If you're one of the stalwart fans of Bachelor Nation, you will know that we always like to think ahead. We may still be in the early weeks of Matt James Season 25 of The Bachelor, but that doesn't mean we're not already thinking about what we might see from the franchise in the coming months. Of paramount interest right now? If we'll be treated to another season of ultra-dramatic beach-set action on Bachelor in Paradise. And, one ABC executive has opened up about whether or not the show will actually come back this year.
As fans will likely remember, 2020 reasons kept us from getting our yearly dose of hot and sweaty dates as we watched some of our favorites try to find mates on Bachelor in Paradise last summer. Naturally, though, fans are now asking if the show can come back this summer. ABC's Rob Mills, senior vice president of alternative series, specials and late-night programming, was recently asked about the status of BIP by Variety, and he had this to say:
We are hell-bent on figuring out how we make Paradise work. Unless something horrendous happens, I feel very confident that Paradise is coming back on this summer — how and where it’s going to be, it’s still too early to tell.
Well, there you have it! It sounds like there are still a lot of details to work out, but Rob Mills is, at least, confident that they can and will figure out some way to bring us Bachelor in Paradise this summer. That's a very good thing for fans, because BIP is the most free-for-all series in the franchise, with a group of (usually) 15 to 18 people who didn't find love on on either The Bachelorette or The Bachelor getting the chance to try again as sexy singles are cycled in and out of the resort.
There was a serious delay involved in filming for The Bachelorette last year, which led the typically spring / early summer show to air, instead, last fall. On top of that, the crew and potential cast for BIP, obviously, couldn't fly to the Mexican resort where they usually film because of travel restrictions. So, it was decided that skipping the season would be best, especially since the producers were hoping to keep the main shows, The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, on track for 2021 so that they could air during their usual parts of the year this time around.
They were able to make that happen with Matt's Bachelor season, as it's currently airing, and the hope is that they'll be able to keep going with the next Bachelorette season and BIP, even if they have to make some adjustments. Mills continued:
Everything is day-to-day...Obviously, we don’t want producers and cast members to be getting vaccinated early just for the show, but if people can get vaccinated, then maybe we’re back in Mexico. If not, maybe there is a bubble situation in Mexico. We will figure out something — I never know what will happen, but I feel very confident in saying that you will get Bachelor In Paradise next season.
Both The Bachelorette and The Bachelor solved the no travel / shelter in place dilemmas by having everyone involved in production quarantine before setting foot in the resorts where they filmed, then going through that process again when they first arrived, until they were adequately tested and found to have a clean bill of health. Then they were able to move about freely, the cast without masks so that they could do all of the smooching and making out the shows are known for.
Rob Mills also added that they realize how eager fans are to get BIP back on air, noting:
We take a lot of pride in how much this show means to people. This show really gives people comfort and hope. Even something as silly as Bachelor In Paradise, it really means a lot to people, and we know that, so we will do what we can to get it done.
Seeing as how the quarantine process worked for both Tayshia Adams' Bachelorette season and Matt James' time as The Bachelor, it would seem that the producers should be able to figure out where and how to film a new Bachelor in Paradise this year, so we'll just have to see if all of Rob Mills' hope can be turned into actual bikini-clad beach time in a few months.
You can watch The Bachelor every Monday on ABC, at 8 p.m. EST, but for more to watch, check out our guide to early 2021 TV premieres!
