The Bachelor franchise has a long-standing tradition of including Tell All episodes for each respective season where the cast is reunited before the final rose is handed out. These installments are stereotypically ripe with drama, too, since there is usually a lot to air out between the cast members. However, The Bachelorette Season 16, like all TV shows, has been filming under strict COVID-19 restrictions. Despite the current situation and the risks involved with in-person groupings, host Chris Harrison says he doesn’t want to just have a virtual tell-all for Season 16.
The Bachelorette Season 16 has been one of the most talked about seasons of the series thus far. The drama actually started well before the show premiered, incited by Bachelorette Clare Crawley departing the production two weeks into filming, allegedly to be with contestant Dale Moss. She was quickly replaced by Bachelor Nation vet Tayshia Adams, so there’s definitely plenty to discuss when the Men Tell All episode does come around. Currently, Chris Harrison says the production is trying to bring viewers a semblance of normalcy with the upcoming tell-all, rather than falling back and relying on a virtual episode. Here’s what he told ET:
We are trying to avoid the virtual world. If that's what we have to do, maybe, but that's not the best look. I’m looking at all these talk shows and honestly, most of them just don't look good because of the way we're trying to communicate now. It's just better to be in person, but can we do that safely? We're going to try and find out, so we're efforting very, very strongly because if there was ever a season where we needed a Tell All, this is it. There's a lot to tell all.
Hey now, I don’t think all the talk shows look bad being virtual. We’re currently in the midst of a global pandemic and the shift to less-populated formats is warranted, as well as being the safest route to go. That said, I agree that it’s more engaging to watch when everyone is there in person in person, and it might not have quite the same impact to watch The Bachelorette’s men speaking to each other about the events of the season through computer and mobile screens.
The Bachelorette quarantined its cast members in a Palm Springs resort starting in in mid-July so that they could film the show with all the proper safety protocols and guidelines in place. However, having all the contestants back in a studio might pose some additional safety issues that will have to get sorted out beforehand, though Chris Harrison wasn’t clear on what would need to be done to make it happen.
The Bachelorette’s Season 16 has only been airing for three weeks now, but there’s already so much going on. Chris Harrison went on to tease what’s in store for Episode 4, which he described as “even more incredible” than what has already transpired this season. He also believes the episodes from weeks three and four will go down in The Bachelorette’s history, presumably due to Tayshia Adams' inclusion. That tell-all can’t come soon enough!
Due to next week’s election coverage, The Bachelorette will air on Thursday, November 5 at 8:00 p.m. ET on ABC. For more on what to watch, be sure to check out our 2020 fall TV premiere guide.
