The Bachelor
A single man looking for love meets a rotating group of women over several weeks, going on dates, group activities and formal elimination ceremonies as he narrows the field. The format stages romantic moments and conflicts in front of cameras, with producers arranging situations that speed up... Read more
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Streaming availability last verified: January 19, 2026
About The Bachelor
A single man looking for love meets a rotating group of women over several weeks, going on dates, group activities and formal elimination ceremonies as he narrows the field. The format stages romantic moments and conflicts in front of cameras, with producers arranging situations that speed up intimacy and create tension. Contestants compete for attention, friendships form and break, and the bachelor uses a series of meetings to decide who stays. The show keeps the end result and any long-term outcomes private until season finales and follow-up episodes, so viewers watch a mix of matchmaking, social strategy and emotional confrontations.
Created by Mike Fleiss, the series premiered in 2002 and became a staple of network reality programming. Jesse Palmer is listed as a host in the provided cast, and Grant Ellis appears as one of the featured bachelors, reflecting the show's rotating leads and recurring production team.
Despite its notoriety, the series hasn't been a major awards favorite; it rarely picks up top industry trophies. The franchise has earned attention in reality TV circles and sometimes appears on awards ballots that focus on unscripted television, but major wins like Emmys or Golden Globes are not part of the show's résumé.
The show's rituals, especially the rose ceremony, have become instantly recognizable shorthand for televised dating, and it spawned numerous spin-offs and imitators. It turned staged romance into a pop culture touchstone, inspiring parodies, memes and frequent watercooler discussion about contestants and producers. Spin-off series, reunion specials and international versions extended the format and kept it in public conversation for decades.
Critics and audiences tend to be divided, with the provided vote average of 5.1/10 reflecting mixed responses from viewers. Fans enjoy the drama and matchmaking premise, while critics point to manufactured scenarios, editing that shapes narratives and the ethical questions of turning relationships into entertainment. The show highlights how competition, spectacle and performance intersect with modern dating on television.
Details
- Release Date
- March 25, 2002
- User Ratings
- 67 votes
- Type
- TV Series
- Seasons
- 29
- Episodes
- 313
- Genres
- Reality
Cast
Jesse Palmer
Self - Host
Grant Ellis
Self - The Bachelor
Created by: Mike Fleiss
Seasons (29 seasons, 313 episodes)
Season 1
9 episodes - 2002
Season 2
11 episodes - 2002
Season 3
9 episodes - 2003
Season 4
10 episodes - 2003
Season 5
8 episodes - 2004
Season 6
10 episodes - 2004
Season 7
9 episodes - 2005
Paris
7 episodes - 2006
Rome
8 episodes - 2006
Officer and a Gentleman
9 episodes - 2006
Season 11
9 episodes - 2007
London Calling
10 episodes - 2008
Season 13
12 episodes - 2009
Season 14
11 episodes - 2010
Season 15
12 episodes - 2011
Season 16
12 episodes - 2012
Season 17
14 episodes - 2013
Season 18
13 episodes - 2014
Season 19
13 episodes - 2015
Season 20
13 episodes - 2016
Season 21
13 episodes - 2017
Season 22
12 episodes - 2018
Season 23
12 episodes - 2019
Season 24
12 episodes - 2020
Season 25
12 episodes - 2021
Season 26
12 episodes - 2022
Season 27
11 episodes - 2023
Season 28
11 episodes - 2024
Season 29
9 episodes - 2025