Chris Harrison, former host of ABC's “Bachelor” franchise, will get another chance to host a reality dating show. This time, with the help of Dr. Phil.
Harrison, who left Bachelor Nation following controversy in 2021, signed an overall deal with Dr. Phil McGraw's new Merit Street Media network to host and co-create a new reality dating show, The Times confirmed. The show, currently untitled, will film at the Merit Street headquarters in Dallas-Fort Worth.
“Call it divine intervention, karma, kismet, whatever, the fact that Dr. Phil created this network in my own backyard here in Dallas, it means the world to me, not only to return to television, but to do it. “I see it here in a local crowd,” Harrison, 52, said of his general agreement with Entertainment Tonight, which first reported the news.
Harrison hosted ABC's “Bachelor” franchise for nearly 20 years, helping guide generations of reality TV devotees through the emotional roller coasters and memorable moments that defined the flagship dating series and its various spinoffs. His time as “Bachelor” emcee came to an abrupt end in March 2021.
She split from Bachelor Nation and ABC after defending season 25 winner Rachael Kirkconnell for attending an Antebellum South-themed fraternity party in 2018. Kirkconnell was one of the women who competed for love by Matt James, the first black “Bachelor” star.
Harrison addressed the Kirkconnell controversy with Rachel Lindsay, the first Black Bachelorette, in a 2021 “Extra” interview. “It never looks good,” Lindsay told Harrison at the time. And she added: “What would I represent at that party?”
The host of the “Most Dramatic Podcast of All Time” apologized for his comments in March 2021 and left the franchise months later. Three years after his controversial departure, Harrison told ET on Wednesday that his fans should prepare for “the most dramatic show ever.”
“You can be sure of that,” he added.
Dr. Phil, who ended his eponymous daytime series after 21 seasons last year, also boasted about Harrison's new show, telling ET that audiences should expect something “so fresh, so different.” According to the outlet, McGraw encouraged Harrison to take his dating show to the next level.
“If you want to do a relationship show, you can do that, but think broader and broader,” McGraw said. “This is a blank slate.”
As part of his overall deal, Harrison will also co-host a weekday morning show with his wife, Lauren Zima. He will also contribute to additional Merit Street programming.
McGraw's Merit Street, established in partnership with Trinity Broadcasting Network, will officially launch on April 2.
