-So as you know, the last 45 minutes of the show were all about Ali being faced with the decision of whether or not to stay on the show or risk getting fired from her job. She shows up at Jake’s hotel room, tells him her work is making her choose between the job and the show, and asks for help in making her decision. Kinda. I mean, I think she wanted to hear she was more secure than a 1-in-4 chance, which she did, since Jake told her she wasn’t in danger that night. But even a 1-in-3 chance at an eventual failed relationship wasn’t enough to send her back to her job. Especially after Jake said, “I can’t tell you I’m gonna put a ring on your finger, but I can’t tell you that I’m not going to either.” Even if deep down inside Jake knew that Ali was the final one, he wasn’t allowed to tell her then and there anyway since then the show would be over. So nothing he said was really going to change her mind outside of him saying, “You’re the one I want to be with in the end”, which he couldn’t. So Ali decides to leave. Now, let’s get to the important things that everyone is asking today. Namely:
If Ali really did love him, why did she choose her job over him?
Ummmm, it’s 2010. This economy blows. I can’t believe how many people are bothered by the fact that she chose her work over Jake. Please. I thought it was a no-brainer. Yeah, I’ll give up a job at one of the up-and-coming companies in America at Facebook, to stick around on a show a couple more weeks where I’d have a 1-in-3 chance to maybe continue dating some guy that’ll eventually flame out. You people are nuts if you would give up a job for a guy. ESPECIALLY when it comes to this show. Maybe when you’re dealing with real life, and you’ve been seeing someone for a couple years, and it’s time to make that decision, then yeah, that makes sense. That’s real life. This isn’t. But after three weeks on a reality show that’s produced one marriage? Are you kidding me? You’re gonna give up a job in this economy to chase that pipe dream? Ali will have plenty of opportunities to meet better guys than Jake in the future. She made the right call. Grandma approves.
Was that actually real last night? Was Ali actually given an ultimatum by her job to come back to work or lose her job?
Listen carefully. The answer to both of those questions is “yes”. I was told that Ali told ABC before ever appearing on the show that Facebook would only allow her a certain amount of time off. ABC was well aware, as was Ali, that if it came to a point where Ali lasted long in the show, it could come to this. I was told that Ali figured ABC would kinda go to bat for her a little more and get work to not offer such a strict ultimatum, if she ended up making the final four. Didn’t happen. Maybe that was naïve of her to think that, or maybe not, but the bottom line was, she went into the show knowing this could happen, but figured, “Hey, I’m sure they’ll be able to work something out where I can stay longer and not lose my job.” Well, she figured wrong. So Ali was then told she needed to tell Jake about the situation and make her decision, which you all saw play out over a painful and unnecessary 45 minutes.
So what were Jake’s feelings for Ali?
Definitely real. I mean, she was into the guy, and Jake was definitely in to her as well. Was she willing to accept a proposal at the end? I mean, I think anyone in that situation, if proposed to, accepts the proposal, but knows in the back of their mind it’s more like, “Ok, this is the person I’m going to continue dating and get to know more before we set any wedding dates and start registering at Pottery Barn.” They absolutely both had feelings for each other, and Ali would’ve stayed around to see where it could go if she could’ve. But she wasn’t allowed to, and that’s that.
What about that phone call next week? How does that play in to everything?
Awwwww, c’mon people. You’re not gonna fall for ABC’s trick again are you? Remember when they teased DeAnna’s return all season with Jason and made you think it was because she was going to ask for him back, blah blah blah. Ali is contractually obligated to this show. If they tell her, “Hey, next episode, we’re gonna have you call Jake”, then that’s what she has to do. I’ve said it for the last two weeks, and I’ll say it again: Ali does not come back on the show to try and convince Jake she made a mistake, Ali is not the final one, there is no surprise return at any point in the show by her, and her and Jake are not currently together/dating/engaged or involved in any sort of relationship. I haven’t seen next week’s episode obviously, but I can guarantee you these phrases, or something very similar to them, will be coming out of Ali’s mouth during her phone conversation with Jake: “I’m sorry”, “tough decisions”, “hope you’re OK”, “follow your heart”, etc. Ali is not coming back on the show to try and win Jake back. Her phone call was just shown at the end of last night’s episode to get everyone talking for the next week and thinking there might be a possibility between the two of them reconnecting. They don’t. Can’t be any clearer than that.
