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Hey Steve,
I was planning on asking you about what Benoit’s deal is but then I read your opinion today that Benoit isn’t cut out for this franchise. I didn’t know if he was trying too hard like Annalise or if he could probably meet someone easily, just not on this show.
It’s really ridiculous how some people are just obsessed with obtaining a “love narrative” regardless if they have anything in common with the other person.
My last actual question is about sports: I recently, at the age of 37, began loving to watch a pro sport, MLB. Are you a baseball fan? It seems like you primarily like football and basketball, but would love to hear some stuff about baseball as well, if you are into it!
Comment: Yes, I am. But I really never get too excited about the regular. It’s too long, it’s too drawn out, and really ultimately means nothing. Playoff baseball is a whole different animal. Love watching that. It’s such a crapshoot, and the MLB regular season really has the least bearing on predicting what happens in the playoffs.
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This BIP season just seems even more overly and overtly produced than any prior season, and obviously that’s saying a lot. And I think it’s hurting the show. Any update on ratings?
Some examples:
-The Jordan/Jenna/Benoit thing clearly did NOT happen in the order they showed- you can easily tell from the outfits they wore.
Same with the Kendall/Joe/Leo/John thing- and speaking of, John and his ladies (Jubilee and Caroline) were a huge storyline last week (2 dates) then they just completely gloss over Jubilee leaving and their “break up.” And now John and Kendall had a thing supposedly this whole time? Just wacky. Too manufactured to even make sense.
And again with the Eric/Angela thing. They got 0 camera time up to this point, then get one of the only couple dates which is like the most romantic one yet, only to have a “love triangle” immediately thrown in. Just too produced and obvious. The best drama is at least somewhat authentic, this is purely manufactured with no attempts to hide it.
Point is, this season is even more bizarre than prior ones and that’s saying something! I think it comes from contestants being too “in” on how the show works after so many seasons and it’s time for them to change the format again. Hopefully ratings are bad enough maybe they will?
So I agree with you, why even bother trying to figure out the why of it and just observe the silliness and wait for fall tv. Trying to recap this nonsense is futile.
But thanks for trying!
Comment: Yeah, it’s such a different show now because of a lot of these people know exactly what they’re doing when they go on. “Couples” have been formed pre-show, they know by giving good soundbites and playing up drama they can last longer on the show. It’s just not what it was.
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Hey Steve,
First of all, congrats on the puppy!!! How are you both adjusting? Last time you mentioned that sometimes ITMs are recorded in LA. How often are they shot after the show? I’d think it’d be difficult to film even the majority of them during filming.
Comment: Pick ups are usually done within a few weeks of filming ending. They could be done for a variety of reasons. Mic didn’t work, sound was muffled, wind became a factor, a new storyline emerged in the editors mind AFTER the season was over, etc. Whole bunch of different things can lead to pickups.
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Hey Steve,
Just curious…how many hours do you think you spend each week doing bachelor related stuff? Hmmmm, when the season is airing, in terms of actual typind? Probably 10-15 hours. But I’m technically always working since at any point during the day I can get a text, email, phone call, DM, whatever with information.
Also, do you have any idea what the proposal is paying Jesse Palmer? When my hubs gets stuck watching with me he always comments he can’t believe he’d stoop so low. I tried to Google but didn’t find anything. Don’t really have any idea.
Last one.. these podcasters that do the ads..do they get the product free as well for talking about it? Like would they send Ben and Ashley a mattress?
Thanks!
Comment: That’s the way it’s been for me, so I’m assuming it’s for them as well. All the advertisers want you to test the product before talking about it.
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Hey Steve,
Long time reader here because your spoilers and commentary has made this show watchable and I would never have watched as much without your site. ABC should be giving you a cut.
A few questions if you may. I’m watching paradise and trying not to take it seriously but am bothered by a few things:
Why do they film Bachelor In Paradise over such a short amount of time? Wouldn’t they like to keep them there longer for more material? Is it a budget issue because they seem to spend a lot of money on ridiculous things like flying out Ben, Arie etc for that romance novel date. They’ve gotten 5 weeks of 4 hours of programming a week after being there for only 2 ½ weeks. So it doesn’t seem like they need more time. That’s more of a production question. 5 years of this show and (outside of the shut down last season), the max time filming has been is 18 days.
