Dancing with the Stars host Tom Bergeron puts producers on blast for booking Sean Spicer
Tom Bergeron isn't dancing around how he feels about Sean Spicer's Dancing with the Stars booking.
The former White House press secretary on Wednesday was announced as one of the contestants on the dance competition show's newest season, prompting host Bergeron to release a statement expressing his disapproval. Bergeron writes that he met with the new executive producer of the ABC series a few months ago and specifically asked for the 28th season to be a "joyful respite from our exhausting political climate and free of inevitably divisive bookings from any party affiliations." Evidently, he left that meeting under the impression an agreement had been reached, but this was not to be.
"Subsequently (and rather obviously), a decision was made to, as we often say in Hollywood, 'go in a different direction,'" Bergeron writes disapprovingly.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Bergeron does go on to say that the producers and network are free to "make whatever decisions they feel are in the best long term interests of the franchise," and he'll continue to host the show, but he makes quite clear that this is a decision he strongly disagrees with.
This certainly isn't the first time Dancing with the Stars has had a guest on from the world of politics, with former Texas Gov. Rick Perry being booked on the show in 2016. Still, Spicer's booking sparked a fair amount of controversy on Wednesday, and Bergeron clearly is in agreement, putting him in the position of hosting a show with a guest he just told the world shouldn't even be there. We already got a glimpse at the potential awkwardness in store on Good Morning America on Wednesday, during which Bergeron got in a dig at Spicer's infamous post-inauguration press conference by joking he'll "be in charge of assessing audience size." Expect plenty more of that when the show returns on Sept. 16.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Government shutdown looming? Blame the border
Talking Points Democrats and Republicans say funding for immigration enforcement is the budget battle's latest sticking point. That's about all they agree on.
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'Conservatives have not limited their attack on reproductive rights to the US'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Housing costs: the root of US economic malaise?
speed read Many voters are troubled by the housing affordability crisis
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Oppenheimer' sweeps Oscars with 7 wins
speed read The film won best picture, best director (Christopher Nolan) and best actor (Cillian Murphy)
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Rust' armorer convicted of manslaughter
speed read The film's cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot and killed by actor Alec Baldwin during rehearsal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The Beatles are getting 4 intersecting biopics
Speed Read Director Sam Mendes is making four separate movies, each told from the perspective of one band member
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Taylor Swift to Miley Cyrus: female artists dominate 2024 Grammys
Speed Read SZA, Phoebe Bridgers and Lainey Wilson were also among the winners at LA gala
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
South Korea passes law banning sale and production of dog meat
Speed Read Rare bipartisan support 'highlights changing attitudes' as young people shun centuries-old tradition
By The Week UK Published
-
Out of touch: Daryl Hall obtains restraining order against bandmate John Oates
Speed Read Lawsuit reveals unharmonious relationship between most commercially successful duo in pop history
By Jamie Timson, The Week UK Published
-
Singer Cassie accuses music mogul Diddy of decade of rape and abuse
Speed Read Rapper denies claims in lawsuit describing him as a 'serial domestic abuser'
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Bad Bunny joins in criticism of AI music
Speed Read Concern growing in music industry over generative learning, unauthorised impersonations and copyright issues
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published