Gotta say it’s refreshing sometimes to talk to contestants that aren’t part of the current era of Bachelor Nation. Definitely got that today in speaking with Trish Schneider Cullins, who was arguably the first true villain this franchise ever had. She appeared on season 5 of the “Bachelor” with Jesse Palmer and made quite the name for herself. You still see her listed to this day as one of the all-time villains in any list a media outlet does when talking about past contestants. Then again, that was also 2004 that Trish was on and she basically set the standard. Now none of her stuff would be considered all that scandalous since we have characters like her essentially every season. But back 14 years ago, yeah, it was quite a big deal and she’s the contestant everyone was talking about the next morning after the “Bachelor” aired. We get into all of the antics she was involved in during today’s podcast, along with what she was doing before the show and what she’s been up to since. Trish isn’t really too active on social media so there are no accounts to really link to. But by all means, feel free to tweet back at me for your reaction to the interview. Great to hear from a blast from the past and I hope you all like hearing Trish this week.
You can listen to today’s podcast on a number of platforms, but you can also tune in by clicking the player below:
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts, RSS, Stitcher, Spotify
Music written by Jimmer Podrasky
(B’Jingo Songs/Machia Music/Bug Music BMI)
(SPOILERS) Trish joins me and we talk about where she was in her life at the time she got cast for the show, Jesse forgetting a girls name at the first rose ceremony (14:50), them planting a spy in the house to help Jesse (17:04), playing the game of “I Never” with the women (20:16), the Gold Digger t-shirt (22:25), did she think she was getting sent home after her hometown date (28:19), being the first contestant to return to the show after being eliminated (31:30), how she handled the public backlash once the show started airing (38:20), appearing with other reality stars in the E! move “The Scorned” (41:44), how she met her husband and her life now in Florida (47:15), overall experience from the show (56:35), and does she still keep in touch with anyone from her season (1:04:31).
Off to San Francisco for the weekend for Summer Tour stop #2. I’m not sure where I’m gonna be or what I’m doing yet, but I will keep people updated on Twitter. Also, stop #3 has been booked. I will be in Chicago two weeks from today, July 5th-8th. Will be attending the Cubs/Reds game and in the bleachers on Saturday, July 7th. So anyone interested in attending, let me know. After Chicago, that might be it. Some of us are old and it’s beginning to take a toll. Ok, maybe not a giant toll, but you get what I’m saying. I’m glad I’m getting out and visiting all these places, but doing them so close to each other has been more taxing than I expected. But looking forward to this weekend then Chicago in two weeks.
Send all links and emails to: steve@realitysteve.com. To follow me on Twitter, it’s: www.twitter.com/RealitySteve. Instagram name is “RealitySteve,” or join my Reality Steve Facebook Fan Page. Talk to you next week.
GoingBlonde
June 21, 2018 at 8:24 AM
I’m just waiting for Becca to pull a Mesnick/Arie now after all the Garrett hoopla.
ctrealitygirl
June 21, 2018 at 11:24 AM
I was thinking the same thing!
rob22
June 21, 2018 at 11:59 AM
So, Trish. I was kind of liking the idea of talking to someone from an old school season. Jessie Palmer was probably the first guy who really used the notoriety to advance his media career. And, of course, he’s the host of that horrendous show “The Proposal” now, as well as his ESPN gig. I think a lot of people started modeling him and the marketing the show gave him. But I did not remember Trish until they mentioned the Gold Digger shirt and the time she came back, after being cut loose, to give Jessie a hotel room key. That brought it all back. And from listening to her on the podcast, I’m not saying she’s a terrible person, but it’s pretty obvious that she became the villain organically. She didn’t get along with the girls, she has a very condescending attitude towards many of them, especially if they came from rural towns. She loves bringing up how she’s a model, travels to Europe, and OMG didn’t want to go to Paris A-GAIN! Seriously, this woman is pretty much a be-otch. So the show apparently didn’t think about having a villain. No, Trish just was one. The show learned that villain drama was gold & then it became less organic. So, I do think this season did set the stage for future Bachelors in more than one way. It might be the moment that the show started to become more about personal branding and drama, than only sleezy reality TV dating show.
