Bachelorette 9 - General Media - No Discussion

momoftrips wrote:

LOVE DEVELOPS ATOP THE HOLLYWOOD SIGN, SOULJA BOY TEAMS WITH
DESIREE AND THE BACHELORS FOR A ROCKIN' RAP MUSIC VIDEO, AND SOME
OF THE MEN DISPLAY THEIR VULNERABILITY IN THE RACE FOR ROSES,
ON ABC'S "THE BACHELORETTE"


R&B Pop-Rock Singer Andy Grammer Performs in a VIP Private Concert


Sparks Fly Between the 19 Remaining Men as They Jockey for Desiree's Time and Attention


"Episode 902" - A bridal shop provides the unlikely backdrop for Desiree's first one-on-one date with the tall, dark and handsome Brooks; rap superstar Soulja Boy carefully crafts an aptly named rap music video - "Right Reasons" - using Desiree and a group of slick bachelors; and Bryden is treated to a scenic, romantic road trip up the beautiful California coast. But some of the men are already fighting for Desiree's love and nearly come to blows. After careful deliberation, three men are sent packing as the Bachelorette attempts to make her fairytale come true, on "The Bachelorette," MONDAY, JUNE 3 (8:00-10:01 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.


Brooks is ecstatic when he gets the first date of the season, complete with Desiree driving them through the streets of Los Angeles in her baby blue Bentley. Making their first stop at a bridal shop, Desiree tries on lavish wedding gowns while Brooks looks dapper in a number of tuxedos. That is just the beginning of the whimsical date, as the Bachelorette decides that they should remain dressed like the top of a wedding cake throughout the date. After a quick stop at a cupcake truck, it's up to an exclusive seat high atop the world-famous Hollywood sign, which is celebrating its 90th year. For first time ever, a platform is built on the letter "L" for the couple to share their time together there. Over a romantic dinner, Brooks gets emotional as he shares unpleasant details of his parents' divorce. But the evening ends on a hot note when the couple share a first kiss as they slow dance at a private concert by singer-songwriter Andy Grammer. Will passion be enough to get Brooks a rose?


The next day 14 men join Desiree at a swank Malibu mansion to star in a rap music video appropriately titled "Right Reasons" with superstar rapper Soulja Boy. He carefully selects his rapping protŽgŽs to each play the part of an infamous man from past seasons. There's Wes from Jillian Harris' season, Justin and Kasey from Ali's season, and one bachelor even reprises Jason Mesnick's legendary tearful collapse. Desiree gets into the act, rapping about her journey to find the perfect man. However at the after party the competition heats up, with Ben interrupting Mikey's alone time with the Bachelorette, sparking the first confrontation of the season. Meanwhile, Brandon opens up about his tragic broken childhood. Will displaying his deep vulnerability earn him the group date rose or will it be a turn-off?


Bryden nets the last individual date this week and a scenic road trip up the California coast that takes them to their final destination, the posh Ojai Valley Inn and Spa. At an intimate dinner, Desiree's date relates a story about an accident that changed his life forever. The evening ends in a steamy hot tub with some passionate kisses, but will Desiree need more than this macho man has to offer?


At a tense, pressure-packed cocktail party, the men battle each other for time with Desiree before she makes her decisions, and two come close to duking it out. Meanwhile, another bachelor tries to reassure Desiree that he's ready to spend the rest of his life with her even though he had some problems with his last relationship.


At the end of the night after a dramatic rose ceremony, 16 men will be left to vie for Desiree's heart.


The 19 remaining men are:


Ben, 29, an entrepreneur from Dallas, TX
Brad, 27, an accountant from Denver, CO
Brandon, 26, a painting contractor from Costa Mesa, CA
Brian, 29, a financial advisor from Baltimore, MD
Brooks, 28, a marketing consultant from Salt Lake City, UT
Bryden, 26, an Iraq War veteran from Missoula, MT
Chris, 27, a mortgage broker from Seattle, WA
Dan, 30, a beverage sales director from Las Vegas, NV
Drew, 27, a digital marketing analyst from Scottsdale, AZ
James, 27, an advertising executive from Chicago, IL
Juan Pablo, 31, a former pro soccer player from Miami, FL
Kasey, 29, an advertising executive from San Luis Obispo, CA
Michael G., 33, a federal prosecutor from Miami Beach, FL
Mikey T., 30, a plumbing contractor from Winfield, IL
Nick M., 27, an investment advisor from Charlotte, NC
Robert, 30, an advertising entrepreneur from Los Angeles, CA
Will, 28, a banker from Chicago, IL
Zack K., 28, a book publisher from Newport Beach, CA
Zak W., 31, a drilling fluid engineer from Mico, TX

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On the premiere of Season 9 of "The Bachelorette," Desiree Hartsock fell hard for Ben Scott, thanks in large part to him bringing along his three-year-old son, Brody, for their first meeting.

The Huffington Post has an exclusive sneak peek (above) of Episode 2 (airs Mon., June 3, 8 p.m. ET on ABC) and -- shocker! -- it reveals that we've already got our villain for this season. Yep, everybody hates Ben.

Just as one bachelor is opening up to Desiree about his struggle with Type 1 diabetes, Ben swoops in to steal her away, even though he's already gotten his rose. "Ben already has a rose," one bachelor fumed. "It's disrespectful."

"I'm furious!" "It's ridiculous!" the bachelors vent. And then Ben walks in and the real confrontation begins. "Of all the guys in this house, it's Ben that everyone is having a problem with."

Watch the clip above to see for yourself, then tell us: Do you think Ben is a good guy or this season's villain?

Friday, June 07, 2013 ABC Television Network

PRESS RELEASE - ENTERTAINMENT - THE BACHELORETTE -- June 6th (Ben) press call transcript

TRANSCRIPT FROM THE JUNE 6 "THE BACHELORETTE" TELECONFERENCE WITH BEN

"The Bachelorette" airs MONDAYS (8:00 p.m. - 10:01 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.


Operator: Welcome to ABC's The Bachelorette call with Cathy Rehl as the leader. This call is being recorded. By staying on this call you are confirming that you consent to this recording. If you do not wish to be recorded, please disconnect from the call at this time. Thank you Miss Rehl you may begin your call.

Cathy Rehl: Good afternoon everybody and welcome to our call this week which will be for Ben, and yes we're going to have some of those calls where the guys are not eliminated from the show, but will have a continuing voice on the show. So, of course, Ben will be able to tell you, or talk to you about certain things, but not other things. Just to caution you about that, but we thought that the story line was a good one, having been a single dad and is a single dad and made sure that Desiree knew that was important and his contra talk so to speak with Michael. So with that, I will remind you that it's a question, one question and a follow up and we can start with the questions.

Operator: Ladies and gentlemen if you would like to ask a question please press star and the number one on your telephone keypad. Your first question comes from (Andrea Reiher) from Zap To It.

(Andrea Reiher): Hi Ben.

Ben: Hi.

(Andrea Reiher): Thank you for taking the time to speak with us today.

Ben: Thanks for calling in.

(Andrea Reiher): Well, we've seen in the previews for next week that you and Des seem to go off for a little impromptu one on one time. What can you tell us about that? How did you pull that off?

Ben: I think that's something you're going to have to watch and see. It's something that's pretty startling and we both truly enjoyed it and I think that's something you're going to have to watch and see.

(Andrea Reiher): And what can you tell us a little bit about Michael G.? He seems to really have it out for you.

Ben: Well Michael is wearing his heart on his sleeve. He's a great guy and what happened between us was unfortunate timing and you saw that when he had an issue with what happened he confronted me. He's not afraid to confront somebody when he has any type of issues, so unfortunately that's what happened between us and I think you're going to see that some things like this may continue to happen.

(Andrea Reiher): Great. Thank you.

Ben: Thank you.

Operator: Your next question comes from (Gina Scarpa) from RealityWanted.com.

(Gina Scarpa): Hey Ben.

Ben: Hey, how are you?

(Gina Scarpa): I'm good thanks. I was wondering what you thought about the comment this past week that you're a politician, always searching for the right answer or saying what people want to hear, or maybe that you couldn't be trusted. What did you think about that assessment of your personality?

Ben: You know I think that's an incorrect assessment of me. I say what I mean, I'm not trying to say the exact right thing or say something that I think somebody's going to want to hear, or do something I think somebody's exactly going to want me to do. As you saw, I did something that unfortunately hurt somebody's feelings and I felt very bad about that but it's something in the moment I felt was the right thing for me to do at the time, so I do not believe the assessment of me being a politician is actually a correct one for me at all.

(Gina Scarpa): And you know obviously Des is a bachelorette because she's looking for love and she wants to find a husband but, was there any part of you that was worried that maybe she wasn't ready to be a mother or step-mother right away to someone or did you have a feeling that she would be the kind of person that would welcome a child into her life?

