'Bachelor' host hypes season premiere

The new season of ABC's reality hit "The Bachelor" is right around the corner. Host Chris Harrison spoke with TV Guide about the upcoming premiere and what we can expect from Sean Lowe stepping into the titular role.

People might be expecting Lowe to retread his role as the quiet, easy-going whitebread personality that he showed on his season of "The Bachelorette." The host insists that the new season may take some fans by surprise. "People will be surprised by his personality and charisma, and he's also got an edge to him. He's not afraid of confrontation or saying the wrong thing. "

Lowe was the second runner-up on Emily Maynard's season, winning fans over with his charm even if he didn't win Maynard's hand. In returning for his own season, Lowe told reporters that "I wanted to know, could I find those feelings again? And because I had such a positive experience with Emily, I thought I owed it to myself to give it a try."

"He was so overshadowed on Emily's season because there were so many big personalities," Harrison adds. "He was really played as the sweet, quiet, romantic Texan boy, but there's a lot more depth to him. Not to mention, he's so kind and nice and easy to get along with, and that really resonates with the producers. The [contestants] take their cue from the Bachelor and so do we. Is it going to be a battle every night before we shoot? Is it going to be like pulling teeth? But Sean just made everything so easy and, man, it [made] this season fun to work on."

Harrison jokes, "I haven't really counted yet, but he's got to be up there with Womack as far as the most shirtless Bachelor. We had to establish the fact that after he got dumped by Emily, he didn't go on a two-month carb binger."

Be sure to check out "The Bachelor"'s 17th season premiere Monday night on ABC!