Tom Bergeron is back in step with his old coworkers.
Before appearing as a guest judge on the 20th anniversary episode of Dancing With the Stars on November 11th, the show’s former host shared a glimpse of his happy return to the dance floor.
Tom shared a fun Instagram photo on November 10th where he tried to copy the kneeling poses of professional dancers Julianne Hough, Hayley Erbert, Jenna Johnson, and Daniella Karagach, who were all smiling and laughing with him.
The 70-year-old simply captioned the reunion post, “Like I never left.”
Julianne, who first appeared on the show as a professional dancer in the 2000s and became a cohost in 2023, was also delighted to see Tom. She shared a photo on Instagram of Tom posing with her and fellow host Alfonso Ribeiro. She also posted a video of them hugging, writing, “Look who’s back in the ballroom!”
Tom is coming back to the ABC competition series after leaving in 2020. While he admitted he was upset about leaving after 15 years, he said the main reason for his return is the current showrunner, Conrad Green. Green previously worked on the show from 2005 to 2014 and returned in 2022.
He explained to The Hollywood Reporter that Conrad’s presence is a major factor in the show’s recent success. “Just look at what’s happening,” he said in an interview published November 10th. “The show is experiencing a revival and achieving things that are rare for a series that’s been on the air for twenty years. Their ratings have been incredibly strong.”
Tom also mentioned he wouldn’t have taken the job if the people who had previously fired him were still in charge.
I’m really glad the current team is in charge,” the former America’s Funniest Home Videos host said. “However, if it hadn’t been for this year being the 20th anniversary, I wouldn’t have been interested in returning if someone else had been running things.
But heading into the anniversary episode, Tom is ecstatic.
He expressed his excitement about returning, saying, “It feels really good, and I’m really looking forward to it,” during the November 5th announcement on Good Morning America.
I’m really curious to see what Tom will be like as a judge, but while we wait, I’ve been keeping up with all the contestants who’ve already left Dancing With the Stars. It’s always a little sad to see them go, but it’s part of the competition!
Artem was surprised and disappointed to learn he wouldn’t be competing professionally in season 28. He described the conversations about his departure as difficult, sharing his feelings on The Bellas Podcast with his then-girlfriend, Nikki Bella.
The popular professional, who had been with the company since 2014, described getting the news – just days before the official cast announcement – as feeling like a breakup. “I gave that company ten years of my life,” he explained, “so being let go right before the announcement felt like a real gut punch.”
He then came back for seasons 29-32, even winning one with Kaitlyn Bristowe.
Sharna, a professional dancer who previously won season 27 with Bobby Bones and had been a runner-up three other times over her twelve seasons on the show, shared her reaction on Instagram after not being chosen as a pro for season 28.
It really hit me when she said it felt like she practically grew up on the show. Honestly, I’m going to miss watching her create and perform so much. She talked about how much she loved sharing the joy and power of dance with her partners, and how much she’ll miss seeing the whole Dancing with the Stars family every day. It was so sweet hearing her talk about being inspired by all their talent – it’s going to be a real loss for all of us!
Sharna has been announced as the newest judge on the Australian version of the popular reality dancing competition, and she’s hinted at some exciting things to come on the show.
She returned for seasons 29 and 30 and was partnered with Brian Austin Green, whom she started dating during that time.
Derek is one of the most beloved professional dancers in the show’s history. He’s won a record six mirrorball trophies and has also received four Emmy Awards for his choreography.
He was a professional dancer on the show for many seasons, starting with season 5 and continuing through season 21. He took a break during season 12 to film a movie, but returned for seasons 13-21, even unexpectedly joining season 20 while also performing on Broadway. He danced one last season, season 23, before retiring from the show.
Before joining Dancing with the Stars as a judge starting with season 29, he was a judge on Jennifer Lopez’s dance competition show, World of Dance, which aired on NBC.
After three seasons and two wins, Julianne announced she was leaving the ABC reality hit.
She explained to Ryan Seacrest that she wanted to prioritize her music career and be seen as a serious artist. While she didn’t say she’d never return to the show, she did later come back for season eight when her boyfriend, country singer Chuck Wicks, was a contestant. They finished in sixth place, and that season marked her last as a professional dancer. However, she rejoined the show as a permanent fourth judge for seasons 19 through 21, and again for seasons 23 and 24.
Julianne Hough, previously married to hockey player Brooks Laich, was a judge on NBC’s America’s Got Talent. She then returned to Dancing with the Stars in 2023 as a co-host.
Mark became a professional dancer on the show in season five and remained a popular cast member for an incredible 18 seasons, winning two championships. He took a break for seasons 23 and 24 to star as Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys on Broadway, but returned to compete in season 25, finishing as the runner-up with Lindsey Stirling.
Mark then turned his attention to music, collaborating with his wife, BC Jean. Together, they formed the duo Alexander Jean and signed a record deal.
He returned for season 31 with Charli D’Amelio and season 34 with Whitney Leavitt.
Karina was a professional dancer on the show for seasons 3 through 9, and took a short break during season 10. She then competed for nine seasons straight before taking another brief time off in season 20. She explained she wanted to pursue other projects, including writing a book.
She ended up returning for two more outings, but Karina officially left DWTS after season 22.
