I heard some gossip that the reason Luke was not asked to be the Bach was because he got a woman pregnant. Have you heard this, Steve?
Comment: Rumors are wonderful aren’t they? And where did you hear this wonderful rumor from? A tabloid. Consider the source. How many times has a tabloid run a “pregnancy” rumor? And how many times when a tabloid has run a “this person is pregnant” rumor, was a baby never produced in the aftermath? All of them? I rest my case.
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Hi RS!
Long time reader, love you and loving the podcast! The “off-season” lasts way too long. I’ve read your spoilers for every season but Nick is the first season I’ve watched since Jake and I’m loving every second of the train wreck! I have a question and a comment:
This is a silly question and apologies if you’ve answered before, but what do the girls who aren’t chosen for the group date doing during the day/during the group date? Are they just sitting around the mansion drinking? Since there’s no TV, internet, reading, etc., it’s gotta get pretty boring, right? Very boring. They drink, film ITM’s, talk to each other, and think of ways to entertain themselves.
Next, ummm soft core open music playing while Corinne is doing her whole whipped cream thing??? It’s so gross how they’ve hyped up the sexuality this season! I know she is great TV (in their eyes) but it’s getting ridiculous.
Keep up the good work!
Comment: I think they have that soft core porn music stashed away. I feel I hear that at some point every season.
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Hello there!
I am a daily reader and absolutely love your website! You said you were low on reader emails so here’s one to help….Actually I was low on “Dr. Reality Steve” emails. Still am. As you can see, I have plenty of “Reader Emails” today.
1. How long are the actual night part of the one on one dates? We only get like 3 minutes of their whole conversation. A couple hours.
2. How does Corrine make it to 4th place? The girls literally hate her and it shows Chris telling Nick that she needs to tone it down a little bit.
Comment: Because she’s TV gold and everyone is talking about her, regardless of if it is good or not.
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Hey! Hope all is well. Before I ask questions, just wanted to mention how incredibly proud I am of you and all your success. Its not easy creating a blog from scratch. You’re is so successful and reliable. Thank you.
1) Do you think the ladies were allowed to vote? They were filming during election day. Seeing that some of them are so young, this would have probably been their first time, would the producers have allowed them to leave the house? On Nov. 8th, only three ladies were still filming and that was the final three. And no, they didn’t vote. I’m assuming none of those three did an absentee ballot either, but that’s just a guess.
2) I’m a fan of Nick. I was so excited to hear that he was announced as the next Bachelor. But watching him actually be the Bachelor has been such a disappointment. He just isn’t present, acts so uninterested in the girls and seems like he’s going through the motion. I’m sure Sean, Ben, and even Brad all signed on for fame. At the very least they were actively engaging with the girls. I don’t think he’s been the worst, but I don’t think he’s been the best either. He’s just been Nick to me. You know, licking whipped cream off boobs and letting producers dictate what goes on.
3) Seems like the show cares less about keeping up with “filming time” and “airing time” I feel like before they wanted the viewers to believe filming coincided with weeks the episodes air. Nick mentioned during the week 2 episode that it was still the first week of filming. Likewise he mentioned Paradise only lasted a month, when it aired across multiple weeks. No, they’ve never actually wanted people to believe filming coincides with airing. Unless I’m misunderstanding you.
4) Is Nick really all that close with the twins? The girls act like he’s their brother. I think the twins are a means to an end for Nick.
As a side note, I feel so bad for Corrine. I don’t doubt that’s how she really acts. She reminds me of every girl I went to high school with. Just seems like they pumped her up with alcohol she couldn’t handle then aired all the dumb things she says/does. She’s not even sober majority of the time.
Comment: Pretty much. She was sloshed at that first group date after party where she interrupted everyone under the sun and got the rose.
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Hi Steve,
My boyfriend and I are really enjoying the podcast. It’s his first season watching and I think he enjoys the element you bring to the show much more than sitting and watching it.
