Lead
Tom Bergeron made a surprise return to the Dancing With the Stars ballroom for the show’s 20th-anniversary live special, rejoining the franchise five years after his departure in July 2020. He walked onstage arm in arm with cohosts Julianne Hough and Alfonso Ribeiro as a live performance of Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” opened the broadcast. Hough became visibly emotional when she formally introduced Bergeron as the evening’s honorary guest judge. The appearance reunited several alumni and set a nostalgic tone for the anniversary celebration.
Key Takeaways
- Tom Bergeron returned to the DWTS ballroom during the 20th-anniversary ABC special, five years after leaving the series in July 2020.
- Julianne Hough and Alfonso Ribeiro escorted Bergeron onstage; Hough paused to compose herself before naming him honorary guest judge.
- The special opened with a live Whitney Houston number and featured alumni including Candace Cameron Bure, Apolo Anton Ohno, Joey Graziadei, Kaitlyn Bristowe, Rashad Jennings, Rumer Willis and Xochtl Gomez.
- An all-pros routine included former troupe members Edyta Sliwinska, Ashly DelGrosso, Louis van Amstel, Jonathan Roberts, Charlotte Jørgensen and Alec Mazo.
- Bergeron—original host when DWTS premiered on ABC in 2005—said he felt emotional and called the live reunion a “rush.”
- Bergeron has previously said his final season was “not a pleasant” experience and has attributed his exit in part to the casting of Sean Spicer on season 28.
- The broadcast combined live performances, skits about voting rules and onstage banter that emphasized nostalgia and industry continuity.
Background
Dancing With the Stars debuted on ABC in 2005 with Tom Bergeron as one of its inaugural hosts; the initial season featured six celebrity-professional pairs and judge Len Goodman on the panel. Over two decades the format expanded to many more seasons and rotating hosts and judges, with Julianne Hough joining the cast as a professional dancer in 2007 when Bergeron was already three seasons into his run. Bergeron’s departure in July 2020 came after 27 seasons with the show and followed a period of public and private tensions about casting choices and the program’s direction.
After Bergeron’s exit the series continued with new hosts and creative shifts aimed at refreshing the format. The show’s twentieth anniversary provided an opportunity for ABC to bring back familiar faces from both the celebrity and pro ranks, underscoring DWTS’s cultural longevity and the network’s interest in celebrating legacy contributors. Several former contestants and troupe members publicly confirmed plans to appear for the milestone episode.
Main Event
The live special opened with a full-stage performance of Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” after which Hough and Ribeiro led Bergeron onto the stage. Ribeiro framed the evening as a “20th birthday party” for the series while Hough, already holding back emotion, introduced Bergeron as an honorary guest judge. The moment was brief but charged, with on-camera affection and a warm reception from the live audience.
Following the reintroduction, Bergeron noted his excitement and described the return as a thrilling, emotional experience. The program interspersed the reunion with a sequence of alumni appearances; past competitors including Candace Cameron Bure and Apolo Anton Ohno were among those who had confirmed attendance. In addition, an all-pros routine showcased former troupe members who helped set the show’s early competitive and performance standards.
The hosts also performed a lighthearted skit about voting rules in which Bergeron attempted to deliver the instructions before Hough playfully cut him off and recited them in rapid-fire fashion. Bergeron complimented Hough’s delivery, and the exchange emphasized camaraderie rather than conflict, reinforcing the celebratory tone of the broadcast.
Analysis & Implications
Bergeron’s return for the 20th-anniversary special is symbolically significant: it reconnects the program with one of its earliest public faces and signals ABC’s desire to foreground continuity amid format changes. For longtime viewers, his presence serves as a reminder of the show’s origins and may help stabilize audience perception after years of host turnover. That symbolic value could translate to short-term ratings bumps for anniversary programming.
Yet the reunion does not resolve the substantive issues that precipitated Bergeron’s 2020 departure. He has publicly described his final season as difficult and pointed to the casting of a controversial political figure—Sean Spicer—on season 28 as a tipping point. Those comments underscore tensions between casting choices aimed at driving attention and the show’s traditional positioning as family-friendly entertainment.
For ABC and the DWTS franchise, the challenge is balancing nostalgia-driven events with programming choices that maintain the series’ broad appeal. Bringing back alumni and original hosts may help retain lapsed viewers, but long-term stability likely requires consistent editorial decisions about casting and tone. Industry observers will watch whether anniversary goodwill leads to recurring guest roles for legacy figures or remains a one-off commemoration.
Comparison & Data
| Metric | 2005 Premiere | 2025 20th Anniversary |
|---|---|---|
| Number of couples (season start) | 6 | Varies; expanded over seasons |
| Seasons aired by 2020 | — | 27 |
| Bergeron’s tenure | Host since 2005 | Left in July 2020; returned 2025 |
The table highlights how the show’s scale evolved from a modest six-couple format at launch to a much larger, more complex production over 20 years. That expansion brought greater casting, production and publicity demands, which in turn influenced behind-the-scenes decisions and public perception.
Reactions & Quotes
“I’m thrilled to be here tonight; it’s such a rush,”
Tom Bergeron (onstage remarks)
Bergeron described the live reunion as emotionally positive and said being back in the live environment felt like “home” for him.
“And let’s also give a big welcome, to, our honorary guest judge—”
Julianne Hough (on introducing Bergeron)
Hough’s introduction was interrupted by visible emotion, an unscripted moment that underscored the sentimental weight of Bergeron’s return for cast and viewers.
“This is exactly what we said we wouldn’t do. Don’t go there,”
Tom Bergeron (recalling the season 28 casting controversy in prior interview)
Bergeron has pointed to the season 28 casting of former White House press secretary Sean Spicer as a decisive factor in his decision to leave, framing it as a departure from the show’s established approach.
Unconfirmed
- Whether Bergeron’s appearance marks the start of any ongoing role with DWTS beyond the anniversary special is not confirmed.
- Any long-term contractual terms or future hosting arrangements tied to this reunion have not been publicly disclosed.
Bottom Line
Tom Bergeron’s onstage return for Dancing With the Stars’ 20th-anniversary special offered a visibly emotional reunion that foregrounded the show’s legacy and highlighted the personal connections among hosts, pros and alumni. The moment served as both a tribute to the program’s origins and a strategic move by ABC to harness nostalgia for a milestone broadcast.
While the reunion generated positive headlines and reinforced the series’ roots, it does not eliminate the unresolved tensions that led to Bergeron’s 2020 exit. Observers should watch whether this appearance remains a one-time celebration or signals a broader rapprochement between legacy figures and the current production team.