After retiring from dancing, Smirnoff appeared on the reality show Famously Single and later returned to professional dancing. In 2017, she explained that she still enjoyed her time on the ABC series and hadn’t completely ruled out the possibility of coming back.
Dancing with celebrities on the show is fun, but it’s a unique dynamic. You end up being more than just a dance partner – you’re also their coach, someone to talk to, and their biggest supporter, as I told Fox News. However, when you dance with a professional partner, it’s a more equal collaboration, and I really missed that feeling when I was paired with celebrities. It’s a different kind of performance when you’re working with someone who’s equally skilled.
Oh, Maks.
This dancer, a fan favorite on the show, has a reputation for disagreeing with the judges and occasionally clashing with his celebrity partners. He’s had a rocky journey, leaving and returning to the show multiple times, starting in 2012 when he initially announced his departure to focus on acting.
After fifteen seasons, he questioned what more he could contribute, telling the New York Post it was understandable that both he and the audience wouldn’t expect him to continue. He felt it made sense for everyone that he move on.
He came back for season 18 and finally won with Meryl Davis, but left the show immediately after. He returned again for seasons 23 through 25, and famously missed a performance while partnered with Vanessa Lachey.
Maks is now married to professional dancer Peta Murgatroyd, and when he wasn’t competing, he sometimes appeared as a guest judge.
As a longtime follower of the show, I’ve always admired this dancer! She first appeared in season two and quickly became a fan favorite, competing consistently for years. It was amazing to watch her finally win in season nine! She took a brief break after that, but then came back strong, dancing for six seasons straight before taking another well-deserved break. Her dedication is truly inspiring!
Luckily, she came back for season 20 and was partnered with Robert Herjavec from Shark Tank. They eventually fell in love and got married! Kym then took a few seasons off before dancing one last time as a professional on season 24.
Kym announced she was expecting twins in January 2018 and decided to retire from professional dancing. She said she was finished dancing ‘for good,’ but left the door open to potentially returning to Dancing with the Stars in a different role.
She expressed interest in returning to the show in some capacity, perhaps as a judge or in another role, and she later appeared as a guest judge on season 34.
Cheryl quickly became a standout performer, debuting in season two and making history as the first woman and the first competitor to win two seasons in a row. After an impressive 18 seasons, she announced her departure from DTWS before season 20. It was reported that she was considering a new variety show at NBC, though that project never materialized. She briefly returned for season 23, took a season off, and then decided she couldn’t stay away for a special season – a landmark one for both her and the show.
She excitedly announced her return for season 25, saying, “I’m back again!” She reminisced about dancing with Ryan Lochte last season, but expressed how much she’d missed being on the show. This marks her 20th season, and she’s thrilled to be a part of both the show’s 25th season and her own milestone.
Cheryl married Matthew Lawrence in May 2019 and returned for season 28, but left the show again in 2022. She made one final appearance as a guest judge on season 34.
Peta first appeared on the show in season 13 and quickly became a beloved contestant. She competed in every season through season 20, even winning once! Unfortunately, a severe ankle injury kept her from competing in season 21.
She made a successful comeback in season 22, winning the competition with her partner, Nyle DiMarco. Then, just six months after having her first child, she competed in season 25 with Nick Lachey before taking another break from Dancing with the Stars.
I was so thrilled to see Peta back on the dance floor! She took a few seasons off to focus on her son, Shai, and enjoy time with Maks Chmerkovskiy – another former ‘Dancing with the Stars’ pro – but it’s amazing to have her back in the ballroom.
She told US Weekly she was thrilled to be returning, explaining she’d been working towards it for months. She said everything finally fell into place at the right time for her family. With her husband, Maks, busy with other projects and their daughter, Shai, well cared for, it felt like the perfect moment.
Her most recent run was on season 32.
Tony Dovolani started competing on Dancing with the Stars in season two and danced for 20 seasons, winning once. His last partner on the show was Marla Maples in season 22.
Tony shared on Instagram that he’s leaving the show to concentrate on expanding his Dance With Me USA studios and continuing to teach. He also plans to travel and perform across the country, making appearances at events. He expressed that he’ll miss the show and its audience.
The dancer, who first became known on So You Think You Can Dance, became a professional on season 19 and continued competing for two more seasons. She took a break during season 22 after announcing her second pregnancy live on Dancing with the Stars with her husband, Stephen “tWitch” Boss, who is also a SYTYCD alum.
Six months after having her baby, Allison came back for her 23rd season, which turned out to be the last of her professional career.
She announced on Instagram that she won’t be competing on Dancing with the Stars this season, wanting to be the first to let her family, friends, and fans know. She expressed her love for the DWTS team and shared her excitement for the new contestants.
Lacey became a professional dancer on Dancing with the Stars after finishing fourth on season three of So You Think You Can Dance. She appeared on DWTS for seven seasons (7 through 13), with a brief stint as a troupe member during season 10.
I was so sad to hear that Lacey was leaving Dancing with the Stars after season 13! She explained she wanted to pursue some other passions, like making music with a new album and launching her own clothing line, and I totally support her following her dreams. It’s exciting to see what she’ll do next!
I need to take a break and prioritize what’s important right now,” she told SheKnows. “I’m working on managing my time better.
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2025-11-11 06:48