The Bachelor host Chris Harrison is celebrating 17 years of helping people find love, or at least a wild time at the Bachelor mansion.

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On Monday, March 25, Harrison celebrated the seventeenth anniversary of The Bachelor, paying tribute to when the reality dating series premiered its very first season on ABC.

RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELORETTE' COUPLES NOW: WHOM DID 'THE BACHELORETTE' STARS AND THEIR BACHELOR PICKS ULTIMATELY END UP WITH?! (PHOTOS)

"On this day in 2002 we started a crazy new show called #TheBachelor," Harrison, 47, wrote Monday on Instagram.

"I could go on and write the longest caption ever but I'll just say Thank You! #BachelorNation."

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The series debuted with its inaugural Bachelor, Alex Michel, who ended up selecting Amanda Marsh over Trista Rehn.

Alex did not propose marriage to Amanda, nor did their relationship work out long-term, but Trista went on to star on The Bachelorette's first season and is still married to her final pick, Ryan Sutter.

After Harrison wrote about the show's anniversary after all these years, his new girlfriend, Entertainment Tonight correspondent Lauren Zima, poked fun at him.

"Wait a minute how old are you?" Lauren commented on his post.

"Hey I look damn good for 72," Harrison replied.


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The Bachelor not only spawned The Bachelorette, but it also launched spinoffs throughout the years such as Bachelor Pad, Bachelor in Paradise, and even a special Winter Games edition.

RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELOR' FRANCHISE COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER?? (PHOTOS) 

Although The Bachelor hasn't had much luck creating lasting marriages -- other than Sean Lowe and Catherine Giudici, Jason Mesnick and Molly Malaney, and Arie Luyendyk Jr. and Lauren Burnham -- The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise have sparked many successful couples.

The Bachelor just wrapped its 23rd season starring Colton Underwood, who is still dating the woman he chose at the end, Cassie Randolph in March.

As for The Bachelorette, the show will be entering its fifteenth season this spring starring Alabama native and beauty queen Hannah Brown on ABC.

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RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELOR' COUPLES NOW: WHO DID 'THE BACHELOR' STARS AND THEIR BACHELORETTE PICKS ACTUALLY END UP MARRYING? (PHOTOS)

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About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.