Tyra Banks Orchestrates ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Crossover with ‘The Bachelorette’
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For those of us who spend Monday nights swaddled in a blanket watching The Bachelorette, ABC is looking to keep the roses and the Rosé flowing. In what would be the monster of all crossovers, we might be seeing two of the biggest faces of reality television swap shows. Chris Harrison and Julianne Hough might just be what the network needs to dominate the ratings after a year of disappointing numbers.
Tyra Banks Wants Chris Harrison to Join Season 30 of ‘Dancing with the Stars’
Tyra Banks, host and executive producer of Dancing with the Stars, is reportedly eyeing Harrison to join the cast of Season 30. Harrison served as the host of The Bachelor franchise since 2002. He exited the franchise this year after making remarks about contestant Rachael Kirkconnell’s racism controversy. The 49-year-old received a $9 million payout after hiring Bryan J. Freeman, the same lawyer who represented America’s Got Talent judge Gabrielle Union. Harrison is now looking for a new gig.
“At first Chris thought he was being approached to join the show as a host,” a source told Radar Online. “He was a little upset when he realized Tyra wanted him as a contestant, but after he got over his bruised ego, Chris didn’t say ‘no.'”
Unfortunately for Harrison, Banks is calling the shots now and is sticking to her role as host. He does have a ton of hosting experience but the only potential role for him on Dancing With the Stars is as a contestant. Each season of the show usually features someone controversial. Last season, Tiger King’s Carole Baskin was the talk of the town. She was the second contestant eliminated but generated over 8 million viewers for the premiere episode.
“After the way he left The Bachelor it has not been easy for Chris to find a new gig right away,” an insider added. “Which is why something like Dancing With The Stars might work. It will give Chris a chance to change his narrative from the white guy who made insensitive racial remarks to reminding everyone why they fell in love Chris in the first place.”
ABC is Also Eyeing Julianne Hough to be the Next Lead on ‘The Bachelorette’
After Harrison’s exit from The Bachelor franchise, the ratings for The Bachelorette are lower than ever before. The premiere episode without Harrison garnered just 3.59 million viewers. Season 29 Dancing with the Stars winner Kaitlyn Bristowe and Bachelorette star Tayshia Adams are currently serving as co-hosts of Season 17 to assist Katie Thurston on her journey to find love. Adams has also expressed a desire to compete on Dancing with the Stars.
After The Bachelorette‘s ratings came as a bit of a disappointment, ABC is looking for ways to spruce up the show. Michelle Young has already been confirmed as the leading lady for Season 18 in the fall. Traditionally, a season of The Bachelor follows each season of The Bachelorette.
Things are definitely changing on ABC and rumors have begun circulating that the network is eyeing Hough as the lead for a future season. Hough has served as a pro dancer and a judge on Dancing with the Stars along with a short stint as a judge on America’s Got Talent.
“Now that Julianne won’t be returning to Dancing With the Stars this fall, they think people would love to see her somewhere else on the network,” an insider told OK! Magazine.
Hough filed for divorce from her husband Brooks Laich five months after they announced their separation in 2020. The couple quarantined separately amid the COVID-19 pandemic. She struck up relationship rumors with longtime friend Ben Barnes earlier this year. Hough is now single and ready to mingle. ABC thinks the perfect place for her to do this is in front of the cameras. A big name will certainly give the show a ratings boost after years of declining viewership.
Would you watch The Bachelorette if Hough was the lead looking for love?
An ‘American Idol’ Winner Performs on the Show
Season 17 American Idol winner Laine Hardy serenaded Thurston and her lucky date during the recent episode of The Bachelorette. He performed his new song “Memorize You” on the show. He is continuing on his countrywide tour later this week.
American Idol and The Bachelorette might be another crossover that ABC needs to win over the ratings. After all, ABC viewers have proved their love for country music time and time again. It’s up to the network now to figure out more ways to make the show appealing to the masses again.
