Image Credit: Craig Sjodin/ABCIf there’s anything this season of The Bachelor has been chock full of, it’s burning-question-worthy moments. Were Ed and Jillian contractually required to show up in that first episode (and look incredibly uncomfortable)? How does a guy eliminate so many women so quickly, yet keep the one who seems to annoy everyone else to their core? (Sorry, Vienna.) Why have so many details of this season leaked out before airing? And why the egregious lack of hot tub action?
We’ll be posing your burning questions to affable host/EW.com blogger Chris Harrison, with the answers to select queries to run in next week’s Entertainment Weekly. So tell us now: What do you most want to know about this most dramatic Bachelor season EVER?
More ‘Bachelor’:
Chris Harrison’s ‘Bachelor’ blog
‘The Bachelor’ recap, Feb. 2, 2010: The Virgin Suicide
‘The Bachelor’: 17 Burning Questions Answered (2009)
my burning question? why is this crap still on?
Don’t like it? Don’t watch it. Simple.
While it is a guilty pleasure, I’d like to know why they keep coming back for more seasons when they’ve has no success until Jason and Molly who most people don’t care about now anyway? Why do they have to cast such perfect looking men and women for these shows? It’d be nice to see some normal sized women who are not all skinny anorexics.
The creator of the Bachelor actually did try this with Fox’s “More to Love.” I don’t believe it did too well.
You’re right. Nobody wants to watch fatties in a hot tub.
“More to Love” were very overweight women, I think everyone has truly lost the conception of what a real women looks like. Forget Hollywood!America needs a wakeup call soon or there will be many young women facing anorexia!
It’s just entertainment…..duh. Call Jenny (comments), and talk about books, or play trivial pursuit if you want mental stimulation. I love brainless crap at the end of the day. Takes me to my happy place.
Define success – the ratings are still better than average and they sell a ton of ad time. The execs to really care whether anyone lives “happily ever after.” (Besides, you’re forgetting about Trista and Ryan… still married with two kids.)
What kind of interview process do people go through to get chosen for the show? How much input does the Bachelor have in the type of women chosen? How much are participants paid to appear on the show?
In reviewing the comments from one of the episodes, someone mentioned that the dates are producer driven…how do they decide what type of dates are going to happen and who gets to go on the dates?
Why do people respond with negativity? If you don’t like it, don’t watch it, don’t read blogs about it and for sure don’t click the link that takes you to an “Ask Chris Harrison anything” page.
Ridiculous!
My question would be…Jake told Jillian about Wes, but she didn’t believe it. Why does he not see the irony?
YES This is my biggest question as well.
Yeah, if Vienna’s so great….why aren’t we seeing any of this? It’s going to piss off a lot of viewers if Jake picks the “villain.” Who wants that?
I think they were both villanized, but for two different reasons. Wes was using the show and Jillian to promote his music career. Vienna clearly has feelings for Jake. I think she’s just very immature — but maybe Jake is too.
vienna not the right person she is a sneaky snake. Jake needs to pick Ali. She a very a real person and they look perfect together.
Ali is mean and fake and doesn’t seem to own a brush. Vienna maybe spoiled but she admits that.
What a great point!! I guess everyone feels like they can be the only true judge – but love is blind – and others’ opinions, especially if given with good intentions, are worth considering!!
Abeeotch – great point.
Who actually chooses what girls for what dates? Does the Bachelor have any input? If so, how much? Who ultimately decides what girls go on the 2 on 1 dates or the 1 on 1 dates?
This one has been asked on the message boards and his response danced around being a real answer. How does a primetime network show possibly handle it when a contestant changes the number of shows needed to finish the game by eliminating “extra” women on a show? How can that not have been planned/known beforehand?
Why hasn’t there been one starring Bachelor or Bachelorette that is a minority?
oh my gosh why do you people always have to play the race card. Clearly its a conspiracy and the bachelor show is racist.
who the hell are you calling “you people”. it’s a fair question? the views of the show are diverse why shouldn’t the contestants reflect that diversity.
Ashley – you need to grow up. Just because someone wants to see a better representation of ALL people, doesn’t make them a racist. Imagine never seeing anyone that looks like you on a show you liked. It gets old – watching the same type of person all of the time. A little diversity goes a long way.
