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Hi Steve,
Firstly, thank you for your hilarious commentary on The Bachelor franchise. I’m a longtime lurker and your posts are my excuse to slack off take breaks throughout the day at work. Last week’s updates were a bombshell and I look forward to the entertainment. (But not in a schadenfreuede way.)
Since ABC acquired American Idol, I think we can all expect many more “famous musicians” to perform on these dates. Tennille will seem like Lady Gaga compared to what’s coming. Good point. Although it wouldn’t take place until next “Bachelor” season at the earliest, because Idol will be airing while the “Bachelorette” is filming.
Thank you for pointing out whatever the hell is going on with the awful makeup on Arie’s face. It’s so distracting and I kept wondering what the deal was. He’s doofy enough as it is, let’s not add bad cosmetics to the recipe, eh, ABC?
Regarding the scene of Arie fidgeting with a ring while there’s a voiceover of crying, do you think it’s possible the shot could just be a red herring? Video overlaid with unrelated audio? I forget how soon before the final rose ceremony he meets with Neil Lane to pick one out the ring–the day before? The day of? So if he has the ring a day in advance, it could be just a “contemplative shot” (I use quotes because I’m not positive he is capable of deep contemplation) with the crying from one of the many women spliced over it to add drama. I don’t remember well enough if that looks like his couch at home in Arizona. Couple things here. Could it be in Peru and just Arie with a “contemplative shot?” Sure. But it’s not. Also, that wouldn’t be Arie sitting at home in Arizona. He broke up with her during one of their Happy Couple visits in LA.
I am incredibly ambivalent about Tia’s cursing. I do it just as much… maybe more. So while I can relate, I think it also looks trashy. Wait. Did “The Bachelor” just cause me to take a moment of self-reflection? Is it the apocalypse? Cursing is fine. As long as you don’t have the mouth of a drunken sailor. Where did the drunken sailor originate from anyway? I’ve never known anybody that was a sailor. Do they curse exponentially more than your average person? Man, sailors are getting a bad rap if they don’t. Seems like that phrase has been around forever. The most famous “sailor” has been Popeye, and as far as I know, he never cursed.
And, um, my final thanks for planting “We’re Gonna Score Tonight” in my brain. It’s on repeat while I’m at work. You’re welcome. Now go download the “Grease 2” soundtrack on Itunes and thank me later.
PS – Root canals aren’t painful at all. I’ve had two (thanks, genetics). A good endo will numb the sh** out of your jaw before beginning work as well as throughout the procedure to ensure you feel no discomfort. And when it’s over, there is no pain because they have removed the nerve. I feel compelled to speak out for root canals because they get a bad rap. And yes, I’m sure that’s our country’s #1 problem right now–that root canals are unfairly portrayed as excruciating. Frankly, I’d rather champion a root canal than just about any of these Bachelors!
Comment: In this email, we’ve established sailors and root canals have been getting a bad name for years. Imagine that.
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Hi Steve,
The headline for Rachel’s blog is “Lauren B. Changes Arie from ‘Kissing Bandit’ to the Bachelor.” It seems like they’re already doing damage control. Does production have the power to tell her what to include?
Comment: That I don’t know. But I’m sure Rachel knows what’s up.
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Hey Steve, big fan here. Love watching the show knowing the spoilers and the behind the scenes stuff. Quick question, do you know what Kendall and arie talked about when he took her aside right before he gave her a rose on the 2 on 1? My guess is she told him about Kendall’s “not Peter” comment and abc wouldn’t show it because it makes arie look less desirable. It’s just so weird that they didn’t show any of the conversation.
Comment: No, I don’t. They already told him in Ft. Lauderdale what she said in the car on the way back from the bowling date. I mean, maybe she told him again to reiterate it, but who knows? Seems like he already had his mind made up anyway, so I doubt that last conversation with Kendall played a role in his decision. The lead already knows who they’re getting rid of before going into a 2-on-1 date. It’s why the date is made in the first place.
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Hey Steve!
I have a question about Brad on The Challenge: Vendettas. I watched his season of the real world a long time ago and I used to watch all of the challenges back when he was on them. I just recently started watching challenges again and my question is this: did Brad always have those crazy eyes and I just don’t remember? Or is this something new? He creeps me out now and I don’t remember feeling that way in the past. Maybe it’s his relationship with Brittni and I’m blaming the eyes but something is weird with him now.
