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Actor and TV host Alfonso Ribeiro, 51, hopes to bring the nation together when he leads PBS’s annual A Capitol Fourth celebration, which will include performances by Chicago, Boyz II Men,
Belinda Carlisle, Babyface, Renée Fleming and the National Symphony Orchestra. “It’s really an honor for me to do A Capitol Fourth with all of those incredible artists and the fireworks in
D.C. I truly believe it’s a time in our country where we need to look at the things that we are alike in and not our differences,” says Ribeiro. “What better place to do that than in D.C.?”
In addition to A Capitol Fourth, you host both America’s Funniest Home Videos and Dancing With the Stars. What’s your secret to being a good host?
Be yourself. It’s about personality and having fun and being light and being loose. You’re also a director on the floor. You have a director in the booth and you have a director on the
floor, and the director on the floor is your host. And because I’ve spent so many years directing television shows, I understand what the job really is and what it’s supposed to be. I get
out of my own way and allow it to happen. There are going to be things, especially in live television, that you can’t control. You’ve got to go with it. Those are some of the best
moments.
Ribeiro was the celebrity winner on ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Season 19 and is now host of the show. Adam Taylor/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images
How do you typically celebrate July 4th?
We’ve done different things. My golf club here in L.A. typically would have big fireworks and a party on the 4th of July. Years ago we’d go to that. The last few years we’ve been up in Lake
Tahoe for the American Century Golf Tournament. We would go up there and we would go out on a boat and watch the fireworks, which has been fantastic.
Nothing says July 4 like a barbecue. Are you a hamburger or hot dog guy? Toppings?
I love a good barbecue. I am always a burger guy. I am only ketchup — I do not like mustard at all. I don’t know why. I never have and never will. I’m pretty plain, just cheese. If I get
fancy, I’ll throw some bacon on there, maybe some avocado, but it’s really just a basic burger.