A Grand Celebration for DWTS’ 20th Birthday
It was a night full of nostalgia, glamour, and high energy as Dancing With the Stars celebrated its 20th Anniversary in a special themed episode on Tuesday night. Fans were treated to dazzling performances, surprise appearances, and the return of one of the show’s most beloved hosts — Tom Bergeron.
But amid all the cheers and celebrations, the evening also saw an emotional farewell as Andy Richter and his dance partner Emma Slater were eliminated from the competition.
Legends Return to the Ballroom
The ballroom was buzzing with excitement as six professional dancers from Season 1 made their way back for the opening number. Adding to the nostalgia, former host Tom Bergeron stepped onto the dance floor — not as a presenter, but as a guest judge for the first time since his controversial exit in 2020.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Bergeron shared his joy about returning, saying he was “thrilled to be back” and that his judging approach would be “pretty much the same as the way I hosted it.”
A Star-Studded Line-Up
Season 34 of Dancing With the Stars is nearing its finale, but the competition remains fierce. The current celebrity cast includes:
Whitney Leavitt (Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star)
Alix Earle, social media influencer
Jordan Chiles, Olympic gymnast
Dylan Efron, actor and The Traitors Season 3 winner (and brother of Zac Efron)
Elaine Hendrix, actress
Robert Irwin, conservationist and son of the late Steve Irwin
Andy Richter, comedian and actor (eliminated this week)
The 20th Birthday Party Theme: A Double Round Challenge
To mark the milestone, contestants faced two rounds of dance performances:
Round 1: Tribute to DWTS Freestyle Classics
Each pair recreated routines inspired by freestyle performances from the show’s past seasons.
Round 2: The Mirrorball Relay Dance
Each celebrity teamed up with a former DWTS champion for a “relay dance.” Two couples performed to the same song — one after the other — and judges picked a winner from each round. The winning duo earned two bonus points.
Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas, who won immunity last week, did not compete in this round but still received two bonus points for their prior performance.
Perfect Scores and Heartfelt Tributes
The emotional highlight of the night came when Robert Irwin and Witney Carson earned the first perfect score of the season (40/40). Their dance paid tribute to Robert’s late father, Steve Irwin, set to the same song used in his sister Bindi Irwin’s winning freestyle routine years ago.
Witney described the experience as “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” adding that a win this season would “mean everything to me.”
Other perfect scores soon followed:
Dylan Efron & Daniella Karagach – 40/40
Alix Earle & Val Chmerkovskiy – 40/40
Whitney Leavitt & Mark Ballas – 40/40 (+2 points from immunity)
Relay Dance Round Winners
Here’s how the relay round unfolded, with champions and bonus point winners:
Jordan Chiles & Apolo Anton Ohno (Season 4 Champion) — 🏆 Winners (+2 points)
Elaine Hendrix & Rashad Jennings (Season 24 Champion)
Dylan Efron & Rumer Willis (Season 20 Champion) — 🏆 Winners (+2 points)
Andy Richter & Kaitlyn Bristowe (Season 29 Champion)
Alix Earle & Joey Graziadei (Season 33 Champion)
Robert Irwin & Xochitl Gomez (Season 32 Champion) — 🏆 Winners (+2 points)
Final Leaderboard – Week 8 (20th Birthday Episode)
| Contestants | Total Score | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Whitney Leavitt & Mark Ballas | 42 | Safe |
| Dylan Efron & Daniella Karagach | 42 | Safe |
| Robert Irwin & Witney Carson | 42 | Safe |
| Alix Earle & Val Chmerkovskiy | 40 | Safe |
| Jordan Chiles & Ezra Sosa | 39 | Safe |
| Elaine Hendrix & Alan Bersten | 36 | Safe |
| Andy Richter & Emma Slater | 29 | ❌ Eliminated |
What’s Next on DWTS
With only two weeks left in the season, the excitement is building up toward the grand finale.
Next Week: Prince Night (Semi-finals)
Finale: November 25 — A three-hour special event
Fans can cast their live votes during the East Coast broadcast, which closes shortly after the last performance of the night. The couple with the lowest combined judges’ scores and viewer votes will be eliminated.
A Perfect Mix of Nostalgia and New Energy
The 20th Birthday celebration of Dancing With the Stars captured everything fans love about the show — glamour, talent, emotion, and a deep sense of family. With perfect scores, heartfelt tributes, and Tom Bergeron’s long-awaited return, it was an unforgettable night in DWTS history.
Sources:
The Hollywood Reporter
ABC Network
Dancing With the Stars Official Social Media Pages
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