Chris Harrison Plots TV Comeback: Is He Out for Revenge?

Despite a contentious battle and hefty payout to Chris Harrison at the end of his tenure in the Bachelor franchise, he has been quiet for a while.

Many assumed that this is the result of an agreement to not make waves in the aftermath of this year’s controversies.

But according to a new report, Chris is actually spending a lot of time just … enjoying his life.

That doesn’t mean that he’s not interested in a television comeback, however.

An inside source spoke to Us Weekly about Chris Harrison’s current state of mind and his plans for the future.

“Chris Harrison is truly doing great,” the insider assured.

“He’s really enjoying this time with his kids,” the source added, “and growing his relationship with Lauren [Zima].”

“He lives a low-key life in Texas,” the insider continued.

The source detailed that this of course is “when he’s not taking trips or going on vacation.”

50-year-old Chris has two teenage children, 19-year-old Joshua and 17-year-old Taylor, both from his prior relationship with Gwen.

“He’s soaking in these moments of not working,” the insider shared.

“And,” the source added, Chris is “taking time for himself and his family.”

“He celebrated his 50th birthday last month,” the insider pointed out, “and recently celebrated his anniversary with Lauren.”

Chris began dating 33-year-old Lauren Zima in 2018.

“He sees this time as almost a new chapter of his life,” the source characterized.

“And,” the insider revealed, Chris “is figuring out what’s going to be his next best move.”

Chris has been the longtime host of the entire franchise, but stepped down in February.

Amidst Rachael Kirkconnell’s worrisome history related to racist social media posts, Chris went overboard in defending her.

Not only did he speak over others, he used red flag phrases like “woke mob” that showed fans that he wasn’t quite the man whom they had assumed him to be.

It wasn’t for another four months that Chris’ step down from the role became permanent.

He reached a massive, 8-figure settlement with ABC in exchange for going away quietly, though details on that arrangement are scarce.

Since then, ABC has used a rotating array of familiar faces as temporary hosts, presumably while contemplating a more permanent replacement.

While Chris stepping down and away from the show was appropriate at the time, even his critics know that he is not an evil man by any means.

As host, he should not be creating his own controversies while addressing existing ones.

At the same time, reports have made it clear that he did realize his mistake. 50 is not too old to learn to be better, after all.

Chris is reportedly not clinging to bitterness after his very public removal from the series.

“He still keeps in touch with some crew and former Bachelor and Bachelorette cast members,” the insider reported.

“Everyone who was close to him on the show really misses him,” the source added, “and wishes he [were] still part of the show.”

“He reads messages from fans and posts on social media,” the insider noted.

“Although he’s not the host anymore,” the source continued, “he still loves Bachelor Nation.”

“And,” the insider shared, Chris “isn’t one to hold any grudges, especially [with] the fans, after what went down.”

“He really misses them,” the source expressed.

“He isn’t watching Paradise,” the insider detailed. Similarly, Chris hinted that he did not watch The Bachelorette, either.

“But,” the source explained, “he comes across headlines and gets tagged and tweeted at on social media.”

“He’s for sure going to make a comeback in the near future,” the insider teased.

“And,” the source added, “will announce his return to TV once everything is set in stone.”

The insider explained: “He’s not ready to retire just yet.”

Bachelor Nation: Which Couples Are Still Together?

The Bachelor and The Bachelorette are TV shows with a goal that you don’t need Bachelor spoilers to figure out:

Set up a man or woman with his/her soulmate.

Heck, nearly every season ends with a proposal, right? Yet, over time, almost no proposals end in actual marriage.

By the numbers, few duos from Bachelor Nation last months; let alone years; let alone an entire lifetime together.

Have there been exceptions to this rule?

Oh yeah, look at Jason and Molly. Or Sean and Cat. Rachel and Bryan. Even Arie and Lauren … or JoJo and Jordan.

Nevertheless, it’s an arduous, uphill battle.

See Hannah Brown and Jed Wyatt. Oof. Or Peter Weber and Hannah Ann, or Peter and Madison, for that matter.

Their engagements lasted … days? Hours?

These are unique cases, and yet … not. Heck, Peter and Kelley Flanagan broke up too. Dude was 0-for-3 in 2020!

The fact is, it’s hard out there for duos spawned by this franchise to make it work, as we saw repeatedly last year.

If you recall, Colton and Cassie broke up last summer. Followed by Becca and Garrett. Then even Ashley and J.P.

Such a brutal year, 2020.

Fortunately, 2021 is looking up Clare and Dale back on, Tayshia and Zac going strong, and now Katie and Blake.

Heck, even Matt and Rachael are giving it another go after his disaster of a season. Perhaps there is hope yet!

Looking back now, which duos are still living happily ever after after the final rose was bestowed?