Comment: Somewhere I bet you Tori is giggling at this email.
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Hi Steve!
First, I know you’ve heard this a million times, but I guess I’ll just be your million-and-one-th: thank you so much for your podcast with Ashley Spivey. You gave her a platform to speak on and respectfully helped her to tell her story, and it was really just an impressive interview. Thank you. Tomorrow’s podcast is, I feel, the most important one I’ve done. The message in it needs to be heard.
I have a couple of questions for you, hopefully you haven’t heard these a million times, too!
1. I think I remember you saying before Nick’s season that you were actually excited for him to the be the bachelor – not because you liked him, but because you thought it would make good TV. In your opinion, did that end up coming true? I thought it was ok. Nick acted like I thought he’d act, which was too cool for school. But it certainly had its drama.
2. Hypothetically, ABC calls you tomorrow and tells you that they’re firing all the producers and you’re now in charge of producing the next season of the bachelor, and you accept. What changes would you make to the show to try to make it better TV? I hate hypotheticals because it’s not something I would ever see myself doing. I don’t have any interest in TV production. Especially with this show. That’d never happen, they’d never call, and I’d never do it. So it’s hard to answer a hypothetical like that.
3. I always get the impression that the women on this show are more successful in their careers, or have more legitimate careers, than the men, who always seem to be a bunch of fitness models or software salesmen. Maybe I’m just totally off base with that assumption, but if you agree with me, any theories as to why?
Thanks for doing what you do, your site is always fun to read.
Comment: We’ve had our fair share of women who are models/receptionists/saleswomen, etc. Look at this way, which sex from this show has more in quantity that have quit their job post-show to do social media/appearance stuff? I’d say the women.
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Hey Steve!
Thanks for your work, I really appreciate the insight that you give around all that goes on behind the scenes with this show.
My question is, I just watched an interview that Arie did this week where he stated that he really wanted a fifth hometown date but production would not let him. I wonder if you have knowledge of who that fifth woman was or can make an educated guess as to which woman he wanted to take?
Comment: My guess would be Bekah. It’s definitely not Jacqueline because his blog last week said even though their lives were totally different, he just couldn’t let her go. That doesn’t seem like someone he really wanted to see her hometown. So between Seinne and Bekah, I’d go with Bekah.
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Hi Steve,
Thanks for making The Bachelor enjoyable. I live in New Zealand and love watching all of the shows around the world, and their spinoffs. It’s really exciting to see NZ contestants on Winter Games – I think you’ll all love Lily. I know Courtney does.
I have a question – do you think they have edited the most recent episode (and the ones to come) to make Lauren and Arie’s relationship seem more believable/exciting, since he decided to break it off with Becca? It seems weird to hear the news of Arie and Lauren, and then seeing an episode featuring Lauren so much… Almost as if they’ve had to change the editing a bit.
Comment: When people ask “do you think they changed the editing,” it’s an impossible question to answer for two reasons. 1) We don’t know and will never know what the “original” edit was supposed to be and 2) They can only show us what happened. They don’t go back to Peru and re-film Arie’s dates with Lauren. They can only show us what happened when the two of them were together. So I really don’t know what was their original plan and if it was changed at all. What if they don’t give a sh** about Arie and wanna make him and Lauren look terrible to build up Becca more for “Bachelorette?” We just don’t know.
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Dear Dr. Reality Steve,
I have been reading your spoilers for years and look forward to them prior to every season of the bachelor/bachelorette/BIP. This year may be the best season you have spoiled yet. Your recaps have been so funny and I have caught myself laughing out loud several times throughout them. I watch the shows for the entertainment value and feel like I have a secret advantage (even though millions read your site) knowing the outcome and try to see how they spin the episodes and portray the final pick(s) etc. I also enjoy your podcast and especially how you have branched out lately into other reality shows- two of my favorites – the Challenge and Survivor. I’m not sure if you were aware, but Kaitlyn Bristowe had Caleb Reynolds from Survivor season 32 and 34 on her most recent podcast. He talks a little bit about his time on Survivor and Big Brother.
