What Does Tom Bergeron Miss Most About Dancing With the Stars? His Answer Will Make Your Jaw Drop

Tom Bergeron is pulling back the curtain on his time on Dancing With the Stars.

Nearly four years after the host cha-cha'd out of the ballroom, he admitted he's not tangoing to the couch to tune in.

"To be honest, I never watched it when I was hosting it," the 69-year-old exclusively told E! News at the 6th Annual Critics Choice Real TV Awards June 15. "I watched it while I was there, obviously, but I never watched it as a TV show."

And after 15 years as emcee, there is one factor he misses the most. "The paycheck,"  he joked before adding, "There are some people I miss, but I'm really happy not hosting." (For more with Bergeron, tune into E! News tonight, June 17, at 11 p.m.)

Back in 2020, ahead of the competition series' 29th season, Bergeron announced that he would not be returning to the show.

"Just informed [Dancing With the Stars] will be continuing without me," he tweeted in July of that year. "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?" 

While the announcement was shocking, it wasn't a total surprise to some. After all, he had felt the show's direction no longer aligned with his beliefs. Which rang especially true when the ABC series sought after contestants like Donald Trump's former press secretary Sean Spicer.

"I said, 'Well look, 2019 is the threshold to an election year in America, we are a very divided country,'" he explained on fellow DWTS alum Cheryl Burke's podcast. in October. "Just nobody, of any party, don't go there—just make us the wonderful escape from all that divisiveness for two hours a week.'"

When he learned the team was going forward with Spicer, "this former showrunner says to me, 'You might want to sit down for this last one,'" he recalled. "I said, ‘Guys, this is exactly what we said we wouldn't do. Don't go there. This is not the right time, play to our strengths, be the show that gives people a break from all this bulls--t."

The America's Funniest Home Video host offered to sit the season out, however he was told his contract wouldn't allow for it: "And that really pissed me off."

And Bergeron isn't alone when it comes to turning down DWTS. Keep reading to see who else declined their invitation.

-Reporting by Daryn Carp

Backstreet Boys Nick Carter finally got to show off his moves in season 21 after years of not being available. "I was approached for like 4 to 5 years in a row," he tells E! News. "Unfortunately, and fortunately, I was on the road with the Backstreet Boys touring and doing album cycles, so now that I have some time, that we're in between, I could take the advantage of doing it." 

Bindi Irwin, Australian TV personality and daughter of the late Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin, also joined season 21. However, this wasn't the first time she had the chance to hit the dance floor. "I was approached once before, and I said, oh my goodness!" she tells E! News. "We were in the middle of our Crocodile research trip and it was all happening, so it worked out really well that we were able to join this season, so I'm thrilled to be a part of it."

After her daughter Rumer Willis won season 20 of DWTS, with her mom in the audience at almost every taping, Moore was close to joining the season 21 cast, sources told E! News, but she decided to turn down the offer.

Former champ Alfonso Ribeiro revealed to E! News that the show was interested in having the I Am Cait reality star compete for the trophy but that she said no, choosing not to follow in Kim Kardashian and Rob Kardashian's footsteps. 

The Mean Girls star was reportedly approached to do the show back in season 16 but said no. 

The controversial celeb chef had previously turned down the chance to dance two times before finally joining the cast in season 21, as E! News exclusively reported. 

"They did ask me," she told Extra in 2010, "and I said no."

Though several of her former Saved By the Bell co-stars have competed, Thiessen declined DWTS' offer. "I've been asked a few times," she once told The Huffington Post, "but my response to that is that I am an actor, not a dancer."

Paula Deen isn't the only celeb chef DWTS has courted. Flay said he also turned down the show, with the Food Network star once explaining to Zagat that he didn't want to "be known as that guy on Dancing with the Stars." Another reason? "My wife told me that she would divorce me if I did it." (He and ex-wife Stephanie March have since divorced.)

While sources told E! he said no to DWTS, he said yes to appearing on Celebrity Apprentice.

Though she went on to become a fan-favorite in the ballroom, the now-late actress originally said no to DWTS, tweeting she was "too chicken." 

The CBS This Morning host and Oprah Winfrey's BFF turned the the show down not once, not twice, but THREE times. "I think it's good to keep my public humiliation to a minimum," she told US Weekly. "I would never want to embarrass my children ever...or myself! I can't dance."

DWTS producers called in a favor to Alfonso when it came to the NYPD Blue star, asking the former champ to find out if he would join the show. Too bad it didn't work, as Ribeiro told E! News, his pal said, "Eh, I don't dance!"

The Oscar winner has vowed to never do the show. BUT she did admit there is a way they could possibly get her to join. "I'll tell you how I would do Dancing With the Stars," she once told E! News. "If they gave me a million dollars to give to charity...I would only do it if there was a big charity component. "

"No truth to the rumors of me doing Dancing With the Stars," Queen Latifah tweeted back in 2011. "Love the show though so I'll be watching just like you!" However, the Grammy winner has been a guest performer on the show.

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