Ben: That's a good question. The main reason I brought my son was to see how Des reacted once she knew that I was a father and she saw my son in person. It actually had to go two ways. 1) She's going to love the fact that I'm a father and that I'm so proud of my son, or it's going to show me that she is not ready to jump into that type of relationship where she has to step in and become a mother figure to somebody. So, that's one of the main reasons I brought my son, to see if she's ready for that and as you all can tell (inaudible) in the fact that I already have a son and that you know, I have part of my family that's already there so she was totally OK with that and it made me extremely happy and I think that's one of the reasons our relationship began to grow so fast.

(Gina Scarpa): That's a good answer. Thank you so much.

Ben: Thank you.

Operator: Your next question comes from Jennifer Peros from Us Weekly.

Jennifer Peros: Hi Ben, thanks for joining us today. Just to follow up with that last question, I mean I feel like after you had brought your son out, he's absolutely adorable by the way, you caught some kind of criticism from the other guys in the house. So, have you gotten any heat from bring him on the show, from like outside parties as well?

Ben: You know, everybody's going to have their own opinion on why they believe I brought my son. I know exactly why I brought him and as I said before, it was a big risk because it could have gone two ways. Desiree could have loved it or she could have decided that I'm not ready for the situation that this guy's in right now with already having a kid. But, it never once occurred to me what is everybody else going to think. It just occurred to me how is this going to (inaudible) Desiree and then also is my son's mother going to be OK with this. So, of course I conferred with her before any of this happened and she was OK with everything that happened on the show and in the end it really didn't matter to me what everybody else thought. It just mattered how this is going to affect me and Des.

Jennifer Peros: Great. And then I feel like you started to be portrayed as kind of like the villain on this season. Do you feel like unfairly targeted at all?

Ben: You know, that's for each and every person to decide on their own, but I think I did come in with the idea that I'm here (inaudible), let's find out if Desiree is the woman that I'm going to marry and that approach may not have been the way that some of the other guys had initially come in and I focus all my attention on trying to grow the relationship that Des and I have. Some of the guys saw that and we saw some of their reactions.

Jennifer Peros: Yes, we definitely did. Thank you so much.
Ben: Thank you.


Operator: Your next question comes from (Beth Kwiatkowski) from Realty TV World.

(Beth Kwiatkowski): Hi Ben, how are you?

Ben: Good, how are you Beth?

(Beth Kwiatkowski): Good. So you told Des during the premier episode that you had your son, Brody, with a friend which is kind of an unusual decision to make in your early twenties. Would you mind talking about that a little bit, like was it something you did intentionally and if so, how did you come to that decision?

Ben: I think that's one of the statements that I made on the show that has probably had the most I guess controversy about it. How it came off is not exactly how it was meant to be. My son's mother was actually my college girlfriend and we had Brody and we tried to make things work and in the end we really just sat down and talked and said what's best for our situation?

We don't want to get married just to get married because we have a kid. We want to get married because we're in love. In the end we decided that that's not where we were in our lives. So we thought it was better for Brody to have two parents who are very happy who aren't together than to have two parents that are together and are very unhappy because we had both seen that in our earlier childhoods and we didn't want that for our son.

We saw it with grandparents, but you know it's really just been the best situation Brody can ask for with what we're going through. Me and Stevie, which is my son's mother, we turned into best friends and we've kept a very good relationship. He is very happy. He knows he's very loved. I don't know if you've ever seen a happier kid, it's not the ideal situation, but it's definitely working out great, so she is really one of my best friends and that's what that comment meant was that even though we decided not to be together we will remain best friends.

(Beth Kwiatkowski): OK, awesome. At the cocktail reception during Monday night's episode there was a group of guys which included Brandon, Mikey and Michael G. that were talking amongst themselves about how you brought up the bar you owned and mentioned something about how previous backelors would have owned a bar and ended up turning it into five bars after appearing on the show. They kind of suggested you talked a lot more about your company than about your son. I just want to get your response to that and I guess, did you realize you were giving off that impression?

Ben: That comment actually surprised me, or that conversation. I mean, we all knew what everybody did. We all knew what everybody's business were. And they knew what mine was and sometimes I wonder if the fact of being a business owner makes you have a target on your back that are you doing this for the wrong reasons. I talked about my son all the time, but I talked about it with my group of friends and there were some people I didn't talk to more than others and some of those people I didn't talk to too much may have been in that group making that conversation, but I talked about my son all the time. I missed him a lot, from day one I missed him. He's everything, so that comment did catch me a little off guard, but some people may decide to make judgments without really trying to know somebody. That conversation doesn't really bother me because I knew the reason I was there and I was there for Des and they knew that.

(Beth Kwiatkowski): OK great. Thanks Ben.

Ben: Thank you.

Operator: Your next question comes from (Carrie Bell) from People Magazine.

(Carrie Bell): Good morning. I guess that I want you to expound on that a little bit because when I was watching that episode last night and usually we don't tell people until much farther in to the process and they've been eliminated and they understand whatever happened, but you have the rare opportunity to actually watch and episode and react to it immediately, so that conversation, a lot of shit got tossed about you and how was it watching that on TV because you obviously weren't privy to that while it was happening.

Ben: You know, going into this you realize you're going to hear some things that you may not have expected and that's one of the things about being on the show is you don't know what's happening with the other guys when they're not around you, you don't know what they're saying, you don't know what they're doing, you don't know about their time with Des. I've gone into this process with the understanding that some things may be said and I may see things that I may not like and then I see things that really surprise me and I do know I respect the guys for doing what they did and I'm not going into this worried about what other people said, how do I appear, I was exactly who I was and although some things didn't happen the ideal way that I would want them to, I don't have any regrets. It was a great experience and you know I don't have anything against any of the guys. They have their own opinions and the right to those opinions.

(Carrie Bell): The other thing I wanted to ask is you kind of had this whole thing with Des about, oh, it's out secret, I'm the first one who knows how good of a kisser you are, blah, blah, blah, but apparently you're not which I would imagine you also saw on the episode.

Ben: Sure. I mean, there's one thing about me. I didn't ask a lot of questions about how the other guys dates went. You know, it's just not something that I really wanted to hear, you know, how a date would go with somebody that I like. So, question you know, had Bill tried to kiss her? Nothing was more that the guys don't understand was that I know you're a good kisser. Basically saying that nobody knows about that, that's kind of our secret. I am pretty private with my relationships. Even though we're on a TV show that the nation is going to see, you don't necessarily want the guys that are still around here in that moment knowing anything about what you're doing with her, so you know I enjoyed in a setting that's so public having things that are private between us and it's got some romance to it and it has excitement to it.

(Carrie Bell): OK. I guess the important thing is you got in there anyway.

Ben: I'm sorry?

(Carrie Bell): I said that the important thing is you got in there at some point anyway.

Ben: Yea and Des is an amazing kisser.

(Carrie Bell): All right, thank you.

Ben: Thank you.

Operator: Your next question comes from Catrina Whiteman from Digital Spy.

Catrina Whiteman: Hi Ben. It's great to speak to you today. I wanted to ask you, do you think that any of the tension with guys, do you think that any of it was caused by the fact that you got the first rose on the first night? Was there a bit of jealousy there do you think?

Ben: I've had that question asked of me by friends and family and that's something I don't know because I don't know exactly why they're feeling the way they're feeling. It was unfortunate the timing when I walked in on Michael and Des' conversation. That's something that each guy on the show is going to have to answer for himself because I don't know. I still don't know the reasons they say or do the things they do but from what I hear it does. Getting the first roses is not always the best thing, but it was for me. It was more about how my relationship with Des was growing and that's just more confirmation that, you know, hey, this is where I really need to be right now. This is something that I really need to be pursuing so in my opinion, it didn't bother me either way. It was a great step for me and Des on our journey.

Catrina Whiteman: OK, that makes sense. When all this drama was happening, were you at all worried that it would get back to Des and she would see you differently. Was that something you were kind of thinking about, I'm going to have to talk to her about this?

Ben: You know, not really. That didn't really ever cross my mind. I don't focus on the negative things so I wasn't going to sit there and let what happened between me and Michael affect what's happening between me and Des. So, that really wasn't a worry on my mind.

Catrina Whiteman: OK, that's brilliant. Thank you so much.

Ben: Thank you.

Operator: Your next question comes from (Bill King) from WABC.

(Bill King): Hey Ben, how you doing?

Ben: Good. How are you doing Bill?

(Bill King): Good thanks. So at this point with what we've seen so far, the audience doesn't really know what to make of you. I mean, you bring your son and he's adorable, but as you said people have different opinions about it and some could see it as manipulative, and while seem genuine in your motivations and you say you're there for the right reasons, your confidence and the way you interrupted the other night could be perceived as smug and arrogant. So, you kind of made it clear that you're not really concerned with what the other guys think of you in the house, but is it important to you how the audience perceives you and what they think your character is?

Ben: When I was doing the things that I was doing, it's because I was doing for me and Des. It was not with the intentions of how was anybody else going to perceive this. So, that may have come back to bite me with some of the guys in the house, but this is a show to find love, a show to see if this person that you're here with is the one that you're going to spend the rest of your life with. And that's what I was there to do and I had my way of going about it and some guys had other ways and I guess that's all I have to say to that question.

