Whew. Another season in the books. I was really sweatin’ that one out! Nah, just kidding. This was a forgone conclusion since June. I actually address a little bit about that spoiler on page 4 today so check that out. Something I hadn’t shared about this season. Definitely some interesting things we saw last night from the change in format of the finale to the awkward Rachel/Peter confrontation on the ATFR. Has everyone talking and, as always, there’s a giant divide. There’s the people who are sane and can see things rationally – then there are the Peter wackos who live on a different planet who should never be allowed to reproduce. Ok, I’m kidding. Slightly. I get into all that today. People are going to have differing opinions when it comes to this show. We see that every season, and this season is no different. It’s just that a particular faction of fans this season, namely the Peter cult, seem to be out of their minds last night and today and probably will be for the time being. I’m gonna try to talk them off the ledge today. Granted, I’m sure it won’t work because they’re an unreachable bunch who can’t deal in reality, but hey, I’m going to offer my thoughts on everything anyway. Hope you all enjoyed the season. Thanks for being loyal readers and continuing to support this site whether it’s through visiting here every week or listening to the podcasts. It’s much appreciated.
Wanted to mention before we got started that Sharleen and I are beginning to start recording calls in the next week or so for August’s “He Said, She Said” podcast. If you want to be a part of the show, contact myself or Sharleen (Twitter: @SharleenJoynt), make sure you have Skype set up, and we can discuss getting you on this month’s show. It’s been a lot of fun so far so if you definitely have any sort of dilemma, or sex problem like Sharleen is begging for, by all means let us know and we can arrange to record sometime this week. Hope to hear from you.
Jimmy Kimmel may not have had the final couple on his couch last night, but he did give us another gem. We first had the “Baby Bachelor.” Then we had the “Baby Bachelorette.” Now, he gives us “Baby Bachelor in Paradise”. Oh goodie:
Remember, here are all your episode-by-episode spoilers for “Bachelor in Paradise” starting next week. We’re getting a little clearer picture of how the DeMario/Corinne scandal is gonna play out on Paradise as Chris Harrison explained recently. So we’ll get to see the footage up to when production was stopped, Corinne and DeMario’s sit down with Chris will NOT be part of the reunion show at the end, and that reunion show will be live after the finale airs. That definitely helps with things. We know next week is a two-night premiere on Monday and Tuesday, but do we know if it’s two nights a week the whole season? My guess is no based on the shorter footage. And I still haven’t heard anything about an “After Paradise” so it doesn’t look like that’s happening either.
Josh Murray looks to be jumping back into the reality TV world – and with one of my favorite franchises! You know I’m a huge fan of the Challenge on MTV. Before this season of the “Dirty 30,” we had the “Champs vs Pros” season. Well, looks like they’re bringing it back but tweaking it a bit. The “Champs” aren’t all necessarily former winners, and the “Pros” well, if Josh is in it, not sure what he’s a pro at. But this site that has been known to be very accurate in the past regarding their spoilers has posted the casting list for suspected players next season. They are usually dead on from what I’ve seen in the past and have been told. So look for that in the upcoming months.
We’ve seen plenty of spoofs/parodies of this franchise, but we’ve never seen the “Asian Bachelorette.” Until now. Funny stuff. Someone emailed me this last Thursday or so, and then by the weekend I saw it showing up on Facebook news feed numerous times. So if you haven’t seen it, check it out:
Ratings are in from last night, and while it got the highest ratings of the season, it stayed consistent with being about 1 million viewers less per episode than JoJo’s. For those that thought it would flame out with a black lead, they couldn’t have been more wrong. 34 seasons in and drawing a 2.1 and roughly 7.5 million viewers, including dominating the women 18-54 demo? Once again, this show proves it’s a beast on Monday nights during the summer and it’s not slowing down anytime soon.
Poll Question involves Rachel and Bryan. However, if you look at this poll question, or any of the other 3 questions you’ll see on the site, apparently the Peter wackos have infiltrated the site because all the majority answers are pro-Peter, anti-Bryan the way they’re trending now. Oh well. Sorry you didn’t get the ending you want suckas!
jlal
August 8, 2017 at 10:20 AM
I agree with Steve that the Peter storyline will be based on him needing more time.
allaboutme
August 8, 2017 at 10:31 AM
Last night Rachel went from being my favorite Bachelorette to my least favorite. I’m not a Peter fanatic, but I do think Rachel is either trying to save face or she wanted her ego validated with Peter, even if it was just to hear the words he wanted her and her then choose Bryan. She was twisting his arm pretty bad to try to get him to say he would propose and even managed to discount his own values in the process. Telling Peter he could propose more than once sealed the deal for me, it showed just how much she valued the image of being engaged vs having commitment. Her attitude towards Peter still had too much hostility too – I think she realized he was never into her and her ego is bruised.
crushonspivey
August 8, 2017 at 10:45 AM
Rachel was downright testy with Peter. It was not a good look for her, either. Not one bit. Honestly, I thought last night was a bad night for her all the way around. She is very likeable, but last night she was too salty and it came across poorly.
