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.
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.