How much of that whole 45 minute charade of her deciding whether or not to leave was real?
Well, all of it was real, but you gotta remember, this is only a 2 hour show. They can only show so much in a short amount of time. Jake and Ali had talked for HOURS regarding this whole situation. Her actually talking to Jake and telling him she was leaving only lasted a few minutes, but after basically 24 hours previous of going over everything and scenario presented, the only thing you can do at that point is keep repeating yourself. What was edited and shown was just bits and pieces of long conversational and emotional talks between Ali and Jake. So there were real feelings involved between the both of them, there was plenty of crying done over her leaving, but the edit only was allowed to show you bits and pieces. Lets also not forget, that filming lasted til the wee hours of the morning. Like 4:00 or 5:00am. I’m guessing at that point, both parties are pretty much “talked out” and Ali was probably even more emotional due to the fact that, well, she’s a woman. Couple the decision to leave with it being so early in the morning and she probably wants to just get it over with, yet producers are there with cameras egging on the drama, I’m guessing she was emotionally drained as well. Bottom line, she would’ve stayed if she could’ve, but she wasn’t allowed to.
So where does that leave Ali? Is she going to be the next “Bachelorette”?
In a word: Yes. I’ve been right about everything else I was told this season, and I think you will see I’ll be right about this. It hasn’t been announced yet, nothing has been signed, and nothing is officially official just yet, but I’m here to tell you Ali is going to be the next “Bachelorette” unless she decides at the last minute to say no. You heard it here first. That’s all I will say at this point, but I think I’ve proven to have a pretty good track record when it comes to this season’s information. Ali is their girl.
Wait Steve, so if she left the show because work wouldn’t let her stay any longer, how will they let her leave for two months to be the “Bachelorette”? And why would she choose her job over Jake, but now choose the show over her job?”
Those are the million dollar questions right now. I don’t know the answer to those. If I had to guess, I’d say it’s a little different being one of the 25, then it is having an 8 week nationally televised show watched by millions of people focus solely on you. I think for someone like Ali, who came from a small town and has had some relationship problems in the past, opportunities like this don’t come around too often. I can easily see the decision to dump Jake over work (look at the track record of the show), and I can see the decision to dump work over being the “Bachelorette”. Ask Trista, Meredith, Jen, DeAnna, and Jillian if they had to do it all over again, would they be the “Bachelorette” and I guarantee they all would say yes without a second of hesitation. Well, maybe not Jen Scheft. She’s probably the only one that would run screaming if they asked her again. But the others? In a second. It’s a pretty empowering thing as a woman to be the focal point of this show. I don’t fault her if she takes it, and I don’t think it makes her hypocritical either. I think they are pretty different situations. And who knows? Maybe since this aired, Facebook has had a change of heart and would actually let her do the show without firing her. You never know. Only time will tell. I’m sure many people will disagree with the choice of her being the Bachelorette, but I’m here to tell you, you should probably prepare yourselves for it. The storyline sets up perfect for her too leading in to next season. Second chance at love, this time she’s in control, she’s built up a pretty big fan base that feels horrible for what happened to her, etc. Get ready people. It’s coming.
