Chris Harrison is set to make his TV comeback as the host and creator of a new reality dating series, three years after permanently leaving The Bachelor franchise.
Following his controversial exit from ABC's hit show and its spinoffs, which he hosted from 2001 to 2021, the 52-year-old television presenter has signed a deal with Phil McGraw's new cable broadcasting network Merit Street Media.
While details of the new reality dating series are being kept tightly under wraps, Dr. Phil teased to Entertainment Tonight that it will be 'so different.'
'It has dating elements in it, but this is so different and so novel. It is flipping the script in a way that I think people are gonna become addicted to it in a week,' the television personality, 73, said. 'It is unbelievable.'
Chris Harrison is set to make his TV comeback as the host and creator of a new reality dating series, three years after permanently leaving The Bachelor franchise (seen in 2020)
Additionally, Harrison and his wife, Lauren Zima, who he wed last year in Napa Valley, California, will co-host a morning talk show, expected to debut in the fall or winter on the network.
The outlet confirmed it will film at Merit Street Media's studios, located in Dallas, Texas, where he is from and the duo reside.
'Call it divine intervention, karma, kismet, whatever it is, the fact that Dr. Phil created this network in my own backyard here in Dallas, it means the world to me to, not only be returning to television, but to be doing it here in a hometown crowd,' Harrison added.
Harrison and Dr. Phil first began working together after the father-of-two stepped up to do 'some very penetrating field work having to do with some of these romance scams, these catfish type things.'
'He's so good on camera,' Dr. Phil added. 'When he walked out for the first time, the audience went insane.'
While creating the new dating show, the author recalled telling Harrison: 'If you want to do a relationship show, you can, but think bigger and broader. This is a blank slate.'
'People got to know and love me for two decades hosting The Bachelor, so, yes, we are going to be creating a reality dating show,' Harrison said. 'For years and years I said, 'This is the most dramatic show ever.' We want to create a show where those words actually ring true, so this dating show will be the most dramatic ever -- that you can be sure of.'
As for getting to work with his wife on a morning show, Harrison gushed: 'Not only do I get to return to television, I get to do it with the woman I love.'
Following his abrupt and controversial exit from ABC's hit show and spinoffs, which he hosted from 2001 to 2021, the 52-year-old television presenter has signed a deal with Phil McGraw's new cable broadcasting network Merit Street Media (Dr. Phil pictured last month)
Additionally, Harrison and his wife, Lauren Zima, who he wed last year in Napa Valley, California, will co-host a morning talk show, expected to debut in the fall or winter; seen in June 2022
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Meanwhile, Zima is looking forward to having a platform for them to be 'silly and to play.'
'I also think the morning show is gonna be a place to be silly and to play,' she told readers. 'We want to give people a light, fun, entertaining moment in their mornings in a time when a lot of what's out there is tough.'
'Our relationship is a big part of the morning show,' Zima concluded. 'The morning show we're pulling together is gonna be a place for us to play, to have fun. What matters the most to both of us has always been our audience, so we want to be able to connect with them. What's more relatable than talking about our relationship and what's going on in our own lives?'
Following the news, Harrison wrote on Instagram that he is 'incredibly excited to announce' he and Zima's 'next chapter' in their television careers.
'Call it divine intervention, karma, kismet, whatever it is, the fact that Dr. Phil created this network in my own backyard here in Dallas, it means the world to me to, not only be returning to television, but to be doing it here in a hometown crowd,' Harrison raved
Meanwhile, Zima is looking forward to having a platform for them to be 'silly and to play' (seen in May 2023)
'We have joined @meritstreetmedia a new television network being launched by the one and only @drphil There are many reasons why this opportunity is the perfect fit for us. I can’t wait to see you all again, very soon,' he wrote.
His wife cheekily commented: 'What’s more binding…getting married or co-hosting a show together? : ) i love you and I’m so proud of you.'
In January, Harrison opened up about the devastating aftermath of his racism scandal on The Bachelor in 2021 on his podcast, titled The Most Dramatic Podcast Ever.
Harrison said he was 'sick to my stomach' following the interview where he defended contestant Rachael Kirkconnell after she was pictured at a 2018 antebellum-themed fraternity formal. 'And I lost 20 pounds. I didn't sleep. I didn't eat.'
'I also think the morning show is gonna be a place to be silly and to play,' she told readers. 'We want to give people a light, fun, entertaining moment in their mornings in a time when a lot of what's out there is tough'
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'I was scared to death of - not of my job, but of my family. My fianceé, who God bless Lauren Zima for being there every step of the way… I worried about my kids. I worried about my family, my mom, my dad, my brother, all my loved ones, my friends,' he recalled.
He also stated he was disappointed with himself following the interview: 'I was heartbroken. And I was gutted. I was embarrassed. I was mad at myself. I was disappointed in myself.'
'The last thing in the world I ever wanted to do was be an agent of anything negative. Whether it had to do with race, or anything, the fact that I was involved in this and that I had a big part in this, I do own that,' he added.
In January, Harrison opened up about the devastating aftermath of his racism scandal on The Bachelor in 2021, which caused him to lose sleep and drop 20 pounds; pictured in 2014
'I was scared to death of - not of my job, but of my family. My fianceé, who God bless Lauren Zima for being there every step of the way… I worried about my kids. I worried about my family, my mom, my dad, my brother, all my loved ones, my friends,' he recalled on his podcast earlier this year (seen in 2015)
Harrison faced backlash in 2021 after he spoke about the resurfaced photos of Bachelor season 25 contestant (and later winner) Rachael from a college party to which she wore an antebellum-style dress.
During the interview, he told Rachel Lindsay, who is the first Black Bachelorette, that fans need to have 'a little grace, a little understanding, a little compassion' for Kirkconnell.
The backlash from the chat lead to Harrison - who served as the host of The Bachelor and its spinoffs, The Bachelorette and The Bachelor in Paradise, since 2002 - stepping away from Bachelor Nation in June 2021.
