Live from Hollywood, it’s the return of Tom Bergeron to Dancing With the Stars! After six seasons away from the ballroom, the former host is returning to the series for its big birthday bash. Airing on November 11, Bergeron will be serving as the guest judge for the special “The 20th Birthday Party” episode. Celebrating the major milestone, Bergeron will be sitting on the other side of the desk alongside original judges Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli, and former pro turned judge Derek Hough. Bergeron’s return is the perfect way to honor the long-running series. It’s a decision that the celebrity reality show needed.
The episode, according to showrunner Conrad Green, brings the whole family back together in a special way. With a competitive round featuring ex-champions and an opening number in which Hough collaborated with music director Ray Chew to recreate 20 years of the show featuring pros past and present, the culmination is Bergeron serving as the guest judge. For 28 seasons, Bergeron served as the comforting, consistent presence on the mic. Bringing him back for one night only, in a judging capacity, is an honor to the man who helped launch the series to the stratosphere. As Bergeron told TV Insider, “It’s my happy place.”
Tom Bergeron Is Coming Home
Bergeron expressed his great excitement to the outlet about returning to the place he called home for 15 years. He shared how his proposal to return was accepted, and now, he’ll be sitting next to Bruno, where they’re destined to cut up for some comedic moments. As for his judging style, Bergeron says it will be “somewhat loose and unpredictable.” Knowing it’s going to be a “wonderfully emotional, nostalgic night,” Bergeron is excited to watch his friends work while simultaneously not having to sit fidgeting in the audience. Giving him a chance to participate in the action as a guest judge rather than just a bit player is a way to honor him and the show without reverting to his past. Call it a cameo with a purpose.
The Bergeron we loved when he hosted Dancing With the Stars will be present in a slightly different capacity from a very different vantage. Yes, it may be jarring to see him sit, but he’s still going to deliver the Bergeron that made Dancing With the Stars what it is today. As the host of the show, he brought an unfiltered and authentic sense of humor that never tried to be anything more than it was. Bergeron hosted the series before the algorithm got hold of our every move. He was a trusted source of humor while the celebrities and pros kept us entertained. He was our safety net.
Not that this mission has shifted, but the Bergeron era represented something familiar and comforting. It was a time when we’d dedicate two nights a week to Dancing With the Stars. The Bergeron era was about authenticity and a love for reality television competition rather than the eagerness to go viral in a tilted popularity contest. His guest appearance will likely evoke nostalgia among viewers, who wish to return to a time when life was, well, a bit simpler.
Long-Running Reality Shows Are Rightly Reaching Milestones
With Dancing With the Stars still churning out the numbers 20 years later, it is a testament to the show and its consistent formula. Even though the show has evolved and some faces have changed, the fact that it is celebrating this extraordinary birthday speaks to what viewers are looking for. Dancing With the Stars isn’t the only show celebrating milestones. This year, both Survivor and Big Brother reached 25 years on CBS, with Survivor hitting its 50th season in spring 2026. The Amazing Race is about to embark on its 25th year next year, with American Idol following next. For a format that, compared to others on television, is still a fledgling genre, reaching these anniversaries reflects what audiences are seeking post-pandemic. Audiences are leaning on what’s familiar, which is why long-running series are thriving.
A major factor as to why these shows continue to provide comfort is the consistency of the host. Though Bergeron is the only one who lost his job among the aforementioned series, keeping a steadfast presence at the helm of these reality TV shows, many of whom serve as executive producers, provides reassurance that the shows fans fell in love with are still the same show as they were in the early 2000s. They are not the executives who care about the numbers; they’re the people who care about the fans first and foremost.
Tom Bergeron’s Return to the Ballroom Should Never Have Been a Return
It should be remembered that Bergeron’s departure from the series was not a mutual decision. The long-time host was fired by the network as they attempted to explore a very different direction. A direction that ultimately did not pan out. Speaking with the Sex, Lies, and Spray Tans podcast a few years following his departure, Bergeron dove into the truth behind his ouster. After being critical of the political direction the show was taking, urging the network to remain the “wonderful escape from all that divisiveness,” his temper flared over the casting of Sean Spicer. With a bullseye on his back, Bergeron knew the Spicer season would be his last. Leaving alongside co-host Erin Andrews, they were replaced by former America’s Next Top Model and America’s Got Talent host, Tyra Banks. To say the Banks era was short-lived, is an understatement. Nevertheless, Bergeron’s return to the ballroom should never have been a return. He never should have left.
We take the power of a host for granted. If they’re good at what they do, they become a part of your television family. They serve as a consistent presence season after season. If you look toward the mourning happening in the UK right now, Strictly Come Dancing fans are devastated to learn that co-hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman are leaving the series after this current season. Fans warmed up to them. They felt safe and comfortable with the duo at the helm. Now, as a reminder, they weren’t the original hosts. They, too, were replacements. The transitions take time, but when it works, saying goodbye is impossible. It’s why Bergeron’s departure hurt long-time fans. He was Dancing With the Stars in the same way he eventually was America’s Funniest Home Videos after Bob Saget. And it’s quite ironic that Alfonso Ribeiro took both of Bergeron’s gigs.
Like Bergeron’s departure from Dancing With the Stars, Chris Harrison’s departure from Bachelor Nation was met with shock and viewers’ inability to grapple with change. Like with Dancing With the Stars, did the hosting swap improve the series? It’s truly a matter of opinion. For those who depend on familiarity, the answer is a resounding no. Bergeron’s return marks an important acknowledgment by ABC and Dancing With the Stars. Putting him in a highly esteemed position is almost an apology to the host and the audience for giving up on him. Hopefully, he’ll earn one of the loudest rounds of applause in the room.
Dancing With the Stars airs Tuesdays at 8:00pm on ABC and streams live on Disney+. All episodes are available to stream on Disney+ and Hulu.
