The Bachelor

peachy13

Season 20 starts tonight with Ben (eliminated from Kaitlyn's season) and I will be tuning in just for the opening night stupidity/drama. If there is a good trainwreck, count me in until she's ultimately kicked off.

Do people like Ben? I honestly stopped watching Kaitlyn's season shortly after it started because I found her really annoying and sketchy, so I really didn't get to "know" Ben or any of the other guys on that season. Nothing special about his looks and his bio is super boring and cliche ("looking for love after heartbreak," "trying to find the right person to spend forever with," etc.). I'm also suspicious of anyone who claims they were in love with Kaitlyn. As mentioned above, girl was sketchy. 

Contestants tonight include Amber from Chris's season and Becca, the runner up on Chris's season, who I'm pretty surprised about since I got the impression from her that she was uncomfortable being open and/or intimate in front of the camera. Guessing that Ben may have asked for her to be on his season. 

labro

I don't know how much I'll watch other than the first couple episodes. I like the beginning because it's fun to see what people come up with for their "first impressions". My mom and my sister are religious about it though. I don't even remember the people from season to season.

lnixon8

I am! We have a group of 12 that does a fantasy league... $10 for the whole season, ridiculous point systems and all. I didn't watch until I was invited to join and now I'm hooked (weekly wine and snacks with friends doesn't hurt either)!

Ben H was a strange pick. He seemed kind of meek which is what I thought about Bachelor Chris too. I bet ABC got a lot of heat for having a d-bag like juan pablo and tried to go in the very opposite direction. 

I liked Kaitlyn when she was on Chris's season but I think she struggled in between her raunchy intro/first few episodes on the bachelor and failed to keep up a virginal image when she was the one doing the choosing.

thefanciestbeckler

Oh I'm watching. And I do like Ben. He seems like a really nice, clean cut guy - which I have a feeling is why he was chosen. I'm with @lnixon8 in thinking that ABC probably got a lot of heat for some of their more recent choices. I'm excited to tune into the drama!

lovesclimbing

Definitely watching although a week late because abc won't let you watch shows the day after they air anymore. I like laughing at all the ridiculousness and also shaking my head at these girls' desperation. I was also shocked about Becca because she came across very uncomfortable and unable to open up in Chris' season. Honestly, she was the runner-up. I figure they likely asked her to be the Bachelorette, and she said no, so I am very surprised.

I like the bachelor better than the bachelorette. I love seeing all the gowns, especially the first night.

Oh, and even if you watch the show, read the recaps on EW.com. They are hilarious and awesome! I've even read a bunch of their back recaps from seasons and seasons ago.

JoanE2012

I'll be watching!  I always like the bachelor better than the bachelorette - the girls are much crazier and it's usually more entertaining.  

holyguacamole79

@lnixon8 , I won our fantasy league last season!

lovesclimbing

Has anyone read all the contestant bios and figured out any favorites?

Here's my thoughts on them individually.

Amanda: Seems nice. However, I am judging that she's only 25 and uses botox.
Amber: Meh, not that interesting.
Becca: Liked her on Chris' season and hoped she would win over Whitney. However, I side eye her achievement. "Staying and living alone in California."
Breanne: Seems cool, but I kind of get a coming-on-the-show-to-be-famous vibe.
Caila: I really like her. She seems very down to earth and real.
Emily: Umm, how is twin an occupation? Another kind of meh person.
Haley: Seems kind of cool. Not quite as boring as Emily. Again, how is twin an occupation? Also, why are these two on the Bachelorette at 22? That seems really young to have not found anyone else within your own circle to date or marry.
Isabel: Seems sweet. I like her.
Jackie: Nice girl. Nothing really stands out, though.
Jami: Seems real and fun. I like her.
Jennifer: Too many exclamation points.
Jessica: Seems nice and pretty real.
Joelle: Doesn't seem that smart. You do realize being too hot can also hurt, right?
Jubilee: Too many lols, lol.
Lace: She looks exactly like a former contestant, but I can't remember which one. Meh.
Laura: Cute and seems sweet. I like her.
Lauren "LB": Seems nice, but kind of bland.
Lauren B: Meh.
Lauren H: Too obsessed with The Bachelor and weddings and babies.
Lauren R: Seriously, four Laurens? Seems interesting.
Leah: A little bit of an odd vibe.
Maegan: Seems pretty real, but maybe a little too intense of a personality.
Mandi: Seems nice.
Olivia: Meh.
Rachel: Seems nice, but kind of bland.
Samantha: Seems smart but maybe a touch shallow.
Shushanna: I like her. Seems smart, nice, real and down to earth.
Tiara: First thing that jumps to mind is Tierra, the lovely girl from Sean's season. Maybe she'll be the train wreck this season. Also, what kind of job is chicken enthusiast?