I asked this question on Ben’s season and enjoyed the answers, so I wanted to ask it again for Nick’s season. If you could make a basketball team with Nick’s girls, who would you have? Oh geez…I’ll go with Astrid as our starting center. She looks about 6’8”. Gimmie Danielle Maltby at small forward. Long, lanky, can guard the quicker 3’s. I have no idea who’s gonna play power forward on this team. Oohhh Alexis! She’ll mix it up in there with some people for sure. Point guard I’ll say Rachel. Floor leader, well liked, can certainly run the show and move people where they need to be. Judging by the dash in the Nickathlon, seems to have the quicks too. Shooting guard? Your guess is as good as mine. Can we bring Becca in as a ringer since we saw her shoot last season and she wasn’t half bad?
Also since this is a question that has been floating around lately, I just wanted to share what I know. I worked for different people in the advertising/public relations sphere and gotten to do a lot of what we’re calling “influencer communications”. For the contestants on social media posting about sugar hair bear and fab fit fun etc. they’re usually approached one of two ways.
1. People working on these brands track down their information if they fit the criteria; like followers, amount of likes, comments, past promotional posts, etc. that they’ve set for influencers, and then if we want engagement, impressions, or user generated content. So if we want people to like, comment, buy; if we want them to just see the product; if we want them to send stuff into us like a contest, etc. Afterwards we contact them and set up a contract, (usually not paying them in money if it’s just for impressions).
2. An influencer communications group that specializes as being a middle man. These groups or companies pick people with blogs or with good social media standing and recruit them to be part of their group. They’ll get market themselves to other companies or agencies to get a product, and then they’ll put it out to their influencer groups that match the target audience and pay them a little bit of money. Some will pay on a commission system.
I hope that information helps 🙂
Also random question, is Nell writing about Are You The One this season?
You’re great, Steve!
Comment: Yes, thank you. Along with what Dana said on the podcast, definitely adds a little more to it.
No, Nell isn’t writing AYTO this season. I think the season creeped up on us so much (I had no idea they were starting in January til like a week before), that it was too much on her plate. If they do another one this summer like last summer, maybe she will.
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Hi! Great jobs on the recaps so far this season! Very funny!
Ok so I want your feedback on a situation that COULD happen (probably not) but nevertheless.
So I know almost every bachelor/bachelorette sleeps with the final three. If not, at least the vast majority do. I was thinking, WHAT IF Nick didn’t sleep with anyone but Vanessa? Hear me out. How hypocritical would it be for Nick to call out Andi for sleeping with him right before she supposedly knew she was getting engaged to another man yet he sleeps with Rachel and Raven before proposing to Vanessa? I don’t remember the exact phrase but didn’t he say that sex was “honeymoon stuff” or something and questioned why Andi would make love with him if she wasn’t in love with him? So let’s say he DID indeed sleep with Rachel and Raven. How ironic would that be if both of them confronted Nick on ATFR and called him out? I could totally see that situation being producer’s dream. Nick would be forced to have to explain his actions and reasoning, right? I can’t imagine that either women wouldn’t confront Nick about that double standard or why he made such a big deal to Andi yet did the exact same thing? Just curious on your take. How do you think producers and Rachel and Raven will go about this situation seeing how we can use our better judgement and see that Nick slept with all three women. I guess we will see come ATFR, although, only Raven would confront him there, since Rachel would be on the WTA. I guess she could say something there, but I doubt she would. Just doesn’t seem like something she’d do assuming they had sex. I don’t get that impression from Raven either.
Also, have you heard of any new couples or hook ups from this season’s girls and past bachelorette contestants? I’m sure those horn dogs have been chomping at the bit!
Thanks!
Comment: Nothing substantial as of yet.
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Hi Steve,
Any news on the Nick baby rumors?
Comment: Yes. OMG, so all three of final girls are preggo, all three have produced ultrasounds, and all three babies have three eyeballs. It’s going to be the most dramatic finale ever!
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BIP Questions!
Who from Nick’s season will we see there? Guessing now, who’s most likely to come out engaged? Will there be more than one proposal again (all just guesses)?
Will Robby, Chase, Luke be on? Plenty of them. It’s more about who won’t be on. It’s still way too early, but I’d expect whoever you think will be on probably will. And I can see all three of those guys doing it.
Do you think they’ll try to bring Raquel on?
Thanks! Looking forward to the Nick Peterson interview.
