The Bachelorette (American TV series)
A gender-swapped dating competition revived after a three-year hiatus.
The Bachelorette is an American reality dating competition series that first aired on ABC on January 8, 2003. A spin-off of The Bachelor, it is a central part of the larger Bachelor franchise. The inaugural season featured Trista Rehn, who had been the runner-up on the first season of The Bachelor, giving her the chance to select a husband from a group of 25 men. The 2004 season also cast a runner-up from the prior Bachelor season. After its last episode on February 28, 2005, the show went on a three-year hiatus before returning to ABC in spring 2008, after which it became a regular part of the network’s summer schedule.
For the first 16 seasons, Chris Harrison served as host. During season 16, JoJo Fletcher filled in temporarily while Harrison isolated after taking his son to college. In March 2021, the show announced it would air two seasons for the first time. Season 17 premiered on June 7, 2021, with former Bachelorettes Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe as hosts. Season 18 premiered on October 19, 2021, with Adams and Bristowe returning as co-hosts. In March 2022, it was announced that a single season would feature two Bachelorettes. Season 19 premiered on July 11, 2022, with Jesse Palmer as host. While season 11 had two Bachelorettes in its first episode and season 16 featured two consecutive Bachelorettes, this was the first time two women led together for the entire season. On February 10, 2024, ABC renewed the series for a twenty-first season, which premiered on July 8, 2024. On February 7, 2025, the show was announced to be on hiatus for summer 2025. In September 2025, ABC renewed it for a twenty-second season, originally scheduled to premiere on March 22, 2026. However, three days before that premiere, ABC canceled the season due to an ongoing domestic assault investigation involving Bachelorette Taylor Frankie Paul, related to a domestic violence incident from 2023.
The show’s plot follows the same rules as The Bachelor, essentially reversing the genders. A single bachelorette—usually a former contestant from a recent Bachelor season—meets a pool of romantic interests, typically 25 men, who could become her husband. She greets each contestant individually as they enter the mansion. After each rose ceremony, at least one contestant who does not receive a rose is eliminated, narrowing the field until only two remain for the final rose ceremony.
Quick Facts
- Runtime
- 40–125 minutes
- Executive Producer
- Elan Gale
- Presenter
- Chris Harrison / Tayshia Adams / Kaitlyn Bristowe / Jesse Palmer
- Genre
- Dating game show
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Network
- ABC
- First Aired
- 2003-01-08
- Last Aired
- present
- Num Seasons
- 21 (1 unaired)
- Num Episodes
- 234
- List Episodes
- List of The Bachelorette (American TV series) episodes
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Bachelorette revolves around a single bachelorette, usually a former contestant from a recent Bachelor season, and a pool of romantic interests (typically 25). The show starts with the bachelorette greeting each male contestant individually. After each rose ceremony, at least one contestant does not receive a rose and goes home, eventually leaving the bachelorette to decide between two contestants in the final rose ceremony. For the final selection, one of two male suitors proposes to the bachelorette. Unlike its parent show, the first sixteen seasons ended with a proposal which the bachelorette either accepted or declined. The series has resulted in five marriages: Trista Rehn to Ryan Sutter, Ashley Hebert to JP Rosenbaum, Desiree Hartsock to Chris Siegfried, Rachel Lindsay to Bryan Abasolo, and JoJo Fletcher to Jordan Rodgers. The first two weddings were broadcast on ABC. Season 16 was the only season that did not hold an After the Final Rose special due to circumstances over the COVID-19 pandemic and Christmas holiday.
Reader's Guide
The Bachelorette is significant as a revival that transformed from a short-lived spin-off into a long-running summer staple. After its initial run from 2003 to 2005, the series returned in 2008 following a three-year absence and has since aired annually. The show has introduced notable casting twists: Season 11 had the 25 men choose between two potential leads; Season 13 featured the first African-American lead in the franchise; Season 16 had two consecutive bachelorettes; Season 19 was the first with two leads for the entire season; Season 21 featured the first Asian-American lead. The show faced questions of authenticity, with creator Mike Fleiss admitting in 2010 that contestants were developed into characters and that the show needed 'villains.' A 2018 book by Amy Kaufman detailed producer manipulation tactics. The series also saw host changes: Chris Harrison hosted for 16 seasons, then stepped away in 2021 after which Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe co-hosted seasons 17 and 18, with Jesse Palmer taking over from season 19. In 2025, the show was placed on hiatus for summer 2025, and a planned 22nd season was canceled days before its premiere due to a domestic assault investigation involving the lead.
Did You Know?
- The Bachelorette debuted on January 8, 2003, as a spin-off of The Bachelor.
- The series was revived in spring 2008 after a three-year hiatus, last airing on February 28, 2005.
- Season 22 was canceled three days before its scheduled premiere due to an ongoing domestic assault investigation involving the lead, Taylor Frankie Paul.
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