Things evolved on Dancing With The Stars and it now looks very different from what it was before, as Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews are no longer the co-hosts.
Tom Bergeron has hosted Dancing With The Stars (DWTS) since its premiere in June 2005, spanning 28 seasons.
In 2012, he won an Emmy Award for Best Reality Host and has been nominated nine times for the award. He has been the face of DWTS since the very beginning, even though he had a couple of co-hosts over the years.
Bergeron took to social media on Monday, 14 July 2020, and tweeted, “Just informed @DancingABC will be continuing without me.”
He added, “It’s been an incredible 15-year run and the most unexpected gift of my career. I’m grateful for that and for the lifelong friendships made. That said, now what am I supposed to do with all of these glitter masks?”
Tyra Banks replaced Tom Bergeron and co-host, Erin Andrews. Banks’ past hosting credentials include America’s Next Top Model and America’s Got Talent.
Banks also serve as the executive producer of the new season. However, some fans are still wondering why ABC said goodbye to Bergeron and Andrews.
Executive producer at the time, Andrew Llinares stated that it was what the ABC dance competition series needed. On ABC’s virtual press day, he said that any show like DWTS that has been on for many seasons has to evolve.
Part of the evolution DWTS was going through involved bringing in a new host. “It was all about making the show feel ‘fresh’ and ‘new’ and appeal to both old and new fans,” Llinares explained, even if nothing felt “wrong.”
ABC and BBC released a statement saying, “Tom Bergeron will forever be part of the Dancing With The Stars family. As we embark on a new creative direction, he departs the show with our sincerest thanks and gratitude for his trademark wit and charm that helped make this show a success.”
Bergeron was seen in 2020 as the Taco/himself on The Masked Singer and as Rex in Down The Middle. He also confirmed in April 2021 that he would be getting back in front of the camera but it would not be for his former employer.
