The Bachelor season 28 has been announced by ABC, and there are many details to know about it. The Bachelor premiered in 2002 and has become one of the most popular reality dating competition shows. Its spin-offs, The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise, are also highly successful. In addition, The Golden Bachelor will premiere in fall 2023. Other franchise series have included Bachelor Pad, The Bachelor Winter Games, The Bachelor Presents: Listen to Your Heart, and The Bachelor: The Greatest Seasons Ever!
Regarding successful marriages, The Bachelor is the least successful series in the Bachelor franchise. Only one lead, Sean Lowe, married the woman he proposed to on the show, Catherine Giudici. Two other couples, Matt James and Rachael Kirkconnell, and Zach Shallcross and Kaity Biggar, are currently together. Matt and Rachael have been dating since they reconciled after his season in April 2021. Zach and Kaity have been engaged since he proposed during his finale, which aired in March 2023. It’s time to share facts about The Bachelor season 28.
The Bachelor Season 28 News
As predicted, a contestant from The Bachelorette season 20 was chosen as the next official Bachelor. In August 2022, it was announced Joey Graziadei would be the star of The Bachelor season 28.
One of the most significant changes to The Bachelor in season 28 is the exit of show creator Mike Fleiss. Mike announced his departure from the franchise the day after The Bachelor season 27 aired in March. Claire Freeland, Jason Ehrlich, and Bennett Graebner will take his place as franchise executive producers and show-runners. Although Mike has been associated with the Bachelor franchise for over 20 years, he hasn’t been involved in the day-to-day operations of the shows in about ten years.
Still, many blame Mike for the problematic issues with the shows. In addition, former Bachelorette Kaitlyn Bristowe has accused Mike of hating women. It will be interesting to see what, if any, changes happen with The Bachelor season 28 now that he’s no longer part of the franchise.
The Bachelor Season 28’s Potential Release Date
The Bachelor season 28 doesn’t have an official release date yet. However, it makes sense that a new Bachelor season will likely air in early January 2024. Since Jason Mesnick’s season in 2009, the show has premiered in January. In 2022 and 2023, ABC scheduled The Bachelor in January, followed by The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise.
In 2022, Clayton Echard’s season aired from January 3 to March 15, followed by Rachel Recchia and Gabby Windey’s Bachelorette season from July 11 to September 20. Then, Bachelor in Paradise aired from September 27 to November 22. This schedule repeated in 2023, with Zach and Charity’s seasons, followed by Bachelor in Paradise season 9. This works well, as The Bachelor and The Bachelorette constants can head to Paradise. ABC will likely stick to this schedule in 2024, beginning with The Bachelor season 28 in January.
The Bachelor Season 28 Lead
In August 2023, it was announced Joey from The Bachelorette season 20 would be the star of The Bachelor season 28. His casting comes from his connection with Charity, who admitted she had established a better relationship with Dotun Olubeko. His vulnerability and sensitivity led him to be cast as the next Bachelor. However, there were other predictions in mind before his casting was announced.
For years, Bachelor Nation has been outraged about the lack of diversity in the franchise. The casting of Clayton and Zach greatly upset fans, who were very vocal about their preference for a person of color in the role. They hoped Rodney Mathews (The Bachelorette season 18) or Nate Mitchell (The Bachelorette season 19) might take the lead. Ethan Kang, who would be the first Asian American Bachelor, was another popular choice from The Bachelorette season 19. Unfortunately, these contenders will have to wait another season for their shot at being the star of The Bachelor.
People have also been asking for the first Bachelor from the LGBTQ+ community. Bachelor Nation is ready for something different, especially since all the previous Bachelors have been white men. The exceptions are Juan Pablo and Matt. In the past, many Bachelor stars have been chosen from The Bachelorette seasons that have aired directly before them, thus leading to Joey’s casting.
The Bachelor Season 28 Cast
The Bachelor season 28 cast has been revealed, featuring nationwide women of various ages. According to Bustle, a Hawaiian woman named Lea was shown to be the first cast member of season 28. The rest of the female cast members are:
- Allison, 26, Philadelphia, PA
- Autumn, 26, St. Louis, MO
- Chandler, 25, New York, NY
- Chrissa, 26, Abbotsford, BC
- Daisy, 24, San Diego, CA
- Edwina, 25, Atlanta, GA
- Erika, 25, North Bergen, NJ
- Evalin, 28, San Antonio, TX
- Jenn, 25, Miami, FL
- Jessica, 24, San Diego, CA
- Katelyn, 25, Santa Fe, NM
- Kayla, 27, Hamilton, OH
- Kelsey A., 25, New Orleans, LA
- Kelsey T. 31, Los Angeles, CA
- Kyra, 25, Miami, FL
- Lanie, 27, Philadelphia, PA
- Lauren, 28, Philadelphia, PA
- Lexi, 30, Atlanta, GA
- Madina, 30, Charlotte, NC
- Maria, 28, Kleinburg, ON
- Marlena, 26, West Palm Beach, FL
- Natalie, 25, Sudbury, ON
- Rachel, 26, Rancho Cucamonga, CA
- Samantha H., 30, from Nashville, TN
- Samantha W., 25, from Miami, FL
- Sandra, a26, Nashville, TN
- Starr, 25, Delray Beach, FL
- Sydney, 28, Newport, RI
- Talyah, 23, Huntington Beach, CA
- Taylor, 23, Chicago, IL
- Zoe, 23, Roswell, GA
In addition to the cast members, it’s almost certain that Jesse Palmer will return as the host. Bachelor Nation alumni sometimes make appearances during group dates, or if a friend is a leading man, so there could be additional cast members there.
The Bachelor season 28 will most likely follow the same format as previous seasons. However, with a significant behind-the-scenes shake-up after Mike’s exit, there’s a good chance that the show’s overall atmosphere could change. Zach’s season saw a shift away from drama, with more of a focus on the love stories. Hopefully, season 28 will do this as well. While the specifics aren’t known, one thing is sure: The Bachelor season 28 has the potential to be the most dramatic yet.
Sources: Variety, Bustle
