BACHELOR PAD 9/12/11: Season Finale

FINALLY the season has come to an end.  While this season was SO much more dramatic than last season, I have to admit I was waiting for it to be over.  With all the personalities on this season, I think my tolerance was tested a lot more this time around.  Just some thoughts on the finale:

• It wasn’t a surprise that Kirk & Ella were the ones voted off in that first challenge.  While their determination was very high, they just didn’t have that chemistry and connection that the other 3 couples did…and really why should they…they were the only couple who WASN’T a couple (or wasn’t one at some point).  Felt bad for them…they really didn’t cause any drama and they really could’ve used the money.  But at least Trista, Jason & Alli were fair with their voting.
• OMG…how worried was I that Michael & Holly were going to bring Kasey & Vienna to the finale?!  MAN.  Especially after that talk they had with Michelle & Graham.  But I guess that was the show trying to make us THINK that K&V would make it to the end.  THANK GOD Michael stayed true to his alliances/friendships.  If anyone was a stand-up guy, it was Michael.  And I’m glad he stuck to that.  Still don’t understand WHY the other teams/couples KEPT giving K&V all that power!  Did NOT understand that.  Altho really…K&V had NO CHANCE of actually winning this whole thing.  I don’t think ANY of the contestants would’ve given it to them.

Now on to the actual finale:

• First of all, WHAT THE HECK happened to Ella’s nose?!  I know Vienna got a nose job, but Ella?!  WHY?!  It looks horrible!  At first she almost looked like a different person!  Don’t understand WHY she did it!
• Felt bad for Jackie that she was still so devasted about her breakup with Ames…but truthfully I never thought they were a good fit.  And obviously Ames felt the same way.  Still sad tho.  Poor Jackie is STILL SO hung up on Ames…she kept looking over at him, she looked SO sad.
• I’m still more Team Jake than I am Team Vienna…and I think I always will be after this.  Vienna is just ridiculous and still is.  You can tell most of the housemates (with the exception of Erica) don’t believe her, and she never really said anything nice to Jake.  She only tried to cover her own butt/reputation…which really did NOTHING.
• Kasey seemed genuine about how he couldn’t believe the way he acted on the show…but somehow I just didn’t totally buy it.  You can tell he has some heart tho…When he apologized to Jake, that was pretty big of him.  Yet on the other hand, altho he says the relationship he had with Vienna on the show ISN’T what he wants, I can see her just manipulating him after this taping and him just falling right back into it.  So…my feelings towards Kasey haven’t really changed.  He still annoys me.
• Blake was probably the hardest to watch.  I still can’t believe he and Holly are ENGAGED.  ALREADY.  Man that was fast!  I didn’t have the most respect for Holly anyway, so I guess they’re made for each other…and they can go off and live happily ever after with each other.  Blake is still so fake to me, and when he was trying to cover himself about the way he “played the game” with Melissa…Umm…NO.  Not buying ANY of it.  He totally led her on, and her being SO unstable…that was the worst thing he could do.  So even if he didn’t mean it, he was THAT DUMB that he still did it.
• Michael finding out about Holly & Blake’s engagement was THE MOST AWKWARD thing EVER.  Did they HAVE to do it like that?!  Never heard SO MUCH SILENCE in my life on TV!  Poor guy.  You could tell he was just blindsided by it.  And Holly didn’t really say anything to try to appease the situation.  Michael handled it really well tho, considering the circumstances.  Holly is actually SO LUCKY that Michael’s such a good guy…the reaction could’ve TOTALLY gone another way…

RESULTS:

• You could tell Holly & Michael were going to win.  Especially after Michelle explicitly said NOT to give her any sympathy votes.
• You KNEW Holly wasn’t going to choose “Keep,” not after everything she put Michael through.  They made you think Michael MAY have considered screwing Holly…but after all we’ve seen of Michael, he could never have done that to Holly, no matter how hurt he was about her and Blake.  It was a very “sing song” ending…very sweet.  Not the happiest that Holly got money, but glad that Michael didn’t get screwed in the end.  Now THAT would have been the ultimate wouldn’t it?!

