A lot of today’s “Reader Emails” are stuff that came down late last week or in the last two days. Most isn’t Jordan/Jenna related, and that topic is gonna rule Bachelor Nation for the next week or so. This is the final “Reader Emails” of the calendar year, since starting next week, the “Bachelor” will begin filming, I’ll be doing “Daily Links” as much as I can, along with spoiling Colton’s season in real time. It’s a been a fun ride this year to say the least.
Hey Steve,
Are contestants compensated in any way to act a certain way, even if it makes them look bad, like the way Leo excited bachelor in paradise? Cause I found that to be so staged, also noticed that the guys from Becca’s season who did not get along, were quite chummy during “paradise”. On another note, as long as they are on US soil, whenever they wanna plug a band, it has to be country music, WHY? Is there no other genre that is deemed romantic for a date? Please bring more contestants on your podcast from early seasons, I really enjoyed Meredith and Trish, thx!
Comment: They’re compensated for coming on BIP, not “Bachelor” or “Bachelorette.”
Not EVERY concert has been country. Are most of them? Yes. But not every one. Betty Who this last season for Blake’s hometown certainly wasn’t country.
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Hi Steve,
I just finished UnReal a couple weeks ago and I really enjoyed the first couple of seasons. I only started watching it because of your podcast with Shiri Appleby. Anyways, I’m glad I did.
I’m currently listening to the newest episode with Kat and I can’t help but think of that blonde contestant from UnReal’s first season with the eating disorder where when her father passed away and production didn’t tell her and when they did they filmed it. Of course it is shown on a much more dramatic scale. But listening to Kat’s story made me wonder if Shapiro used Kat as a muse for that character.
Really enjoyed listening to this one. Kat seems like a really smart down to earth girl. I enjoyed her being honest and upfront about a lot of behind the scenes. Very refreshing!
Thanks Steve!
Comment: It’s an interesting correlation you made, however, Shapiro was long gone from the franchise by the time Juan Pablo’s season rolled around.
Kat’s podcast did extremely well on downloads, however, I’m a little bummed it kinda got overlooked by my tweet the previous day when I’d spoiled Colton as the next “Bachelor.” If you didn’t listen, you should. She was excellent.
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Hey Steve,
Did you hear anything about why Jubilee really left? It seemed like such a weird exit with it being done in a flashback and no interview with her or John. Then this week John made the comment like he didn’t know people could leave whenever they wanted. Just wondering why it was never really talked about when someone leaving outside of a rose ceremony is usually a big plot point.
Comment: I guess they pick and choose which storylines they want to give more attention to than others. But no, I don’t know why they chose to give that exit barely any air time.
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Hi Steve! Just wondering what the chances are as Tia going to help Colton out
Maybe she could go and give her final opinion on the final women
or be involved in a group date
Comment: I would really be surprised if she did. She said herself she’s not going on his season.
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Hey Reality Steve,
What percentage of women, do you think drop out of the running of being a contestant in the Bachelor once they realize who they’re competing for isn’t who they wanted? (Ex. a woman who signed up to be a contestant for Blake, realizes Colton is the bachelor..)
Thanks always!
Comment: Impossible to throw a number at that. I really have no idea. My guess is very few. Just like casting doesn’t care about finding the 25 most perfect contestants for the lead, the contestants themselves don’t care either. They just want to be on TV, be part of the family, and see where it takes them.
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Reality Steve: 3 seasons of Colton would be overkill. Can’t see him as the Bachelor.
Producers: WE HAVE TO PICK COLTON. REALITY STEVE WILL NEVER FIGURE IT OUT.
Hahahaaaa joke’s on them. Well done Steve. Thanks for the Bach spoiler well ahead of GMA!
Not super stoked with the choice, but he’s not so different from Chris Soules with his inarticulateness and apparently poor understanding of females. Can’t wait to see the ‘crazy’ contestants and tantrums they throw his way (i.e. the usual producer tricks) and whatever drama they’ll fabricate around the fantasy suites.
Wish this wasn’t goodbye for the year Steve, but I look forward to the upcoming spoilers. When will you drop some of the new cast of women?
Comment: Next week.
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Hey Steve, I hope this isn’t too late for Reader Emails,
1) Who do you think in recent bachelor years has been Truly genuine? I’d have to think about that one.
2) After the show is over do the contestants with fame return to their day jobs? If they even have a job anymore. Some do, some don’t.
3) Is there any contestants on Coltons season that you think will create drama, or are famous? You’ll have to wait til next week.
4) Do you believe in Chris and Krystal, Jenna and Jordan, Astrid and Kevin, or Kendall and Joe will last the longest? Hmmmmm, I’ll go with Jordan and Jenna. Ha ha. Kidding. Chris and Krystal?
