The Bachelor will not be airing tonight, Jan. 17, to the chagrin of viewers who are just starting to get into Clayton Echard's season. So far, two episodes have aired, and this season has not been without its criticism.
The premiere featured the debut of new host Jesse Palmer. Thus far, he has not been a huge part of the season but has been a serviceable replacement for Chris Harrison. Clayton had a rocky start to his season, getting dumped by Salley Carson before any woman had a chance to step out of the limo. His bumpy night continued when Claire Heilig decided she wasn't into Clayton and the two mutually agreed to part ways. It wasn't all bad for Clayton, however, as he formed strong connections with several women, including first rose recipient Teddi Wright. On week 2, villains Cassidy Timbrooks and Shanae Ankney emerged, taking up a good chunk of the two-hour episode. Shanae's antics were especially hard to watch, when she constantly made fun of Elizabeth Corrigan's ADHD. The episode left off with Clayton finding out Cassidy had a friends with benefits back home and him asking Jesse if he could take back a rose.
For fans invested in the potential departure of both Cassidy and Shanae, they will have to wait another week for the show to return. The Bachelor will not be airing tonight, Jan. 17, due to an NFL playoff game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Arizona Cardinals. This is the first time in recent history the league has scheduled a playoff game on a Monday. It was a scheduling decision made as a result of the NFL accommodating for an expansion of the playoff picture from 12 teams to 14.
The Bachelor will return to its normal slot next week, Jan. 24, and there should be no other disruptions in the airing calendar through the rest of the season. While there have been some ugly moments early in the season, there is also a lot to look forward to. For the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the lead will take his contestants abroad for extravagant dates.
The previews have also shown Clayton falling in love with three women. There are a handful of women who could be among that trio, including former Disney princess Susie Evans, who earned Clayton's first one-on-one date. The show is likely hoping that the lower ratings that plagued this season early won't be hurt further by a one-week delay.
The Bachelor airs Mondays at 8pm EST on ABC.