For months, Americans looked to Drs. Anthony Fauci and Deborah Birx, as well as the rest of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, to guide them in the right direction. After all, we're in unchartered territory. We're dealing with a virus we don't know much about, except that it's highly contagious. The same principles have been hammered time and time again: practice social distancing, wash your hands frequently, stay home when you're sick and wear a face mask if you have to be out in public.
Apparently, TV execs were impressed with Dr. Fauci. It's why producers wanted the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to be on "Dancing with the Stars."
"Dr. Fauci has become a national hero in the last few months, leading the charge for keeping Americans safe at the height of COVID-19. He became not only one of our most trusted faces on television, but also a man viewers looked to as an inspiration. And, of course, he could be good for ratings. Like Sean Spicer, he is a lightning rod," a show source told the Daily Mail. "So it was a natural step for show executives to reach out to him. Obviously they are aware that he has work responsibilities, but given that the show is likely to be recorded remotely it allows him the opportunity to train and dance in Washington."
Producers made an informal ask, but Fauci, 79, has no interest.
"Dr. Fauci has not received a formal invitation from Dancing with the Stars," a spokesperson at NIAID told the Daily Mail. "Dr. Fauci, while flattered, would respectfully decline."
It will be interesting to see how the show is filmed because of the coronavirus pandemic. ABC is expected to make a decision in the next few weeks about how to record the show, which is typically done with a live audience. The debate is currently over whether judges will be connected remotely or whether they will all gather in one studio but maintain social distancing.