I had a really tough time trying to figure out how I wasgoing to write this week’s blog and what I should say to you. I’m in a bit of atough position. As much as I would love to "Tell All," that’s justnot possible right now. But believe me when I tell you, that will happen inthis space next week. As much as I’m sorry that some of you have somehow founda reason to doubt my integrity and honesty, there’s not a whole hell of a lot Ican do about that. If something you’ve heard or seen from somebody you don’tknow has suddenly changed your opinion of me then is there really anything Icould say or do that could change your mind anyway? I learned a long time ago(15 years of marriage) to pick my battles and this, my friends, is one I reallydon’t care to fight. With that said, let me share a little something with you.The Bachelor producers have scriptedand are responsible for certain events: the first moon landing, the end ofthe cold war, Astro-turf, and the Internet (sorry, Al Gore, it wasus). But we are not responsible for, nor have we ever scripted, the ending ofthis show. Let me re-type this slowly so all of you can read this: We donot, and have not, decided the ending of any of our seasons. Let’s behonest, if we did don’t you think we would do a better job and have a muchhigher success rate? As much as we’d love to take credit, we didn’ttell Trista to fall in love with Ryan, get married, and have two babies.We didn’t script Charlie falling in love with Saraonly to struggle as a couple battling an addiction and then persevereand now thrive as a happy couple. Nor did we tell Brad Womack tonot pick anybody and just leave and go back to his life in Texas. These wereall cases of good ol’ fashioned human behavior and free choice.
I read in the comments that many of you are questioningmy parenting skills and if I’m even fit to be a parent. First, let me sayit took you all far too long to figure that out, but that’s reallybetween my kids and the therapist I’m sure they’ll be visiting in about 20years. Second, let me share a bit of wisdom I often sharewith my own kids. You are responsible for the choices you make inthis life period, end of story. I would go into the story I tell about ifJohnny jumped off a bridge would you…but I think you get the idea. I’vealways felt the genius behind the producing of this show isthe environment we create. Now, what happens in that environment — thedecisions made, the things said, and done or left undone — that is whatis truly compelling. Those actions and decisions, and the fact thatwe love to watch it all unfold, is what drives this show. The beauty ofwhat Mike Fleiss created is that this is not a game show nor is it a scriptedsoap opera. There’s nothing waiting at the end of this show but the reality ofthe decisions the people on it have made. It sounds so simple and it is. Thatto me is why it’s so damn good and also why all the other knock-off shows haven’tworked. With all those knock-off shows there’s a catch. With our show, all youget is the good, the bad, or in some cases the ugly of what is left afterseveral weeks of life-altering decisions. I would be thrilled if every seasonour happy couples ran off in pure bliss, and got married, and hadbabies, but guess what, that just ain’t the way it works in the real world.
I know I didn’t really deal with the "WomenTell All" special that millions of you watched Monday night (thank you forthat) but I felt like we had bigger fish to fry. I do love hostingthe reunion specials but I think it was pretty self explanatory.I don’t expect or really even want what I have written to solve all themysteries and questions that surround this season. I will be back at some pointnext week to wrap things up I promise.
But let me leave you with one last nugget to chew on. I’msitting in my house Saturday night on the eve of the Oscars writing this blog.We have not shot the second "After the Final Rose" special yet! Igotta be honest. It’s going to be really hard to go back and edit a show wehaven’t even shot yet. Well, I’m sure some of my new friends out there willfigure a way around that one. I would love to go on and on but I have to studyup for the Oscar red carpet show and I also have to figure out how to explainto my kids that their daddy is a pimp…I loved that comment the most! Seeya next week!
Now check out The Doll Bachelor and read Kristen Baldwin’s TV Watch.
Comments (1-30) of 1046 Add your comment
Someone at EW should really give the guest blogger hosts a lesson in dealing with the internet.
Don’t feed the trolls, don’t take it seriously and don’t let the comments get to you. And if they do, don’t ever, ever show it.
Chris! You need a thicker skin, buddy! This is The Most Pathetic Host Blog in EW history!
I believe you Chris. People want to buy into conspiracy theories too often.
Chris I am so sorry that posters here have brought your personal life into their rude comments due to rumors that are flying around the internet. It’s really too bad that there are those who do not see that you are a man of integrity.
