Tom Bergeron's hosting a new dance competition ... though the new contestants are a whole lot more dangerous than your average group of celebrities -- these are some of the ocean's most dangerous predators.
The former "Dancing with the Stars" host joined us on "TMZ Live" Friday to discuss his new show for Shark Week titled "Dancing with Sharks" ... where professional shark handlers are training with a choreographer, hopping in the water and teaching the animals how to boogie!
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Bergeron jokes sharks like to lead -- after all, they're some of the scariest fish out there, so they certainly ain't afraid to forge their own paths -- but, he adds, it's pretty safe ... 'cause the shark handlers have worked with creatures like these for years and know what to do.
Wildlife biologist Forrest Galante is literally diving into the unknown to explore bizarre and rare sharks -- and while the potential danger is high, he says the never-before-seen footage they captured makes it all worth it for him.
That video will be front and center next week for Discovery's "Shark Week," and Forrest joined us Friday on "TMZ Live" to give us a peek at what he found off the coast of South Africa ... including some frisky, and violent mating habits.
Forrest's special is called, "Alien Sharks: Strange New Worlds" ... and he says it shines a light on sharks that don't get the publicity of great whites, hammerheads and tiger sharks.
While he swears most of the sharks in our vast, mostly unexplored oceans are harmless, he admits humans truly don't know what all is down there -- which, frankly, sounds pretty scary.
There's a happy ending here though -- Forrest and the Discovery crew came back to the surface with some historic footage ... pyjama sharks having sex on camera!!!
Tiffany Haddish got an up close look at tiger sharks mating for "Shark Week," and she says the experience is gonna stick with her for a long time ... and she might need therapy.
Tiff joined us on "TMZ Live" Friday and told us about her deep dive into shark reproduction ... with a fun lesson on why female sharks have two uteruses and male sharks have two penises.
There's a future in marine biology for Tiffany if she wants it -- she says she was hardly afraid as she swam with the man-eating sharks, performing ultrasounds to look for babies. She tried to blow off the fear, telling us it was no worse than anything she faced growing up.
It's pretty interesting, and graphic ... Tiffany says she got to see the sharks having sex. There's lots of thrashing and wrestling moves involved, and Tiffany says she sympathized with the female sharks.
Tiffany's shark adventure airs Sunday at 9 PM ET on Discovery and Discovery+ and she's not the only celeb getting in on the "Shark Week" fun ... Brad Paisley, William Shatner, Snoop Dogg, Eli Roth, Ian Zeiring, Tara Reid and the 'Jackass' stars are also involved.
"Jackass" is jumping the shark -- like, for real -- by joining Discovery Channel's "Shark Week" spectacle, and based on this first look ... we'd say someone's bitten off more than they can chew.
Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Chris Pontius and a couple new jackasses are returning to TV later this month for the "Jackass Shark Week Special," and as you can see ... they are up to their same old antics.
Steve-O's said the guys "went all out" for the special, adding "there were consequences" for doing so, and based on our sneak peek, those consequences were pretty severe.
Check it out ... a new 'Jackass' member named "Poopies" appears to get attacked by a shark after a jump attempt. Someone's heard yelling for medical assistance and a tourniquet as the teaser ends.
Yikes.
The special is set for the first day of Discovery's Shark Week 2021 ... July 11 at 10 PM ET/PT. No word if there will be any mention of another terrifying beast -- Steve-O's Bigfoot suit made out of pubic hair.
It's that time again, "Shark Week," and Discovery is rolling it out ... and we got this promo that's absolutely hilarious!!!
The video starts out with a couple old ladies sitting on a park bench while feeding some birds, with one gal trying to tell her friend her favorite thing about summer.
The friend's hard of hearing, naturally, but she gets the picture soon enough ... when a huge shark comes crashing through the lawn!!!
Discovery is bringing back "Shark Week" Sunday, July 11 ... and we're all just as stoked as these old ladies. We're guessing one of them will be watching with closed captioning.