5) Do you think Tia will be the whole conversation on Coltons season? I sure hope not.
6) Last but not least, When do Kamil and Annaliese end it?
Comment: Last night.
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Hi Reality Steve,
First want to say I love your spoilers, been watching and following for years!
My question is pertaining to Colton. I’m curious your opinion. I have theorized that Colton went on BIP to be the Bachelor. Sounds contrary to what most say every season (that if they’re on BIP they most likely won’t be the Bachelor), but I feel like if he didn’t go on and explore/close the door of the Tia/Colton situation that he would’ve never had a chance at becoming the Bachelor. It’s like he gave the relationship just long enough to be relevant, but not long enough to make it seem proposal serious. It’s like it was prompted for his journey to becoming the Bachelor. What are your thoughts?
Comment: I wouldn’t disagree with that. It was surprising that someone who went on two consecutive seasons is now on a third. But hey, he got what he wanted.
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the reason everyone is so upset is because they (myself included) dont understand WHY it wasnt jason or blake??!?! like did they both say no ???
we got nick as the bachelor because we found out the original pick luke was shady. we got arie as the bachelor because the original (well popular) pick peter didnt want to do it. but we get colton (who was def third on the list) because……….??
if you could dig for answers or at least if you HEAR something as to why jason and blake were passed over can you please share it with us? it would be much appreciated! im so bummed 🙁
thanks
Comment: They wanted Colton. Jason and Blake weren’t offered and turned it down. Colton was their guy.
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Hey Steve, long time reader first time emailer etc.
I know you already posted reader emails this week but I want to ask this because it’s been bothering me.
I follow Raven, Rachel, Tia, Becca on Instagram, and they are literally always on vacation. Did these people quit their jobs and now just live off of paid social posts? Every person is different. There’s no universal answer. For those four, Tia definitely works. She’s in her work outfit a lot on her IG stories. Rachel just got a job with ESPN. Becca is still basking in the post show media tour, so, I don’t really know if she’s getting back into PR or not. I’ll guess she isn’t. Raven just recently moved to Dallas and is still running her Shop Grey Suede shop since she’s constantly posting about it.
I mean, I have a normal full time job at a law firm and only have two weeks of vacation a year. Which is pretty standard. How are these people perpetually on vacation? You’d have to ask their employers.
And then another point for people like Tia who not only don’t work but their bio is “dog mom!” You were in Mexico, then Nashville, Boston, Disneyland, LA. Where is your dog / does it have a new mom now? I don’t know about you but I have to feed my dog and walk him 4 times a day every day. On top of the fact that I actually want to be with him.
Totally admit I’m jealous. But also I actually don’t get it.
Comment: I’m sure family watches her dog.
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Hi RS!
Thank you for your detailed and entertaining recaps of all the shows. Your level headed perspective that is refreshing among the over-dramatized Bachelor Nation shows. I do not know why I keep watching these krazy shows, but your insight makes it far more entertaining. Thank you and please keep doing what you are doing, and you do it well – recapping, spoiling, and your podcats are great too!
A couple of comments – first regarding Colton. IMO, Colton is a perfect, safe, nice looking, clean cut Bachelor candidate for many reasons. Colton’s problem: OVEREXPOSURE. We were already tired of Colton from the first episode of BIP, with the whole Colton/Tia thing. And they monopolized BIP until they split. Good luck Colton!
Second comment — funny to see these BIP folks, crying, crying……. Are they crying for the loss of love and “what could have been” in a romantic sense, or are they crying over the loss of their Instagram fame and fortune that they will miss because they did not couple up?? No need to comment, I am just sayin’.
Question for you – is Grocery Store Joe perhaps the only person in this round of BIP that did not actively seek out getting into Bachelor Nation? I read that he was approached when he was shopping in another store (he was not in his store). Joe is so likeable, he seems to be the most down to earth, non-fame guy of the bunch. And now he is going on to DWTS, bravo Joe!
Comment: It certainly didn’t seem like he did. Dude has hit the jackpot since getting eliminated. It’s crazy.
katieottawa
September 12, 2018 at 8:59 AM
this is what i wrote a couple of weeks ago.
personally i found the men to be much more serious, loyal and genuine to the women they were interested in than the women who seemed to care more about the attention of multiple men on them and playing games.
jordan. you can tell he is interested in jenna. it was a done deal for him, right after he went to the other girl he was seeing before and was upfront with her. the rest of the time he was only about her. shes the one who decided to play games with benoit. he may have his flaws but i think he deserves better. she isnt serious about him which in a way i feel bad for him. shes going to hurt him.
i saw this coming a mile away. poor guy.
klo823
September 12, 2018 at 9:46 AM
I don’t buy what Jordan is selling. His feelings right off the bat for Jenna on Paradise seemed a little too strong and contrived. I believe the texts are real, but I think Jenna & Jordan were in on this together for publicity and notoriety in the franchise.