THE NEW BACHELOR:

• So it’s offical — Ben is the new Bachelor.  Good choice?  I guess so.  I would’ve rather had Ames, but I don’t think he could do that to Jackie…knowing how hung up she still is, and for him to go and do the show…that would’ve be a total “kick her while she’s down” move.  Ben is deserving of finding someone tho…he really did get his heart broken by Ashley…especially because he got down on one knee and everything!  I wouldn’t say I’m the biggest Ben fan…and he’s not the most open and outgoing guy to be THE Bachelor, but he’s a nice guy so I’m glad he’s getting his chance now.

BACHELOR PAD 9/5/11

Wow.  I didn’t even realize that this is the 2nd to the last episode already!  That was fast!  Just some quick thoughts:

• Haha to Kasey & Vienna during the Nearlywed Game!  See what you get for being SO SMUG…idiots.  They new NOTHING about each other!
• Gotta give it to Michelle & Graham…how smart to come up with a strategy like that!  In a way it was SORTA cheating since practically all their answers weren’t true, but…no one ever said they needed to be!  And it paid off ’cause they won!  They actually seem to make a good couple.  Amazing how DIFFERENT Michelle comes across this time around huh?
• Vienna & Kasey’s fight over sex was RIDICULOUS.  They are SUCH DRAMA QUEENS.  BOTH of them.  I CANNOT STAND them.  To be  honest, Kasey irritates me way more than Vienna…mainly because I KNOW Vienna’s like that.  Kasey is just so smug and I can’t stand the way he talks/sounds with Vienna.  Ugh.  So annoying.  Still don’t understand WHY he’s with her…altho he’s so irritating that they’re kinda made for each other.
• Holly & Michael…Again I’m still torn.  I understand what Holly was saying about how Michael broke her heart…and let 3 months pass without trying to win her back…NOW only when she’s falling for Blake is Michael now throwing himself at her.  I can see how that hurts her and is sorta annoying.  But on the other hand, it’s pretty bad that Holly’s blatantly flirting/making out with Blake WELL-KNOWING how Michael feels about her.
• WHY in the world did Blake & Erica give the roses to Kasey & Vienna?!  SERIOUSLY?!  IDIOTS!  It’s SO ANNOYING how people STILL think Kasey & Vienna have THAT MUCH power.  It’s only because EVERYONE is ALLOWING that to happen!  Come on!
• SO HAPPY that Ella & Kirk didn’t get booted!  The two of them are the ONLY ones I actually am kinda rooting for.  Mainly because they really do both need the money…and they don’t get totally sucked into the whole drama thing.
• THANK GOD Erica & Blake are gone. Actually, mainly BLAKE.  If I had to watch him in ONE MORE EPISODE…I don’t know if I could take it.  He EPITOMIZES SLEAZE.  Ugh.  I couldn’t STAND him.  Him and Holly…UGH.  Holly’s little “love letter” to Blake after he got booted?  GAG ME.  Good riddance…that’s all I can say.

Finale next week…Rooting for Ella & Kirk.  Kinda looking forward to seeing all the previous booted people too.

BACHELOR PAD 8/22/11

This was a pretty big episode…just because of the outcome.

Some thoughts:

• Gotta say…the guys’ synchronized swimming routine was GOOD.  They were QUITE in sync and really did a great job!  The girls on the other hand…were pretty BAD.  Maybe the girls assumed they would do better than the guys, so they didn’t try as hard.  In any case, I’m giving props to the guys for that one.

