‘DWTS’: Bobby Bones Asked How Tyra Banks Was Doing As Host, Fans Say the Show Is ‘Not the Same’
Dancing With the Stars Season 29 premiered last night. There have been many changes to the show this season, including the addition of the new host Tyra Banks. When former Mirrorball Champion Bobby Bones took to Twitter to discuss Banks as the DWTS host, many fans expressed their disappointment.
‘Dancing With the Stars’ has made a lot of changes in season 29
Dancing With the Stars is back with a brand new season amidst the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Showrunners are taking precautions to keep the cast safe while producing the live show. New this season, the judges sit safely distanced from one another, the contestants are tested daily for COVID-19, and before the show premiered, meetings were conducted through Zoom.
There’s plenty of new this season that doesn’t have to do with the pandemic. Fans will notice a new judge sitting in Len Goodman’s place — Derek Hough. “This show has been and will always be incredibly special to me,” Hough said (via CNN). “Coming back feels like coming home and I couldn’t be more excited to be back in the ballroom.”
Of course, all of the contestants this season are new, too. Competing for the Mirrorball Trophy are: Cheer‘s Monica Aldama, Tiger King’s Carole Baskin, The Bachelorette‘s Kaitlyn Bristowe, football star Vernon Davis, actor Anne Heche, Disney’s Skai Jackson, One Day at a Time‘s Justina Machado, Backstreet Boy AJ McLean, The Real‘s Jeannie Mai, actor Jesse Metcalfe, rapper Nelly, Catfish’s Nev Schulman, basketball player Charles Oakley, Selling Sunset‘s Chrishell Stause, and Olympic figure skater Johnny Weir.
Tyra Banks is the new host of ‘DWTS,’ replacing Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews
In addition to the new pandemic protocols, contestants, and judge, DWTS has a new host this season.
Since June 2005, Bergeron was the host of Dancing With the Stars. “Tom Bergeron will forever be part of the Dancing with the Stars family,” a statement announcing his “retirement” from the show read (via Entertainment Tonight). “As we embark on a new creative direction, he departs the show with our sincerest thanks and gratitude for his trademark wit and charm that helped make this show a success.”
The network passed on the option to renew Bergeron’s contract. They did the same with Andrews, who has co-hosted the show since 2014.
This year, the America’s Next Top Model host is taking over to host the dance competition. As a longtime fan of the show, Banks was eager to join a show full of “fun mixed with raw emotion.”
Fans are not happy with Tyra Banks as the new host of ‘Dancing With the Stars’
When season 29 premiered, radio personality Bones answered a fan question on Twitter: “[Are] you watching Dancing With the Stars tonight?”
Bones, who had yet to tune in, asked how Banks was doing as a first-time host of the show. And fans did not hold back their disappointment.
“Tyra is a horrible host for #DWTS,” one disgruntled fan tweeted. “The Dancers were great! But Tyra is really out of her element; she didn’t know what to ask the dancers, the judges seem to ignore her. I miss Erin & Tom!” Another fan agreed, saying Dancing With the Stars is “just not the same without Tom.”
Other fans were more supportive of the new host. “I am the minority, but when I take Tom and Erin out of the equation, I actually like Tyra,” another fan replied to Bones’ tweet. “I found her funny overall. I just think Tom and Erin, especially Tom, were ICONIC and tied so closely to the show that it’s hard to compare anyone else. I am keeping an open mind!”
Another fan quoted Bones’ tweet and shared it, adding: “Hoping your fans trash Tyra because you were passed up isn’t the flex you think it is.” As a television personality, Bones could have become the host of Dancing With the Stars. However, he already has a gig with American Idol, amongst other projects, so it’s hard to say whether or not he would have time to host DWTS.
Tune in for yourself and form your own opinion about Banks. Dancing with the Stars Season 29 airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
