Because we’re all about The Bachelor: On the Wings of Love — namely because we like typing The Bachelor: On the Wings of Love — we asked host (and EW.com blogger) the tough questions about the Most. Dramatic. Show. Ever. Here are some of his answers (the rest are in the new issue of Entertainment Weekly, on stands now):
On how faked the drama is: “I’ll be the first person to tell you we edit the show. We try to throw people off. If you know Trista is going to pick Ryan from Day 1, it would be boring. What we don’t mess with is the sincerity. Like with Ed leaving [during Jillian's season of The Bachelorette], we could’ve talked him back. We could’ve fixed it. But we have to embrace it. I need to know that when I end up on Ellen’s couch, I can look her in the eye and tell her we didn’t lie, cheat, or steal.”
On the Bachelor breakup heard round the world: “With Jason and Melissa, did she know they were going to break up? No. Did she know something was wrong? Obviously — she’s half of a relationship. She’s not an idiot. But she didn’t know what was about to happen. So that was a very genuine moment. In that situation I understand how it looked to America. Like, beautiful proposal, and then we’re in a studio and it’s all falling apart. But for us it was a six-month period…. I know people think we are so full of s—, but when I was there [at the proposal] it was as real as it could be. I flew home from New Zealand going, ‘That’s going to make a beautiful cover of a magazine.’ You couldn’t get any better — why would you want to eff with that?”
On his least-favorite season: “Lorenzo Borghese. It was a high concept that just didn’t work — an Italian prince, in Rome. Believe me, I loved living in Italy for two months. It just didn’t translate to TV. He’s a great guy, but that doesn’t necessarily make a good Bachelor.”
On the most controversial season…ever!: “When we really blew the lid off things was the first Bachelorette. It’s hard to remember because it feels quaint now. But it was a big deal. I remember articles that said we were setting women back years. But I thought we were empowering her. I saw Trista as the most powerful woman in the country. Talk about turning the tables on guys.”
On his favorite season: “Aaron Buerge was probably one of my favorites — not necessarily him, but the season. ABC was really struggling. ABC was like NBC [now]. They couldn’t launch a show. So The Bachelor came along, and we did well with Alex Michel, but for some reason that summer, it just took fire. So, by the time we came back in the fall with Aaron, my life changed. Everything was just Bachelor, Bachelor, Bachelor. We went from struggling to the biggest show on TV.”
On the stupidest romantic moves he’s ever seen: “The panties in Matt’s pants were funny. Did you really just take off your panties and put them in his pocket? In what world is that hot? And the guy with Jillian who got naked and jumped in the pool. Guys, women do not want to see your junk. You better be bringing it if you’re stripping down in front of 25 other guys. It was cold, and the water was cold — you know that’s not going to be a good night.”
And finally, here he is (on video!) on missing that one Barcelona rose ceremony during the last Bachelorette while on red carpet assignment for TV Guide Network, much to the chagrin of EW.com message boarders:
More 'Bachelor':
Chris Harrison dishes on new 'Bachelor,' Jake Pavelka
Okay CH, so my problem with the whole Jason/Melissa thing is NOT that it didn’t work out – I mean, who could expect them to stay together if it wasn’t working. No, my problem is that I found it tasteless that you guys brought her back and televised the breakup with Molly waiting in the wings. That should have been handled privately, and only Jason should have been interviewed publicly. Side-note: though I can’t necessarily blame you or Fleiss for this, I was appalled at the massive fakery Molly exhibited when she was brought in and Jason asked her for another chance. There is NO way they hadn’t spoken since the rose ceremony. It was so transparent. She came off looking like a snake. I do, however, hope all parties concerned have bright and happy futures ahead.
I’m not going to slam Jake excessively here because for all I know, he’s worked his cheese-@ss charm on you and you’ve befriended the guy, but I have to say that I want to see more FUN Bachelors/Bachelorettes in the future. The Jake/Lorenzo/Alex-type personality just isn’t as fun to watch as someone like Jillian or Bob, for instance. Pleeeeease consider it for the next round?!?
I’m done now.
Also, I don’t think you’ve ever addressed a couple of the most-asked questions I’ve seen:
1)Are the Bachelorettes responsible for bringing their own wardrobe (gowns, etc), or does the show staff “style” them?
2)Do the Bachelors/Bachelorettes have any say in the 25 that come to meet them?
Love you and look forward to your blog – it will undoubtedly be the highlight of the season.
Have you heard? Melissa is now MARRIED! ANd she was on Dancing with the Stars AND she just co-host NYE with Ryan Seacrest. So yeah, I think her future is definitely bright and happy! Can you PLEASE stop saying how “tasteless” and blah blah blah it was, it’s over.done.finished.
As for Molly and Jason, they disappeared and I think Jason dumping Melissa on national television gave Melissa more oppurtunities and made her more famous then if they had the typical finale show.
Just because Melissa made lemonade out of some really nasty lemons that doesn’t make it RIGHT. What the producers did was still unethical and WRONG.