I have thought for many years now that the lead on this show gets a base plus a bonus structure. Bonuses for kissing as many people as possible. Bonuses for how many tell them they love them. Bonuses for drama in the house if they play along with it when asked. Bonuses for the Final 2 wanting to propose. Bonus for a final proposal. This is a TV show after all, so giving your lead incentives to make things happen to create what TPTB thinks makes a better show makes sense. It also would explain why Rachel leaned so hard on Peter for that proposal–so she could turn him down?. If she knew it was Bryan, why else did she push so hard for it from Peter? Makes no sense otherwise. Was about a bonus clause.
I liked Peter, but not sure he’d be a great lead. He is sort of boring and understated. And Eric has the personality to pull it off, but doubt they go with him. So how about Ben 2.0? Worked with Womack.
I give Rachel and Bryan til Christmas. Bryan’s mom will torpedo it, among other issues. Will be way too overbearing and involved. But good luck kids!
allaboutme
August 8, 2017 at 10:52 AM
A bonus clause makes sense and would explain a lot of the contradictions. How she can say she knew it was Bryan at home towns and then push so hard, makes zero sense. Otherwise the other logical explanation is, she IS lying, wanted it to be Peter but really wanted an engagement so she settled.
She’s probably pissed AF that he might be Bachelor, which I don’t necessarily blame her. He said the whole time he needed time to make sure the person he proposes to is *THE* one, so he’s in talks to do it again? Must feel like it’s a slap in the face. She must feel that was she had been used. That being said, if you’re happy with Bryan, MOVE ON and think of it as a blessing. It totally came off last night that she wasn’t happy with Bryan being the final.
tinyred500
August 8, 2017 at 11:01 AM
@allaboutme….Your assessment of last nights show seems to be the most common and popular opinion, going by the comments left on message boards etc.
I’m not entirely sure I agree with Reality Steve’s opinion that people are crazy if they believe Peter simply didn’t want to propose because he didn’t know her well enough etc (maybe he has insider info on him?). I find it hard to believe that everybody who goes on these shows all want to be proposed to or want to propose, there must be some who are happy to ride out into the sunset with just a boyfriend/girlfriend.
dogmomma
August 8, 2017 at 12:14 PM
One of the common comments on Twitter was that Peter should know that he is expected to propose and why did he go on the show if he knew that the show is all about the proposal. Well, it isn’t always about the proposal because not everyone has proposed. And the majority of the ones who do propose don’t make it through the year. I find it interesting that Rachel, who is highly intelligent and appears to be a classy girl, came across as being desperate for a ring and an engagement. I also noticed that she and Bryan mentioned that they want to be near each other, whether it be Dallas, Miami, or LA. The fact that they mentioned LA tells me a lot.
supersparklyday
August 8, 2017 at 12:28 PM
Look, I think Peter is hot, too, but to be honest, I never thought he was that into Rachel. He’ll make a great Bachelor and i look forward to looking at him every week for a.couple of months next winter. If you look back at the very 1st episode, it was always going to be Bryan. Their chemistry was instant and off the charts. They talked about so many of the important things (ie. Religion, where to live, credit scores, etc)? that I actually give them a pretty good chance. I mean, who thought JoJo & Jordan would still be.going strong after a year? Rachel & Bryan have a very good chance. I wish them well.
shenanigans
August 8, 2017 at 12:39 PM
I guess I’m one of the few who understands where Rachel was coming from. To me, Peter was sending out some of the worst mixed signals I’ve ever seen.
I love you and I see a future with you –the house, the kids, everything. But, I’m not there yet. I won’t propose. Well, what does THAT mean, considering that she had to choose someone the next day? He should have told her one thing or the other, rather than both. Either I love you or I’m not ready. By combining them, he messed with her head.
And, frankly, I understand why Rachel pushed Peter on that. Yes, her feelings for Bryan were stronger, but she wanted give her relationship with Peter every chance before she walked away. It was only in hindsight that she realized he was never as invested as she hoped he would be.
