Feels like we haven’t spoken to each other in months. Years maybe. Craziness happening in the “Bachelor” world, but today I can exclusively report, that comes to an end. I don’t see any other outlet reporting this, so anyone after this post I would appreciate giving the proper credit. According to my sources, ABC’s investigation into the BIP situation has been completed, they found no evidence of any wrongdoing or sexual misconduct, and they will be announcing this soon. Possibly as early as today. After seeing some stories get out over the weekend which really questioned Corinne and her behavior, this isn’t at all surprising of an outcome to me. I kinda saw where this was headed when I was getting all the information coming to me last week. There just didn’t seem to be enough there to warrant the things that were being said and how certain outlets were claiming what was going on. This opens the door to a lot of questions I’m sure you all have, most of which I don’t have the answer to. But expect any minute now for ABC to make this announcement regarding their investigation.
Not sure if you saw it over the weekend, but two contestants, Raven and Jasmine, who were actually there and witnessed what was going on between DeMario and Corinne spoke out and gave their thoughts to the whole situation. Needless to say, it certainly didn’t help Corinne’s case. Sources can say whatever they want, tabloids can mask their stories however they choose to create a certain narrative and get clicks, but no one ever had any quotes directly from people who were actually there until these two spoke up. Raven was very vocal in detailing what she saw, as was Jasmine. Even Evan decided to chime in on the weekend of his wedding. I mean, you can choose to believe “sources” or you can believe people who were actually there who spoke on the matter. Not to mention, what Jasmine and Raven said is practically everything you read on this site last Tuesday when I reported what my sources were telling me. Good to see this thing is finally over and we can move on from it.
Now, I’m also hearing rumblings that ABC wants to still produce something for this summer. They don’t want to NOT have a summer show and leave 6 weeks of expected programming from BIP unaccounted for. What form that takes, when/where it films, when it airs, is it even called “Bachelor in Paradise,” that I don’t know. But in the coming days, I think we’ll be hearing more about this. My guess is they don’t all go back down to Mexico and resume shooting BIP, but there will be some show shot in the next few weeks in the states. I just have no idea what it’ll be, where it’ll be, or who will be involved. As for DeMario and Corinne, whatever summer show gets produced, I’m guessing these two will either have to do a sit down interview, or something on camera to talk about why BIP was shut down. They can’t just completely ignore the thing. Hell, maybe they’ll even have these two on the new show, I don’t know. But my guess it we will be hearing from them in some form or fashion. So there is good news in this after all. Looks like there will be some sort of summer programming. Stay tuned as more information becomes available.
And on yeah, Evan and Carly got married this past weekend down in Mexico. Again, we don’t know when it’s airing, or in what form, but I’m sure ABC will let us know at some point soon.
More good news! The first edition of the “He Said, She Said” podcast with me and Sharleen Joynt will debut this Thursday on Stitcher Premium, promo code: Steve. You can go there now and get signed up and the episode will be up for you on Thursday. What does that mean for you? Well, it’s a monthly service, but also commercial free. You’ll get your first month free when you sign up using that link, then it’s $4.99/month or $29.99/year. I mean, c’mon. That’s $.16/day for the monthly, or $.09/day if you purchase for the year. And you get access to ALL of Stitcher’s podcast library, not to mention access to tons of stand-up comedy albums by some of your favorite comedians like Amy Schumer, Louis CK, Aziz Ansari & many more. Stitcher came to me and asked if I would be part of their Premium brand and I immediately jumped at the chance. I just wanted it to be something different than what I was already doing. Making it basically an audio version of “Dr. Reality Steve” and adding a fan favorite like Sharleen was a no-brainer to me. So sign up, check out the first episode (with a special appearance by Sharleen’s fiancé Andy), tell us what you think, and hopefully you’ll come aboard for our once a month podcast.
In case you missed it at the end of the episode last night, next week we get back-to-back episodes on Monday and Tuesday. Monday will be the conclusion of South Carolina (where Jack gets eliminated on his 1-on-1), then the Norway episode (where Kenny and Lee have their 2-on-1). Tuesday I’m guessing will be the conclusion of the Norway episode then the Denmark episode, with I’m sure a cliffhanger at the end. The reason for the back-to-back episodes is because the following week, July 3rd, they are running a repeat figuring people will be out of town for the holiday. So once we come back on July 10th, it’s one episode a week until the finale August 7th. So mark that in your calendars.
So what has been the fallout from “Bachelor in Paradise” being cancelled? Well according to Ad Age, not a whole hell of a lot. Advertisers have yet to jump ship on the franchise, which we know by recent political shows being cancelled, is the ultimate decider. If you start losing advertisers, you’re screwed. So far, so good for this franchise. I guess they’re waiting to see exactly what comes of this situation, but for those already engraving this franchise’s tombstone, you might wanna hold up a bit. “Bachelor in Paradise,” I believe, is done as a franchise. But I really don’t think this affects the “Bachelor,” “Bachelorette,” or the “Bachelor Winter Games” at all. Time will tell.
