-Tia was up next and what she said when she first saw him was telling about the timing of her hometown (she was first remember). She tells him “it’s been just a few days,” because it had. They left Italy on a Monday or Tuesday and Tia’s hometown was on a Thursday. The other great part to start this date? Some ABC intern doesn’t know their state abbreviations:
@RealitySteve last I checked AK was Alaska…. pic.twitter.com/cX6Q2p94gO
— amberusky_ (@amberusky_) February 20, 2018
I wonder if that’s grounds for firing? Didn’t we learn state abbreviations in 5th grade? Get on the ball, people.
-Because going to a silo and having your brother pretend he’s a cop and stage a possible arrest was already done last season on Raven’s hometown, they decided Arie and Tia would head to the track for a like dirt racing. Something Arie had an immediate hard on for because that’s what he likes to do. Drive fast. Speed turns him on. Will Smith once said that. I mention Raven because for whatever reason, her appearance on this episode was left on the editing room floor. Arie and Tia met Raven and Adam during her hometown but they decided not to show it:
Can’t wait to watch #TheBachelor tonight!! #hometowns || watching tonight with my girls! @jasminegoode_ @awatazzz @danielleIombard ? pic.twitter.com/puD6w4UFld
— Raven Gates (@ravengates09) February 20, 2018
-We’re going to be meeting Tia’s mom Denise, dad Kenny, brother Jason, aunt Carol and cousin Rhonda. But those last two were basically ghosts since we didn’t hear peep from them really. Two things about this date that made it the best hometown date of the night and, quite possibly, top 5 of all time. First off, Tia’s dad called him “Airy,” which shows the level of respect he had for him. And secondly, their dinner table had a giant tray of pigs in a blanket for them to chow on. Now, I’m sure dad scarfed down a baker’s dozen or so, but I would’ve really liked to have seen how the rest of them were divided up. I probably would’ve shown no restraint and gone back for seconds. And thirds. Any family kind enough to fire up some of that grub on my first meeting with them could quite possibly be my future in laws. Just sayin’.
-Her brother and Arie step outside first for a little talk, and it’s made quite clear that Tia’s brother is a fan of Reality Steve. “I hear you might be a little bit of a playboy…they call you the kissing bandit.” Thank you Jason. Do you listen to the podcasts too? Because you’re such a fan, who would you like on in a future one? Brett Bielema? Chad Morris? Nolan Richardson? Bill Clinton? You just name the guy and I’ll deliver. Ok, maybe not. But I appreciate you being such a fan. Arie of course talked his way out of that with “well, I got that nickname because of the show last time. I don’t feel that’s me now.” Oh, it isn’t? How many girls have you given the exact same head grab kiss to this season? All of them? Of course it’s you. That’s all you do. So when you do it to everyone, it makes exactly zero of them feel special. But hey, keep convincing yourself it doesn’t.
-Big Kenny is up next and, holy sh**, he might be just as big of fan of my site as Jason. When talking to Tia, he says “I heard he might be a ladies man.” Hmmm, where’d you hear that Kenny? I appreciate the love, buddy. I tell you what. I’ll head on up your way some time, we’ll fire up some weenies, and spend the day swapping Arie stories out in the barn. You tell me what you’ve read, and I’ll tell you what’s true. Which is basically all of it. That’s the best part of covering this season. And I mean this sincerely. Tell me one thing I’ve written about Arie this season that isn’t true. Go ahead. I’ll wait. Let me know what year you come up with something. The list goes on and on and nothing I’ve reported has been inaccurate.
-When it’s Big Kenny’s turn to get a hold of Airy, even he himself calls him a “playboy.” Arie’s response? “That’s completely false.” Oh. Well if Arie says he’s not a playboy, I guess it must be true then, right? Even though he’s been with countless women in the last 5 years, none of which he admits he was ever in love with, and even some of THOSE he says he chose them because he knew he wasn’t serious about them. And oh yeah, he cheated on many of them. Kenny, whatever you read on the internet, and whatever vibe you got from this guy, and whatever your intuition tells you, just go with it because it’s about as accurate as you can get. Just be thankful he sent your daughter packing when he did. If he did pick Tia, I’m guessing within a few months, you would’ve gone huntin’ for Arie, found him, and stuffed him like a pig in a blanket for how it would’ve ended with your daughter. You’re ok in my book, Kenny. I ain’t messin’ with you.
