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June 2009
The Bachelorette meets the parents
In this week’s episode, Jill trekked across the U.S. to meet the families of all the fellas she’s been a courtin’. On the cusp of making a final decision, this show can be considered the climax of the season: the number of bachelors is dwindling, emotions are peaking, families are getting involved in the mix and everything is getting more complicated.
Here’s the rundown of last night’s developments:
Reid: He is the sort of guy who needs constant reassurance for every decision he makes. He needs your opinion, your thoughts and your approval. I’m not sure if it’s because he can’t think for himself or because he is conscious of how his actions affect others. Either way, I think that’d get old really fast.
It was interesting how the typical PDA resistant guy Reid’s family is used to was a lot warmer and affectionate toward Jillian and they found this to be indicative of “something special.”
Michael: He’s my favorite. I think Jillian should marry him and quit the show. There could be a follow-up special on their perfect, fairy-tale life. Before Jillian arrived, Michael told his parents, “She’s going to light this place up.” I think his feelings for Jillian are authentic, even if a little immature. I think he’s a good guy with a great heart.
The highlight of Jillian’s visit with Michael’s family was Steve, the twin brother. They tried to pull the old switcheroo so Michael could get some answers out of Jillian while posing as his brother. Jillian wasn’t fooled for a second.
Kipton: I think Jillian loves Kipton in a way that transcends the phoniness of reality television. Jillian was really worried about not fitting in with Kipton’s extremely well cultured, educated and affluent family. And at first, I thought they were awful too.
The whole “you have to try these two lasagnas, one of which I made, and then tell me which you think is better.” What a terrible position to put Jillian in the first five minutes of meeting her! But it turned out ok because she got the answer right. The caution tape around the hot tub and improvizezed jazz bit show that they do have a sense of humor and I do think Jillian would get along with them in an “in-law” kind of way.
But this is the part that makes me wonder, how important is it to get along with your spouse’s family? If you don’t, does that mean there’s no chance for you as a couple? Or is it just an unfortunate hurdle?
Would Jillian really have booted a bachelor solely because she didn’t like his family? Would that have been the right thing to do in that situation?
Jesse: While watching Jesse and Jillian together, I thought to myself that I wouldn’t mind seeing him go home. I just don’t sense the chemistry there. Plus his awkward, Fabio-haired brother calling him an “emotional ice cube” didn’t help his case any… Things just seemed forced and uncomfortable at the dinner so Jesse going home after the rose ceremony wouldn’t be surprising to me at all.
Wes: I hate Wes. Before meeting his family, there was, of course, drama. Recently jilted, but still completely sweet Jake swooped in on his white steed and shining armor to unveil that it was in fact Wes who had a girlfriend.
And her name was Laurel.
Wes and his monotone, bad boy, I’m a jerk persona have always put stars in Jillian’s eyes, but I think she’s finally had enough. When Jillian confronts Wes about Laurel, he pulls the “I’ve told you why I’m here and I shouldn’t have to say it again,” defensive crap.
When asked why Jake would say that he talked to Wes about Laurel being his girlfriend on three different occasions, Wes said, “Maybe his misheard me.” …Bull honkey.
But like in previous episodes, the “already has a girlfriend” drama doesn’t amount to much and Jillian goes on to meet Wes’s family and then all is good in the world.
As if that wasn’t enough intensity, another forgotten bachelor reappeared.
Ed makes his epic return and viewers are just thinking “WTF?!” Ed had opted to leave the show because of the threat of loosing his job and now he’s asking for a second chance.
I want Jillian to say yes, but I think that might only be because he looks like the guy from No Country for Old Men. However, she decides to give him another shot because the butterflies fluttering around her stomach told her to.
Because of this recent development, Jillian has to give two guys the boot at the rose ceremony to narrow it down to four.
And those unfortunate gentlemen are Michael and Jesse. After Ed’s return, these were my picks to go home, but Michael’s tearful goodbye just broke my heart and I hope he isn’t permanently damaged.
So who’s left? Kipton, Ed, Reid and Wes.
What are your predictions for next week?
Who do you think will make it all the way? Which bachelor do you think should be in the top four that isn’t?
Five remain on the Bachelorette
There was a lot of pressure to get a rose this week because securing the coveted flower meant a trip home to introduce Jillian to family. The fella’s weren’t the only ones feeling this heightened intensity either, Jillian is more worried than ever about making the right choices.
The first individual date took place on a cross Canada train ride with Robby. I noticed in the last episode how immature he was and apparently Jillian noticed too because she kicked him off the train, leaving him stranded in the middle of the icy Canadian wilderness.
Seems harsh, but it’s her prerogative. After he got the boot, there were seven bachelors remaining.
