In case you missed the beginning of the podcast last Thursday, the Reality Steve Fan Appreciation Party set for later this month has been cancelled. With the Delta variant growing, and Vegas being one of the leading cities right now for infections and going back to a mask mandate, although I really didn’t want to cancel my party for the second year in a row even though everyone in attendance would be vaccinated, it was the right call to make unfortunately. The Rio wasn’t thrilled with me hosting a party of almost 100 people once the mandate was handed down, and the liability was just something I didn’t want to possibly have to deal with. So to everyone who purchased flights and were set to come, I apologize and you all have first dibs on next years party – assuming things have died down by then. I always said I didn’t want to have to hold the party if a mask mandate was in place, and when I started promoting this years party on June 8th after Katie’s premiere, Vegas had just lifted their mask mandate and we didn’t really know anything about the Delta variant. Amazing how much things can change in 2 months. We will eventually have the 6th Annual Fan Appreciation Party dammit ha ha. Just not this year. Looking at going back to the normal spot of first weekend in June 2022, but that’s tentative since it’s impossible to predict what’s going on with COVID.
With that said, this week’s podcast is one I know you’ll enjoy. Emily O’Brien is back to talk all things virus/COVID/Delta variant and the like. Emily is an epidemiologist at Duke University and she’s been outstanding the first two times she came on. She joined us for the first time right after the pandemic hit and explained a lot of what was going on, most of which all turned out to be true. Then she came on again in December once the vaccines were getting ready to roll out to explain that and, once again, was very accurate about those. Well, now we’re dealing with the Delta variant and all sorts of issues regarding that. We will dive into everything and I will try and get you a lot of the answers to the questions the general public has. I’ve been doing a lot of reading myself, and even listening to podcasts on it from doctors and researchers, so I think I know what questions I need to ask. I’m recording with Emily tomorrow so look forward to that podcast on Thursday.
Get your “Reader Emails” in today as we are VERY low as of this writing. I’m sure after last night you have your opinions on the fight. I certainly do on pages 3 & 4 today, but just remember, it’s still just a television show. This isn’t life or death. Yes, this is what I cover and what we talk about, but after I post this, I’m probably not going to think much about it. And I’m certainly not running to either Greg or Katie’s social media to bash them. It was a heated conversation for the public to see, both sides could’ve done better, and we move on. We can discuss it, but lets not let this ruin our moods, as it clearly has for some people. I will take parts of that argument to critique and question some of the things said, along with offer suggestions on ways it could’ve been handled. But that doesn’t mean someone is hating. Lets just keep our heads about this, ok? I don’t think that’s asking much.
So what’d you think of FBoy Island on HBO Max? For those asking, the first 3 episodes released last Thursday. This Thursday will be the next 3 episodes, and then the final 4 episodes the following Thursday, August 12th. I’ve seen the first 8 episodes. I’m telling you, it gets better. You’ve got major twists coming at the end of episodes 4, 5, and 6. And something that I think you’ll really like coming in those episodes too, which Elan Gale talked about in this this interview last week promoting the show. Social media becomes a storyline this season. And then once it does, THEN go check out that persons IG and it’s like another storyline is happening off show. You’ll know when you see it.
That article is a really deep dive into this show by the creator and the show runner, and you can see why I really am enjoying the show so far. Has nothing to do with my collaboration with HBO Max. If I like a show, I’ll tell you I like it. And I like this one. I’ll also tell you that there’s one thing coming up in the next few episodes that I absolutely HATE. However, because I haven’t seen the final two episodes yet, it may be a moot point. But just because I hate this one particular aspect doesn’t mean I’m gonna let it ruin the rest of the show for me. I understand the why behind it, just not a fan of the execution. But like I said, I haven’t seen the ending yet, so it might not matter. All I’ve heard about the ending is it’s insane. Even Elan in that interview hints towards that. And that’s probably one of the biggest reasons I like this show. They aren’t sticking to some regimented format where every episode follows the same formula. I mean, basically every episode has a new twist to it. We find out at the end of episode 1 the eliminated guys aren’t sent home. Then we have an episode where they introduce 3 new guys. Then you have new twists coming at the end of the next 3 episodes. So be ready. It gets better. Can’t wait to see how this all plays out.
Recap begins on Page 2…
jlal
August 3, 2021 at 10:49 AM
Katie made it clear she wasn’t saying the love word to anyone, but the guy at the end. That is what Greg was pushing her to say. On the flip side, if someone is just not that into you, you can sense it on some level. I think Greg sensed on some level that Katie was not where he was and he couldn’t deal. I do think Greg set her up to fail. I have known men and women who do the same thing – they have expectations the other person doesn’t even know exists and then are mad/sad/disappointed when those expectations are not met. The bottom line is she either couldn’t (because of shoe rules or lack of feelings) or she wouldn’t (because of her own code of waiting until the end) give him what he needed, so he left.
adelina
August 3, 2021 at 12:36 PM
Totally agree with what you stated @jlal.
Greg’s meltdown was a total turnoff and such an indication of future issues. His intensity is too much and has no appeal in a longtime partner.
I imagine he’s the guy that gives you the silent treatment or pouts at random times and with no warning. Also, to proclaim his love and then claim, “I gave you everything.” That’s some intense neediness. He reminded me of someone with an alcoholic personality that I once knew. A bottomless pit of neediness – no thanks.