-The only other thing really left to cover is Jake walking Ali to the car and saying, “I feel like you’re slipping right through my fingers and I don’t know how to stop you.” Please, for the love of God, someone go google every slow song ever produced and find me what song that line was stolen from. Ha ha…really Jake? Did you really go with that one? I mean, it was cheesy when he said, but good God, my keyboard is oozing Velveeta now after I typed it. I had to rewind to make sure that’s exactly what I heard come out of his mouth. Yep. It was. Congrats to Jake for giving us, what might be, the line that this franchise might now be know for forever. Even more so than the “most dramatic rose ceremony ever”. Sure, it’ll only get said once, but dammit, that’s all we needed. I’m gonna try that on someone someday and see if it has nearly the effect that Jake tried to have on Ali. Jake, thanks for the memories. Go go over to the steps and pull a Mesnick by crying on the railing. Granted, he didn’t wail away in tears like Jason did after letting Molly go, but Jake sure whipped up a couple to set the mood for everyone. He’s done it twice now. Once in Austin when he barged in on Wes and Jillian, and now in front of that hotel in Beverly Hills. Let’s see how many different states and cities Jake can cry in.
Ok, that’s it for now. See you back here tomorrow. Remember, you can either just listen on this site when I post the icon, or go to the link I provided above to listen to the live interview at 6pm EST tomorrow. Probably be an hour to an hour and a half interview, and there will be a phone number provided for anyone who wants to call in and ask any questions. If you want to join me on Twitter, my address is Twitter.com/RealitySteve. Or if you want to add me on Facebook, scroll down the right hand column under “My Stuff” and click on the appropriate link. See you tomorrow…
I LOVE Steve’s deadpan comments and the dry humor in the Bonnie Hunt segment. (not Reality Steve… Bonnie Hunt’s Steve)
Hey there. I know you probably don’t get to read all the comments, but in case you do…I have never laughed at anything on the Net (except YouTube videos of cats) as much as I have laughed at your blogs about The Bachelor.
I can’t help but think that most of the interaction between Jake and Ali was choreographed and scripted. There were too many times when she rubbed her face and made that little mewling sound and then look into the camera. And Jake…I’ve never seen a man with less real emotion (except an old boyfriend but we won’t go there).
This show is so not “reality”. It’s just a money-maker and they will continue to do what they do in order to make the money. It’s just a shame that their creative team can’t be more…um…creative and that they have to recycle scenes from previous shows…the rail crying, the PHONE CALL after leaving the show, the drama, the hokey phrases and just the unreality of it all.
I think ABC should think about doing a series where a man/woman dates two or three people for a whole 24 episodes and goes through the process of meeting family, friends, co-workers, and working out likes and dislikes and so forth to find the “right” mate.
I guess that would be too boring, though. But I’m not sure that there is anything on television more boring than this show. I only watch to see how manipulative and catty and lame it is every week.
Keep on Steve. I love you for making me laugh so much!
As a poster stated…anyone who signs up for this turkey of a show is fair game for all of us. If you hate Steve, don’t read his blog or comment on it. He is not doing it for popularity but for entertainment. Keep doing it your way Steve! You’re the best!
Although, it would be GREAT if Reality Steve went on Bonnie’s show and they both ripped on it!
As annoying as her little girl voice is, I honestly think she can’t help it. As Steve has pointed out, she is on the show for the right reasons, and does not fit in as a result. She could be Trista Rehn like in that respect.
Hmmm…Maybe I should rethink my definition of “right reason”. Perhaps for a show as hokey as this, being a contestant as a way into show biz IS the right reason. Perhaps some pragmatism is in order. I am reminded of Melissa Rycroft, who bartered her 15 minutes of national humiliation fame in exchange for a reporting job at ABC. (It was right decent of ABC to do that, arguably they owed her big time for that fiasco.)
I just wanted to clarify the size of Sanford, FL (having lived & worked there before). Sanford is what I’d call a suburb outside of Orlando (about 20 miles north of downtown Orlando). The population is around 50,000 people, so it’s not really a small town or a podunk as it seems- so it really bothers me that Vienna is trying to act like some country bumpkin when she’s not.
