The Bachelorhas been one of the longest-running reality TV dating shows, butthere are several reasons that the show should be canceled after its behind the scenes mistakes have started weighing heavyon the franchise.The Bachelor,which began airing in 2002, was a show like nothing the world had ever seen before. Often seen as fraught and unnecessary in its early years, the show made it clear that it was interested in capturing the fairytale romance that producers felt was every woman’s fantasy. Capitalizing on seductive, adventurous dates that were often unrealistic, the show built a large following.
The Bachelorhad everything that a reality TV dating show needed to succeed in the early years. While it was met with confusion and suspicion from viewers in its early seasons, things became more normalizedas the firstBachelorstars found loveand, eventually, ended their relationships after the show. Even though it was obvious thatThe Bachelorwasn’t necessarily churning out lasting romances,viewers became obsessed with the drama that the show created. Often positioning itself as the most dramatic reality TV show in history,The Bachelorbegan to have a life of its own after the first decade.
While things slowly became a well-oiled machine within the first few seasons, trends changed and so did reality TV sensibilities. As the genre became less unfamiliar, shows needed to push the envelope more with each passing season.The Bachelor,which had originally been more of a televised romantic experiment, made it clear thatit was going to follow trends and continually up the ante. Every season of the show became more dramatic than the last, whether it was genuine or not.FormerBachelorhost Chris Harrisoncoined“the most dramatic”phrase and used it liberally, hoping to capture viewers’ attention.
WithThe Bachelorbreathing new life into the franchise season after season, it was always written on the wall that the dam was going to break, but the series hasn’t been able to recognize that its time has been up for years. After controversy surrounding hosts, contestants, and producers over the last few years, manyBachelorNation viewers and concerned reality TV fansare ready to see the show end. While it may not be the best choice for the network or the production,the show itself may wind up collapsing inward after all of the dramaThe Bachelor’sseen.
Though there could be time and space for The Bachelor to improve, it won’t be able to do so while the show is on the air.
8Grant Ellis' Hasn’t Received The Best Reception From Viewers
This Is More The Fault Of The Show
Although manyBachelorNation viewers were excited at the prospect of Grant Ellis being the lead ofThe Bachelorseason 29, he’s proven to be a difficult lead for viewers to get behind. Though Grant has been doing a good job at leading the show and being vulnerable with the contestants, it’s been a tough sell forBachelorNation viewers who have been frustrated with the series. While Joey Graziadei ledThe Bachelorseason 28 with a sense of open vulnerability that left viewers happy,Grant is naturally more aloof in his personality.
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While Grant could be blamed for the way his season is going,the real issue comes from the producers ofThe Bachelor.From Grant’s casting being a way to bolster them withBachelorNation even though he didn’t seem like a great fit personality-wise for the lead, to the fact that the producers used Grant’s lead announcement to cover up a scandal, things have been going wrong with his season from the beginning. Grant’s reception hasn’t been warm, though, and withBachelorNation struggling to enjoy the show for years, the series should take it as a sign.
7A Few Producers Were Recently Let Go
There Were Dramatic Layoffs
Although there have beenBachelorproducers who have come forwardabout working conditions in the past, the most recent round of lay-offs and firings have seen a new wave of accusations against the leadership of the show. After severalBachelorproducers were let go, some chose to come forward about the leadership of the executive producers who were left to run the show after its creator, Mike Fleiss, left the show in 2023. EP/Showrunner Claire Freeland and EP Bennett Graebnerwere accused by anonymous former staff of creating a hostile workplace environmentin the most recent seasons.
While it’s not clear how far back the issues have gone withThe Bachelorfranchise, things have been struggling behind the curtain since 2020 when tensions began to build around a lack of diversity on the series. WhenThe Bachelorhad been called out in the past, things became more heated asthe franchise’s producers continued to refuse to answer for their behavior. With conditions having continued to steadily decline, seeing more drama exposed isn’t a good look for the franchise.
6The Bachelorette Isn’t Returning This Year
It’s Taking A Break After Criticism
After a difficult season,The Bachelorette’sproduction staff recently shared that the show won’t be returning in 2025. Throughout the last season of the show,BachelorNation was floored by just how poorly the producers treated the cast, especially lead Jenn Tran.The Bacheloretteseason 21, which wasput together in a rush by the producers after two other women refused the role, wasn’t made specifically for Jenn, and it showed throughout the season as cracks developed in nearly every facet of the show.
