Did anyone watch this last season's The Bachelor? It was nothing spectacular. It always seems to be the same old thing. Sexy guy meets 25-30 "eligible" ladies and eventually has to pick and choose, weeding out the bad eggs, until he is left with the one woman he "wants to spend the rest of his life with". Blah blah blah...two months later...SPLIT.
What makes this show SO popular? I realize that the majority of this show's viewers are female, for a FEW obvious reasons. I have a confession...Ok, I have a couple confessions. #1: I enjoy the show. #2: I've had my share of Bachelor "crushes" (I mean, COME ON!! They pick some seriously sexy guys sometimes!) Is there more to this show that has been a huge hit since 2002. Is it Chris Harrison? It very well could be for some ladies!
While the show isn't nearly as popular as, let's say, American Idol, The Bachelor still averages nearly 10 million viewers in its audience. What is the big deal? Why the popularity? The answer: Women will be women. What do women thrive on? Gossip. Drama. Happily ever afters. But is it really happily ever after?
Season 1: Alex Michel and Amanda Marsh broke up several months later.
Season 2: Aaron Buerge and Helene Eksterowicz broke up several months later.
Season 3: Andrew Firestone and Jen Schefft broke up several months later.
Season 4: Bob Guiney and Estella Gardinier broke up shortly after the show aired.
Season 5: Jesse Palmer and Jessica Bowlin broke up several months later.
Season 6: Byron Velvick and Mary Delgado split after five years.
Season 7: Charlie O'Connell and Sarah Brice broke up, got back together, and broke up again.
Season 8: Travis Stork and Sarah Stone broke up shortly after the show aired.
Season 9: Prince Borghese and Jennifer Wilson broke up a couple months later.
Season 10: Andrew Baldwin and Tessa Horst called off their engagement and broke up.
Season 11: Brad Womack chose none of the girls to be with.
Season 12: Matt Grant and Shayne Lamas broke up a couple months later.
Season 13: Jason Mesnick and Melissa Rycroft broke up and Jason went after the other girl he sent home, Molly Melaney and they actually got married!!
Season 14: Jake Pavelka and Vienna Girardi broke up a couple months later.
Season 15: Brad Womack (AGAIN) and Emily Maynard are still together...but let's face it, it's only been a couple of months.
Do you see a familiar pattern? With the exception of Seasons 13 and 15, I would say that this so-called match-making show does not have a great track record. However, who really cares? For the most part, the audience doesn't care about what happens afterwards. We care about the drama and love story to get to the proposal; then it's on to the next season. My prediction is that this show won't last for too much longer. It's always the same old story. Eventually, it will die out, just like all..er..,I'm sorry..MOST.. of the "relationships" it has sparked.
I was laughing when I read your blog, the “bachelor” or “bachelorette” show, how funny and silly dram is taking place in that show (no offence please). I am really questioning how real is that show. I have tuned two seasons and never again. Surprisingly I tuned season 13- Jason’s and Melissa’s separation drama. On that spot I said this is not reality this is drama. It is difficult to accept in reality a single individual kisses and having sex with twenty something lades or men in front of the camera. Observe the behaviors shown by the drama queens that I really don’t believe it express our reality. We watch so many reality shows not because they have some place in us or expresses our daily life, but for fun or we don’t have anything to do except watching whatever provided during that time. Most of the reality shows designed to capture our attention by bringing exceptional scenes. Leave the other stuff for the channel to advocate the situation since it’s their business. Nowadays media marketing has possessed most of our leaves. We forced to hear something rubbish, which doesn’t have any good value than gossip. I agree for the most part you said on this show it’s the reality of gossip life. When you watch “Jersey Shore” what good one can get from that show except binge drinking, aggressive and confrontational behaviors, and the making of poor life choices. The cast clams having Italian heritage and say they are showing Italian culture. However for the show to be filmed in Florence, Italy even it has to follow certain restrictions that are placed by Florence Mayor. They were not allowed to consume alcohol, no shooting, no visits to historic sites, all in all they are only allowed if they reflect Italian culture. I guess the italian people are not happy what is depicted as their culture. I wonder how this show is getting viewers. Is this our young generation’s reality???
ReplyDeleteWe have basically the same opinion about the Bachelor/Bachelorette reality TV shows. Reality…NOT! I picked the same subject for my blog, but I love how you listed the seasons of the shows and their mostly negative outcomes. I didn’t delve into researching the results that closely, but in thinking about it, I can only remember 2 couples that are still married – Trisha and Ryan (I don’t remember their “season”, but it was a long time ago), and Jason and Molly (and are they still married?) As you mentioned, the track record for the show is pretty dismal. I think you are right when you said the audience doesn’t care about what happens after the show, except for the dumb episode where they bring on all the rejected girls or guys and they get to air their gripes about the season and confront the Bachelor or Bachelorette. I also must admit I like to watch the show, the Bachelor more than the Bachelorette. Although I think it’s very contrived, it also shows how ridiculous people can act and how clueless they can be about themselves. The last Bachelorette with Ali (which I loved!) had that crazy guy always breaking into song and saying he was there to “guard your heart.” What a fruitcake! I really liked Ali and Roberto and hope they are happy and successful in their relationship. As for all the previous shows, and the last, with Brad (ugh!), I could care less about the outcomes. I think you are right, sooner rather than later, this show will end because, in my opinion, it’s just NOT reality.
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