‘It Was One Of The Most Frightening Moments Of My Life’: DWTS’ Alfonso Ribeiro Reveals One Thing That Made Him Nervous When He Started Hosting

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Alfonso Ribeiro is returning to co-host the new season of *Dancing With The Stars* with Julianne Hough, and I’m thrilled they’re leading Season 34, which began airing last week. While the *Fresh Prince of Bel-Air* star has been hosting for over ten years, he recently revealed something that made him particularly anxious about hosting *DWTS* compared to his other jobs.

Season 34 of *Dancing with the Stars* is set to deliver fantastic performances, impressive improvements from the contestants, and exciting themed nights. However, host Alfonso Ribeiro has one worry: uninterrupted broadcasts. He recently told TV Insider this was his biggest concern when taking on the hosting role, and the reason is something many people can understand.

We were broadcasting live without any breaks. It was incredibly nerve-wracking, knowing I wouldn’t be able to step away for over two hours – I was genuinely terrified!

Before becoming a host on *Dancing with the Stars* in 2022, Alfonso Ribeiro had already spent seven years hosting *America’s Funniest Home Videos*. However, that show was filmed in advance. *Dancing with the Stars* was his first experience hosting a live, unscripted broadcast, which is why he was nervous about filling two hours under bright lights – staying hydrated is key!

Fortunately, Tom Bergeron, a longtime friend and mentor who previously hosted *Dancing with the Stars*, guided him as he started his new job. They first connected when Ribeiro competed on Season 19 of the show, winning the competition thanks to his charisma and earning a recommendation to host *America’s Funniest Videos* after Bergeron. While Bergeron and co-host Erin Andrews were unexpectedly let go from *DWTS* in 2020, Bergeron was happy to see his friend take over his role.

The actor from Carlton also shared with TV Insider that winning the mirrorball trophy and hearing it from the original *Dancing with the Stars* hosts was an incredible experience. He explained that he tries to emulate Tom Bergeron’s relaxed and welcoming style each week, and uses his own time on the show to connect with the current competitors.

This season on *Dancing with the Stars*, Witney Carson, who previously partnered with Alfonso Ribeiro, is dancing with Robert Irwin, and they’re already looking like strong contenders. Although Carson hasn’t won since her victory with Ribeiro in Season 19, she nearly took home the trophy last season with football player Danny Amendola. While the show’s hosts need to stay neutral, it seems likely Ribeiro is quietly hoping his former dance partner succeeds.

Since it’s the 20th anniversary of the show, it would be amazing to see Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough dance together again. And if we’re lucky, Tom Bergeron might even return to host and show off his dancing skills too!

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With the show’s anniversary coming up and after hosting for many seasons, I’m hoping Alfonso Ribeiro has finally figured out how to time bathroom breaks during a live broadcast.

As a huge fan of *Dancing With The Stars*, I’m already hooked, and it’s only week two! I wouldn’t want you to miss out on all the fun and unexpected moments, so make sure you tune in every Tuesday at 8 p.m. on ABC, or stream it with your Disney+ subscription.

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2025-09-21 03:08