I can’t wait until your blog next week to tell us what really happened. Whatever the end is my hope is that Jason is really happy in the decisions he made.
Fine. But let me make my feelings clear. I don’t care who Jason picks Molly/Melissa etc.
BUT I do care if he dumps noe of them on National Tv. And I care if your show is going to make Jason a Saint for Doing so…
Are you going to have Jason dump Melissa, but edit that out and just show Melissa get upset? And there are plenty of sources that say Jason was seeing Molly behind Melissa’s back.
Let me make this clear, is Jason going to be held responsible for his choices on this show.
I don’t care WHO the heck Jason picks. He can change his mind fifty million freaking times for all I care. BUT, I do care if he blindsides one on National Tv. Most of us care about that one.
And to be honest, I refuse to watch this show and see a woman treated that way. Thrown under the Bus for a Two timer.
graet blog! can’t wait to find out what REALLY happens next week! keep up the good work =]
Hi Chris,
Loved the Oscars Red Carpet show
Is there any juicy behind-the-scenes stuff you can tell us about the Oscars?
Looking forward to next week’s blog!
And let me say this too even if Jason didn’t cheat on Melissa. And he just dumped her on National Tv, still a jerkish/two timer thing to do. And to see him being called a “hero” for that just blows my mind. I’d never treat an ex like that.
Chris, regardless of all the hoopla and the rumors, what I love about this show is that it really gets people fired up! It strikes chords and gets people talking and bonding. It’s interesting to watch the social aspect of it. So, thanks for the Blog and thanks for the show. Looking forward to the next one!
Jenn:)
http://bachgirlfan.blogspot.com
daisy is right about a couple of things…one of which being this post on your blog will spew gasoline all over the fires.
or…is that what everyone wants?
Chris! We love YOU! We just don’t love the idea that The Bach might have been “steered” for lack of a better word, by Mr. Fleiss to INTENTIONALLY hurt one or both of these ladies for the sake of more “drama and conflict”. If nothing else, please make it clear to us that that was not so and we will believe you.
Chris, trust me, you are most of the time the very best part of this show. Particularly the WTA, and the ATFR show where you get to be the ringleader and we can see your true humor.
BTW – love how you nicely put Miss Natalie in her place in this evening’s show. You were much nicer than I could have ever been to her.
Anyhow, please clarify to Mr. Fleiss (if he doesn’t get it already) that Punk’d is on MTV. We want to see a true story unfold. Don’t need to be “fooled” with editing or splicing. If that’s not what he is trying to do, then with all due respect, he needs to hire new editors – cause it is choppy and obvious.
Take care, we love YOU.
Hi Chris,
I for one do not NOW or have I EVER thought the show was scripted.I have been to a few tapings, myself, and it was CLEAR there that these people are REAL, the emotions are REAL. I have tried to express that on the couple of message boards which I am part of – but people are going to believe what they’re going to believe.
That said, I DO have to take the opportunity to say I HATED (a word I RARELY use) the TORTURE that you put the audience members through at the Womack/Pappas After The Final (NO) Rose. It was miserable for them, it was miserable for the audience, and I was PISSED that I was held in there for sooooooo long for such a miserable setting.
You are a lovely man, hysterically funny, charming – okay and handsome. And, because you are so closely intertwined with the “contestants” of the show – you probably have AN idea about what is going on. BUT, I do not now, nor have I EVER thought that Mike Fleiss (I will keep myself from calling him what I REALLY call him)
does NOT have the FIRST clue about what this particular audience WANTS.
I saw YOUR interview on Ellen where she tried to express to you what WE want, and you said, “But you keep coming back” We keep coming back because we HOPE you’ll finally get it RIGHT!
I saw an interview with Mike Fleiss (again, biting my tongue) SAYS, “People don’t care about the ENDING, they just want a good show” – or something to that effect. WRONG!! The demographics of the people who watch THIS show WANT a love story. THAT is why we watch the dang show!!
STOP editing the show to HIDE the true love story. I realize you have to keep some things a mystery – but let us SEE what really unfolds between the couple, and let us enjoy it so we can truly rejoice with them in the end.