(Bill King): OK, I meant kind of more like, not necessarily what the other guys thought of you, but if you care on a bigger scale what the audience would think of you. Not that you are concerned with the guys, but also if at the end of all this, if you do come across as the villain of the season, because like I said, at this point, people are kind of split on you. Some think of you as a front runner and others kind of think you're a d-bag, so I don't really know like if that part concerns you.

Ben: I would have to say this, the only people that I would be concerned with how do I do on the show was my family and as long as I'm being who I am and I'm doing things that my mother would be OK seeing on TV and all of her friends, then I'm OK with who I am. Now the rest of American, they're going to have their own opinions and I'm not going to sway those either way so truly the only people that I probably would have cared about how I appear on TV would be my family because what I do could affect them as well. Does that answer your question?

(Bill King): Oh absolutely. Thank you very much. Now for my other follow up question. As the season goes on and we see more, do you think that you're going to kind of still be on the fence when it comes to the audience or do you think that one way or the other your personality will emerge a little more?

Ben: I think you're just going to have to watch just like me and see how everything goes. Everybody is going to form their own opinion and they're going to pick different reasons to form their own opinion, but it's going to be a great season and I guess everybody is going to have to figure that out for themselves.

(Bill King): All right. Thanks a lot. I appreciate it.

Ben: Thank you.

Operator: You have a follow up question from (Beth Kwiatkowski) from Realty TV World.

(Beth Kwiatkowski): Hey Ben. So obviously in next week's episode it looks like one of the guys in the house has a girlfriend and she comes to the mansion not only to confront him, but warn Des of their relationship at home. What were your thoughts when that happened? Did you guys ever hear this bachelor ever talk about his girlfriend or did it come as a complete surprise to all of you?

Ben: That scene is going to be something to watch and it's definitely going to be interesting to the viewers. I'm not going to be able to comment much on that scene but it's definitely going to be a big part of next episode for reasons that we all know, but that's all I have on that.

(Beth Kwiatkowski): Did you kind of think he was there for the right reasons at least from the beginning, like before that moment ever happened?

Ben: I can't really comment on that. I think in the next episode you're going to see exactly what the guy thought, so the guys were pretty vocal on exactly what they thought about the situation.

(Beth Kwiatkowski): OK. And it seems like although you were getting under the guy's skin, you weren't really trying to do that, like it wasn't intentional on your part. Did you actually hope and/or want to get along with the guys in the house but it just didn't turn out that way, or did you not care about befriending the guys at all? Like was it the type of situation where you're like I'll just be nice to their faces so they won't say anything bad about me to Des or what was going on there?

Ben: It was never about doing things in front of them and doing something else behind their back. It was never like that. I wanted to want to be friends with the guys in the house, and I did have a lot of friends in the house. You know, some guys were not OK with the way that (inaudible) was handled but I did have many friends in the house. I did spend time when I wasn't on dates developing those friendships and learning about the other guys. I think I've got some really good friends that came off this show, but I never wanted to hurt anybody. My intentions were never in the wrong place.

Just in the moment you're still pretty nervous, you're in situations not necessarily what you're used to so you know I made the decisions I made and that's pretty much all I can say on that. I did have friends in the house and I did (inaudible) but in the end we were there for Des, so that was my main concentration.

(Beth Kwiatkowski): Great. Thanks Ben.

Ben: Thank you.

Operator: You have a follow up question from (Carrie Bell) from People Magazine.

(Carrie Bell): I wonder if you, because you said you have no regrets and obviously your initial reason for being there that was most important was that you were there for Des, but now looking back do you at least have regrets about how you handled yourself? You did already have a rose and that's always perceived as being greedy for some reason, if you go into a rose ceremony, you have a rose and you still want time with her. Do you feel like, crap, I wish I would have handled that differently? Or, I kind of see what they're saying. I mean, like how are you feeling now that you have hindsight?

Ben: Everything is always easier with hindsight. Unfortunately I didn't have it at that time. The way it happens is the way it happens. You can't go back and change that and you know, that is a question I get asked a lot is, you had a rose so why did you go steal her? And you know, some of the guys thought that the guys that had roses should maybe hold back, you never have a chance to talk to her and if there is time for us to talk to her, but I'm sorry without time you can't grow your relationship. I think me and Des have had some very good quality time so far and that's why our relationship is where it is. Those minutes that I got with Des were great minutes and it really helped and I love talking to her it's always so much fun and so easy going. I really enjoyed that time that I had with her. Could it have been handled differently the way that I got that time? Yes of course. But it didn't. I was really nervous. I saw her and I just wanted to talk to her. It affected me in some ways and it affected me in other ways.

(Carrie Bell): I mean at this point in the show how were you feeling about her. I mean do you feel like she could be the one, was that your first impression, like oh, OK this could work. And why?

Ben: With me I don't jump at things just extremely fast, but there is definitely a connection between me and Des and I think the viewers can see it and I can see it and Des can see it and that's why I've gotten the roses that I've gotten and we have a great connection, we have a lot of things in common and things are going really well for me and Des. I'm really excited about how everything's going.

(Carrie Bell): One more question. You know the song, without rhyme or reasons and everybody's, I mean it's like you guys did the video because you had to do what everyone says or be screwy for the right reasons, obviously there's a girlfriend and possibly many other things coming down the line, but at that point in the show did you feel like everyone was there for the right reasons? Or, were there people you maybe suspected, like this guy might just want to be on TV or this guy might just want a good time, or did you see the whole group at this point being genuine and there to find a wife?

Ben: You know, it's still pretty early on and we're all still getting to know each other and it takes time to get to know each other so, at this point, no, none of us really believed anybody was there for the wrong reasons, but we all do understand that it's early and we're still getting to know each other, and we're still trying to figure each other out. I think it's pretty early on to really know 100 percent about what is everybody's true motives, but at this point I've never heard from one guy in the house who said this person is not here for the right things for the right reasons. I think at that point everybody was OK with each other.

(Carrie Bell): The time of blissful ignorance. Thank you.

Ben: You're welcome.

Opeator: You have a follow up from (Beth Kwiatkowski) from Realty TV World.

(Beth Kwiatkowski): Ben, you mentioned that you did have a few really good friends in the house. Would you mind naming who were your friends at this point in the season?

Ben: I was on good terms with most of the guys, at least from what I saw. Of course you never know what people are really thinking, but Brad was one of my really good friends and (Zach Hag) was one of my good friends, Robert was a good friend of mine and unfortunately he had to go. I had some other good friends in the house, but those would be who I clicked with really well. I connected with Brooks, he's a great guy. We really had a great group of guys and a lot of really thought this was probably one of the best teams when it comes to candidates. It was just a fun group of guys and we had a lot of fun together, but you throw a girl in the mix and sometimes things change. Especially a girl like Des who is so beautiful, so much fun.

(Beth Kwiatkowski): Ok, sure. And I guess if not you, who else did you envision might be a good match for Des, while you were in the house at this point?

Ben: Again, it's really early on to really know anybody and the thing that I always mentioned and believed was I only know what's going on with me and Des. I only know how our relationship is progressing. I have no idea what's going on with her and the other guys. I'm not there for their conversations, I'm not there for their moments, so I want to just concentrate on how my relationship is going, and it's going great, it's going at a rapid rate and it's really looking good. So that's the things that I was concentrating on. I got asked a lot by other guys, you know, hey what do you think Des is really after. Honestly I never had a good answer to that because I just knew what was going on between me and Des.

(Beth Kwiatkowski): OK awesome. Thanks Ben.

Ben: Thank you.

Operator: And you have a follow up from Jennifer Peros from Us Weekly Magazine.

Jennifer Peros: So let's say you don't win the season. Would you ever consider being the Bachelor if they asked you?

Ben: That's something I can't comment on.

Jennifer Peros: OK. Thank you.

Operator: And I show no further questions at this time.

Cathy Rehl: Thanks everybody. I hope you have a little light shadow on what's going on at this point in the season and as you know we have a very big episode coming up on Monday night and hopefully we will get somebody for you next week to talk to.

The other thing is, and this is sort of a housekeeping thing. I don't know how many of you mentioned or tweet along with other people during the episodes, but just note that our official Twitter handle is #thebachelorette, OK, not those #bachelorette, I just thought I'd throw that in there, our social media people are trying to make sure that everybody uses the same handle.

Other than that, if you have any other questions let me know at 212-456-6749 or e-mail me at [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] and I thank you for all of your time and we'll hopefully talk to you next week.

Operator: Ladies and gentlemen thank you for participating in today's conference. You may now disconnect.