Comment: No, I doubt we’ll see Racquel. I’m looking forward to the Nick interview as well. One of the unsung heroes of the franchise.
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Hi Steve,
Happy to follow yet another season of this wonderful show with the help of your spoilers and great recaps!
I have to start by saying that I really enjoy your podcasts. You really do have what they call a radio voice and your guests have all been interesting so far.
Of course I had to write to you about Corinne since she is the center of attention…I must say at this point I feel sad for her. From all the seasons I have watched I feel she is one of the best (worst) examples of the girl with extremely low self-esteem and no maturity to boot. I am not sure how worse it can get from here, as what we saw this week was really a new low.
First of course the whole whipped cream episode. Whether it was her idea or the producers’ to begin with, they allowed it to happen so it’s on them. But anyone with an ounce of judgment (meaning pretty much all the other girls in the mansion) would know that the whole thing was totally inappropriate for a cocktail party on episode 2! This was more fantasy suite material. What did she think would happen? That he would dump the other girls right then and carry her back to his bed? She put herself in a very awkward position and there was no way it would end well for anyone.
And then the bouncy princess castle.
How ridiculous was it to watch Nick, a 35 year old man, jumping around in there? This one was most probably her idea, but how could she possibly think that he would enjoy it and that it would put her in a lead position? If anything it definitely confirms she is not wife material. I can’t help but think about how this is going to hurt her and follow her for a long time (in great part thanks to the producers of this show who manipulated her shamelessly). When she grows up one day, if she watches it back she’ll probably be horrified. Agree with all of this. And oh yeah, Nick turned 36 the night of the whipped cream incident. He tried to possibly use this as an excuse in his blog as to why Corinne did it because she knew it was his birthday and she wanted to do something for him. Please.
And now Vanessa. I know that when she had her 1 on 1 filming had not been going on for that long, and until then we did not see much interaction between her and Nick. However, when the date started I found that they were not behaving like people going on a first date. She showed up at the airfield and kissed him almost right away and they seemed really close and at ease with each other throughout as if they had spent time together previously (not to mention almost holding the barf bag for her and making out 5 seconds later – Yuk!). Did you hear anything about them spending time off camera before that date? No.
Sorry for the long email…Just a couple more questions:
Have you heard anything about a season 3 for Unreal? Nothing other than it’s going to a “Bachelorette” lead. Which means Rachel will end up sleeping with at least one of the contestants, if not more.
Will you watch 24 Legacy? I know it won’t be the same without Jack, but I was thrilled to see that Jimmy Smits will be on it, I still remember him from the NYPD Blue days.
Thank you for everything you do and take care.
Comment: Absolutely will watch it. I’m getting more and more excited. Especially since I read that we will have at least one MAJOR returnee from the past – Tony Almeida is back! He has a past with Miranda Otto’s character, Rebecca Ingram, that is gonna get explored.
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Hey Steve,
1. After seeing your tweet about how if Chad and Corinne were together on BiP, they’d rip each other’s heads off, it made me wonder: do you actually think Chad would come on for a second time, or do you think telling Chris Harrison to f— off was his endpoint on this show? Chad was only allowed to film “Famously Single” if he agreed to come on BIP 4. So he’ll be there.
2. Also, do you think that if the producers had never introduced the idea of roses on dates to the show, that the show still would have been as successful as it is? I feel like this is such a crucial part of the drama, especially on group dates and two-on-ones. Good question, but impossible to answer. Probably. As big as the roses are, I don’t think not having them would’ve killed the show.
3. If you were a producer and could bring one lead back for a second season (like what they did with Brad Womack), who would you want to bring back? I wouldn’t do it. I thought Brad a second time was a mistake, regardless of it they got an engagement out of it or not.
4. Do you think producers tried to nudge certain men into voting for Kaitlyn over Britt? 1000%.
5. When you originally released that Kaitlyn chose no one, you reported that Shawn B. was in the running to become the next Bachelor? Is this just something you heard from sources that gave you the wrong information in the first place or was it just an assumption you made based on good things you were hearing about him because it obviously could not have been true? It was an assumption I made based on originally hearing Kaitlyn was single.