Another theory is maybe Jordan thought they were going to ride it out until a publicized abc wedding and then break up after. He might’ve been blindsided in that respect…just a thought. I know his Mom had said she had to console Jordan crying on her lap or whatever, but she could easily have been in on it too to help promote her son’s narrative.
jlal
September 12, 2018 at 11:30 AM
I’m not a big fan of Jordan’s, but I don’t think for a second he was in on this. Jenna is a manipulator and user, plain and simple. It was obvious that while jealous and insecure, he was also big time into to Jenna. He didn’t even look at anyone else one he saw her. No, I think he is legit and was used by a master manipulator.
rob22
September 12, 2018 at 12:12 PM
I’m not a fan of Jordan & I have already commented that I see this as a form of karma for the way he’s been treating other people in both shows. Not so much David, because I think David enjoyed tweaking Jordan & drawing a reaction, but more like the explosions he had where he was abusive and profane with women. That’s not OK.
I had considered Jordan’s “love at first sight” reaction to Jenna initially as possibly a gay man trying to react like they think a straight man might react…. kind of like Tom Cruise’s couch jumping a few years back. If you know what I’m talking about there. His response to Jenna was WAY over the top. What straight guy acts like that?? But I did warm up mostly to the idea that he was really into Jenna… though I’m not completely off the idea of him being gay & trying to act straight.
Anyway, I’m still ultimately blown away by Jenna’s actions. Not only was she a duplicitous cheater, she was actually planning on leaving Jordan with a big black eye by making up some story about him on the way out the door. Who does that? What a terrible person she is. Her actions are way beyond the typical cheating that we’ve come to expect. She is a very mean spirited person. It shows you what some people are capable of.
littlelil
September 12, 2018 at 12:37 PM
Surprised nothing was mentioned in today’s post about Amanda’s arrest or Bekah’s pregnancy.
leighk
September 12, 2018 at 3:22 PM
As far as people dropping out when they find out who The Bachelor/ette will be, it’s probably not too many people, but I did. Of course, this was quite a while ago (Lorenzo’s season). After casting called to give me his info to check him out, I called to drop out. The reason I say it’s probably not too many people is because the casting agent pushed very hard for me to continue the process. She even suggested I stay “just to see where it takes you.” It was 3 phone calls before she realized I wasn’t giving in. The next season they called but I was in a “real relationship.” That year (I don’t remember who The Bachelor was), they even asked how serious my relationship was, lol. Based on my experience, anyone who they were interested in casting accepted whether for the “right reasons” or exposure.
pugmom
September 12, 2018 at 3:41 PM
Okay I was one of the ones who didn’t believe it was real at first but now I do. I feel really bad for Jordan. He seemed really into her and he was very loyal. It’s hard to think it was a fake relationship for him because he was very bad at faking attraction to Becca during her season. I gotta give RS props because he really didn’t like Jordan so much throughout the show yet when he found this information he even reached out to Jordan to confirm that it was really the way she writes. I really admire that! Also… Leighk that’s really interesting that casting reached out to you to let you know who the Bachelor was. I wonder if they still do that??
corn29
September 12, 2018 at 3:45 PM
2 wrongs don’t make a right but I’m actually okay with this. Jordan is a world class jerk. The way he spoke to Benoit last night was deplorable. He treats people horribly. This is just karma for him.
Happy to see Jordan get his comeuppance! Well earned and deserved!
screenname
September 12, 2018 at 4:04 PM
I honestly don’t get why people follow anyone from the Bachelor franchise. I tried following a couple of accounts on IG, and It’s like literally watching commercials. These people don’t actually choose to use the product, the product chooses them and they just use it because hey, it’s free.
And they all promote the same exact thing!
There are famous actors with fewer followers than some of these contestants.
Maybe when people stop blindly following bachelor/bachelorette accounts they might change what the typical cast member looks like and get some more interesting contestants with some substance.
jlal
September 12, 2018 at 4:15 PM
Why did Amanda get arrested?