END

Tuesday, June 11, 2013 ABC Television Network
PRESS RELEASE - ENTERTAINMENT - TELECONFERENCE WITH ELIMINATED BACHELOR BRANDON FROM ABC'S THE BACHELORETTE (6/13)

June 11, 2013

MEDIA ALERT

PRESS CALL FEATURING BRANDON, ONE OF THE MEN ELIMINATED
ON ABC'S "THE BACHELORETTE"

Fourth Episode in Desiree's Search for Love airs Monday, June 17 at 8 p.m. ET/PT

WHAT: Teleconference call with Brandon, one of the bachelors, who was eliminated in this past week's episode.

WHO: A special opportunity to talk with Brandon, 26, a painting contractor from Costa Mesa, CA, who played a game of dodgeball with the other guys to win a special evening with Desiree. But as the week progressed, Brandon' future with the bachelorette looked bleak when he had to watch a romantic dance - with one of the other men - from afar. In a dramatic rose ceremony at week's end, Desiree showed up in a glamorous dress she designed herself and struggled with her decision to send Brandon home. He was completely devastated when he was left without a rose and later broke down.

WHEN: THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 12:30 p.m., ET/ 11:30 p.m., CT/9:30 a.m., PT

CALL INFO: IT IS NECESSARY TO RSVP TO RECEIVE THE CONFERENCE TELEPHONE NUMBER AND CONFERENCE CODE!

Title: ABC Conference Call: "The Bachelorette"
Please plan to dial in 5-10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time.


More information about "The Bachelorette"
"Episode 904" - Desiree starts her world tour searching for love in the popular, nostalgic seaside resort of Atlantic City, New Jersey, where some of her hunky beaus will compete for the coveted title of "The Bachelorette's Mr. America." And on a more serious note, the Bachelorette and James go on a very different type of date to Seaside Heights, New Jersey, as they view the damage done by Superstorm Sandy and then meet a couple who survived the hurricane but lost everything they had, spending their 38th wedding anniversary in a Red Cross shelter. What surprises do Desiree and James have in store for the couple - and for each other? As the waves crash on shore, the tension at the cocktail party builds. Desperate times call for desperate measures, as the men try and do whatever they can to insure they get a rose to travel with Desiree to the next exciting location - Munich.

June 11, 2013 ABC Television Network
PRESS RELEASE - ENTERTAINMENT - NEXT WEEK ON ABC'S THE BACHELORETTE (6/16)

THE REMAINING BACHELORS START THEIR ROMANTIC GLOBAL TOUR WITH DESIREE IN ATLANTIC CITY, AS THE ICONIC RESORT PLAYS HOST TO A HOT COMPETITION BETWEEN THE HANDSOME MEN AND A TOUCHING SURPRISE FOR A MARRIED COUPLE DRAMATICALLY AFFECTED BY SUPERSTORM SANDY, ON "THE BACHELORETTE"

Country Super Star Darius Rucker Also Plays a Part in the Poignant Surprise for the
Seaside Heights, New Jersey Couple Who Lost All of Their Belongings in the Hurricane

"Episode 904" - Desiree starts her world tour searching for love in the popular, nostalgic seaside resort of Atlantic City, New Jersey, where some of her hunky beaus will compete for the coveted title of "The Bachelorette's Mr. America." And on a more serious note, the Bachelorette and James go on a very different type of date to Seaside Heights, New Jersey, as they view the damage done by Superstorm Sandy and meet a couple who survived the hurricane but lost everything they had, spending their 38th wedding anniversary in a Red Cross shelter. What surprises do Desiree and James have in store for the couple - and for each other? As the waves crash on shore, the tension at the cocktail party builds. Desperate times call for desperate measures and the men try and do whatever they can to ensure they get a rose to travel with Desiree to the next exciting location - Munich -- on "The Bachelorette," MONDAY, JUNE 17 (8:00-10:01p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

As the men settle in their luxury suite at Revel Resort & Casino in Atlantic City, Brad learns he will have the opportunity to pursue Desiree on a one-on-one date that begins with a stroll down the historic boardwalk to the famed Steel Pier amusement park and a scrumptious private tour of a saltwater taffy factory. Then the Bachelorette and this single dad enjoy a glass of wine in a spectacular sandcastle fit for a princess and dine in a historic lighthouse, romantically overlooking the ocean. But will she give this hopeful guy a rose?

The next day Desiree meets 11 of her guys at Boardwalk Hall - the birthplace of the Miss America Competition. There Chris Harrison, who will co-host ABC's live telecast of the 2014 Miss America Competition, on Sunday, September 15 (2013) with "Good Morning America" co-host Lara Spencer, and the reigning Miss America Mallory Hagan, reveal that the men will compete in the first ever "The Bachelorette's Mr. America" title. A day of rehearsing leads to another surprise: they'll be performing in front of a live audience, with Desiree, Miss America and the Mayor of Atlantic City, Lorenzo Tyrone Langford, judging the competition. Wacky talent performances, an exciting display of swimsuits and the all-important interviews lead to one suitor being crowned. But the competition at the after party is also fierce, with Ben continuing to flaunt his time with Desiree in front of the other guys. Who will end up with the rose?

The final one-on-one date takes a 180-degree turn: A representative from the Red Cross takes Desiree and James up in a helicopter to view the damage done to Atlantic City's neighboring communities during Superstorm Sandy, including Seaside Heights, which took the brunt of the powerful hurricane. They meet Manny and Jan, a married couple who lost their home and all of their possessions in the storm. They never even had the opportunity to celebrate their 38th wedding anniversary. Touched by their heart-wrenching story, Desiree and James decide to give the couple their extravagant date - a lavish dinner -- and a special gift from the Red Cross. Meanwhile the Bachelorette couple grabs a slice of pizza and gets to know one another better. James is so moved by the love shared
by Manny and Jan that he decides to reveal a secret from his past. But is this too much information too soon, and will it kill his chances for a rose? Desiree has one more surprise for the couple -- a private concert by country music chart-topper Darius Rucker.

The men's anxiety level is high as the cocktail party begins. Bryden struggles with his feelings for Desiree and Zack K. is desperate to stay on this journey. By the end of the evening, 11 lucky bachelors remain, and it will be up to Desiree to determine if she is in love with any of them when they get to their next spectacular stop on the adventure: Munich.

The 13 remaining men are:

Ben, 29, an entrepreneur from Dallas, TX
Brad, 27, an accountant from Denver, CO
Brooks, 28, a marketing consultant from Salt Lake City, UT
Bryden, 26, an Iraq War veteran from Missoula, MT
Chris, 27, a mortgage broker from Seattle, WA
Drew, 27, a digital marketing analyst from Scottsdale, AZ
James, 27, an advertising executive from Chicago, IL
Juan Pablo, 31, a former pro soccer player from Miami, FL
Kasey, 29, an advertising executive from San Luis Obispo, CA
Michael G., 33, a federal prosecutor from Miami Beach, FL
Mikey T., 30, a plumbing contractor from Winfield, IL
Zack K., 28, a book publisher from Newport Beach, CA
Zak W., 31, a drilling fluid engineer from Mico, TX

momoftrips wrote:

'Bachelorette's' Brandon Andreen on 'politician' Ben Scott, says Brooks Forester is his pick for Desiree
 
Brandon Andreen was eliminated this week from "The Bachelorette" in what is definitely the most emotional send-off we've seen so far this season. He spoke with the press about his time with Desiree and how the guys feel about fellow competitor Ben Scott.

"With Ben, with what I saw, it was just unfortunate. The house had a nice positive atmosphere to it and he just kind of wanted to mess it up," says Brandon. "We really did want all of us to be there for the right reasons and it was pretty apparent that the politician wasn't."

When asked why exactly the "politician" was there, Brandon says, "It was just one of those things, it was like he was pitching. I don't even know. He just wanted to be the dramatic guy on the show, that's how I feel. And maybe that's just him, that's his personality and who he is, or he was putting on a facade on television. ... But as far as what I saw and what America saw, it's definitely that he is that guy. America, they know. People know, they can tell."

Moving on to Brandon's time with Desiree, he says that he doesn't regret anything he did or said on the show.

"[Desiree is] just a happy, wonderful, full-of-life woman that brings out the best in anybody that she's around. When I said I was falling in love with her, obviously I never said 'I love you' ... but I was falling for her," says Brandon. "She's a wonderful woman and I couldn't help but have feelings for her."

"I am a guy that doesn't like to live with any regrets. The things that I did say were just the things that I said. I didn't want to leave the show because I didn't pour my heart out and tell her who I am," Brandon continues. "I don't regret diving in. Yes, maybe it was a little bit too soon, too much, but for the situation I was in, it just seemed right."

As far as who Desiree should end up with, Brandon has his pick.

"From the beginning, the guys that I first really connected with are Brooks and Michael. But hands down, every time I would see Dez look at Brooks -- you could just tell. You were just like, 'Wow, she really likes him,'" says Brandon. "He was the one I absolutely thought from the get-go that if it wasn't going to be me, it was hopefully going to be him."

"The Bachelorette" airs Monday nights at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.

