‘Dancing With the Stars’ to return

ABC's surprise summer hit, "Dancing With the Stars," has unsurprisingly been renewed for another season. An ABC representative confirms that a new season of the show is on the way, but would not confirm dates. Variety has reported that the show's new edition will debut at midseason.

Celebrity dancers have not yet been announced. Summer's dancers included John O'Hurley of "Seinfeld," former "Bachelorette" Trista Rehn Sutter, boxer Evander Holyfield, model Rachel Hunter, singer Joey McIntyre and the eventual winner, "General Hospital" star Kelly Monaco.

Monaco and her partner, professional dancer Alec Mazo, beat O'Hurley and dancer Charlotte Jorgensen in a finale that surprised many. Monaco, who'd stumbled throughout the season, earned a controversial score of three perfect 10s from judges Bruno Tonioli, Carrie Anne Inaba, and Len Goodman.

"Stars" seems to have been just the first in a dance-show trend. FOX's "So You Think You Can Dance" premieres July 20, and will feature non-celebrity dancers competing in front of a panel of judges, "American Idol"-style.

"Dancing With the Stars" summer season drew up to 16 million viewers and has been called the biggest summer hit since the debut season of "Survivor" in 2000.

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