Big day today. Got a lot of stuff to cover AND we are officially back to having a “normal” season of the “Bachelor” as hometown dates begin today for Clayton’s season and they are doing it like they always had pre-pandemic. Traveling to the hometowns of the women. Will update you on that next paragraph. We didn’t have normal hometowns for Tayshia’s, Matt’s, or Katie’s season as we know, since the families were all brought to those particular locations. Now, since most of Michelle’s spoilers this season are scarce, I guess there is a possibility they traveled for her hometowns (which was the plan pre-show before the Delta variant arose right around the time her hometowns would’ve happened). So as of this moment, I don’t believe Michelle traveled for her hometowns. The timing of the schedule didn’t seem to allow for it and, most importantly, there’s never been a season where when they traveled for hometowns, not one of them were ever seen filming. And that didn’t happen for Michelle’s guys, so, my guess is families were brought to Minnesota for her season. However, that’s not the case for Clayton’s as his hometowns begin today in Virginia Beach, VA with…
Susie won Miss Virginia Teen USA 2011 and Miss Virginia 2020. I’m sure you’ve heard a couple weeks ago Dean reference the fact that his college ex-girlfriend was on Clayton’s season and that Caelynn also knew someone as well on this season. As I referenced in past columns, Dean’s ex is Gabby Windey and Caelynn knows Susie having won Miss Virginia Teen USA in 2013 and also competed in Miss Virginia in 2016 and 2017. So she knows her through the pageant world. I don’t know where in Virginia Beach they’ll be today, but you never know with hometowns if/when pics get out. There’s been some seasons where pics have gotten out of all four hometowns, some where three hometowns got out, some with two, and some with one. Time will tell today, so anything I happen to get I’ll be tweeting out and posting on my IG stories.
As for the remainder of your hometown, I’m not 100% confirmed on them as I type this, but I feel I’ll know them in the next 24-48 hours. If/when I do, I’ll be posting them on social media and/or tomorrow’s column. The fact that I found out Susie’s was today, and I’m positive on one other one who’s getting one, I think it’s only a matter of time before I find out who the other two are. Especially considering it’s only between 3 possible people. So keep it on my socials for any breaking news regarding that.
On Friday I did something I hadn’t done before, and that was take questions from readers on my IG live. It ended up going for 3 hours and it’s still up on my IGTV. In case you missed it, here it is:
Now, I don’t expect anyone to stay tuned for all 3 hours, that would be absurd. But a lot of things were covered in it. Dave Neal joined me I believe in the first hour and we covered what he’d reported on Friday, which was that he had heard from a single source that Michaell Allio, the single dad from Katie’s season, was gonna be the next “Bachelor.” Dave and I had texted earlier in the day before he came on because when I saw him post the screen shot of the email he’d received about Michael, it was literally word for word the same email I’d gotten from the same person. So that person had told both of us what she was hearing, and that was that Michael was set to be the next Bachelor, how the show had made arrangements so it’d work out with his son James, etc. Again, we’re almost 4 months away from filming happening. So many things can change when it comes to this. Are they leading Michael on? Does Michael think it’s him, when in reality, they’re telling other guys as well? I guess we won’t know for a while. I mean, this show still hasn’t officially told us Clayton is the next “Bachelor,” so I doubt the announcement on who will be the Bachelor AFTER Clayton isn’t coming for a while now. But yes, the rumor is it’s Michael since, well, he seems to be pretty confident it’s him. Still a while to go before that filming starts happening, so nothing is official yet.
ABC did announce the next “Bachelor” season starts airing Monday, Jan. 3rd, the 13th consecutive year the show will begin the first Monday in January. Yet, in that same announcement, they still didn’t tell us the “Bachelor” is Clayton. I guess it’s a moot point now. Everyone knows. Hell, the guy starts filming hometowns today and they won’t acknowledge it’s him. Very weird on their part, but whatever. They’ve always marched by the beat of their own drum when it comes to this. So now the next two announcements that should be coming from them (whenever they may be) are that there will be another “Bachelor” season after Clayton’s and who it is. But I wouldn’t expect that until probably the new year.
I know Michelle and Joe both being at the Vikings/Cowboys game this past Sunday night (not together) had the speculation running rampant, but there’s nothing to see there. Michelle is not with Joe, she’s engaged to Nayte, has been since the show ended filming on Sept. 9th/10th, and that’s that. We know they both live in Minnesota, and both are big sports fans. Not the least bit surprising that they’d be two people in attendance for the NFL Sunday Night Game of the Week along with 66,631 other people.
And finally, I know Jed gave his first real interview since his season with Kate Casey that came out a few days ago. I haven’t listened to all of it, but I read the recap of some of his quotes on People.com. I’m bringing Kate on the podcast this week to discuss the interview with Jed, along with some other shows news. So look forward to that on Thursday.
“Reader Emails” begins on Page 2…

jlal
November 3, 2021 at 5:39 AM
I have noticed that there are not many, if any comments on this site anymore. I always enjoyed reading the comments almost more than the spoilers. I just can’t drum up much “give a crap” for this over produced show anymore and wonder if that is what is going on with others too.
ctrealitygirl
November 3, 2021 at 8:38 AM
I’ve been thinking the exact same thing as you jlal! Every time I log into this site, the first thing I look for is how many comments there are. And like you, I am disappointed that 95% of the time there are zero. But we shouldn’t be all that surpised as the site itself has been very lackluster in recent months. It seems to me that RS is just plain losing interest and it shows in his posts. They are not witty and fun to read like earlier years. And I have no use for listening to his long-wonded podcasts to get Bachelor info. Ever since he got his hand slapped for the Demi debacle he’s been afraid to mock the show and any of the cast members. That was what we all liked to read! Also, I stopped sending in reader emails as the last couple of times RS’s reply was very snarky. Who needs that?
dogmomma
November 3, 2021 at 10:58 AM
Totally agree with the above remarks!!! I tried to watch the show last night but it seemed more boring and juvenile than in earlier seasons. Maybe nothing is new anymore and its the same crap with different characters. I like Michelle but it seems like so many of the guys were on a much lower playing field. I didn’t watch Katie’s season until the last 2 episodes, and skipped the spoilers as well. I’ll probably do the same for Michelle’s season and just watch the last 2 episodes. And I miss the comments… those were the only thing I really enjoyed and now people are not commenting much.
wisewords
November 3, 2021 at 11:10 AM
Demi definitely ruined it for Steve. But also, this show produces the same old same old regurgitated crap. Steve commented in a previous post that BIP was getting old. Well, the Bachelor and Bachelorette are much, much older, in every possible way. Tired of this show and would not be sad to see it end.