Dancing With The Stars’ Tom Bergeron Is Returning To TV, And Here’s Why He Was The ‘Perfect Choice’ For Shark Week

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The 2025 TV schedule marks Discovery’s most thrilling week of the year, as Shark Week returns for its 37th anniversary on July 20. This year promises an exciting array of great whites, bulls, hammerheads, makos, and other species not typically featured, alongside the usual heavy-hitters. However, the shark festivities begin with a unique special titled “Dancing with Sharks“. The show will feature none other than former host of “Dancing with the Stars“, Tom Bergeron, and returning Shark Week host Kinga Philipps spoke with TopMob about why Bergeron is an ideal fit for the role, despite not having a “DWTS” mirrorball trophy.

In 2025, Discovery Channel will premiere “Dancing with Sharks” as part of Shark Week, airing on July 20 at 8 p.m. ET. Following this, a new installment of the popular “Air Jaws” series will be shown. Hosted by Tom Bergeron, five divers will perform underwater routines in partnership with sharks, showcasing dance moves from hammerheads, tigers, and nurse sharks. If you’re familiar with Shark Week, you might have a hunch which of these species could be the least dangerous dance partner!

Viewers will need to tune in to discover what it takes for a competitor to emerge victorious, and during Discovery’s press conference for the seven-day event, TV journalist Kinga Philipps spoke with TopMob. She explained why the premiere show, titled “Dancing with Sharks“, was an excellent choice for the first program of this week’s lineup.

This show is an excellent choice for kick-starting Shark Week as it offers something fresh, uncommon, and simply amazing. What makes it even more enjoyable is the element of surprise – you never know what’s coming next! People often ask me if sharks really dance, and my response is indeed they do! I believe this year’s Shark Week will leave viewers amazed by the extraordinary behavior of these marine creatures, as well as the exceptional talents of their handlers.

It’s clear that Discovery isn’t being exaggerative with their new show titled “Dancing with Sharks“, as it truly features shark dancing! Similarly, having Olympic champion Michael Phelps for a special on shark swimming speed was perfect. Likewise, who else would be more suitable to appear in a show about dancing sharks than Tom Bergeron?

Tom Bergeron, known for his extensive and productive career, is most famously recognized for his tenure hosting America’s Funniest Home Videos and Dancing with the Stars. After the dust has settled on the controversy surrounding his departure from DWTS, he’s now taking his dance hosting skills to a show boasting performers far more rebellious than just the stars showing off their moves. Kinga Philipps, who made history as the first female Shark Week host in over three decades, discusses what Bergeron brings to Dancing with Sharks:

Tom is undeniably exceptional in every way. He embodies kindness and extraordinary talent, making him one of the best individuals you could ever meet. In essence, he can be considered the pioneer of hosting, given his extensive experience as the master of ceremonies for various dance shows. This made him an ideal fit for this role, not only due to his association with Dancing with the Stars but also because of the vibrant energy, infectious enthusiasm, and genuine good nature he brings to it. Simply put, he is flawless for this position.

Bergeron was an ideal choice for “Dancing with Sharks” not only due to his massive fan base from “Dancing with the Stars,” but also because he brought a wonderful energy to a project that was quite distinct from anything he had worked on before. Although I didn’t watch every episode of “America’s Funniest Home Videos” when he hosted, it’s safe to say that none of those episodes featured dancing sharks!

When I mentioned to Kinga Phillips that it was evident Tom Bergeron had built up decades of fans prior to participating in Shark Week, she agreed wholeheartedly and stated that “it’s all tried and true” since he is a “wonderful individual.” To catch an early glimpse of Bergeron back at the helm of a dance-themed TV program (in essence), take a peek at the video below:

In a change from his formal attire on Dancing with the Stars (DWTS), Tom Bergeron will have a more casual look for Shark Week 2025’s premiere, Dancing with Sharks, airing on Discovery at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 20. While I’d prefer to perform an underwater dance routine with a nurse shark, I plan to enjoy this unique event from the comfort of my couch instead.

I’m thrilled to share that Shark Week isn’t wrapping up yet! More specials are in store for us, airing during primetime hours all the way through July 26th. Who knows, we might even witness some unprecedented events this year, just like what was achieved by Shark Week 2024 featuring John Cena. And if you can’t catch it live, fear not! With an HBO Max subscription, you’ll have the chance to watch these thrilling programs post-primetime.

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2025-07-20 14:16