Chris Harrison loves his superlatives, so how come he didn’t tout this week’s episode of The Bachelor as showcasing "the most boring hometown visits ever"? After all, ABC’s reality-dating stalwart has, in previous seasons, played host to crusty old grandmas, disapproving daddies, spacey moms, and "ethnic" families dancing — all with a lot more drama and humor. And that gave this season’s final-four episode a lethargically familiar vibe.
Not to say the hour was completely worthless — not with that opening shot of chiseled Brad taking a shower. Plus, constantly grinning Jenni showed some hidden depth, telling The Bachelor she wants a man who’s willing to compromise and allow room for her career before she settles down. Granted, based on the "dance" moves Jenni showed off at her local Wichita theater, said career largely revolves around shaking her hind end for thousands of pro basketball fans. And while it’s entirely possible Jenni’s stance has less to do with self-respect than it does with her quest to become the most famous Phoenix Suns dancer ever, it was still nice to see a woman on this show not act like a shelter puppy, slobbering all over herself and her potential master in a "Pick me! Pick me!" display of desperation. Props must also be handed out to Jenni’s grandmother, for her saucy response to Brad’s comment about wanting a big family: "This little lady ain’t a walking baby factory."
Still, as rough around the edges as Grandma Betty appeared, she had ten times the charm of Bettina’s stuffy dad. I can certainly understand the guy’s skepticism about his daughter (pictured) trying to find love on a tacky TV show, but if you’re going to invite her suitor (and a camera crew) into your home, then you’ve pretty much forfeited the moral high ground. And as Brad himself noted, "I might not have education, but I’m intelligent enough not to judge anybody." Given Bettina’s not terribly enthusiastic defense of her suitor — "I don’t look that great on paper either." — I’m surprised he kept her and sent Sheena packing, but I’m guessing his decision had something to do with the fact that the show’s producers anticipate an explosive Bettina meltdown in Cabo San Lucas, especially if she’s thinking, "He must really like me if he met my dad and still didn’t dump me!"
Oh, and back to Sheena for a second, it seems her total lack of chemistry with Brad plus her mom’s loopy behavior outweighed the fact that the Big Dipper is located directly above her family hottub. And while I don’t think Beverly was in any way making a play for Brad, if you closed her eyes and took her comments ("I couldn’t take my eyes off your eyes.") out of context, you might’ve thought she was trying to recreate a very special moment from The Graduate. I loved Brad’s frozen reaction to her comment, "My daughter and I, we are ready to commit. Don’t you think?" before he blurted out, "About her? Yes."
I’m guessing the final two will come down to Jenni and DeAnna; the latter scored an all-important pre-fantasy-suite kiss this week, and while I think there are some genuine feelings between the two, I wonder if DeAnna is too guarded (read: sane) to go all ga-ga if and when Brad drops to one knee in front of a salivating camera crew.
Anyway, did you (like me) feel nothing when Sheena cried? Are you ready to douse yourself in Purell after next week’s "exciting overnight dates"? And who do you think will make Brad’s final two?
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Bettina’s dad was a dead ringer for Stephen King! That should have been a major red flag.
I love this crap. I called Jenni and DeAnna from the beginning. I’d actually be happy with either of them.
Although there is no chemistry at all between Sheena and Brad I would’ve been happy to watch him drop Bettina on her arse. Snot and a half…
Glad to read the results here. I fell asleep during the show. I’m having a hard time caring about any of these characters. And I don’t think this guy is a great catch either. He’s got lots of money, but that’s not everything…
Sorry for the 2nd post but the picture of Bettina didn’t show up when I first read this. Anyhow, she actually looks like she weighs something in this picture compared to the wet dog she looks like on the show!
DeAnna did not score a good night kiss or at least that’s how it was edited – and I think Brad is most attracted (lust wise) to Jenni and Bettina. DeAnna is the most real, Jenni is in it for fame – Bettina is just one confused person.
Be surprised if any of the three above lasted with him longer than the finale airing.
Bettina needs to go. I guess he’s hot for her, but still. She and her family are still WAY too hung up on ex-husband. But imagine if Brad HAS chosen her – how mad is he now that he’s seen all the comments his future in-laws made!!
You didn’t mention a great sound bite for next week’s show – Jenni telling Brad she’s better at SHOWING her love, right as he’s closing the door to the fantasy suite. Classic!!
Wow, my pre-show faves — Bettina and Jenni — made it to the final three (that NEVER happens), but after seeing them in action I’d take DeAnna over both of them.
I don’t like Bettina or DeAnna, so I guess I’ll settle for Jeni. He’s been my fav. bachelor so far..but he was really dumb for letting Sheena go…she was the most real yet, despite her nutty mom! If people went by what their potential inlaws were like…no one would ever get married.
Wait, am I the only one whose jaw dropped when he gave Bettina the rose? Bettina? Bettina? What did I miss? To me, Sheena seemed to be the most normal woman with the purest motive. But that’s me.
