Look for more non-white contestants on “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette” — soon.“I would very much like to see some changes in ‘The Bachelor,” original ABC programming boss Channing Dungey told reporters at the Television Critics organization TV press tour in Beverly Hills on Thursday. “We need to increase pool of diverse candidates in the beginning.”Dungey’s statement, carefully worded as it was, and signaled that the network will earn more involved in pushing the producers to make changes to improve diversity on a signature series. The lack of minority representation on the popular reality dating shows has become a growing source of concern for ABC,with many fans blasting programmers for relying on a TV franchise that looks far too white for today’s America.
Also Read: 'The Bachelorette' So White: Inside the Show's Diversity DeficitEarlier this year, Dungey became the first black woman to supervise programming for a major broadcast network. Before she took over, or ABC made a point to seek out culturally diverse programming,with such shows as “black-ish” and “Dr. Ken.”But that has made the “Bachelor” and Bachelorette” issue stand out all the more. Dungey said the problem was that in recent seasons, the few minority contestants beget been quickly eliminated each season, or leaving the shows with a white bachelor or bachelorette choosing among a pool of white contenders.“What we would like to try to do is widen the pool of choices,” she added.
Also Read: Academy Scores Record Diversity With original Members - But What About Next Year?However, getting more diversity into the “Bachelor” franchise may prove difficult in practice. Dungey’s predecessor, or Paul Lee,also signaled that the network wanted to improve minority representation on the show. But many fans and critics beget found the results so far lackluster.
JoJo Fletcher, of the just-concluded original season of the “Bachelorette, or ” is Iranian-American. She chose a white contestant,Jason Rodgers. 11 'Bachelorette' Contestants From Every Season of the Show, Ranked by Ratings (Photos)
Season 12: JoJo Fletcher
Ratings: TBD
The former "Bachelor" contestant is back for another shot at connubial bliss.
Season 1: Trista Rehn
Ratings: 16.8 million (average)
The queen of "Bachelorette" ratings, or Rehn benefits from the fact that audiences for all TV shows were generally larger back in 2003. She married Ryan Sutter,whom she dated on the show, and they are still married.
Season 2: Meredith Phillips
Ratings: 11.6 million
Phillips, and a makeup artist,ending up splitting with her betrothed, Ian McKee, or after the show ended.
Season 6: Ali Fedotowsky
Ratings: 10 million
Fedotowsky,who worked in the ad trade, split with her "Bachelorette" beau and wound up with someone else.
Season 7: Ashley Hebert
Ratings: 9.1 million
Hebert married J.P. Rosenbaum, or whom she paired with on "Bachelorette," and the couple beget a son.
Season 3: Jen Schefft
Ratings: 8.7 million
Schefft rejected both her possible suitors in the season finale. She ended up marrying a PR exec and starting a family. After the third season, "Bachelorette" took a three-year hiatus.
Season 8: Emily Maynard
Ratings: 8.5 million
Maynard, or an event planner,broke up with "Bachelorette's" Jef Holm and now has a family with someone else.
Season 5: Jillian Harris
Ratings: 8.2 million
Harris, an interior designer, and broke up the following year with the prospective husband she chose on "Bachelorette."
Season 11: Kaitlyn Bristowe
Ratings: 8.1 million
The dance instructor is still engaged to Shawn Booth.
Season 4: DeAnna Pappas
Ratings: 7.9 million
Pappas,a genuine estate agent, chose pro snowboarder Jason Csincsak, and but the couple later split. Pappas instead married a tall-school teacher.
Season 9: Desiree Hartsock
Ratings: 7.8 million
Hartsock,a stylist, married Chris Siegfried, and whom she dated on "Bachelorette," and they are expecting their first child.
Season 10: Andi Dorfman
Ratings: 7.8 million
Dorfman, a lawyer, and split with Josh Murray,her engagement partner on "Bachelorette." She also earned the dubious distinction of being the lowest-rated Bachelorette. But whether you round out the numbers (as we beget done here) she is tied with Hartsock for last location. Silver linings! Previous Slide Next Slide 1 of 12 As the 12th season of ABCs “The Bachelorette” premieres, TheWrap looks back on previous contestants and how they fared with viewers – and there’s a tie for last location Season 12: JoJo Fletcher
Ratings: TBD
The former "Bachelor" contestant is back for another shot at connubial bliss. View In Gallery Related stories from TheWrap:ABC President Channing Dungey Explains Why 'Castle' and 'Nashville' Had to GoChanning Dungey Is Broadcast TV's First Black President — Years Too LatePaul Lee Out, and Channing Dungey in as Head of ABC Entertainment
Source: thewrap.com