‘Dancing With the Stars’ Celebrates 20 Years with Perfect Scores, Tom Bergeron’s Return, and One More Elimination
Dancing With the Stars marked a major milestone this week, celebrating 20 years on air with an unforgettable episode packed with nostalgia, perfect scores, and one emotional elimination. The ballroom was filled with familiar faces — including six past mirrorball champions and the beloved former host Tom Bergeron, who made a highly anticipated return as a guest judge.
A Grand Return for Tom Bergeron
The night kicked off with a spectacular opening number featuring six professional dancers from the show’s inaugural season, setting the tone for a celebratory evening. But it was Tom Bergeron’s comeback that stole the spotlight.
Bergeron, who hosted Dancing With the Stars for 15 years before his departure in 2020, returned to the ballroom for the first time as a guest judge. “I’m thrilled to be back,” he told The Hollywood Reporter, teasing that his judging style would be “pretty much the same as the way I hosted it.” His warm humor and sharp wit were a welcome addition to the judging panel, bringing longtime fans a wave of nostalgia.
Celebrating Two Decades of Dance
The 20th Birthday Party episode featured two themed rounds — a “freestyle tribute” and a relay dance showdown. In the first round, each couple performed routines inspired by iconic freestyle numbers from past seasons. The second round saw current celebrity contestants pairing up with past mirrorball champions for a head-to-head relay dance, earning bonus points based on the judges’ votes.
The cast of Season 34 still boasts a strong roster, including Whitney Leavitt, Alix Earle, Jordan Chiles, Dylan Efron, Elaine Hendrix, Robert Irwin, and Andy Richter — the latter of whom was eliminated at the end of the episode.
Perfect Scores and Emotional Tributes
One of the night’s standout performances came from Robert Irwin and Witney Carson, who delivered the season’s first perfect 40/40 score. Their number paid heartfelt tribute to Robert’s late father, Steve Irwin, using the same music from his sister Bindi Irwin’s Season 21 freestyle. The routine brought the audience — and even the judges — to tears.
“This was a once-in-a-lifetime performance,” Carson said afterward. “Robert’s dedication and emotion made it so special.”
Also joining the perfect-score club were Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach, Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy, and Whitney Leavitt with Mark Ballas, who earned an additional two bonus points thanks to their immunity win from last week’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame episode.
Relay Dances and Bonus Points
In the relay dance round, current contestants were joined by former DWTS champions, creating memorable matchups across the ballroom.
- Jordan Chiles danced alongside Apolo Anton Ohno (Season 4 winner) and won her relay, earning +2 bonus points.
- Dylan Efron and Rumer Willis (Season 20 winner) triumphed over Andy Richter and Kaitlyn Bristowe (Season 29 winner), also earning +2 points.
- Robert Irwin and Xochitl Gomez (Season 32 winner) won against Alix Earle and Joey Graziadei (Season 33 winner), adding +2 points to their total.
The crowd cheered as old and new contestants came together, honoring two decades of Dancing With the Stars legacy.
The End of the Road for Andy Richter
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Unfortunately, the night ended with the elimination of Andy Richter and his professional partner Emma Slater, who scored 29/40, the lowest of the evening. Despite the disappointment, Richter left the stage with gratitude. “It’s been a joy to be part of such a historic season,” he said. “Getting to dance every week was a dream.”
Final Leaderboard for Week 8
- Whitney Leavitt & Mark Ballas: 42 points
- Dylan Efron & Daniella Karagach: 42 points
- Robert Irwin & Witney Carson: 42 points
- Alix Earle & Val Chmerkovskiy: 40 points
- Jordan Chiles & Ezra Sosa: 39 points
- Elaine Hendrix & Alan Bersten: 36 points
- Andy Richter & Emma Slater: 29 points (Eliminated)
Looking Ahead to the Semi-Finals
Next week, Dancing With the Stars will host its much-anticipated Prince Night, serving as the semi-final round before the three-hour finale on November 25. With multiple couples tied at the top and only two weeks left, the race for the Season 34 mirrorball trophy has never been closer.
Live voting continues to play a major role in the competition, combining with judges’ scores to determine each week’s elimination. Fans can cast their votes during the East Coast broadcast on ABC and Disney+, with episodes available to stream the following day on Hulu.
What was your favorite performance from the Dancing With the Stars 20th anniversary celebration? Share your thoughts and predictions for the finale in the comments on InvestRecords.com.
