Roughly five and a half years after his controversial departure from ABC's flagship dating franchise, former host Chris Harrison is returning to reality television with a new dating competition series, Chris Harrison's The Vow. Premiering Wednesday, November 11, 2026, on the streaming platform Fox Nation, the six-episode project marks Harrison's first time hosting a dating show since 2021. Reflecting on the turbulent period that ended his nearly two-decade tenure on The Bachelor, Harrison now characterizes the high-profile firing as both an initial shock and a long-term positive that allowed him to reset his career and personal life.

Produced by Lionsgate Alternative Television, The Vow was co-created and executive produced by Harrison alongside his wife, former Entertainment Tonight host Lauren Zima, whom he married in 2023.

Stepping back into the unscripted romance genre from his current home base in Austin, Texas, Harrison described the television comeback as an emotional and cathartic milestone after years away from the network spotlight.

Reflecting on a Tumultuous 2021 Franchise Exit

Harrison served as the face of The Bachelor and its various spinoffs from the franchise's inception in 2002 until 2021. His tenure ended abruptly ahead of the finale of the 2021 season featuring Matt James, the franchise's first Black lead. Harrison became the center of controversy after defending contestant Rachael Kirkconnell during an interview regarding photographs of her attending an antebellum-themed fraternity formal in 2018. The remarks drew widespread backlash, leading to his permanent exit from the ABC series.

In recent media appearances promoting his new series, Harrison offered candid assessments of how the split affected him. According to the Los Angeles Times, Harrison described the departure as "a real gut punch, really tumultuous," noting that the fallout was particularly difficult on him and his family.

At the same time, Reuters reports that Harrison characterized the move by his former employers as personal and "par for the course" in the television industry.

Despite the immediate fallout, Harrison told The Hollywood Reporter that he now views the firing as "a bit of a blessing." He revealed that he was in the middle of a contract negotiation with the studio at the time and had already been questioning whether it was time to leave the franchise. He noted that the contract situation probably played a larger role in his departure than was initially reported.

"I don't know if this lightning-bolt moment hadn't happened, if I would have stepped away," Harrison explained in his interview with The Hollywood Reporter.

He added that the forced hiatus allowed him to watch his children graduate from high school, fall in love, get married, and build a new television project from the ground up.

Inside 'The Vow' Format and Release Schedule

While The Vow retains a foundational structure familiar to dating show audiences, the producers have deliberately stripped away the signature mechanics of Harrison's former employer. The series follows 30-year-old Jace Cates, a mortgage loan officer from Canby, Oregon, as he dates 10 women with the explicit goal of finding a wife. The show centers heavily on Christian faith, shared values, and traditional marriage, with Cates stating in the premiere episode that his life revolves around his friends, family, and his relationship with God.

Unlike The Bachelor, the Fox Nation series features no rose ceremonies, no formal elimination nights, and no "fantasy suite" overnight dates.

Instead, the format relies on real-world compatibility challenges designed to test long-term commitment outside of a manufactured reality television environment. However, the show still maintains a link to Harrison's past: The Vow features an appearance by Sean and Catherine Lowe, who met and married after Season 17 of The Bachelor in 2013.

Regarding the show's rollout, The Dallas Morning News, the Los Angeles Times, and The Hollywood Reporter report that the six-episode season premieres with two episodes on Wednesday, November 11, followed by weekly Wednesday releases until the December 9 finale. Meanwhile, Variety reports that the streamer is rolling out one episode per week following the November 11 launch through the December 9 conclusion.

Legal Friction With Warner Bros. Television

The promotional campaign for The Vow quickly reignited tensions between Harrison and Warner Bros. Television, the studio behind The Bachelor. In an early promotional teaser for the Fox Nation series, Harrison was shown throwing a red rose—the iconic symbol of the ABC franchise—onto the ground and threatening to step on it.

The marketing stunt prompted Warner Bros. Television to send a cease-and-desist letter to Fox Nation and Lionsgate, alleging intellectual property infringement. In its letter, the studio stated it had no objection to Harrison hosting a new dating show, but argued that the networks had promoted the project entirely on the back of The Bachelor rather than on its own merits. Fox Nation fired back with a statement accusing Warner Bros. of targeting Harrison in a "malicious and vindictive" manner.

Speaking with The Dallas Morning News, Harrison called the legal warning personal, but ultimately chose to view the studio's reaction as a compliment. "It's a sign of flattery. I think it's a sign of respect," Harrison said, suggesting the studio's response indicated "a little buyer's or maybe breakup remorse" as his new series generated pre-premiere buzz.

Frequently Asked Questions

What specific production choices distinguish 'The Vow' from 'The Bachelor'?

Beyond its explicit focus on Christian faith and traditional marriage, The Vow removes the structured elimination mechanics of The Bachelor. There are no elimination ceremonies, no final roses handed out, and no designated overnight "fantasy suite" dates.

The series instead focuses on real-world compatibility challenges among Jace Cates and the 10 female contestants.

How does Harrison's role on 'The Vow' compare to his former job?

On The Bachelor, Harrison served primarily as the on-camera host for a format created by others, noting that the ABC franchise "wasn't my baby." On The Vow, Harrison is the co-creator and an executive producer alongside his wife, Lauren Zima. He has been involved in every phase of the production, from casting and format development to sitting in on the post-production editing process.

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