It’s too bad she now is stuck with consolation prize Blake. She’ll be single again in no time.
unlisted
August 3, 2021 at 1:33 PM
The impression I got was that Greg didn’t really understand the rules of the “Bachelorette” game. And there were some other miscommunications, as well.
He kept saying that once he confessed his love for her, and he felt he got the message from Katie that he was El Numero Uno, they no longer needed to go through the motions of getting a rose, overnights, engagement, etc. That he expected she would have just declared her love right then and there (using the L Word) and told the other two guys to take a hike.
Instead, when he opened up to her, rather than melting into his arms as he expected and reciprocating in kind, she continued acting and speaking BacheloretteSpeak– as if from an ABC script– which he interpreted as b.s.
Also it sounded to me as if he felt he was getting mixed messages from her. On the one hand, she strongly hinted he was her choice. So why not say so and let him be the winner then and there, without leading the other two guys on? But then she not only insited on going through the rest of the process, she refused to reciprocate his level of feelings and vulnerability at the same level, which was confusing to him.
It was almost the reverse of what used to happen in the good ol’ days: when a woman was kissed by a man, she would assume that he loved her and wanted to marry her.
JMO!
p.s. I think they both have “issues” and are not good candidates for marriage.
switt610
August 3, 2021 at 5:39 PM
Steve… I really appreciate your commonsense response to what happened last night. Because of what I have learned from you, I like to remind people this is a producer driven TV show with REAL people that we know nothing about. Losing sleep or being angry over any of it is ridiculous. Neither Greg or Katie are bad people. Thank you for keeping us updated.
ctrealitygirl
August 4, 2021 at 11:40 AM
I’m really surprised at all the fans who are taking Katie’s side of the Greg/Katie debacle. Did anyone not take notice of her body language? Or her dismissive facial expressions? All season we’ve watched her lavish Greg with affection, then, out of nowhere, she changes her tune. I’m not saying she owed him an answer to whether he was her final pick. But everyone seems to forget that Peter basically gave Rachel the same ultimatum and everyone LOVED Peter. How is this different? I wasn’t crazy about Katie being picked as the Bachelorette but was willing to give her a chance. But she just leaves me cold. I noticed on the MTA episode that she treated all her so-called favorites- namely Andrew and Michael A – like that were yesterday’s news. In past seasons, both male and female leads at least act like they still have some fondness for the ones they let go toward the end. Katie was downright stone cold, especially how she responded to Michael A’s profession of still being in love with her. I think Blake is smarmy…didn’t like him on the Clare/Tayshia season, and like him less this season. He reminds me a lot of how smug Nick Viall acted when he came onto Laitlyn’s season…but even worse. I’m glad she picks him in the end. they deserve each other. I sure hope Michelle’s seaon is better than this one. I used to look forward to Monday nights..but no more. I have not finished watching one episode…fall asleep before the end and don’t even bother to watch what I missed. The producers made a huge mistake picking her and the ratings prove it. I’d really like to see Andrew named the next Bachelor. He’s another one she treated pretty badly. Her picker is WAY off.
megs
August 7, 2021 at 12:23 PM
Just wanted to point out that the scene with Katie and Greg where he’s crying and telling her he’s in love with her and she said she likes looking at his face… was edited LIKE CRAZY. In one second, he’s bawling, and the next time they cut to his face, supposedly immediately after, not crying at all, plus Katie had her hand on him in the crying scene and then not the next time they cut to him. There’s plenty we didn’t get to see from this conversation, so I don’t really think it’s fair to even have opinions on it since we didn’t get the whole scene.
xoxo00
August 9, 2021 at 1:36 PM
I surprised you can’t see what Greg was saying. He was pouring his heart out and very emotional. He talked about his Dad and cried and she was as cold as ice. Greg’s brother said he never talked about his Dad, not even to him, but he did let himself hurt in front of Katie. That was a big deal to him and she didn’t give him anything. She smiled weirdly and said she loved his face. Someone who is sincerely in the moment would say “I am so sorry your Dad isn’t here – I know how much he meant to you” or “It means a lot to me to me that I am able to help you see the sun after being in a dark hole after losing your Dad”. Instead she said oooohh heeeyyy I love your face and by the way you’re going to be getting the rose. He didn’t care about any of that. He was talking to his girlfriend and Katie was still playing the bachelorette. That is why he no longer saw her as “real”; he saw Katie as the Bachelorette and it was over for him.
It’s likely Katie was trying to do the right thing by the show by not giving away her final choice. It seems she really was in love with Greg and couldn’t tell him. It’s also possible that she was not able to fully feel due to the pressure of being the Bachelorette — Katie is a people pleaser and I think she worked hard to do it right. She was just caught up in the show, IMO, and lost Greg because of it. Greg wasn’t manipulating her. He told her over and over he wasn’t looking for the rose or to hear that she loved him too he was looking for Katie to be Katie instead of Katie the Bachelorette. It’s odd no one can see this. They’re both great people. They just didn’t communicate well and this is what couples sometimes do. I don’t think Katie has a chance of reconciling with Greg, if she wants to, because he has a wall up now. He stopped trusting her the second she couldn’t stop being Katie the Bachelorette.
And, finally something real from this series, sometimes poor communication can kill a relationship. If you’re in a relationship you better check yourself and make sure you’re clear with your mate and listening to them as well.