Yes, I agree that most of Ali and Jake’s session seemed so scripted to me and painful to watch, I had to fast forward through most of that crying session, a bit overkill in my opinion. Too much back and forth, make a decision and don’t look back, good golly and I thought I was indecisive i.e. chicken or fish, I don’t know, which one???I My theory, I think the producer’s told Ali she wasn’t his chosen one and said to follow along with this script and you’ll be our number one consideration for the Bachelorette. From my understanding, they won’t let you be on the show unless you can commit to 6 weeks AND you can’t have phone access, internet or TV therefore no one can get a hold of you. I can’t imagine her saying, hey; I can only stay “so long” otherwise I have to go. I just don’t buy that but that’s me. I’m a die hard Reality Steve reader/follower but I think something is “off” about that information he received. If it’s true, then I don’t believe she was truly in it to find love with Jake otherwise she would have stayed and perhaps her entire motive was to get on the show, get her 15 minutes and be considered for her own show.
rs,
Tenley cried when she saw her mother, her and her died both cried when she was talking to him, her mom cried when talking to Jake, Jake cried when getting her dad’s permission, the dog cried when Jake sat on his chair, the sister cried when Jake ate all the food, Mike Fleiss cried when he saw his 3rd cousin Heidi on “Celebrity Rehab”, Ryan Callahan cried when Rozlyn laid her head on his shoulder, Chris Harrison cried when he realized all four hometown dates were done and there was still 45 minutes left in the show, Gia cried because she heard Tenley was crying, which then in turn made Vienna cry, and Ali caught wind of all this happening and cried because her grandmother spoke to her and said, “Get the hell off this show, go back to work, and make sure Jake never visits here again. He’s too short for you anyway.” So basically what I’m saying is, there was a lot of crying on this hometown date in case you didn’t notice. Even Maddie was crying. Why? Because daddy got mad at her for deciding to use my floor as her personal toilet when she knows she’s not supposed to. Bad girl. ”
I am still laughing and pounding my fists on my desk. My co-workers think I have lost it. Keep it coming.
First of all, I have to say that reading your blog is the highlight of my week! I regularly laugh out loud when reading it, so nice work.
Second, I was at an event yesterday and who was standing at the step-and-repeat waiting to interview the next B-list celebrity to walk up? None other than our favorite Chris Harrison. I almost laughed when I saw him standing there because of all your comments regarding him branching out to the TV Guide channel, but I managed to refrain. And for anyone who wants to know exactly how short Chris is—and therefore Jake—I can tell you: they’re pint-sized. I had about 4 1/2-inch heels on, which makes me about 6′ tall, and Chris was AT LEAST 3-4 inches shorter than me. I’m talking 5’9″ on a good day…like if he borrowed Jake’s cowboy boots with the higher heels.
And finally, while I love your sense of humor and spoilers, I just have to say one thing because I’m an editor and I just can’t help myself: It’s “voila,” not “walla” (see Jan. 18 entry). =D
Elodie:
Well ain’t you one to talk about poor grammar skills.
Quote: “Your good for learning the the facts in terms of who’s staying and who’s leaving. As for the rest, I get the biggest laughs out of your English.”
My dear, you should have put ‘you’re’, not ‘your.’ And you repeated the word ‘the’ twice. I also noted a few punctuation errors. I assume your comment about Steve coming from a “lower middle class” family is to imply that you are upper class. What excactly does proper grammar have to do with class background?
If you’re going to play grammar police, I suggest you be extra careful the next time you red ink a post.
To Reality Steve: I read on votefortheworst.com that Howard Stern is in talks to replace Simon Cowell.
Perhaps this whole Ali thing was a ploy from the start. Maybe Fleiss realized that Ali would be somebody the audience would fall in love with. So, the story that she could only take so much time off was concocted in order to make the audience feel sorry for Ali. She leaves alone (supposedly for something beyond her control), and the show goes on to offer her a second chance for love. All of the ‘sudden’ Facebook has a change of heart…
Like the grammar police stated, Facebook would not likely shy away from the publicity.
Being on Facebook Bachelor fan page it is almost scary the way people take this so seriously. People are almost creating fan fiction of how Jake & Ali will “reunite” and live happily ever after.
