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Tom Bergeron made a triumphant return to the Dancing With the Stars ballroom as an honorary guest judge for the show’s 20th anniversary celebration, marking his first on-air appearance since departing in 2020. The beloved former host, who guided DWTS from its 2005 debut through season 29, received a standing ovation and quickly reminded viewers why his presence has been so missed.
Tom Bergeron’s Emotional Reunion With The DWTS Family
Bergeron opened the episode by welcoming the audience before being joined by current co-hosts Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough. Hough, a longtime friend and former pro dancer (seasons 4–8) who returned as co-host in 2023, became visibly emotional as she announced Bergeron would serve as the night’s “honorary guest judge.” Clutching his arm, she applauded his return, prompting Bergeron to grin and quip to her, “Hi sweetheart, I am thrilled to be here — what a rush.”
The moment underscored the duo’s shared history within the franchise. Bergeron anchored DWTS across 29 seasons, shepherding the show through celebrity casts, format shifts, and countless theme nights. Hough, who transitioned from fan-favorite pro to judge to host, has known Bergeron for nearly two decades, and their easy rapport set a warm tone for the anniversary festivities.
On-Air Plea: Bring Back The Results Show & Nationwide Voting
After the relay dance, Bergeron used his final comments at the judges’ table to speak directly to the network about DWTS’s weekly format. Turning to camera, he praised the show’s renewed ratings strength and urged a return to the franchise’s classic two-night structure: one night dedicated to performances and voting, followed by a separate results episode.
“This show is setting ratings records again, so next season, bring back the results show. Let the whole country vote. Let everybody vote,” he said, drawing loud cheers from the audience.
DWTS discontinued its Tuesday results show in 2013, streamlining to a single two-hour episode each week and revealing eliminations at the end of the broadcast. While the move simplified scheduling, it also condensed voting windows — and, as Bergeron has long argued, complicated fair access for viewers across time zones.
In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Bergeron reiterated that stance, saying he “always mourned the loss” of the results night. He noted that a dedicated second episode not only made nationwide voting easier — particularly for West Coast audiences — but also delivered a variety-show energy that fit the spirit of DWTS. With ratings momentum back on the show’s side, Bergeron believes the time is right to restore that format.
Looking Back: Why Bergeron Left & How He Feels Now
Bergeron’s 2020 exit followed widely reported creative differences with producers. Reflecting a year later on the late Bob Saget’s podcast, he admitted, “The show that I left was not the show that I loved,” adding that by the end of his final season, he sensed the writing was on the wall. The candid admission made his return this week all the more poignant, highlighting both how much has changed and how central he remains to DWTS’s identity for longtime fans.
Even as the series has evolved — moving to a next-day reveal and, more recently, experimenting with platform shifts and live simulcasts — Bergeron’s guiding philosophy for the franchise has remained consistent: keep the competition fair, the showmanship big, and the ballroom open to the widest possible audience participation.
Gratitude Post: Bergeron Thanks Fans After Emotional Night
The morning after the celebration, Bergeron posted a video to Instagram to thank viewers for their overwhelming support. With his trademark dry humor, he joked that he wasn’t nursing a hangover from the after-party, then grew emotional as he addressed the fan response. “Sometimes even I’m at a loss for words,” he wrote in his caption, before thanking everyone for the outpouring of love surrounding his one-night return.
Hough quickly chimed in on social media, writing, “Your presence was everything! Love you so much, Tom.” Fans echoed the sentiment in the comments, celebrating his voice, wit, and warmth as essential to the DWTS experience. Many said the episode felt like old times, with one noting that his empathetic approach and quick humor remain “the best to ever do it.”
Why Bergeron’s Voice Still Matters To DWTS
Bergeron’s brief return wasn’t just a nostalgia play; it was a reminder of how finely tuned the show’s balance of competition, comedy, and connection can be when the formula clicks. His on-air plea taps into a long-simmering viewer conversation about accessibility and engagement, especially for fans outside the live broadcast window.
While any decision about restoring a results night rests with the network and producers, Bergeron’s comments landed with the weight of someone who knows the franchise inside and out. If the show’s current ratings resurgence continues, his call for a dedicated results episode and expanded nationwide voting could become a meaningful talking point heading into the next season.
For now, the 20th anniversary special offered a celebratory snapshot of DWTS’s past and present — and, thanks to Bergeron, a compelling argument for how the competition might best serve its audience in the future. Whether he returns again or not, the ballroom clearly still feels like home.