Get your “Reader Emails” and “Dr. Reality Steve” emails in for the week. We’re actually more low on “Reader Emails” right now than usual. Get those in today to be answered in tomorrow’s column.
The poll question this week revolves around this BIP drama.
rob22
June 20, 2017 at 8:55 AM
I think the “Slow PC” pop up ad showing on this site is hysterical. Create a ridiculously buggy website that slows down and sometimes crashes your browser, then slide in a Speed up your PC ad. RS is really focusing his ads these days. Hey, it’s a capitalist system, so monetize away.
crushonspivey
June 20, 2017 at 8:59 AM
Not surprised at how BIP is shaking out. We all knew who Corinne was based on how she chose to act on Nick’s season. And we still know who she is now. Nothing has really changed. She is a girl willing to be sexually aggressive for attention because it works for her usually. Combine too much booze and cameras, and she and DeMario went too far for what might be considered socially acceptable in that situation. Good judgment does not seem to be either of their strong suits.
I have to say though, that this franchise did hit a new low last night, and it was easy to see why. Rachel was in torment, talked about perception as the first black bachelorette and the pressure it brought. why she was freaking seemed out of context based on the guys arguing until the rose ceremony. And then she picked Lee for the final rose, and it became clear. They made her choose Lee for another week of drama, even though she did not want to, TPTB made her, she knew it would reflect poorly on her, and it stressed her out.
I get this is a produced show, and they want storylines to show week to week. But making Rachel choose the antagonistic and racist Lee(per Dean minimum)when she did not want to do it was all kinds of messed up. All kinds of messed up.
This is the part of the show I despise, and the producers with a conscience should as well. They try to put people in bad positions for amusement, and bad stuff can happen. Like Corinne and DeMario, or Rachel choosing Lee when it clearly pains her to do so. When the purpose of your show is to create those situations for entertainment, and then bad crap happens, it is hard to show that the show does not at least share a small portion in the situation. They contrive it, it happens, they Fleiss Production co is all innocent? Sorry but they have been doing this crap for years, and are lucky it only just happened. ABC is not to blame, Fleiss is. And I’m betting they paid out to corinne as well, a settlement occurred, and that is why this is over.
hales
June 20, 2017 at 10:18 AM
I’ve been trying to figure out the best way to say this and I think I finally have it: I am not surprised that this is the outcome of the investigation based on what I saw of Corinne on the Bachelor. It has nothing to do with her taking her top off or her perceived “promiscuity” but with the manipulative behaviors she displayed in interacting with the other contestants and her inability to take responsibility for her actions.
RaRa
June 20, 2017 at 10:44 AM
“Dean: I’m just amazed Dean got cast this season just one year removed from attending his senior prom. Crazy.”
I thought Dean was 26? How long does Steve think High School lasts? Even if college had a senior prom, that would have been four or five years ago.
Or am I the only one who took Steve literally?
tinyred500
June 20, 2017 at 11:12 AM
I’m surprised that ABC’s investigation is over so quickly, but I think that’s probably good for the franchise. I too am not surprised at the outcome, but I do think the producers should use this opportunity to rethink the format of all the shows, as they are so stale and predictable now. Most importantly rethink and evaluate the producers hand in how these shows are filmed and played out. I’m more astonished that they still want have some kind of summer programme. I would be surprised however if either Demario or Corinne were invited back, but we shall see.
This recent scandal does show up how the franchise seems to be at odds with itself, (The Bachelor and The Bachelorette programmes perhaps a little less so), they say they are about love and romance, but also there’s a constant undercurrent of being a lot of other things too. On a lighter note, the producers make most of the contestants sound silly with all the stuff they come out with…for example, they are starting to fall in love after only one date etc. or the lead only knows who they are going to pick only the night before!!! Lol Why not let them be more real, let them say real everyday normal things.. It’s such a silly produced show…mind numbing escapist telly viewing.
I’m in the U.K. and from my understanding the show is aired from 7.00pm onwards in America, so it’s a tame hour. If they showed it at a later time, could it not be at least a bit more honest with what the show is actually about? I’ve seen pixelated out bare bottoms etc, hardly offensive!! We don’t have a British version of any of the shows. The US version is shown overhere on a minor satellite channel, and they’ve only gone back as far as Emily’s season (we are currently on Kaitlyn’s seasons and only BIP series 1 has been shown to date… so we are a bit behind lol). I’ve seen the changes season by season…I wish I could see the older seasons to compare, but it seems the producers push the limits more each season. Our home grown reality dating shows (shown on mainstream stations/networks) go out at or after 9.00pm and pretty much anything goes, full frontal nudity (male and female), real sex, every kind of swearing etc. The contestants know exactly what can be shown on air when they sign up, the viewer is warned beforehand of the programmes content before its aired, and after each and every ad break whilst the programme airs. I don’t know what US guidelines are for airing/showing what we can see in the UK, but wouldn’t it at least be a bit more honest and better if the show’s aired later and for each contestant to know beforehand what can be aired if they behave in an explicit or bad manner? Instead, the show needs to stop pushing so many limits, rein itself, the producers/contestants in and make up its mind what it wants to be, because I feel it dances around a very fine line at present.
