Nick Viall talks his new web series, The Bachelor franchise, and more

If you’re a fan of The Bachelor, you’re likely well aware of who Nick Viall is. The Wisconsin native joined the ABC franchise when competing on season 10 of The Bachelorette with Andi Dorfman, and after leaving the show as runner-up, he gave it another shot for season 11 with Kaitlyn Bristowe.

Crazily enough, Nick was also runner-up on Kaitlyn’s season, and after a stint on season 3 of Bachelor in Paradise, it was a no-brainer that he’d be chosen for The Bachelor. He starred in the series’ 21st season, and got engaged to Canadian contestant Vanessa Grimaldi in the end.

Unfortunately, Nick and Vanessa split some months later, and it looks like Nick is pretty much done competing to find love. But that doesn’t mean he’s done with the franchise, and his new web show Nick V Talks Trash TV proves it.

Nick has teamed up with Patreon to release a 10-part series where he chats with the ladies from his season of The Bachelor (including Vanessa!), as well as recapping shows and movies he’s been tuning into. Check it out here.

Accept This Rose got to catch up with Nick to talk about his new show, and of course as much Bachelor tea we could squeeze out of him.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Accept This Rose: You’ve launched a 10-part web series called Nick V Talks Trash TV, which is membership-only content where fans can pay to watch really juicy and honest conversations between you and your Bachelor exes, right? Can you explain the show a bit more?

Nick: That certainly sums up the initial launch of it all. Essentially, it became a recap of my season/tell-all from my perspective of all the things leading up to being the Bachelor, and interactions throughout the season.

People are waiting for the Vanessa episode, and we have a very honest conversation about our relationship and our breakup, and I think it was fascinating for Vanessa and myself. We didn’t know what to expect, we just agreed to do it.

This project will continue. We’ll talk about streaming shows, old movies, and a new episode we have coming up is recapping The Notebook, and giving our take, in a way that’s just meant to be fun and light.

The show will be a combination of Bachelor Nation alums and behind-the-scenes talk sprinkled in with popular movies and TV shows, and getting a funny male perspective about popular [content] that’s primarily viewed by women.

Accept This Rose: What made you choose to do a unique series like this versus a tell-all book? It’s definitely not uncommon for Bachelors or Bachelorettes to publish a book about their experiences on the show.

Nick: I think a lot of people have done it that way, but for me it wasn’t an avenue I wanted to do. I wanted it to be more lighthearted and funny, as well as providing the juice that people wanted, and I also didn’t want it to be scandalous and one-sided. I was just going to recap [the season], but it turned into a tell-all once the women got excited. I think each of them wanted to tell their perspective. It’s not just me talking, you know, everybody has their story.

I have my podcast [The Viall Files] and spend a lot of time podcasting, so it’s a comfortable medium for me to do. It’s also just light and fun, and it seemed like it made a lot of sense for people to check out.

Accept This Rose: What do you think has been the most surprising part about doing these video call conversations with the women from your season?

Nick: It’s been fascinating to see the change in perspective. I talked to Corinne [Olympios] and heard how she views herself on the season. She was such a dynamic part of my season, and I saw growth from her.

With Vanessa, there was nothing really surprising, but I was more surprised about how honest we were and just how positive we thought it was overall. We were both nervous to do it, and at the same time we wanted it to go well, but we weren’t really sure how the other person would feel.

Accept This Rose: That leads into my next question. How nervous were you to revisit all of these really vulnerable moments, with Vanessa especially, but also with all the ladies you spoke to?

Nick: I was definitely nervous with Vanessa the most, for sure, and then Jen Saviano, whose episode will be out next month. I think those two were the ones I had, like, no [prior] conversations with whatsoever. I wasn’t sure if they were willing and able to do it, and when it happened I wanted it to be honest. It ended up going really well but I was nervous going into it.

Accept This Rose: I want to talk a little about your conversation with Reality Steve. Do you feel better after doing that? You guys had a weird relationship for a while, so did it feel good to get all of that off your chest?