Melissa and Jason were already broken up BEFORE they did it on TV. Melissa said this on the “Ellen” show. Also, Jason has said it too. In fact both of them have said multiple times that they were already broken up prior to doing it on TV. The show just wanted them to “redo” it. Jason even said so during his 1 on 1 camera interview during the “breakup” show. Does anyone really watch this show, or only read the updates?
Yeah. They both confirmed that they’d broken up before the show so why is Chris Harrison lying? Maybe he tells so many lies that he can’t keep them straight.
I’m not sure that I can stomach sadsack Jake enough to watch this season, but I will definitely be looking forward to Chris’s blogs either way!
“edited”,…try to get people off – WOW now that’s reality
Why should anyone care about your scripted reality show? Brings down the quality of ABC’s schedule by 50% (along with the dancing crapfest)
Jake and 25 girls – predictable
Jake balancing his ever present moral goals – pathetic
Jake crying every episode – priceless
CH blogs worth every morsel
I love your blog Chris and am looking forward to reading it this season!
why havent we had a non white bachelor or bachelorette? and why not allow the bachelor/bachelorette to screen in advance their potential mates? every year there are at least 5-10 people that have no business being there…give them only the cream of the crop
That’s because The Bachelor is racist. They hardly ever have non-white “contestants” in the group of 25, even though the bachlor/ette could easily eliminate them. Usually, the non-white contestants look white or racially ambiguous. (Melissa doesn’t look white to me, but she can pass.) They can’t stand the idea of an obviously non-white or interracial couple.
I have to agree with some of the comments – how about people with great senses of humor, etc. I was really hoping for Reid to be the next Bachelor – he had lots of personality. And Chris, your blogs are the best part of the show! Love them.
If you think Chris Harrisons blogs are entertaining, you really ought to read RealitySteve.com but don’t go there if you don’t want to know how this show ends!
It’s official!! I am cured!! I couldn’t change the channel quick enough Monday night to get away from that schmaltz! Ha! Fleiss has turned this show into a joke and it would be better suited to follow “Made” or “Next”. And just knowing that Vienna is “the one” has me ROTFLMAO! Where’s my TV Guide, I have a whole bunch of time on Monday nights now..
Oh please, Vienna??? Daddy’s rich, little spoiled girl??? Going to throw up now. Wow, did you really have to tell us?? Now I do not have a need to watch the show.
Vienna is spoiled and phony. Plus, she’s cross-eyed so it’s unsettling to look at her. I don’t know if I can watch the rest of the season now that I know.
So it’s already coming out that the affair with the producer this season is a big lie. The woman (Rozlyn) apparently wanted to leave the show because they wouldn’t let her talk to her child as they had promised her. Instead of just letting her leave, they turn a producer’s crush oon her into a big scandal. Apparently there was no sex, no relationship, just the bachelor up to more lies and tricks. Not surprising, but very hurtful.
Chris…really, you DON’T have to be at every Rose ceremony. I think we can all handle it without you now. And, for the love of God, would you PLEASE STOP telling the girls and the bachelor he’s down to the final rose…. “this is the final rose tonight; whenever you’re ready”??? We can ALL COUNT!!
Check Out Jake Pavelka on Jimmy Kimmel Live
If Vienna wins, I will be very happy! The reason I say this is because I really haven’t seen Vienna do anything the other girls haven’t done! What has she done that has been really that bad???Does she or any person deserve to be treated so bad by everyone?? Is it because she is spoiled?? So what!!! Get a life and quit hating on someone cause they are rich or spoiled! That is not a reason to dislike someone. Really, do you think Jake deserves to have any of the other women who are worse than Vienna because they all treated her very bad. They are vicious, heartless women, who did not care to make someone feel bad. If they were good women, they couldn’t be that heartless, even a dog would get better treatment. Are those the kind of women Jake should have? I used to like Tenly and Ali. They were my picks until I saw how vicious they could be. Ali! OMG! You were so, so mean! You act as though you are sweet and innocent and then you dog Vienna out so bad and continually made sure she knows how much you hate her being there! You really showed your real personality! And Tenly! another fake person, who was just as bad as Ali! When all is over I hope Jake sees this episode so that he will see all the fake women there that he thought were nice! Yeah Right! Fooled you as they fooled me until I saw the real them! And guess what women??? All the people who saw the real you! Good for you! I am so happy everyone gets to see how exactly vicious you all are and that you can’t fool them by acting so sweet and innocent as you act in front of Jake! Remember the Truth will eventually come out and it did! Majority of the women were vicious! There were just a couple who weren’t that bad, but they were eventually pulled into Ali’s circle of friends! What a Shame!!! You women probably were meaner than the people who wanted Jesus crucified!!! Oh, and when they had the get together and Ali apologized, Yeah Right! You only apologized because you saw that everyone saw how mean and vicious you all were, especially you, and you wanted to act as if you were not that mean. Glad Jake decided not to give you another chance!! You just wanted attention from Jake and wanted him to run to you and say, please /Ali, don’t leave me!! NOT!!!!!Drama Queens!! All of you who call Vienna spoiled and phoney and whatever…….get a life! At least she didn’t treat people like Ali, Tenly, and various others in there they way they treated her!! and quit hating on Chris just cause you have no life! If you don’t like the show…….quit watching!!! plain and simple!!!