I have a while till Rachel’s season is shown in the UK, and unless I find Rachel’s season online to view, I’m gonna have to keep reading Steve’s website and tweets…and listen to his podcasts which I really enjoy.
rob22
June 20, 2017 at 11:59 AM
@tinyred: The US show is at 7:00 or 8:00 depending on time zone. The days of the “family hour” are long gone, or this show would have to be on later at night. Still, nudity on a network channel is a no go. You only see nudity on cable channels. It’s the way it is over here. I’m not saying that it makes sense.
allaboutme
June 20, 2017 at 12:16 PM
You can catch The Bachelor/ette on Hulu.
RaRa
June 20, 2017 at 12:31 PM
@cushonspivy — You nailed it. Rachel was not ANY happier to have to keep Lee around than she had been happy to keep Whaboom that first couple of weeks. And we saw her reaction to producers blind-siding her with DeMario’s so-called ex a couple weeks ago. I get the distinct impression she is more upset with the on-set antics by producers than by the behavior of the guys, since she obviously does not have the authority to send them home when she wants to.
crushonspivey
June 20, 2017 at 12:40 PM
And BiP is back filing per reports, but supposedly with policy and procedure changes. Wonder what that means? Less booze perhaps?
Curious to see what this show is going to become. I’m sure the losers wanting their fame from this are psyched they aren’t losing their 15 seconds so they can sell crap on their Insta pages.
tinyred500
June 20, 2017 at 12:45 PM
The watershed time of 9.00pm whereby pretty much anything goes is also applied to drama’s, film’s etc too, which obviously includes the mainstream channels etc. A warning is always given to the viewer before the programme airs, just like with reality programmes.
Agreed, it makes no sense to have a no nudity etc., policy, on mainstream telly. It would make more honest television for the US. If a prior warning is given like overhere, viewers can choose whether to watch or not.
tinyred500
June 20, 2017 at 12:47 PM
Thank you, I’ll see if I can find the site. I know a few sites won’t play this side of the pond.
supersparklyday
June 20, 2017 at 2:01 PM
Yay – Bach in Paradise is saved!! Saved from the lying machinations of Corinne. Sincerely hope I don’t have see her on the revised rendition. She almost ruined a man’s life, and did cost him his job. Corinne has a karmic debt to repay. Her family is rich; she should give DeMario 1 years salary for lying. Then I hope she goes away, forever.
I am SO looking forward to having my fave summer show back!
shouldbeworking
June 20, 2017 at 5:11 PM
The sad thing about this charade is that DeMario lost his job over this nonsense. Guilty until proven innocent I guess. How fair is that?
megs
June 20, 2017 at 9:43 PM
I don’t think Dean’s “laughing” was odd… it’s a pretty typical response of someone (particularly male) talking about something uncomfortable and difficult to talk about. I think his response was totally normal.
atleast4characters
June 20, 2017 at 10:20 PM
@rob22 — I don’t see any ads, for which I have to thank Steve. Because, in fact, it was many years ago when I first visited this site, that its exceedingly numerous and annoying ads motivated me to find and install an ad blocker for my browser. Life has been good ever since.
cjscjs711
June 21, 2017 at 1:51 PM
@atleast4characters – I hear ya. This site is the site that persuaded me to get ad blockers for my computer and smart phone. The ads here caused more havoc than ads on any other page i visit. Now that I have an ad blocker, like you, I see no ads whatsoever, no computer freezing, rolling screens, etc. It wouldn’t have occurred to me to get an ad blocker (which means Steve doesn’t make any money from my visits now) if the experience hadn’t been so extremely bad.
yoyotono
June 26, 2017 at 11:10 PM
Corinne needs a nanny to keep track of her *rolls eyes*. This scandal wouldn’t have happened if Raquel had been there to just put her drunk a** to bed. She sexually assaulted several guys that day prior, per Jasmine (anything unwanted is sexual assault, regardless of gender). I feel like Demario lost a lot over this BIP scandal in particular. I don’t know the guy, I just think before the media runs someone through the mud they should wait on facts. Unfortunately, many people like to judge people in a court of public opinion. He was defamed due to it, lost his job…etc.
It’s pretty much going to be a “he said, she said” situation because ABC will never show the graphic footage of those tapes.
I wonder why ABC didn’t have these protocols in place BEFORE a situation like this occurred? Everyone knows how unlimited alcohol is provided on set.