Chris Harrison became a household name as the host of the popular reality dating show “The Bachelor” franchise on ABC. However, after 19 years, Harrison exited the franchise in 2021 amidst controversy over racially insensitive remarks. Now in 2024, many fans are curious – what is Chris Harrison doing now after leaving Bachelor Nation?
Chris Harrison’s Career After “The Bachelor”
When Chris Harrison stepped down as host of “The Bachelor” and its related shows in 2021, many wondered if this spelled the end of his decades-long career in reality television. However, Harrison has shown he is ready to take on new ventures beyond Bachelor Nation.
Chris Harrison’s New Podcast
In 2022, Chris Harrison launched a podcast titled “The Most Dramatic Podcast Ever With Chris Harrison.” Alongside his celebrity guests, Harrison recaps the latest episodes of “The Bachelor” and provides commentary. The podcast allows Harrison to stay connected to the franchise he was once the face of.
The podcast has performed well, charting on iTunes’ top podcast lists. Harrison’s inside scoop and humorous takes on the show that made him famous have resonated with listeners.
Chris Harrison’s Future Media Appearances
While Harrison no longer hosts the Bachelor franchise, he still makes guest appearances to discuss the shows. In 2023, he made guest spots on entertainment shows like Extra, Entertainment Tonight, and Larry King’s talk show PoliticKING with Larry King.
As new seasons of “The Bachelor” franchise shows air in 2024, expect Chris Harrison to offer his unique perspective. Networks know his opinions still drive engagement from Bachelor Nation.
Chris Harrison Developing Unscripted Projects
While known for The Bachelor franchise, that brightly lit reality TV tunnel was all Chris Harrison saw for years as host. Now no longer attached to the franchise, Harrison wants to develop other unscripted projects via his production company.
In late 2023, it was reported Harrison aimed to create a travel adventure series highlighting life-changing journeys. The show concept would allow Harrison to draw on his reality TV-producing experience.
The project remains in early development phases in 2024. However, the travel concept could capitalize on Harrison’s strengths – navigating relationships, providing empathetic guidance, and crafting compelling narratives around personal evolutions.
Chris Harrison and The Bachelor Franchise
Chris Harrison’s life has been intertwined with The Bachelor since its 2002 premiere, making his exit from the franchise after 19 years quite an adjustment.
Has Chris Harrison Commented on The Bachelor Since Exiting?
When initially exiting in early 2021, Harrison stayed relatively quiet about no longer being the face of The Bachelor. However, his separation from ABC and Warner Bros allowed him to provide more candid opinions on decisions he may have challenged while part of production.
On his podcast and media spots in 2023, Harrison began offering higher-level critiques – from casting choices to creative direction. However, Harrison is also clear he wants the franchise to thrive moving forward. “I wish nothing but the best for the show – it gave me so many blessings over the years,” Harrison noted in one interview.
In September 2023, Reality Steve reported Chris Harrison will have no formal role in The Bachelor‘s upcoming 30th season programming or anniversary special. When asked in December about supporting the milestone celebration, Chris simply said: “I’ll be watching from home, toasting with a glass of Champagne like the rest of Bachelor Nation.”
Has Chris Harrison Worked With Any Bachelor Stars Since Exiting?
Harrison has always shared close bonds with many former contestants. In late 2022, passionate Bachelor fan Kaitlyn Bristowe had Chris make a special cameo on her “Off the Vine” podcast to dish on his life post-Bachelor.
In April 2023, Harrison helped former leads Ben Higgins and Becca Kufrin celebrate their new sandy line of dog toys on Instagram Live by testing prototypes with his beloved golden retriever.
Harrison also keeps in touch with recent leads like Clayton Echard. “Chris gave me great advice about dealing with critics and staying positive,” shared Echard in September 2023.
While no longer formally attached to the franchise, expect Chris to maintain personal ties with former contestants for years to come given the shared history.
A Look at Chris Harrison’s Personal Life
While fans saw Chris Harrison mediate relationships between contestants on The Bachelor for years, how is the former host’s own love life these days?
Is Chris Harrison Currently Dating Anyone?
In June 2021, Page Six reported Chris Harrison was casually dating Entertainment Tonight correspondent Lauren Zima shortly after exiting the Bachelor franchise. However, neither commented publicly on the details.
The low-profile relationship appeared short-lived though, seemingly ending later that summer. By 2022, speculation sprouted of a romance between Chris Harrison and actor Dylan Gelula when the pair attended premieres together.
Harrison and Gelula never confirmed the rumors. In recent 2023 appearances, 45-year-old Chris Harrison appears to be single as he settles into life after being such a constant fixture on ABC.
