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'The Bachelor': The most dramatic post-finale reunion show EVER
Last night on The Bachelor: The Most Shocking Rose Ceremony Ever in the History of the Universe, which resulted in the WORST FINALE EVER. It was a total slap in the face for everyone who's been bothering to watch all season, and fairly cruel the way Brad led Jenni and DeAnna on. (And I'm not even going to get into the crazy rumors floating around about his ex-girlfriend.) Thus, I'm hoping that tonight's post-finale discussion will turn into a Brad Womack Beat-Down, the likes of which reality television has never seen before. (Sadly nonviolent spoilers ahead...)
We begin, however, with "a little surprise." Apparently, former Bachelorians Trista and Ryan are making their first primetime appearance as a family (ah, the age-old rite), now that they have a little baby boy. The kid is cute, but I'm pretty much completely uninterested, given the drama that will hopefully be ensuing as soon as Brad, Jenni, and DeAnna head out on stage. Chris then trots out what may be the only other Bachelor "success story": Byron and Mary, from season 6. So...this is clearly ABC trying to prove that this show isn't a total fraud. I'm far from convinced. Two couples in eleven seasons (plus one season of The Bachelorette) is hardly something to crow about.
Moving on to the meat of the episode (13 minutes in), Jenni heads out on stage to chat with Chris. We confirm that she was stunned, crushed, devastated, etc. when Brad rejected her, before getting a montage of Jenni and Brad's greatest hits. Half of which we saw just last night. The audience, it should be noted, boos when they show the clip of Brad dumping her. Right on, audience. Right on. I mean, he obviously shouldn't have chosen to stay with Jenni if he wasn't feeling it, but he certainly could have avoided leading her on like that. And Jenni confirms that she felt a little misled.
Fascinatingly enough, Jenni thought that Brad was with DeAnna until she saw the finale last night. Wow. And it made her even sadder to discover that he didn't choose either of them. Of course, she points out what I've been wondering: Why not stay with one of them just to see how it works, rather than go all-out with a proposal? On a sadder note, Jenni's super-awesome grandmother passed away a couple weeks ago. We get a great montage, which is actually pretty sweet, and very sad. But not enough to distract me from how lame last night's finale was, ABC. Nice try.
Next up: DeAnna, who is still confused as to what the heck happened. ABC, helpfully trying to clear things up, shows us another painful montage. God, it's the worst. He completely made this girl think that he was going to propose. Why tell her that he just dumped Jenni? And even more so, why even sign up for this show if you're not the kind of guy who can fall in love at the drop of a hat? Brad was clearly the wrong kind of romantic for The Bachelor.
Back in the studio, DeAnna explains that it felt like she laid her heart out on the table for Brad, and he stabbed her right through it. She says she knew when he started pacing around during the rose ceremony that something was wrong, and is angry that she put so much of herself into their relationship without any reciprocation. Plus, there's the understandable confusion that he wasn't able to choose anyone (not even just to date), and the difficulty of living with that fact for the past two and a half months. She still has hope for their relationship, which is a bit sad. This whole thing is a bit sad, yo.
Chris confirms that this is the first time in the show's history in which the Bachelor chose no one, and Brad enters the stage to a solid mix of applause and boos. He claims to be more disappointed than anybody (unconvinced murmuring in the audience), and that his heart was also broken. He spouts some junk about DeAnna deserving more than somebody saying "let's see what happens," when he wasn't really in love with her. However, apparently the production company flew DeAnna's father out at Brad's request, because he wanted to talk to her father before proposing. Okay, so I guess it would have been DeAnna (called it!), though he says he knew when he was shopping for rings that it didn't feel right. In one fell swoop, he addresses and denies the rumors that he has kids, is gay, is dating, etc. He doesn't quite seem to be winning the audience over. And for good reason, the jerk.
Jenni heads out to chat with Brad, and it's uncomfortable. She asks him why he didn't want to take a chance on someone, which he hilariously answers by saying that he didn't want to take a chance when he had feelings for both of them, and didn't want to mislead. She basically calls it as a load of garbage, considering he really led them on throughout the show. So...he liked both of them...but neither of them enough? And so didn't choose anyone both because he couldn't choose between the two of them, and because he didn't want either of them? This is all kinds of ridiculous.
