of it, it's like losing a part of your own family."
That family included longtime judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli, and the late Len Goodman, whose strict "10" paddle became a cultural touchstone before his death in April 2023. Behind the scenes, Bergeron bonded with camera operators, sound engineers, and wardrobe staff through marathon live broadcasts where technical disasters and celebrity meltdowns demanded collective improvisation. His self-deprecating wit and celebrated ad-libs—once described as "the glue holding chaotic live television together"—flourished in that high-pressure environment.
The Thrill of Controlled Chaos
Bergeron also misses the unpredictability that defined each season. The freestyle finales, where producers gave contestants creative control, produced some of DWTS's most memorable—and chaotic—television moments. From Marie Osmond fainting on live TV to unexpected eliminations that sent shockwaves through the ballroom, the host's unflappability was repeatedly tested. "You never knew what was going to happen, who was going to get eliminated, who was going to win," he recalled. "It was always a thrill ride, and I loved that about it."
A Complicated Departure
Bergeron's nostalgia carries added complexity given the circumstances of his exit. His departure in July 2020 followed public tensions over the show's casting of former White House press secretary Sean Spicer in 2019, which Bergeron criticized as inappropriate politicization of an entertainment program. ABC replaced him with Tyra Banks, who hosted for three seasons before Alfonso Ribeiro took over in 2023.
That behind-the-scenes friction suggests Bergeron mourns the collaborative culture he helped build—not necessarily every decision of DWTS's final years under his tenure.
Enduring Legacy
Fans had grown deeply attached to Bergeron's hosting style across nearly 15 years, making his exit particularly jarring. While he may no longer grace the ballroom, his influence persists in the show's DNA and in the standards he set for live entertainment hosting.
What remains clearest is that Bergeron's connection to Dancing With the Stars transcended the televised product. The glittering costumes and heartfelt performances were merely the visible layer of an experience rooted in human relationships—ones that, for the host at least, proved irreplaceable.