Take a look at notable couples from The Bachelor and Bachelorette and see if they’re still a romantic item now.

1. Katie Thurston and Blake Moynes

Katie thurston and blake moynes engaged
Katie Thurston and Blake Moynes are engaged after The Bachelorette finale and banging each other senseless in the honeymoon phase of their surely happy relationship. Will it last is the question. While doubts persist, particularly after the controversial departure of suitor Greg Grippo, and that may make for great gossip fodder, it’s way too early to know – and we don’t count Blake and Katie out. They are clearly very into each other and seem to have the same shared goals and dreams. Here’s hoping they continue the recent hot (or at least lukewarm) streak from the franchise’s pairings.

2. Clare Crawley and Dale Moss

Clare crawley and dale moss on the gram
Where to begin with Clare Crawley and Dale Moss? These two got engaged after like two weeks, peaced out of the show, and were head over heels in love before a host of usual suspects – cheating allegations, long-distance relationships, conflicting priorities, the stress of the spotlight, the honeymoon phase wearing off – derailed their romance in spectacular fashion in early 2021. Is it possible for a breakup to be surprising and yet not at all? Not as surprising as the fact that they quietly reconciled after that and appear to be making it work. Honestly, did anyone see that coming?

3. Tayshia Adams and Zac Clark

Zac clark picture
Tayshia Adams and Zac Clark, on the other hand, appear happy as can be – at least for the time being. Almost boringly so, from a gossip standpoint! After she took over The Bachelorette when Clare bounced with Dale, she went on to enjoy a relatively conventional season, culminating in an engagement to Zac. We wish these two all the best, as they certainly do seem like a great fit. You just never get your hopes up too high as a fan these days.

4. Matt James and Rachael Kirkconnell

Rachael kirkconnell with matt
What a mess. What a complete and utter mess. An unmitigated disaster that the show will take a long time to recover from, if it ever does, no one can take away the fact that it was, truly, the most shocking season in Bachelor history. (Ironically, Chris Harrison stepped down at the end of it.) Of course Matt James, hyped for months as the first Black Bachelor, would end up giving Rachael Kirkconnell – who came under fire for racially insensitive photos and comments – his final rose. He never even proposed to her (no promise ring, no nothing) on the finale, which is probably the only good news producers could’ve hoped for, as their Valentine’s Day breakup (a month before the season finale even aired) was relatively quick and painless. Yet, after all that, we’re here eating our words in August 2021, as these two are back together again, living their lives, and seemingly oblivious to criticism. Who would’ve ever guessed?

5. Colton Underwood and Cassie Randolph

Colton cassie
Colton Underwood and Cassie Randolph, as we mentioned and you probably heard if you’re reading this, broke up in late May 2020. By all accounts, Cassie was The One for Colton from the start, and it appeared that she was along for the ride long after he busted the inaugural nut. Whether they actually make it to the altar was always suspect, however, given the hesitation we’d seen on the show … and some of the bombshells he dropped in his recent memoir … and just the overall odds of reality TV relationships actually lasting. Not good. But hey. They made it over a year and as they said in their joint statement, some people are just meant to be friends instead. No shame in that truth. Of course, given her recent accusations and the restraining order she filed, there may be plenty of shame we’ve yet to learn about.

6. Peter Weber and Madison Prewett

Madison prewett and peter weber
Peter Weber was an iconic disaster on The Bachelor. So much so that it’s hard to decide which of his relationships to even include here. He began his season needing “closure” with Hannah Brown, who returned to the show for multiple episodes … then got engaged to Hannah Ann Sluss on the finale and dumped her a month later (long before the finale actually made it to air). Then Chris Harrison flew to Alabama to set Peter up with runner-up Madison Prewett, who he went public with on the After the Final Rose special. They broke up two days after. Then he got together with Kelley Flanagan, another contestant on his season who didn’t even make it to hometown dates. Good luck to her.

View Slideshow

The Bachelorette Stars Ranked By Relationship Length: Who’s #1?

As predicted by The Bachelorette spoilers, this season’s leading lady, Katie Thurston, did in fact find the one!

But as far as finding lasting love after the show?

Well, let’s just say she has her work cut out. 

Sure, making love 30-46 times since they’ve met is a great place to start, but real life has a way of taking its toll.

Last season, Tayshia and Zac Clark ended up engaged, while Clare and Dale Moss may be back together.

This was a much better year than most. It’s just hard to bank on a romance stemming from a reality TV show.

Why? It’s just the nature of the beast.

If Ashley Hebert and J.P. Rosenbaum split, after starting a beautiful family together, that’s all you need to know.

Even in the best circumstances, it’s tough.

This is a dating competition throwing two people together under a pretense that is literally impossible to sustain.

Can they transition into a new normal, grow together, and make it work? Sure, but often times, they fall short.

Which stars made their true love last?

