Tom Bergeron to guest-judge DWTS 20th anniversary episode

Tom Bergeron, the original host of Dancing with the Stars, will return to the show as a guest judge for its 20th anniversary episode airing Nov. 11, marking his first on-air appearance on the series since he left in 2020. Bergeron will join a special episode that also brings back several original professional dancers and a new relay-round twist that pairs current celebrities with returning Mirrorball champions.

Bergeron said the invitation came from Conrad Green, the show's original showrunner who has returned to the production. Bergeron described Green's outreach as an "olive branch" and said in a recent television interview, "It feels really good. I'm really looking forward to it." He added that the appearance is intended as a one-time engagement for now but left open the possibility of future guest judging, saying, "If I really suck as a guest judge, they'll never ask me back. But if it goes well, I could see maybe coming back in that capacity occasionally."

Producers have framed the Nov. 11 installment as a celebration of two decades of the ABC competition series. In addition to Bergeron's presence, the episode will feature veteran pros and a first-time format change in the...