Are you still shocked that Nick Viall has been chosen as the next Bachelor on ABC?
You’re not alone.
Nick Viall is as stunned as anyone.
A few days after Viall appeared on the Bachelor in Paradise after-show to announce the news, he’s made it clear over Instagram that he still can’t believe it’s true.
Yes, he’s appeared twice on The Bachelorette and is currently a cast member on the aforementioned franchise spinoff.
But still. He’s getting a FOURTH shot at love?!?
“The look when it hasn’t quite sunk in yet,” Viall wrote as a caption to the selfie above, adding:
“Couldn’t feel more fortunate. Incredibly thankful for all the support. We are going to have some fun! #thebachelor.”
Not everyone agrees with this assessment, of course.
There’s a petition going around to have both Viall AND Pell as the Bachelors this spring, with the women on the show eventually deciding who ought to be the sole star.
Viall, however, seems immune to the criticism.
Soon after being confirmed as The Bachelor, he posted with the After Paradise crew (above) and wrote on his Instagram account:
“Wow!! Couldn’t be more excited, nervous, and thankful for this opportunity!! It’s going to be a wild ride.
“Thank you to everyone for all their support! So thankful!!!! HERE WE GO!! #thebachelor #bachelorinparadise #thankyou.”
Most fans of The Bachelor had assumed that Pell would earn this gig, and that includes Pell himself.
He’s gone on record in saying just how close he actually got to standing alongside Chris Harrison when the series returns next year.
“We were all satisfied, had agreed to the contracts and everything was moving forward,” Pell told Us Weekly on Thursday.
“I was checked in to my flight to come to L.A. I got a call from producers Sunday night at about 10 p.m. They said ABC had decided to quote-unquote go in a different direction.
“I was supposed to fly out Monday morning at 9 a.m. I had my bags packed and everything. Most dramatic Monday ever!”
Wow, yeah. We’d say so.
Do you think ABC made the right call? Who would YOU want to see as the Bachelor number-21?
Nick Viall will be The Bachelor in the spring of 2017. But would you prefer to have seen Luke Pell picked for this position? View Poll »
Viall has finished twice as the runner-up on The Bachelorette.
Many see him as an odd selection because he’s actively involved these days with Bachelor in Paradise, meaning he’s seemingly looking for love on television this summer already.
Lauren Himle – who costarred with Viall on Season 3 of that show – told Detroit’s The Ticket radio station a few days ago that she isn’t happy with how the newly-crowned Bachelor treated Jen Saviano.
“I am not a big fan of [Viall],” said Himle.
“He dated my great friend Jen on Bachelor in Paradise … but it was my understanding that they were still seeing each other after the show completed.”
Wait… so how serious were Viall and Saviano after the ABC dating show concluded filming?
Himle said they were “still together in a relationship.”
And this was just last week!
The Bachelor producers, of course, is probably loving this controversy.
Look at how many headlines the casting of Viall has generated over the past few days?
Viewers may claim that they won’t tune in to see Viall search for a wife again next spring, but let’s face it: they will.
Even if you hate watch The Bachelor online or on television, you are still watching it.
ABC will gladly take your eyeballs and the ratings they bring in.
