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A revival of the 1970s disco-competition series of the same name, the 2003 edition of Dance Fever was, like its predecessor, executive-produced by Merv Griffin. As before, a panel of celebrities judged the best amateur dancers (individuals or two-person teams), with the winners earning a huge prize. Adding a reality-series twist worthy of American Idol and its ilk, the new version opened with a two-hour episode featuring highlights of the national auditions which yielded the 48 finalists. These worthies competed in the fields of ballroom dancing, hip-hop, salsa, wing, and tap through a subsequent series of elimination rounds taped in Las Vegas, with the ultimate winner(s) receiving a 100,000-dollar grand prize. This time around, the judges included rapper MC Hammer (aka Stanley Burrell), singer-actress Carmen Electra, and choreographer Jamie King. Hosted by Eric Nies, the "new" Dance Fever made its ABC Family Channel bow on July 13, 2003.