A few of you emailed me last week informing me that on Ben Higgins’ podcast with Nick, he mentioned that the “Bachelor” was taking two weeks off while “Winter Games” ran the weeks of Feb. 13th and 20th. According to Robert Mills, and what I’ve been told, that is inaccurate. A few weeks ago I wrote in this column I was confused when the “Bachelor” finale is going to be since “American Idol” is doing a 2 night, 4 hour premiere March 11th and 12th. The 12th would’ve been the natural end date for the “Bachelor” finale, but now we know it’s not. I was able to get the answer for you. This season will run as normal with a new episode every Monday night. Except, the “Women Tell All” will air FRIDAY, MARCH 2nd, with the finale airing Monday, March 5th – a regular 2 hr finale plus the 1 hour live ATFR. They’ve done a “Tell All” on a Sunday night before but never on a Friday, so that’ll be a first. But everything will be the same as past seasons except that instead of getting its own Monday night in between the overnights and the finale, the “Women Tell All” will be shown on that Friday night. So to make this easy for you, this is what the schedule will look like for the last 3 episodes:
Monday, February 26th – Overnight Dates
Friday, March 2nd – Women Tell All
Monday, March 5th – Finale & ATFR
Get your “Reader Emails” in for tomorrow and “Dr. Reality Steve” emails in for Thursday. Been slacking on those recently so I’d like to have at least 3 to 5 to answer. If not, oh well. The podcast guest this week is Tori Hall (formerly Fiorenza) of the “Challenge.” Tori was recently in the news as she spoke openly last week for the first time about her divorce from Brad, who’s currently competing on this season of the “Challenge” along with being in a new relationship. We talk about her TV career, dive into what happened with Brad, and find out how she’s dealing with everything now. As usual, podcast coming on Thursday.
You’ve all been asking, and now you have your answer. Tomorrow I will post your remaining episode-by-episode spoilers (episodes 4 thru 7). There’s still two small things I’m confused on, but they happen in the next two episodes so not a huge deal. But I have all your eliminations/dates in Paris and Italy, including who was on the 2-on-1. So look for that tomorrow along with “Reader Emails.”
We’re a little over a month away from season 3 of UnREAL. The trailer was released last week and, well, it’s a good one. If your eyes can’t take possible sexual scenes, then this is NSFW. If you’re a mature adult, then it’s all good. Enjoy…
Good news that hopefully you heard by now, but Tenley got engaged this past Friday night to her boyfriend, Taylor Leopold. Those that listened to Tenley’s podcast with me back in June I’m sure are happy for her, as am I. I thought Kiptyn and Tenely on in back-to-back weeks were two of my more interesting podcasts. Both their lives have changed from different circumstances – and for the better. I’m happy for both of them and glad to see, whaddya’ know, life can move on without this franchise. Good for everyone involved.
Because I don’t follow these people on social media, this was brought to my attention over the weekend. We know that Lesley Murphy has been spending time with Dean since Winter Games ended because they were a “couple” on the show. Their IG stories have shown them together at Venice Beach and then the Rose Bowl, and now this past weekend they were together in Laguna Beach. Also hanging out this past weekend together were Ashley I. and Kevin Wendt, the last winner of “Bachelorette” Canada. Are they in a “relationship?” Who knows what these people’s definition of a relationship is, but Ashley & Kevin definitely coupled up on “Winter Games” and have seen each other post show. How serious it is is anyone’s guess. I will have more “Winter Games” news and spoilers for you in the coming weeks. But for now, those are two “couples” to keep an eye on. In the first promo you saw last week, there are short clips of both of these couples kissing or together.
Another thing on social media that’s now a thing is the girls who got eliminated the first night of Arie’s season have all joined together and started a website called the “The Rose Girls” along with releasing weekly videos talking about, well, things girls talk about. Their experience, what they’re up to now, dating do’s & don’t’s, etc. We know this is what the show has become now and as long as they’re doing something positive about their experience, have at it. Here’s their latest video posted last night:
Ratings are in and without having to compete against college football like they did for the first two episodes, the show is back to it’s projected viewing audience. It drew 6.5 million viewers and a 1.8 rating, compared to 5.5 and a 1.4 rating last week. Nick’s episode 3 last year got 7.1 million viewers and a 2.4 rating, so yeah, still down overall but that’s trending in TV. To pick up one million viewers in the week that you finally aren’t up against college football pretty much shows the impact those games had on their audience. For episode 3 to outdraw the premiere by a million viewers is unheard of. I expect it to stay in the 6.5 range for the next few episodes and then slowly pick up towards the end of the season.
Recap begins on Page 2…
Caroll
January 16, 2018 at 9:53 AM
Steve didn’t mention that Bibiana was sent home. And he said earlier that Brittany went home with a concussion but she is still there.
rob22
January 16, 2018 at 11:29 AM
I really think this season has a chance to go down as the worst in Bachelor history… at least since most of us started paying attention. OK, at least since Huan Pah-blow. Arie speaks in a monotone to every single girl & shows little interest in anything they have to say. He doesn’t even fake it. Nick was, of course, not interested in much of anything except the Fantasy Suite, but did a much better job of faking it. His season was a bit of a s***-show, but at least it was interesting. I’d say even more interesting than most seasons. I was hoping that Arie would provide a similar experience. This season is unwatchable to me.
janela
January 16, 2018 at 4:34 PM
Have to agree with rob22, this season is boring af. There is nothing remotely interesting or unique about it so far and its so damn dull I’m kind of mad at myself for even watching any of it.
jlal
January 16, 2018 at 5:53 PM
I agree this season is a bore, but I think it is more the editing than anything or anyone else. They use to show the dates, now like RS point out, they show 10 seconds of the dates and go right to the manufactured drama. The dates are really lame this season too. I miss the old show. The laser focus on the fake drama and having someone other than the lead, be the lead is ruining the show. I was trying to remember when they changed it to star the created drama king or queen, but it has been too long. I think they jumped the shark with the Chad show though. Kinda lost me after that.
adelina
January 16, 2018 at 6:10 PM
Oohhh Steve, your code names for everyone in your re-cap kinda made your column difficult to read and follow along.
Arie could not be more disinterested in any of these women. He likes to makeout though, that’s for sure. He seems to not have much of a personality or an ability to engage. One thing is for sure, he does not come off as genuine or likable in any way.
Steve, you forgot to mention that Nick Viall is dating January Jones. Somewhere (L.A.) Nick is doing a happy dance that his stardom dreams are coming true. January Jones, desperate or dim, not sure which.
saraha
January 16, 2018 at 7:34 PM
Gauge vs gouge Steve!
jenscho
January 20, 2018 at 12:00 PM
Caroll, you are right. I was wondering about that too.
trainwrecktv
January 20, 2018 at 10:53 PM
Yes, the nicknames are funny, but make it hard to follow. I have a hard enough time remembering all the girls’ real names this season. All but a handful have not been memorable.
alba99
January 22, 2018 at 9:45 AM
Yes Steve the code names disrupt the flow for the reader and make it hard to follow. You can’t have code names for every character bar one. It doesn’t help when you have multiple code names for the same person either.
april11
February 3, 2018 at 12:17 PM
Great top for the hate speech! But doesn’t some of your comments about the girls come across as a little mean and in itself hate speech? #leadbyexample