6. One more: you always say that the Bachelorette has always been in top 4 of their Bachelor season, but Britt was in top 6 and she had a good chance of getting the lead, so seeing this and how surprising the show’s been with casting the past couple of seasons, do you think it’s even more possible and/or probable now that a woman who made top 6 has a chance of getting the Bachelorette gig?
Thanks Steve, and sorry about how late this is coming in!
Comment: Impossible to say whether it’s more or less probable/possible. I don’t have any reason to believe it is, but the way they’ve done things recently, I guess we can’t rule anything out.
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Hi Steve! It’s been a while since I’ve asked you a question, so I apologize if this gets long winded. First I want to tell you how much I am enjoying your recaps and new podcasts this season. I have really come around on Nick, and I’ve always been skeptical of him. I love that we really know him more than any other Bachelor from the past, it’s nice to compare his interactions this season prior to other seasons. Last nights episode was my favorite ever. I loved the Backstreet Boys date, and loved that sweet, tender date he had with Vanessa. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such chemistry so early in any previous season, nor ever with Nick previously with Kaitlyn or Andi.
However, I’m finding the villain role the show pushes to be getting over the top, turning the show into trash. I was so annoyed that during the serenade all we could hear were babyish voiceovers with Corrine. I really wanted hear them sing and focus on his dance with Danielle. I found that to be rude to us, the viewers, and to the BSBs. I know this is a TV show and it needs some drama, but not at the expense of the relationship development and romance more serious viewers are into. I know this show is ultimately owned by Disney, a corporation that has been making movies like Frozen and Moana to encourage female empowerment. Considering that, there are many teen and tween girls watching this show. My 17 yo daughter watches with me. We were repulsed by the whipped cream and bouncy house scene. My question is, do you feel that Disney and the producers of this show should consider a moral obligation to portray women in a more positive way for younger female viewers? Seeing the attention Corrine gets by throwing herself at Nick can send mixed messages to impressionable young girls in how to go about relationships. It just seems like hypocrisy. As a mother, I wish they would keep it cleaner. Drama is fine, but this, and the outrageous behavior of Chad last season is over the top and a turnoff for many of us. Whether they should or shouldn’t isn’t for me to decide. Their show has always bordered on the sexual innuendos every season, if not blatant ones like we’ve seen recently. I think you should come to expect this.
I also wanted to give you a female perspective as a fan. The Bachelor to me is probably like sports to you. I hate sports, don’t follow them, and even when my kids were involved I was there for them, but I don’t really enjoy them. I feel likes whatever happens on that field doesn’t matter 10 minutes after you drive out of the parking lot. I could never understand crazy parents who scream and yell the whole game. I just don’t get why sports games matter (sorry!). To me this show’s finale is like the Super Bowl. Does that make sense? I know you also talk about why fans care about the candidates who you don’t know or have never met (like pro sport players). Tough to make a sports analogy to this show because this show is all done in advance and nothing is organic, whereas sports are the complete opposite. I’m trying to even see what you’re saying about the emotions one goes through when watching the show, but I still don’t see it. Apples and oranges to me.
I’ve been following your site for a long time, and I always said that my favorite part of your columns was seeing Maddie in your video chats. Now I’ve never met her, of course, but Steve, I cried my eyes out that day she passed on, and then some. I think when one follows something they enjoy like the show, or your columns, they get invested in the characters, and you. Now I personally don’t have strong reactions when these relationships breakup because it happens so often, and I’m aware that some fans get ridiculous on social media. But I think the majority of us are serious viewers who just really enjoy the show, but I would love if they focused on the relationships developing and romance more instead of using seemingly desperate attempts to garner trash tv. I feel like the show is created by men and the trashiness is what they mistakenly think is entertaining. While as a woman, I find that aggravating, not at all entertaining, and would much rather focus on the conversations, and relationship development. Any thoughts? I’m sorry this is so long, and I really appreciate your time reading this! Thank you Steve!!
Comment: I see what you’re saying, but you’re never gonna get that with this show as much as you want to. It’s not what the show is about. They just want people to THINK that’s what it’s about, but then they throw trashy storylines like Corinne on there to keep people interested in early episodes when there’s so many girls there people aren’t invested in yet. They’ve done it every single season and it’s not changing. I know what you’re hoping for with this show, but you’re watching for the wrong reasons. You’re going to be disappointed every time, like you are right now. That’s not gonna change. I’d temper your expectations.
