the host tom bergeron saying it's politically divisive and twitter users are calling for a boycott ofhow. some media outlets attacking the former white house press secretary. check out some of these headlines. "new york times" saying "don't let sean spicer tap dance out of infamy on "dancing with the stars"." an nbc news calling the casting a "slap in the face to every american he lied to." bikes are reacting on "fox & friends" earlier this morning. >> this should be two hours of politics free. more than that, and i hope with this show is at the end of the season is an example of people of a bunch of different backgrounds getting together, leaving politics aside, and having a good time in a civil and respectful way. my hope and goal is that at the end of the season, tom looks back and says we need more of this, not less of it. >> sandra: he says he's not going to care what the heck they think about his performance. i would be pretty nervous going into this. jesse, would you do "dancing with the stars"? >> jesse: it depends on how my career is going. [laughter] i might need the money.

host tom bergeron reaction. he's not happy. >> this is shocker. tom is calling outis, but the new cast was all smiles this morning with "e.t.'s" guest correspondent rachel smith. ♪ >> i literally don't know how to dance. >> oh, come on now, i find that hard to believe. this little "uptown girl"? >> it's true. oh, yeah, i forgot that dance. i know four dances, "uptown girl" and my four dances from "chicago." ♪ roxie, roxie >> 65-year-old supermodel christie brinkley's the early favorite -- she starred as roxie hart on broadway three times. and has a strategy. >> if i can't do it with my feet, i'll distract them with my face. >> i love it! >> from christie to dawson -- cue the music. ♪ i don't want to wait >> you planted the seed a long time ago. >> we're going to win "dancing with the stars." >> from way back when i was the in the apartment 23 and pitch the story line where fake me goes, goes on the fake "dancing with the stars." >> but within minutes of this morning's casting announcement there was backlash and controversy. in a surprise tweet, hos

this is what tom bergeron on twitter.itical climate. reprieve from any bookings with party affiliations. i left that lunch convinced we were in agreement. subsequently, obviously a decision was made as we say in hollywood go into a different direction. brian: i don't get it, if you don't want it to be political. it was on the entertainment division. we would have rolled in one of jillian's news stories. caught sean's attention, bring him in. it became a major political story because tom bergeron put out that statement. steve: "new york times" has an article today, don't like sean spicer tap dance out of infamy on "dancing with the stars." the casting the on reality stars makes political deception a joke. that is what "new york times" says. what did sean spicer say about all the reaction. here is what he said on the program an hour ago. >> i share his sentiment. this should be two hours of politics-free. more than that, i hope what this show is at the end of the season is an example of people of a bunch of different backgr

tom bergeron, you know he's here. what do you got upstairs, tom?r seeing that. but i cannot wait to introduce you to the new cast of "dancing with the stars." this is a clue. obviously we booked somebody named spalding. we've got some surprises this season making some changes to the show. all will be revealed right here on "good morning america." [ applause ] hey, need a laptop that boots up as fast as 6 seconds when you're running late? (whispers) it's switching time or how about a battery that lasts up to 12 hours? order up! now we're cooking. or how about one with virus protection built in? which.... would be helpful.... right... about... now.... yeah, if you want all that, switch to chromebook. delivered to your car door so you can do more.et. more refill. more recharge. more relax. target run and done. here's the story of green mountain coffee roasters costa rica paraÍso. meet sergio. and his daughter, maria. sergio's coffee tastes spectacular. because costa rica is spectacular. so we support farmers who use natural compost. to help keep the s

. >> one of the hosts of "dancing with the stars"," tom bergeron, joked about it. >> sean will be ining audience size. >> no, he did not. >> tom bergeron seems to be pretty unhappy about casting him on the show. he said he had lunch with the show's executive producer three months ago about where they thought they would both agree. and he said, would be a joyful respite from our exhaustive political climate and free of inevitably divisive bookings from any party affiliations. clearly a different decision was made after they talked about that. and he'll have to agree to disagree. why do you think he felt he needed to go on the record and say he wasn't happy with this? >> i'm sure he wasn't comfortable with this. it's a divisive decision, partly because, again, you're casting somebody who, because he's famous and because he's famous for misleading from a position of power, i think a lot of people would be uncomfortable with that. of course, when you do something like that, when you cast somebody like that, it's controversial, that means attention. you know, like this. and it means ratin

on the show's host, tom bergeron, treating out his concerns to viewers just hours after welcoming hime new season would be "a joyful respite from our exhausting political climate." and free of inevitably divisive bookings from any party affiliations. "before leasing up those tap shoes, sean spicer stopped by fox & friends this morning. he did a little twirl, saying he agrees with the host. >> i sure had sentiment. this should be two hours of politics-free. i hope what this show is at the end of the season is an example of people of a bunch of different backgrounds getting together, leaving politics aside, having a good time in a civil and respectful way. so my hope and goal is that at the end of the season, looks back and says, "you know what? we need more of this, not less." >> melissa: one he's hardly the first are public and the band with the stars. rick perry, president trump's energy secretary and former house majority leader, tom delay, were both to contestants on the show. wow. [laughter] first of all, i haven't watched "dancing with the stars" in so long. they needed a controv

