Today’s “Reader Emails” are loaded with your final thoughts on the season, the Katie/Blake duo, the Katie/Greg fight and what not. Because Nick’s podcast with Greg dropped later last night, no emails with reaction to that which is fine, but for anyone wanting to hear what Greg had to say, I suggest go listening. Clearly it pains me to promote anything Nick Viall does, but, you’re tuning in to hear what Greg now thinks of everything in an unfiltered format. I listened to most of it (I’ll be honest, I had to fast forward through a couple things), but it’s definitely a good listen. Greg finally owns up to how he came across to Katie, talks about his dad’s death, talks about going to therapy, and how he’s processed everything over the last few weeks seeing it play back. At least the guy was finally honest. I think that’s all anyone was looking for. Now, if you want to say he’s only saying it now to save face because of criticism he’s getting, whatever. The guy clearly hasn’t been in a good place since his dad died, he made that perfectly clear, and maybe this show wasn’t the right avenue for it. But he’s owning it, which is something he hadn’t done until yesterday. So check it out if you’re so interested. It’s an interesting listen for sure.
A few final thoughts from me regarding this season after seeing some of the responses since Monday night. Again, it really doesn’t make sense to me as to why some people choose to watch what Katie and Blake have now said post show in their numerous interviews and then just decide they want to discredit them. Does it mean I think they will totally get married and stay together until one of them dies? No. But when you see Katie and Blake posting pics together and saying in interviews saying they’re happy, your first reaction is to tell them they suck or he’s a second choice, or she’s still in love with Greg? Why? Seriously. Why is that your reaction? Why can’t you either:
A) Just say nothing
B) While maybe being skeptical, just wish them well and be on your way
It boggles my mind. Sure there’s skepticism. I have skepticism. I do about every final couple because this is not a normal way to get engaged to someone. But the way some people have to make their negative feelings known about it is crazy to me. Like, go outside. Play with your kids. Do something productive. You really need to re-prioritize things in your life if you’ve done nothing but post on social media since Monday night how much you dislike Katie, or Katie and Blake will never make it, or she’s still in love with Greg, etc. Good Lord.
The internet is the best and worst thing because it gives everyone a voice, and frankly, not everyone needs one. Because you know and I know, that if you saw Blake and Katie out in San Diego holding hands or at dinner you wouldn’t interrupt them to tell them she doesn’t love hime or she’s still in love with Greg. Or you wouldn’t walk up to them and say, “Hey Blake, how does it feel to be Katie’s second choice?” So many keyboard warriors out there that love to think they have all the right answers behind a nameless, faceless account when you know you never say a word to them in person. And if they DID, they’d probably just lie and say the opposite, which makes them even more phony. The lesson as always: people suck.
Ratings are in from Monday’s finale and not only was it the highest rated episode of the season (which was expected, the finale always is), but it blew away any other previous episode by the likes which we’ve never seen before. Let me explain. The most watched episode from Katie’s season was episode 7 at 3.7 million. No other episode beat that. The finale drew 6.6 million. So a whole season where you couldn’t break 3.7 million viewers only to double that in the finale. I went back to most recent seasons and there’s never been anything like that where the most watched episode of the season was then doubled in the finale. Look at the numbers:
Matt – Most watched episode drew 5.25 million. Finale drew 5.75 million.
Clare/Tayshia – Most watched episode drew 5.4 million. Finale drew 5.2 million. First time ever the finale didn’t outdraw the most watched episode from earlier in the season.
Peter – Most watched episode 6.8 million. Finale drew 7.7 million.
Hannah – Most watched episode 6.5 million. Finale drew 7.4 million.
Colton – Most watched episode 7.2 million. Finale drew 8.1 million.
Becca – Most watched episode 6.3 million. Finale drew 6.7 million.
Arie – Most watched episode 6.75 million. Finale drew 7.7 million.
So you get the point. To see your show double in the finale just doesn’t happen on this show. I’m kinda shocked to see THAT number in the finale based on what they were all season. You heard me say it all season, Katie’s numbers were nothing but consistent. They were the lowest rated ever, but still, every episode drew between 3.1 million and 3.7 million. Then with the finale drawing 6.6 million, that’s a better finale than Matt or Clare/Tayshia’s season by over 1 million viewers. UPDATE: TVSeriesFinale.com has updated their ratings from Monday night. They goofed. Bachelorette drew 4.4 million viewers and a 1.1 rating. 700k more viewers than their highest previous episode this season, but not nearly the double like originally reported. Honestly, that makes more sense. I was scratching my head how the lowest rated season doubled their out put in one episode. Now we know. Original ratings from that site were wrong. I’ve been using them all year and this was the first one that they screwed up.
