I'm Hosting as Fast as I Can!: Zen and the Art of Staying Sane in Hollywood

by Tom Bergeron

For readers of John O’Hurley’s It’s Okay to Miss the Bed on the First Jump and Chelsea Handler’s Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea, Daytime Emmy-winner Tom Bergeron—host of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars and America’s Funniest Home Videos—offers a series of humorous and inspirational stories on surviving Hollywood, including behind-the-camera stories with A-list celebrities.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Memoir, Autobiography, Biography Memoir, Humor, Tv

260 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 7, 2009

About the author

Tom Bergeron was 17 when he became the youngest DJ ever at WHAV Radio, the local radio station in his hometown of Haverhill, Massachusetts. He worked his way up in radio and soon found himself hosting his own show, The Tom Bergeron Show, a late-night talk-comedy show that tripled ratings for the New Hampshire station on which it aired. In 1982 Bergeron added television to his plate, while still hosting his New Hampshire radio broadcast; he was the host of the Emmy Award–winning magazine series Super Kids at WBZ-TV Boston.

The success of Super Kids earned Bergeron other hosting duties at the station, including the daily broadcast of 4 Today and the Emmy Award–winning children's series Rap Around. In 1987 he was tapped to host People Are Talking, the station's popular morning series, where he remained for the next six years. While he was on the show, Bergeron also began the city's top morning radio show on WBZ-AM in 1990. In 1993 he made the leap from local to national television as host of upstart cable network FX's Breakfast Time. His sardonic humor and anything-goes approach made him an instant hit with viewers.

Two years later, the series moved over to the Fox Broadcast network and changed to Fox After Breakfast, reaching an even larger audience. Bergeron proved up to the challenge, and following his stint with Fox, he served as a guest anchor of Good Morning America. Executive producers for Hollywood Squares tapped Bergeron as the new host of the show, following an exhaustive search for someone with the right combination of wit, charm, and patience—after all, keeping nine laugh-grabbing celebrities in line isn't for the faint of heart. Bergeron nabbed the 2000 Daytime Emmy award for Outstanding Game Show Host, an honor he shared with Bob Barker. Amidst all the congratulations for his win, Bergeron added his usual comic spin: "I don't know who the judges were or what they were drinking."

Bergeron is also host of other widely watched television shows, such as America's Funniest Home Videos, parlaying what began as a half-season gig into a four-year stint, and also of the Discovery Channel’s Green Planet: Supper Club. As he sees it, "It's like I get to oversee a video buffet, where people can go several times an hour and be guaranteed a good laugh," he says. "How many places on TV can you go where that's still true?" In addition to that job, he is the host of ABC's hit Dancing with the Stars.

Bergeron now lives in Los Angeles and Greenwich, Connecticut, with his wife and two daughters.

Reviews

[Koren · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boring, boring, boring. This was first I did this and then I did that. The humor does not translate well to the printed page. I was looking forward to reading behind the scenes at Hollywood Squares and Dancing With The Stars but there isnt really anything interesting here.

[Jenni V. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wondered if a biography from 2009 would hold up when it's about somebody still alive and active but it was funny and still interesting even though some of the information was outdated.

Best out-of-context line: "So, not being crazy, I instead went off by myself to study mime in a converted barn in the Maine woods."

Quote from the Book
"Live television, like life itself, gives you only one shot. It's a good idea to pay attention."

Find all my reviews at: https://readingatrandom.blogspot.com

[Christi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I should probably disclose that I attended a wedding about 15 years ago and Tom Bergeron was seated at my table. I found him to be witty, down to earth and very likeable. His book is much the same. His quick off the cuff quips are what makes Dancing with the Stars so fun. Terrific to read about a "celebrity" who isn't in rehab, on wife #6 or disfigured by plastic surgery.

[Carol Nusko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Candid and entertaining

The main reason I ever watched Dancing with the Stars was to watch Tom Bergeron. His total ease on live television and his quick wit are a total pleasure. His book has given me a view of how those qualities developed. I always thought spending personal time with Tom would be entertaining; this book gave me the conviction that I'm right and even though it wasn't in person, I have indeed spent an entertaining time with Tom. Well done, sir and thank you!