Takeaways. Seriously, does every girl in the world just have the exact same hair now? Every girl except Tiara and Caila, sort of, literally have the exact same hair. I'm so tired of everyone in the world having that same relaxed curl look. Sure, for a few, it's probably natural, and that's fine, but for a lot of them it isn't. I loved the girl who was portrayed as weird on Bachelor in Paradise last season who was also on Chris' season who had this super curly natural hair. It was gorgeous!

Also, it seems like the girls are getting younger and younger. It used to be they seemed to all be in the late-20s and 30s and doing the show as a Last Chance at Love Because I've Already Tried Everything Else (TM). Now, it seems like there are a lot in their early-mid-20s.

Caila is my hands-down favorite followed by Shushanna.

JoanE2012

@lovesclimbing - Your comment on Lauren H brought back memories of one of the girls, Allie, on a season about a decade ago who said "my eggs are rotting".  Talk about desperation!

thefanciestbeckler

Early prediction- Olivia. She is absolutely adorable and they had instant chemistry.

holyguacamole79

I like Caila so far. I also just got an accidental spoiler .... I saw one of the women is from a town where a friend lives. I texted her, and she was like, "yeah! I drove by their hometown date!" So, oops, I know one of the final 4.

thefanciestbeckler

Ok guac you have to keep your lips sealed!!!!

holyguacamole79

thefanciestbeckler said:

Ok guac you have to keep your lips sealed!!!!

Oh absolutely. My fantasy league would kill me. BUT, she is someone I would've ranked high had I not known anyway. So, it doesn't change much (just confirms).

lovesclimbing

And now I have to check out of this thread because I can't keep up with the show.

peachy13

I liked Olivia and Joelle so far. I am surprised by how young most of the contestants were and how old they look. 

Also, "chicken enthusiast." 

lnixon8

Was I the only one to get a Cecily Strong playing an ex porn star on snl vibe from Lace?

holyguacamole79

lnixon8 said:

Was I the only one to get a Cecily Strong playing an ex porn star on snl vibe from Lace?

LOL - You finally pinpointed it for me!!!

holyguacamole79

If anyone wants some quality Bachelor commentary, this blog has always entertained me ....  

http://www.ihategreenbeans.com/bachelor-ben-recap-episode-1/

JoanE2012

scribe95 said:

So I actually thought Ben did a great job. He seemed very at ease and reacted well in the introductions without saying the same thing over and over again. I think he will be fun to watch this year and I wasn't expecting much. 

There are a small group of so-called normal women without a schtick etc. So I think he can form some decent relationships. I expect some crazy on the first night and we got it. That usually winnows down within a few weeks. 

But there is always that one crazy that makes it pretty far.  I think ABC makes them keep one crazy for awhile otherwise it would be boring tv.

[Deleted User]

JoanE2012 said:

scribe95 said:

So I actually thought Ben did a great job. He seemed very at ease and reacted well in the introductions without saying the same thing over and over again. I think he will be fun to watch this year and I wasn't expecting much. 

There are a small group of so-called normal women without a schtick etc. So I think he can form some decent relationships. I expect some crazy on the first night and we got it. That usually winnows down within a few weeks. 

But there is always that one crazy that makes it pretty far.  I think ABC makes them keep one crazy for awhile otherwise it would be boring tv.

Yes. That person that literally everyone is complaining about every time they see the bachelor. And they always have crazy eyes. And yet they don't get eliminated until the end.

lnixon8

About the crazies...Remember that girl with the short hair on Chris Souel's season (probably one of maybe 5 in the entire run of show with short hair) that was a widow... Kelsey?. She brought up her dead husband (obviously) but then kept making the other girls toast to him "Here's to Sanderson!" whenever they would get to a new place.

I find myself toasting "Here's to Sanderson" constantly.

thefanciestbeckler

@lnixon8 oh my goodness YES!!!!!!!!! She really made my skin crawl.

thespeshulestsnowflake

holyguacamole79 said:

If anyone wants some quality Bachelor commentary, this blog has always entertained me ....  

http://www.ihategreenbeans.com/bachelor-ben-recap-episode-1/

I've always like realitysteve.com for recaps but don't go there if you do not want spoilers. But the humor in his recaps is really great.