Because here’s the bottom line: when someone tells you they love you, on some level, you need to ask another question: enough to do what? Do you love me enough to marry me, have children with me, share a home and a last name with me? Or, do you only love me enough to have sex with me and walk away when I ask for more? There’s a world of difference there, but most people get blindsided because they don’t know enough to ask.
rob22
August 8, 2017 at 12:44 PM
Sorry if RS pointed this out, but the site was kicking me out about every couple of minutes until now. I personally don’t see how Peter can be considered a Bachelor candidate if he has already acknowledged that the short dating process of these shows don’t really work for him. How do you spin that? “I couldn’t propose to Rachel because there wasn’t enough time… but I now have Bachelor Super Powers so I will be able to get engaged on The Bachelor?” That really doesn’t work. I’m sure they’ll spin it some way, or another, but it’s a patently stupid premise that Peter can flip-flop on the time factor based on how Peter dealt with it on the Bachelorette season.
rob22
August 8, 2017 at 12:52 PM
Finally was able to load page 4. RS did address it, but that doesn’t mean that I agree. I do agree that if they want Peter they’ll figure out some sort of spin, but to me, it’s ridiculous. I guess, in the end, it’s a stupid show so what does it matter if the premise is patently ridiculous. It’s just one more ridiculous thing about the show, so who cares, right?
rob22
August 8, 2017 at 1:03 PM
So, I want to go back to one of my other points I like to bring up. Ratings. RS seemed to think that a 1M decline in viewers was no big deal. I agree that they’ve got a good demographic, which matters more than raw numbers. But a 1M viewer decline is just over 10%, maybe even 12-13% (I don’t have the raw numbers in front of me). I also believe they’ve seen declines over the past few seasons. With this type of show, which has obviously been on a long time, not everyone jumps off the bandwagon all at once. All in all, there’s a negative trend here & it’s accelerating. The show has to figure out why it’s happening and reverse it or slow it down. Maybe there’s nothing they can do. The show was eventually going to decline and who would have thought, at the beginning, that it would last this long? Nobody. No, it’s going to slide into irrelevance and die in the same way that American Idol died. It will hang on a while, even though more and more people stop watching & it loses it’s americana buzz. Maybe it will rally for a “last season” and go out with a bang. I give it 2-3 seasons for both shows. Maybe 4 if they marshal up the energy for a final season. All the markers are there to see, though I know most will choose not to see them. Certainly RS isn’t going to go there. His job is tied to the show.
tinyred500
August 8, 2017 at 1:08 PM
I agree, it’s a stupid and silly show and it really doesn’t matter who the next lead is, they have to pick someone whatever their back story is or isn’t. Maybe they will go back and give Ben H another go.
I’ve had the exact same problems as you with RS’s site tonight (I’m on my phone), I’ve even had to repost a comment twice because there was a problem with the server.
ctrealitygirl
August 8, 2017 at 1:22 PM
I SO agree with you allaboutme! At first I really liked Rachel and thought she was one of the best leads they’ve ever had. But the Rachel who appeared on AFTR last night was a whole different person than the one she was on the show. When she got up and moved farther away from Peter I felt ill. There was no need to do that. And when she went into her rant about Peter not being a good candidate for the bachelor format, she knew exactly what she was doing – namely trying to sabotage his chances of being named the next Bachelor. I read an magazine article weeks ago where Rachel expressed that she did NOT want peter to be the next Bachelor. And I’m guessing it’s because she probably had real feelings for him and now doesn’t want him having a shot at finding someone else. That, or she’s just a vindictive bitch! But I agree with you that her nasty demeanor last night was NOT a good look for her. If she ‘s as happy with Bryan as she professes, then why be so nasty to Peter? I think she doth protest too loudly! I think she and Bryan deserve each other!
ctrealitygirl
August 8, 2017 at 1:25 PM
PS…I hated last night’s format and hope ABC gets a lot of bad feedback so they don’t try it again. For crying out loud, they spoiled their own show by bringing out Peter before they showed the proposal scene. And it appears they left a lot out, just cut right to the chase. Even the scene with Neil Lane was briefer than usual. Pretty lame finale.
brittney154
August 8, 2017 at 1:47 PM
I couldn’t agree more with everything you said Steve. I haven’t understood why people are so up in arms and angry at Rachel and thinking Peter is the best thing. As a woman who has been with men that wouldn’t commit I would feel the exact same way she did. I wouldn’t want to be with someone who wasn’t able to commit to me fully. Her and Bryan were into each other from night one so you can’t say she just settled for him. Did she have feelings for Peter probably but sometimes you have to go with who you think shares your same goals. It may not work out and it might but I think it is crap to bash her for it. Also people keep talking about how she was rude to Peter. Ladies we have all been rude to people after breakups so lets not be to judgmental. Peter has in his yearbook that his dream is to be the bachelor. I feel the reason he pulled away from her was he didn’t want to get picked he wants to be the bachelor. I really hope he isn’t if he isn’t ready to commit in that short of time the show probably isn’t for him. I am hoping for Eric or Dean for Bachelor, but who know what they’ll do.
