Image Credit: Kevin Foley/ABC (2); McKinnon: Rick Rowell/ABCThose of us who’ve sat through 14 seasons of The Bachelor and six seasons of The Bachelorette know that the worst offense someone can commit is going on either show for “the wrong reasons.” And yet, ABC’s latest offering, Bachelor Pad (premieres tonight at 8 p.m. ET), with its $250,000 prize, would seem to reward those who are equally or more interested in finding fame and a payday. Scroll through our swimsuit gallery of the 19 returning contestants (with no fewer than four awesomely bad cannonball shots, by the way), and you’ll see Wes, Craig, and David are back — three men most Bachelorette fans wouldn’t set up with a friend or enemy. For viewers who still like to pretend this franchise is about finding love, doesn’t this show sully the Bachelor name? Not according to Melissa Rycroft, who’ll cohost with Chris Harrison. “I don’t think any apologies need to be made at all,” she tells EW. “It’s not trying to be The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, it’s trying to be that with a spin on it. I’ll be honest, it does become a very different show and a very different game, essentially, when you add money to the equation. It’s not all girls fighting for one guy or vice versa. It’s guys and girls intermixing, and they’re essentially fighting for money at the end. To say, ‘It needs defending because it’s tarnishing the franchise,’ I think is completely unnecessary. It’s a completely different show.”
So now, we have to decide whether we’re rooting for people we actually like, or people we love to hate but know will “play the game” and give us good TV (sex, backstabbing, rage issues, etc.). According to ABC, each week contestants will square off in challenges to compete for immunity and the opportunity to go on a date with contestants of their choice. The winner of the challenge — the first one is a game of Twister — will then grant immunity to one of his or her dates via the presentation of a rose. At the end of each episode, the contestants will vote amongst themselves to determine which cast members will be eliminated from the competition. Who will you be cheering for: good person or good TV?
Am I really the only one who found Melissa beyond annoying on DWTS?
I found her naive/company woman comments in this blog post beyond annoying – does that count?
Yes. Though I had already found her annoying on The Bachelor. She comes off as very immature.
Nope, I loved her!
I disliked her from her days on The Bachelor. I was astounded that Jason picked her and couldn’t muster up even an ounce of outrage when he dumped her. She is obnoxious.
NO!
Just another jealous FAT GIRL!
“…doesn’t this show sully the Bachelor name?”
LOL! Is there REALLY anyone left that holds the ‘Bachelor’ franchise in high regard and truly believes they’re delicately weaving beautiful fairy tales made of pure golden love?!?
This version is extra disgusting, yet I’ll probably tune in. Such a sick relationship I have with ‘The Bachelor’.
EXACTLY what I was thinking…
That’s like claiming that something could tarnish the reputation of “Flavor of Love.” Speaking of which, this show really sounds like it should be on VH-1.
Exactly! You’re both so correct. Lets not pretend like VH1 didn’t do this first with I love money, or whatever that was called.
Sully the Bachelor franchise…. wtf are they talking about?? It’s not like this show is freaking masterpiece theater or something, it’s one of the lower common denominators of television. If anything, this is just a lot more honest about what the bachelor really stands for. I mean, like two couples from the entire franchise are still together after 20 shows. This obviously isn’t about true love.
Well, KP, I highly doubt these people are here “For the right reasons” so…
And I can’t watch this. This even too trashy for me. And I watched all three seasons of Rock of Love.
I. Don’t. Believe. It.
For once, they actually ARE all there for the right reasons – money and fame whoring! And NOW you turn your back on them?!?
So true Karate Pants! I’ll be watching BECAUSE its extra disgusting, not in spite of it. There is something refreshing about these people being honest about their purpose FOR ONCE and not having to fake “connections” and “journeys”
No Madd – you are not the only one she is well beyond annoying!!!!
I hate to break it to you, but in order for something to be “tarnished” by something else, it first must be of good quality. The only thing that’s going to be tarnished by “Bachelor Pad” is the intelligence of anyone who watches it.
yeah cause you only watch intelligent tv. You’re so enlightened.
AMEN!!!
This show should be called “Their next 15 minutes”
But you never had 15 minutes and never will!
1. I am so tired of reality shows. They insult our intelligence.
2. The frantic “fast editing” or “fast cutting”, especially in commercials is extremely annoying. I don’t even know what the message is half the time.
What Intelligence? You will be grilled to the TV as always1
i am looking forward to watching this smut. but maybe only when there’s nothing better on.
Didn’t VH1 already do this with “I Love Money”?
Those ‘tired of reality’ should watch more scripted shows when they are on, not record and watch 4 months from now. The big 3 are competing with cable channels and don’t own prime time. So don’t get all uppity expecting all “quality” programming and then don’t even bother to watch it!
Yeah, also, the Bachelor draws in HUGE ratings and costs next to nothing compared to say, “Two and a half men” where charlie sheen somehow manages to have like 8 personal life scandals and still charge them 2.2 million per episode. That’s probably what bachelor costs to film a season.
UM, NOT QUITE. Chris Harrison and Melissa Ryroft are making the millions instead of the actors.
It costs next to nothing to ship, house several camera crews, Producers and pay for hotels all over the world, I think not!
I don’t like Melissa, but I would rather have her on this show for the six eps than hosting DWTS which lasts much longer. Since she is expecting this show might be the last we hear from her for a while, though, so that is cool too!
Get over yourself FATSO!
I understand that in the Pad, there’s been more banging than a screen door in a hurricane among the various contestants. Cut the competition nonsense, bump the show to premium cable, and show that.
So, essentially, this is a knock off of “I Love Money”? Just checking…
This girl Elizabeth is crazy fam!!!
Just watching the bachelor/ette makes makes me question my intelligence .. I do and I like it … but this is really bad. I made it 10 minutes and out. The premise is stupid #1. And the people … well, making a show out of losers is not exactly good TV.
Good, clean, trashy fun!