ABC Renews Seven Unscripted Shows, Including 'The Bachelor' and 'American Idol'

ABC has announced the renewal of seven unscripted shows for the 2024-2025 TV season, solidifying the growing trend ofPeak Franchise TV, where spinoffs and franchises dominate the industry. The renewed shows include long-running hits like 'The Bachelor' and 'American Idol', as well as newer favorites such as 'Celebrity Jeopardy!' and 'Celebrity Wheel of Fortune'.

'The Bachelor', which will enter its 29th season, is set to debut in January 2025. The lead for the new season is likely to come from the upcoming 21st season of 'The Bachelorette', premiering on Monday, July 8th. Jesse Palmer, a former Bachelor and professional football player, will continue to host the show. The 28th season of 'The Bachelor', which followed Joey Graziadei's search for love, "averaged a 0.62 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 3.48 million viewers, up 6% in the demo and 16% in viewership compared to season 27."

'American Idol' will return for its 8th season on ABC and 23rd season overall, marking the first season without Katy Perry as a judge. Ryan Seacrest, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie are set to return, with a replacement for Perry yet to be named. Lionel Richie expressed his desire to see Kelly Clarkson, the original winner of 'American Idol', join the judging panel alongside him and Luke Bryan.

Other renewed shows include 'Dancing with the Stars' for its 33rd season, 'Shark Tank' for its 16th season, 'Celebrity Jeopardy!' for a third season, 'Celebrity Wheel of Fortune' for a fifth edition, and 'What Would You Do?' for its 17th season. However, the Gina Rodriguez comedy 'Not Dead Yet' has been cancelled and won't return for a third season.

The fates of other ABC unscripted shows, including '$100,000 Pyramid', 'The Chase', 'Generation Gap', 'The Parent Test', and 'The Prank Panel', will be determined at a later date. These renewals demonstrate ABC's commitment to its unscripted programming slate, which continues to attract large audiences and drive engagement in the era of Peak Franchise TV.