The Bachelor

Dating reality television series The Bachelor debuted in March 2002 and continues to captivate audiences with its romance and drama more than 20 years later. The show follows one Bachelor who is presented with a pool of women to date and ultimately selects a financée. Each week, the Bachelor goes on romantic dates, often in exotic locales, and presents roses to the women he would like to continue seeing. Those who don’t get roses are eliminated from the show, continually narrowing down the contestants until two women are left. The Bachelor is expected to propose at the end of the season.

Chris Harrison served as the show’s host for 25 seasons until a controversy involving his defense of contestant Rachael Kirkconnell led him to leave the franchise in 2021. Former Bachelor Jesse Palmer took over hosting duties starting in season 26.

The Bachelor franchise includes female counterpart The Bachelorette, which features one leading woman and a cast of male suitors. Other spinoffs include Bachelor Pad, Bachelor in Paradise, Bachelor in Paradise: After Paradise, The Bachelor Winter Games, Bachelor Live and The Bachelor Presents: Listen to Your Heart. ABC debuted the highly anticipated senior spinoff The Golden Bachelor in September 2023.