Welp, we’re back. Been a loooooong time since I’ve written anything and it’s been two years since we covered Bachelor in Paradise. But the new and improved (still to be determined) BIP is back after a 3 hr documentary last night. A promising start, a new location, a completely different filming look, and (as we get later in the season), a whole new format. If you have not read the spoilers, they are everywhere on my socials. It’s pinned to my IG and TikTok. It’s in a podcast two weeks ago and it’s on my YouTube channel. However, if you don’t use any of those for your news/info, well, then I’m posting them here today after I give my thoughts on last nights episode. Once I do that, you’ll see them linked at the top of the page on both desktop “Bachelor in Paradise Spoilers” and on mobile “BIP Spoilers.” You literally can’t miss them. They’ll be everywhere. Gotta get used to this writing thing again, you know? Will my recaps be long and detailed? No. It’s just not want the audience wants anymore. They’ll just be my thoughts from the show, which will also be a part of my Daily Roundup podcast. Sometimes I’ll write some stuff that’s not in the podcast, and vice versa. Either way, keep it here this season as I go over all things BIP.
I’m gonna try to keep “Reader Emails” going on Wednesday, but that’s all determined by how many of you send emails in every week. Email me at steve@realitysteve.com, or hit me up on IG or Twitter, and your email might make the Wednesday column. Have just a few already so get those in today and I guarantee they’ll be in tomorrow’s column.
If you heard today’s Daily Roundup today, you know I’m really struggling with how I’m going to do the recap column. Why? Because the podcast of all my thoughts was already posted this morning, and, I have the transcript for that podcast starting on Page 2. So to basically have it written out a second time doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. I know some of you still prefer reading or podcasts, but unfortunately, you are in the minority. The VERY minority. And as I get older, gotta work smarter, not harder. Smarter doesn’t seem to be writing my thoughts out after verbalizing them on a podcast AND having all those thoughts transcribe right here. So I think what I’m gonna focus on on Tuesday’s is just getting some of the more important notes to you from the episode or stuff going on in the franchise. Sitting here and recapping a 3hr episode with 4 or 5 pages of notes just isn’t gonna do it. I’m just gonna hit on some things that, while they may have been in the podcast, are more of a condensed version of what I said. So if you want my full thoughts on last night’s episode, the podcast will be the way to go every week. I’m not completely abandoning writing a weekly review. But just know it’s a much shorter version than what the podcast goes over.
The biggest thing from last night’s episode as you can fully see is how it looks visually. Yes, they changed locations and the accommodations are 100x better than that sauna they filmed in every year in Mexico (kinda amazing after seeing what we saw last night, that they put them through horrible living quarters and no A/C for all those years, huh?), but I’m talking moreso about how it looks on our screen. It’s night and day compared to the previous 9 seasons. Has a whole new showrunner, Scott Teti, who came over from Summer House, Claim to Fame, and one of the gazillion 90 Day Fiance shows. The whole show, while still Paradise, to me is completely different and definitely a major upgrade. Now, because it looks better doesn’t mean it’s gonna be a better show. The editing and contestants will determine that. But now it’s the least they could’ve done and put them on par with the other dating shows on the streaming services that are so much more popular now.
Which leads me to ratings talk. Don’t be swayed by whatever ratings come out for this. BIP is NEVER going to surpass the Love Islands of the world anymore. Just not happening. For two reasons: 1) it’s network TV vs a streaming service and streaming is basically taking over how people watching television now. And 2) the whole taped vs “live” aspect. BIP was filmed in May. Love Island is basically filmed in real time. What you’re seeing on every ep of LI was filmed basically 2 days earlier. They turn it around super quick (like Big Brother outside of Thursdays live eviction), which means fans have an opportunity to vote, get involved, influence outcomes, etc. And I’m sorry, Bachelor in Paradise (nor any show in this franchise) will ever go there. So those are two major reasons why the ratings will never be what they were on this show. But honestly, it’s like comparing apples to oranges comparing BIP to LI. It’s pointless.
In the spoilers, which are pinned on my IG and TikTok feed, in a podcast and on my YouTube channel (so yeah, no excuse to miss them and they will be on this site later today or tomorrow), you heard me say that once the 4th rose ceremony rolls around, there’s basically a “voting off” system or something of the such, and this season de-emphasized engagements moreso than any previous seasons. Also said I heard money was involved but wasn’t sure how. Well, now we know – sort of. $500k is on the line this season, I’m assuming, to the “winning” couple. Which, again, I don’t know the full details on, but I’m pretty sure it’s not going to be “either you choose money or love” since they’ve already done that before with Bachelor Pad. I’m pretty sure Spencer and Jess “win” this season, do get engaged, AND win the money prize. I mean, they wasted no time setting up Spencers edit in the first episode talking about wanting to find a wife and the mother of his children. So it looks like that part of the spoiler is right, but now we can add on they won some money along with it as well.
I’m curious on the episodes this season and why we’re getting 3 hr episodes in the first two Mondays. Next Tuesday when the Goldens join, it’s a 2 hr episode. And I think it goes back to 2 hr episodes every Monday after that. Also, I’m also trying to figure out when the finale is. We’ll know at some point, but Sept. 1st is Labor Day. While they’ve run episodes on Labor Day in the past, I can’t imagine them running the finale on a holiday. Then the following week the 8th is the first Monday Night Football game of the season and being broadcast on both ESPN and ABC. So that night is out. I can’t imagine them running a full season of shows on Monday nights then having the finale on a Tuesday. So I’m not sure what they’re doing, but I’ll keep an eye out and we’ll probably find out some time in August what the finale date is.
For my full thoughts on last night’s episode, listen to today’s Daily Roundup, wherever you get your podcasts. Or, read it in transcript form starting on Page 2.