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momoftrips wrote:

'The Bachelorette' Interview: Brandon on Man Tears, Ben and the Possibility of 'The Bachelor'
 
Brandon's tears were flowing in the last episode of The Bachelorette. Brian leaving forced feelings of his own abandonment during his childhood and those feelings were further reinforced when Desiree let him go.


Although his time was brief, he seemed like a sweet and genuine guy -- just couldn't get that one-on-one date or really make himself stand out among all the other men. Brandon shared his thoughts on the season in a conference call with the media. Check out what he had to say.



On Leaving the Show:
Brandon had gone for it and kissed Desiree -- and then was let go. Looking back, he said he could've misread her signs because not only does the show make you rush into everything in a way, he was also caught up with what that had happened with Brian and the emotions that were stirred up from him being forced out.


But in the end, he appreciated being let go when he did.


"She respected me enough to say, 'This isn't going anywhere.' You can't force love. It's just something that you can't do. It's got to be at least a little bit of a natural feeling," Brandon said. 


Brandon said it was overwhelming to watch the episode and see what happened that night because it had been so unexpected.


"What a dramatic exit. It was unfortunate I had to get let go at that point. Watching it was surreal," he said.


On His Emotions:
Brandon said he had no problem with showing his emotional side on television, to show others that there are men out there like him. He doesn't have regrets with perhaps being vocal about his feelings and emotional childhood so soon because he didn't want to leave the show without getting a chance to say those things.


"Yes, maybe it was a little too soon-- a little bit too much, but in the situation that I was in, it seemed right," he said. 


Since he's been on the show, Brandon said he's been receiving an outpouring of positive feedback from kids and people telling him thank you and letting him know he's been an inspiration. He's also been receiving a ton of emails, texts and messages from people he knows and people who he's lost touch with reach out to him with their support.


On Ben and His True Intentions:
Brandon described the house as a place with a pleasant atmosphere -- with Ben there to create drama with his lie about seeing Desiree. Viewers haven't yet seen whether Ben has an ulterior motive other than to pimp out his son at any moment. Brandon brought up how Ben seemed to always be "pitching" something, whether it was a restaurant or something else to do once the show ended.


"He just wanted to be the dramatic guy on the show," Brandon said. "Maybe that's just him ... or he was just putting on a facade on television, I don't know on a personal, off-camera level. 


"People know when they can sense someone is not there for the right reasons. I'm not sure what reasons he was there for."
 


On Who Has A Chance With Desiree:
Brandon said he connected with Brooks and Michael from the start and are rooting for them. But he went on further to say there's something between Brooks and Desiree.


"Every time I would see Des look at Brooks, you could just tell. It was one of those things where you're just like, 'She really likes him,' and you can tell he definitely likes her from the conversations that we had." 


On the Possibility of Being the Next The Bachelor: 
Brandon said he's single and living in California. If he were to get asked to be the next Bachelor, he said he'd want to talk about it with his friends and family.


"If that opportunity were to present itself I would really, absolutely consider it," he said.


What do you think? Were you sad to see Brandon go? Would he be a good candidate for The Bachelor?

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momoftrips wrote:

Desiree Hartsock: 25 Things You Don't Know About Me


The Bachelorette's Desiree Hartsock, 27, opens up to Us. The Bachelorette airs on ABC Mondays at 8 P.M.

1. I'm a book nerd. I want to write one.
2. I played volleyball in high school.
3. I wear sunscreen daily.
4. My first job was as a hostess at Outback Steakhouse.
5. One of my favorite movies is Price & Prejudice. I'm a hopeless romantic.
6. I am allergic to bee stings. I once got stung on my face and looked like Quasimodo.
7. I hope to start a nonprofit to help the homeless.
8. I have a girl crush on Jennifer Lawrence.
9. I pick at my nails when they're painted.
10. I love to sketch and doodle on everything.
11. I'm not a good cook.
12. Penguins are my favorite animal.
13. I want to backpack through Europe.
14. I can throw a football well (for a girl).
15. I love to eat!
16. I was born in Wyoming.
17. My favorite exercise is hiking.
18. I'm a huge coffee drinker.
19. I enjoy roller-skating - not blading!
20. I can't sing for the life of me.
21. I don't own a TV.
22. I'm very clumsy.
23. Fave number: four
24. I could sit at the beach for hours. It clears my head.
25. Orchids and white roses are my favorite flowers.

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sfrank wrote:here is the actual NE article...

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BACHELORETTE Desiree Hartsock was touched when handsome hopeful Brooks Forester confessed he’d been abandoned by his dad as a kid, but the contestant’s father insists there was a good reason for his disappearance.

In an exclusive ENQUIRER interview, Gary Forester, 72, revealed the stunning secret why he left his family behind in Boise, Idaho, to move to Costa Rica – he was an informant for the feds!
“I love all of my children, but I moved to Costa Rica because I got a job offer,” Gary explained.

“I am a homeopathic  doctor, so I took a position down there...but  I was also an informant for the CIA and DEA. I can’t go into all of the details because a lot of that information is still secret but, needless to say, it was fascinating and also dangerous.”

On the show, Brooks, 28, a marketing rep and part-time model, emotionally told Desiree, 27, that his parents divorced when he was 13 and he had been angry with his father for years.
But “Brooks and I have a great relationship now,” insisted Gary.“The time I was gone is in the past and we are all fine now.”

Gary – who runs a large  fruit farm in Livingston, Texas, with his current wife Zhu Xu Mei – says he doesn’t know if his son will be the last man standing on the hit ABC show’s finale in August, but he hopes so.

Although Season 9 just premiered, filming wrapped in early May, and Desiree DID choose a fiance, say sources. “Brooks didn’t confirm to me that he and Desiree are engaged,” Gary added. “But I did tell him that if they are, she would be welcomed into the family with open arms.”

Tuesday, June 18, 2013 ABC Television Network
PRESS RELEASE - ENTERTAINMENT - BACHELORETTE CONFERENCE CALL WITH BACHELOR JAMES (6/20)

June 18, 2013

MEDIA ALERT

PRESS CALL FEATURING JAMES, ONE OF THE MEN STILL
IN THE HUNT ON ABC'S "THE BACHELORETTE"

As Desiree's Search for Love Goes International,
The Fifth Episode Airs Monday, June 24 at 8:00 p.m., ET

WHAT: Teleconference call with James, one of the bachelors who is still looking to win Desiree's heart.

WHO: A special opportunity to talk with James, 27, an advertising executive from Chicago, IL, who went on a very different type of date with Desiree to Seaside Heights, New Jersey, as they viewed the damage done by Superstorm Sandy and met a couple who survived the hurricane but lost everything they had. Desiree and James surprised Manny and Jan with a romantic dinner at the House of Blues' Foundation Room, coupled with a private Darius Rucker concert. Later, the "Bachelorette" couple grabbed a slice of pizza and got to know one another better. James was so moved by the love shared by Manny and Jan that he decided to reveal a secret from his past. Initially afraid too much information would jeopardize his chances with Desiree, he was relieved when she gave him a rose. But now, headed to Munich, will another secret threaten James' opportunity to move forward and get closer to a proposal?

WHEN: THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 12:30 p.m., ET/ 11:30 p.m., CT/9:30 a.m., PT

CALL INFO: IT IS NECESSARY TO RSVP TO RECEIVE THE CONFERENCE TELEPHONE NUMBER AND CONFERENCE CODE!

Title: ABC Conference Call: "The Bachelorette"
Please plan to dial in 5-10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time.


More information about "The Bachelorette"
"Episode 905" - Desiree has never traveled to Europe before, and the 11 remaining men hope to make this first leg of the international tour to find love a special one, starting in Munich. Chris gets to explore this culturally rich city with Desiree, but their romantic date comes to a crashing halt when another man interrupts them with shocking news. The Bachelorette takes seven guys to the German Alps, where not only do they enjoy the majestic beauty, but yodel, sled and frolic like kids in the snow. The competition between James and front-runner Brooks turns ugly, while other bachelors make their play for Desiree. The awkward, dreaded two-on-one date has arch-enemies Michael and Ben facing off. Whose strategy works, and which man stays? But two men are overheard scheming about what they'll do after this journey, and the others are anxious to make Desiree see one of them for who he really is.


