10 people from Bachelor Nation who could replace host Chris Harrison
Gabbi Shaw
- After a controversial interview, Chris Harrison is stepping aside for an undetermined amount of time.
- We've picked 10 people from Bachelor Nation who could host the show instead.
- Wells Adams or Rachel Lindsay seem like likely choices.
For the first time since "The Bachelor" began airing in 2002, Chris Harrison will be absent from the "After the Final Rose" special, due to his controversial "Extra" interview with Rachel Lindsay, in which he defended current contestant Rachael Kirkconnell, and cautioned against "the woke police."
Harrison has apologized twice thus far - in his second Instagram post about the interview, he announced he was "stepping aside" from the franchise for an undetermined amount of time.
While Harrison's statement did not indicate he is permanently leaving the franchise, there is no word on when he'll be back. So while Harrison and ABC decide what his future is with "The Bachelor," we've picked 10 people from Bachelor Nation who we think would do a good job hosting in his place.
Rachel Lindsay has already proven she has the skills as a host, both on "Extra" and on her podcasts, "Bachelor Happy Hour" and "Higher Learning."
There couldn't be a more fitting replacement for Harrison than Lindsay, the first Black lead in the franchise's history. It was her "Extra" interview with Harrison that led to him "speaking in a manner that perpetuates racism" — his own words — when he defended photos of contestant Rachael Kirkconnell at a plantation-themed college party in 2018. (Kirkconnell has also since apologized.)
Though Lindsay has said her days are numbered in the franchise, we think at least an "After the Final Rose" special hosted by Lindsay would be amazing TV.
Tayshia Adams would be another great choice - she's also been honing her hosting skills on "Click Bait," another "Bachelor" podcast.
Adams, the second Black "Bachelorette" star, has also been getting some practice, with a guest-hosting spot on "Entertainment Tonight" — which she called her "dream job" — and co-hosting "Click Bait" with Joe Amabile and Natasha Parker.
Plus, like Lindsay, she's one of "The Bachelor's" few success stories, which lends some credibility to the entire franchise.
While we might prefer Mike Johnson as the next "Bachelor," he'd also be a great Harrison replacement.
Johnson has been flexing his popularity within Bachelor Nation all year long — ever since Peter Weber's season began, people have been clamoring for a Johnson-led season. He's also a co-host of the newest official "Bachelor" podcast, "Talking It Out" with Bryan Abasolo.
He also wrote his first book, "Making the Love You Want," in October 2020, solidifying his relationship expert cred.
JoJo Fletcher took over for Harrison during "Clayshia's" season and we barely noticed a difference - that's a compliment.
When it was announced that Fletcher was temporarily stepping in for Harrison, as he had broken quarantine to take his son to college during filming, people didn't know what to expect.
Turns out, Fletcher was super fun! The former "Bachelorette" was able give Adams some valuable advice, as she had been in her position before, something Harrison is unable to say. It was also satisfying to see two women on the show speak without fighting or screaming at each other, something that's been sorely lacking this season.
Fans and contestants have speculated that Ben Higgins has already been groomed to take over for Harrison whenever he decides to retire.
Higgins, a fan-favorite lead, hosts a "Bachelor" podcast with Ashley Iaconetti (more on her later), "Almost Famous." He was also one of the emcees for the "Bachelor Live" tour, which was essentially a dry-run for Higgins as the next Harrison.
Recently, he's been promoting his book, "Alone in Plain Sight," which has sections about his time on "The Bachelor" — clearly, he's willing to discuss his personal experiences with the show, which is a good quality for the next "Bachelor" host to have.
Wells Adams has co-hosted dates with Harrison before, and he became an important part of "Bachelor in Paradise" as the bartender.
Aside from his strangely important presence on "Bachelor in Paradise" as the bartender and his co-hosting duties with Harrison during various athletic dates, Adams has legitimate experience in the broadcast field. Before he appeared on the show, he worked in radio in Nashville as an on-air personality. He even majored in broadcast journalism, like Harrison.
Adams also hosts two podcasts, "WellsCast" and "Your Favorite Thing with Wells and Brandi," which he co-hosts with Brandi Cyrus.
Ashley Iaconetti is another member of Bachelor Nation who went to school for broadcast journalism.
Iaconetti, like Adams, specifically wanted to be an on-air personality and host before coming on the show, getting her master's degree in broadcast journalism. She hosts the "Almost Famous" podcast with Higgins, as well as "I Don't Get It" with her sister Lauren and reality TV producer Naz Perez.
The "Bachelor in Paradise" star is also one of the show's success stories. She and her husband, Jared Haibon, have appeared for various dates in the last few seasons, strengthening their connection to the show.
Demar Jackson was a stand-out narrator from last season of "The Bachelorette."
We didn't get enough time with Jackson before he was eliminated, but during his time on the season, he was chosen as one of the "narrators," always ready to break down what was going on in the house, and crack a joke if need be. That's really all Chris Harrison does, anyway.
Taylor Nolan would be an interesting choice, and one that would signal the franchise is ready to discuss its shortcomings.
Nolan, a contestant on Nick Viall's season, got a bad rap during her appearance — she was pit against Corinne Olympios, a fan favorite, and that never goes well. But after she appeared on "Bachelor in Paradise," fans have come to fully embrace Nolan, and appreciate her willingness to speak about the franchise's many problems and various problematic contestants.
Nolan is also vocally sex-positive on her podcast "Let's Talk About It" and social media, something that "The Bachelor" could really use. To get a taste of what we're talking about, check out her most recent Instagram Live, where she discusses the current Harrison situation.
Becca Kufrin is the other co-host of "Bachelor Happy Hour" and the "Bachelor Live Tour."
Kufrin is another former lead who's still within the franchise's good graces, hosting an official "Bachelor" podcast alongside Lindsay and emceeing "Bachelor Live" with Higgins, two gigs that leave her in a pretty good spot to take over for Harrison.
She has also been part of one of the most brutal break-ups in "Bachelor" history, so many contestants would probably feel comfortable opening up to her, perhaps making her a more important part of the show than Harrison currently is.
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