bastarache
August 8, 2017 at 2:03 PM
Hey Reality Steve! I really enjoy your site but if you are going to label a post as a “recap” it would be great if you could recap what happened beyond Bryan winning. 90% of this post is a rant about Peter, which is great but now I gotta go watch the episode myself to get the context behind your post. Much prefer your traditional format of summarizing the episode scene by scene interspersed with insights/spoilers and hilarious commentary! Anyways just my two cents, take it or leave it and keep up the spoilin’.
linds
August 8, 2017 at 2:07 PM
I was pretty neutral about the men this season. I liked Eric the most, but didn’t mind the others. However, I also thought Rachel seemed a little intense with Peter last night. It came across, to me, That she realized he wasn’t as into her as she thought once she watched the season back. I do think she knew what she was doing when she said the process just doesn’t work for him. Whether it was out of spite… who knows, but it seemed that way with her attitude towards him. I was hoping for Eric for Bachelor, but after seeing people say Ben H. 2.0 I’d be all about that!! Haha.
frozengrrl
August 8, 2017 at 2:23 PM
Thank you, shenanigans! You expressed well what I have been thinking all along. I think people are a bit blinded by Peter’s looks, and they give him a big pass on a lot of things. To me, he’s a classic, non-committal Midwestern boy. He seems pretty dull, especially after we got great, interesting guys like Kenny, Anthony, Will and Eric. I think he’d be a very boring bachelor.
LM111
August 8, 2017 at 2:50 PM
I had the same reaction as crushonspivey. I liked Rachel all season, but thought her reaction to Peter last night made her look bad, and dare I say, immature. I’m not one of the “Peter crazies”, but he seems like a decent enough guy and I don’t blame him one bit for not being ready to propose. It’s a stupid TV show. He’s known her 6 weeks or something like that. He’s just being normal. Also don’t get why she’s trying so hard to stop him from being the Bachelor (telling him “this show isn’t for you”. Man, could she be more obvious?!).
As for the next Bachelor, I’d like to see Eric…. and I’m definitely on board with Ben H. 2.0…. Peter would be fine too.
hugitout55
August 8, 2017 at 2:51 PM
Rachel was reallyyyyyy off on all of this. The fact she was comparing her like 3 one on one dates with Peter to her 5 year relationship is comical. First, lets be real, Peter has only known her for 2 months. Second, he hasn’t even known her in an even close to normal setting yet! The only time he has known Rachel is in front of a bunch of cameras, being filmed for a tv show about to be shown to america, and on extreme lavish dates that couldn’t be further from what the normal world is like. And third (if that isnt reason enough already) the kicker is she has been dating handfuls of other men the whole entire time! How in the world did Rachel “not understand” how Peter, a smart/wise/stable human wasnt ready to propose to someone he has been on maybe 4 outlandish unrealistic dates with and he has never even been her actual boyfriend yet! Shes been making out and connecting with other guys the whole time and she doesnt understand why he would want to wait to propose? He wanted to do it when the time was right, when the time was real (not in the smoke and mirrors of hollywood), and idk maybe propose when she wasnt dating another guy just the day before? Its crazy to me she let their connection go just because he wanted to wait to propose- like a healthy human being would.
And whats really insane is that the day before she accepted a proposal from Bryan, she was bawling crying, almost begging for a proposal from Peter. Just. The. Night. Before. She was hysterical over losing and saying goodbye to Peter (who was just being logical) All because bryan was willing to make a rash decision and give her a ring sooner. Bryan seems aloof and shallow about this situation and is just swept away by the glitz and glam…and I gaurentee his helicopter mom is gonna be dreadful to have to deal with. Yikes. It was obvious to everyone that she was pulling for Peter till the bitter end and settled for Bryan the morning of. Girl, you arnt being asked to prom this is marriage we are talking about!
Susan
August 8, 2017 at 3:21 PM
Wow, not a good night for Rachel. I’d always been a fan, but her nastiness toward Peter was a bit much. The guy wasn’t that into her, so what. She’d found someone she loved and was engaged, what does she care? I was just surprised. Then when they say they’re looking at moving to LA, guess it’s time to cash in. I miss the Trista/Ryan days, people actually looking for love.
rob22
August 8, 2017 at 3:25 PM
To all of those who had a problem with Rachel saying that Peter needed more time and the format didn’t work for him…. the only possibly thing that I think you could say to Rachel is duh. Of course. If you’ve been watching the past several weeks, that was the whole narrative for Peter. All Rachel did was verbalize it on the final night. OF COURSE the format didn’t work for him. We all saw it with our own eyes. Rachel could have played a little nicer so that she didn’t set off the crazies. That’s an unforced error on her part. But there was nothing that she said or did that was untrue or technically wrong. Everything she said about Peter was spot on. He makes no sense as a Bachelor…. which, of course, is very different from saying that he won’t be the Bachelor. I expect he will be.