Ummmm… they do have dating shows with people “of color”- as opposed to all of us clear folk….. it’s called Flavor of Love and I Love New York. Quit griping!
Allie- First, no one is griping. Second, don’t even act like Flavor of Love and I Love New York are like The Bachelor. They’re not even on basic cable. Also, the contestants on those shows are generally not looking for marriage or a long-term commitment. The contestants are different races too. Also, Miller’s question is legit. I watch The Bachelor and have often wondered why there hasn’t been a minority. It’s been on for a long time. I think it’s about time for someone different.
Clearly this is not true. They have had people of different races on the Bachelor/Bachelorette, just not as THE Bachelor/Bachelorette.
Funny Ashley – in my 28 years of being white, I’ve never been accused of using the race card.
Ratings! The majority of the people who watch this show want to see “one of their own”. Sad, but true.
I’m pretty sure this was “questions for Chris Harrison” not questions for the dorks on this board. But thanks for your closed minded insight.
I agree. More diversity would be good. Hopefully, interesting minority candidates will apply to be on the show.
Maybe because black and latina women want no part of degrading themselves to cloy for the attentions of a douchbag.
Flavor of Love, maybe?
Right. For the Love of Ray J, Flava of Love, Flava of Love 2, Flava of Love 3, Flava of Love 4. No degradation there.
Yes, when are you going to show some blacks, hispanics or Asians? It was boring watching this season with all the white people, especially with Jake’s penchant for skinny blonds meaning I couldn’t tell the girls apart.
I’ve always thought it would be funny if they casted let’s say a White Bachelor and surprised him with 25 Asians. Of course this would just be a joke and than they would bring out the real 25 woman.
It does seem strange that every leading male/female has been White so far. I would like to see more races involved.
Do any of you guys (gals) remember the Joe Shmoe Show on Spike a few years ago? Was a total parody of the Bachelor + other reality shows where the main guy doesn’t know it’s a joke. It skewered every angle of the show, including having the host eliminate all the people of colour right at the first elimination. Seriously, these casts seem soooooo cut-out and boring. I would like to see a couple of size 6 – 10 or 12 ladies, plus some with darker skin tones and hair. I agree with whoever above said it’s hard to tell the skinny blondes apart. Also – why so many “horsey-faced” “ladies” this year?
yes, why not bring diversity to the show? asian, latino, black, etc. heck the most diverse contestant so far has been Jillian, a Canadian
If the Bachelor/Bachelorette tells Producers they’ve already fallen/chosen someone early on, would they still force them to go through the whole elimination, dates, ect. anyway?? Also do the girls get hair/makeup/clothes people??
I didn’t watch Trista and Ryan’s wedding, but I don’t recall Chris officiating it. I heard that he is officiating Jason and Molly’s. Will this be a first time for Chris?
Why do a few women have to sit out from dates each week? This changed recently – when the show was only one hour long everyone got dates.
I’ve asked these before and have yet to see an answer, but I’ll give it another go…
1)Bachelorette clothing: Do they bring their own? Does the show have stylists who make recommendations for them? Do they get a clothing allowance? Or does the show furnish all of that? Also, do they do their own hair and make-up, or are they each ‘done up’ each day?
2)Does the Bachelor have ANY say in the ‘contestants’ chosen? Can they list certain criteria? Can they preview any info on them ahead of the initial meeting out of the limo?
3) EVERY season, when the Bachelor is down to the ‘final two’, he is portrayed as torn, making statements that he’s in love with both, can’t decide – and while I’m sure that’s happened, I doubt that to be the case very often. I struggle with the very spirit of the show, stringing along so many when he undoubtedly has a stronger connection with one – at least in the final weeks. Why not let the show play out realistically in those final weeks?
I have always wondered about the clothes too. They seem to come from a wardrobe dept because they are all so similar. Like no girl has an individual style.
I assume the show handles all of it – many of the contestants probably couldn’t afford it – but I’ve never seen it addressed.
Excellent questions! I hope he answers these. On Top Model it seems like they bring all their own stuff and do their own hair/makeup, but they never show it on the Bachelor. My money’s on they get it done/given to them.
