The Bachelor

“It really IS important to see how a potential mate interacts/reacts around family and friends. IMHO Alex blew it in all four places and really doesn't have a match that I can see. I can't remember which was which, but one place he tried to pull that little kids arm off, another he hated that girls dog, and one set of parents didn't like him at all. Too bad he had to cram 4 places into 5 days though, I'm sure that didn't help.

Anyway, it's entertaining - I love to watch shows like the Dating Story and Blind Date, and enjoyed the first Temptation Island.

Good stuff coming up though, Eco-Challenge starts Sunday night!”

“What? I don't understand. They had a family outing or something?”

“newgirl - Alex went to the hometowns of the four remaining women and met each of their families. I thought he hit it off with the families better than twigeater does. He was admitted very tired. I am sure it is a hard sell at home when everyone knows you are dating 3 other women as well.

Now it is down to three. Not sure there is a match there, but he seems to think there is some chemistry with a couple of them.”

“I'm sure it's a really hard sell. My dad won't let the guy in the front door.”

“Is anybody else annoyed with that brunette? I really hope he doesn't choose her.”

“skyblue - I'm surprised she made it into the final 8. There must be something about her we can't see on TV.

The abc website is pretty good. It includes some interviews after episode 4.”

“Yeah, Alex seems to feel like he's dating her, but I think it's more that he's curious about the things she won't tell him while on tv. And not kissing on the first date, stuff like that.”

“I have wondered if he sees Shannon (the brunette) as the best "Mother of his children" so he is keeping her in the hunt.

My money is on Trista. She is older, professional, and, IMHO, very hot.

One of the upcoming specials is where they talk to the 23 "also rans" for an hour. That will be interesting.

I am beginning to think that it is immoral to date simultaneously like that, even when everyone knows what is going on. It is difficult for some of the girls to act naturally because of the competition, not to mention how guarded Alex has to be.

On the other hand, I was dating two women simultaneously while in college. I had to get one out of my system so I could fall in love with the other one (my wife). I am still friends with the first one and we talk once a year on the phone.”

“Good pointing about making it hard for the girls to act naturally Phil. How can you just be your relaxed real self, if you are aware that you are in competition w/ several other women?”

“right, newgirl - Plus, a lot of girls applied to be bachelorettes so they could be on TV, etc. Lots of drama and acting going on.

Interesting note is that so far no girl every girl has liked Alex (at least that is all they have shown us). That could change soon.”

“Yeah, I was wondering if any of them thought he was sort of an egomaniac to be doing this? The part of the one episode I caught he was really good looking and seemed nice, but I think I would be feeling in the back of my mind that he was pretty hot on himself.”

“Yes. It is probably hard to be so wonderful and yet so humble. (Just guessing...I've never had that problem)”

“LOL Phil!”

“I saw the final episode of "Once and Again" Monday night. Its sad to see that show go. Disney/ABC moved it about seven times... it got so it was hard to find it. It was almost as good as "My so called life." It was the only show I've made a point of watching since the Super Bowl.

I haven't seen the Bachelor, but it sounds amusing.”

“Although it was kinda like watching Ken and Barbie play at marriage, I liked it. Why did they cancel such a great show? Especially after creating a great bunch of new story lines?”

“I agree w/ Twig. Although the story lines where interesting, I got sick of the so happy, let's do it couple.”

“I agree that the main couple was a little too sweet and Sela Ward got to be a little too wonderful. I liked it best when she was a little less wonderful. Still, in the age of cynicism, this didn't bother me as much as it once might have. I guess this is the main reason I liked "My So Called Life" even better. Still the show had a humanity and nuance that is really rare on TV... and the ensemble acting was incredible.

Basically, I think ABC under Disney gets worse and worse - they sabatoged the show by the way they kept moving it around and their failure to promote it well even with the awards it won.”

“In the beginning it seemed like Alex was in for the ride of his life, and now he may well end up just being the target of 20+ scorned women.

I wasn't surprised he didn't pick Shannon. I wouldn't have picked her either. They never have shown anything attractive about her (unless you are a major dog lover). Her comments afterward were a little naive IMHO.

My wife finally watched for the first time and thinks Alex is just a breast man. I thought that was a shallow thing to say. After all, he is a high level consultant and needs to consider everything.

Thursday at 8 p.m. the 23 rejects get to sound off on Alex. I think that will be interesting. Does anyone see how any guy could win in his circumstances?

This show has turned out to be cruel to some nice girls. The only thing you can say is they knew what they were getting into and got paid for their trouble.

Not sure I will watch the next time this program comes around.”

“I wanted to say that I started watching the bachelor half way through. I didn't think that I would enjoy it, but I found that I was intrigued and watched every week thereafter.

I've been reading at how some feel sorry for the girls on the show, but they knew what they were getting into when they signed up.

