'The Bachelor': Jillian Next 'Bachelorette'; Jason & Molly Happy

We've got a live-updating The Bachelor: After the Final Rose part II blog tonight. What will happen now? Will Jason dump Molly and then betroth Ty to Stephanie's daughter Sophia? It wouldn't surprise me. I'm hoping they are going to announce Jillian as the next Bachelorette. I adore her.

There is an unnecessary video recap of the season finale and the After the Final Rose part I. Blech. If you happen to have just emerged from your cave for the first time in six months, here is a recap. After four minutes of that, we join Chris and Jason in the studio. Nevermind, we get FOUR MORE minutes of video recap. Sigh.

We now welcome Naomi, Kari, Crazy-Eyes Nikki, erica and Stephanie to the studio. So Jillian really MIGHT be the next Bachelorette. BE JILLIAN! Anyway, the girls' reactions are interesting. Nikki calls it heartbreaking. Stephanie was really moved by his gut-wrenching pain but sort-of compares it to her own life. I don't think him choosing Molly on a reality show is the same as your husband dying in a plane crash. But maybe that's just me. Erica tries to get some screentime by acting like Jason decided the final rose based on, I don't know, a Magic 8 Ball or something. Naomi says she's mad at Jason because Melissa is her homegirl. Kari... who the hell is Kari? Does anybody remember her?

Chris then polls the audience for their thoughts. A girl who likes Molly says he made the right choice. Psssh, that's Jason's sister. An angry woman says what he did was not fair. Psssh, that's Melissa's cousin. Naomi chimes in that Melissa is "America's Sweetheart." When did Reese Witherspoon relinquish the crown to some no-name NFL cheerleader from Dallas? Chris makes the one guy in the audience come speak. I try to listen but am distracted by his guacamole-green sweater.

Jason now comes to the stage. The audience boos and riots and throws rotten tomatoes at him. No, they don't. But that would've been cool. Chris informs us that it has now been six MORE weeks since he dumped Melissa and asked out Molly. Hmm.

After another silly video recap of Jason dumping Melissa (who was SO RIGHT to be mad at him about taking away her engagement because it should be a once-in-a-lifetime thing). Back in the studio, he tries to defend himself. Frankly, it still boils down to you dumping her in a TV studio with cameras rolling, so get bent, Jason. He tries to say that he hopes Ty will think he handled this with dignity and integrity. Integrity? Really? That's what you think you have? Gag me.

Jason then calls Melissa the "ultimate wife"  and Molly his "best friend" who "challenges" him. Well, it's kind of the difference between a Natasha Girl and a Katy Girl. That still doesn't absolve him but I get that. Your partner should be your best friend who challenges you. Sigh. I still don't like you, Jason. But I get it.

We now get Molly's reaction. She has ditched that headband and awful poufy hair, thank god. We get ANOTHER video recap of Molly's reaction to Jason. Guh. Back in the studio, Chris asks Molly if she thought about not taking him back. She says her feelings for him didn't go away. Hmm. That's a non-answer. She also does say they had plenty of serious conversations and didn't get back together right away. She grilled him pretty hard the night he asked her back. Well, good for her.

Jason joins Molly onstage. They seem all touchy-feely and iterate that they have a stronger appreciation for each other having gone through all they went through. Molly tells us she is moving to Seattle and then they smooch. Well, if they are happy... good for them. Chris then gives them a tent so they can "be [them]selves and let stuff happen." Snerk. Okay, that was funny.

Now we get what we've all been waiting for!!! Who is the next Bachelorette?!?! Chris says it was a pretty decision for them to make. He says the ground-swelling support for her to be the next Bachelorette was overwhelming. And it's Jillian!!!! Yes! I knew it! I'm very pleased at this turn of events.

I hear they asked Melissa to do it, but her heartbreak was too fresh. Plus, I think people like Jillian better. She seems smarter and more grounded than Melissa. Plus, she's a little older and more mature. This is fantastic. I cannot wait for the next season.

What do you guys think? Did Jason and/or Molly redeem themselves tonight? Are you super-pumped for the Jillian season of Bachelorette?

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