While it is nice to see people get so emotionally involved. I think some people are going really overboard. I can see why they hate RS so much. He bursts their fantasy bubble and brings them literally back to “reality”.
P.S. to
Well I heard that Roz is coming back! Yes she is going to return! How do I know? I saw it on page 236 of the script. A friend of a guy that had a cousin in prison who was a cellmate of a dude who was married to a gal that had a stepbrother who use to bang a cleaning lady of Chris Hansomes saw the script next to Chris’s toilet which had been cried on to a point were it was hard to read but was still dry enough to copy without distroying it. There was also a market study under the script that said 70% of the show watchers are gullable and believe that reality is reality.
Man I love a good laugh!
RS,
I laughed my a** off in the office. My co-workers were wondering what was going on. This is one of your best recaps. I can’t even begin. It was hysterical. You hit the nail on the head. I have followed your site since the Jason/Melissa/Moly fiasco and have enjoyed every bit. Keep it coming! I never laughed so hard at a blog. FANTASTIC
Kate
Steve,
I was really disppointed to see that you did not make fun of Jake constantly referring to proposing marriage to these nincompoops as “begging for their hand in marriage”. Go back and watch, he says it every single time. Pretty telling, isn’t it? Not asking, not proposing, not getting a blessing but BEGGING. Desperate loser.
oh, and thanks for all the snorts and giggles I get to explain away to my co-workers every week when I read your column. They just don’t understand your humor like I do.
@ carissag
Thanks for pointing that out. I didn’t believe Vienna’s BS about how she had never been in a big city. I knew then that she was from Sanford, which is a suburb or Orlando. Granted Orlando isn’t anywhere near the size of San Fransisco, but by no means is it a small town! She went to school in Orlando. The city has two major theme parks, decent night life and an NBA team for chissake. The country bumpkin act is ridiculous! The place where they saw the alligators, turtles etc. was probably Lake Lotus in Altamonte Springs, which is a nature park on the edge of a urban area. She’s just using the country bumpkin thing to get people to like her and make her look like and underdog or something. My dad has never watched the Bachelor but watched part of the San Fransisco dates while my mom and I were watching a couple weeks ago (its our weekly girls guilty pleasure night) and he saw Vienna for less than five minutes and declared her a “beaotch!”
Thanks Steve for the funny and all too entertaining column! I do wish they would break free from the recycling off of Brad’s season and give us somebody totally new again. The last several (DeAnna, Jason, Jillian and Jake … wow kinda looks like Ali’s former J boyfriend list) all are branches off of Brad’s season and its getting old.
Ignore what I said about Stern. Just checked votefortheworst.com and he is not in talks w/ american idol. Too bad. He would have been meaner than simon
That was funny- especially when he says it’s painful to watch.
@kathimcgraw
Not one comment about the creepy way that Vinnie hugged/kissed his princess, with his hand on her neck, almost combing her hair like a lover?? I’m disappointed in you all.
Thanks for the details. Makes sense. @bachshady
OK, they’ve moved the videos now over to the “Videos”column on the right hand side. Scroll down to “Best of Bonnie” Part 1 and Part 2 (total over 11 minutes) “Bonnie reviews the latest installment of…” – the picture shows a guy in a black sweatshirt/shorts and a brunette woman in a purple sweatshirt on the couch. Take a look at their comments of The Bachelor – hilarious! http://www.bonniehunt.com
Love the blog!! I don’t even remember how I originally came across it, but I now tune in every week to read your witty outtake. Keep it coming!
Was it just me, or did anyone else notice this … Right before Ali tells Chris that she needs to talk to him, they zoom in on her alone, and she mouths the word “now” as if she is needing cued to say her line. Then, she dramatically asks Chris to speak with him. Don’t get me wrong – I sure wish Ali had stayed over Vienna, but I still find it funny how scripted this show is … And, you don’t need half a brain to see that.
has anyone post this yet? It’s Tenley and her ex’s wedding page on “The Knot”.
http://weddings.theknot.com/pwp/view/co_main.aspx?legacct=1&coupleid=3275641442468430&guestpassword=&MsdVisit=1
As much as I’ve enjoyed watching the Bachelor/Bachelorette over the years, I have to say this has been the most fun season yet. I’m enjoying it more than ever, not in spite of Steve’s spoiler blog but because of it.
