Tom Bergeron expects to touch down in Washington, D.C., today, July 1, to start the whirlwind of activities leading up to his hosting of this year's "A Capitol Fourth" gargantuan Independence Day concert on PBS. "I'll do some satellite TV interviews alongside Kermit the Frog on the 2nd," he reports, speaking of the greenest member of his talent line-up. "On the 3rd we do a dress rehearsal to which the public is invited, which is the whole show except the fireworks. And on the 4th of July, obviously, we do the live show."

Bergeron credits the "Capitol Fourth" team for doing "all the heavy lifting, all the hard work" in preparing the concert that's beamed around the globe each year. This year, the affable "Dancing With the Stars" and "Funniest Home Videos" host will be joined by Frankie Valli, Patti LaBelle, Phillip Phillips, Jordin Sparks, Michael McDonald, Sara Evans, Kendall Schmidt, Kelli O'Hara, the National Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Jack Everly — and John Williams in a special tribute to the National Anthem — plus The Muppets' Miss Piggy as well as Kermit.

"There are so many lures involved in doing this. The fact that it's live TV is certainly one. The fact that it is America's premiere birthday party on PBS is another," Bergeron says.

When the party is through, Bergeron and wife Lois will be taking a vacation on the West Coast for three weeks, and then he will shoot his final season of "America's Funniest Videos." He announced earlier this year that he was going to call it a wrap as host of the show that, as he's pointed out, often revolves around someone taking a hit to the head, gut or groin. His feelings about ending his run now?

"Well, you know, it was my decision," he says. "It's the show's 25th year. It will be my 15th year hosting, and it just felt like a good time to, as I've said, pass the pinata stick to somebody else." As for who will be the new host, he says, "I'm hoping that will be part of what plays out during the season. They'll be auditioning people, some tongue-in-cheek and some legitimately."

Then it will be on to season 19 of "Dancing With the Stars" — coming off one of its best and best-rated seasons in recent years. The team is still enjoying the afterglow of viewer adoration for winners Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Meryl Davis, and for dazzling Paralympian Amy Purdy. "There were a number of other elements that people brought to their hearts this season, but I think those two were the key," Bergeron says.

He does hear rumblings about celebrities who may become contenders for next season, but "I always play dumb," he admits. "It's always better to unveil them all at once if possible. In late August, I imagine, we'll announce the new cast. And they'll have about three weeks to rehearse and get ready. Typically, it's the middle of September that we premiere."

When it comes to celebrities he'd like to see on "DWTS," Bergeron thinks of "a friend of mine who I've often cited — he'll never do it — William Shatner. I thought he would be great. He has said he's willing to be a guest judge, but he's not willing to put himself through all that hassle of actually competing. I can understand why. It becomes all-consuming, and more so as you get deeper into the run of the season because you're doing more dances and it takes more of your time and commitment. But he'd be a riot."

How about a Shatner guesting on "America's Funniest Videos"?

"I would love to have him," says Bergeron. "The stage we're on is right next to where 'Boston Legal' used to shoot, so he's familiar with the neighborhood."

ON THE PERSONAL SIDE: Phillip P. Keene — that's hunky surveillance expert Buzz Watson to fans of "The Closer" and "Major Crimes" — plays things close to the chest when it comes to divulging what is ahead for his hugely popular TV homicide investigating team. As the current season continues to unspool on TNT, "I can say we will see dead people," he notes playfully.

The actor and former Pan Am flight attendant also plays things close to the chest when it comes to chatting about his work life at home and vice-versa. "It works out best that way," he says — especially since his husband happens to be show creator/executive producer James Duff. They've been together for 21 years.

"I have an interesting position here, being one of the cast members and also being so close to one of the executive producers and creators of the show. I'm one of the godfathers to other creators' children. I've got to walk pretty nimbly," he notes. "I really do try to keep things as separate as I possibly can."

How does that work? Well, some cast matters never leave the soundstage — not with Keene, anyway — according to him. Duff, meanwhile, "is in the office most of the time, not down on the set," Keene points out. "When it's time to be at home together, we give each other space. There are a lot of ways. Sometimes he'll start conversations on the telephone, and I'll just walk away. If I don't see it, I don't know about it, I can't talk about it."

At this point, such I-know-nothing moments are second nature for the affable actor — after seven seasons of "The Closer" and three of "Major Crimes."

He's enjoying his gig as much as ever, even after 10 years. "I guess the best part for me is I get to stay and play with the people I like being around," he says. "We've really bonded as a family unit."