PLEASE R.S.V.P. TO:
ABC Media Relations by Thursday, June 20 at 9AM PT: Mitch Messinger, [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Tuesday, June 18, 2013 ABC Television Network
PRESS RELEASE - ENTERTAINMENT - NEXT WEEK ON THE BACHELORETTE (6/24)

DESIREE VISITS EUROPE FOR THE FIRST TIME AND THE COMPETITION IS RACHETED
UP BETWEEN THE MEN AS THEY DISCOVER ANOTHER RASCAL IN THEIR MIDST,
ON ABC'S "THE BACHELORETTE"

Pop Rock Singing Star Matt White Serenades Desiree and Chris in a Special VIP Concert

Michael and Ben's Dreaded Two-on-One Date Guarantees at Least One Man a Ticket Home

"Episode 905" - Desiree has never traveled to Europe before, and the 11 remaining men hope to make this first leg of the international tour to find love a special one, starting in Munich. Chris gets to explore this culturally rich city with Desiree, but their romantic date comes to a crashing halt when another man interrupts them with shocking news. The Bachelorette takes seven guys to the German Alps, where not only do they enjoy their majestic beauty, but yodel, sled and frolic like kids in the snow. The competition between James and front-runner Brooks turns ugly, while other bachelors make their play for Desiree. The awkward, dreaded two-on-one date has arch-enemies Michael and Ben facing off. Whose strategy works and which man stays? But two men are overheard scheming about what they will do after this journey, and the other guys are anxious to make Desiree see one of them for who he really is, on "The Bachelorette," MONDAY, JUNE 24 (8:00-10:01p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

Desiree and Chris tour the heart of the old city, sightseeing, sampling sausages and beer and even trying on lederhosen. The two swap relationship stories, and Chris ends by reading a romantic poem he penned just for her. Touched by his sincerity, she kisses him. Is this the start of something special? Rock and pop star Matt White serenades the couple with his hit song, "Love and Affection." Love is in the air, but do both of these people feel the same way?

The next day, Desiree takes seven men on a group date to the German Alps. They ride in a gondola to the highest peak in all of Germany. They're taught how to yodel, with the Bachelorette enjoying their antics. The group has a blast as they sled down a black diamond ski slope. What awaits them is a spectacular igloo hotel totally carved out of snow and ice. As Zak and Drew profess their love for Desiree, James and Brooks go all out in a ferocious battle.

A dramatic two-on-one date pits two bitter rivals against each other - Michael and Ben. Can they get past mutual dislike and concentrate on Desiree? One man goes on the attack and attempts to get his adversary to admit to being a fake. The other man decides just to take it on the chin and refrains from using the same kind of verbal shots. As the volatile date progresses, the aggressive bachelor goes in for the kill, and his opponent abruptly storms out, leaving Desiree disappointed with the remaining man. Will his nasty approach pay off with a rose, or will it backfire and send him home? And what about his rival?

Drew and Kasey share a shocking revelation with the group about what they heard two of the bachelors say about the wild time they expect to have after they appear on "The Bachelorette." But their plans to tell Desiree the ugly truth fall through when she cancels the cocktail party, and now everyone scrambles about what to do next. Will the playboy get a rose - and if he does, when will Desiree discover the truth about him? Either way, only eight men will remain to travel to the magnificent city of Barcelona.


The 11 remaining men are:

Ben, 29, an entrepreneur from Dallas, TX
Brooks, 28, a marketing consultant from Salt Lake City, UT
Bryden, 26, an Iraq War veteran from Missoula, MT
Chris, 27, a mortgage broker from Seattle, WA
Drew, 27, a digital marketing analyst from Scottsdale, AZ
James, 27, an advertising executive from Chicago, IL
Juan Pablo, 31, a former pro soccer player from Miami, FL
Kasey, 29, an advertising executive from San Luis Obispo, CA
Michael G., 33, a federal prosecutor from Miami Beach, FL
Mikey T., 30, a plumbing contractor from Winfield, IL
Zak W., 31, a drilling fluid engineer from Mico, TX


Hosted by Chris Harrison, "The Bachelorette" is a production of Next Entertainment in association with Warner Horizon Television. Mike Fleiss and Martin Hilton are executive producers. "The Bachelorette" is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format, with stereo sound. This program carries a TV-14,L parental guideline.

This episode of "The Bachelorette" will be available on ABC.com the day after airing on the network for users to watch online. For more information on "The Bachelorette" please visit ABC.com.


Photography and video available at [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] Photography request line (818) 460-6611.

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momoftrips wrote:INTERVIEW: Andy Grammer on His 'Bachelorette' Cameo and Worst First Date

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momoftrips wrote:Des radio interview from Monday. The hosts pick Drew and Brooks, she says good picks. They talk about some of her guys and Des tries to defend Brooks when he broke his finger.

You will have to skip forward to get to her interview.

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momoftrips wrote:

The Bachelorette Season 9: Conference Call with James Case
Posted on 06/21/2013

by Gina Scarpa

Desiree formed a strong bond with James this week on The Bachelorette after an emotional date in New Jersey. The couple took a helicopter ride and walked through neighborhoods to witness, first hand, the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy last year. Over dinner later that night, James revealed that he had cheated on a previous girlfriend but reassured Desiree he was ready to be a faithful partner. He ended up with the rose but his true intentions are about to be questioned by some of the other men still in the running. James talked to RealityWanted and reporters in a press conference call about his relationship with Des, his intentions for going on the show, and who might be a good match for The Bachelorette if he's not the last man standing.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What was your initial reaction when you found out what your date was going to entail? It was really different than anything we've seen on the show before.
A. James: Yes, absolutely. I was very excited. Desiree and I had been talking, here and there, throughout the episodes and I think she just kind of felt like the type of person I was and, you know... the whole Mr. America thing... I think that would've been a wonderful experience. But I don't know, it fits my background. I come from an urban economic background, urban planning, very charitable person and I think she just kind of felt my heart and who I was, and I was very excited to be able to experience that with her.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: When you talked to her afterwards about the past mistakes in your relationship, do you feel like that was the right time to bring it up and do you think the conversation went the way you wanted it to?
A. James: Absolutely. You know, I'm a very honest and straight-forward person and it was a big part of my life. We were just talking about relationships in general and where we've gone and what we've learned from our past relationships, you know? I was just explaining to her the reason why I came onto the show, well, one of the reasons is that I know what I want in life now and it takes a lot to learn that. It was just something that came up and I was in a long relationship, and I thought that I should disclose that to her and I did.


Q. Some comments Chris Harrison made recently have suggested the show is going to position you with someone who came onto The Bachelorette for the wrong reasons. Do you think that's accurate or were you misrepresented with that?
A. James: I'm not too sure how I can answer that question. I just hope people will judge me on the merit and who I am and what they've seen this far. Things can be said, things can be done, and you just have to roll with the punches. I signed up for this and you got to just roll with it. It's just real hard to answer some of these questions.

Q. Why did you originally apply for The Bachelorette?
A. James: I was approached when I walked out of the office here. At first, I was actually really scared because I love what I do. I'm in digital marketing. I actually love what I do and I'm just very blessed to be in the position that I am and so I didn't want to affect that. So I talked to my parents and I talked with everybody. I'm single, I'm living in a new city, it's hard to find a woman to date here. It's been difficult for me with work and I don't know, it just felt like a great opportunity. There are multiple reasons why I chose to go on that show but one of them, obviously, is to find love. Who says you can't find it in the street, in a bar, or on TV? And the whole experience in itself. If someone says it's just for love, they have to be crazy, you know? I mean, there's lots of opportunities. I got to travel the world. I got to do a lot of things that a lot of other people aren't able to do and so I took advantage of that and I had an awesome time.

Q. What were your feelings for Des?
A. James: I had an absolutely wonderful time with her. I thought that we made an unbelievable connection. I think that the two words that sum up Desiree are humble and selfless. She's just an awesome person. I don't know, I really did start to have a lot of feelings for her at that point.

Q. I just had to ask you about the thing with you in the bubble bath. I mean, is that generally how you spend your alone time?
A. James: We were having some fun, you know? All the guys were out of the house. I was enjoying the time alone without all those guys and all the testosterone in the house. So, I was just enjoying myself.

Q. Obviously, you're still in the running, at this point but let's say that Des doesn't pick you. Who do you think that Des should pick and why if it's not you?
A. James: If it wasn't me, who do I think? You know, all the guys are great guys in the house. There's a lot of attention to Brooks. It's a hard question. I think she's a smart girl and I think she's going to pick the person that best fits her. But if I had to probably pick, it might be Brooks.

Q. What do you think that she's looking for in her Prince Charming?
A. James: She's looking for a good, honest man, a Christian man, and somebody that's a giving person, that has ambition, that's just a loving person, and that has great values, family values. Those are probably the top things that I feel that I got from her.

Q. You guys seem kind of like the most fit group of contestants so far. You guys all have great bodies and I was wondering kind of how often all the contestants are hitting the gym.
A. James: You know, health is really important and it's one of the things that I actually even mentioned to Desiree. There's five things that I think makes a man and one of them is to be in good health. I think most of the guys there were all in that same category, so we would all go outside and do our push-ups, sit-ups and run and try to keep as fit as we could in the house. It was a lot of fun. You know, the cocktails by the pool didn't help it out, but I think it was very important to all of us.

Q. If you were asked to be the next Bachelor, would you turn it down?
A. James: At this point, I am very happy with my career. I really am. I'm in digital marketing, very blessed to be in this and be my age and have the opportunities that come forth, so it would be a very, very difficult decision. Going on a show like that, you open up yourself to a lot of different things, which is great, too, because I'm an entrepreneur. But at the same time, let's say I did go on it. My whole family has to accept that. All my friends have to accept that, you know? It would be a very, very big decision. I wouldn't be willing not to say I wouldn't or I would or whatever. You guys will have to stay tuned and watch. I mean, I'm still in this, you know?