DeAnna joins Brad on stage next, and they share a hug before she sits down nervously. She starts off by asking him how he couldn't have chosen either of them, and totally calls him on leading her on, even telling her that the day of the rose ceremony would be "a good day." She refuses to believe that there was nothing there for Brad, and she's pretty freaking awesome, to tell you the truth. He admits to not being perfect, and says that he just couldn't stay with her at all without having the same feelings she had. He claims to be a romantic, and to be heartbroken, and it's pretty freaking obnoxious. I mean, figure out what you're going to do before you get the girl's hopes up, dude.
DeAnna really gets angry when he says he still thinks about her every day, and wonders why he'd say things like that and yet still walk away from her. He repeats that he still didn't feel like there was something between them, and DeAnna gets even more upset. He's basically just jerking her around, if you ask me, and poor DeAnna is completely confused and heartbroken. Especially since she clearly hoped he'd change her mind upon seeing her again. Brad is the WORST, you guys. The worst. I mean, Jesus Christ. He seems to think his choice was the noble one, but he's handling this terribly. He heads off to work on his "issues" before receiving the ass-kicking that I'd been hoping for, and Chris hauls out the successful Bachelor couples to rub them in Brad's and our faces.
It's been an...interesting...season, you guys! And according to Chris, The Bachelor will be back in the spring. And it'll be missing a number of viewers thanks to this debacle of a season, I'd imagine, including myself. Clearly, having the Most Dramatic Rose Ceremony Ever isn't necessarily a good thing. Ugh.
Will you be watching the next season of The Bachelor, or did this season turn you off for good?
For more TV recaps and commentary, visit Liz at Glowy Box.
Hell No. What a total waste of time. And what a total loser. What is he, 35 now? Maybe he should question whether he will ever be able to commit . . . to anything. Couldn't commit to school, ran around for years until his brothers probably carried him into the bar business, where he let his head grow to great proportions as he watched the dollars roll in. Most women have seen this type of man before. He is of the circle of men who feel why buy the cow... well you know the rest...
L.M. | Nov 20, 2007 8:47:11 PM | #| Nov 20, 2007 8:47:50 PM | #
I say: the stupider, the better. Who takes this crap seriously anyway? Apart from Jenni, DeAnna, Bettina...
Irene | Nov 20, 2007 8:47:59 PM | #Is everyone blind? Does no one get the fact that this is a SHOW. All parties knew what they signed up for. Every season the girls feel "led on" - Hmmm...wonder why? I am sure they all sign contracts of some sort - and while no contract can dictate your feelings, etc.. I feel certain that the Bachelor is always made aware of his "commitment" - What do you think would happen if the guy said mid-season "I'm just not feeling it with any of these girls - sorry" -- What would the show/network say? I'll tell you what they would most likely say..."suck it up and fake it" or hopefully something more tactful - Bottom line: everyone knew they could get hurt and for sheer surprise factor - not exactly given all the right signals. It's always sad when people get their feelings hurt - but as long as everyone is honest in the end, everyone can move on. I say "sorry girls - wait for someone who truly has feelings for you" & "Brad - you didn't articulate it very well, but if you didn't feel it, you did the right thing"
I'll still be watching next season.
raquel | Nov 20, 2007 8:56:18 PM | #Bettina's father had this loser pegged...Brad took such umbrage at her father judging him. The whole show is about judging people.
Bill | Nov 20, 2007 9:00:19 PM | #Well said, raquel!!
| Nov 20, 2007 9:05:20 PM | #Doesn't anyone remember Jen Schefft turning down the guys when she was on this show? I think Brad did the right thing. Most of these guys dump the girl after the show anyway.
Sam | Nov 20, 2007 9:12:45 PM | #look i understand is is a show but these girls go on hoping for the best and they are real people who have feelings. if you ask me brad is inlove with Deanna he just doesn't know how to deal with it . he told her he really does miss her. you don't miss someone you don't love i just hope when he realizes it its not to late... i will not be watching next seasion unless i hear they worked things out and the idiot realized what he had...
Jenni called in Phoenix tv stations, said she found out last week he didn't pick DeAnna either. She's back with her ex boyfriend, has moved on.
I loved when DeAnna called him on his affirmations before the final rose ceremony.