Hey Chris,
I can’t believe people are getting so upset over a show you have no control over of how those people in the show act or what decisions they are making! Unbelievable how they are taking it out on you personally. I’m honestly disgusted with these people that hide behind their computer screens and write filth about you and your kids. SHAME on you people..shame..in the end…it’s a show and those people involved knew the risks they were taking when they agreed with their own FREE WILL..to take part in it. Leave Chris, and his family out of it. You people are sick and need to seriously get a life of your own.
I HOPE to goodness that the rumors I have heard are not true for this show (not the scripting part – that’s one I first-hand know better about!), but rather that Jason chooses Melissa, then goes back to Molly, because AGAIN, you will have lead us down the WRONG path.
The MAJORITY, and I do mean OVERWHELMING MAJORITY LOVE and ADORE Melissa, and HOPE it’s her! You HAVE given us a bit more of their love story this time, FINALLY, but once again we will have been DECEIVED if he DOES go back and pick Molly, because we just don’t see it!!!
Thanks for your time. HOPEFULLY you’ll HEAR what we say, and EDIT accordingly, or you will lose some of us permanently. I do not plan on watching the show again IF the rumors end up being true (sans the scripting part) Jude =)
Anyone reading your blog this week will surely sense how hurt and attacked you feel in this past week. There is no excuse for that, as it is the worse thing a human being can do, to make someone else feel hurt. I do sense however that people aren’t upset with you or Jason or any of the people on the show. I think people are really upset because they feel betrayed by the manipulation that occurs as part of a reality show. I don’t think people were quite aware or understood how much manipulation does indeed occur. It is obvious that for good television, NO ONE’s feelings are spared by the show….there was no need to show Jillian or Jason in that hot tub scene for that long, it must have been incredibly embarassing to both of them and their families and especially all of us watching (even you admitted you were embarassed thankfully)…there was no need to make Brad Womack go shopping for a wedding ring when it was known he didn’t want to propose…this is disturbing.
My posting was in THREE parts (now FOUR!)
I HOPE you get the gist of it.
Thanks for your blog. I appreciate it!
xoxo
Jude =)
Chris, if Jason did do something scummy such as date Molly behind Melissa’s back, or even if he didn’t do that but he still dumps Melissa on national TV, I don’t want his behavior being justified just because he’s the star of the show. I don’t want to see ABC make it out to be that what he did was “Okay,” if either of those things happened. Because neither action is okay, and should be treated as the horrible behavior that it would be if true.
A little defensive no?
Dude, it’s a stupid TV show. You can’t be making that much for your 5 seconds of reading copy per episode. In fact, you don’t even appear in some episodes. Don’t be afraid it will implode. Move on to better things, like that deoorating show you had on cable. Of course, after this, you might be able to take over for Springer…hey, call your agent!
Chris,
I agree your parenting skills are not what is in question here. How can anyone, including yourself, think it’s OK for Jason to dump Melissa on national tv?? What sort of “spin” can ABC put on this to make us not believe she has been thrown under the bus. There is no winner in that scenario. By Melissa’s repeated line of always being the “dumpee” it leaves me no choice but to believe ABC has calculatingly manipulated this season.
The public will never know the entire story but I have heard and seen enough to not only lose respect for Jason but for the entire Bachelor franchise. I am no longer a supporter of this show.
Good skill.Thanks for sharing this topic.
Jude, Chris – your FINAL comment (ha ha!)
All that said – I don’t REALLY care WHO Jason picks. I don’t. I PREFER Melissa, but I’m not Jason, so that doesn’t REALLY matter.
It’s the HOW you portray it – and what you show us on national t.v. that makes us happy or pisses us off.
I believe ABC did a piss poor job of editing the womack series. It wasn’t that he didn’t pick D or J – it was HOW it all went down that angered everyone. I HOPE TO GOODNESS NOT to go through that same kind of anger from The Bachelor. I would FOR SURE NEVER watch again. Be CAREFUL how y’all edit it – and respect the participants AND your audience. We’re what keep your show on the air!!!!
