The inaugural season premiered in 2002. Serves as the flagship for The Bachelor franchise, which has given rise to spin-offs. The show revolves around a leading man who embarks on dates with 25-30 women eliminating contestants each week until he is left with one woman to whom he intends to propose.
The first bachelor was Alex Michel, who worked as a management consultant. Season 5 brought Jesse Palmer into the spotlight. He eventually became the host of the franchise after Chris Harrison stepped down. Season 11 remains memorable because Brad Womack chose not to propose to either of the finalists during the finale episode. Seasons 13, 22, and 24 surprised viewers as Bachelors decided to end their relationship with the winner in order to pursue a connection with their season's runner-up. Nick Viall's season (season 21) sparked controversy. Marked his fourth appearance on a Bachelor show. Peter Weber's season (season 24) was filled with drama when former Bachelorette Hannah Brown returned and reignited emotions.
Matt James made history as an American bachelor and his relationship with Rachael Kirkconnell sparked significant controversy due to her alleged past involvement in posting racist photos.
To delve deeper into the drama and triumphs, across seasons of The Bachelor check out the list of seasons from best to worst below:
The Bachelor - Season 17
The 17th season of The Bachelor premiered on January 7 2013 featuring Sean Lowe, a Kansas State football player, from McKinney, Texas. Throughout the season Lowe went on dates in locations such as Montana, Alberta (Canada) St. Croix (United States Virgin Islands), and Thailand. Eventually, Lowe proposed to Catherine Giudici. During this season there were 25 contestants along with one contestant from Bachelor Pad and an unexpected mystery woman. Sean and Catherine got married in 2014. Now they have three children.
This particular season consisted of a total of 13 episodes. Started on January 7, 2013.
Also Read: Bachelor Nation’s Couples Unforgettable Love Stories Beyond Reality
The Bachelor - Season 1
Moving back to the season of The Bachelor that premiered on March 25, 2002; Alex Michel was chosen as the bachelor for the show at the age of 31. He worked as a management consultant. Among the group of 25 contestants competing for his heart was Amanda Marsh, who worked as an event planner. However, even though Michel didn't propose to Marsh at the end of the show's run they decided to pursue a relationship that ultimately didn't last long. Trista Rehn was also part of this season's cast. Later became the lead, in The Bachelorette's first season.
Also Read: Most Controversial Contestants Of The Bachelor
The Bachelor - Season 20
The 20th season of The Bachelor showcased Ben Higgins, a 26-year software salesman, from Warsaw, Indiana. Throughout the season Ben took the contestants on adventures in locations like Las Vegas, Indiana, Mexico City, the Bahamas, and Jamaica. Eventually after going through dates and rose ceremonies Ben proposed to Lauren Bushnell, a flight attendant from West Linn, Oregon.
In total, there were 12 episodes in this season of The Bachelor which premiered on January 4th, 2016.
The Bachelor - Season 7
Season 7 of The Bachelor aired on March 28, 2005. Introduced Charlie O'Connell, a 30-year actor, as the bachelor. The season concluded with a twist – O'Connell chose Sarah Brice as the winner. Didn't propose to her. Instead, they decided to start a relationship that proved to be quite tumultuous. They broke up in 2007, got back together in 2008 and eventually split again in 2010. In 2018 O'Connell tied the knot with model and actress Anna Sophia Berglund.
This season consisted of a total of nine episodes. Premiered on March 28, 2005.
Also Read: Behind Closed Doors: Real Stories From The Bachelor Contestants
The Bachelor - Season 19
Moving on to Season 19 of The Bachelor which debuted on January 5 2015. This season, featured Chris Soules from Arlington, Iowa – a farmer looking for love. Soules took his dates to locations such as San Francisco, Santa Fe, Deadwood, and Des Moines while getting to know the thirty contestants. Ultimately Whitney Bischoff, a fertility nurse, is from Louisville, Kentucky. Won Soules' heart. He proposed to her. Unfortunately, their relationship didn't stand the test of time as they decided to end things after celebrating their six-month anniversary.
The Bachelor - Season 26
The 26th season of The Bachelor introduced Clayton Echard, a 28-year medical sales representative. Clayton had previously appeared on season 18 of The Bachelorette, with Michelle Young. Through a process involving dates Clayton ultimately chose Susie Evans as his partner. However, despite their connection, they didn't get engaged immediately. After the show ended they rekindled their relationship in December 2021. Unfortunately decided to go their ways in September 2022 as revealed during their interview with Kaitlyn Bristowe, on her podcast Off the Vine.
Total Episodes; 12
Season Premiere; January 3rd, 2022