I don’t know if it’s just me, but I find the first hour of this show really obnoxious. Does it bother anyone else how they tease the next segment before every commercial? How they build up some jaw-dropping event that never really occurs? That would be like saying “and soon THIS happens” in between paragraphs in a newspaper. Pointless, annoying and in all reality, it detracts from the overall experience of watching the show.
They do this with Wes a lot. He has never actually come out and said, “I don’t like Jillian at all and I have a girlfriend back home.” But that doesn’t stop it from being implied.
Don’t get me wrong. I strongly dislike Wes. He’s a foul, butt-faced miscreant, jerk, booger, and a whole lot of other things I don’t think I can write and not get fired. He just rubs me the wrong way with his arrogance and I can not understand why Jillian fawns all over him.
Some of my favorite slimy, disgusting Wes quotes from tonight:
“I got records to sell, man and I’ll always have Jillian wrapped around my finger y’all…believe it”
“The fame I will get from this… I can almost taste it and eat it, it comes inside of me.”
Creep. Poor Jillian, so oblivious.
The group date with Michael, Jesse, Jake, Kipton, Wes, and Tanner was an uneventful romp in the snow with snow shoes.
Kipton got the rose which is unsurprising. I still really like him and will continue to root for him.
It is during the group date that Tanner’s foot fetish returns! So weird, but really I found it very rude how he would interrupt what Jillian was saying just to comment on her feet. To me, this means that he wasn’t listening to her and that is unacceptable.
Favorite Tanner quote:
“Now that I’ve felt how soft her feet are, I really want her to meet my family.”
Also, Tanner kind of got nekkid…which was weird. He decided to show off his tighty whiteys which could have been funny, but he left his pants down for an awkwardly long time.
Also on the group date, we see the endearing scene of Michael and Jillian making s’mores. I know the fact that Michael is younger than her bothers Jillian a bit, but I love him. I would marry him. He is a sweetheart and I think they’d do well together. I hope she doesn’t let the age thing bother her too much.
The final individual date was with Reid who is neurotic, germophobic, self-conscious and open about it all. That’s what I like about him. He just throws his insecurities out there. He’s real and genuine. If Jillian doesn’t like him, then they are really not meant to be. By being himself, he has simplified the game. If everyone was as authentic as him, the show would cease to be interesting in the slightest.
At the rose ceremony, the girlfriend drama was rehashed a little but again, nothing really happened. Robby, Jake and Tanner got the boot.
I was a little sad to see Jake go because I didn’t want to believe that nice guys always finish last. He was so sweet and had such a boyish charm and gentleman quality about him. But like Jillian said, his one flaw was that he was too “perfect.” I really hope he finds his perfect mate, they guy deserves it.
Returning next week are Kipton, Jesse, Michael, Reid and Wes (gag). I’m curious to see how the trips to the various hometowns will go.
Thoughts on who’s left? Do you thin Jillian’s sent the right guys home? Who would you pick?
TweetDrama continues on ‘Bachelorette’
All that “Who has a girlfriend back home” drama carried over into tonight’s episode. I found it kind of confusing. Was Tanner (the guy who told Jillian about it) lying? Why won’t he just tell Jillian who it is? After all this, why did he act like he didn’t actually know who had a girlfriend?
I suppose hype is an important component of any successful reality show, but every week I feel like the previews and teasers before EVERY commercial break lead up to a climax that we never see. The advertisements strongly implicate Wes as the biggest jerk in the world, but we really don’t know.
But on the bright side, all the dates looked so fun this week! It started with Micheal’s one-on-one date with Jillian where they flew across mountains on a zip line. Michael is most definitely one of my favorites. He’s funny, sweet and charming, but tonight we also learned that he can be serious and like Jillian, is a hopeless romantic.
The group date was a day on snowmobiles which Jillian basically spent trying to figure out which guy was a lying scumbag. It is here that we first hear of Ed’s dilemma: by staying to woo Jillian, he risks losing his job.
It’s interesting to see how the show changes when authentic reality rears its ugly, inconvenient head. I don’t really remember Ed from previous episodes, but what I saw of him in tonight’s episode, I really liked. Plus he looks like the guy from No Country for Old Men. He seemed very real and genuine, much like Kipton.
Jillian gave him the rose as a sort of reassurance that she does want him there. The next day he breaks it to a tearful Jillian that he’s leaving. She’s very upset and plummets into a terribly sad “I have sacrificed everything for a love I may never find” mindset. Thank goodness she has nine other fellas to help cheer her up.
(I’m not sure if it’s significant, but Ed requested to keep the rose instead of giving it back to Jillian. Does this mean he could come back? Wouldn’t that be an exciting twist!)