Tomorrow is the FBoy Island release of their final 4 episodes, and you’re in for a treat. Some good stuff happening in the last few episodes, and without giving away spoilers of names and scenarios and what not, I will give you a teaser of what to expect:
Episode 7: The girls narrowing 4 guys down to 3 for each of them.
Episode 8: The girls narrowing 3 guys down to 2 for each of them.
Episode 9: Starts with one surprise I don’t wanna say but it’s good, and then the girls go on their final overnight date with 1 of their final 2 guys.
Episode 10: The girls go on their final overnight date with the other guy in their final 2, then we have the final elimination, where we find out who they choose and what the money situation is.
Trust me, you will ALL have some opinions on this finale I guarantee it. It’s going to elicit some good responses I’m sure. Can’t wait for you all to see it. I think the episodes drop around 12pm tonight PST, right? I will be discussing the finale in the first 10-15 min of tomorrow’s podcast, so if you stay up late to watch them before my podcast goes up tomorrow, you won’t be spoiled. If not, I suggest fast forwarding through if you don’t want to be spoiled.
“Reader Emails” begins on Page 2…
shellylite
August 11, 2021 at 11:13 AM
As for those finale numbers . . . I am one of those people who didn’t watch any of the season until the second to last episode (watched on HULU right before the finale) and then was floored by Greg’s “performance” so I had to watch the finale.
Having not watched any other episode prior to the fight club episode, I thought Greg turned off his interest in Katie like flipping a light switch and it intrigued me how anyone could do that. Then I found out about the acting school and it made sense.
Katie was right.
The emailer who said there is a lot of misogyny in the fan treatment of Katie is 100% correct. She had every right to be furious at Greg’s disrespect. Greg himself, IMO, treated Katie from a misogynistic POV in the fight episode. Like, she didn’t do what he wanted, so that was the end of it for him. That is the definition of an abusive relationship. I have hated the growing sexism on this show for years. Greg encapsulated it. If people can’t see that and want to blame Katie for his behavior, there is no way anyone can help you.
I think her connection with Blake is genuine, and so what if their love was kind of sudden. Lots of times, love happens that way, and it may very well work out. I wish them the best. He is definitely a nicer guy than Greg by like, a million miles.
unlisted
August 11, 2021 at 11:53 AM
I, for one, felt really sorry for Greg.
Katie is a world-class ball buster who, we were shown, comes from a family of man-hating ball busters.
I’m surprised Katie even wants to be married…to someone of the male persuasion.
Oh, yeah, she’s “sex-posiive.”
But obviously not love-positive.
And the ATFR “dialogue” with Greg was so one-sided it made me cringe.
“Misogynist”? Just the opposite!
kat313
August 11, 2021 at 2:56 PM
I agree with unlisted and am happy to see the huge numbers for the finale. Why? The big numbers are due to controversy, and we all know how much they love that on this show! Remember how much controversy Nick stirred up? Then there he was showing up everywhere, including being the Bachelor (gag)! Love him or hate him, Greg is a controversial character. I can only hope that history repeats itself!
justsaying
August 11, 2021 at 3:21 PM
Greg flipped again for Nick’s interview. Now he’s saying he’s an a** to Kathie. Obviously he admitted to this due to all the backlash. What a phoney baloney. That my professional psycho babble terminology for him LOL
Team Katie!
dbla31
August 12, 2021 at 10:55 AM
“So if the guy in question realizes he didn’t speak to Katie properly, why are other people saying he did?”
I know Steve meant this as a rhetorical question, but this is so typical of today’s culture. We saw it with Rachael Kirkconnell. She admitted she was wrong for her prior behavior, especially attending that antebellum event. But did her “team” want to hear that? Heck no! Most fans said she was bullied into it, that she should stand up for her rights, that she did nothing wrong, etc. Here this young woman is, growing and learning and people are saying, nah, what you did was fine. No one wants to really listen or learn these days.
justsaying
August 12, 2021 at 11:09 AM
@dbla31 People defending and making excuses for Mr Flip-flopper Greg or Kirkconnell’s past are apologists and enablers.
dbla31
August 12, 2021 at 11:23 AM
abcdoesntcarewhatyouhavetosay@gmail.com — LOL! Steve, haven’t you learned by now that many if not most of your fan base does not understand sarcasm? 😉 How much do you want to bet that reader writes back to you to say you have the wrong address, that her e-mail bounced back.
tinyred500
August 12, 2021 at 12:48 PM
@dbla31,
I hear exactly what you’re saying and agree.
People who continue to criticise and knock someone else down for trying to explain what they did or said wrong or not appropriate must be beyond perfect humans is all I can say, oh, and live in a place called Utopia. Empathy so obviously bypassed them. :o/
gailer
August 12, 2021 at 7:25 PM
Lol now come on! I happen to be an attorney with a highly developed sense of sarcasm of my own. Of course I understood Steve’s reply to me.