Tom Bergeron is making a grand return to the ballroom. On “Good Morning America” on November 5th, it was announced that the beloved original host of ABC’s hit competition series “Dancing With the Stars” will return to the spotlight. Begeron will join as a guest judge for Season 34’s ninth episode, “The 20th Birthday Party,” airing Tuesday, November 11.
The milestone installment will honor two decades of dazzling performances and heartfelt moments, featuring several original pro dancers reuniting for the special night. Bergeron will take his seat beside longtime judges Bruno Tonioli, Carrie Ann Inaba, and Derek Hough.
“It’ll be especially sweet to see him back in the ballroom,” producers said as they confirmed his long-awaited return, ending weeks of fan buzz and excitement.
Looking Back on Bergeron’s 15-Year Run
Bergeron hosted “Dancing With the Stars” from its 2005 debut through 2020, leading the show for 15 years and nearly 450 episodes. He exited alongside co-host Erin Andrews in July 2020, announcing the news on X (then Twitter).
“Just informed @DancingABC will be continuing without me,” he wrote at the time. “It’s been an incredible 15-year run and the most unexpected gift of my career. I’m grateful for that and for the lifelong friendships made.”
After his exit, Tyra Banks hosted Seasons 29 to 31, followed by Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough taking over in Season 32.
“It’s Live TV, So Anything Can Happen”
GettyIn a new interview with TV Insider, Bergeron teased what viewers can expect from his one-night return.
“It is live TV, and I’m gonna be sitting next to Bruno,” he joked. “No slight on Carrie Ann, whom I love, but I think there’s more comedic potential if I’m sitting next to you, Bruno.”
GettyHe also admitted he’s been catching up on the current season. “I picked it up a couple weeks ago and really settled in for the Halloween show because Cheryl [Burke] was coming back and she’s a good friend. I figured I should do my due diligence and get to know who’s left and what their basic proficiency is.”
When asked if he was taking notes for his judging debut, Bergeron quipped, “No, and as a matter of fact, I’m really curious to see what it is the judges are writing all the time. Carrie Ann has a journal that Tolstoy would envy. To me, that’s like texting when you’re driving. Watch the dance. You’ll remember what happened.”
DWTS Continues to Break Records
DisneySeason 34 of “Dancing With the Stars” continues to deliver big numbers. As per a Variety report, the recent “Wicked” Night drew 6.6 million total viewers, an 11% jump from the previous week’s emotional Dedication Night, and earned a strong 1.38 rating among adults 18–49.
TV Insider reported that Showrunner Conrad Green called the 20th-anniversary episode “a night to remember,” teasing “a very special guest judge who brings the whole family back together.”
With just seven couples left in the competition and the finale set for November 25, Bergeron’s one-night comeback is shaping up to be one of the season’s most anticipated moments, a full-circle return for the host who helped define the show’s golden years.