Nick: It was more of an interesting learning experience as a host of my podcast. I took more of a loose approach on it, not really knowing what we would talk about, and I think it could’ve been structured a bit better. Talking to him was productive when we talked about the relationship he and I had, but us debating The Bachelor franchise wasn’t productive, because it was a classic agree to disagree situation.

People like to listen, or love to hate on it. It was interesting.

Accept This Rose: I think you’re more so on the side of producers than many stars of the franchise are. Blake [Horstmann] made comments about the way he was portrayed on Bachelor in Paradise, and then Colton [Underwood] recently did an interview with Reality Steve where he said he felt taken advantage of by producers with everything that happened with Cassie [Rudolph] on his season. Do you have any thoughts on that?

Nick: I didn’t get the chance to listen [to Colton’s interview], but everyone has their own perspective of their experience, and it can be a very traumatic experience that people go through. Going back to my episode with Reality Steve, I kind of took this position of defending the show versus Reality Steve criticizing it, which wasn’t my intention. I have an overall positive experience with the show, but I’ve also had a lot of frustrations with the show.

Sometimes it’s easy to criticize the things we don’t like, but we forget to praise what we’re benefitting from. I would be remiss if I was just going to criticize producers and the show for things I was frustrated with, because the truth is with some of the stuff [that happened], I put myself in the position to do, and many of us probably have been protected by the show, too.

I think that’s my overall message. It can go both ways, but it’s different for everyone. Some people aren’t as fortunate and some people have more reason to gripe, and I can’t necessarily speak to everyone’s experience.

Accept This Rose: I follow you on Instagram, and I see you frequently doing those Q&As on your Story where you give people general life advice as well as dating advice. How did all of that start, and is it something you’ll continue?

Nick: Yeah, I definitely plan on keeping it going. I started it for fun, and quite honestly that’s what started my podcast The Viall Files. People know me as someone who can be pretty direct and honest, sometimes to a fault, and I just kind of found a clever way to do that.

A lot of people find it helpful and entertaining, and it’s from a guy who isn’t emotionally invested in these questions, so I can give people an honest approach. It’s a lot of fun.

I’m actually turning questions I’ve gotten on Instagram into a coffee table book. I just recently signed a book deal for that. It won’t be out for some time because it’s pretty recent, but I definitely plan on keeping it going.

Accept This Rose: What are the chances of you ever being the Bachelor again, or appearing on any of the shows?

Nick: As far as me pursuing a relationship on The Bachelor franchise, I’d say that chance is zero percent. Maybe .001%, who knows? But really, zero percent. But I’m always happy to support the franchise if it made sense to come in as some sort of alumni.

Accept This Rose: Now, let’s do a fun lightning round of sorts where I’ll ask you a few questions and you can just give short answers without any explanation if you’d rather not. Favorite color?

Nick: Blue.

Accept This Rose: Are you single?

Nick: No comment.

Accept This Rose: Weirdest rumor you’ve ever heard about yourself?

Nick: I saw on Instagram that someone said I had facial reconstruction surgery. All I did was get a haircut and grow a beard!

Accept This Rose: Favorite Bachelor of all time?

Nick: I’m going to say Arie [Luyendyk Jr.] just because of the ending. It was such a different experience and I think he got a bad rep, but it worked out for everyone involved.

Accept This Rose: Were you and Demi [Burnett] ever more than friends?

Nick: No.

Accept This Rose: Would you ever date a fan?

Nick: I would never date someone if they were, like, a big fan, but would I date someone who’s watched the show and liked the show? Sure.

Accept This Rose: Dream guest for your podcast?

Nick: I’ve always said Chrissy Teigen just because my audience would love to have her, and I’d love to have her. She’s funny and interesting. There’s certainly a long list of people I’d love to have. Charlize Theron would be amazing, I know she’s a big fan of The Bachelor and I’m a huge fan of hers in general. Also Malcolm Gladwell.

Nick’s conversation with Vanessa is officially out today! Check out Nick V Talks TV here, and continue keeping up with The Bachelor alum via The Viall Files, as well as on Instagram.