The Bachelorette airs Mondays at 8/7c on ABC.

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momoftrips wrote:

News/ Why Is The Bachelorette So Slow? Chris Harrison Explains!


Not even men in Speedos and platform heels can help it!

As you may have heard, ABC's The Bachelorette is having its lowest-rated season ever, starting off with an all-time-low premiere last month, and dipping even lower in its latest episode—despite featuring a ridiculously entertaining (and scantily clad) "Mr. America" pageant among all the men.


So what gives? Is reigning rose-giver Desiree Hartsock that boring?!

Not so! At least according to host Chris Harrison, who just chatted us up to reveal the show will "turn a corner" very soon. "It becomes incredibly dramatic and emotional," he promises. "It's a wild, emotional ride toward the end."

For the record, Harrison blames the ratings woes mostly on the show's Memorial Day premiere slot, which he calls a "nightmare," saying: "They literally could not have picked a worse time! We were also up against the final three weeks of The Voice. When I found out I was like, ‘Great, I won't even be watching the premiere!' But it speaks to the confidence that ABC has in the franchise."


Harrison also puts part of the blame on Desiree's dating strategy—which she apparently borrowed from former Bachelor Sean Lowe.

"It's a slow start," Harrison admits of the current season. "I found with Des more than anybody that it's hard to find out who her front-runners are. I knew she liked some of the guys, but it was really hard to tell who she really falling for. It was harder to read her than others. It took a while before she really zeroed in on certain people. And it made my job challenging, to figure out what to ask her about, and where to go."

Like Sean before her, Harrison says 27-year-old Desiree was able to keep a very open mind throughout much of the season. "She was able to keep everybody separate and different, as if their date was the only one she had," the expert rose-counter explains. "It's smart if you think about it. You aren't putting all your eggs in one basket and then if that doesn't work out, regretting giving someone else a chance. Sean did a great job of it, and Des took a page out of his book and did the same thing."

In tonight's episode, Des and the guys travel to Munich, where she goes on a very tense, two-on-one date with Ben Scott (the one all the guys hate), and Michael Garofola (the one who hates him the most). And let's just say things do not end well. "There's much more drama with Ben that will drive the other guys crazy," Harrison teases. As with all two-on-dates, Desiree must eliminate at least one of the guys, but it's so awkward, "she considers letting them both go," per ABC.

And it doesn't get any easier from there. "Des really struggles," Harrison says of the rest of the season. "It's not easy. And it's not what anyone expects."

The Bachelor/Bachelorette is currently in its 26th season (really!) and 11th year. Out of seven prior Bachelorettes, two have gotten married to the men they picked on the show (Trista Rehn and Ashley Hebert).

Harrison, who has hosted the series since its inception, just launched a new video-based dating app called "At First Sight," along with Bachelor and Bachelorette executive producer Mike Fleiss. A promo video can be seen on You Tube.

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Love_Me wrote:

Donna Kauffman and Chris Harrison dish about 'Bachelorette'

Hello, Happening Blog Babes and dedicated Bachelorette viewers (both in and out of the Guilty Pleasure Closet. We know you're in there!). Don't panic, The Bachelorette didn't air early this week. My regular weekly episode dish will appear right here in this spot Tuesday morning as usual. This is Bonus Dish! I know! And a delicious dish it is, too.

Over the weekend, I had the chance to talk all things Bachelorette with the man himself. The guy who has guarded the mansion gates for the past 11 years and 27 total seasons. (Yes, it's been that long and that many, and yet we haven't aged a day!) The guy who has kept close watch on the rose count, wiped away copious quantities of tears, and kept our bachelors and bachelorettes from running screaming into the night by redirecting them to the nearest hot tub. Preferably not alone. Yes, I'm talking about the date-card-delivery guy, our always fabulous and dapper host, Chris Harrison!

Even more awesome? In addition to going behind the scenes in talking about the show, Chris also revealed that he and executive producer Mike Fleiss have expanded their desire to help singles become couples on television by launching their very own dating app. Yes, really! Now everybody can find their own hot tub honey bun. Hopefully a committed, lifelong hot tub honey bun, but, you know, your mileage may vary. Was I skeptical of this dating app, you ask? Do rose-ceremony rejectees cry as they climb into the limo of shame? Of course I was. But I checked out their At First Sight app, and you know what? I think Chris and Mike might be on to something here.

I'll let Chris tell you more about it, along with his insights regarding the show's long run and this season's bachelorette, Desiree, in our deliciously dishy Q&A:

Donna: In the 11 years since the show began, dating has changed a great deal in real life, as far as the digital age, the social age, etc. Have you found that people being open to meeting each other in new and different ways in real life has made the bachelors and bachelorettes on the show more open to meeting and falling in love in that kind of alternate environment?

Chris: Yes, absolutely. Eleven years ago there wasn't even a Myspace, much less Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. There weren't even blogs. So it's hugely different than when we began. You not only have a different group of people coming on the show, but the viewers are different, too. They expect a lot more out of their television shows, reality and otherwise. We pull back the curtain more now, show people exactly what we're doing. Viewers are more savvy than they used to be, they get out, people talk.

Donna: You've kept the process of the show pretty pure since the beginning, regarding the how they meet, how they date. You have expanded, going more international on the dates, but you also get more realistic as well. This season, we've seen Des go on a road trip with one of the guys and stop at a gas station for snacks. Far more realistic than it used to be in that sense. Is that what viewers want now? More reality with the fantasy?

Chris: Yes. If you look at the dates early on, what we showed was very different, much more skimming the surface. Whereas now we will show the good, the bad and the ugly. It's a lot more honest and open. The concept, we've learned, while perhaps not perfect is very, very good. The concept is also simple, it's two people dating, getting the chance of finding love, and that's really it. There are no surprises in the end, there's no catch. I think that's what has always set us apart.

But what we have shown over the last few years is more stories, more realistic stories. Say someone had a girlfriend on the show. Years ago, we would've, well, not covered it up, but maybe not given that guy a rose, and it would have just kind of gone away. Now we bring the girlfriend on the show, show the confrontation, the meltdown, and how it really played out. That's what the viewers demand now. And it would probably get out anyway —

Donna: That was my next question. Do you feel it's one of those things where you kind of have to now, because you don't want it getting out after the fact without you having responded to it honestly?

Chris: That was the lesson we learned with Roslyn years ago. She had a relationship with one of our producers and we handled it very delicately. For her sake, because she was a mom, and also for our sake, because we obviously weren't proud of it. So we kind of glossed over it, because we thought everyone understood, all the parties involved, hey —
Chris Harrison

Chris Harrison, host of "The Bachelorette."(Photo: Mark Leibowitz)

Donna: Let's keep our eye on the prize?

Chris: Yeah, we kind of glossed over it. You had a relationship with a staffer, it's not OK, you need to go. We should have gone a lot deeper into that, shown a lot more, because once we got down to it, she denied doing it, it was a pretty big mess. We could have handled it a lot — still delicate — but a lot more honestly. That was a lesson learned.

Donna: Over the last decade, I've watched both The Bachelor and The Bachelorette as a married person and as a single person, and I know it's given me a broader depth of perspective now of what they're going through. I know you're a happening bachelor yourself now, so do you find that that has changed your perception of and your identification with what both the bachelors and the bachelorettes are going through, both as the star of the show and as contestants?

Chris: I hope I always had an appreciation for what was going on and why people were coming on the show, but it has definitely changed since I've become single and started dating, myself. I think the first thing was just realizing why people come on the show in the first place. Because you see these beautiful, successful people and you think "why are you doing this?" And what I realized is, that's not the hard part, getting a date.

Donna: It's finding somebody you want to keep dating.

Chris: Yes! It's finding somebody you want to date twice. I guess I didn't realize. I was a little naïve and uneducated and being out there myself, it's finding somebody you want to date twice. And, coming on the show, you realize you're going to be around other pretty like-minded, successful ... and I think that's definitely something I have a better understanding of now.

Donna: Do you find you have a better handle, also, on the vulnerability they feel? Like, some contestants can open up faster and commit to the process a little sooner, whereas others may be feeling all of these things, but they don't want to say anything, because it is a vulnerable place to be.

Chris: Yes. Because you think to yourself, I'm on the first or second date, you really see people putting themselves out there, telling pretty deep stories, and I'm thinking to myself ... I don't know if I could do that yet. If I was on the show, would I be left behind? I definitely think about that. It does help me with my relationship with the bachelors and bachelorettes a lot more now when we sit down and have our deliberations, or even when we're just flying around the world, sitting in airport lounges together, you know, I can really talk to them about these guys and girls from a much more open perspective.

Donna: And a more immediate perspective, maybe, given you can more directly relate to what they're going through.