Which ones fell in love so hard, yet flamed out so hilariously fast you can barely even call it a relationship?

And what about everyone in between?

We’ve ranked the Bachelorette stars based on who was most successful at finding love in her stint as queen.

See how they stack up from worst to first, and see if Katie can still succeed where others failed …

1. Hannah Brown

Hannah brown picture
Our most recent Bachelorette, Hannah Brown a.k.a. Hannah Beast a.k.a. Alabama Hannah a.k.a. Beast Mode, comes in first, or last, depending on your point of view. Hannah got engaged to Jed Wyatt on The Bachelorette, but that was over by the time we got to the After the Final Rose special, at which point she asked out runner-up Tyler Cameron. (That short-lived romance fizzled also.) Hopefully Clare can clear this very low bar.

2. Jen Schefft

Jen schefft
Bachelorette Jen Schefft broke up with winner Jerry Ferris on the After the Rose special because she just “wasn’t feeling it.” Not even making it to the day after the finale? As we saw with Hannah Brown, Jen set a low bar set for everyone else at least.

3. Michelle Young

Michelle young and basketballs
Michelle Young, whose Bachelorette season is set to begin later in 2021, literally can’t have a worse go of it than Hannah and Jen, unless she decides to peace out of the show altogether at some point during her quest for love. Given how unlikely that scenario is, and just how badly things ended for Jen and Hannah, we’re slotting Michelle in above them already.

4. Katie Thurston

Katie thurston and blake moynes engaged
The train wreck that is Greg Grippo aside, Katie’s season was a hit, as Thurston ended up engaged to Blake Moynes. Sure, the odds are still against them, but it sure seems like a good fit, so let’s take the glass half full attitude for now. Good luck to these lovely sexy people!

5. Emily Maynard

Emily maynard bachelorette photo
Emily Maynard and Jef Holm broke up just a few months after his proposal in 2012. He was never the right guy anyway. Should’ve picked Sean Lowe. Not that she or Sean (who is happily married to Catherine Giudici, who he met on The Bachelor) are overthinking it right now. Sean and Catherine are about as happy as a couple can be, while Emily has since married and had a bunch of kids with Tyler Johnson.

6. Andi Dorfman

Andi dorfman and josh murray on the bachelorette
Andi Dorfman found love with Josh Murray on The Bachelorette, a move that she seemed destined to make from the start despite a lot of red flags. The heart wants what it wants, we suppose … including breakups. Unfortunately, their engagement ended after only six months or so.

View Slideshow

The Bachelorette Finale: How Will Katie Recover?!?

Gone.

But not forgotten.

This might as well be the theme of next Monday’s Bachelorette season finale, as the official promo just releasedd by ABC doesn’t really focus on either of Katie Thurston’s finalists.

We don’t see a ton of Justin Glaze oor Blake Moynes in this trailer.

Instead, Katie comes across as very broken up by what transpired on the previous episode with Greg Grippo.

As you likely know by now, Grippo stomed off the show in a huff this past Monday, irate that Thurston — in his view — had led him on and was unable to reciprocate his feelings of love.

“I don’t give a f—k about the rose. I was just telling you that you filled a hole in my heart,” Grippo snapped at one point before leaving the show.

“I’ve never given up on you. I’ve fought so hard for you here …

“As much as it hurts me, I’ve reached my breaking point with this. I gave you everything. I really hope you find something.”

Based at least on this new preview. it’s evident that Greg’s departure will continue to weigh heavily on Thurston.

“I just didn’t see it ending. Not today… Greg isn’t somebody I thought would leave like this,” Katie says in the video, prior to saying she was totally in love with Grippo.

“We don’t put ourselves in a position where we have to rely on a male,” Katie’s tells her daughter, while Justin comes across as very concerned — after seemingly getting dumped.

“I hope he doesn’t take you for granted,” Glaze tells Thurston.

Elsewhere, presumptive winner Blake Moynes (if certain Bachelorette spoilers are to be believed) admits in a confessional:

“If Katie’s still hung up on Greg, then there’s no point to this.”

As Katie laments over a “heartbreaking” development and “the love” she had for one departed man, the narrator questions:

“Left brokenhearted and in tears, her worst fears realized. What will Katie do now?”

That’s the big question, isn’t it?

She’ll get engaged, according to some… including Katie herself. Sort of.

“I am in a place where I am very happy with my life and where I am. That is all I can do to continue to move forward,” Thurston previously told Entertainment Tonight.

Sounds like someone accepts a proposal to us!

“I’ve really been living under a rock this whole time, so come August 9, I’m ready to get out of the house [and] move forward with my life,” Katie added in this same ET interview.

“Just really figure things out and what the future holds for me.”

The Bachelorette finale airs on Monday, August 9 at 8/7c.

The bachelorette finale how will katie recover