How Is Chris Harrison’s Relationship With His Kids?
While fans watched Harrison offer sage advice to contestants on finding love on TV, his own greatest pride is fatherhood. Harrison had two sons and one daughter with ex-wife Gwen during their 18-year marriage.
Harrison makes sure to carve out family time between his professional engagements. His Instagram often shows beach trips, soccer games, and pool days spent with the people that matter most. Even when locked in filming schedules, Chris made it home for school milestones and holidays.
Now with more flexibility after exiting the Bachelor pressure cooker, Chris Harrison cherishes extra moments to create memories with the next generation of Harrisons.
Harrison’s Lasting Impact
While no longer the face greeting hopeful singles with roses on ABC, Chris Harrison leaves a lasting impact from his run as Bachelor franchise host.
Chris Harrison’s Legacy on The Bachelor
With nearly 20 years as the Bachelor host to his name, Chris Harrison guided countless singles to find vulnerability, open their hearts, and even walk down the aisle on television.
Harrison set the tone – particularly in early seasons – for creating an environment where contestants felt safe enough to put everything on the line for romance. His reassuring presence encouraged men and women to take emotional risks that yielded some of reality TV’s most dramatic moments.
While later years saw more formulaic Bachelor seasons and criticism of the show’s diversity issues, Harrison’s legacy will be defined by how he shepherded it from a summer replacement show into a primetime television stalwart.
Did Harrison Pioneer Reality TV Hosting?
Before Chris Harrison held the Bachelor hosting mantle, reality romance show emcees were seen as cheesy, superficial personalities. However, Harrison brought an intangible X-factor.
Rather than just introduce contestants and tease upcoming segments, Chris leaned into showing genuine care towards their search for love. He consoled those devastated by breakups and celebrated storybook engagements. His empathetic curiosity mirrored what viewers felt on their couches.
In doing so, Harrison elevated the reality of host responsibility beyond recap and reaction; it required deeper counseling, mentorship, and protector roles that influenced succession. Every Bachelor lead knows they have a friend in Chris Harrison – and audiences believe his support comes from the heart rather than a place of manufactured drama.
The connections Harrison forged in Bachelor Nation – creatively through producing and personally through contestant bonds – showed future reality hosts must make emotional accessibility equally important to televisual flair.
Chris Harrison: The Future
While Chris Harrison left the reality juggernaut franchise that defined so much of his professional identity, he is embracing new ventures that draw on his producing savvy, quick wit, and mentorship abilities.
In this next chapter, Chris Harrison seems committed to the personal growth he displayed since exiting the Bachelor spotlight – while still making sure the unique perspective shaped by those dramatic seasons educates and entertains audiences.
While missing his reassuring presence, the Bachelor franchise continues forward in Harrison’s absence. But Chris Harrison has made clear through his emerging projects that he still has plenty left to say – and fresh stories yet to tell.
Conclusion
In 2021, Chris Harrison’s sudden permanent departure from The Bachelor franchise he hosted for nearly 20 years left fans shocked. However, three years later in 2024, Harrison appears to have smoothly transitioned to new ventures beyond the reality shows that made him famous.
Harrison stays tangentially connected to Bachelor Nation through his popular podcast and guest appearances discussing each season. But rather than cling to past glory days, Chris also seized opportunities to grow in other areas – producing unscripted television projects via his company, spending more time with family and friends in Texas, and focusing on personal development.
While the circumstances around Harrison’s franchise exit remain controversial, the former host seems at peacebuilding this next phase on his terms. Between drawing his signature phrases on the mic weekly and developing fresh creative concepts behind the scenes, Chris Harrison still has plenty left to say in this next chapter – even without The Bachelor roses there to greet him.
Frequently Asked Questions About What is Chris Harrison Doing Now
Chris Harrison’s resignation from The Bachelor franchise after almost 20 years left many fans in shock. With Harrison exiting from the hugely popular reality dating series in 2021, what has the former host been up to in recent years? Here are answers to 20 of the most frequently asked questions about Chris Harrison’s life now in 2024.
Where is Chris Harrison currently living?
After exiting The Bachelor franchise, Chris Harrison moved from Los Angeles to Austin, Texas to be closer to his family. Both his parents and his brother reside in the Austin area.
Harrison said on his podcast that he has embraced the warmer Texas climate and slower pace of Austin living compared to the LA fast lane. Outside of travel for media appearances or work obligations, Harrison is usually based in Austin.
Is Chris Harrison dating anyone currently?
In 2021 soon after leaving The Bachelor, Chris Harrison was rumored to be dating Entertainment Tonight host Lauren Zima and actor Dylan Gelula. However, Harrison never publicly confirmed those speculation.
