ABC leans into unscripted with fall slate, orders senior Bachelor spin-off

Bachelor in Paradise is one of several unscripted shows renewed by the ABC network

Disney-owned US broadcaster ABC is leaning into unscripted programming for its fall schedule amid the American writers’ strike, renewing a host of reality shows, competition series and gameshows and ordering a spin-off from The Bachelor focused on seniors looking for love.

The Golden Bachelor, produced by Warner Bros Unscripted Television in association with Warner Horizon, is described as following a hopeless romantic who is given “a second chance at love in the search for a partner with whom to share the sunset years of life.”

The spin-off series will air on Monday nights alongside Dancing With the Stars, which will air simultaneously on ABC and Disney+ this year after airing exclusively on Disney+ last season.

The ABC network also renewed The $100,000 Pyramid, Celebrity Jeopardy!, Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, Press Your Luck, Shark Tank, Judge Steve Harvey, Bachelor in Paradise and America’s Funniest Home Videos, in addition to reviving hidden camera series What Would You Do?

On the scripted front, ABC is putting several strike contingency plans in place, including scheduling encore airings of mockumentary sitcom Abbott Elementary in its fall schedule.

The network also said the timing for its previously announced greenlights and renewals, which include 9-1-1, Abbott Elementary, American Idol, The Bachelor, The Conners and The Good Doctor, would be announced at a later date. Other scripted series still awaiting a premiere date due to the ongoing WGA strike are Grey’s Anatomy, High Potential, Not Dead Yet, The Rookie, Station 19 and Will Trent.

“We are proud to be home to beloved series and meaningful narratives that audiences continue to embrace, and we’re fortunate that our solid, stable roster continues to leverage the enormous success of our established hits, with originals airing every night of the week,” said Craig Erwich, president at Disney Television Group.

Elsewhere, Disney’s majority-owned streamer Hulu has ordered 20 additional episodes of reality TV series The Kardashians. The renewal of the series, which is executive produced by Fulwell 73’s Ben Winston, comes ahead of the show’s season-three launch on May 25. Other exec producers on the project include Emma Conway, Elizabeth Jones, Kim Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Khloé Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian and showrunner Danielle King.