Tom Bergeron

Host
View Full Interview


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

Tab

About
About this interview

In his four-hour interview, Tom Bergeron describes his early interest in broadcasting, which led him to call and interview Moe Howard and Larry Fine of the Three Stooges at age sixteen. He recalls becoming a local television announcer in Portsmouth, NH, and chronicles his years as a local television personality in Boston on WBZ, where he hosted People Are Talking. He discusses transitioning to a national platform on the FX Channel, where he hosted the cult hit Breakfast Time, and recounts his years hosting Hollywood Squares. Bergeron then talks of his great success in replacing Bob Saget as the host of America's Funniest Home Videos, and details his role as host of Dancing with the Stars. He speaks of dealing with the various co-hosts, judges, and celebrities involved with the program, and expresses his love of the spontaneity of live television. He also speaks of co-hosting the 2008 Emmy Awards. Nancy Harrington conducted the interview on January 18, 2013 in Calabasas, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"What first lured me to broadcasting was that intimacy, that connection. It brings us to a common denominator at its best. By showing us that it's okay to struggle and it's okay to get spray tanned and dance or it's okay to get hit in the crotch with a piñata bat or whatever. We can all get through it together."

People Talking About ...
Tom Bergeron
Highlights
Tom Bergeron on what makes a good contestant on Dancing With the Stars
02:08
Tom Bergeron on a prank pulled on him on Hollywood Squares
04:00
Tom Bergeron on the success of Dancing With the Stars
01:49
Tom Bergeron on the videos submitted to America's Funniest Home Videos
03:12
Tom Bergeron on co-hosting The View and the Miss America Pageant
04:47
Full Interview

Play Full Interview

Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on his early interest in broadcasting; on interviewing Moe Howard and Larry Fine of "The Three Stooges" as a teenager
On his first broadcasting job; on his career in mime; on working in local television in New Hampshire and Boston
On his various experiences hosting local Boston television; on hosting People Are Talking on WBZ in Boston
On being hired to host Breakfast Time on FX; on his experience hosting Breakfast Time on FX

Chapter 2
On FX Breakfast Time; on hosting FOX After Breakfast
On the end of FOX After Breakfast; on being considered for Good Morning America; on what makes a good host
On hosting Hollywood Squares; on his memories of 9/11
On his Emmy nominations; on his cameo in Star Trek: Enterprise and his friendship with Whoopi Goldberg

Chapter 3
On hosting America's Funniest Home Videos; on selecting clips for the show; on the production crew of  America's Funniest Home Videos
On co-hosting The View and the Miss America Pageant; on how he came to host Dancing With the Stars
On the importance of Dancing With the Stars being live; on his hosting style on Dancing With the Stars; on a typical production week on the show
On the camera choreography, producer, and director on Dancing With the Stars; on his co-hosts and judges on the show

Chapter 4
On the professional dancers on Dancing With the Stars; on what makes a good contestant on the show
On memorable moments on Dancing With the Stars; on keeping Dancing With the Stars fresh; on the legacy of the show
On co-hosting The Jerry Lewis Telethon and appearing on Planet Green; on being considered as host for The Price is Right; on co-hosting The 2008 Emmy Awards
On appearing on Castle and A Capitol Fourth; on his greatest achievement and biggest regret; on advice to aspiring hosts and the power of television
Shows

America's Funniest Home Videos

View Show Page
Tom Bergeron on hosting America's Funniest Home Videos
11:38
Tom Bergeron on how the advent of You Tube has affected America's Funniest Home Videos, and the selection process of the videos
02:47
Tom Bergeron on becoming producer of America's Funniest Home Videos and keeping the show fresh
02:47
Tom Bergeron on the videos submitted to America's Funniest Home Videos
03:12
Tom Bergeron on the appeal of America's Funniest Home Videos
01:05

