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‘The Bachelor’ faces overhaul to bloom again after upheaval and withering viewership

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This season on ABC’s “The Bachelor,” Grant Ellis, the leading man, found himself under pressure. Narrowing his original pool of potential partners from 25 women to just two had been a challenging task. However, the struggle didn’t end there; deciding which woman to choose as his future spouse was a tormenting dilemma for him.

By overcoming his hesitation, Ellis popped the question to client services advisor Juliana Pasquarosa during Monday’s finale, leaving venture capitalist Litia Garr crestfallen as she was also in contention.

Ellis — the second Black male star of the reality series — wasn’t alone in facing a tough decision.

With the final curtain call for Season 29, the “The Bachelor” franchise is grappling with a sense of tired formula, uncertainly peering into a hazy future following a series of stumbles and scandals. These setbacks range from dull love narratives, questionable casting decisions, insensitive treatment towards racially diverse contestants, accusations of emotional distress inflicted upon participants, and most recently, executive shake-ups.

Since it first aired in 2002, this reality dating series was initially seen as innovative, capturing the interest of millions at its height. However, even though it’s managed to hold onto a dedicated fanbase known as Bachelor Nation for over two decades on television, the franchise has struggled to adapt to societal changes and rapidly evolving social trends.

Following the upheaval brought by the streaming evolution that reshaped our television viewing habits, and the emergence of a fresh batch of daring and alluring rivals, the series has been demoted from the top tier of reality shows.

According to Andy Dehnart, the creator and TV critic for realityblurred.com, “The Bachelor” has a more uncertain future than at any other point in its history, even during its early years. In contrast, I wouldn’t say that about any other long-standing reality TV franchise on broadcast such as “Survivor,” “Big Brother,” “The Amazing Race,” or “Hell’s Kitchen.” While there is a decline in viewership for broadcast shows, these other franchises seem secure and unlikely to disappear.

Emma Rose Gray, one of the hosts of the “Love to See It with Emma and Claire” podcast, which reviews shows like “The Bachelor” and others, concurred: “Modern dating series have surged, pushing ‘The Bachelor’ down from its long-held throne. Unfortunately, the show’s creators haven’t adapted swiftly enough to match our current era.

Ashley Tabron, a high school teacher from North Carolina, expressed her opinion about the show, stating, “The quality isn’t great,” since she began watching it in 2017 when Rachel Lindsay made history as the first Black ‘Bachelorette’. She further mentioned that the show isn’t particularly enjoyable and seems to be at a critical juncture to stay relevant alongside other shows.

Demonstrating a drop is the case with Ellis’ season – on average, it attracted around 2.4 million viewers, marking a decrease of almost one million viewers compared to the last season of “The Bachelor,” starring professional tennis coach Joey Graziadei.

Behind closed doors, those involved acknowledge the challenges faced by the outdated series and agree that it needs a revamp and a fresh start. Production on the upcoming “The Bachelorette” season has been halted, with no plans yet to proceed. Instead, “Bachelor in Paradise” is scheduled for this summer, featuring contestants from both “Golden Bachelor” and “Bachelorette” series.

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‘The Bachelor’ producers acknowledge ‘vicious cycle’ of racism in the franchise

In response to long-standing concerns about race, the executive producers of ABC’s “The Bachelor” are now addressing the racial issues that have been a recurring theme in their reality series.

The leadership shift is going to be one aspect of the overall transformation. ABC and Warner Bros. Television, responsible for the franchise’s production, have not commented following a Deadline report that Claire Freeland and Bennett Graebner are leaving their roles as showrunners. They took over in 2023, replacing Mike Fleiss who was the show’s original creator. As per Variety, Fleiss left due to an investigation by Warner Bros. Television regarding accusations of racial discrimination on set; Fleiss refuted these claims.

Rather than changing direction, Freeland and Graebner encountered problems when attempting to enhance inclusivity and appeal for their show. Additionally, they faced accusations from multiple team members of fostering an “unfriendly” atmosphere off-screen, as claimed by Deadline; however, they have refuted these allegations.

While it’s ongoing, several dating shows have gained popularity. For instance, “Love Is Blind,” launched in 2020 on Netflix, has garnered significant attention and resonance with its unique blend of surprise and unpredictability, embodying the spirit of popular culture. The show revolves around a group of singles participating in blind dates within a windowless room, separated by a shimmering blue wall, aiming to get engaged within 10 days. Netflix also offers other dating series like “Perfect Match,” which incorporates participants from their reality shows.

According to Dehnart, ‘The Bachelor’ has long been known for creating the most sensational, news-making, and dramatic series. However, its position as the leader in this regard has been surpassed by shows like ‘Love Is Blind’ and other programs on streaming networks.

When “The Bachelor” debuted in March 2002, it faced minimal rivalry. The unique concept – a single man seeking the affection of numerous single women throughout the show, culminating with a proposal at the end of the series – resonated immediately, drawing in 10 million viewers for its first episode. By the season finale, the viewership had soared to an impressive 18.2 million viewers.