• The whole Michael & Holly thing is kinda getting old…and we’re only 3 episodes in.  Yes yes…we know that they both still have strong feelings for each other…yet they’re still not sure if they wanna just jump right in.  I honestly don’t really see what’s so great about Holly.  She seems like a nice enough girl and all, but…Eh.  Michael seems like such a genuine guy…I feel like he could do better. Sorry.
• OK…Melissa is CRAZY.  Man, she is SO EMOTIONAL.  I remember her being that way during Brad’s season, but…she’s just too much.  She’s so sensitive and gets so worked up so easily!  I understand why Blake was playing her, but considering how “fragile” she is, he was dumb to string her along like that.  He’s a jerk.  I don’t like him AT ALL.
• Once again Kasey is irritating me to NO END.  Vienna is too, but Kasey just gets under my skin.  He MAY be a geniune and good guy, but…the fact that he’s SO in love with someone like Vienna?!  I’m sorry.  He’s lost my respect in that aspect already.  HELLO?!  The whole “promise ring” thing was just too much.  Such a grandstand play imo.  Ugh.  I hate the way he talks…he’s SO COCKY…and he acts like she’s just “the s***”…and I’m NOT impressed AT ALL.  Get over yourself guy.  Sorry.
• Altho Erica comes across as totally superficial and dumb…she’s actually KINDA smart in some ways.  At least she’s a bit more level-headed and “all there” compared to Melissa.  I mean, Melissa makes Erica look totally normal.   Erica and Jake were both playing each other, and that’s fine…altho I do think Erica was actually attracted to Jake.
• Kasey & Vienna’s argument about Jake was interesting.  Like Kasey, I didn’t understand why Vienna was actually being pretty civil and almost nice to Jake.  What happened to “I hate him” and “I’m terrified of him”?!  If that was the case, wouldn’t she deliberately avoid Jake?!  Instead she said FROM HER SIDE all those “nice” things…!  WTH?!

I have to say I was kinda sad to see Jake go.  Mainly because Jake leaving meant that Kasey WON.  Ugh.  Talk about adding even MORE to his ego (how can there be any room left?!)!  While Jake may have been just playing the game the whole time…he did make for interesting TV!  Now it’s just the “Vienna & Kasey show.”  Bleh.

Photos Credit:  ABC

BACHELOR PAD 2 – 8/15/11

I can’t believe it’s been only a week since the premiere episode!  For some reason, it feels a lot longer.  Weird.

Anyway, my thoughts on this week:

• I cannot STAND Kasey.  I didn’t like him last week, and this week was even WORSE.  Mainly because he’s so GOSH DARN COCKY.  It’s SO irritating.  He basically feels he’s the “King of the World” right now…and the way he talked to Gia was SO ANNOYING.  Not to mention when he made his “protect your heart” tattoo pulsate.  GIVE. ME. A. BREAK.
• I totally understood why Gia left.  She was a BIT of a melodramatic about it (of course), but still.  I was GLAD she didn’t give Kasey (& Vienna) the satisfaction of voting her off.  Especially after Kasey talked to her in the way he did.  Too bad tho…Gia kinda made good TV…and she’s still probably the prettiest one there.  Jake lost one of his only allies too.
• JAKE VS VIENNA:  I still don’t know how I feel about Jake.  He OBVIOUSLY is still is SUCH an over-the-top dramatic…but he was drowning and totally tried to do whatever he could to save himself by asking Kasey & Vienna to help him out.  The way Kasey & Vienna reacted/treated Jake was…UGH.  I KNOW that I still don’t like Vienna FOR SURE.  Don’t you just LOVE how Vienna was blaming Chris Harrison and the show for MAKING her be on this show with Jake.  Get over yourself, V. This show is NOT all about you (altho right now drama-wise it kinda is ), and you HAD to know they would bring Jake back on JUST for the drama.  And you KNOW you love all the attention on yourself anyway.
• CHALLENGE:  Poor Erica.  I would be devastated too to know that practically ALL the guys thought she was unattractive.   Kinda felt a bit sorry for Jake too…that all the girls thought he was the next to leave (altho I would’ve bet that as well ).
• Blake is SUCH a jerk.  We talk about all the OTHER sleazes and jerks in the house…but Blake is RIGHT UP THERE.  To string Melissa along and totally make out with her JUST to convince her to back him up.  UGH.  In a way he’s SO DUMB as well because of all people, Melissa is the ONE person you WOULDN’T want to screw over.  She’s SO emotionally unstable (and it showed in this episode).  IDIOT.  Good for him tho.  Now he’s got a bit of a target on his back.
• Poor Michael & Holly.  They obviously still have SUCH strong feelings for each other.  I don’t know about this experience bringing them back together tho.  I wasn’t a big fan of Holly’s…but Michael seems like such a genuine guy.  Hope he doesn’t get hurt again.
• THE TWIST:  Haha…When Chris announced that NO GUYS would be leaving this week, I was like…BATCHI Kasey & Vienna.  They thought they had it TOTALLY IN THE BAG as far as Jake going home.  Then they got screwed.  It was pretty awesome actually.  Altho you KNOW the show did that JUST to be able to keep Jake on for AT LEAST one more episode.   But…it is THEIR show so they can do whatever they want.
• JACKIE & AMES:  Aww…talk about a romantic ending!  Ames giving up his chance at the $250,000 to be with Jackie!  I still wasn’t the biggest fan of Jackie (she lost my support during her season’s Women Tell All episode).  Ames was still quite attractive, and it was so sweet when he ran after the limo to jump in there with Jackie and leave the show.  I hear they’ve already broken up tho in real life now right?  Eh.  Not surprising.