"Shark Week" is airing on Discovery and streaming on Discovery+ ... and you know it's gonna be enjoyable, fun and educational.
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Remember ... last year we found out why male sharks have two penises, so we can't wait to see what's in store for this season.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer's love of Shark Week could not be contained -- even as she was about to speak to the DNC -- and now she's got a new catchphrase with some bite ... with the Discovery Channel's stamp of approval!
The Guv was about to deliver her live speech Monday night in support of Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee for president when she decided to let her Shark Week flag fly, saying ... "It's not just Shark Week, it's Shark week *mouths expletive for 'mother f*****s'*"
Her joke drew big laughs from the room as she acknowledged she knew her mic was on. The way it seems to us ... she was warming up the crowd -- comprised mostly of auto workers -- and it worked.
The moment didn't air on live TV ... but thanks to the magic of live streaming, it's gone viral, already garnering merchandise production in her home state.
Not only has the Governor's remark resonated with Shark Week fans and her constituents, but our sources at Discovery tell us the channel is thrilled at Gretchen's hot mic moment.
Of course, Shark Week 2020 just ended ... but it's never too early to hype up 2021.
Here's "Iron" Mike Tyson tossing a steel cage around an L.A. beach this week like it's a toy ... and it's pretty fun to watch!!
Unclear why Mike hit the sand ... but it's all obviously part of a larger production -- hence the video cameras and crew members (all of whom were wearing masks btw, so props on that!).
In addition to the cage flip, Tyson was also spotted carrying buckets of bloody fish, tossing life rafts and wearing snorkeling equipment.
Tyson just turned 54 years old this week ... and has said he wants to get back in the ring for some exhibition boxing matches -- but so far, nothing's a done deal.
The boxing legend told us he'd even be down to take on his old rival Evander Holyfield (who's also training for a comeback) but only if they could raise a bunch of money for charity.
"That would be awesome for charity," Tyson told us back in May ... "Can you imagine me and him going in the ring together?"
Tyson is also the focus of an upcoming movie -- with Jamie Foxx playing the boxer ... and he's already transforming his body into fighting shape.
Here's a fun fact Mike Myers will love ... male sharks have 2 PENISES ... count 'em, TWO!!!
Yes, it's a true scientific fact male sharks are blessed with two members ... and the reasons behind the double dongs are gonna be explored by Discovery Channel when "Shark Week" returns next month.
To get us ready for "Shark Week" and the two-penis episode, Discovery's coming in hot with this hilarious ad ... and ya gotta check it out, because it's straight outta Mike's playbook.
If you've ever seen "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me," the shark penis jokes should ring a bell ... and they're still funny, even 21 years later.
Quick science lesson ... male sharks have 2 penises, which are really just 2 grooved organs used to deposit sperm in the genital ducts of a sexually receptive female shark.
The organs are developed alongside the inner part of the shark's pelvic fin, and because there are 2 pelvic fins, there are 2 penises. Oh, and they only use one at a time.
Shark Week runs from Sunday, August 9-16 with more than 20 hours of shark programming through the week. The event will take viewers to oceans around the world to learn about the awesome creatures.
And, if the penis teaser is any hint, Discovery's right ... there's still A LOT you don't know.
Michael Phelps isn't taking a shred of blame for viewers' disappointment over him not racing an actual great white shark, and says he stands by the "incredible" made-for-TV event.
The 23-time Olympic gold medal winner opened himself up to his critics on Facebook and addressed the backlash from his Discovery Channel special. You'll recall, no doubt, Phelps lost to the shark ... but it was a CGI shark.
Phelps claims everyone involved in the man vs. beast production made it very clear what the "race" would entail, but people chose not to listen and now they're hatin' ... which he calls "shocking."
Speaking of shocking -- Michael didn't race a real shark, but REALLY did swim in 53 degree water!
