Chris Harrison launches Fox Nation dating show…
He’s not afraid to cross anybody the improper means.
In “Chris Harrison’s The Vow,” there are crosses adorning the wall in the interview room, and its main man attends Bible examine and prays with the ladies vying for his coronary heart immediately upon assembly them.
The ex-“Bachelor” host told The Post that he isn’t frightened about any backlash from placing religion at the forefront of his new dating show.
“No, and maybe that’s naive on my part as a producer and as a host,” Harrison said.
“But what we were excited about was this cultural movement … with more young people going to church than their parents for the first time in our country, searching for something, this connection … all we’re doing as producers is listening,” he continued. “Like it or not, we’re going to embrace that.”
“Chris Harrison’s The Vow” premiered on Fox Nation on Nov. 11. Fox Nation
Although the “Bachelor” franchise didn’t ban spiritual conversations, Harrison said “it was just something that was shied away from and not encouraged or discouraged.”
Harrison, who hosted the ABC franchise from its 2002 debut, left in 2021 in the wake of the cancel-culture controversy that erupted when he defended Season 25 winner Rachael Kirkconnell after photos resurfaced of her at an antebellum-themed school get together.
The actuality star said he seems at his “conscious uncoupling” with the franchise as “a blessing,” since it led him to internet hosting the Fox Nation sequence, which he calls “the most authentic, intentional dating show ever.”
“Not to say it wasn’t tumultuous and gut-wrenching and tough for me and my family, but at the same time, sometimes you need … that thing that will cause that catastrophic breakup so you can go your own way,” Harrison, 55, said.
Jace Cates, a 30-year-old loan officer from Canby, Ore., gained the coveted function of the sequence’ main man. Fox Nation
After the teaser for the sequence — which premiered on Nov. 11 — was launched, Warner Bros., the proprietor of the “Bachelor” franchise, despatched a cease-and-desist letter, objecting to his use of roses in the promo.
“That was a little personal, obviously … I’ve been gone for five years. There’s been a lot of other dating shows that they haven’t worried about. I take it as flattery that they’re worried about me and they’re worried about our show, and I would be too considering the press and the response that it’s gotten,” Harrison said.
The sequence’ main man, Jace Cates, a 30-year-old loan officer from Canby, Ore., is the “diamond in the rough” Harrison was wanting for to fill the coveted function.
“Finding him was a little bit of manna from heaven. He really is gold. He is that good,” he gushed.
“We found 10 very dynamic, just incredible women who we wanted to start this with … people earning this spot on the show because of who they were,” Harrison said. Fox Nation
The ladies on the show had “very little” data about Cates prior to assembly him.
“I wanted them to be curious and inquisitive and excited … That excitement and that naivete and innocence of finding love, isn’t that what it’s about?” said Harrison, who is also govt producing the sequence alongside his spouse, Lauren Zima, a former senior producer and host of “Entertainment Tonight.”
Unlike “The Bachelor,” which at instances has featured more than 30 ladies competing in one season, “The Vow” only has 10.
“If you have 30, people are leaving and you don’t even know who they are. I don’t know their names,” said Harrison.
“We wanted all 10 of them to feel like they get to tell their story. You get to be seen on this show, you get to be heard.”
Once the feminine contestants met Cates, they have been elated, with one even saying, “Chris Harrison totally delivered.” Brian Zak/NY Post
The contestants, who embody a virgin, churchgoers and ladies who need to be stay-at-home mothers and conventional wives, have deep conversations about essential topics such as raising kids and religion.
“You’re gonna hear and see conversations on ‘The Vow’ you’re not used to hearing and seeing on reality TV,” Harrison said.
“If you’re going to make the most important decision of your life — who you’re gonna spend the rest of your life with — maybe you should dig a little deeper. Seems obvious, but nobody does that. We’re going to.”
When Harrison revealed Cates on Instagram, somebody commented that he seems like “a mix of Tim Tebow and Rob Gronkowski.” “Yeah, it looks like Gronk and Tebow had a baby,” Harrison told The Post, laughing. Fox Nation
“The Vow” also nixed elimination ceremonies, so Cates can ship a lady home at any second — and the women can self-eliminate whenever they need as nicely.
“If you would like to break up … you need to have a conversation,” Harrison said. “We’re not gonna let you know, ‘It’s 10 o’clock. Time to break up.’
“Because that’s not authentic, is it? … And by the way, it’s what a gentleman should do.”
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