Tom Bergeron’s firing from Dancing With the Stars nearly five years ago was a huge shock.
It seemingly came out of nowhere, and viewers were upset about the change.
Tyra Banks was his replacement, and it didn’t go well.
However, after the chaos and pushback from Dancing With the Stars viewers, ABC settled on the current co-hosting situation.
Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough are the duo we didn’t know we needed from the dance competition.
Tom Bergeron’s Firing Was a Blessing in Disguise
While we loved Tom Bergeron and he was a staple on the show for 15 years, his firing sparked a revival in the failing reality dance competition.
After Tyra Banks didn’t last (even with Alfonso Ribeiro as her co-host), the current co-hosting pair took the stage.
Julianne Hough joined Alfonso during Season 32 of Dancing With the Stars, and it’s been great ever since.
Tom had hosted the series since its inception in 2005.
His assertion about his disgust with ABC for casting Sean Spicer didn’t go over well.
He wasn’t onboard with the casting, and despite hosting while Spicer was a contestant, he let the higher-ups know he wasn’t behind their choices.
Tom doubled down on asserting that casting Sean Spicer wasn’t good. He spoke out about the situation in 2023, confirming what viewers knew.
Of course, that was a factor in his firing. Then, Erin Andrews left her spot as Tom’s co-host.
Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough Are What Dancing With the Stars needed
Losing Tom Bergeron was tough, but the co-hosting duo we have now for the show is so much better.
Julianne Hough was a pro-dancer during the earlier seasons. She even won the Mirroball Trophy.
Alfonso Ribeiro competed on the show and won his season. He also returned as a guest judge, which gave him plenty of experience with Dancing With the Stars.
Their experience with the show and their report made them an almost-instant dynamic duo.
They know which questions to ask competitors and have often been able to offer valuable advice.
Alfonso and Julianne have fostered a relationship that runs like a well-oiled machine.
Dancing With the Stars was losing appeal, and casting has been upped since the duo took over.
Another bonus is that Julianne’s brother, Derek Hough, now sits at the judges’ table. He joined the show in 2020, taking Len Goodman’s chair.
Dancing With the Stars Season 34 Airs This Fall
Earlier this year, it was announced that Robert Irwin would join the Dancing With the Stars Season 34 cast.
Alix Earle was also confirmed to be part of the upcoming season.
And, of course, Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough will be back to co-host the new season.
Unfortunately, it took Tom Bergeron‘s firing for the show to receive the revival it needed.
Had it not been done, the ABC dance competition may have been canceled. Celebrating 20 years on the air with over 33 seasons is no small feat.
It’s been quite some time without Tom Bergeron at the helm, but his firing was definitely the best thing to happen to Dancing With the Stars.
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