Taylor Frankie Paul is getting a full-fledged promotional press and Bachelor Nation is loudly weighing in.

ABC and Hulu will air The Bachelorette: Before the First Rose right after the March 15 Oscars, a splashy preview special in which 18 former Bachelorettes offer advice to Paul ahead of the season premiere on March 22 (the announcement and lineup were supplied by ABC/Hulu).

The move has fans talking,some with genuine excitement, others with a healthy dose of suspicion about the franchise’s tactics.

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"Love seeing the alumni rally behind Taylor, feels like a new, more honest chapter," one fan wrote on social media, while another complained that the network "is clearly leaning into viral fame instead of the usual casting playbook."

Those reactions capture the split sentiment across social media. Enthusiasm for Paul’s unfiltered voice and MomTok notoriety, but also eye-rolls at what some perceive as overpromotion.

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Why the heavy push? Industry watchers say it’s strategic. After years of declining linear ratings for reality franchises and with streaming behavior fragmenting audiences, ABC and Hulu appear to be leaning hard into crossover collab –pairing Paul’s existing Hulu audience with long-time Bachelor viewers via both a special and timing it around the Oscars.

"This is about maximizing a moment,” a programming analyst observed. "They want to convert viral attention into appointment viewing.” 

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How are the numbers looking? The networks haven’t released final viewership figures for the special’s promos, and Nielsen streaming/linear tallies for reality TV are more opaque than ever. Insiders point to stronger-than-average early social engagement for Paul compared with recent leads – suggesting above-baseline interest – but caution that social chatter doesn’t always translate to sustained TV audiences. In short, the anticipation is healthy, but the franchise still needs strong retention once the season begins. 

Will the promotion build lasting anticipation? Likely yes in the short term. The combination of an alumni pep talk, the timing after the Oscars, and Paul’s existing Hulu profile creates a media moment that should boost tune-in for the March 22 premiere.

Photo Credit: @bacheloretteabc on Instagram.