Her last one-on-one date was with Jesse. They flew a plane onto a private glacier and frolicked around with smiles and sunshine. They both described this day as the most perfect, unforgettable date. How could it not be perfect, they were on their own PRIVATE GLACIER? It was beautiful and playful in a movie montage sort of way and watching them as they basked in the wonderfulness together was endearing.
So along with Ed who decided to leave, Mark also got the boot. I couldn’t figure out who he was until I remembered that he was the one who won Jillian’s heart last week by telling her about his past heartbreak. He screwed things up when he wouldn’t open up to Jillian. In a game like this you have to give a little and he just wasn’t willing.
So who’s left?
Reid: Good guy. Good chemistry with Jillian. I always forget about him, but when I see him on screen I keep thinking he could go a long way in this competition. He’s got a lot charisma and is very nice to watch.
Michael: He’s my favorite. I think his sense of humor, spontaneity, and love of love make him extremely compatible with Jillian. He’s fun and sweet. I hope Jillian doesn’t loose sight of that when the drama heats up in the coming weeks; but like I said last week his immaturity could become an issue as he toes the line between child-like and childish.
Jesse: There is a lot of chemistry between him and Jill, but still, I can’t really get myself to like him.
Kipton: I’m always talking about his maturity and how genuine he is. I can definitely see him ending up with Jillian. In a show where real life seems miles away, Kipton always seems to bring things back to reality and keep his feet firmly planted on the ground.
Robbie: Maybe it’s his monotone voice but I get the vibe that very little he says is genuine. He is younger than Jillian and I think that it really shows. I don’t see him being around much longer.
Jake: With Jillian always harping on how “too perfect” he is and how she doesn’t measure up, I can see him getting sent home soon. Which is sad because I do think he is a really nice guy with good intentions.
Tanner P: No one has forgotten the foot fetish. And it’s annoying how all the drama he started by revealing that someone had a girlfriend amounted to nothing.
Wes: Wes is a self-serving creeper. He’s selfish and there for the wrong reasons, or at least that’s the way we (the audience) see him. The worst part is that Jillian seems completely oblivious to his sleaziness. I hope she gets a clue soon and sends him packing.
So my favorites for the finals are Michael, Reid and Kipton. Who are you rooting for? Does anyone miss David? What do you think about the previews for next week with all the talk of erectile dysfunction?
Predictions?
TweetDayton’s David gets the boot
First of all, I want to say that I tried to like David. I really did. But this week on ‘The Bachelorette’ he blatantly disrespected Jillian and made her uncomfortable. He even made the audience uncomfortable. His arrogance and hostility nurtured his delusional idea that he was the “bad boy” with a heart of gold that Jillian was looking for.
But no, he’s not a bad boy, he’s a bad guy and there’s a difference.
Glad to see him go. What about you?
As for the rest of the guys, here’s the rundown:
Kipton: He was the first one to get a rose tonight. He’s not memorable for me, but for Jillian, the ever-elusive spark keeps drawing her in. He’s on the road to be a strong contender. I love his maturity and how genuine he comes off. I really think he could be a great person for Jillian.
Jesse: He got a rose on the group date for his masterful curling when they visited Vancouver, Jillian’s hometown. My first thought when he came on screen was “Who is this guy?” I don’t remember seeing him at all in previous episodes and I’m surprised that he landed a rose.
Mark: He snagged the third rose when he begrudgingly opened up on the two-on-one date. I didn’t like him at first, but as soon as he offered a glimpse of himself, Jillian was sold. His heart’s been annihilated by past loves and Jillian can empathize. In this case, empathy equates to a rose.
Before the Rose ceremony where we find out who else is safe, it is revealed that one of the bachelors has a girlfriend back home and is here for the wrong reasons.
After all the hype of this revelation and the hour and a half build-up, it is uber frustrating that we don’t find out who it is. Well, we get hints that it’s Wes, but Jillian is left clueless to make her decision. Ug.
After Jillian’s emotional exit and the cancellation of the cocktail party (Which causes a couple guys who haven’t gotten to talk to Jillian to have kittens) we find out which of the remaining nine are safe for next week.
And they are… Reid, Robbie, Ed: who are thus far unmemorable for me.
Michael: Is quite possibly my favorite. He’s funny and nice. Everything he says just makes me laugh And I love that he’s really nice to the other guys too. I cracked up when he said, “He’s a really nice guy, which just sucks.” and after the blue team loses the curling competition, “I feel like a loserish blob of blue nothinness.” He’s adorably charming, but I can see his immaturity becoming an issue.
Wes: I dislike this guy and his career-furthering motives. He’s obnoxious and manipulative. If he’s the guy with the girlfriend I really hope he gets the boot next week. And by get the boot I mean that I hope someone kicks him in the face…while wearing a boot.