On another note, I do have a question for you. I know you are a fan of This Is Us and congrats on being right about the death of Jack. I also knew they wouldn’t be that obvious. I was thinking he might die in the ambulance or something, but I was close with him dying at the hospital. What I was wondering is why is the media only interviewing the 5 main actors – Mandy Moore, Milo V., Justin H., Chrissy M, Sterling? Why do they never interview the actors and actresses that play the younger versions of Kate, Kevin, and Randall? The kids are absolutely adorable and do a great job of interacting with Rebecca and Jack. They act very similar to my 3 kids (2 boys and a girl) and the three teenagers are also great scene stealers – especially in the last episode which focused on the aftermath of Jack’s death (they also did a great job in the episodes before Christmas which focused on each sibling full of flashbacks). Are they trying to make us think that they are really Justin, Chrissy, and Sterling? Do they really think we are that stupid? I would love to hear what life is like on the set of “This is Us” for those kids. Maybe you could branch out even more and have 1 or 2 of them on your podcast. Just a suggestion….
Thanks again for your candor and insight every week. I can’t wait for the crazy finale!
Comment: I think the answer is two-fold:
1) Children (either them at 9 or them at 17) don’t normally make the talk show circuits unless they themselves are up for Emmys and/or Oscars. There’s so many people playing the Persons so they just stick to the adult leads. Interviewing a 9 year old on a talk show you can only do so much.
2) I’ve seen the kids in the This Is Us post show on NBC.com. There’s always a 5 or 6 min interview with producers and/or the actors and they’ve been on there before.
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Hi Steve!
Ok just a couple behind the scenes questions.
1. So the contestants have to give their phones up when they arrive, but are their suitcases searched? Like, why not give them your work phone or a burner phone so you can keep yours without them knowing? This seems like such an easy rule to break. Yes. And even if you create a secret pocket in your suitcase (which has been tried in the past), you’re mic’d and recorded almost all day every day. Would be really hard to get away with that since people are watching on monitors all day long.
2. Are there people who physically prevent them from leaving hotel rooms etc.? We always hear how they’re not allowed to go anywhere, that they go from dates straight back to the hotel but couldn’t they just break the rules? Or is someone literally guarding the exits? There’s always a producer or handlers in every room they’re in, so they’d know if someone left the hotel room and walked outside.
3. Last one related to current season and maybe you’ve answered it already but i can’t remember – so Arie breaks up with Becca on camera right, so did production make that a condition of his being able to go back to Lauren? Or did they break up for real first and then stage the breakup for when production was there? Otherwise it seems horribly cruel. I don’t know if they MADE him per se, but I think he knew once he made up in his mind he wanted to end it with Becca, it was probably going to have to be on film. I have not heard they broke up beforehand then filmed him “breaking up” with her just for show. Don’t believe that was the case.
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Dear Steve,
Thank you as always for giving us updated spoilers for the bachelor franchise shows. I have a few questions regarding some recent bachelor/bachelorette cast members.
1. I read your column on the Winter Games a few days ago and I don’t remember reading anything about Eric Bigger finding love on the show, but he posted on Instagram that him, Josiah and Dean all found love on Winter Games. I know that Dean is with Lesley and Josiah is with the girl from New Zealand. Is he just messing with us or is he with someone from Winter Games post-filming? I haven’t heard anything about Eric post show. Maybe he did.
2. Do you anticipate anything else shocking happening during the tell all show for Winter Games besides Ashley I potentially getting broken up with by Kevin after he slept with her? I never said Kevin was breaking up with Ashley at the Tell All. In fact, I think quite the opposite. They’re dating. It’s just not gonna last. The guy has zero intentions of being with her long term. And if she’s thinking he is, well, I feel sorry for her.
3. I saw an interview on E! News! Featuring Rachel and Bryan where they said that they are looking into getting married at the end of this year. Do you think that a date later in the year gives them a better chance at getting the wedding televised since JP and Ashley and Trista and Ryan got televised weddings at the end of the calendar years that they got married in? Yes. If they get married, I’m sure it’ll be televised.
4. Have you heard anything else about Arie and Lauren since he asked her for a second chance? They’re still together. Best I can do for you right now. And I definitely think they’ll still be together at the ATFR. After that, place your bets on how long it lasts.
5. Do you think that the producers will invite successful couples from the franchise such as Trista and Ryan, Jason and Molly, Kaitlyn and Shawn, Jojo and Jordan and Bryan and Rachel to ATFR to give Arie and Lauren advice on how to deal with the naysayers since they are going to get a ton of criticism for being together? I would think they wouldn’t need to bring ALL those couples back. Jason and Molly are the only two people that can advise Arie and Lauren on what’s to come, because they’re the only ones who have been through the exact same scenario that Arie and Lauren are in. You’d think they’d bring them back.