9131mblythe
August 8, 2017 at 3:29 PM
I watched last night in total horror. Rachel went from being a favorite of mine to me absolutely hating her; I’m assuming the producers wanted that. I was sad that in the LIVE segments, she couldn’t have righted the ship and needed to clap-back at Peter even after he apologized. Fundamentally I believe they both had a right to get what they wanted, it was just obvious it wasn’t going to be together, but I think Rachel missed an opportunity to endear herself to America. I think she’ll need to go on some sort of apology tour if she and Bryan want to make it in LA because it is crystal clear she is not going back to be a lawyer. The ladies from this franchise make a great deal of money and I hope her behavior on the finale doesn’t put that in jeopardy. Where the hell was her management during the commercial breaks?
BTW-I don’t know if you saw the interview between Ali Fed. and Eric – apparently Eric had met Rachel in a LA gym before the ATFR for Nick’s season. I believe she was trying to influence the producers and get the bachelor gig for Eric last night by telling Peter this process is not for him. When has that ever happened? I also believe Nick took her as far as he did so that she would be considered for the bachelorette role.
As usual I love your wrap-ups, spoilers and podcast. But hey, take it easy on the Peter fans. I have a feeling this will die down by next Monday at 7pm. No need to insult people because they fell for the producers editing tricks. Sometimes I wish I could go back to the days when I didn’t know anything about the production and just watch in total ignorance.
crushonspivey
August 8, 2017 at 4:22 PM
rob22, the format did not work for Peter when he was one of the 30 or whatever being dated by the 1. The format always seems to work though when you are the 1 getting to date the 30. See Rachel for obvious details. And she should know the difference too having sat on both ends of it. Not the same dynamic at all.
I’d be fine with Peter, but not sure he’d be the one. Maybe he;d open up more when he was the one in control. Like I said, Ben 2.0 would be interesting. Especially with his last ending.
deedledee
August 8, 2017 at 4:34 PM
I agree entirely. I feel like I’ve been in this scenario with a long term relationship with someone noncommittal and it cam be a trap. Also the desire for that person to give it to you straight cam intensify feelings past what they’d really be because it is anxiety-producing. I think people forget the editing, but also that it’s ok to pick what you want and think is best in terms of what you want out of a relationship.
pwaagg
August 8, 2017 at 5:03 PM
Totally agree!!!!
pwaagg
August 8, 2017 at 5:08 PM
People are being way too hard on Bryan and way too hard on Rachel, too. We have no idea what else happened behind the cameras and you people are making it out like she cussed him out on stage or something. She said the truth – he’s not a good fit for this format. That’s 100% true. Why go on a show about getting engaged if your whole schtick is how much you don’t want to get engaged that quickly. That’s all good & fine and normal, but then why go on the Bachelorette? God, the Peter crazies are frankly worse than the Raven crazies last season! You don’t like the guy she chose? Idk…don’t marry Bryan! Lol. She clearly liked him the most from the get go. I don’t even think it was a contest. Let people be happy.
Also I thought it was hilarious how many people last night tried to tell you you were wrong about your spoiler RS. I basically just had the link copied and ready to paste to every idiot responding to you last night, lol.
Anyway, can’t wait for BIP spoilers!!!! Can you give us updates on the BIP couples and what is happening now?
yoyotono
August 8, 2017 at 5:29 PM
I think it’s weird for Rachel to cry off her eyelashes one night over one guy then the next day be happily engaged to another guy. I didn’t think Des and Chris would last due to Des being obsessed with Brooks and him choosing to leave the show (she cried forever about it). Des and Chris have been married a few years and have a kid, so what do I know from watching a heavily edited show.
I agree with what Rachel said last night, that this show just isn’t for Peter. He needs to do the traditional two years of dating, engagement, then get married about a year after that. But we all know Peter wanted to do Bachelor since his high school yearbook quote came out in the media. Peter’s fame hungry too (as most contestants are), probably only went on the show for that reason.
I’m still a fan of Eric, have been for awhile. I’m glad everyone’s now finally seeing it.
justa_viewer
August 8, 2017 at 5:39 PM
You know who I’d like to see under consideration for the next Bachelor?
Blake Killpack. Don’t know much about him, but I’m willing to give him a shot, especially over Ben H or Peter.
jlal
August 8, 2017 at 5:49 PM
Rachel was reacting to the you will have a mediocre life comment. I don’t think she caught that in the moment.
Peter wasn’t in this for any other reason than to be the bachelor. He probably crapped when he made the final two. He tried to get her to end it on their last date.