Jake: Deemed too perfect by Jillian, he was worried that he was doomed. But he made it through! Jake is a genuine nice guy who really is vying for Jill’s heart. I always find myself smiling when he’s talking because he’s such a sweetheart. He is very sweet and nice, but I think it’s a bad sign that “sweet and nice” are the only words I can think of to describe him. Unless he shows us that there is more to him, I don’t see him sticking around much longer.
Tanner: He gets points for not obsessing of Jillian’s feet this week. Without all the fetish talk, I was actually able to see him as a nice guy. He’s also the one who started all the drama towards the end by dropping the bombshell that someone had a girlfriend. I think it’ll be interesting to see what happens with him in the next few episodes.
And going home this week: Mike: I was really surprised to see him get the boot on the two-on-one date, but after Mark showed what a heartbroken, vulnerable little puppy he was, Mike didn’t really stand much of a chance.
David: If Jillian won’t kiss you, saying “Well you’ve kissed all the other guys.” isn’t going to help your case any.
Juan: Shocked. Almost sad to see him go. I was starting to get the vibe that his cornball-ness was real and a sort of liked it.
What did you think about the anti-climactic ending? Predictions for next week?
TweetDavid stirs up drama on the Bachelorette
The show kicked off with the 16 remaining bachelors vying for Jillian’s love and affection by way of making a melodramatic western. After the group date of good old-fashioned cowboy fun (which excluded Dayton’s David) we have lots more of Juan being sleazy and David getting ticked off.
When I went off to college I learned a lot about guys like Juan, the ones who are calculating and alter their personality to get what they want. They are a common breed of bachelor and the metaphorical sea of available fish is riddled with them. They’re called creepers. They ooze sleaze and, with some practice, their smarmy manipulation can be detected.
Lets hope that Jillian catches on soon. Even to the viewer it’s annoying how he manages to swoop in and interrupt any serious conversation Jillian almost manages to have with the other guys.
The other fellas are not oblivious to Juan’s creeperness, but it’s our David who really can’t tolerate him and feels compelled to make that fact abundantly clear.
After not being invited on the group date or the individual date, Dave finally scores his own alone time with Jillian. He starts the conversation by telling her how impressed he is by her and how he’s jealous of the other guys who get to spend more time with her.
I’m surprised by how genuine he is and how he doesn’t change himself when he’s with Jillian vs. when he’s with the guys. But just as he’s about to warn her about Juan and his ill intentions, Juan himself decides to intervene…as usual.
I still can’t decide if David is whiney or if every time he launches into an “I hate Juan, I just want to kill him” diatribe he really is concerned about Jillian potentially ending up with a jerk.
After David calls Juan out on behalf of all the other bachelors, I almost feel sorry for the guy. Maybe he IS just a cornball who’s affection is easily mistaken for annoying pandering.
But I digress; Jillian did go on an individual date with Sasha and ended up giving him the boot before the night was over. It seemed like she liked him, but unlike her, his heart has never been stomped on and then tossed into a blender, so she just couldn’t handle his unjaded expectations.
Sasha getting the axe was unexpected and sent shock-waves through the testosterone laden, bachelor house.
The message was clear though: Jillian is taking this very seriously and it’s game time. The guys are starting to think that David is a little crazy with his relentless anti-Juan ranting. If he’s not careful, it’s going to end up costing him his shot at Jillian. Finally, after two hours of non-stop drama, the long-awaited rose ceremony.
As Jillian hands out the roses, denoting who’s going to advance to the next week, her picks were unsurprising.
And then she gave a rose to Tanner P.
“I want to get to know Jillian and then get to know the feet,” he said, “I want to lick them, suck them, kiss them, touch them…”
All he talks about are her feet! I can’t believe he survived another week. Poor Jill, someone really needs to give her a lesson in creeper detection.
I was so distressed about Tanner P. being around to obsess about Jill’s perfectly tanned toes for another episode that I didn’t even notice that there was one rose left and David was still roseless!
But after an overly-dramatic pause coupled with ominous music, we learn that David is safe!
Sasha, whiney Brad, and Tanner F. were all given the boot.
And I have to admit that despite finding Brad to be annoying most of the time, at then end when he said, “I don’t really think that anybody can relate to me,” I felt a little bad for him in the way you feel bad for ugly puppies. You want to like them, but you just can’t.
WIth all the drama, the best part of the episode has to be the footage we see as the credits roll. The laugh-out-loud antics of 16 bachelors left to their own devices should play a bigger role in the episodes.
But what did you think? Do you like Juan? How do you feel about Wes and his constant need to serenade Jillian? Who do you want to see go home?
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