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RS,
I really love what you do, but sometimes it’s over the top. Take for instance the Ashley/virginity thing you reported. How do you know? Were you there? How can you possibly report that someone lost their virginity based on hearsay? I think that’s totally irresponsible and you should’ve stayed away from that. I will still read your stuff but I think that maybe you shouldn’t have reported that.
Comment: 99% of the stuff I’ve ever reported which came to be true is stuff I never witnessed myself. Not sure how this would be any different. The only thing I did see for myself was Marcus’ hometown date with Andi since I was there watching it. That’s kinda ridiculous to insinuate because I didn’t see it, I have no idea if it happened or not. You don’t think for a second that maybe, just maybe, someone has a giant mouth and word got around? Trust me, it’s going to be brought up on this season as a storyline. All I did was report it first before you saw it. That’s what I do.
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Hey Steve,
I just started watching The Challenge because they brought on the Brits from Geordie Shore and Ex on the Beach for Vendettas. I’m obsessed with these British shows and am so happy to see some of the personalities spreading to American TV! I find them way more entertaining than a lot of American personalities but since I’m not a Challenge expert (yet) I’m wondering how you’re liking them on the season? Do they fit into the show well? I know in your interview with Bananas he said he didn’t like the AYTO people because they were one-dimensional and though the Brits definitely come off as pretty dumb they are getting a decent amount of screen time compared to some of the other players on this show… Bananas said it’s important to look at whose interviews they show and listen for the sound bites they play. I think the Brits give hilarious commentary and are good physical competitors at least. It seems like the vets actually like them, but again, I’m biased. Do you think the producers would keep bringing them back for other seasons or maybe put them on other American shows? I looks like that is the direction they’re going. I would fully expect every future season to have some cast members from other shows now on it. Whether it be from the overseas shows, or US shows like “Bachelor” and “Big Brother.” I think that’s gonna be a staple now.
Also, have you ever watched Geordie Shore or Ex on the Beach? If you ever wanted to be shocked by trash TV this is your go to… I’d love to get some behind the scenes info on these shows if you ever had any. I’m sure they’re highly produced as well, but it’s really hard to discern what’s real and what’s not when these people reach such a level of ridiculous drunkeness and insanity (much more so than even what was on Jersey Shore/Floribama Shore). What the Brits have been doing on The Challenge is less than G rated compared to what they do on their original shows. Never seen any of those shows because, well, I have no idea how to watch them out here. And even if I did, I don’t think I’d watch anyway. I already have enough TV shows on my plate.
On that note, I found out from your last reader emails that they just made a US Ex on the Beach. Probably won’t be half as good considering American censoring, but would love to hear if you had any thoughts/info on this show as well. Super interesting that apparently Bachelor people are on it (Jasmine and Chase I think?). Worlds colliding — any chance you’ll be reporting on it?
Comment: Yes, there will be coverage on this site for it. I don’t have any spoilers for it, so not that type of coverage. But I think we’ll have a recapper for it.
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Hi Steve,
I loved the Sarah Brice podcast! I hope you have more plans to interview contestants from much older seasons. I prefer the earlier seasons because it wasn’t so predictable, they didn’t have this annoying formula for every season. I actually have to give props to Charlie too, for defending the girls to the producers and not wanting his season to be manipulated. Sounds like he actually was there “for the right reasons” despite how everything went down in the end.
I know the show would never go back to their old ways of selecting the lead male, and many of those men turned out to be awful dudes anyway, but on paper, “prince” and “actor” and “business empire heir” are much more typical Most Eligible Bachelor profiles than “real estate agent” and “farmer.” (Let’s not kid ourselves, Arie is as much of a professional race car driver as he is ABC’s first choice)
Seeing as the show has such a loyal fan base nowadays, do you think the show would still be successful if they picked an unknown lead man based on pedigree alone?
Comment: I think they’ve been successful for 22 seasons in a row now where the lead is from the preceding season. On the few occasions that it hasn’t been from the season preceding, it’s still been someone from this franchise. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. I really don’t seem them branching out and picking someone completely random anytime soon.