Please no Ben H. More like boring 2.0. Peter playing his game would be better.
sal4
August 8, 2017 at 5:56 PM
I was not impressed with Rachel last night. Do I believe her ego was bruised? Yes! She was quite a bit snarky! In an interview today, once again she needed to call Peter out as “manipulative.” Very sad. And at least 3 times in the last episode Rachel said, “I want someone who wants what I want.” She seems immature and selfish and all about herself. I like Peter. I like Eric. Bryan, not so much but seems a perfect fit for Rachel.
qtontv
August 8, 2017 at 6:16 PM
Many seem to forget that by the time ATFR is filmed, Rachel’s had a chance to read all about Peter’s quest since high school to be the Bachelor, and she probably feels played. Who wouldn’t? I can’t with people that are like “oh Peter keeps it real by saying he doesn’t have feelings for her so soon” when the simpler and more likely explanation is he led her on just long enough to be in position to be considered as the bachelor. And if we’re talking “realness,” Eric takes that cake! He would be a fun, engaging, and sincere Bachelor but does seem way too inexperienced with love to handle the pressures in the way they want it. So, it looks like we’ll be stuck with boring Peter although I hope to be surprised.
momma3j
August 8, 2017 at 6:35 PM
This blog post is classic “pot calling the kettle black”. Steve calling Peter fans “Peter crazies” is no different than the “Peter crazies” saying Rachel made a mistake or calling her names. What about the “Rachel crazies” who were dishing out death threats to Peter because he didn’t tell her he loved her quick enough and because he wouldn’t propose. It goes both ways. People feel connected to their favorite and want to defend them, it doesn’t make them crazy.
I was not a Rachel fan during Nick’s season, but I gave her the benefit of the doubt with her as Bachelorette. The whole hype of her being the first black Bachelorette was total nonsense. She even said herself this morning (I think on LIVE with Kelly & Ryan) that her season basically showed her “journey for love” was basically the same as everyone else’s.
With that said, I believe her true personality came out last night during ATFR. She could have politely accepted Peter’s apology for the “mediocre life” comment he made during the heat of the moment (filming of a breakup) and moved on to live happily ever after with Bryan. BUT,she didn’t. Instead, she chose to 1) point out she’s “living her best life” (um okay if you say so) and 2) say on live TV he doesn’t belong in that setting (Bachelor franchise).
I literally laughed out loud when Rachel said she cried her eyelashes off. The saddest part about that though is she cried so hard for one man, but accepted a marriage proposal from another the very next day. Makes no sense to me. Steve mentioned somewhere in one of his posts (maybe this one) that Rachel isn’t an actress. He needs to open his eyeballs because if she really didn’t love Peter enough to choose him without the proposal, then her crying fit the night she let him go is Emmy/Oscar worthy for sure.
texashugs
August 8, 2017 at 7:50 PM
I adored Rachel all season but thought she was so cold blooded on the show last night. First of all she was very apathetic during the Eric breakup almost like “thank God I don’t have to string you along any longer.” Then she was totally snippy with Peter. I think if he does become the next bachelor he should say something like it wasn’t that he couldn’t get “there” in that short amount of time but it was that he couldn’t get there with her which could be totally true.
She also seemed totally out of during her date with Bryan. Almost like producers told her to act that way so Bryan would start questioning things. Doesn’t surprise me if producers had her do this but knowing Rachel’s mom and how she raised her it does surprise me that she would give it to producers this much. Who knows, maybe she did struggle with it.
Hopefully once her head is out of the clouds she will realize how she portrayed herself. I think I’m the only one who is team Alex lol
elizabeth82
August 8, 2017 at 8:31 PM
qtontv ITA with this: “I can’t with people that are like ‘oh Peter keeps it real by saying he doesn’t have feelings for her so soon’ when the simpler and more likely explanation is he led her on just long enough to be in position to be considered as the bachelor.”
That teary last convo between Rachel and Peter was pure manipulation by Peter and not even smooth manipulation; he wasn’t making any sense at all. And she had to keep telling him how confused he was making her. It seemed that she kept giving him chance after chance to say he’d want to propose, and then all the crying and the making out on the way out the door–really made it seem like he was who she wanted. But it was weird because all season it seemed clear that Bryan was who she wanted. So that bit and the format last night made for a frustrating finale.
I also am surprised by the popular opinion that Rachel was too salty with Peter live last night. I thought he deserved it based on their last interaction. And I’m confused with #TeamPeter given his manipulation, clear gunning to be the next Bachelor, and bland personality. Are his looks really THAT great to people?
Eric should be the next Bachelor. Eric or Dean. Each have some drawbacks, but I really don’t want to watch Peter. And we just had Ben H., not into the idea of a 2.0.
shamelessbachfan
August 8, 2017 at 8:42 PM
Not much of a recap, Steve. It’s your blog and you can say what you want but I don’t think going on a Peter rant for multiple pages is really necessary considering a big chunk of your readers are fans of Peter.
No, I’m not a “Peter crazy” but I do like him. And even if he did come on the show to promote himself and become the Bachelor, he’s obviously no different than most of all the other people that come on the show for the same reason.