I’m one of the rare people who has liked Vienna from the start. After all, she lives one county away from me.
I found this spoiler after I took a liking to the entertainment factor Vienna provides to the show. Reading this stuff has made it so much fun to watch how it all plays out.
My sister having flown on a Delta Connection flight from ATL to BTR during the last season adds to the whole Bachelor experience for me.
Corrie is a friend of my daughter….my daughter told me that Corrie has said she doesn’t want to have children. Did she possibly tell this to Jake and it was edited out? That would be a big strike against her.
To top it off, a friend of mine saw Vienna at the Seminole Towne Center mall last Saturday. She was just hanging out with a friend…yes, in Sanford, FL.
I must say that after last week though, I’m disappointed that Jake didn’t choose the only really normal girl in the remaining bunch. Why does Steve think he’s in the minority thinking Tenley had the only normal family? She DOES have the only normal family – any normal person sees this. This leads me to wonder if Jake is as normal as he appears to be.
@zombiehands: ugh. That was corny. And weird, in light of what we know now about the cheating and all
reality tv is harmful to your health? 11 reality tv contestant suicides known so far. does reality tv need to grow a conscience? article: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/film-tv/news/dangers-of-reality-television-plight-of-susan-boyle-touches-a-nerve-in-us-14329470.html#ixzz0fNRzp84b
I thought Ali was a cute girl next door, but she ended up being really whiny, annoying, and emotional. I will be glad for her that she gets her own show, but she seems to be a bit of a blonder DeAnna, a young girl who just wants fame.
I don’t think she is interesting enough to watch as a male viewer, but I can see a lot of women who like her. I think Ali is serious about marriage though, she’s not good looking enough to be a model or celebrity. I’m not sure there will actually be any guys out there who want to actually marry her, but good luck to her for trying.
She’s also not very rich, but she might have some good Facebook stock, and that could make her more appealing to some of the men. Hopefully she won’t get duped by a player like Ed.
Viewing this site is my first time and will be my LAST. Steve is an idiot. Listen people. Ali would have had to get back in touch with the show to find out how to get in touch with Jake. He is OUT OF the COUNTRY. So, of course, the show would have caught it on camera, Ali talking with Jake. Damn . Use your heads a little better, would ya? As far as Vienna goes, she is a troublemaker. Were you not paying attention to what her familiy said about her always having trouble with other girls, since SCHOOL?? She is low class. Steve has no insight to any of these reality shows. The producers do not let anything out! get a grip, get a life use your OWN MINDS!
Steve thanks for the post what a treat to read while on the pot. Honestly though I am disappointed that you made no comments about the rope lighting in the shed that housed Vinny’s Hog. Total classic moment. Can you imagine what Kypton would have thought walking into that place. What a Dive!!
Another thing at the beginning of the series when Vienna said her dad has bought her 5 cars because she cannot drive for s#*t. Tell me the cars she had purchased for her. Here are my top 5 vehicle choices:
1987 Chevy Celebrity Euro
1984 Buick Century Limited
1995 Geo Metro Lsi
1987 Ford Escort 2 dr Hatchback LX
and last but certainly not least.
1987 Chevy Surburban Diesel
She certainly did not have anything too classy in a gem of a property that Vinny owned.
Attention all Reality Steve fans: I am starting a campaign to get The Bonnie Hunt Show to bring RS on for a guest interview. They make fun of The Bachelor every week in their recap, pointing out how ridiculous & phony it is. I’ve already sent them an email with the request. Here is the link http://www.bonniehunt.com/show/respond/?PlugID=71
Unfortunately, her show is getting canceled this May, so she has nothing to lose by having RS on for an expose. It would be great if we can get him on a show with a nationally televised audience!