Bachelor 19 - Chris Soules - General Discussion - *Spoilers*

tigertiz wrote:

I don't think it's the profession most are referring to as "boring", but the cast person chosen to fill the shoes of TB and his lifestyle.

Precisely.   Thank you.  And in further proof of America's excited reaction to the news, there has been a total of about a dozen posts about the big Good Morning America announcement - in all of the Bach 19 threads in this subforum.  And there hasnt even been a single post in his fan thread here.   Unreal.   I dont know what they were thinking when they cast him.  
#morons

I don't think this forum and its members, wonderful and brilliant as we all are, are a very accurate representation of the sentiments of the rest of the country's Bachelor watchers.  This forum has been virulently pro Arie with relation to the next Bachelor speculation (and pro either Josh or Nick during Andi's season before that), so it's no surprise that there has been little discussion about Chris here, other than the lamentations that he isn't Arie.  I imagine that what the producers were thinking when they cast him was the positive reaction from a lot of women in small towns and middle America who don't post on this board, and are eagerly anticipating watching someone they perceive to be a very "wholesome" Bachelor and a real catch.

Some people have used the moniker of "farmer" with affection, some with derision. And everyone knows how they mean it when they use it, including Arie.

ABC  GMA Pic from Twitter

ironcat wrote:

tigertiz wrote:

I don't think it's the profession most are referring to as "boring", but the cast person chosen to fill the shoes of TB and his lifestyle.

Precisely.   Thank you.  And in further proof of America's excited reaction to the news, there has been a total of about a dozen posts about the big Good Morning America announcement - in all of the Bach 19 threads in this subforum.  And there hasnt even been a single post in his fan thread here.   Unreal.   I dont know what they were thinking when they cast him.  
#morons

I don't think this forum and its members, wonderful and brilliant as we all are, are a very accurate representation of the sentiments of the rest of the country's Bachelor watchers.  This forum has been virulently pro Arie with relation to the next Bachelor speculation (and pro either Josh or Nick during Andi's season before that), so it's no surprise that there has been little discussion about Chris here, other than the lamentations that he isn't Arie.  I imagine that what the producers were thinking when they cast him was the positive reaction from a lot of women in small towns and middle America who don't post on this board, and are eagerly anticipating watching someone they perceive to be a very "wholesome" Bachelor and a real catch.

Some people have used the moniker of "farmer" with affection, some with derision.  And everyone knows how they mean it when they use it, including Arie.

If you check other websites Chris is very popular. I have several friends who are very excited and would have been disappointed if it wasn't him.
Go IOWA!

He is quite handsome. I hope he finds love!

EW is getting in on the Farm humor...

https://i.servimg.com/u/f39/17/36/07/42/bachel11.jpg

The "farmer" label has been squarely afixed by TPTB.

My personal interpretation of Arie's comment is this:
Arie has been trotted out 3 seasons now as a potential lead and each time passed over. Put yourself in his shoes for a moment. It's got to be frustrating if he really wants TB and at minimum very annoying to be used to drum up conversation and excitement for this franchise. So, if Arie feels any bitterness it is most likely aimed at TPTB and not Chris. IMO, the "have fun on the farm" comment was meant to steal some of TPTB's thunder when they made the announcement. Arie was essentially spoiling their surprise. It wasn't meant as a dig on Chris or his profession, IMO. Arie, for all the crap that is thrown his way, is one of the more gracious people to have suvived this franchise.

You have to realize that if Farmer Chris is the persona that TPTB are selling, that people, including Arie and viewers, are also going to call him Farmer Chris. The intention behind that moniker for most Arie fans, if I may speak as one, is not to put down the agricultural profession of the rural lifestyle. But to imagine that TPTB are not going to use and abuse those demographics for their own entertainment and to exploit them, to me, is silly. They do it every season. They use and exploit people, professions, persinality flaws, etc. I said it weeks ago, the urban elitists are going to mock middle America via this season. My advice to Chris fans is to start growing a thicker skin because you may not like what you see.

I think Chris is hot and love his voice. I will happily watch his season and as with most make fun of stupid things when they happen. I hope we get the first two weeks in Iowa, that would be fantastic.

If some skip, that is your right, I was so glad I didn't skip JPG even though I wasn't excited for him.

My only hesitation with Chris is why with him being one of their perspective next leads they basically didn't show him. That makes me question why. We will find out.

MiaHawk wrote:The "farmer" label has been squarely afixed by TPTB.

