ABC Officially Canceled ‘The Bachelor Summer Games’

Photo credit: Bob D'Amico - Getty Images
Photo credit: Bob D'Amico - Getty Images

From Cosmopolitan

Update, 3/30/20: Welp, ABC went ahead and canceled The Bachelor Summer Games because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. As upsetting as this is, it’s for the best and makes sense considering the Tokyo Olympics are postponed until 2021. Variety confirmed the news but didn’t shed any light on when we can expect the show to air. Since it was supposed to line up with the official Summer Games, the show will likely come back whenever the Olympics do.

Original Story, 3/11/20: You know what the world clearly needs more of? Bachelor franchises. Because frankly, The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, and Bachelor in Paradise simply aren’t enough to quench the internet’s thirst for messy drama, and honestly, what are we even supposed to do in the months between The Bachelorette and Paradise? Like, work on our own relationships? Please.

Chris Harrison heard society’s pleas because ABC announced The Bachelor Summer Games, a new reality show where former Bachelor Nation contestants were to compete in Olympic-style sporting events (HAHAHAHAHA) while also, presumably, getting messy and hooking up. Unfortunately, there’s a rumor it might be canceled. Here’s what we know thus far:

It Was Supposed to Air Right After The Bachelorette...

ABC already has a pretty full Bachelor lineup, so you might be wondering how Summer Games fits in. If ABC doesn’t cancel this season, like Reality Steve suggested might happen, ABC exec Rob Mills recently revealed that the show will air after The Bachelorette and before Paradise:

“It’ll be Bachelorette, Summer Games—what’s nice about Summer Games is when we did Winter Games, Bachelor was still airing, so it was a lot....This is just Summer Games, and then Paradise will start."

While no premiere date has been confirmed, The Bachelorette usually wraps up its season in late July—which means the show could coincide nicely with the actual Summer Olympics from July 24 to August 9. Assuming Summer Games is following the same format as its predecessor, Winter Games, we’re looking at just four episodes spread out over two weeks.

Photo credit: Giphy
Photo credit: Giphy

Expect Sports AND Thirst

Rob Mills confirmed that this’ll be a legit sporting EVENT, saying, “It’s going to be so fun seeing these people in these great, you know, track and field, swimming...this is a real Olympics.”

Sure, Jan! But either way, expect to see a dating element. During Winter Games, ~singles~ competed in sporting events and got date cards for their efforts—and Canada’s very own Benoît Beauséjour-Savard and Clare Crawley even got engaged. (Yes, they’ve since split. Obviously.)

Photo credit: Paul Hebert - Getty Images
Photo credit: Paul Hebert - Getty Images

The Cast Isn’t Confirmed Just Yet

But! Robert Mills did say he’d like to see former Big Name Bach Stars like Colton Underwood, Jordan Rodgers, and JoJo Fletcher on the season. And if the show follows in the footsteps of Winter Games, contestants from international Bachelor franchises will also be included. This is the Olympics, after all!

Photo credit: Giphy
Photo credit: Giphy

^ Colton showing off his athletic fence-jumping abilities.

Expect Some Special Appearances

Winter Games had guest appearances from figure skating champs Tai Babilonia and Randy Gardner, not to mention living legend Nancy Kerrigan. Plus, The Bachelor’s very own Trista and Ryan Sutter showed up along with Rachel Lindsay and Arie Luyendyk Jr. Who knows who might pop up during Summer Games, but let’s just hope Hannah Brown manages to escape because she’s been! through! enough!

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