One thing that hasn't changed in Bruno Tonioli's decades of experience on reality television is his drive to have a good time.
Drinking wine at a Tuscan villa was all the choreographer, 70, has his sights set on when he decided to join the cast of Hulu's new celebrity game show "The Mob" (Mondays on Hulu), which features a group of famous faces competing in mob-inspired jobs for up to $250,000 in cash prizes. Imagine his surprise when Tonioli, an Italian native, realized it wasn't just a vacation back to his home country.
"On the first day of filming, all of a sudden we were put in the back of a van, no windows, driving for 45 minutes. I opened the door in a car park that could have been in The Valley," he tells USA TODAY. "I thought, 'What is
going on?' I really had a laugh, but I had a good time."
It's that same energy Tonioli has brought to his role as a judge on "Strictly Come Dancing," "Britain's Got Talent" and his current, longest-running gig, "Dancing with the Stars" (Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and Disney+). He has been on the series since its debut in 2005, and since then, his fundamental goal has been "to entertain."
"I always try, when I make a point, to paint a very clear picture, and if I can get a laugh, that is a bonus," he quips.
Below, Tonioli opens up to USA TODAY about stepping out of his comfort zone on "The Mob," teases which reality show he wants to do next and reveals his secret to judging on "Dancing with the Stars."
Questions and answers have been edited for length and clarity.
Question: "The Mob" is so different from the type of reality TV fans are used to seeing you do. What made you want to say yes to the opportunity?
Everybody kept saying to me, "You should do all these things," and I thought, "I don't know." I'm so used to doing "Dancing with the Stars" and "Britain's Got Talent" and "Strictly Come Dancing." But when they showed me pictures of the location in Chianti, Italy, I said, "Oh, I'm in." You can't turn this down. I knew the team because it's Disney [owned], so it felt like home, really. And I haven't been to that part of Italy for a very long time. So I told myself, "Come on, do something else," and I decided to do it.
What was your reaction to being the second player whacked from the game?
After the first day, I thought, "They're gonna get rid of me." Demi Engemann and I got a little bit too strong in retrospect, attracting too much attention, and I thought I was gonna go immediately. The first people you get rid of are your strongest competitors. I didn't strategize and it was my mistake. I should have spent more time really thinking, being less spontaneous … but that is not my nature. I just went with the flow.
Would you do more competition reality shows like this?
I would host it if they offered it to me, but I don't know as a competitor. You have to try everything, and I've done it. If Alan Cumming has a day off on "The Traitors," I'm very happy to cover for him.
Which of your fellow cast members from "The Mob" would you nominate to be on "Dancing with the Stars"?
Well, I think most of them already have [competed], but I think Demi would do very well. So would Debi Mazar. But Demi could do well, and I'd be totally impartial. She won't get a free ride.
As an original judge on "Dancing with the Stars," how have you seen the show evolve into what it is now?
It is becoming bigger and more competitive. It's now like the Super Bowl of dance. We have really raised the standard very, very high. The judges are more and more demanding, the pros are more creative. We've all worked very hard to really up the ante every season, and it works. It's one of the only shows that brings you that incredibly vibrant, big, spectacular, old school Hollywood energy, but is still done in a contemporary way.
Why do you think the "DWTS" fanbase has remained so strong over two decades?
There are basically three generations watching, and we evolve with them. Even the way I judge, the way people danced in the first season compared to now, it is almost like a sport. But it still has the same beating heart, and that's what people respond to because they know us. We're all in it together to give the best possible show to the audience.
How would you describe your judging style?
We all are more meticulous in detail. We are much tougher, because the pros and celebrities are so good. So you really have to watch for every tiny mistake, misplacement, technical fault. I will never say that I'm right or I'm wrong – I can agree to disagree – but hopefully I can make a point that people can see. My approach has always been like I am speaking to my friends, trying to entertain them and then I make some points that they can identify [with].
Is there anything "Dancing with the Stars" doesn't do anymore that you would like to bring back from past seasons?
The results show because then all the nation will get to vote. We used to have these great big-production group numbers, which I love, because our pros are absolutely incredible dancers. To me, that gave them a chance to shine. Then we always had a judges' favorite and the audience's favorite, and people would relax a little bit more. Obviously the show had the elimination, but it gave a bit of more breathing space.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bruno Tonioli dishes on 'The Mob' regrets, 'DWTS' judging secrets | Exclusive