I couldn’t believe that Bettina got a rose either; then I rationalized and thought that perhaps, Brad’s payback to Bettina’s father, mother and stepmother is that he will get to “s*crew their daughter and them (biblically and figuratively) before he dumps her on national TV. And if that is his tought, GO BRAD! Bettina’s father may be a Harvard graduate and a professor, but there is no excuse for his lack of manners. This man was downright gratuitiously rude. Also, what exactly did he expect from a show, where being a pathetic woman praying to get a rose from a guy they did not know 4 weeks before, is the premise? As for the finale, it is clear that it will be DeAanna and Jenni, and for the look of it, DeAnna may not turn out to be the runner up.
Brad never seemed physically attracted to Sheena. He just kept her around because his brother liked her. Bettina greeted him in a tank top & sweats and he said she looked amazing. Surely he’s going to take the hot girls to Cabo.
I don’t think I have ever felt bad for a reality “star” before last night. When Brad and Bettina were sitting on those steps and he was upset that her family was judging him so harshly and then she added her two cents! I thought she was gone for sure. I hope he picks Jenni, which means he’ll pick DeAnna.
I agree with whoever said that Bettina’s dad looked like a dead ringer for Stephen King! That guy looked scarey. I could not believe how rude and snotty he was and her step-mom was a witch. I have the upmost respect for Brad now, giving that girl a rose. I felt so bad for him last night. Her family is the worst.
I think the reason why he sent Sheena home is because of her wacky mom. And if you noticed there for a little bit, Sheena was starting to act just like her. I like Sheena in a lot of ways but she just seemed wacky too.
Now, between the three girls, my pick is Jenni and has been since the show started! I like Brad a lot, he’s one of my favorite bachelors so far. I hope he finds the right girl and I sure hope he dumps Bettina next week, sheesh. Her dad needs to grow up!
While I thought Sheena was sincere, even with her cheesey poem last week, but if Brad didn’t have the same feelings, he just didn’t. Hey, she’s got her Chopard bling, though.
Bettina’s dad, every potential son-in-law’s nightmare.
Slezak, you are spot-on about each girl’s motivation. Jenni looked like a shoo-in all season, but DeAnnna has more than caught up.
It would have been too easy to give Bettina the boot last night. I don’t think he felt romantic about Sheena but he did seem to be looking after her good heart by letting her go when he did. I think he knows it’ll be easy to say goodbye to Bettina before the final rose ceremony-therefore kept her this time. But if she really cared about her family’s opinion like she says she does she’ll turn it down anyway.
I called DeAnna in the first episode, but then they edited her like “the villain”, so who knows? She seems the most mature of the bunch and Brad obviously really likes her. He likes Jenni, too, but she’s always taking the initiative with the PDAs. With Deanna, he takes the initiative. But those pesky editors have fooled me before…
Since there’s not a snowball’s chance in Hades that an actual wedding will occur from this show, I hope he picks Bettina just to mess with her daddy.
Great review! I believe you’re right the final two will be Jenni and DeAnna with DeAnna getting the final rose and maybe even a proposal!
http://www.realitytvspoiler.com/
checkout the spoilers for next week!!!
I am still a believer that he choses Bettina in the end dispite her nasty father. they just have more chemistry.
I still don’t get the “looking good on paper thing”. If he’s truly a millionaire…if he is truly as nice as he seems to be…and it’s obvious that he is good looking…only a snob would get hung up on the no college deal. He’s got enough money to go back to college if he wants to.
I was shocked he kept Bettina; after what happened with her family, something tells me we missed some behind the scenes footage between the Jefferson Memorial blowout and the rose ceremony. Don’t like Deanna or Jenni – what an annoying laugh — but of the two I would pick Deanna.
The producers are making him keep Bettina…makes for a more interesting show that way.
I wonder how long it took Sheena to get over missing Brad’s ear hair?
I really think that Brad cut Sheena to save her feelings. Can you imagine if she had stayed longer? Also, DeAnna is my pick since she seems to have the least amount of baggage and ulterior motives. Will definitely be interesting.
what the heck happened with Bettina and her last husband, her dad seemed to love that guy..he should know his daughter has issues if she is on this show.
I thought maybe Brad kept Bettina to *prove* himself to her/her dad — as in, she and her family were the only family that Brad had to WORK to try to impress. The other families were all-too-willing to take him in, like a cute puppy. (Giving producers/editors too much credit here?) Sheena’s mom really seemed nutty, I was uncomfortable watching it…”cut to the chase, get the ring…” YIKES! Agree that Jenni’s grandma seemed like every other crusty grandma — and DeAnna’s fam was the fun party family. Take our daughter, please! About those fantasy dates… Does anyone really sleep with him (not just stay in the room?) — inquiring minds wanna know. I think Bettina would, in a heartbeat. DeAnna and Jenni may toy w/him, but will play hard to get…. that’s my prediction…
Thank you, Slezak, for writing up “The Bachelor” eps, so I don’t have to watch them! High-larity.
Hellen-your comment about Sheena and Brad’s ear hair cracked me up. I am surprised she didnt mention her fondness for it in her teary limo ride home.
EIO130 – you KNOW Bettina will be down with the fantasy suite – she already said she ‘wanted his hands all over her’. Yikes.
Jenni FTW!