Chris Harrison is back, with Jace Cates: Fox Nation’s The Vow brings faith and marriage-minded dating

Jace Cates, season one bachelor of The Vow, told the Washington Examiner ahead of its premiere that the reality TV series would stand out against other dating-style shows.The Vow is set to launch Wednesday night on Fox Nation, bringing a religious focus and former host of The Bachelor, Chris Harrison, back into the world of reality television. Cates, at 30 years old, will be looking for love among 10 women.“I think what The Vow, how we are different than other reality dating TV shows, is people that came on this experience were looking for something real … looking for marriage, looking for, you know, very intentional conversations,” Cates said. “I think one thing that Chris, you know, he talks about is really raising the bar on just dating in general.” Born and raised in Oregon, Cates grew up playing sports, including college basketball, before beginning a mortgage career. When deciding whether or not to do the show, Cates said he relied on his faith as a Christian to see if it was the right decision. Season one lead of The Vow, Jace Cates, spoke with the Washington Examiner ahead of its premiere, saying the reality TV series would stand out against similar dating-style shows. (Provided by Fox Nation) “It’s definitely not something I ever envisioned myself doing, you know, I didn’t,” Cates said. “This show kind of found me, and I, when this show came into my life, I really prayed on it hard. As … cliche as that sounds, it doesn’t kind of sound … cliche to me. I really just said the simple prayer … ‘God is this if this for me, make it happen. And if it’s not, keep me a million miles away.’”After his prayers, Cates said the experience was like a “freight train going down the tracks.” Like most reality dating TV shows, contestants participate with the hopes of finding love, but Cates said this show “raises the temperature.” There would be no mandatory eliminations; instead, the focus is on building connections.Faith and religion play a large role in the series, and Cates explained how his faith guided his choices.“It wouldn’t be possible without my faith,” Cates said. “And, you know, it’s funny, people always talk about reality TV being this, that, or the other; I mean everyone, Chris Harrison, the producers, they really allowed me to be me.”When asked whether publicity or potential brand deals played a role in why he took on the show, Cates responded, “No.”“I love my job, I love being a mortgage loan officer, and … I have a very successful loan team that I pour into,” Cates said. “I’m extremely happy with my life and … I guess the reason I decided to do it was the opportunity to meet someone.”Cates added he “hadn’t thought about” if he would turn down potential brand deals after the show aired, but kept the door open to the possibility.“I do not have any ambition to leave my job as a mortgage loan officer,” Cates said. “But, you know, if a brand approached me that I felt like, you know, aligned with my values and, you know, would actually help me to make an impact with people, I’m never going to say never.”The trailer for The Vow released with the opening words, “Get ready… The Bachelor … The Women … The Drama,” as falling AI rose petals and classical music added to a dramatic flair, then Harrison said, “Expecting someone else? Roses fade, true love lasts forever.”MELANIA TRUMP’S TWO-PART DOCUSERIES RELEASES NOV. 20 ON AMAZONFollowing the trailer’s release, Fox News Media and Lionsgate Alternative Television were served a cease and desist order from Warner Bros. Television on copyright infringement allegations, stating the studios “improperly capitalizes” on The Bachelor.Fox News responded to Warner Bros., saying it was targeting Harrison in a “malicious and vindictive manner,” while stating that Warner Bros. has no right to hold a monopoly over the “everyday word” to describe an unmarried man, according to documents obtained by the Washington Examiner.