the show‘s host, tom bergeron opposed spicer‘s casting, saying he'd rather the programme provided reliefing for president trump mr spicer made many false claims including claiming that mr trump's inauguration audience was the "biggest—ever". now, look at this thai firefighter grabbing a python, armed just with his bare hands and a headlamp. he takes the 5—metre long snake from a bangkok home, preventing any danger to the family inside. the firefighter has caught about 10,000 snakes in the last 16 years. last year alone, the city had 37,000 reports of snakes being found in houses. the trump administration has announced it wants to allow us officials to detain migrant families indefinitely while judges consider whether they can remain in the country. the department of homeland security said it would scrap a longstanding legal ruling that only allows migrant children to be detained for less than 20 days. by eliminating the incentive to make the journey to the united states as a family, the new rule will reduce the unprecedented volume of family units that is straining the already—limited re

. >> right, including spicer in the mix of this season's contestants triggered host tom bergeron to tweetducers. >> he posted a lengthy statement about how he'd hoped the new season, quote, would be a joyful respite from our exhausting political climate and free of inevitably divisive bookings from any party affiliations. >> uncharacteristically feisty from tom bergeron. >> yeah, and can sean spicer dance? >> i doubt it. >> i guess we'll -- >> i wouldn't count on it. >> i think you're probably right. >>> next we want to move to the bombshell dropped by lionsgate. >> the hollywood studio has released the trailer for "bombshell" about the women who took on fox news channel's boss roger ailes. ♪ ♪ ♪ >> hot in here. >> you would not be able to tell that's charlize theron. she looks so much like megyn kelly, it's unbelievable. so this is "bombshell." it's going to be released srona go attin roles. i told you i'm not a big movie person, but in middle school i did see "monster" and she was in that. >> that's the movie that you've seen? >> she totally transformed her look, just like there. one wa

include former white house press secretary sean spicer, whichng well received by the show's host tom bergerons tweet, my hope would be a joyful respite from our exhausting political climate. a decision was made to go in a different direction. we can agree to disagree. some have suggested melissa mccarthy should return to "saturday night live" to reprise her role impersonating spicer. oh, she was good. >> politics bleeding into everything. >> apparently. >> if "dancing with the stars" is infected, is nothing sacred anymore? unbelievable. >>> well, president trump may have taken the world by surprise after getting into a spat with the leader of denmark but a former rival apparently saw this coming. >> so the president canceled his visit to denmark because the danillis idea of buying greenland absurd but during a 2016 campaign at one point candidate ted cruz made this eerie prediction. >> i mean we're liable to wake up one morning and donald, if he were president, would have nuked denmark. that's not the temperament of a leader to keep this country safe. >> well, the good news is there's no sign

tom bergeron said he hoped the show would avoid divisive bookings but the producers decided to go inin arms with one saying it is a slap in the face to those that had to deal with his baloney and the consequences of the ongoing lies and disinformation campaign at the white house. let's start with the idea that i think in some ways this is the perfect way to try to get back into the country's good graces. a family friendly popular television show. you can show you have a sense of humor about yourself. but he does not get to whitewash the reputation. >> i voted for lil kim and alfonso when they were performing but that is it. i think people are upset because we are still dealing with donald trump and they view spicer as someone trying to normalize donald trump. he might be a nice person. the anger is about normalizing. he did not even make an appearance in the emmys. >> sure. >> the trying to normalize trump behavior is upsetting to a lot of people. it upsets me. but it is about ratings for them. >> i do know sean. he is a really nice person. you talked to him after the casting was ann

and did tom bergeron just take aim at spicer?ided his wife shawn with divorce papers. 22 years of marriage, his seventh wife. accusations of cheating. what was the final straw after countless breakups and makeups? >> shawn, everyone wants to know. >> today the tv fortune on the line and why larry's sons reportedly convinced him to file. >>> charlize theron and nicole

for abc news, anonymously, it's coming on the record from the host of "dancing with the stars" tom bergeronment. i can read part of it. he said, my hope is that "dancing with the stars" in its return following unprecedented year-long hiatus would be joyful respite from our exhausting political climate and free of divisive bookings and any party affiliations. we can agree to dis'agree. and i spoke to sean spicer by phone, he dismissed that saying if people are upset, they should watch a news program and not "dancing with the stars." i know he was on fox & friend it's earlier addressing that. we have video if you want to roll that. >> i share his sentiment. this should be two hours of politics but more than that, i hope what this show is, is people of different backgrounds, getting together, leaving politics aside, and having a good time in a civil and respectful way. my hope and goal is at the end of the season, we need more of this, not less of it. >> spicer's basically saying that he's hoping to show a different side of him on dancing with the stars this season, that people may not have se

