ABCNew year, new Bachelor. Nick Viall's The Bachelor debut kicks 2017 off right on Monday, Jan. 2 at 8 p.m. with a two-hour episode on ABC.
Nick survived public TV heartbreak thanks to Andi Dorfman and Kaitlyn Bristowe on two different seasons of The Bachelorette and a stay on Bachelor in Paradise. Now the roses are in his hands. According to an ABC release, Nick is "back stronger than ever, ready and eager to begin his search for true love."
Last season, season 20, The Bachelor was the No. 1 TV show on Mondays among the 18-34 demo and women 18-34.
"After all these years, and all the heartbreak, it's finally Nick's turn to hand out the roses. Will he finally find that love he's craved? He believes in finding love on the series and hopes it is his time now," ABC said in a press release.
Chris Harrison is returning as host, of course.
Fans were stunned when Nick was announced as The Bachelor in August. Speculation was running rampant that Luke Pell or Chase McNary would get the title this time around, but Chris Harrison said Nick proved himself deserving of the shot.
"Look, the good news is it's worked for him. He has fallen in love on this show and he has sincerely tried to make it work. Unfortunately, he's just come up a little bit short each time. He's done his part, he will give himself to this process. Again, at the end of the day this wasn't an indictment on Luke or Chase as much as it was more of a compliment to Nick in that he is that sincere guy who really does want to make this work," the host said.
One thing we can expect? A Backstreet Boys group date.
The Bachelor premieres Monday, Jan. 2 at 8 p.m. on ABC.