The idea of a romantic fairy tale, enclosed within a secure sanctuary and adorned with roses, was incredibly appealing for viewers seeking a temporary escape or heartwarming love story. The cast featured handsome men and women, frequently dressed in stylish attire that highlighted their fit and athletic physiques. This production journeyed to beautiful destinations across the globe.

In contrast to modern dating reality shows that have evolved from “The Bachelor,” these newer series exhibit a greater emphasis on cultural diversity and include individuals of various body types. Lack of diversity, according to Denhart, is a significant factor contributing to the decline in popularity of this franchise.

He stated that the show strayed from its original path due to its lack of diversity over such a prolonged period. By consistently featuring the same white male protagonists, it grew monotonous. More recently, they’ve made some efforts to introduce fresh talent, but then unfortunately mishandled these newcomers and sensationalized issues like racism and poor decisions unskillfully.

As a die-hard movie enthusiast, let me tell you that the last couple of years have seen some real shining moments for the “Bachelor” series. The spinoff titled “The Golden Bachelor,” where we followed the dating journey of 72-year-old widower Gerry Turner amidst a group of older ladies, was nothing short of a triumph for ABC. It managed to attract millions of viewers who aren’t normally part of the main “Bachelor Nation” fanbase.

In the thrilling Season 28 of “The Bachelor,” I captivated viewers with my genuine warmth and allure. Following my heartfelt proposal to Kelsey Anderson, I continued my winning spree by clinching the grand prize on “Dancing With the Stars,” ABC’s popular dance competition series.

As someone who closely follows the show, I must admit that Jessie Palmer mentioned an impressive number of female applicants for Ellis’ season. However, when compared to Graziadei, Ellis seems to fall short in terms of star presence. Moreover, so far, none of the women on his cast have truly stood out or shown potential as a strong contender for “The Bachelorette” should it return in the future.

Gray stated that there’s nothing wrong with Grant, he’s doing just fine,” said the podcaster. “To clarify, Grant is okay. He isn’t exceptional or problematic in any way. Over time, this show has featured and exploited many average white men.

In contrast to James who made history by becoming the first Black Bachelor in 2021, Ellis’ cultural identity was noticeably downplayed throughout the show. Apart from a brief mention of his experiences as a Black man, there were no deliberate discussions between him and other contestants about topics that biracial couples often encounter, such as religion and upbringing, during the season.

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Before his season faced a scandal, Matt James described the situation as ‘frustrating.’ The publication of his memoir, titled ‘First Impressions,’ emerged from this experience.

Viewer Tabron commented that perhaps the lack of racial discussions in the “Bachelor” could stem from excessive caution, given the many mishaps during James’ season. She noted that with Matt’s season, the show attempted to tackle tough conversations but ended up handling them quite clumsily.

In my perspective, my season took an unexpected turn due to the emergence of pictures showcasing Rachael Kirkconnell at a party themed around the antebellum South. The ensuing uproar was intense, and Chris Harrison, then our host, stirred more controversy when he defended her in a heated interview on “Extra.” This interview, where she was a correspondent, only added fuel to the fire. Eventually, after almost 20 years with the franchise, Chris decided to step down. (Although I pursued a relationship with Rachael during that time, our bond dissolved amidst the controversy. However, we reconciled in 2021, only to part ways again earlier this year.)

Later on, James accused the all-white team behind the production of breaking their promise to portray him as a successful Black man who overcame numerous personal and professional obstacles. In an interview with The Times last year, Graebner stated that the show failed Matt and that resources for production were set up during later seasons, which were not available during James’ season, leading to many issues on multiple fronts.

Ellis competed on the season of “The Bachelorette” featuring Jenn Tran, who was the first Asian woman to lead the show. Despite being presented as a significant step forward and a progressive choice, this season, which primarily lacked Asian male contestants, has been criticized by long-term viewers as the franchise’s most disappointing point.

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In a candid conversation, Rachel Kirkconnell discusses her parting ways with ‘The Bachelor’ personality Matt James. She reveals that she was taken aback when he publicized their separation through social media posts.

In the final live show, a visibly upset Tran disclosed that Devin Strader, the man she had planned to marry, had called off their engagement a month prior to the broadcast. Strader appeared on stage shortly after, prompting tears from Tran as they showed clips of her happy proposal to him. The audience criticized the show for causing Tran to re-experience her heartbreak in real time on television.

Gray remarked that ‘The Golden Bachelor’ and Joey’s season were overflowing with kindness. However, how Jenn was handled resurfaced old resentment about the way racial minorities have been treated in such shows. The viewers expressed a sentiment like, “We don’t attend these programs to witness people being mistreated.

Following the final episode, it emerged that Strader was detained in 2017 under suspicion of breaking into his former girlfriend’s home. Remarkably, he failed to disclose this arrest during his interview for the series.

Gray expressed worry about the lack of information regarding past incidents involving this franchise, specifically past police reports. The question arises: Can one feel secure joining this establishment? It’s crucial that women can rely on the casting department as a final safeguard.

Gray emphasized that there’s still potential for “The Bachelor” to thrive, particularly if the producers infuse more humor and levity into the series. She suggested they should seize this moment to reevaluate the show’s leadership and consider its unique qualities. In her opinion, a dash of fun is needed to breathe new life into it.

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2025-03-25 13:33

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