The Bachelorette

For one night, at least, there will be A LOT on TV

Television can seem like an all-or-nothing, feast-or-famine world.
One moment, there’s little worth watching. The next, there’s an overload.
Fortunately, we’re heading into overload land. One night — Sunday, March 22 — has three debuts and two season-openers, plus the regular shows.
It opens the 15th season of “Call the Midwife” and the 22nd of “The Bachelorette.” It has the third “Forsytes” series (shown here), the 40th-or-more “Count of Monte Cristo” and the zillionth (approximately) Biblical epic.
The shows vary drastically, from the glittery “Forsytes” to the dark “Monte Cristo.” But all are ambitious. Alongside the regular dramas — “Tracker,” “Marshals,” “Dark Winds” — they’re in an overstuffed night. They are: Read more…

It’s a fresh trove for “Bachelorette” and “Stars”

Grasping for more (and younger) viewers, ABC has found a fresh treasure trove: “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.”
That show’s central character — Taylor Frankie Paul (shown here), 31 and a mother of three — has been announced as the new “Bachelorette” star.
The news comes shortly after two of the show’s other regulars were chosen for ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars.”
Both Jen Affleck and Whitney Leavitt will be dancing on the show, which starts its season from 8-10 p.m. Tuesday (Sept. 16). “Secret Lives” returns Nov. 13 on Hulu (which, like ABC, is owned by Disney). “Bachelorette,” is merely listed for some time in 2026. Read more…

ABC’s summer: games, flirting, but no “Bachelorette”

After pausing for a sports-stuffed June, ABC will start its summer line-up in July.
It will be a trimmed-down one, though, with no “Bachelorette.”
Instead, there will be two nights of game shows — including Martin Short hosting a “Match Game” revival — plus “Bachelor in Paradise” (shown here in a previous season). There will also be lots of room for reruns, plus Disney movies on Sundays. Read more…

ABC plans a summer surge

After losing much of last summer to the pandemic, the networks aren’t ready to do it again.
ABC has announced a line-up that has four full nights of non-reruns – or more, if you add in news and sports. That includes a quick return of “The Bachelorette” (now with Katie Thurston, shown here), a slow return of “Bachelor in Paradise” and a flood of games, quirks and reality. Read more…