Even with the short amount of time it seems like they leave out big things and don’t finish some cast members story lines. For example: I’m curious if you know what happened between Jubilee and the Venmo guy. They showed their breakup in a flashback as if its not important. Yet every single horribly boring conversation is shown between tia and Colton. It seems like they are leaving something out.
Thank you for all you do. I’ve loved reading your site and enjoying your evolved tone!
Comment: A lot of people have asked about the Jubilee and John breakup and why it got shown in 10 seconds in a “flashback.” I really don’t know for sure why. But they obviously didn’t feel it was important at all or else they would’ve shown it.
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Hi Steve!
Do you think there will ever be a time when old seasons of the bachelor/bachelorette will be available to stream? I know season one is on ABC.com, but I don’t understand why ABC wouldn’t give up the rights to have other websites stream them like Hulu. Do they just have really strict laws regarding their streaming? I honestly think if ABC streamed reruns in the offseason it would be wildly popular among old and new fans.
Comment: I thought they were. At least some of them. After these episodes air, I’ve never gone back to watch on streaming so I have no idea how many, if any, old seasons are on there. Sorry.
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Hi Steve,
I’m a fairly recent tuner-inner to your website. I’d like to start tipping my toes into your podcasts as well. In your opinion, which are your 5-10 best, most interesting, most informative, most inspiring podcasts to start with? Or should I just start from the oldest and work my way forward?
Comment: Well, listening to 94 podcasts might take a while. It’s too hard of a question to answer because I don’t know what you’re looking for, who some of your favorite contestans were, etc. If there’s one guideline I could give you and assuming you don’t want to listen to all 94, I’d just scroll through and listen to the contestants that you liked from the show.
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Maybe you already posted this and I just missed it, but did you hear that Courtney and Lily from Winter Games broke up? Courtney wrote a weird Instagram post about it. That means that all of the Winter Games couples are now over.
I guess they won’t renew it.
Comment: Yeah, I saw that. I had no interest in them as a couple, so, while break ups always suck, I can’t say it was even a blip on my radar.
With that said, I don’t think whether or not “Winter Games” gets renewed is based on the success of its couples. If that were the case, the “Bachelor” would’ve been cancelled a long time ago.
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Hi Steve, I read Aly Raisman’s book “Fierce” and in it, she talks about a professional athlete that she dated that turned out to be a complete jerk. She came to see one of his games and then afterward, she went to change the radio station in the car and he said something along the lines of “Don’t touch my radio, you didn’t work out today while I did so I get to do whatever I want.” (There was more to the story but that’s all I can remember). Do you happen to know if she was talking about Colton? I’ve always wondered, especially now that he might be the bachelor.
Comment: I don’t know her dating history other than Colton, so while it could be him, I have no idea for sure. Went to one of his games? Well, since Colton never played in a game in his life, nor ever suited up for one on a Sunday, maybe it’s not him? Or maybe she was talking about she attended a pre-season game that he stood on the sidelines for and she IS talking about him. I really don’t know.
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Hey Reality Steve!
Just a quick and random question… Say a girl goes on a 1-on-1 with the lead and she receives a rose after that date… On the day of the rose ceremony, does get a new rose to hold or does she have to maintain the rose she received on the date?
Comment: They get a new one for the rose ceremony.
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Hello Steve,
Congratulations on your new fur baby, Luca. She’s a beauty! I have been with you for many years and really enjoy reading your spoilers and your perspective. I am looking forward to your spoilers for Colton’s season. My comment/question is that most of the drama surrounding Colton was created by Tia, not Colton. It is obvious that his feelings for Tia were never as strong as her feelings for him. I believe Colton has been a perfect gentleman where Tia is concerned and that he will be a GREAT Bachelor. Why do you and most readers dislike Colton more than Tia? Tia threw Bekka under the bus during Arie’s season and then did the same thing to Colton during Becca’s season. I do not understand why Colton is disliked more than Tia. Please help me understand.
Comment: While you’re correct in that he never seemed into her as much as she was into him, he literally changed his mind 5 different times on her over a span of 6 months. That’s a lot.