[Beverly Hollandbeck · Rating 4 out of 5]

You might call reading this celebrity bio a guilty pleasure; OK, but change it to guilty delight. Who doesn't love Tom Bergeron? And it is great to learn that he is a family man with a long marriage who tells comedy writers up front that he absolutely will not do jokes that make fun of his wife or children. In his writing, he comes across as the witty, self-deprecating man that he presents to the public in his hosting duties--just a nice person.

[Carrie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I listen to this book on a 28 hour cross country drive. Not sure it would have been worth it any other way but I was desperate for something. The humor falls a little bit flat. And there is not as much about dancing with the Stars in it as I might have wanted but it's interesting if you have nothing else to listen to or read nonetheless.

[Sandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like Tom Bergeron, you'll like this read. Next to Cat Deely, he's my favorite host. I watch Dancing With the Stars just because he hosts it. If he didn't, I probably wouldn't bother with the show. Humorous read.

[Dennis Koers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the person he appears to be.

Very enjoyable book. The anecdotes were great. Never knew much about but a multi faceted entertainer. I guess staying sane in Hollywood means not living there....

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. Tom Bergeron's humor comes through in every page. I enjoy seeing him hosting Dancing With the Stars but I think I enjoy seeing him even more after reading this book. He's funny, humble, a family man, and a long term survivor of Hollywood. Highly recommended.

[Christina Haas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A witty and unexpected read - Tom Bergeron shares how much of his success comes from meditating and gives us a lot of fun and exciting story behind that practice. Highly recommend reading for anyone needing a good laugh and some learning at the same time.

[Mike Ouimette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable

Totally enjoyable, interesting and funny. A quick read as any book I can remember. I didn't want to put it down! Highly recommended to anyone who likes watching television.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a great read and Tom writes with such a sense of humor.

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still pretty popcorny (it's what I need right now) but really interesting (Tom's had a weird life even for a TV host) and with some good solid advice on surviving life at the heart of it.

[Patricia K. Del Vacchio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast and witty

I enjoyed the writing, learning about the man, and had plenty of chuckles to the end. It was fun to read.

[Martha Fiorentini · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read since I live in Tom Bergeron's hometown and have met him several times.
I learned a lot about the steps in his career and also the power of meditation.

[Shelley Wildgrube · Rating 2 out of 5]

A couple of semi-amusing anecdotes in this autobiography of the rise of his career.I picked this up at a library book sale and I am a fan of DWTS. For me it was just ok.

[Gary Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed it very much.

[Cathy Hable · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super fun. Light-hearted and easy. (A few swear words.) Made me want to go back and watch old episodes of AFV from when he was hosting. He's a funny guy!

[Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a fan. A very entertaining book. Light, easy reading.

[Chloe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genuinely it is so wild reading this in 2023 when in 2008 Tom was like “maybe DWTS will last 5 years” like so much has happened

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tom Bergeron seems like a decent, kind, clever man, and a great ad libber, as host of Dancing with the Stars, and this biography confirms the impression. it also reveals the secret of Bergeron's abilities as a host--meditation. (Who would have thunk it?) If you like Bergeron, DWTS, or his other hosting gigs, inside stories, or just good showbiz bios, this book will entertain you.

[Leslie Fuller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unassuming funny man.

Tom Bergeron comes across as someone of humor who is semi-amazed at his own successes over the years. Great insight into how a desire to be on the radio as a young teen turned into a life of varied jobs in the entertainment industry. His self deprecation style of humor is fun to read.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Breezy, funny recap of his career as an actor, radio DJ, local TV talk show host, Hollywood Squares host, America's Funniest Home Videos host, and Dancing with the Stars host. Funny guy and seemingly nice. Devoted to his wife and two daughters--includes cute anecdotes about things like drawing cartoons for the girls starring them when they were little.

