The Miss America Organization Announces The Bachelor's Chris Harrison as the 2011 Miss America Pageant Host on ABC

LINWOOD, N.J., Aug. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- The Miss America Organization and ABC announced today Chris Harrison will host the 2011 Miss America Pageant when it is broadcast live from Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas on Saturday, January 15 at 8 P.M. ET. The 2011 Pageant marks the 90th anniversary of the Miss America Pageant.  Previously, Harrison hosted the pageant in 2004.

"Hosting the Miss America Pageant is a job all TV hosts dream of one day holding," said Harrison. "It was a thrill to make that dream come true when I hosted the 2004 pageant.  It's a true honor to be invited back to host on such a momentous occasion as the 90th anniversary."

Harrison began his television career by covering local sports in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and quickly ventured into entertainment television. In 1999, Harrison landed the job as host of HGTV's Designer's Challenge, which was one of the network's highest rated shows. In 2001 he became host of ABC's hit romance/reality series The Bachelor and The Bachelorette. This year he will also host ABC's new reality show, Bachelor Pad, the first all-star reunion from previous seasons of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, which premieres August 9.

Harrison continues to advance in the entertainment industry through a variety of professional endeavors. He has hosted the live television coverage of the final championship rounds of The 2010 Scripps National Spelling Bee, co-hosted ABC's 2008 American Music Awards Red Carpet Live!, hosted Road to the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards, ABC.com's daily coverage leading up to the 2008 Primetime Emmy Awards. In 2008 he moved to TV Guide Network to not only cover all the major awards shows, but also to host the network's new one-hour weeknight entertainment news show, Hollywood 411.  This year Harrison announced the creation of his own production company and that he will not only host, but also executive produce all TV Guide's red carpet shows starting with the Emmy's August 29.  Harrison will also be executive producing and hosting TV Guide Network's newest entertainment news show that will launch later this year.

"We're thrilled Chris is returning to host the 2011 Miss America Pageant and helping us celebrate our 90th Anniversary," said Sam Haskell, III, Board Chairman of the Miss America Organization.  "Chris did a fantastic job for us in 2004 and we are honored to have him return as we mark this significant milestone in our history."

"I can't think of a better host than Chris to be emceeing the 90th anniversary of the Miss America Pageant," said Art McMaster, President and CEO of the Miss America Organization. "His hosting experience speaks for itself and we know that he will be the perfect fit as we return to ABC."

SOURCE Miss America Organization