After Jenn saw most of the men of the season share that they weren’t actually there for love with her, but had been anticipating someone else entirely, it became clear that the series needed to take a break. Jenn’sAfter The Final Rosewas a brutal final blow that brought the lead face to face with her now-estranged winner pick, Devin Strader, to walk through their dramatic breakup before showing cruel their engagement in front of a live audience.Viewers and critics panned the showand were unsurprised when it was announced the show wouldn’t return for another season.
5The Engagement At The End Is Antiquated
The Endpoint Is Old Fashioned
Although it’s always been one of the touchpoints ofThe Bachelor,the engagement at the end of the series is a deeply antiquated notion. Whileearly seasons ofThe Bachelorwere still sharing a more traditional sensibility despite how fast the process went, as the series progressed into more modern times,the ideas behind the relationship developed on the show should’ve evolved, too. The world thatThe Bachelorwas released in was a bit more old-fashioned, even just 20 years in the past.
WithThe Bacheloroften being pressured to get engaged at the end of every season, the show sets its leads up to fail nearly every year. Rather than giving the relationships developed on screen any room to grow, change, or connect, producers push an engagement to show genuine commitment. Oftentimes, the engagements are flimsy and put-upon, ending quickly after the show’s finale airs. Rather than pressuring the leads,The Bachelorshould have gotten looser with their endpoint expectations.
4It’s The Same Drama, Every Year, On Every Show In The Franchise
There’s Nothing New To Engage With
Every year onThe Bachelor,viewers are met with the same drama – and sometimes, it isn’t even masked in a new font. Throughout the history of the series,there have been a few different styles of season, but they’re often showing a lot of the same drama from year to year. Despite knowing thatThe Bacheloris a formulaic show in itself that should infuse creativity into decisions outside of the basic premise to ensure it stays interesting, producers have pushed the same type of drama over and over.
While it isn’t always possible to create different types of drama throughout each season as a lot of it depends on the cast,The Bachelorhas worked hard to infuseits show with drama that will draw viewers in. Unfortunately, there are often moments of drama that feel rinsed and reused rather than original and distinct.The Bachelorfranchise has suffered from having very little new drama to engage with over the years, making it less interesting with each passing season.
3The Show Isn’t Connecting With Viewers
Bachelor Nation Isn’t Interested
AlthoughBachelorNation is often still loyal to the show and its spin-offs, it isn’t connecting with viewers in the way that it used to.The Bachelorhas become a show that isn’t the talk of everyone’s Tuesday morning anymore, nor is it quick to trend online as frequently. Because of the trite drama and difficult decisions made by production, the show isn’t connecting with viewers and making an impact anymore. Instead,it keeps its insular audience watching, but generates very little outside attention.
Despite knowing thatThe Bachelorcould be a massive seriesthat builds a lot of buzz around it from season to season, producers have chosen to show drama that doesn’t resonate with viewers outside ofBachelorNation.Keeping the show of interest for die-hard viewers and disengaging with outside audiencesisn’t the right move for the series. Rather than trying to find ways to break into a larger market, the show has gone stale.
2The Bachelor’s Been Embroiled In Drama For Years
There’s Too Much Happening
The Bachelorfranchise, to put it plainly, has been a breeding ground for problematic behavior and intense drama for years. Even before its most recent bout of firings and accusations,the show has faced drama in recent years that it’s refused to answer for.FromThe Golden Bachelordramato cast members coming into the series with restraining orders all over the franchise, there have been unaddressed issues for years that have left viewers confused.
With so much drama surrounding the show, especially in the way of bringing diverse cast members into the series,there’s been very little wiggle room forThe Bachelorto make mistakes. Even so, the show has made mistake after mistake throughout its most recent years. Though there could be time and space forThe Bachelorto improve, it won’t be able to do so while the show is on the air.
1The Bachelor Isn’t An Exciting Premise Anymore
It’s Played Out
Although there are still people who find themselvesinterested inThe Bacheloras a concept, it’s gotten to the point where it’s fairly played out. WithThe BachelorandThe Bachelorettesharing the same concept already,the inclusion of the newGoldenshows has pushed the concept even further. While producers don’t necessarily have the say to change things up, it’s no longer exciting to watch one lead date dozens of contestants and have their way rather than build equitable relationships.
Regardless of the fact that some still enjoy the premise of the series,The Bachelorwas created in a very different time and hasn’t made changesto become more modern. With the premise feeling played out, the show hasn’t taken the time it needs to change or grow in any capacity. Without any change, it feels clear thatThe Bachelorshould cut its losses and make the choice to bow out gracefully.