Do I wish Rachel would have chosen Peter? Sure. Am I mad that she chose Bryan? No. It’s her life and her choice. Bryan is just fine. What she didn’t need to do was crap all over Peter. I think saying nothing at all would have made her look a lot better. Instead, she looks like she’s trying to make him look bad and build herself up.
Anyway, I like reading your opinions on stuff, Steve, but it’d be nice if you weren’t shoving it down our throats. We get that you don’t like Peter. Leave it at that.
clarklm4
August 8, 2017 at 8:56 PM
My favorite bachelorette! I absolutely agree with your analysis of Peter. It was a manipulative low blow for him to tell her she was settling for mediocrity if she didn’t pick him. I think going on The Bachelorette at 31 only to end up with a non-committal “boyfriend” would have been the epitome of mediocre. Actions speak louder than words. She wants to get engaged because she is ready for marriage. She wants action! It’s tough to be a professional woman and put your life on hold while you pursue a career. I hope it works out for Bryan and Rachel! And Eric had one of the classiest exits I’ve ever seen. How he handled his breakup shows that he is a considerate, warm and thoughtful man. If Peter is the next Bachelor, I would worry that we would seen another Brad or Juan Pablo.
LM111
August 8, 2017 at 8:56 PM
Rachel would have looked much better last night if she took a page out of Eric’s book. Eric handled rejection with the upmost class and kindness. Don’t we all like him just a little bit more for being so poised and showing such maturity? That’s exactly how Rachel should’ve handled Peter’s rejection (in my opinion). Yes, Peter rejected her. He didn’t like her enough to marry her after 2 one-on-one dates, but he did like her enough to continue dating her. No biggie. But her ego couldn’t handle it… she seemed visibly angry with him for not instantly falling in love. Maturity is about accepting that a person isn’t “bad” simply because they are looking for something a little different. That’s life. Eric got it. Rachel could learn from him.
blondie22
August 8, 2017 at 9:07 PM
Call me a crazed Peter fan but I think what he was communicating made a lot more sense then what Rachael communicated. Several times she questioned Peter’s on waiting for a proposal stating he was not giving her the clarity she needed. She jumped to several conclusions make the assumption that just because he did not want to propose to her that day that he was fearful of marriage. Several times he reiterated that he was not fearful of marriage and he had strong feelings ( even love) yet she repeatedly stated he is not giving her the clarity She need. He was giving her clarity she just did not agree with his stance on the matter. She did acknowledge that her fear from previous relationships was contributing to her strong emotional reaction and perhaps made it difficult for her to hear his position. I disagree with others view that Peter was not that into her. I think he loved her but he was being rationale and realized 9 weeks was not a enough time to truly know someone and make a decision that would impact the rest of his life. I was also taken back by her response to him during the “After The Rose Ceremony”, she came across very defensive and almost had a need to prove to him that she was happy with Bryan.
clarklm4
August 8, 2017 at 9:19 PM
The kindest way to react to a breakup is to make it clear that it is over, and not leave someone hanging on and wondering “what if?” Even if Rachel was cold towards Peter, she certainly made it clear that she had moved on. He didn’t seem to get it, and wondered what was wrong with him for not wanting to be engaged after 2 dates. Nothing is wrong with him for that, but she made it clear that there was more to her decision than what was on the show. This way he doesn’t have to wonder “what if I decided to propose” and torture himself. He now knows she had other concerns that lead to her decision to let him go. And she was also probably upset that he said she was settling for mediocre if she didn’t choose him to be her boyfriend. That was cruel to someone whose biggest fear was letting the wrong guy go. He clearly was upset on ATFR, but how she handled it was a great way to give closure. If she said “I will always have a special place in my heart for you” it would have kept Peter hanging on.
ladyjane747
August 8, 2017 at 9:24 PM
To me, it seemed as if it were always Bryan for Rachel. They looked very happy last night, and I like Bryan – sexy! EVERY lead cries over the 2nd place finisher the night before they propose or accept a proposal from someone else. Ali had a meltdown over Frank, even though she and Roberto were so clearly into each other. In fact, Rachel and Bryan remind me of Ali and Roberto – a great, compatible couple. I see Rachel/Bryan dating for quite a while like Ali/Roberto, whether or not they get married. Peter played the game to be the next Bachelor. He’d be okay; just like any other show, it’s the contestants who really make the show. Blah for a Ben 2.0 – been there, done that. Eric would be fun to watch and I loved the beard!
missmanners
August 8, 2017 at 10:36 PM
Steve you are spot on with your comments on the finale and the Peter fervor. I have never in my life witnessed the kind of crazed frenzy online that I have with him. But then again, I don’t usually follow commentary online about television shows, especially reality television. This is new, and it’s hardly fun. I don’t know what the hysteria will be like if he’s cast as the lead in The Bachelor. I’ll need holy water, vampire stakes, and garlic to ward the Stans off! What the heck is it about him? I’ve seen finer, heard sexier, conversed with smarter. What is it?
sjk6
August 8, 2017 at 10:55 PM
I won’t lie, the Peter/Rachel break up had me shedding a few tears. I totally bought the act they were selling and I thought it was good TV.
