Chris Harrison Joins Dr. Phil’s Merit Street Media to Host Morning and Reality Dating Shows

Chris Harrison at the Hamilton "Behind the Camera" Awards at the House of Blues West Hollywood, Calif. on Oct. 28, 2012. Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP

Chris Harrison made headlines in 2021 when he parted ways with “The Bachelor” after hosting the ABC franchise for nearly 20 years. Now, the presenter is set to make his grand return to television after teaming up with Dr. Phil McGraw to host a morning show and reality dating series on the veteran daytime talk show host’s new cable broadcasting network, Merit Street Media.

Mr. Harrison—who also contributed to “Dr. Phil Primetime,” Mr. McGraw’s new talk show on the network—will helm the new weekday morning show alongside his wife, Lauren Zima, former producer and host for Entertainment Tonight.

The newlyweds, who tied the knot in November 2023, shared their excitement about the new venture with the publication. “Not only do I get to return to television, I get to do it with the woman I love,” Mr. Harrison said. Ms. Zima added that the couple’s relationship will be “a big part” of the show.

“The morning show we’re pulling together is gonna be a place for us to play, to have fun,” she continued. “What matters the most to both of us has always been our audience, so we want to be able to connect with them. What’s more relatable than talking about our relationship and what’s going on in our own lives?”

As for the dating show, Mr. McGraw said it will have “dating elements in it” but will be “so different and so novel.” He said, “It is flipping the script in a way that I think people are gonna become addicted to it in a week. It is unbelievable.”

Return to Television

In addition to working with his wife and returning to the world of reality television, Mr. Harrison, a Dallas native, shared another major perk of working with Merit Street Media, which is headquartered in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.

“Call it divine intervention, karma, kismet, whatever it is, the fact that Dr. Phil created this network in my own backyard here in Dallas, it means the world to me, to not only be returning to television, but to be doing it here in a hometown crowd,” he said.

In a joint statement posted on Instagram, Mr. Harrison and Ms. Zima wrote that they were “unendingly grateful” for their fans’ support.

“As we embark on this next chapter—producing and creating TV on a level we never have before at @meritstreetmedia, our only goal is to make something that will bring you joy and connection,” they captioned alongside a photo of them on set. “Thank you for the love, and know we send it right back to you, always.”

Merit Street Media

After ending his long-running talk show, “Dr. Phil,” in 2023, Mr. McGraw founded Merit Street Media in partnership with Trinity Broadcasting Network.

In a statement, he said his goal for creating the network—which is set to launch on April 2—was to “help individuals, couples, and families have the tough conversations, face the hard realities, and get real answers for the most positive and effective outcome.”

“I absolutely love talking to real people about real problems. People who aren’t just complaining but are actively looking for real solutions to better their lives,” he continued. “American families and our core values are under attack. I love this country, and I believe family is the backbone of our society. Together we are going to stand strong and fight for the very soul and sanity of America and get things that matter back on track.”

Along with its flagship program, “Dr. Phil Primetime,” and the forthcoming reality and morning shows, the network will feature a slew of other new content, including morning and evening news programming.

“Morning On Merit Street” and “The News on Merit Street” will also premiere at the start of April. The former will be hosted by internet personality Dominique Sachse and Emmy-winning host Fanchon Stinger, and the latter will feature senior anchor Kris Gutierrez and co-hosts Lyndsay Keith, a television personality, and Loni Coombs, a former criminal prosecutor and legal analyst.

Additionally, the network will feature a daily, four-hour block of true crime shows. Most notably, former prosecutor and legal commentator Nancy Grace will headline the riveting crime lineup as the host of “Crime Stories with Nancy Grace.”

Speaking about her new show, Ms. Grace said she was “proud to be part of Dr. Phil’s new endeavor,” per a press release.

“I can now take the mission to fight crime and let the voices of crime victims be heard to an incredible new platform,” she continued. “As a crime fighter and victim of violent crime myself, this message is my life’s work.”

The true crime block will also feature two hours of “Cops” and “Jail,” as well as “True Crime: Dr. Phil,” which will consist of “classic” investigative episodes previously aired on “Dr. Phil.”

The popular YouTube channel “The Behavior Panel”—consisting of body language and behavior analysis experts who analyze various crime, entertainment, and political interviews—will round out the lineup, airing weekly shows every Friday.