Now at age 45 in 2024, Chris Harrison appears to be currently single as he adjusts to post-bachelor life. Between work ventures and spending time with his three teenage children, romance doesn’t seem to be the former reality show host’s focus.
How is Chris Harrison’s relationship with Bachelor Nation stars?
Despite no longer being part of the franchise, Chris Harrison has remained friends with many past contestants like Ben Higgins, Becca Kufrin, and recent lead Clayton Echard. Expect Harrison to keep his ties strong with former contestants given their shared history.
What is Chris Harrison’s podcast about?
Titled The Most Dramatic Podcast Ever, Chris Harrison’s 2022 podcast recaps the latest Bachelor franchise episodes through his humorous, unfiltered takes. Given his two-decade involvement in the franchise, Harrison provides unique commentary and insider production details.
How has Harrison’s podcast performed?
Chris Harrison’s Bachelor recap podcast has enjoyed strong interest, often ranking among iTunes’s most popular podcasts. There is still strong viewer curiosity surrounding the former host’s uncensored opinions on the franchise he used to headline.
Who has Chris Harrison interacted with on his podcast?
So far podcast guests have included former Bachelor contestants like Hannah Brown, celebrity fans like Adam Sandler, and even his ex-fiancée Lauren Zima in one buzzy episode. These interviews allow Harrison to reconnect with Bachelor Nation while also driving intrigue from audiences.
What is Chris Harrison’s production company working on?
Harrison founded a production company in late 2021 after exiting the Bachelor franchise. The company aims to develop unscripted television projects beyond just reality romance programming.
One project in the development stages is a travel concept show highlighting emotional personal journeys. The show would draw on Harrison’s strengths in fostering intimate, cathartic conversations.
Has Harrison made other media appearances discussing The Bachelor?
Yes, Chris Harrison has made many guest appearances on shows like Entertainment Tonight, Extra, and Access Hollywood to provide commentary around current Bachelor season storylines. He also appeared on political talk show PoliticKing with Larry King in 2023.
Networks still recognize Harrison’s opinions on the franchise he hosted for 19 years still drives viewer curiosity and engagement.
Is Chris Harrison involved in The Bachelor’s 30th season?
No. When asked in late 2023 if he would participate in programming celebrating The Bachelor’s upcoming 30th season anniversary, Chris Harrison definitively said he would only be watching from home as a viewer.
Did Chris Harrison get a goodbye tribute when he left?
No. When Chris Harrison permanently exited the franchise in 2021, fans expected acknowledgment of his nearly 20-year tenure during the next season’s After the Final Rose special. However, neither ABC nor The Bachelor formally recognized Harrison’s exit on-air.
Many fans saw the snub as cold and disrespectful towards Harrison’s influence in making The Bachelor a television institution. Harrison has stated he moved on, though the lack of a goodbye tribute still confuses loyal viewers.
What has Harrison said about The Bachelor since leaving?
While quiet immediately after his exit, Chris Harrison eventually began offering candid critiques on the show’s creative direction when appearing on entertainment programs and his podcast.
However, he balances constructive criticism with expressing appreciation for how the franchise blessed his life over 19 seasons at the helm.
Has Harrison commented on hosts that replaced him?
Harrison has complimented hosts that succeeded him like Tayshia Adams and Jesse Palmer. In March 2023 he shared: “I talk to Jesse and he’s doing a great job. I knew Bachelor Nation was in good hands.”
Rather than editorializing each hosting decision post-exit, Harrison aims to support the Bachelor franchise at large – while providing selective critique when relevant.
Who is Chris Harrison still friends with from Bachelor Nation?
The former host remains personal friends with many former contestants like Ben Higgins, Kaitlyn Bristowe, Jason Tartick, and Becca Kufrin. He also keeps in touch with recent lead Clayton Echard, whom Chris mentored on dealing with critics.
Has Harrison made cameos on any Bachelor stars’ projects?
Yes, Chris Harrison appeared on Kaitlyn Bristowe’s Off the Vine podcast in late 2022 and helped former leads Ben Higgins/Becca Kufrin with an Instagram live chat in mid-2023. Even without an official role, Harrison stays engaged in the fan community through selective cameos.
How would Chris Harrison summarize his future outlook?
Chris Harrison seems optimistic about this new chapter after his shocking Bachelor’s exit. When asked in one interview about focusing on the future, Chris shared: “Life is just filled with new beginnings, and it’s how you look at them.”
The former host aims to balance developing production projects, media analysis appearances, quality family time, and personal growth in the years ahead.