 My personal interpretation of Arie's comment is this:
Arie has been trotted out 3 seasons now as a potential lead and each time passed over.  Put yourself in his shoes for a moment.  It's got to be frustrating if he really wants TB and at minimum very annoying to be used to drum up conversation and excitement for this franchise.  So, if Arie feels any bitterness it is most likely aimed at TPTB and not Chris.  IMO, the "have fun on the farm" comment was meant to steal some of TPTB's thunder when they made the announcement.  Arie was essentially spoiling their surprise.  It wasn't meant as a dig on Chris or his profession, IMO.  Arie, for all the crap that is thrown his way, is one of the more gracious people to have suvived this franchise.  

You have to realize that if Farmer Chris is the persona that TPTB are selling, that people, including Arie and viewers, are also going to call him Farmer Chris.  The intention behind that moniker for most Arie fans, if I may speak as one, is not to put down the agricultural profession of the rural lifestyle.  But to imagine that TPTB are not going to use and abuse those demographics for their own entertainment and to exploit them, to me, is silly.  They do it every season. They use and exploit people, professions, persinality flaws, etc.  I said it weeks ago, the urban elitists are going to mock middle America via this season. My advice to Chris fans is to start growing a thicker skin because you may not like what you see.

Mia, I agree. I wish Arie would stop putting himself at TPTB's mercy. Fool me once, shame on you, but fool me twice, shame on me. Arie needs to stop letting TPTB mess with him.

TPTB are going to exhaust the farmer label as much as possible, just like they did with the actor, the pilot, the prince, the two doctors. It is what they do and their lack of creativity.

I think Chris is one of their more successful bachelors, but his lifestyle is not something the average girl they cast on this show is looking for. Hopefully, they will at least cast 50% who would like the lifestyle and Chris picks up on this. Let's face it, watching BiP last night, none of the girls they had on there from JPG's season would have wanted to live in rural Iowa and where Chris lives is rural.

They are indicating that casting is still going on. Hopefully, since he has been announced as the Bachelor they will have some girls who want to move to Iowa and are applying because it is Chris

LindaPete wrote:I sincerely hope you all remember how boring you think farmers are the next time you are hungry! As someone who works in the United States' largest industry (yes, over 300 careers in agriculture and over 21% of the nation's workforce are employed in agriculture) I'm rather offended that several of you think that being a farmer is a negative or boring thing. Is that  all that defines Chris? I doubt others would define me only in those parameters.

Which profession shall we drag through the mud next? Remember how boring the Prince was, or Jake the pilot? Let's talk a bit more about the person and not the profession.

Chris is boring to some of us no matter where he's from. I didn't care for how he talked to JJ and I don't find him attractive.

But your posts feels like you're saying it's politically incorrect for us to be disappointed it's Chris. You're offended because some think living on a farm is a negative or boring thing. You didn't know this before reading it here? Of course, not everyone finds midwest farm life appealing. There are legitimate reasons why it is not for everyone. I've had some bad experiences with it and I've seen things that offended me. I certainly respect your right to that life, but not everyone should have to agree with you. I do appreciate the hard work that goes into producing food, but personally, I don't want it on my tv screen as entertainment. It brings up bad memories for me.

chloep wrote:

tigertiz wrote:

I don't think it's the profession most are referring to as "boring", but the cast person chosen to fill the shoes of TB and his lifestyle.

Precisely.   Thank you.  And in further proof of America's excited reaction to the news, there has been a total of about a dozen posts about the big Good Morning America announcement - in all of the Bach 19 threads in this subforum.  And there hasnt even been a single post in his fan thread here.   Unreal.   I dont know what they were thinking when they cast him.  
#morons

There is a realm outside of this forum. FB and Twitter are going insane. His announcement received like 21,000 likes in 40mins. Chris led EVERY (wish) poll on every other (big)site....
They made the right choice for the show, the most marketable one. Arie's fans may be more involved and invested in Arie, but Chris appeals to the casual viewers more, (and those casual viewers make up the majority...)
I don't know really know who Chris is as a person. I don't know whether he'll make a good Bachelor. (Even if he does, there is no guarantee that TPTB won't mess it up with their manipulative poop and that horrible editing.) But I'll give him a chance.

I started this post in response to something Kashathediva stated above, but you did cut to the chase here... especially in regards to average TV viewers who don't focus much on spoilers and sleuthing like we little geeks do.

We all watch this show with different eyes, so there is really no point debating how "boring" Chris is. None of us view him as THE perfect choice for the lead any more than we have with other leads.

Obviously Chris did not wow the socks off of this forum. Part of it was because the spoilers were everywhere and only a few were questioning them thanks to the Nick Video. Therefore, a huge chunk of the "focal range" on this forum was about the Josh/Andi relationship versus Nick's "competitive" edit. Marcus was the "cute one" like Kiptyn on Jillian's season. Post-ATFR, there was much debate about Nick's sex statement regarding the fantasy suite.

As a result, Chris fell to the wayside... not so because of limited screentime or because he had any less "chemistry" with Andi than the other top contestants, but because only a select few on this forum were really paying much attention to him.