I would like to see your third question answered. I have a problem watching that final episode where he is struggling and has fallen for two women, then in the course of a day or two he is definitely in love and ready to propose to “the one.”
Ambient Lite – I love your question #3. You could ask the same question about every episode. I always laugh because every week, Jake says “I have no idea what I’m going to do tonight.” Why do the producers think that is more gripping for us, the audience??? Do they think we’re stupid? If Jake came in a few times saying, “I know exactly who I’m voting off tonight,” it would be just as exciting. moreso – because it would be realistic. He can’t possibly be that torn EVERY WEEK!! And especially when it’s down to the final 2.
2 questions: 1) If the show is an unscripted and “totally real” reality show, why do you need “story editors”? That’s not exactly just letting things happen now, is it? 2) Why were you so vague with Rozlyn if she had the kind of innapropriate relationship you spoke about in interviews? That entire scene looked heavily edited and spliced together. Why throw a single mother under the bus for the sake of ratings?
Probably because they fill 24 hours but only show 2 a week. They have to edit it down. Put it this way: what two unedited hours of a 168 hour week would anyone want to see?
Not about this season in particular, but I do have a few questions:
1) Has it ever been considered to lengthen the time that the Bachelor gets to spend with the final few — maybe even variable from season to season depending up when the Bachelor(ette) decides (s)he decides that extra time is needed? Such as maybe sometime between final 4 and down to final 2, the Bachelor(ette) has the option to extend an extra date/day with each person remaining. So if (s)he feels the need for extra time with the final 4, (s)he can choose it then, or at final 3, or at final 2 (would default to final 2 if not chosen previously). Seems like some additional time at the end would help with situations like Jason’s, where maybe given a little more time with Molly and Melissa he would have figured out the right choice the first time.
2) Has it ever been considered to try to shorten the time the Bachelor(ette) and the one with the final rose have to spend apart / in secret between the end of taping and the end of airing the show? Seems like such a killer to a budding romance to be forced into time away from one another for that long…
3) I really appreciate the cutting back of the previously excessive “coming up on the Bachelor(ette)” teasers before commercial breaks — however there have still been some this season that gave so much away that not much was surprising. Between that and the spoilers on the internet, it really takes away from the suprise/shock/excitement of the show and the Bachelor(ette)’s decisions. Any thoughts on scaling back on the teasers that reveal too much and trying to find the leak?
I do have a question about this season in particular. Why have we not seen footage of Vienna’s behavior with the other women that got them so fired up about her? Beside seeing the women talk about it, and that one incident when Vienna asked to talk with Jake last, I haven’t really seen any footage of Vienna’s behavior with the women (such as talking about people behind their backs). Vienna’s an interesting case, but I don’t think we as viewers have seen anything that would have supported the kind of backlash from multiple other women that has been shown.
Oooh, good question. Is Vienna really as bad as the other women say?
Why have you never cast The Bachelorette with a fresh face? It’s always been a reject from a previous Bachelor season, but you have cast unknown Bachelors. I can’t see any of the current crop of “ladies” (thank you Kristen Baldwin) being Bach’ette material.
Excellent observation!
I agree completely – a fresh face Bachelorette would be wonderful. If it has to be from this season though, I think Tenley would be a decent choice.
I think the reason that they never cast a completely new Bachelorette lies in the fact that women comprise the main audience for the show, and it’s easier for women to connect with someone they’ve come to know. Lord knows we can all be judgmental of other women (take for example, the passionate distaste for Vienna/Ali/Melissa/Molly, etc) and I bet producers aren’t willing to take a chance that the audience won’t identify with the female lead. It’s not so much of a problem with a male lead, and 15 other women with whom the audience should be able to find someone to identify. I don’t know that this is right, but that’s how I justified such seemingly-blatant sexism to myself!
Chris– I know this has already been asked, but how long do the contestants have to be able to take off from their jobs? It seems like it has been a big problem that contestants like Ed and Ali have not been able continue on the show due to their work. Do you ever worry that you are selecting people for this show that are at crossroads in their lives (e.g., is it hard to find a contestant with a steady, normal job simply because of the time-constraints of filming). Might this not be setting the final couple up for failure?
Thanks!