To the extent that you can say a chatty book like this has themes, a couple would be:

(a) role of serendipity in career development -- if I hadn't met so-and-so I wouldn't have gotten opportunity X, and if I hadn't agreed to jump in a big vat of orange juice, then.............

(b) effect of his long-term practice of transcendental meditation in helping him tame an anger management problem and become focused enough to thrive on spontaneity of live TV.

If you don't watch any of his shows, it's doubtful you'd get much out of reading the book. But if you do, and like his TV persona, the book is fun in terms of filling in some of the biographical back story.

[Lil Old Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tom Bergeron is one of those people who I love to watch on TV. Sweet, engaging, and an excellent TV host, he is able to embrace the silliness and cheesiness of some of the shows he is on (cough cough dancing with the stars cough), and yet he's witty, thinks fast on his feet, and always emotionally present for the contestants when they need him to be. So I was looking forward to reading this memoir, and I was not disappointed. It had all the charm and laughs that Tom brings to his shows, plus some interesting revelations into his character, and some life lessons along the way. I wish he had talked about his childhood, his parents, and his wife and children a bit more, as this memoir was more focused on his career and how he got to be where he is now.

[Jennifer Pusey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found this audio book while browsing the online library and couldn't stop myself from listening. I must confess that I am fan of DWTS (haven't missed a season!) and my family mourns the change on AFV from host Tom Bergeron to Alfonso Ribeiro (sorry, Alfonso - at least you aren't Bob Saget). It's nice to hear about someone in Hollywood who has a lasting marriage and two daughters that he made top priority in his life. Not sure if everyone would give it 4 stars. I graduated with a B.A. in film so I may be more interested in the workings behind the camera than the average person. I do have to warn you that Tom has a bit of a mouth and there is some swearing (including a few F-words) so you won't want to listen to this one during the kid's carpool.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe 3 1/2, this was a fun read, (other than the language - he has quite the mouth!) I was happy to learn more about this Hollywood icon, his interesting background, his more than 25 year so far marriage, how he uses meditation on a daily basis to help him stay grounded, his candid frankness about his weaknesses and challenges. It was also fun to hear how he rubs shoulders with the famous, but doesn't consider himself one of them, but many of them are still his best friends...huh.

The best part of "reading" this book was LISTENING to HIM read it, (the audiobook) as his reading it infused even more of his personality into it. Loved that.

[Stefanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy, breezy, entertaining read, with a good message telegraphed by the title: How does one maintain an attitude of zen in this crazy world? What's interesting is how impersonal this book is: Tom focuses on his career, giving just the bare minimum peek at his private life (notable restraint for someone in "the biz"). He gives credit where it's due and takes hits where they're warranted too (Emmy hosting, anyone?). If we all went through life learning the lessons provided (rather than fighting the universe every step of the way for what we think we want), we might be happier.

[W. Frazier · Rating 3 out of 5]

In a light easy read, Tom Bergeron writes about his journey in becoming a successful television host. His stints have included America's Funniest Home Videos and Dancing with the Stars. It's a resume filled with determination, luck, and networking -- partnered with a tough skin and a little ego. His anecdotes give a very honest view of what it takes to break into Hollywood. Bergeron narrates his own audio book and it's a comfortable and welcome format. The writing style is crisp and clear, and Bergeron relates well with his audience.

[Marina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always like Tom Bergeron way back from his hosting stint on fX's Breakfast Time. Not much was said about that but that's ok. I liked following his career path and he didn't spend a lot of time on anything which I think is part of a good memoir--not getting too bogged down in one part that you get bored with it. I'm glad I read it and it's always a lot of fun to get some insider tidbits on shows you've seen.

[Christopher Obert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a remarkable autobiography written by Tom Bergeron. Tom not only tells us his story, he takes us into his home. The book is warm and welcoming and is a pleasant read. It begins with Tom’s first job working at WHAV in Haverhill, Massachusetts and brings us all the way up to Dancing with the Stars in Hollywood. What happens in between is the bulk of Tom’s story, the jobs, the people and the places that have influenced Tom’s life and career. Two thumbs up!