What Did You Think of Host Jesse Palmer in ‘The Bachelor’ Premiere? (POLL)

Paige Strout
1 Comment
'The Bachelor,' Season 26 Premiere Host Jesse Palmer
ABC/John Fleenor

The Bachelor is officially back for a brand-new season full of fresh faces, fresh drama, and most notably, a new host. Following host Chris Harrison’s exit from the franchise, former Bachelor star and TV host Jesse Palmer rose to the occasion on January 3, making his franchise hosting debut on the Season 26 premiere.

Sharing an NFL background with star Clayton Echard, Palmer has served as an ESPN sports analyst since 2007 in addition to his plethora of hosting gigs on shows like Good Morning America, ABC News, The Proposal, and most recently, ABC’s The Ultimate Surfer. Palmer was officially announced as host in late September.

'The Bachelor' Star Clayton Echard Wins Us Over With His Honesty (VIDEO)
Related

'The Bachelor' Star Clayton Echard Wins Us Over With His Honesty (VIDEO)

After Harrison’s exit last spring, Bachelor Nation favorites Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe took over Bachelorette hosting duties for Season 17 and 18, and Bachelor in Paradise Season 7 featuring a lineup of celebrity guest hosts. The Bachelor remained without an official host during its near-year-long hiatus, though Emmanuel Acho did fill in as host of Matt James’ After the Final Rose Special in March 2021.

During his debut episode, Palmer promised to be a helping hand to Echard, telling fans, “I’m ready to do all that I possibly can to help Clayton find his soulmate.” Following his initial announcement as host, the former athlete said, “I am humbled by the opportunity to return to the show as host this season to offer the newest Bachelor advice gained from firsthand experience and I am grateful to play a small part in his journey.’

Though unconfirmed, Palmer is rumored to continue his role as host for future seasons, in addition to The Bachelorette, according to Variety sources.

Just as his casting received mixed reviews from fans, his first episode got a similar reaction, with some even joking that he and Echard looked very similar in their appearance and styling.

Others enjoyed his familiarity and experience on the show, making him a qualified confidant to help Echard during his journey for love (while also poking fun at his similarities to Harrison).

What did you think of Palmer’s first episode of The Bachelor? Are you excited to see him in future seasons? Vote in the poll below!

The Bachelor, Mondays, 8/7c, ABC

The Bachelor (2002) - ABC

The Bachelor (2002) where to stream

The Bachelor (2002)

Chris Harrison

Clayton Echard

Jesse Palmer




Most Popular Stories on TV Insider
Vanessa Ray as Eddie and Will Estes as Jamie Reagan — 'Blue Bloods' Season 14 Episode 15
1
Vanessa Ray Says Jamie and Eddie Will Be Tested in Final ‘Blue Bloods’ Episodes
'Doctor Who' Best Episodes
2
15 Best ‘Doctor Who’ Episodes, Ranked
Ken Jennings - Final-Jeopardy
3
Are You a ‘Final Jeopardy’ Genius? Test Your Brainpower With This Week’s Clues
Matthew Byars
4
Matthew Byars’ Cause of Death Confirmed as Bravo’s Housewives Mourn
the simpsons fox
5
‘Simpsons’ Bonus ‘Treehouse of Horror,’ ‘Franchise’ Finale, Thanksgiving ‘Somewhere,’ Modern ‘Little Women’ Leads Holiday Movie Parade