I think that the bachelor had the girl he wanted picked out from the begining and has just been enjoying the "perks" of the remaining shows.”

“Like you said earlier...the girls are hoping for some "aftermarket" action. I don't really think they care if they get to be the bride.”

“I tried to summarize last nights three dates:
1. Alex finds out about Amanda's annullmnet and her boobs (Classic line I had never thought of: "Tell me about your boobs").
2. Shannon gets pissed off again (and again).
3. Alex gets sick for Trista.

Either the editing was bad or these some of these weren't spectacular dates.”

“Trisha is a hottie but seems to be a bit on the jealous side. He just needs to bang her for what it's worth.

I'd say he'll pick Amanda.”

“I vote Amanda too... didn't you notice that Shannon is capable of a pissy mood all too often, and that neither she nor Trista partook of available sack time?

I think Alex knows that his tryst with Amanda was more serious than either of the other two put together. He was being loyal to her, and out of respect, engineered his circumstances with Trista (Shannon set herself up for the fall to begin with).

Bets, gentlemen?”

“Amanda is the one with the big rack right????Farm raised, right??? A hay bale chucker is just what that Harvard Boy needs. BINGO!
Shannon is playing that Catholic School girl image all the wrong way. Give it up sista! and Trista, mousey, timid, and doubting from the start, alot of mental baggage.”

“Alex still needs to bury his face in Trista's cleavage before he's done with her. I would!”

“Obi - You seem to have a lot of insight here.

I was thinking he was leaning toward Trista, but now think the pendulum is swinging Amanda's way. Trista seems very competitive and may just be trying to win a contest more than anything. Also, Trista's "confession" about orgasms may have hurt her with Alex.”

“crap, I missed it! So is he down to two now? I'm glad he got rid of Shannon, who knows what things she hinted at but wouldn't tell him.
Personally, I don't think Alex is much of a prize, but whatever.”

“Twig - I don't see how any guy could go through that gauntlet and come out looking as good as he went in. You are doomed when everything is focused on rejecting people. Also, how can you be truly sincere with a relationship when everyone knows there is more than one relationship going on. This program has re-emphasized the advantages and uniqueness of a monogomous relationship.

Two of the three dates on Monday night were busts. Shannon wouldn't even take off her robe to get in the hot tub for a long time. After three dates she still was very distant. She kept getting pissed at Alex for asking questions. At one point he asked the cameras to leave so they could talk in private. That really pissed her off. After she didn't get a rose, her comments really revealed her bitter side.

With Trista, Alex got sick on a helicopter ride in Hawaii and started barfing. He had to cancel their evening date to stay in bed. She showed up in her cocktail dress and just sat with him for the evening and they talked. The next day he was OK and they had some quality time.

Things got really hot with Amanda. I think he ended up doing the whipped cream/chocolate syrup thing with her.

Thursday night at 8 p.m. the 23 rejected girls get to sound off. Then at 9 p.m. Alex's family gets to meet Amanda and Trista.

I agree with Obi...I think Amanda has nosed into the lead.”

“thanks for the update - I'm definately tuning in Thursday night.”

“Obi - The more I think about what you said, the more I think you may be right.”

“It would be a scream if Alex came out in the final episode. Talk about some VERY upset viewers.”

“HPM - I SAID THE SAME THING SOMEONE YESTERDAY. WHAT A RIOTOUS POSSIBILITY! (Well, it is on Disney-owned ABC).”

“Thanks, Phil... no crystal ball here, just the voice of experienced observation - which has been wrong on more occasions than I care to admit...

But Amanda "nosing" into the lead... that's a classic... wished I'D said that!”

“Obi - I bow to your experience then. And I'm glad you caught the inuendo.

On the ABC website they have alot of remarks from the episode and some threaded discussions. I didn't have time to poke around, but there are some juicy rumors flying.”

“Whipped cream and Chocolate syrup?! Barf-o-Rama! I would be so disgusted by a guy if he pulled that one out. Thanks for keeping me posted. I'm always in class when the show is on.”

“Trista, Amanda, I've been thinking real hard and I'm giving the rose to.......



















Bob.
(cue dramatic music and close up on looks of horror on ladies faces)”

“LOL!!

On the Bachelor website Alex said that he and Amanda had gotten chocolate all over the place so they couldn't stay in the room all night.

...I think Amanda may have the pulled into the lead”

“So, because Amanda was willing to sleep with the guy, she's pulled into the lead? Am I reading this correctly?”

“No, Smiley, because she was willing to swim around in freakin' chocolate syrup, she's in the lead. Awful!”

“I think some people just really like chocolate!

Anyway, the way it started was they were given the key to the Presidential suite by the host. Amanda said, "Let's go!" and Alex ordered chocolate syrup, whipped cream, and a plastic sheet from room service.