I'll probably watch next season just to see how ABC handles it and who they pick as new bachelor. It is a show and kind of a joke, and all adults going into it, signing agreements and such, but it's still surprising to see such an unapologetic jerk - glad to see ABC didn't coach him, let him be a full-on jerk...
I'm the one who feels misled. I could have sworn that from the beginning of the show Brad was ready and willing to commit to SOMEONE. Also, I did not think Jenni was ready to commit to a man yet, she was too committed to her cheerleading career. Silly me! Now I wonder if Brad couldn't choose because he actually wanted the qualities both women had all rolled up in one woman, and that person didn't exist for him. He seemed more taken by their QUALITIES than who they actually were. Don't know if I'll tune in next season. I'm very disappointed with how this one ended.
Did anyone else get the feeling that this was taped long ago? They kept insisting that "America watched the finale last night", but Byron's fiance said "we're getting married in November." Um, hello, November is almost OVER, and why would you speak about the current month as if it's in the future? THE BACHELOR is far from reality folks, and tonight proved it. As Judge Judy would say, "Don't pee on my head and tell me it's raining."
Michael | Nov 20, 2007 9:58:45 PM | #Are you people crazy? Should Brad have committed to someone that he wasn't in love with? I just don't get why people think that just because he was given 25 girls to choose from that he was automatically supposed to fall in love. I think the girls who are all throwing themselves at him and wanting to marry him after only knowing him for a few weeks are the crazy ones, not Brad.
FC | Nov 20, 2007 10:02:30 PM | #"Should Brad have committed to someone that he wasn't in love with?" - no but the cad shouldn't have led them on like that, especially Deanna. Heartless sob was a liar and good on Bettina's dad for seeing through his fake-ass facade.
rbk | Nov 20, 2007 10:09:13 PM | #Ok but if he had chosen DeAnna then no one would have cared that he led Jenni on...right? It would have been okay to be saying how much he cared about both girls as long as he chose one. But because he didn't choose one he's all of a sudden a liar?
FC | Nov 20, 2007 10:13:25 PM | #Are we really supposed to feel sorry for girls who went on The Bachelor to find "true love". Give me a break. If Jenni or DeAnna had been on the previous bachelor they would also have been madly in love with that guy. Isn't it funny that every girl on every season of this show is madly in love with the guy? Anyone who wants to marry someone after only knowing them for a few weeks and only knowing them on a dating show is crazy. So just because Brad didn't fall in love makes him a jerk? I feel so bad for this guy.
Anne | Nov 20, 2007 10:18:34 PM | #He's always been a liar...
rbk | Nov 20, 2007 10:18:49 PM | #I think Brad is a real jerk, who thinks to much of himself, hope is bar business is going down the drain, he belongs in the gutter. He had us all fooled. I am not watching the show again.
leni | Nov 20, 2007 10:19:39 PM | #What I am most disappointed in is that he didn't try after the show. I know it doesn't usually work out, but that is part of the show, TRYING a relationship and THEN it tanks. We just want to believe he tried, at least I do. I have never understood how these girls can be so great and aren't already in relationships anyway. The fact is I got really mad that he didn't give them answers because I have been there. I have been in relationships where I wanted answers and haven't gotten them, that is why it seems so unfair and wrong and why we want Brad to pay for all the wrongs any woman has suffered for by the hands of an insensitive, cowardly man. The facts are that most of us probably know a man that didn't want us when we wanted him and then wanted us we he couldn't. He "misses Deanna more than she will ever know." kind of sums it up doesn't it??? He doesn't know what he wants, and didn't want to work for the relationship, it was supposed to come to him with a box of fireworks letting him know which girl was the best. HE SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST TRIED!!!! Then I could have understood better. I wish the girls luck in finding someone who is worthy of their time and love.
Brenda | Nov 20, 2007 10:54:37 PM | #C'mon y'all - it's a damn dating show!
It's "The Dating Game" on acid!
Anyone who participates on it gets what he or she deserves.
PS: And wouldn't this show be without a guest appearance by those media whores, Ryan & Trista?
