Hi Steve!
I’m not sure why anything Bachelor related shocks me anymore, but I was seriously shocked (and kind of saddened) when you reported that the main story line of Winter Games is Ashley I. losing her virginity. I don’t understand how a person could let something so intimate and personal be broadcast to the American public.
How long did Winter Games film? I can’t seem to wrap my head around the fact that someone who was a virgin for 29 years decides to lose it to someone they’ve known for such a short amount of time – AND ON TV! I can’t see how this plays out positively for Ashley. The show airs for 2 weeks! It filmed for 12 days. And it’s not like we’re gonna see the sex. But it’s certainly going to be talked about because, well, it’s Ashley. And she plays a character. And now that character whose storyline was being a virgin the three times she was on TV before is no longer. So now it becomes a big issue.
Do you know how this story line plays out on the show? Will we simply hear about the experience via ITMs or will they dive deep into this throughout the course of the next two weeks? I think it’ll come up more at the Tell All show if I had to guess because I’m pretty sure the sex happened post-show.
Do you think she did this to alter the way viewers see her (i.e. move away from the “Crying Ashley” persona) or are you hearing she is really “in love” with Kevin?
Thanks for all that you do! I couldn’t watch this show without your spoilers!
Comment: Oh, I’m sure she’s goo-goo ga-ga over Kevin. It’s Ashley we’re talking about. Unfortunately, she’s in for a rude awakening if she thinks he’s getting serious with her. But hey, no need to listen to me. Just let it play out.
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Does Ben H find a connection on the Winter games? Lauren has clearly and publicly moved on and just wondering if he has been linked to anyone else? He seems like a great guy. He seems more normal than most. No. But Yuki loves Ben.
I have watched The Bachelor/ette since the beginning. I was in high school and I’m now 30. But this season is a drag to watch. I loved Arie on Emily’s season but he is boring and has no depth now. How are the ratings this season? I always watch but it’s days later and I fast forward through a lot of it. Not great compared to past seasons. But they still win the Women 25-54 demo on Monday’s, and that’s an advertiser’s wet dream.
Hey Steve! I was listening to a bachelor podcast last week and this podcast mention that they had information about who the next lead is and they know that she has signed a contract to be the bachelorette (even though we know signing a contract means nothing) They even said on there podcast that they were surprised to have this information before you and before you have even posted it. Anyways they said that they know there was a celebration party for Kristina a few nights ago last week and that it was a done deal and she will be the next bachelorette. I thought this was very interesting and odd. If this is true this means Becca turned them down or there just weighing there options in case they can’t get Becca on board. It’s kind of weird that they would have Kristina sign a bachelorette contract over Tia or Becca. If Becca doesn’t want it, it would be weird to give it to Kristina over Tia. What are your thoughts?! Have you heard anything about this?!
Comment: Whoever reported that doesn’t have the slightest clue what they’re talking about. Kristina is not the “Bachelorette.”
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Since Chris Harrison said there wouldn’t be a rose ceremony at the beginning of the episode, does that mean the producers already knew Jacqueline was going to eliminate herself? Which date would she have been on or how else would Arie have eliminated her?
Comment: Well, when Chris said the dates at the beginning of the episode, all he said was there will be three 1-on-1 dates and a group date. He didn’t say it’d be a 4-on-1 group date. So I’m sure production knew Jacqueline was having second thoughts. And I’m sure if they somehow convinced her to stay, she would’ve been just added to the group date. But no way of knowing for sure.
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Hi Steve,
I’ve watched an embarrassing amount of this franchise and I have never watched interactions between a lead and a contestant that have confused me more than Arie and Lauren B. Can you shed any insight as to why their dates seem so bizarre? Is it an editing thing? They genuinely seem not into each other in any way but then say they are falling deeply in love with each other with completely straight faces. There were some jokes on Twitter last night about Lauren looking like a carbon copy of Emily. Do you think this could be it? That he’s that surface level and can’t not be with Lauren because she’s his exact physical type?
Comment: I don’t think she looks like Emily at all. Outside of the blonde hair, I don’t see the comparison. I don’t try and figure out edits and why they do the things they do most of the time. Effort in futility. He’s with her now and that’s I guess all that matters when it really comes down to it. People can dissect edits til they’re blue in the face, but two people can watch the exact same date and have a completely different opinion of what they saw. So I don’t really see the need in dissecting it. One side thinks one way, and one side thinks another. He’s with her now, so, what does it matter what happened back in Italy in October and who said what to whom and who acted what way to whom? I’ve never understood that.
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“You know, because we haven’t seen a host-contestant romance like theirs since Probst and Colby”
Was that even a thing? Probst and Cochran would have been a better analogy. Probst is too good for f***ing homophobic Colby. His love with Cochran is actually real!
#TeamProbstCochran #TheirLoveIsReal #ColbyIsGross
Comment: Just remember, loooooong before Cochran was ever around, it was #ProbstColby. Very well documented.
While I do think it’s bizarre how much time Ben and Chris spend together, I mean, I guess they became friends. Whatever. But my issue is they act like teenage girls every time they’re together because they HAVE to let social media know they’re hanging out by posting pictures and videos. And constantly tweeting at each other. Every. Time. And that’s embarrassing.