Dancing With the Stars

View Show Page
Tom Bergeron on how he came to host Dancing With the Stars
04:23
Tom Bergeron on the importance of hosting Dancing With the Stars live; on the voting process
02:07
Tom Bergeron on the success of Dancing With the Stars
01:49
Tom Bergeron on his hosting style and the challenges of doing a live show
04:00
Tom Bergeron on the content limitations of Dancing With the Stars
01:52
Tom Bergeron on juggling his responsibilities and a typical production week of Dancing With the Stars
05:23
Tom Bergeron on the camera choreography of Dancing With the Stars and working with Executive Producer Conrad Green and Director Alex Rudzinski
02:58
Tom Bergeron on the set and the band on Dancing With the Stars
03:15
Tom Bergeron on his Dancing With the Stars co-hosts and judges
05:45
Tom Bergeron on the professional dancers on Dancing With the Stars
04:36
Tom Bergeron on casting the celebrities on Dancing With the Stars
06:17
Tom Bergeron on what makes a good contestant on Dancing With the Stars
02:08
Tom Bergeron on what Dancing With the Stars can do for a celebrity, and stand-out celebrity moments
03:06
Tom Bergeron on Marie Osmond fainting on Dancing With the Stars
03:07
Tom Bergeron on Sarah Palin and "Boogate" on Dancing With the Stars
02:30
Tom Bergeron on his favorite season and the biggest challenge of hosting Dancing With the Stars
01:38
Tom Bergeron on Dancing With the Stars and The Emmy Awards
00:53
Tom Bergeron on keeping Dancing With the Stars fresh and the crew of the show
01:52
Tom Bergeron on the then-future of Dancing With the Stars
02:06
Tom Bergeron on the legacy of Dancing With the Stars
01:05

Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)

View Show Page
Tom Bergeron on his Emmy nominations
03:21
Tom Bergeron on co-hosting the Emmy Awards
11:18

Good Morning America

View Show Page
Tom Bergeron on being considered to host Good Morning America
08:32

Hollywood Squares, The

View Show Page
Tom Bergeron on hosting Hollywood Squares
06:01
Tom Bergeron on a prank pulled on him on Hollywood Squares
04:00
Tom Bergeron on his memories of Hollywood Squares
02:09
Tom Bergeron on his recollections of 9/11
Tom Bergeron on Whoopi Goldberg helping him at NAPTE
01:44

Live with Regis and Kathie Lee

View Show Page
Tom Bergeron on Live with Regis and Kathie Lee and trying to save "Bob the Puppet"
03:27

Miss America Pageant

View Show Page
Tom Bergeron on co-hosting The View and the Miss America Pageant
04:47

Price is Right, The

View Show Page
Tom Bergeron on being approached as the host for The Price is Right
02:52

View, The

View Show Page
Tom Bergeron on co-hosting The View and the Miss America Pageant
04:47
Topics

9/11

View Topic
Tom Bergeron on his recollections of 9/11
04:34

Emmy Awards

View Topic
Tom Bergeron on his Emmy nominations
05:21
Tom Bergeron on co-hosting the Emmy Awards
11:18
Professions

Hosts

View Profession
Tom Bergeron on his philosophy on making a show work
03:09
Tom Bergeron on his philosophy on making a show work
03:09
Tom Bergeron on his hosting style and the challenges of doing a live show
04:00
Tom Bergeron on his advice for aspiring hosts
01:38
Tom Bergeron on his advice for aspiring hosts
01:38

Reality Show Host

View Profession
Tom Bergeron on his hosting style and the challenges of doing a live show
04:00
Genres

Game Shows

View Genre
Tom Bergeron on hosting Hollywood Squares
27:53

Reality TV

View Genre
Tom Bergeron on hosting America's Funniest Home Videos
21:29
Tom Bergeron on hosting Dancing With the Stars
31:32
Tom Bergeron on hosting Dancing With the Stars
29:49
People

Bob Barker

View Interview Page
Tom Bergeron on hosting Breakfast Time  on the FX cable channel
04:48

Bob Saget

View Person Page
Tom Bergeron on hosting America's Funniest Home Videos
11:38

Howard Stern

View Person Page
Tom Bergeron on interviewing Moe Howard and Larry Fine of The "Three Stooges"
05:04

Jerry Lewis

View Interview Page
Tom Bergeron on co-hosting The Jerry Lewis Telethon
02:55

Jerry Springer

View Person Page
Tom Bergeron on what Dancing With the Stars can do for a celebrity, and stand-out celebrity moments
03:06

Jimmy Carter

View Person Page
Tom Bergeron on hosting People Are Talking in WBZ in Boston
06:24

John Denver

View Person Page
Tom Bergeron on hosting People Are Talking in WBZ in Boston
06:24

Marie Osmond

View Person Page
Tom Bergeron on Marie Osmond fainting on Dancing With the Stars
03:07

Mary Tyler Moore

View Interview Page
Tom Bergeron on interviewing Mary Tyler Moore on Breakfast Time
02:30

Whoopi Goldberg

View Interview Page
Tom Bergeron on his recollections of 9/11
42:04
Tom Bergeron on hosting Hollywood Squares
06:01
Tom Bergeron on Whoopi Goldberg helping him at NAPTE
01:44

All Interviews

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWYZ
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
Y
Z