Back at it once again. It’s busy time. Yes, I’ll admit, I took a lot of time off in December and got lazy with the “Daily Links.” A lot of that had to do with the launch of the podcast since it took an awful lot of time to get set up. But I’ve been very happy with the results so far, as every episode has cracked the top 5 in iTunes “TV & Film” category on the day of release, so thank you to everyone who’s taken the time to listen. And if you’re just showing up here today for the first time since September, well, you have a lot of catching up to do. Speaking of that, A LOT of stuff to get to before we get to last night’s recap. This page is full of tid bits and info about the site, the show, the contestants, alums, etc. Recap will start on page 2, but there’s a lot of things on this page you might wanna pay attention to as there’s a lot of stuff going on. This first episode column is always filled with stuff every season because I know so many of you are just getting back into the swing of things and are back here for the first time in a while. You’ve missed a lot, so lets get you caught up on everything. Trust me, you’ll thank me later.
Lets first start off with the “Reality Steve Podcast” which launched on December 5th. I did 4 podcasts in the month of December, and the podcast will now replace the Thursday night video chats. No more of those. The podcasts are much easier and a lot more fun to do. Podcast #5 was posted yesterday, which are all the spoilers for this season. Sure, you can read the episode-by-episode spoilers, but now you get them in audio form for your listening pleasure on your way to work, stuck in traffic, in the gym, or even listening to my soothing DJ voice as you fall asleep. Whatever. Just give them all a listen, and if you could, please subscribe, rate and review in iTunes. That’s always helpful. Here’s yesterday’s podcast:
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Music written by Jimmer Podrasky
(B’Jingo Songs/Machia Music/Bug Music BMI)
As I mentioned, the podcast will be released every Thursday during the season, right after I post my “Dr. Reality Steve” column. The weekly podcast will be a look back at the episode with a special guest, a reader email or two, hopefully a “Dr. Reality Steve” call, and any news and notes. The guest this week will be Juliet Litman from the “Ringer” and “Channel 33” podcasts. You’ve heard me on Juliet’s “Bachelor Party” podcast numerous times, so it was only fitting she’d be my first guest this season, so look for that come Thursday.
Get your “Reader Emails” and “Dr. Reality Steve” emails in to be seen in the next two days columns. Both are rather low right now. In addition, as I stated in podcast #5, I’d really like to have one “Dr. Reality Steve” call a week that’s actually part of the podcast. It’s sometimes much easier to answer those types of questions if it’s in a conversation type format, since I always have follow up questions I need to know/ask, and email makes it difficult. So if you have access to Skype, and if you’d like to be a part of the podcast, let me know and we can set that up. Those calls would have to be recorded on Tuesdays or Wednesdays. But if not and you just want to email your “Dr. Reality Steve” question in, that’s fine by me.
Our very own Nell Kalter is still here in 2017 (ok, it’s only been a week) recapping Vanderpump Rules for you. It’s still a sh** show, and yes, Stassi still hasn’t contacted me. Well, she did and then I haven’t heard from her since. Maybe now we should just go on each other’s podcasts. How’s that? Whatever the case, Nell has her finger on the pulse of “Vanderpump Rules” so go check out that recap.
ABC and ESPN have collaborated for the first time ever to create the Bachelor Fantasy League game that awards the winner round trip airfare & hotel to attend the live ATFR taping of the “Bachelorette” in August. They are really pushing this thing as all major media outlets have run with the story. Back in the day, ABC’s site used to have a contest every season and give out prizes, but this is being promoted much more heavily on entertainment sites and social media. However, before everyone starts getting excited about winning because they know the spoilers, you might wanna check out the Fantasy League rules page on their site. Here’s a snippet of what it says:
“Each point accumulated by an entrant will result in one (1) entry into the applicable Sweepstakes Game Period. Each point obtained by an entrant during a Weekly Game Period will result in an entry into both that Weekly Game Period drawing and the Grand Prize drawing at the end of the Promotion Period. However, non-winning entries from a given Weekly Game Period will not be carried over into the following Weekly Game Period.
Correct hometown date prediction: 50 points
Correct Final Rose prediction: 150 points
Correct response to a Weekly Trivia Question: 10 points
Correct response to a Weekly Bonus Question: 20 points”
And then in regards to how they choose a winner, here’s the fine print…
“Potential winner for each Sweepstakes Game Period will be chosen in a random drawing, on or about three (3) business days following the conclusion of the applicable Sweepstakes Game Period (per the chart in Section 4 above). Administrator will randomly draw one (1) potential winner from among all eligible entries received for each Sweepstakes Game Period.”
