The team of executive producers from ABC’s “The Bachelor” had a lot to celebrate when they appeared at a panel during the Television Critics Assn. winter press tour in February. They were eager to highlight the veteran franchise’s winning streak over the last few years.
“The Golden Bachelor,” the spin-off focused on older adults looking for love that starred 72-year-old widower Gerry Turner , was a solid hit. The network had just announced pickup of “ The Golden Bachelorette .” Charity Lawson, the most recent “Bachelorette,” got engaged.
Season 28 of “The Bachelor,” with hunky tennis instructor Joey Graziadei, was also performing well. With its gorgeous exotic locations, charismatic leads and rose-colored romance, the franchise was firing on all cylinders. “It’s just about telling true, authentic love stories and hoping that the journey to get there is engaging, entertaining and compelling for the audience,” executive producer Claire Freeland said.
But one question punctured the upbeat vibe. “Why does it seem that ‘The Bachelor’ and ‘The Bachelorette’ have such a hard time dealing with racial issues in-depth?” asked National Public Radio‘s television critic Eric Deggans, referencing the fiery controversies surrounding the first two Black leads — Rachel Lindsay and Matt James — that culminated with both personalities bolting from the franchise. Attempting to shift the focus from the past, Freeland responded, “I can speak to whe.