JJ | Nov 20, 2007 10:55:27 PM | #Brad is clearly not an intelligent person or he would realize that he does not make sense. He says DeAnna deserves better than dating someone who is hoping things will work out, but that is how all relationships start. It is rare that two people feel exactly the same amount of feelings for each other. Clearly, Brad previously decided to propose to DeAnna before changing his mind, and he even still thinks about her daily. DeAnna probably feels the same way about him but is describing it differently, as "love" rather than "strong feelings" as Brad describes. Most committed loving relationships start in this way with feelings Brad describes, and it is ridiculous that he does not think those feelings are worth pursuing in a mere dating relationship without constant cameras involved. His actions prove that he is either lying about feelings in order to seem caring or lying in order to gain publicity. Either way, he does not realize how transparent his actions are. He does not make any sense and does not seem to care about these women. He only says he cares, but his actions do not show any care or concern or "strong feelings" for these women.
Claire | Nov 20, 2007 11:19:22 PM | # It may only be a dating game, but one that advertises it as being where you can possibly find your true love AND that the one bachelor who gets to do all of the picking REALLY wants to get married...not just wants to get to "love on" all of these women.
I say, "Scrap The Bachelor" and bring back "The Bachelorette", at least the women are in it for the reason of finding a life partner...not a "one show stand". Let the women be in charge of who gets a rose and who doesn't.
Why are we not talking about the fact that in the visit to Brad's family there was a missing person....duh, what happened to his OWN father? One doesn't need a PhD to understand that there are issues here regarding commitment and probably fidelity. So often, women are confused by men like Brad who act interested but in the end can't commit. It's not you DeAnna, Brad needs therapy to figure out his issues. These women got swept into something that Brad was playing out. It's a shame he doesn't know himself better so that he can stop hurting women. Also, Brad should understand that hugging and touching is a poor substitute for true communication.
Barbara | Nov 21, 2007 5:21:16 AM | #My feelings about the finale are two-fold. First, I think Brad absolutely led both women on which, while being completely hurtful and unfair, is probably somewhat demanded by his contract with ABC. As someone pointed out in this comments section earlier, what would happen if they guy just pulled out in the middle of taping!? They must have to at least pretend they're feeling things until the end of the season.
Second, I am glad Brad didn't pick either of the girls. Forget about whether or not he "felt it" with Jenni or DeAnna, the guy CLEARLY has some issues he needs to work out before he ends up in a long-term relationship! I was actually REALLY impressed that he admitted that to them (and millions of viewers) last night on ATFR. I mean, he's not pretending that he's some well-adjusted playboy. He's saying, "I don't know what happened with me, but I need to figure it out before I go on and date more women." Whether that's true or not, I suppose we'll only be able to keep track of by reading the tabloids (a less than convincing source of information, clearly), but I still think it took a lot of bravery to take the responsibility for what happened. Those women always seem a bit desperate when they fall in love with a man over a six-week period where they see him ALONE about FOUR times. The Bachelor sets itself up for a fall.
Sara | Nov 21, 2007 5:49:54 AM | #Let's put things in perspective here.
The guy and his family figured out a way to increase their business visibility - bars etc by sending the single twin in a supposedly search for a wife. They never realized he was not interesting enough to generate more media attention even when he pretends to be hones and ended up coming out as a real JERK!
Somewhere pretty soon some woman will come out saying she have been dating him all along and she gave him a break for the show but now they are back - actually it may be a male claiming the spot if you know what I mean.
The publicity stunt did not work I truly don't give a damn about his millionaire status here in NY millionaires like him - are dime a dozen and they are actually smart and educated besides being easy on the eyes
BeeZ | Nov 21, 2007 5:56:55 AM | #Rumors are flying he was still in love with his ex-girlfriend. He clearly Led the girls on. There was always something strange about him, come on admit it. I felt from the begining there was a disconnect with the girls. What I found troubling was when Deanna visited his family. I was kind of shocked when the attention turned to all the boys...Remember one brother pushing brad in the pool and so on? Deanna was just on the side lines. This was about publicity his family. And yes why wasnt his father mentioned? All the girls lives were open books and not Brads? The father that had him pegged was ON... Good for him, He knew what an uneducated ass this man was..Good for him.
Brad will be the Most hated Bachelor in History..Not for falling in love but for misleading two very sweet girls. Remember what his mother said to one, your not marrying brad you are marrying his family, give me a break lady, cut the cord already.
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