Tom Bergeron, the original host of Dancing With the Stars, will reappear on the ABC ballroom series as a guest judge for its 20th‑anniversary special on Tuesday, Nov. 11. Bergeron, who led the show from its 2005 launch until his departure in 2020, told Good Morning America he is pleased to be back and looking forward to the taping. His return comes five years after a public disagreement over the casting of Season 28 that preceded his exit. Producers have positioned the appearance as a one‑off celebration of the program’s two‑decade run.
Key Takeaways
- Tom Bergeron will serve as a guest judge for DWTS’s 20th‑anniversary special on Nov. 11, 2025.
- Bergeron hosted Dancing With the Stars from the series premiere in 2005 through his final season in 2020, a 15‑year run.
- His 2020 departure followed public criticism he made after producers cast former White House press secretary Sean Spicer on Season 28 in 2020.
- Bergeron told Good Morning America he is “really looking forward” to returning and that the reunion feels positive.
- He has said he raised concerns with showrunners in 2019 about keeping the series apolitical and providing a weekly escape during a divisive election year.
- After Bergeron’s exit, co‑host Erin Andrews also left the show and Tyra Banks succeeded as host in 2020.
- Producers framed the Nov. 11 special as a milestone event; Bergeron’s participation signals a reconciliation for the anniversary format.
Background
Since its debut in 2005, Dancing With the Stars has been a staple of network reality programming, pairing celebrities with professional dancers in a televised competition that emphasizes entertainment and spectacle. Tom Bergeron, known for his affable, comedic hosting style, became synonymous with the program’s tone and was a central presence for viewers across 15 seasons. The show has periodically courted controversy by blending pop‑culture casting choices with attempts to generate ratings momentum.
In 2019 producers and Bergeron reportedly discussed the upcoming Season 28 lineup, with Bergeron urging that the series remain a respite from political rancor during the 2020 election cycle. When the show cast Sean Spicer, then the former White House press secretary, Bergeron issued a statement criticizing that choice without naming individuals or political parties, saying it conflicted with the earlier conversation. He later characterized the casting decision as a breach of trust that contributed to his exit in 2020.
Main Event
On Nov. 11, 2025, ABC will air a 20th‑anniversary special for Dancing With the Stars that includes former host Tom Bergeron as a guest judge. Producers announced Bergeron’s participation ahead of the broadcast, framing it as part of a celebratory lineup of past cast and crew. Bergeron told Good Morning America that returning to the franchise feels good and expressed enthusiasm about taking part in the milestone program.
Bergeron’s role for the special is limited to a guest judging slot rather than a restoration to full‑time hosting duties. Industry coverage indicates the appearance is intended to honor the show’s history rather than signal a change in the current hosting structure. After Bergeron’s departure in 2020, Tyra Banks took the on‑air hosting reins; producers have not indicated any long‑term hosting changes accompanying the anniversary special.
In recounting the events that preceded his 2020 exit, Bergeron has described private conversations with showrunners in 2019 in which he urged caution about potentially polarizing contestants. He has said producers later informed him they intended to book a high‑profile political figure, which he publicly questioned at the time. That dispute culminated in Bergeron’s statement and subsequent departure; he says producers offered to release him from his contract after he proposed stepping away for the season.
Analysis & Implications
Bergeron’s return for a single episode is symbolically significant: it acknowledges his long tenure and the show’s effort to celebrate continuity even after moments of controversy. For viewers who associated Bergeron with DWTS’s early identity, his presence may reinforce the special’s nostalgic framing and lend credibility to the anniversary production. Networks often deploy legacy figures in milestone programming to boost audience interest and signal institutional memory.
From a production standpoint, a guest appearance minimizes operational risk while maximizing publicity. Bergeron’s participation does not alter the current hosting lineup, but it provides a way for producers to engage lapsed viewers and generate media coverage without committing to a permanent personnel change. That tactical flexibility can help ABC manage short‑term ratings objectives while maintaining long‑term brand strategy.
Politically, the reunion is unlikely to erase the underlying tensions that led to Bergeron’s 2020 exit, but it does illustrate how entertainment programs sometimes compartmentalize political controversy for anniversary narratives. Bergeron’s prior objection to casting a politically affiliated contestant reflected broader debates about the intersection of politics and entertainment programming during a fraught election cycle; the anniversary special is being presented as an occasion to emphasize the show’s entertainment mission over political controversy.
Comparison & Data
| Host | Role | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Tom Bergeron | Primary host | 2005–2020 (15 years) |
| Erin Andrews | Co‑host | Departed after 2020 season |
| Tyra Banks | Host (succeeded Bergeron) | Assumed hosting duties in 2020 |
The table highlights tenure milestones: Bergeron’s 15‑year run stands out in the program’s history and explains why producers invited him back for the 20th anniversary. Anniversary specials typically yield short‑term spikes in viewership; producers likely view Bergeron’s cameo as a measured way to capture both nostalgia and news coverage.
Reactions & Quotes
Bergeron’s public remarks to national media framed the return as positive and personal. He focused on anticipation for a single celebratory appearance rather than on past disputes.
“It feels really good. I’m really looking forward to it.”
Tom Bergeron, Good Morning America
When discussing his 2019 conversations with showrunners, Bergeron described urging producers to avoid politicized casting during an election year and expressed frustration when the show later booked a controversial figure.
“I said, ‘Just nobody, of any party, don’t go there—make us the wonderful escape from all that divisiveness.'”
Tom Bergeron, recollection on past meetings
Bergeron also explained that after he voiced objections and released a general statement, producers ultimately offered to let him out of his contract—an exchange he characterizes as the practical end of his full‑time hosting role.
Unconfirmed
- There is no official confirmation that Bergeron will have any recurring role beyond the Nov. 11 anniversary special.
- It has not been publicly confirmed whether producers reached out to Bergeron first or whether discussions were reinitiated by Bergeron’s team.
- Predicted audience or ratings impacts from his cameo remain speculative until overnight viewing figures are reported.
Bottom Line
Tom Bergeron’s appearance on the Nov. 11, 2025 20th‑anniversary special is a carefully framed reunion that recognizes his 15 years as the show’s original host while stopping short of a full reconciliation into the hosting roster. The cameo serves promotional and nostalgic purposes: it honors the program’s history and creates a media moment around the milestone broadcast.
Observers should watch how the special is received in overnight ratings and social media discussion; positive audience response could encourage similar legacy cameos in future milestone programming, while muted reaction would likely keep the arrangement a one‑off. For viewers and industry observers, Bergeron’s return underscores how long‑running entertainment franchises manage past controversies while leveraging familiar personalities for milestone storytelling.