Chris: I'm glad I have both perspectives. You know, I had a wonderful, almost-20- year marriage, so I definitely know what the ultimate trophy is. I had an amazing experience, I have two beautiful children, and so I know that that is the prize, that is what we all want. I was there, and I would like to go back to the Super Bowl. And I want to help these people get there as well. So, yes, it gives me a much better perspective, and while I'm not exactly thankful for it, guess I'll take it.

Donna: I come from much the same place, having been a published author for the past 20-plus years, writing about relationships, about people falling in love from the perspective of being there, and (laughs) now, as a single person, also from the perspective of "wow, this is really hard."
The Bachelorette

Desiree Hartsock is this season's Bachelorette.(Photo: Rick Rowell, ABC)

Chris: (Laughs) Yeah, I'm sure there were some things I said over the last 10 years where I thought I was giving good advice and probably there were people out there dating thinking, "Sure, right. That's not what it's really like." Now I know.

Donna: So, with all of that, I know you have just this week launched a new dating app called At First Sight. I've had the chance to check out the video introduction on YouTube, and it looks wonderful and clever and seems right on point. Obviously, the show has brought a lot to your life in terms of thinking about dating and romance, and the past few years on a more personal level as well. So, how did you come at this? Why did you decide to do the app?

Chris: Mike Fleiss, the creator of the show, and I have talked about this for years. Many, many years. Pitching ideas back and forth, coming up with ideas. It just made so much sense to get involved in a dating site, with The Bachelor show and all, it was just good business sense. We thought that getting involved in a project of some kind with one of the already established online dating sites would be the best way and grow it from there. But the more we looked and dove into this, we just found them very antiquated. It seemed a huge step back from current technology, and the lessons we've learned from years of casting The Bachelor and Bachelorette.

Donna: One of the elements, speaking as a single adult who has tried online dating, that I liked was the video element you introduce with this app. Is that one of the specific things you wanted to do to make it more current, to modernize it?

Chris: Yes, we looked at the dating sites out there and, you know, you put up an old photo that we hope has been taken in the past 30 years, and there's this bio, like a piece of paper. Mike and I — we wouldn't even begin casting our show based on this, so why would people date like this? There's absolutely no way to find chemistry and find out if you're really interested in somebody. The way we do it on the show, we ask people very specific questions and you really get to know them. So what we've done with the app, is taken what we've learned on The Bachelor and Bachelorette when we cast the show, and what we know that you really want to see, is how people really find chemistry. And it's not a random video — hey, record yourself for 10 seconds — it's really a specific set of questions. If you watch the videos for any length of time — and I've watched a ton getting this going, I find it incredibly addicting and entertaining — you find people who really know where they are in life and they have a good job, maybe a child ... and then there's those younger (people), maybe more looking to have fun, "I don't know where I am in life, let's go run with the bulls!"

(Chris and Donna both laugh.)

Chris: You and I kind of chuckle at that, because that's not where we are in life, but someone else will watch that and think, "That's exactly where I am!"

Donna: I think one of the things your app has, is that it can appeal to the 50-year-old and the 20- year-old. Was that something you thought about?

Chris: Well, obviously it's going to appeal first to the younger audience, but my hope and dream is that — it's only a few days old yet — but that it will filter out and catch a much older crowd. Because, what you're talking about is helping people find others with like interests, same station in life. I hope everybody will embrace it. I know a lot of moms and dads, just from my own perspective, from my kids' school, who are dating online. I tested and talked to a lot of people before we got into this. Again, we've been doing this for years, but it was also talking to people who use the sites, what the pros and cons were, even down to the safety and security issues. Wanting people to feel safe and secure using (the app). Most dating sites, you can get inundated with hits and just run off. It can be intimidating, like walking into Yankee Stadium and saying, "Hey, everybody, right here!" It's overwhelming, and it doesn't really work like that. You can't find chemistry like that. So we limited the amount of people you can view per day.

Donna: Oh, really? I didn't know that.

Chris: Right. You're not going to get 50,000 hits in one day. What if the person you really want to be with is in there, but they're No. 39,000? You'll never get to him. So we limit it to a certain number a day, so you can actually enjoy, actually watch. If you find somebody interesting, you can talk. If not, you move on to the next day. You can look at a picture and think, "She's cute, that's a person I'd want to date," but then you watch the video and learn, oh, wow, we're in very different places in our lives. That's something that on a lot of the other dating sites, would take the actual date — that first awkward coffee shop date —

Donna: The not-date date. The date interview date.

Chris: (Laughs) Exactly. "This has been a colossal waste of time. I could have solved this watching 20 seconds of a video." So I think what we're doing is taking the one or two first, very awkward coffee dates off the table, and saving you a ton of time and, again, making it more safe and secure, so that, by the time you're communicating, you have a really good idea who these people are.

Donna: Before our time is up, I want to get a little dish on the current season. It's been, shall we say, a little dramatic. We've had girlfriends coming back, tension in the house with Ben, and now we see that James is going to have a little bit of a spotlight this coming week. James gave an interview this week where he said that anyone who says they're on the show and not open to perhaps any number of opportunities is perhaps being less than honest. Anything you want to share, or can share, about what's coming?

Chris: Sure. I mean, obviously you see what's going on with Ben, and that's not going to get any better. Things aren't just black-and-white. Is he a bad guy? No. He's a great guy, especially when he's around Des. But he's different around the guys. You don't know what defense mechanism that is, where that comes from, but obviously when he's around the guys, he's uncomfortable and maybe a little insecure and acts so different. It comes off as pompous, rude, or whatever, but obviously there's a reason behind it. But whatever the reason, it just drives the other guys crazy. That will continue. The James deal is very interesting, because, I think it's going to raise a great debate, and kind of a dilemma for Des, and for everyone on the show, and watching the show. And that is, what are people's true intentions, and can you say something, and try to be honest about it, but feel a different way. You'll know what I mean when you see it. He says some things where he feels like he's in the cone of silence, concentrating on the other guys, but the thing is, these other guys are very protective of Des. They're falling for her quickly. It's really a good group of men.
Bachelorette

"The Bachelorette" goes to Munich on tonight's episode.(Photo: Nick Ray, ABC)

Donna: The thing I've seen this season, is the guys seem extremely open to the process, they've really owned it, like "we're here, let's do this" really up for anything, open, thoroughly enjoying themselves. So far, anyway. It's early days, but they haven't been particularly aggressive, or testosterone-filled with each other, though I'm sure that will change as the numbers narrow. But, for now, they seem to be into it with Des, but also sort of bonding and pretty honestly enjoying getting to know each other as well. So I can see how James might have thought he was safe in saying whatever he wanted to, but when it gets down to it, it's either you or Des — who's going to win that confrontation?

Chris: Right. And that's the thing. James will definitely provide enough testosterone in the coming weeks for everybody.

(Chris and Donna both laugh.)

Chris: But these guys are really interesting. It's almost like the reverse, like we're doing The Bachelor with a bunch of bachelorettes, in that these guys have come in, and given themselves up to this. Early on, they're talking about really private and personal things. It's a very different dynamic than we've had in the past.

Donna: I've seen a difference in The Bachelorette this season, too. In Emily's season, she was this sweet, Southern girl, very down-to-earth, and viewers quickly took to her. Des was also very popular on her season of The Bachelor, is also very down-to-earth and the viewers love her, and yet she's also completely different from Emily. Viewers were very protective of Emily, whereas Des seems like she can really hold her own, and yet, viewers are also invested in her finding happiness. What is your take on the differences, and on Des?

Chris: With Emily, she did show she could hold her own, too.

(More laughing.)

Chris: But, yes, it was different, she was very sweet, very Southern, and — whether it's a double standard — when guys see a single mom, they are very protective. Des, early on, established control. The guys could tell right way that she's running the show. Sometimes when you do The Bachelorette, even though she's supposedly the one in charge, it's the guys who are still running the show. Des is really in control here.

Donna: Well, she sent a guy home the first night before the rose ceremony, then the girlfriend thing, and both happened early on. Was that what gave them the impression?

Chris: It was more than just that, it was how she handled it, too. Instead of being upset, distraught, crying, which has happened in the past with bachelorettes where they'll just be bawling, saying, "You're not here for the right reasons, just go!" Whereas Des was very matter of fact, very business-like about it. And I think the guys took notice of that.

Our time ran out then, but Chris did manage to let me know that Des' brother, who caused so much controversy during the last season of The Bachelor, does surface again later this season! My guess is it will be anything but calm and serene.

So, there you have it, Blog Babes! All the latest! Check back here Tuesday morning for the low-down (and it promises to be oh, oh so very low) on what happens on tonight's episode of The Bachelorette, airing on your happening ABC station at 8 p.m. ET.

In the meantime, if you check out the At First Sight app, dish a little on what you think about it. A new-and-improved path to finding love? Who's already making their videos? Tell me all!

Donna Kauffman is a USA TODAY best-selling romance author. Her latest release in her popular Cupcake Club series is Honey Pie. Her new series, The Bachelors of Blueberry Cove, launches this fall with Pelican Point. She loves to hear from readers and viewers! Her website is DonnaKauffman.com.

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