Chris ignore the comments, they have no idea what talking about ..
tonights show was interesting , and pleasurablle , the women tell all, i criched, to watch that blond lady shes mean cant recall her name, please tell me stephanie not jillian i s the next bachelorette , and please tell me that the final rose after the finale doesnt have jason braking eithe r melissas heart ar e mollys, are dumped are says one picks is a mistake i just cant see jason doing that ..
we loce you chris without you would b e no bachelor bachelorette show…
I agree with the above poster–if Melissa is thrown under the bus this show has sunk to a new low. The core audience for The Bachelor is women–and to see a woman treated with disdain and humiliation is not what I call entertainment.
Hey Chris,
I’m sorry to hear you’ve had to put up with so much flack from people in the last week or so.
I don’t get why people can’t just sit back and accept the show as entertainment. After all, it’s not really affecting any of OUR lives in any profound way.
But at the same time, you should probably be flattered, that people react SO strongly to the show (maniacally, in fact). I think the level of attachment that the fans feel to the show is truly a testament to what Y’all have done over on the Bachelor.
Hi Chris, I think your post tonight was a classy way of dealing with the rumors and insults that have arisen. From what I’ve read on the ABC Bachelor message board, and comments on other blogger’s websites, I find that some people are very quick to jump to conclusions. They believe practically anything that sounds juicy in the absence of evidence. They’re quick to tear down anyone they don’t like or disagree with. Some tell outright lies and others believe them without question. I try to critically judge what I read and analyze it from what I’ve seen and heard on the show (and read on your blog) if I think it’s plausible. Frankly, I don’t think anyone who’s not an integral part of the show really knows what happened or will happen. It’s all speculation.
Chris, I have never commented on any celebrity blog like this before. But you are seriously one of my favorite television personalities. I do think the spoilers are true in some fashion (though not producer driven) and I am will to hear you out next week in your blog. I truly want to believe you are a good guy. Just show us that!
Chris,
I applaud your ability to turn the other cheek and choose your battles. I think you do a terrific job hosting this show and I appreciate the insight and little tidbits of information you share each week on this blog. I don’t understand why so many people are so upset by the show when the outcome hasn’t been confirmed by the 3 most important people in the scenario…Jason, Melissa and Molly! My thought is, if they hate it so much, why not just switch the channel or turn the TV off? But then, that would just make too much sense, wouldn’t it? Oh well, to each his own! Thanks for the blog post and Cheers. Can’t wait to tune in next week.
Chirs, and everyone, I really love the show. I have not missed a season, until Brad didn’t pick anyone! I started re-watching half way through last season. I try not to listen to all the rumors or whats going to happen because I honestly LOVE this show… it’s been hard NOT to hear all the crap this season. I have to say, if the things I am hearing turn out to be true, I probably will not watch the show any longer. Only because I would be worried about the contestants getting intionally hurt to get more ratings… is there going to be a second ATFR???? I’ve heard that there for sure will be… it’s just all so stupid… wish people would just leave it alone and stop trying to figure out what it’s going to be. the whole pinkey ring thing is a GREAT spot though but then on tonights previews someone said molly had one, so who knows! Might just be a cover up… this is the first time I’ve questioned the show and Ihope it doesn’t turn out bad for me. I’m old… not much else to do!
Chris, can you give us any insight as to why the audience for tonight’s show was handpicked and sworn to secrecy instead of the “regular” audiences that you all used to have? I believe the audience for the Men Tell All in DeAnna’s season was also handpicked insiders. Spoilers had already fingered Jill as going home by the time this taped, so it couldn’t have been fear of that leaking. Can you tell what gives? Thank you. Love you as host.
Hey Chris…let me add my voice to those saying don’t let the rude idiots get you down. I also would be highly offended and take comments personally…because it sounds like some did make it personal. I do hope this doesn’t keep you from blogging next go round. You’re great at what you do on the show and in the blog. As someone else said, ignore the idiots and try not to take it personally. You do have a lot of fans…don’t let the rude minority bother you. (Great job on the ATFR special, too!)
Chris, I too thought you were an honest guy with good values. I didn’t think you would cover for a d-bag who has cheated on his fiancee with another woman (and, as I understand it now, Molly fits “skank” to a “t”).
The spin was on with “TB” tonight–and you were the perfect enabler for Jason. You and your show are going to cover-up for Jason, and throw Mel under the bus.
I hope it comes back to bite you ALL in the you-know-where.