It feels like just yesterday that the latest season of The Bachelor wrapped up in dramatic fashion but, before it even came to an end, fans had already begun turning their attention to The Bachelorette. Back in February, it was announced that Clare Crawley would take the title role in the new season, but then the coronavirus pandemic happened. So with this stumbling block, how will The Bachelorette handle things during Crawley’s season?
Clare Crawley’s season of The Bachelorette was already being impacted before it was postponed altogether last month. This even included a now-canceled trip to Italy. So where do things stand now? Well, series host Chris Harrison has now provided some insight and, believe it or not, Crawley’s season won't ignore the coronavirus or how it affected production. Speaking on the situation, Harrison told People:
When we shoot Clare’s season, it’s going to be indicative of what’s happening in the world. Obviously there will be talks of the pandemic and, ‘What were you doing quarantining and who were you with?’ Those are going to be the conversations that we’re going to embrace. And then when you watch Clare’s season, 20 years from now, you’re going to think, ‘What? What were these people doing? Why did they not hug? Why were they scared to embrace?’ And that’s kind of the beauty of this show is it always embraces what’s happening in the real world.
The fact that viewers can indeed expect The Bachelorette to dive head-first into the coronavirus pandemic is interesting. One could argue this is going to cause the popular reality TV show to become more topical than it's ever been. And it's pretty difficult for it not to be given COVID-19's impact behind the scenes.
Production on the season is still up in the air, which has led speculation that Season 16 will have to recast the bachelors that were initially set to court Clare Crawley. However, that possibility probably won't break the hearts of those who were weren't impressed with the original cast.
As most know by now, The Bachelorette is far from the first reality series to be delayed due to the coronavirus. Yet it remains to be seen if any of those other shows will actually mention COVID-19 directly.
Before the coronavirus came into the picture, Clare Crawley’s season of The Bachelorette, there was already quite a bit of info known about it. At one point, it even looked likely to get spoiled before it aired. This doesn't mean that fans still didn't have a few questions, though. For example, will Clare’s past with her Bachelor ex, Juan Pablo Galavis, also come into the equation?
Outside of The Bachelorette's upcoming season, the long-running franchise has been affected by the virus in another way, as former Bachelor Colton Underwood recently tested positive for it.
Clare Crawley’s season of The Bachelorette was initially set to premiere on May 18 but, at this time, a new return date has yet to be announced by ABC. So fans will just have to wait a bit longer for the answers to their questions.
But while you wait for The Bachelorette to arrive, this spring’s premieres will give you something to look forward to. Among them will be the spinoff, The Bachelor: Listen to Your Heart, which premieres Monday, April 13 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