Of the final three girls, it appears to me that Alex connects the best with Amanda but really likes Trista a lot for her qualities.

Trista made an interesting confession to Alex and, to her chagrin I suppose, it was aired nationally. She said she has never had an orgasm during intercourse. Alex, being the considerate Harvard/Stanford grad that he is, offered to help change that. Sickening, huh? (I should report that on the ABC threaded discussion board the rumor is that Alex slept with Trista "off-camera" the last day with her. But that is just a rumor and I don't like to spread rumors, so forget I said it.)

We'll find out tonight what is going on. The ABC on-line poll about "Who Alex should pick?" was running 60% for Trista. Alex is going to really have to explain his final decision and clear up this chocolaty mess.”

“Hopefully Trista will runaway with Amanda and leave Alex with the rose.”

“I cut and pasted this from the ABC website. Alex was interviewed yesterday and this was just one question from about 25 or 30.

Onstage10 asks: "What is the most important quality your woman must have for you to really "feel" the connection with her?"

Alex Michel says: "She has to be someone who can be my best friend. She has to be smart, she has to have a good sense of humor and she has to be cool."

All this was filmed in February and has been kept secret until tonight. I gathered from the responses that Alex did pick one of the women and he is progressing with her. His answers were short and cautious, but insightful in some ways. He said he aged 2 years in one month.”

“Oh, yes. The bachelor's favorite TV show is The Simpsons. Now it all makes sense.”

“Phil, was there ever any doubt?”

“Obi - You're the man! You called it. Alex picked Amanda and seemed pretty happy about it. They are supposed to be on "Good Morning America" tomorrow. Someone let me know what happens.

The 23 other girls didn't trash Alex as much as I expected. I guess they got paid good enough and knew what was going on.”

“It's finally over. Now we can go back to talking about dogs, guns and ATV's on the trail. :o)”

“I hope he at least tried to give Trista the big O.”

“You know, there's a side of this which, for some odd reason, doesn't seem to be getting the potential credibility it deserves...

Assume, for the moment, that Alex is a genuinely honorable man, a man with integrity. He really IS loooking for a lifemate, and, since his "life" is out there for all the world to see, he's understandably cautious, yet determined. In every way, he's a HOPEFUL romantic, mature, and approaching this notoriety, this public exposure, with style and grace.

What about Amanda? Young, attractive, perhaps not as "seasoned" as her elder competitors, but seemingly honest and genuine with her OWN feelings, and not so "competitive" that she must trash others to gain position.

It seems to me that if one looks at their relationship NOW, with knowledge of how it evolved amongst the others competing for face time, it's very much similar to what MY perception of a healthy progression of events might be, were I watching this occur with a close friend. Dare I admit, such progression I'd enjoy in my own life, and at times, I have.

There's a part of me which senses the existence of a genuine, sensible, and honest relationship - at least the potential for it to be long-lasting. I knew that Amanda was Alex's choice - or felt I did, anyway - when he had his first of three individual dates with the remaining women, Amanda being the first of them. You'll note that Alex had no second thoughts about the progression of events leading to their overnighter together. He carefully, perhaps cleverly, engineered the circumstances so that the same dilemma wouldn't cloud ohis thinking, and distract him from his conclusions. In short, and as I said, I believe him to have been an honorable man throughout all this, and as a function of that, he never had any intention of "violating" his psychological commitment to Amanda.

The test of a good decision being the test of time, my crystal ball's a little foggy, but if I had to engineer a pairing of two people, I'd have no trouble taking credit for bringing Alex & Amanda together.

Finally, I believe he handled the final moments with reason and aplomb. He didn't propose, which no doubt made mom and dad happy, yet, he was more than willing to express his desire to commit, long-term, to exploring something he felt in his heart had the best potential for success (read: happiness).

Just my opinion.”

“I happened to catch them on Good Morning America just now. Both Amanda and Trista were at the studios, but Trista wanted to be interviewed separately to allow Alex and Amanda to have their moment.

Apparently Alex and Amanda have not been allowed to see each other since the filming in February for confidentiality reasons. Now they can start dating again and it looked like they were both ready to go.

Trista looked hotter than ever, IMHO. She was very gracious, but admitted she was bummed for several weeks. She knew that Amanda had really fallen for Alex from the beginning and wished them success.

One thing that both Amanda and Alex commented on was how cruel the process was of rejecting women at each stage.

Obi - You may be right about how Alex engineered things. I wonder how much of what we saw was coached or because of creative film editing. It seemed to me that Alex was trying very hard to get close to Trista and Shannon, but it wasn't that easy.

Do you think they will invite us to the wedding?”

“Honorable? Perhaps. But did you notice he picked the one with the bigger boobs?”