It Looks Like The Bachelor Franchise Is Already Taking Steps To Solving Their Long-Standing Problems (Will Their Actions Be Enough To Change Things For Good?)

The Bachelor franchise has been under fire for years, but after some particularly bad looks throughout the last several seasons of The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, and The Golden Bachelor spin-offs, it appears they're making changes that could help the franchise to return to its once-successful heyday. The Bachelor, which began with its initial show in 2002, has been a staple of reality TV for years, but as times have changed, so have the shows. With each new season of The Bachelor or one of its spin-offs, things need to change subtly for viewers to continue to find the show interesting.

While The Bachelor season 29 just came to a close, things for the franchise have been looking bleak throughout the last year. With Gerry Turner's season of The Golden Bachelor as a jumping off point, the show had already been facing criticism about its lack of diversity, refusal to cast leads of color, and producer interference as the new show began. After Gerry's difficult season ended in chaos, The Bachelorette season 21 continued the trend of exposing the behind-the-scenes mayhem of the franchise. With viewers struggling to stand behind the shows, it was clear that changes needed to be made.

The Bachelorette Is Taking A Break

The Show Needs New Direction

Although The Bachelorette season 21 made history by casting Jenn, the first Asian-American lead in the franchise, it was one of the most disappointing seasons of the series to date. I enjoyed Jenn as a lead, but it was clear from the start that the season wasn't cast for her, nor were the experiences curated for her. Jenn's season was difficult to watch, especially seeing that the cast of men were struggling to connect with her after gearing up to meet Maria Georgas, a contestant who declined the Bachelorette role at the last minute after initially accepting taking the lead.

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Seeing Jenn's season crumble was one thing, but the events of her live finale were another. Jenn was pushed to watch her engagement with Devin Strader, her final rose recipient, after the pair broke up in dramatic fashion and their problems were rehashed on screen. Rather than showing the episode in sequence, Bachelorette producers chose to have Jenn and Devin divulge their breakup before showing their engagement, forcing them to watch it live. The issue became a hot-button topic for viewers, who found it unethical. After the drama, The Bachelorette is taking a break before hopefully returning refreshed in 2026.

Bachelor Executive Producers Are Being Removed

They've Been Accused Of Creating A Toxic Environment

After the drama of The Bachelorette season 21 finale unfolded on screen, viewers struggled to regain confidence in the show or the production team. Watching Jenn go through something so inherently dramatic wasn't easy, and didn't leave Bachelor Nation feeling like the producers took care of the cast members, or cared for them at all. After Jenn's season went sideways, viewers prepared for The Golden Bachelorette season 1, which proved to be difficult when it was revealed men with restraining orders and difficult histories were being cast.

After drama with Golden Bachelorette and The Bachelor, the franchise EP and showrunner Claire Freeland and EP Bennett Graebner were let go. While it's possible that the dramatics and difficulties of the past could follow the shows into the future, removing the higher-ups and bringing in a new team could help to revamp the franchise while preserving the vision. With the executives at fault having been removed, things could be improving for The Bachelor franchise.

Bachelor In Paradise Is Getting A Facelift

Golden Cast Members Are Joining The Show

Bachelor In Paradise is getting a whole new feel when it returns to ABC this summer, incorporating Golden cast members along with the younger Bachelor and Bachelorette contestants. While some are averse to this idea, it makes a lot of sense to me to bring Golden cast members to Bachelor In Paradise season 10. While they won't intermingle with the younger contestants romantically, the Golden cast members deserve a shot at finding love on the beach, and can help advise the younger contestants while they do it. Bringing the Golden cast to Paradise is a step in the right direction.

Can The Bachelor Franchise Do Enough To Address Their Issues?

It May Be Too Late For Things To Change

While there's been a lot of negative buzz surrounding The Bachelor franchise in the last few months, the issues they're facing are really long-term problems that the show has ignored for years. Throughout the last few seasons of the franchise shows, it's been noticeable that things aren't going the way Bachelor Nation has hoped, and have caused viewers to struggle to connect with the shows. Now, with the franchise making positive changes and likely changing things from the inside out, it's possible and likely that The Bachelor franchise could rebound and find a new level of success.

Bachelor In Paradise will air in summer 2025 on ABC.