Reality Check: Chris Harrison, former 'Bachelor' host, returning to TV

Chris Harrison, who left his long stint as host of ABC’s “Bachelor” / “Bachelorette” franchise in 2021 following backlash over racially charged comments, is returning to TV with a dating show on a new cable network.

"People got to know and love me for two decades hosting ‘The Bachelor,’ so, yes, we are going to be creating a reality dating show” on a channel set to be launched by Phil McGraw’s Merit Street Media on April 2, Harrison, 52, told the syndicated entertainment news program “Entertainment Tonight.”

Taking a swipe at a perennial bit of “Bachelor” hype, he added that, "For years and years I said, 'This is the most dramatic show ever.' We want to create a show where those words actually ring true, so this dating show will be the most dramatic ever."

The Fort Worth, Texas-based new network is in the two-city metro area where Dallas native Harrison was raised. "Call it divine intervention, karma, kismet, whatever it is, the fact that Dr. Phil created this network in my own backyard here in Dallas, it means the world to me to, not only be returning to television, but to be doing it here in a hometown crowd,” he said.

Harrison additionally will co-host a morning show with his wife, former “ET” correspondent Lauren Zima, saying, "Not only do I get to return to television, I get to do it with the woman I love.”

In a February 2021 interview with correspondent Rachel Lindsay on the program "Extra," Harrison’s comments included a heated defense of a "Bachelor" contestant accused of “liking” racist social media posts and who had attended an antebellum-themed party. Harrison later apologized and temporarily stepped down as franchise host. ABC and production company Warner Horizon that June announced the exit would be permanent.

Ramsey gets Vanderpumped

In an inevitable clash of the titans, reality TV restaurateurs Gordon Ramsay and Lisa Vanderpump will each lead a team of chefs competing against each other in season 2 of “Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars,” premiering May 22.

“Lisa is a tough, shrewd restaurateur and TV star,” Ramsay, 57, said in a statement about the “Vanderpump Rules” star. “She is a real force in business and true friend. However, make no mistake, the competition will be fierce between us!”

Premieres

“Yellowstone” meets reality TV early Monday on the streaming service Peacock with “The McBee Dynasty: Real American Cowboys,” about the titular family of Missouri’s McBee Farm and Cattle agribusiness and ranching empire. All 10 episodes drop at once, and then air weekly on USA Network starting Monday at 11 p.m. … Meanwhile, Monday night at 10, HGTV’s new “Lakefront Empire” looks at real estate agents working Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks, which fancies itself the “Hamptons of the Midwest.” Yeah, it wishes … Another new HGTV show, the spinoff “Fixer to Fabulous: Italiano,” debuts Tuesday at 8 p.m., with Bentonville, Arkansas-based married renovators Dave and Jenny Marrs turning their talents to Tuscany … Among the competitors on CBS’ “The Amazing Race” Wednesday from 9:30 to 11 p.m. are a former NFL player and his wife, a pair of firefighter moms and two Air Force pilots … and 8 p.m. Sunday, season 8 of “90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After?” looks at more couples who married after the American spouse brought their international partner to the United States with a fiancé visa.

Recaps

“The Bachelor” eliminated Maria Georgas, leaving Kelsey Anderson, Daisy Kent and Rachel Nance as the trio of season 28 finalists … and Jessica Chong was voted off the island on “Survivor.”