So yeah, anybody that reads the spoilers already has 350 points (meaning 350 entries) into the final pool drawing. Do you know how many different people are going to have 350 entries? Thousands. Probably hundreds of thousands. And all the contest is doing is going to pick a winner from those entries. So no, it’s not “Whoever has the most points wins.” It’s everyone who gets questions/Final 4/Final 1 guesses right, gets points = entries, and get thrown into a giant bowl of entries. You could answer 1 of the final 4 correctly, get 50 points, and one of those 50 entries could be drawn randomly and you win. Obviously the more points/entries the better your odds are, but let’s dismiss this notion that most points wins. It doesn’t. You have about as much chance of winning as Corinne does of remaining celibate on BIP. So as I mentioned at the beginning of Podcast #4, you might wanna temper your expectations of winning based on knowing the spoilers. Tons of people know and they’re getting the exact same number of entries as you. I’m here to help. I’m just not capable of rigging any contests or giving you some sort of unfair advantage unfortunately.
For those that watched Kimmel’s “Here For the Right Reasons” show after the “Bachelor” aired, it had it’s moments. Of course, what Kimmel season opening show after the “Bachelor” wouldn’t be complete with him “guessing” the final 4 and who Nick chose. If you missed it, his final 4 were: Corinne, Rachel, Danielle L., and Vanessa with Vanessa winning. Ooooooohhhhhh, so close Jimmy. Way to throw Danielle in there over Raven to throw people off. I like Jimmy’s show. Probably the most improved late night host we’ve ever had. But that particular schtick is just old now.
Even though I was the first to break this news 3 weeks ago, and despite Amanda and Josh both subtly confirming on their IG video stories they were done, Amanda officially gave her first statement regarding her breakup with Josh. You know my feelings on these two. It was brought up in my column, and was a focal point of both podcasts #3 and #4. It was never a matter of if with these two, but a matter of when. And “when” ended up being 6 months. I don’t think anyone is surprised by this breakup in the least bit, and if you are, you should get your head checked.
My good friend Amy Vanderoef had me in for her bi-annual spoilers session, which you can view on AmyVanderoef.com, or check out the video right here:
Nick’s blog for People is now posted on their site, and I was only able to skim through it (sorry, busy morning hob knobbing with the Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders. More on that tomorrow), but I did notice that Nick said in his column there were four girls he didn’t spend any time with at the cocktail party before he had to make his decision: Jaime, Dominique, Elizabeth B and Christina. Well Nick definitely isn’t lying about that considering 3 of those 4 girls names he didn’t even know how to spell. That’d be Jaimi, Elizabeth W., and Kristina, Nick. Great proofreading over there at People. And oh yeah, Chris Harrison’s Yahoo blog is now up where he says nothing of importance.
Ratings are in from last night and there’s good news and bad news. Good news is the show won its 18-49 demographic for the night. Bad news is they lost 1 million viewers from last season’s premiere, and down .1 of a ratings point. Look, it’s not like the show’s getting cancelled anytime soon, but those are pretty average numbers. Also, went up against the end of the Rose Bowl and the Sugar Bowl for most of the US, so that didn’t help. And next week will be even lower going up against the National Championship game. But for a little context, here are the last four Bachelor premiere numbers (millions of viewers, followed by rating):
Nick: 6.5 million, 2.1 rating
Ben: 7.55 million, 2.2 rating
Chris: 7.7 million, 2.4 rating
Juan Pablo: 8.4 million, 2.7 rating
And finally, your poll question has to do with the Liz and Nick situation. What are your thoughts?
rob22
January 3, 2017 at 12:11 PM
So on the whole Liz/Nick thing. What happened, happened. She read the tea leaves and figured Nick probably wouldn’t call her if he gave him her number. And Nick wouldn’t have called her most likely, because, well because he’s Nick. So, I don’t think she misread anything. But then, it’s very weird logic to think that the next logical step is not to get his number from Jade & give him a call…. no, it’s to go on “The Bachelor”. So, and Nick is not an idiot, this was a producer generated idea to create drama & had ZERO to do with Liz’s stated excuse that she watched BIP and changed her mind about Nick. That’s just stupid. She went on the show for her own 15 minutes of fame & mainly because she was asked. And she was asked because the producers had easy access to her via Jade, knew the back story & figured (rightly) that they could build an episode or two around their history…. and it would generate some drama and … ratings! Bingo!