secretary sean spicer would be a contestant in the new season of "dancing with the stars," host tom bergeron protested. >> my preference, it's not my call. other people book the show -- would have been to avoid any political lightning rods. i think dancing at its best is an oasis away from all of the divisiveness and all of the stuff that we are all wrestling with right now. >> laura: wrestling, dancing. right on cue, reporters at cnn vomited out this headline, check it out. it cites nine unnamed sources affiliated with abc's news division and one source said it's disgusting to think he's getting on the show and getting paid by our company. it's really the shareholders company, idiot. about half of them will probably vote for trump. what is truly disgusting is the rabid partisanship at a formerly very respected news agency like "abc news" ." nobody had any qualms about hiring george stephanopoulos from bill clinton's white house, and i like him, he's always been kind to me when i've been on abc. he's not a commentator, he's one of the marquee news posts and the left is fine with that. sean s

secretary sean spicer would be a contestant in the new season of "dancing with the stars," host tom bergeron protested. >> my preference. >> this is a fox news aall right from fox news headquarters. firefighters are responding to a light rail collision in sacramento, california, right now. according to sacramento fire, there are a total of 22 people hurt. two people are set to have moderate injuries and the remaining 20 are, quote, walking wounded. the incident happened west of the winter street light rail station and that is near the hagen oaks golf course. again, this is happening in sacramento. so far, there is no official word on what caused this crash. one witness on the scene says the train derailed after crashing into another train car. again, a late rail collision in sacramento california, injuring at least 22 people so far. it does not look like any of the commuters on board have suffered any life-threatening injuries. there are 15 ambulances on the scene for transport there. stay with fox news for more on this developing story out of northern california. now back to regular program

lot of fun, the thing about sean spicer, tom delay was on the the show, rick perry wan the show, tom bergerona great guy. i think he has fallen into now, it's politically incorrect to be welcoming, to be a compromiser, middle-of-the-road. to be a peacemaker. >> sean: hell would freeze over, i'm still not going on that show, not that they even asked me. if i'm sean spicer, you know what i would say? i don't need this show, who cares? do they pay you for that show? >> they pay you something but it's chump change compared to your expenses. it would as an excuse for my family to get together, we had a lot of fun. i got to meet von miller. >> sean: i liked we needed a boxing match too. if i'm sean spicer i say goodbye and let their ratings tank. >> i know he's going to do really well at this because of the job requirement for white house press secretary is to know how to dance and he does it very well. i think the media is going to play a role in reelecting the president when they keep this stuff up because people are watching in some cases, they are fed up with it. they know it's fake news, they

the show's host, tom bergeron hoped the show would be a joyful respite from our exhausting politicalesponding to the criticism saying, he wants the show to be a politics-free zone. i don't see them sitting there and chatting politics. connell: you mentioned, they did, they will come out, debating issues? geraldo remains my favorite "dancing with the stars" all time, all time. melissa: i will take tucker. meatless trend is hitting the animal industry but is it any healthier for your pet? we'll break down numbers next. planning your next vacation, you want to stick around for this. we'll tell you the best day to book your flight in order to save the most money. the best day! you can't afford to go anywhere. we'll be right back. ♪ what?! i'm here to steal your car because, well, that's my job. what? what?? what?! (laughing) what?? what?! what?! [crash] what?! haha, it happens. and if you've got cut-rate car insurance, paying for this could feel like getting robbed twice. so get allstate... and be better protected from mayhem... like me. ♪ what might seem like a small cough can be a big

>> i liked tom bergeron for my time on the program.g. what difference does it make? he is the not first poll technician, first controversial to do it. tom delay, house majority whip did it. rick perry after he was governor of texas, before he was energy secretary. politicians do it. everyone does it. that is the fun of it. you get taken out of your element. like me, lame, only puerto rican in america that can't dance. i went out there made a fool of myself. had a good time doing it. let people shed their politics for a minute. let's suspend, you know the things that divide us. get together, have fun, laugh at each other. i think that tom really overstated, he brought too much attention to it. that is too bad. i think it is not too late for everyone, let him on the show. can't be any worse than geraldo. brian: i think it is intentional. every news show is talk about it. we're talking about the cast of "dancing with the stars" two days after it was announced. i think it was manipulation. >> you think we're being manipulated? brian: yes.

terrific person who loves our country dearly among those not happy with the news, long-time host tom bergeronthe show is not a good move. >> i had hoped that when we came back, there wouldn't be any political lightning rods of any party affiliation. >> reporter: earlier, bergeron joked, spicer would be in charge of assessing audience size, a reference to this moment after the presidential inauguration. >> this was the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration, period. >> reporter: during a radio interview this week, spicer responded to those up in arms about his new gig. >> if you get wound around the axle, we need a life check. >> reporter: he is no stranger to controversy. >> sometimes we can disagree with the facts. >> reporter: during his six months behind the podium, he had a contentious relationship with the white house press corps. >> shop staking your head. >> reporter: the delicate dance between spicer and the media was immortalized by melissa mccarthy on "saturday night live. >> what are you doing? >> it is a soapy water washing that filthy lying mouth. >> reporter: karamo br