Pamela Sitt,
Aug 20, 2008
It's official: Jason Mesnick will be the new Bachelor.
The single father from Seattle became a fan favorite after being rejected by DeAnna Pappas in the finale of ABC's The Bachelorette in July. Fans promptly mounted online campaigns supporting Jason as the new Bachelor, and Bachelor host Chris Harrison told me last month that Jason was on his short list.
Interestingly, a recent event offering women a chance to mingle with Jason at a Seattle restaurant was cancelled due to low ticket sales.
This will mark the first time that a single father stars as the Bachelor in the long-running ABC franchise. Jason's 3-year-old son, Ty, appeared briefly in The Bachelorette. No word yet on Ty's involvement in the new season, but Harrison hinted that the show may film in Seattle in order to accommodate him.
The Bachelor edition starring Jason is slated to premiere in January 2009.