THE BACHELOR *POLL*: Tenley or Vienna?

THE BACHELOR 2/15/10: 3 down to 2

St. Lucia!  What a beautiful place!  Kinda reminded me of Hawaii a little bit…

GIA:

• I did like the way Jake & Gia related to each other when they were on their date.  Very comfortable and natural.  Was nice to see them get along so well and be like a “normal” couple, shopping together.
• I still felt like Jake & Gia don’t quite have that DEEP connection with each other.  Jake LOVES to say how BEAUTIFUL Gia…which she totally is.  She is gorgeous.  I bet the whole time he’s thinking “she’s way outta my league…”  ‘Cause of all the girls left, Gia’s definitely the “cover girl/magazine” kine pretty.
• Poor Gia!  It was the obvious choice to boot out at the end of this “round,” but still…felt really bad for her!  You could tell she developed some REAL DEEP feelings for Jake.  Only to get rejected THAT CLOSE to the end.
• I have to commend Gia on such a classy exit!  She really handled the rejection well (at least when she was with Jake).  She seemed to really respect his decision and didn’t put up a fight.  Of course, when she got into the car and was “alone,” she really let all her emotions fly…and she was devastated.  The way she was talking about how she takes so long to get over things like this…I can totally see that happening, especially this time around because in her eyes, Jake was so much “better” than any other guy she’s been with before.  Plus with all her insecurities, I’m sure she’ll be questioning of she wasn’t worthy in some way, etc.  I hope she can find someone great who can really treat her the way she should be treated, because Gia REALLY seemed like a nice girl.

TENLEY:

• I always like Jake & Tenley’s conversations because they actually MEAN something.  Tenley’s great because she always asks meaningful questions, things that are based on values, morals, actual RELATIONSHIP questions.  It shows she’s really trying to find the RIGHT guy for her.
• It was SO SWEET when Jake asked Tenley to dance after their dinner, knowing how important dance is in her life…such a “prince-ly” thing for him to do!
• Tenley’s video message to Jake was very heartfelt and sweet.  Only thing I could see Jake being “weary” about was the fact that everything Tenley says about him and their relationship is so “perfect fairytale.”  You can see a lot of HIGH EXPECTATIONS there.  The way she was talking, Jake’s ALREADY meeting her expectations, but…I can see where it’s almost too good to be true.  In any case, I’m glad Tenley got that first rose in the rose ceremony…she didn’t have to sweat it out!  Still rooting for her all the way!