GoingBlonde
June 21, 2018 at 12:42 PM
rob22, I agree! She sounds just like the person she was on the show. Her attitude is stinky and very snobbish. Definitely not someone I could see wanting to be friends with. A lot of times, the villains come off as much friendlier and more charming on these podcasts. Probably because yes, they were manufactured villains rather than true villains like Trish.
upmyalley
June 21, 2018 at 1:09 PM
I fully agree, a true narcissist and snob. Not impressed. I mean, how much modelling can she do at her age anyway.
rob22
June 22, 2018 at 9:07 AM
By my calculations Trish would be 41 or 42 years old now. There are modeling opportunities available to middle aged women. But not the same number nor the same type of opportunity. I suppose she could still be doing it now and again, but it sounds like she got her hooks into a wealthy husband that lets her play 24X7. So I doubt she works much, if at all, these days. That Gold Digger T-Shirt is sounding more spot on by the minute.
lane
June 22, 2018 at 9:29 AM
I love hearing about anyone associated with the franchise, including the early years. (They are the only podcasts I listen to). It was interesting to hear Trish’s info & perspective on her season. Yes, she tells it like it is, and I’m ok with that – to a degree. Unfortunately, she comes off as a very unattractive person. Very condescending and arrogant. Anyway Steve – keep interviewing some of the people from the earlier seasons. There is so much less known about them & what went on during those seasons since social media wasn’t prevalent then.
lane
June 22, 2018 at 9:33 AM
To clarify- I only listen to Bachelor/ Bachelorette podcasts. Interested in all seasons.
rob22
June 22, 2018 at 9:37 AM
@lane: agree. Love the old school podcasts. I don’t listen to a lot of the others unless it was a very prominent contestant from a show. This one was worth listening to even though Trish didn’t come across great. As for Social Media, it was barely invented in 2004 when this season aired. My Space started in late 2003 and Facebook started in early 2004. Twitter didn’t start until 2006. Instagram, not until 2010, and Snapchat not until 2011. They were not a factor in the world yet. It was People Magazine, US Weekly and the like that reported on this show. And that was about it. I’m trying to remember if those magazines even really paid a lot of attention to The Bachelor back then. I think it was an article here and there, and probably something about the finale. What a different world we’re in now!!
crushonspivey
June 22, 2018 at 9:43 AM
Jesse Palmer had come from being a back-up QB with the Giants to the show. He was a known commodity before this franchise, unlike most leads. HE didn;t need the Bachelor to help him get his career. But it didn’t hurt either.
And his ending is still one of the most epic ever with the girl he didn’t choose, Tara pulling her limo over before she got there to puke on the side of the road. I remember her dad going all protective on Jesse as well, which I think spooked him. That is he kind of real drama this shows misses right now. It’s too contrived now.
Trish Schneider was hot back then too, and great for this franchise. Because she wasn’t a fake, and the girls were threatened by her, which made it better to watch.
This season was what the franchise keeps trying to be now over and over again. Was a great season.
rob22
June 22, 2018 at 2:09 PM
@crushonspivey: I do agree that it was a good season and yes, the final with Tara barfing on the side of the road and unable to get her act together was memorable. That caused the show to have Jessica get out of the limo first and get the one way plane ticket, no proposal. She then watched Tara get dumped. If I remember correctly, Tara also said something about “things were said, things were done”…. which I took to mean that not only had Jesse slept with her, but also mislead her about her prospects. That was kind of glossed over. I don’t think it would have been today. So yeah. Good stuff.
I wouldn’t say Jesse Palmer was a known commodity. He played at Florida and started his senior year. But he wasn’t very good. Though I guess good enough to be a backup with the Giants. One year he threw 116 passes. But only 4 more the rest of his career. I’m a sports fan, and I basically had never heard of him before The Bachelor. I even live in SEC country, so I should have heard of him. So, shame on me. But I would dare say that he was pretty anonymous before appearing on the show…. and he had a good plan for addressing that problem. It was a big bonus for the show, which was using the profession of the leads to promote the show. A military officer (officer & a gentleman), an NFL QB, a Prince, a rich heir to the Firestone fortune & winery owner, a quasi-actor (or at least the brother of an actor), etc. The show was SO different. And not always better either.
kari1973
June 26, 2018 at 9:14 PM
I love all the podcasts and all the little tidbits about the franchise but Trish came off as being very much who she was portrayed on the show, a little full of herself.