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Steve,
Loved Dana on the podcast this week! Great perspective, and I loved how open you both were to receiving each other’s information and thoughts.
How much time do people actually spend with the bachelor/ette at:
-one on ones: It’s an all day date.
-cocktail parties A few hours.
-group dates All day date.
Second question,
How do group and one on ones work in terms of going back for the second part of the date? Do they go back to the mansion and change/do make-up and how long do they spend apart from the lead? They get changed on location wherever the date is.
Last,
About how much total time does the lead spend with the final person by the time the show has concluded?
Thanks!
Comment: If you add up every minute they spend together just the two of them, about 48-72 hours. Hence the reason the engagement at the end means nothing. You’re just choosing who you want to continue to date, but essentially forced to propose to them.
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Hey Steve! Ok is it me, or is the fakeness of this show even more obvious this season? Do the producers think we’re that stupid? I feel like in past seasons it took a few episodes to pick out the “evil one” and to create a storyline? But it seems like now they just get it all over with in the first episode, it all just is so planned. I actually think it’s the same. Corinne has been over the top early, but so have others that they focused on. Corinne just may have gone over and above the call of duty.
Also, this is just my opinion, but given that Nick is 36…why would they only have a couple girls over 30 and the rest be younger than 24/25? It’s not as fun to watch when a 23 year-old girl is having a meltdown one year post grad from having a 36 year-old man in a high school boys body break up with them after 6 days of knowing them. Because that’s how the casting of this show works. It’s never changed. Probably because most early to mid 30’s girls aren’t stupid enough, or not locked down in a career job to take time off and join this sh** show.
And comments on Nick: I obviously don’t know him personally, but to me his sexual and mental maturity level is that of a pre-teen. I mean come on, he’s close to 40 and he’s bouncing around in a blow up castle with a 23 year-old. My mom and I got grossed out watching that. Have you heard if he’s had a hard
time keeping a girl because of what they’ve seen on tv about him? I mean I just don’t understand it. Someone needs to write a psychological analysis on this show.
Keep up the good work!
Comment: Nick started getting a taste of the Hollywood bug around the age of 33. He’s 36 now and has been on four shows. I don’t think it’s going away anytime soon. This is what he’s basking in. He loves it. And he’s saying a lot of things in interviews that is so calculated, so pre-programmed, and such BS I just laugh.
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Hi, Steve:
Is it just me or is this the weirdest season of The Bachelor yet? The editing seems sloppier than usual and, beyond limited scratching the surface with Danielle and Vanessa, they haven’t aired a single conversation of Nick getting to really know anything about these girls. We’re heading into episode four and I feel like the “quality” of the conversations between the lead and the contestants is the worst I’ve ever seen (and that’s saying a lot). This season feels completely forced and, IMO, it’s just making the franchise look ridiculous. Of course, having said that, I’ll continue to watch because, like a bad car accident, I just can’t look away. The irony of this (that they win because me and 7 million other 18-35 year-old women still watch) is not lost on me… just an observation. Outside of his conversation with Vanessa at dinner, yeah, I agree. That was actually a good conversation that made sense and wasn’t all about “Beard Hunk” talk.
Anyway, do you agree that this season feels completely forced? It seems so obvious to me that Nick was not their first choice and they basically just slapped the season together to get it over with…Forced? I mean, the storylines all seem the same to me, just with different people playing the roles.
Also, is it just me, or does Vanessa look a lot like Andi Dorfman? I’m not at all surprised he picked her. She’s obviously his type — and she’s the only one in the group who seems like a normal human being.
Thanks for your posts. Watching this show would be pointless without the information you provide!
Long time reader. First time writer.
Comment: I don’t think Vanessa looks like Andi, really. I mean outside of the long brown hair, facially I don’t really see it.
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Send all links and emails to: steve@realitysteve.com. To follow me on Twitter, it’s: www.twitter.com/RealitySteve. Instagram name is “RealitySteve,” or join my Reality Steve Facebook Fan Page. Talk to you tomorrow.
