Fans who have been watching The Bachelorette for the last 18 years will be in for something completely new this go-around. Chris Harrison stepped away the franchise following a bout of controversy, and former contestants Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe were brought as replacement hosts for Katie Thurston and Michelle Young’s back-to-back seasons. Reportedly, the new hosts are attempting to adjust to their duties and the shadow of Harrison’s absence.
Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe aren’t new to Bachelor Nation. Both have competed on the flagship show and several of the spinoffs over the years. But of course, going on dates and being marooned on a Mexico beach is a bit different than managing the dramas of dozens of contestants on a reality show. US Weekly recently learned more about how Adams and Bristowe are faring as hosts now that Katie Thurston’s season has wrapped. One of their sources said:
Tayshia and Kaitlyn have had to learn how to cohost and it’s taken time. They’re lovely to work with and they get along with the crew. It’s just completely different with them cohosting.
The concept of co-hosting does sound a bit finicky. I mean, do they trade off speeches? Are they assigned their own team of contestants that they manage? Answers to these questions remain unknown until the back-to-back Bachelorette seasons air in the summer and fall. But Kaitlyn Bristowe did open up recently about the hosting experience on her podcast and said it brought out some latent "trauma or anxiety" that she hadn't dealt with from her own Bachelorette season.
However, it has been reported that The Bachelorette set feels different and slightly awkward for the cast and crew for several reasons. The most obvious one is that many are apparently sentimental for Chris Harrison’s “father figure” presence that Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe lack. A source even indicated to E! News that the men of the show felt they couldn’t have “therapy sessions” with the new hosts. Allegedly the two hosts have had to learn to emulate Harrison’s ability to be “the voice of reason” on set.
The supposed complaints are somewhat understandable for the franchise, which hasn’t made too many changes over the last two decades. But growing pains are bound to happen with Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe taking on the hosting duties. Another source confirmed to US Weekly, however, that the two are doing everything they can to make good impressions. They said:
They act professional, they’re on time and are helping the franchise as much as they can in this funky situation.
Supposedly though, the production team behind The Bachelorette was told “specifically” that Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe are “not replacing Chris.” Moreover, the changing of the guard is not a “permanent position.” This ominous message makes it seem as though the door is being kept open for Harrison’s return once the backlash from the Rachael Kirkconnell controversy dies down.
Perhaps though, Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe will deliver something as hosts that fans will really respond to. We will find out when Katie Thurston’s season premieres June 7 at 8 p.m. E.T. on ABC.