VIENNA:

• I can see why Jake keeps “clinging” to Vienna.  She brings out a side in him that none of the other girls do.  He’s so much “lighter” and goofier with Vienna.  It’s the fun, adventurous side.  Which I can see he thrives on and loves.  BUT, is that the only thing he’s basing his choices on where Vienna’s concerned?  I mean, yes…she’s fun…but she’s also immature!  Can he really see her as the mother of his children?!  Come on.
• What I still don’t see tho is the physical attraction with Vienna.  I mean seriously…she is NOT attractive physically.  Not at all, imo.  Plus, something’s wrong with her eyes…most of the time, when she’s looking straight at him…or even straight at the camera…her eyes look almost cross-eyed.  It’s weird.  Makes it hard to look at her.
• Oh, and WTH were all those questions to Vienna about what kind of engagement ring she likes?!  WHY THE FACE?!  Are they trying to tell us something?!  Either that or he actually did as ALL the girls that same question, but they only showed us Vienna’s response.  That BETTER be what happened…

• The whole Ali “I wanna come back” phone conversation was just…painful to watch.  And not in a touching way.  It was annoying.  I guess Ali HAD to give it one more try, in the hopes that the spark they had before she left was still there.  Those overnight dates really brought those 3 girls WAY ABOVE Ali…in just that short period of time.  Too little, too late Ali.  But she sure tried her hardest…all that moaning and groaning…like a baby.  Very annoying.  You could tell that if this were under different circumstances (like without these 3 other girls), Jake totally would’ve given her a second chance.  Glad he went with his heart and didn’t let her return.  That REALLY would’ve messed things up, I think.
• The one thing that annoyed me during the rose ceremony was when he gave Vienna the last rose.  He took SO LONG to say her name, and you could tell he had both girls playing ping pong in his head, not knowing which one to choose.  I felt it was almost disrespectful to the 2 girls because it almost seemed like he just flipped a coin in his head and was like…VIENNA.  If anything he should’ve taken a moment or something like he did in a previous episode and left the “room”.  Didn’t like that back/forth thing right in front of the girls with SUCH an important decision.  Maybe it really wasn’t like that, but the way it was shown on TV, I felt it came across that way, even tho I KNOW he had a hard time making the decision.  Almost makes it seem like Tenley should just win since he had SUCH an easy time giving HER that first rose.  Maybe between those 2 girls it doesn’t really matter because Tenley is just THE ONE.   I doubt that tho.

TENLEY vs VIENNA:

• Well, this is the PERFECT match-up going in to the final episode.  I mean…HOW DIFFERENT can these 2 girls be?!  Seriously.  I think we all kinda ASSUMED this is how it would turn out tho.  We know that Jake loves these 2 women for VERY different reasons.  As usual, if you could put together each of their best qualities (the best ones that Jake sees anyway) to make one woman, she’d be Jake’s ideal soulmate.
• Based on what we’ve been reading, if Jake’s decision will SHOCK people, it’s gotta be VIENNA or NO ONE.  I mean, him picking Tenley wouldn’t be a shock at all ’cause she seems PERFECT for him!
• If I had to bet on what I think will happen, altho I still hate the idea, he’s going to pick Vienna…and when he does, he’ll drop WAY down on my list.  Ugh.

THE BACHELOR: Deleted Hometown Scene

Found this short little snippet from Vienna’s hometown that they didn’t show on the actual episode…Jake talks to Vienna bout how different she is when she’s with him rather than around the other girls:

Jake actually seems really comfortable with Vienna here…and they seem very natural together.  Vienna also seems more “normal” here.  Not as irritating.  See, why don’t they show THESE moments to us?!  I’m sure it’s ’cause they want to create a certain image of Vienna.  Every girl has their “role” in this whole “cast.”