It’s been seven years since Ben Higgins handed out roses — however does the season 20 Bachelor see an finish in sight for the franchise?
“The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, there was a golden period,” the 34-year-old actuality TV not too long ago stated on Us Weekly’s “Right here for the Proper Causes” podcast, including that one of many causes the collection was so widespread previously was as a result of “it simple to persuade folks to look at it.”
Higgins continued: “We didn’t have a variety of competitors. And so the factor that made it distinctive and particular, and that did separate it from what it’s right now, is the truth that most people you knew in your circle of pals had been getting collectively to look at and discuss in regards to the present. And that’s not the case anymore.”
The previous ABC star cites social media and extra relationship exhibits on streaming platforms as causes the viewership could possibly be down.
“All people was speaking about it, all people was criticizing it, all people was celebrating it, all people was in it. And now, , for those who watch The Bachelor, you’re not on an island alone — there’s nonetheless many individuals that watch it — but it surely’s a smaller island than it was,” he stated.
Higgins agreed that it’s time to “modernize” the present a bit, however famous that “by some means they do give you one thing new and totally different each season” earlier than the ultimate rose is handed out.
“If I used to be in cost, this might be my huge residence run,” he instructed Us. “I might actually lean into this senior relationship present. I feel it’s one thing new. I don’t assume tv has ever seen something prefer it. I feel the tales would return to what we’re used to watching with regards to The Bachelor and Bachelorette — these tales are gonna be heartwrenching. They’re gonna be inspiring. In case you’re 50 or 60 years outdated and also you’re relationship on nationwide tv, that takes a variety of threat. It takes one thing model new that you simply haven’t accomplished ever in your life and that you simply’re not used to, however you’re additionally gonna have a variety of life expertise to share with the viewers and with the opposite contestants and with the suitor.”
Higgins believes that the spinoff — which has been teased by ABC since 2020 — could possibly be “hilarious” and heartwarming.
“I really feel like this era that’s of their 20s and 30s, we get criticized for not leaning on our aged for knowledge and recommendation. And I do assume that’s one thing we must be doing — listening to the voices which were by means of this earlier than. However I additionally assume that we’re tremendous curious to grasp this era that’s older than us as a result of there’s so many issues totally different between the 2 generations, proper?” he continued. “And so this might give us an entire new intrigue and outlook on, ‘Why do they are saying the issues they are saying? Why do they assume the way in which they assume? Why are they so gradual to select up new developments in expertise on this world?’ I feel this might be nice. So I might simply lean into that. [I] assume it may change a season of the present as a result of I feel it might be a house run.”
When requested if he’s pitching himself as host of the spinoff, Higgins didn’t hesitate. “Oh, I’ve accomplished it since they began asserting it. I’ve wished to be the host of that present because the second I first noticed the business, I stated, ‘That is my dream,’” he admitted. “I’m not asking for lots from the present. I haven’t requested for something in years, however I’m ensuring that it’s identified that in the event that they want anyone — I’m not making an attempt to take Jesse Palmer away from the present — simply let me, like, be there as the drugs passer outer or, like, not the bartender, simply let me determine what blue tablet to place within the bottle.”
Whereas each Palmer and season 17 Bachelor Sean Lowe had been readily available to offer the newest lead, Zach Shallcross, recommendation, Us requested Higgins what suggestions he would’ve given the 26-year-old who got here underneath fireplace for declaring he wasn’t going to have intercourse on the present — solely to sleep with finalist Gabi Elnicki and suggest to now-fiancée Kaity Biggar.
“I feel most individuals know Sean and I share the identical religion custom. I’m a Christian [and] there are issues about that you simply sort of put some boundaries up on or values or morals. However Sean and I, perhaps, don’t see eye to eye on all these issues bodily, however we do come from the identical religion custom,” Higgins instructed Us. “What I might’ve instructed Zach was, ‘Hey, you possibly can have your emotions, you possibly can have your convictions, however, at this cut-off date particularly, is not only about you. That is not your season of The Bachelor. That is you and these ladies making an attempt to determine if that is gonna work or not. And so these huge subjects that are huge story strains which are gonna be dramatic they usually’re gonna be headlines and all these items, maintain ’em to your self buddy. Like, you’ve made it this far, you don’t want to offer the present something extra. Hold it to your self. Speak about it behind the door, discuss it between the 2 of you. You’ve gotten two weeks left and most of these two weeks are gonna be off digicam.’”
Higgins recalled saying “I like you” to each Lauren Bushnell and JoJo Fletcher throughout his 2016 season as an analogous misstep. (Higgins and Bushnell cut up in 2017 after a couple of 12 months collectively and he married Jessica Clarke in 2021.)
“I stated I liked you [to] two folks proper earlier than the tip of the present. I didn’t want to try this!” Higgins instructed Us. “And so I simply would’ve instructed him, ‘Hey, discuss it behind the closed doorways. You guys figured this out collectively. You’re accomplished. You’re on the house stretch.’”
Whereas ready to seek out out if the franchise has discovered its senior Bachelor, Higgins has stored himself busy — not too long ago touring to the Colombia/Venezuela border with Undertaking Hope, a company that he’s been on the board of for a couple of 12 months.
“That is my first official journey with them to see what was occurring on the bottom, which I feel was actually necessary for me and actually necessary for actually anyone that’s concerned in a company to do is to see the work being accomplished with your personal eyes,” Higgins defined, including the group makes a speciality of healthcare and catastrophe aid. “The previous couple of years, there’s been an enormous migration of Venezuelans to Columbia. I feel it’s about 1.8 million folks have gone to Columbia. There may be an open border now and it’s nice that individuals are capable of finding houses and sort of get to a spot the place they really feel comfy they usually can begin sort of afresh and a brand new, the one concern is that this inflow has put an enormous stress on the healthcare system in Columbia.”
Undertaking Hope is readily available to assist with medicines, coaching and assets.
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“We visited a variety of hospitals, psychological well being hospitals that Undertaking Hope is concerned in. That was one thing I’ve by no means accomplished both inside the US or outdoors of the US, have by no means gone into a spot the place individuals are getting important psychological healthcare,” Higgins continued. “That was a very unbelievable expertise. [We also visited] the maternity models inside a number of the hospitals that exist there in Cucuta that primarily are are serving to Venezuelan refugees. We met a variety of the ladies who had both traveled throughout the border or who had been dwelling in Columbia on the time, having their infants.”