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Hi Steve,
I have a few questions this week I’m hoping you can shed some light on:
Do you know if the travel locations and planned types of dates for Arie’s season were pre-planned before Arie was announced, and would that have been the same dates and locations had t been for Peter as Bachelor? I’m sure it would’ve been the same since Arie was confirmed two weeks before the first dates.
Also, do you think the producers are purposely giving Lauren this super duper bland/boring edit on purpose or is this her true self? Is this possibly the BEST material the producers have to work with?! Do you happen to know if she DOES happen to have much more personality that just wasn’t shown? She obviously was not comfortable in front of the cameras. Do I think she’s a barrel of monkeys when the cameras are rolling? No. But the girl does speak. In complete sentences even. I think.
I guess I’m just baffled because I would assume since he ended up with her that they would at least attempt to make her more likable. Do you think they’re making her seem super bland so that the audience would not sympathize with her and then side with Becca much more to really support her 100% as Bachelorette?
Thanks!!!
Comment: Who knows at this point? For all we know they don’t care about Arie and Lauren anymore because they are delivering the lowest rated season ever. So at this point, they have no allegiance to them and will just show what they show, get their sh**storm of an ending, and we’ll move on to the next season. This show is a machine. Some seasons are better than others.
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Hi Steve,
Longtime reader, first time emailer. A couple of questions and a comment for you.
1. I recall one of the last Bachelorettes (Rachel or Jojo maybe?) talking about the dresses they were provided for the show. I’m curious if it the same for the Bachelor. Do they have access to a stylist? I’m assuming someone is approving Not-Peter to look like Mr Rodgers all of the time? Do they have a “look” that they go for every season? Yes. Stylist’s name is Cary Fetman. I think he fell asleep at the wheel this season. Or brought 5 shirts, 5 pairs of jeans, and 3 Mr. Rogers sweaters because that’s all Arie wears.
2. I thought I read something about the fact that the contestants have to accept the rose if offered at the rose ceremony. Do contestants have to get approval from producers to bail then? (Like Jacqueline in the last episode?) Are they ever talked out of leaving or talked into staying? Absolutely they’re talked into staying. Very few have turned down a rose. LB did on Ben’s season. And maybe one other. But it’s rare.
3. I remember when UnReal was on you would talk about how good it was because it went into the territory of the side we don’t get to see in reality tv- the producers. It seemed like almost every week or so you would talk about it. I finally got around to watching it and even my husband got into it. It’s one of those shows that would have gone unnoticed and I am so glad I watched it. The acting and the writing are superb. I am so excited for the new season to come out! Thanks for the recommendation.
It’s thanks to you that I keep watching the Bachelor/ette. Without your column, it’s a stupid reality show. With your column, it’s a salacious soap opera.
Thanks, Steve!
Comment: Yes, UnReal is excellent. Season 3 starts in a week and a half. And season 4 is already done filming, so I’m pretty sure we’ll get both seasons in 2018.
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Hey Steve! great job on reporting this season.. makes it sooo much more enjoyable. I told my mother in law and friends I wouldn’t read the spoilers since I dislike arie and always have so I’d try a spoiled free season and yeah that didn’t work hahaha and that was even BEFORE the drama happened w arie and becca and Lauren b. Ok my thought—- when the WTA films, won’t it be hard for the women who were close with Becca, not want to punch him in the face? I know you don’t pay too much attention to Instagram likes and comments etc. but after your spoiler, TONS of comments flooded becca’s Instagram in support of her and against Arie and Caroline was liking all of them. Which just further solidified for me what you reported hahaha anyways, so when the ones who were close to her see him there won’t they want to tell him off or spit in his face? Cuz I sure would if that was my friend. Although I’d also want to say thank you to him cuz he’s a POS and my friend would have dodged a bullet. Ugh just can’t imagine the tension there.
I really really dislike Arie. He is sooo metro and feminine. Gross. Different strokes for different folks. Jacqueline is smart and Becca is lucky!!!!
Comment: It’ll be interesting to see if they leave in the comment that Caroline made to him as I referenced on Page 1. I’d be shocked if they did. UPDATE: I’ll address this tomorrow.
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Hi Steve!
Based on all you’ve shared about Ben Higgins dating Robby’s ex girl, he didn’t go on winter games to find love. The first episode makes it pretty clear that he isn’t open to finding it on that show. Do you think the franchise just paid him the big bucks to go on Winter Games since he is the biggest name and he took the gig? Are they trying to capitalize on he and Ashley I’s podcast as a means of promoting their show? It makes no sense why he’d go on other than money since he seems sort of “above” it. The show seems way too trashy for him and doesn’t fit his “personal brand” he works so hard to keep up. Would love your thoughts…
Comment: Well, he’s a golden child of this franchise that’s for sure. They love using him for things whenever they can. They gave him and Lauren a spin off show. First time they ever did that for a couple that wasn’t married. So he’s obviously a go to guy for them. I don’t think they cared he wasn’t interested in finding love or whatever. They can claim that’s what these shows are about but it’s laughable. They’re not.
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