http://www.jaxobserver.com/201…..mack-ever/

Tom Bergeron’s working his acting chops on the set of “Castle” this week in an episode that, as he puts it, “takes a page out of the whole Conan O’Brien-Jay Leno imbroglio” — with Bergeron playing the host of an 11:30 comedy and talk show “who believes that the guy with the 12:30 show is gunning for him.”

The back story on how the “Dancing With the Stars” and “America’s Funniest Videos” host wound up on “Castle” is as much fun as the episode sounds like it will be. Tom reminds that “DWTS” is the lead-in show for “Castle,” and that stars Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic have been in the audience of the live dance competition to promote their series. Bergeron’s become friendly with them. “I told Nathan I was a fan of ‘Firefly’ and introduced him to my wife,” he tells us.

“Independent of that, I ran into Jonathan Frakes and Genie Francis at the Starbucks near my house just about two weeks ago, after not having seen them for a couple of years. I told them I’d recommended them to our ‘Dancing With the Stars’ casting people because with Jonathan’s sci-fi background and Genie’s in soaps, they bring in two different fan bases.

“Then Jonathan said, ‘I can do you one better. I’ve been directing ‘Castle,’ and I’ve recommended you to the producers for an acting role.’”

One call led to another — ABC head honcho Steve McPherson was quick to get on board — and Bergeron wound up center stage in the episode, airing April 12, called “The Late Shaft,” with Fred Willard as his sidekick, and Bill Bellamy as his rival. Not only that, but all this camaraderie and mutual admiration has led to Bergeron serving as host of “An Evening With Castle” with the producers and cast tonight (3/16) at the Paley Center for Media in L.A. He’ll finish shooting his scenes as late-night comic Bobby Mann on Thursday (3/18), then go right into preps for the new “DWTS” season launch Monday (3/22).

Awesome story! Thanks for sharing!

MacLane79 said:

Yeah I noticed Jonathan Frakes had directed on Castle…and The Librarian.  Rene Echevarria (sorry..I know I just messed up the spelling) was also involved with Star Trek.  Definitely a small world.
Oh and Robert Picardo – who plays the Dr that Castle knows who looked into Beckett's mum's murder..was the EMH on ST:Voyager.  
(yeah I know kinda all of subject – but within the whole..it's a small world category)
 
Castle really is doing so amazingly well and climbing in the ranks of known shows. It's awesome the guest appearances they've had on there. They will only keep going up in popularity I'm sure.  Go Castle!

More importantly, people who have been on the show and have met both Stana and Nathan have nothing but great things to say about the show and the people involved on the show. More than anything, that really counts the most.

Thank you for posting this! Awesome story! I hope Nathan and Stana will be at DWTS again this season.