So, since Nick realizes that the only purpose of Liz being there is to cause some negativity in the house that does him no good, OF COURSE he’s not thrilled that she’s there. They both did one another and said their laters. That was all there was to it. NOW she decides to come back, on Nick’s Bachelor season? I’ll bet the only reason she survived the first night is that the producers insisted on it. There is no way in hell Nick picks her otherwise. And I can’t blame him. He had to see the setup from the get go. I’d like to have been a fly on the wall when Nick “discussed” this with the producers. I’ll bet it didn’t go down all friendly like. Nick’s been around the block. He knows what the producers do. But, at this point, he’s already The Bachelor so he doesn’t need to completely bend over for them & just take it dry. I’ll bet he wasn’t pleased at all.
kimmyfromdablock
January 3, 2017 at 12:40 PM
Taylor…mental health counselor? Could mean a lot of things, but to imply the girl is in some kinda private practice is misleading. At 23 years old, unless she started college early, she would only have a masters degree. If she had a Bachelor’s in social work, she maybe could’ve completed a master’s program and be done at 23. Still, she’d need licensing and a ton of supervised hours before she had anyone on the couch. And, let’s face it, most people aren’t seeking help from someone that young.
Steve, why is Liz your favorite? I’m not surprised Nick isn’t or wasn’t into her beyond sex. She’s got too trashy a look for his taste or mine. Plus, girl, if he’s that into you after bedding you from night one, he’ll figure out a way to get your number whether you provide it or not.
crushonspivey
January 3, 2017 at 2:52 PM
Not gonna lie. Looks like the worst crop of Bach’ettes ever. Was not super impressed with the group as a whole. Maybe 5 good choices out of 30, which means the producers did a dreadful job this year. And Vanessa? Meh. I give her and Nick 6 months post After the Final Rose.
PS, Andi Dorfmann still sucks.
rob22
January 3, 2017 at 5:23 PM
crushonspivey: I wasn’t going to say anything, but yeah. Ben’s group was really hot. I guess they decided to go in a different direction this time. I’m unsure why.
tamara
January 3, 2017 at 9:13 PM
I can’t help but think their ratings for first episode would have been better had they chosen Luke. I mean, this is someone we feel we already know somewhat and does anyone think he is really looking for love? With Luke, while he seemed bland, there would have been some sincerity and interest in an actual relationship possibly coming out of this. I think the only person Nick will end up loving at the end of this is himself. Kind of boring. But, of course I watch anyway 😉
elizabeth82
January 3, 2017 at 10:13 PM
I guess Steve is just super-into Liz’s look, because I don’t find her sympathetic at all (plus re. looks, her mouth is annoying, anyone hear me on that?). Nick isn’t “butt hurt” to be annoyed by her being all coy about her phone number and then showing up on this show.
First show and half-paying attn and mostly distracted by the Shark/Dolphin: I did like Rachel, though.
rob22
January 4, 2017 at 5:57 AM
@tamara: it’s a little hard to know how the ratings will fall out over the next few weeks. Sunday was New Years for that lame preview. Monday was a National Holiday, plus all the major bowl games were on, including an amazing exciting Rose Bowl that ran half way through The Bachelor. My son’s girlfriend was going to come over and watch The Bachelor with him, but he texted her and told her not to come because he was watching the game. A LOT of factors, and like RS said, next Monday is the National Championship game. Now, I know the demographics are not the same for these two events, but people have parties for games like this and a lot of women are into College Football. So, let it play out for a few weeks and see how it goes.
That said, don’t most of us have DVRs, On Demand or a streaming app that would allow us to watch whenever we want? I guess a lot of people still do watch live. Personally I couldn’t stand it. Fast-forwarding through the commercials cuts out 30-40 minutes of wasted time.
rob22
January 4, 2017 at 7:01 AM
It will be interesting, though, to see how the ratings do play out. I tend to think that if Juan Pah-Blow, Ben Flatdick and Farmer Fred didn’t kill ratings, then certainly Nick won’t create the apocalypse. But, who knows? This show has now been on 14 years. One more year an you’re getting into the territory of Gunsmoke, Lassie and Law and Order.
It seems to me that the shift towards leads like Nick and Kaitlyn make sense for the newer generation & won’t be a real problem for current fans. At some point, though, you gotta think the show is going to fade. But I still don’t think this is going to be this year. I personally think the thing that will kill the show is staying too much with a formula to the point of boredom. The more they freshen it up with edgy leads and contestants, and more sex & drama (before the fantasy suites) the better off they’ll be. The last thing this show needs is to be boring. Anything that makes it less boring is good for them. Look at how much play Chad got in the last year, and of course, Nick.
purplerayne
January 9, 2017 at 2:40 PM
LOL at Luke being sincere….he didnt get the gig in part to his diva requests for the show to play his music. He was using the show as a vehicle to push his career.