As for Jordan being gray, really? This is not 1988. People don’t have to be in the closet anymore, unless they’re a Scientologist. He is a model and metro Male. My gaydar never went off with him. I do agree he ducked at faking he liked Becca. However, he didn’t take liking Jenna, he was crazy about her.
jlal
September 12, 2018 at 4:17 PM
Jeez, Gay not gray.
jlal
September 12, 2018 at 4:19 PM
I hate autocorrect
jlal
September 12, 2018 at 4:58 PM
okay, turned off autocorrect. He sucked at faking he liked Becca, but I don’t think he faked liking Jenna.
rob22
September 12, 2018 at 4:59 PM
True, being out is way easier these days. But if he was out, he wouldn’t have been a Bachelorette or BIP contestant. So there is incentive to fake it to be on the show. And I get the Metrosexual thing. I wasn’t reacting to his grooming, I was reacting to how he acted around Jenna. Gay people acting straight might overcompensate, like Tom Cruise did. I mostly think he’s not gay. But I’m just not ready to dismiss it completely.
rob22
September 12, 2018 at 5:04 PM
I am largely in agreement. Jordan has no filter. So there isn’t much to read about him. He puts whatever is on his mind out there. That’s why he can be a world class jerk one minute and a decent guy the next minute. He’s ruled by his emotions.
corn29
September 12, 2018 at 6:34 PM
No such thing as metro… just a made up, contrived, contemporary label for someone who still hasn’t come out yet — even though it’s 2018. NTTIAWWT.
littlelil
September 12, 2018 at 7:25 PM
There is absolutely such thing as being metrosexual – to think otherwise is narrow-minded, and to think metrosexuals are closeted gays is just plain ignorant.
corn29
September 13, 2018 at 6:26 AM
@littlelil
“Can’t wear white pants anymore so I’m shopping for vanilla bean now to start the fall” — Jordan
SAID. NO. STRAIGHT. GUY. EVER!
jlal
September 13, 2018 at 7:32 AM
Corn, What part of Jordan is a model do you not understand?
ctrealitygirl
September 13, 2018 at 8:05 AM
Wow…what’s with all the “Jordan is gay” talk?? Why would a gay man want to go on The Bachelorette or Bachelor In Paradise? It makes no sense to me. And I never got taht vibe from him at all…narcissistic at times, yes. But HE’S A MODEL!!! And I found him way more likeable on BIP and downright entertaining. rob22, you keep insisting he acted too over the moon about Jenna to be straight. Have you been watching these shows?? They ALL act over the moon about people they’ve just met. I believe he truly fell hard for her and didn’t see her for what she is. Alas, most of us watching her antics could see it…mostly the way she juggled Jordan and Benoit. I definitely got the impression she thrived on all the attention from men. But had hopes that at the end she really did have feelings for Jordan…until RS spilled the beans.
rob22
September 13, 2018 at 8:22 AM
Yeah, I get that I’m probably wrong about Jordan being gay. The guy is just REALLY unusual. I’ve never seen anyone like him. He doesn’t act like any straight dude I’ve ever seen. Or any guy, period. But, of course, that doesn’t mean he’s gay. It could just mean he’s a weird guy. I’m OK with that assessment. There are a lot of weird people around. He’s just a different flavor of weird. Real different. His reactions to the things around him are off. Not normal. I’m sure that’s why they cast him on the show.
tinyred500
September 13, 2018 at 8:59 AM
Jenna is a truly nasty piece – ‘duplicitous cheater’, great description rob22! I feel for Jordan. I’ve always liked him, he’s funny and doesn’t mind making a fool of himself…wearing those gold lamé underpants that Becca gave him for a start and that red flowery outfit on BIP! He doesn’t deserve this treatment.
I definitely don’t think Jordan is gay, but over the top persona yes, absolutely. Why do people have to be given labels or pigeon holed?! I don’t get with the gay slurs at all. I really don’t think a gay man would want be a contestant on a dating reality show ..they have nowhere or no way to hide their past or who they are (pay people off etc). Overall, given this is a well known reality show in America, I’m absolutely sure there would be an ex something or other out there to ‘out’ them and sell their story to all and sundry.
corn29
September 13, 2018 at 2:55 PM
@jlal
I didn’t know that in your world orientation and profession had a causal relationship.
Again, No straight man has ever worried about what color pants he is wearing after labor day nor is vanilla bean a color in their mind.
NTTIAWWT
tinyred500
September 13, 2018 at 3:20 PM
Did it ever occur to you that Jordan has a sense of humour? A lot of his words etc., were said in jest and weren’t to be taken literally or seriously.
corn29
September 13, 2018 at 6:54 PM
I guess I don’t consider putting people down, talking about women as possessions, and just being flat out mean as having a “sense of humor”.
Words matter.
You cannot be a pig in jest; otherwise Trump would be the funniest man on the planet.
hastings
September 17, 2018 at 8:21 PM
Your experience with men that are into fashion must be pretty limited. One of my first jobs was working in a men’s department of an upscale mall store. Most men that came in didn’t care about their clothes much but a few cared like it was the most important thing in their lives. Really didn’t have much to do with gay or straight.