Chris Harrison Talks Love, Austin and His Return to Reality TV
The former “The Bachelor” host talks about “The Vow,” his own love story and the city he now calls home
Former “The Bachelor” host Chris Harrison left the world of Hollywood drama behind when he relocated to Austin in 2020. Now, he’s bringing the drama back with a new reality dating show, “The Vow.” Set in Austin, the show follows one man’s search for lasting connection and commitment. It premieres Nov. 11 on Fox Nation. We caught up with Harrison to talk about “The Vow,” finding love himself and what made him fall for Austin.
TRIBEZA: What was the inspiration for ‘The Vow’?
Harrison: The inspiration was long sought out. It took me a while to feel like I had the fire again and wanted to be back. When I made the connection with Fox Nation and Lion’s Gate, my wife, Lauren, and I, who run our production company, started talking about what it would look like. I started getting the competitive edge back and was thinking …‘It is time to come back, but what do we do?’
I feel like this generation is really searching for something, so I thought, let’s really tap into that, and see if, in this modern world of swiping, ghosting and situations, can you still find love? … ‘The Vow,’ in my opinion, is the most authentic, intentional reality dating show that’s ever been made.
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Is there anything about your relationship with your wife, your own love story, that influenced this project?
I would be disingenuous if I said ‘no.’ Lauren and I have faith in our marriage, and it’s something we agree upon. It’s something that we celebrate together, we honor together, and it makes us closer.
What was it about Austin that made it feel like the right place to set this show?
I’ve always had this love affair with Austin, Texas. I’ve always found it romantic … As much as this is about dating and love, the fact that we shot it in Austin, Texas, was very intentional from Lauren and I. We wanted this to be a bit of a love letter to the city that we have fallen in love with.
What about the city makes it romantic?
First and foremost, the people. People always make a place. You can have the most beautiful scenery in the world, but if the people aren’t loving and welcoming, it ruins the vibe. And Austin has always had this vibe of ‘whoever you are, whatever you are, you’re welcome here in Austin, Texas.’
You also do a lot of philanthropy in Austin, such as work with Fore Kids ATX and Experience Camps. Why has philanthropy become such a large part of your work?
I have always had a belief that if you want to make the world great, start in your own community. Be a good citizen, be a good neighbor. And when Lauren and I moved to Austin, that was one of the first things we both decided to do: let’s get involved in this community and try to make it better.
Going back to ‘The Vow,’ what do you hope people take away from it when they watch it?
There is this hunger and need for a show like this. I want people, as a family, to watch it together. I love when people come up to me and say, ‘I only talk to my mom or I only get to connect with my daughter when I watch the show. It was our connective tissue.’ I think there is a need for a show like that again. And this show is that in spades. It is all about love and that search for love — that one thing that we all want.
And I am so proud of what we have produced and what we’ve created. And I truly can’t wait to share that with everybody again.