'Dancing with the Stars' Finale Rematch: Unexpected Twist Crowns New Champions

Two decades after its debut, 'Dancing with the Stars' continues to captivate audiences with its dramatic twists and turns. In 2005, the show's first season finale saw a heated debate over the results, with many viewers believing that John O'Hurley should have been crowned the winner instead of Kelly Monaco.

To address this controversy, ABC set up a rematch between the two final couples in September of that year. Despite Monaco and her partner Alec Mazo receiving lower scores throughout the season, viewer votes ultimately crowned them the champions once again. However, in a surprising turn of events, O'Hurley and his partner Charlotte Jørgensen were declared the winners of the do-over broadcast, with over $120,000 in donations made to their chosen charities.

As the show's original host Tom Bergeron reflected, the ratings for the rematch were not as strong as the regular season, leading to concerns that the network had "killed the golden goose." But the series quickly bounced back, solidifying its place as a beloved summer staple.

For Monaco, the results of the rematch did little to change her status as the show's first champion. "The dance-off happened and it went down how it went down," she said. "I don't think anyone really remembers that." Nevertheless, the episode remains a testament to the enduring power of viewer engagement in reality television.