When a live television competition took a dramatic turn during its fifth season
In short: In 2007, the fifth season of Dancing with the Stars captivated audiences with a high-stakes mix of celebrity talent and unexpected drama. From a live-broadcast fainting spell to a three-night premiere, the season showcased the intense physical demands of ballroom dance while crowning a new champion in a tight race.
The fifth season of the American television series Dancing with the Stars premiered on September 24, 2007, on the ABC network, with Canadian broadcasts handled by the CTV Television Network. The cast, consisting of twelve celebrity contestants, was officially revealed on August 29, 2007, by hosts Tom Bergeron and Samantha Harris, alongside judge Carrie Ann Inaba and previous champion Apolo Anton Ohno on Good Morning America. The judging panel remained consistent, featuring Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli, and Inaba.
The production faced logistical hurdles early on when co-host Samantha Harris took a leave of absence following the birth of her child on September 23, 2007. During her brief departure, season two winner Drew Lachey stepped in to co-host until Harris returned on October 15. The competition itself was rigorous, requiring contestants to master diverse styles including the cha-cha-cha, foxtrot, mambo, quickstep, jive, tango, paso doble, Viennese waltz, rumba, and samba. The intensity peaked in week five, when contestant Marie Osmond fainted live on-air while receiving critiques from the judges.
The season concluded on November 27, 2007, with IndyCar driver Hélio Castroneves and his partner Julianne Hough securing the championship title. Spice Girls member Mel B and Maksim Chmerkovskiy took second place, while Marie Osmond and Jonathan Roberts finished in third. The competitive spirit of the season was notable enough that both Castroneves and fellow contestant Sabrina Bryan later returned to compete in the show's All-Stars season, highlighting the enduring impact of their performances on the series' legacy.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Dancing with the Stars (American TV series) season 5
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