I also thoroughly enjoyed the tense and awkward encounter between these two. I think Rachel’s sass or saltiness or whatever you want to call it came down to the fact that she got to know the side of Peter we weren’t showed, the side Reality Steve has been alluding to this entire time ! She obviously was attracted to him and cared about him during filming, but she is a smart woman – she knew that Peter was not genuinely into her, not for the long haul.
Do any of you remember how into Nick Kaitlyn was but basically couldn’t stand talking about him post show ? We are seeing the same kind of thing here with Rachel and Peter. Peter isn’t Prince Charming – he just knows how to play the right role in this Bachelor world !!
WIth regard to Rachel flat out saying she doesn’t think Peter would be a good fit as the Bachelor, Jojo did the same thing. She was interviewed on GMA and said Luke and Chase would be good fits and the host was like “what about Robby??” Jojo didn’t seem keen to back him. At the end of the day, the producers go with whoever they want.
Thanks for your site Steve, reading your posts is more often more entertaining than watching the actual show !
atlfan
August 9, 2017 at 4:04 AM
If Rachel had gone to see Peter that night to break up with him, the conversation would have been so different. She would have just said I know you’re not ready to propose and that’s really what I need I care about you but we need to end this now. Instead she spent what seemed like hours dragging him through a process in which he even conceded that he would propose to her just to not lose her, only to have her eventually leave And even Chris Harrison repeatedly said that they never actually seem to have broken up. I also think their conversation on the live show would have been a lot less stressful and awkward if her feelings were that clear-cut. To me it seems like she’s trying to put a bit of lipstick on the pig of having wound up with Brian. Now that Brian is so terrible. Eric was my personal favorite. I did like Peter better than Brian though. It’s her choice in the end of course, but her explanations after the show just don’t ring as genuine to me.
atlfan
August 9, 2017 at 4:08 AM
Dictation correction…should say “Not” (not “Now”)
nessanell
August 9, 2017 at 6:17 AM
Wow. I havnt even got past the first page of your post and you have been so rude, prideful and demeaning. You put down anyone who has a different outlook or opinion than you. And seem to think the way you think is the only way and if we don’t think the way you do we must be out of our minds. Wow. You think pretty highly of yourself. You spend so much time convincing and trying to prove how you have been right for 60 days now and how you get all this info before anyone else. I get that’s why we come here but you seem to shove it in our faces. Not very becoming. You seem to have a chip on your shoulder. Really who cares what other people think. Just report the truth. Your narcissistic attitude is getting old. Reality check. You report on trash tv. It’s no noble or righteous cause. Get over yourself.
tinyred500
August 9, 2017 at 7:14 AM
There’s a lot of comments on this thread about Steve’s general style of reporting etc., and I agree with them. I’ve been reading back at Steve’s blog posts from 2013, his posts were laugh out loud funny, full of funny quips and laden with sarcasm, okay not everyone likes or appreciates the latter, but his posts were worth reading for the laughs alone. It seems Steve has lost that ‘fun’ element with his writing and just got dogmatic and serious ….tragic shame. Bring back the old style of reporting Steve.
jlal
August 9, 2017 at 7:35 AM
Regarding tinyred500’s comment about Steve’s posts, I agree with what you said. To add to that, I think his posts have become mean spirited, arrogant and defensive too. Wish he would go back to the lighthearted funny tone he use to have. He claims others take it too seriously, but in reality (no pun intended), he seems to take everything too seriously.
As for Rachel, still think she is the best bachelorette ever. Don’t think she looks bad after the last night. Peter was stringing her along to stay on the show, then obviously tried to get kicked off their last date. He knew the score going in, so I don’t feel bad for him. Do I think Rachel really cared about him, yes her reaction proved that. If you don’t care you don’t get mad, sad, upset, angry, etc. Peter also got snarky with the “…will have a mediocre life” comment. I really don’t think she caught that in the moment it was said. After hearing on the ATR show, it pissed her off. Rightly so, he didn’t want to commit, but then said she would have a good life with some else. Can’t have it both ways Peter.
jlal
August 9, 2017 at 7:37 AM
I meant …wouldn’t have a good life…
ampm
August 9, 2017 at 7:56 AM
I agree with the several comments above. I enjoy RS’s humor, but too much space lately is dedicated to “I told you so” — I’ve started scanning over large chunks of the columns due to this. I hope there can be a shift because I otherwise enjoy reading!