This reminds me... had Marcus/Lacy not been spoiled as a couple on BIP, would many be "aw"-ing and "oooh"-ing about them here, since their limited screentime footage (not M&L themselves) involves a lot of "we have a connection" talk and not much discussion about life after BIP or... much "hot" passion either apart from a few beach scenes? Spoilers can be SO powerful in the way they influence how we watch this show. If we know a certain contestant gets "bumped off" before final two, we may simply rule him/her out as a non-issue.

We learned the following about Chris... and, yeah, I will toss a little "opinion" here too.

1.) In "Meet Chris S.", he stated that his "pool" of prospects in rural Iowa is not great... and he really wants marriage. This sets up the "why" of him being on the show... even if it is a lame reason for many. Remember that Trista had no logical reason to be on Alex's season or be the Bachelorette herself, but I recall a line she said to Harrison at the start of hers (paraphrasing): " I am ready for ABC to try to play match maker for me". Yeah... I believed that gal had fallen off a turnip truck when she said that, but... hey! At least I couldn't accuse her of only doing it for fame and money. (Although that million dollar wedding wasn't refused.)

2.) He was committed for several years and proposed to a girl before, but it wasn't in his "gut" and he was thinking with his head rather than his heart. This was discussed in detail on his Santa Anita date. Of course, Andi also used that logic as an excuse to dump him. "My heart and head don't match."

3.) A married-for-55-years couple at Santa Anita gave him and Andi some relationship advice about "sometimes you just know" that will work to his advantage on his season... as to why he chooses person A over person B.

4.) Although the Rap Sheet of his youth was discussed on the messageboards and not on TV, the editors made it clear that his past is his past. In Brussels, he was commenting on not having the energy of his youth in his thirties. He was also the "gentleman" who made Andi get over Craig's drunken exploits in the group date preceding his... a date, I might add, that her F1 Josh attended and did NOT get the same praise from her about "putting me back on track after wondering if these guys were here for love".

5.) The secret admirer letters were not too-too cheezy... at least when we got through the edits of them and were able to read them word by word. He is a romantic at heart, despite his no nonsense "what you see is what you get" persona. AND these were not really discussed BY him  (as in the case of Nick and Marcus discussing theirs on screen... not that there was anything wrong with that)... that is, until Venice when he was finally revealed. The guy is pretty humble, regardless of his many faults. (By the way, those foggy flashback scenes of a guy writing weren't all Chris. They had some actor beefing up the "role" because production thought it was too good of a "storyline".)

6.) In his PI sessions, you didn't hear too much "canned" talk apart from that awful Cloud 9 reference. He was pretty original in his comments. Both Chris' strength... and weakness... is that he says what he thinks and doesn't sugarcoat or worry about others' responses. This leads me to his confrontations with two other contestants covered in #7 and #8 below...

7.) Although it was not covered on TV, we know he and Nick are OK with each other post show thanks twitter photos of them hanging out in Chicago and a rather extensive interview that Mike Fleiss had him do in June that explained how Nick's "evil" behavior was mostly a result of the "situation we are in". He also commented that "at the time" he did not consider Nick right for Andi, but saw how their relationship was on TV and was seeing things differently. (Just paraphasing here because I don't recall the exact wording.) He also never stated on screen anything about Nick that he didn't say to him directly, including his "jack ass" moves in episode #6 and "strategizing" in episode #7. Nick's response to Chris was that he simply got a "verbal lashing" and quickly moved on from it as if it didn't matter.

8.) Regarding Chris vs. JJ on MTA: this was strictly about JJ trashtalking about other contestants, including Chris, behind his back. The usually mild-mannered Brian was twice as angry with JJ in that setting. This was ALL the conflict was about on Men Tell All... and the possibility that Andrew (whom no TV viewer ever saw as completely "innocent" anyway) may have not had a fair "trial" over what he may have or may have not said regarding hostess phone numbers and "blackies". Surprisingly (or maybe not since Chris doesn't hold grudges), he spoke favorably of JJ in the same pre-MTA interview that also discussed Nick. (Yeah... I know. I know!! Mike Fleiss was also pushing him to "steamclean" his image in preparation for the Bachelor role too. Can you see my tongue nestled in my cheek as I post this? *slurp!*)

When Chris gave his "sourgrapes" speech to JJ in Venice, he was technically defending Brian more than criticizing JJ. (Of course, both Brian and Cody are Chris' most vocal fans.)

9.) On his hometown, we learned a LOT about Chris:

Both on the hometown with the tractors and on "Meet Chris S." showing him indoors as well as out, we pretty much saw "what he does"... and it is quite a bit. Not to nitpick here, but did we see all that much with the other top four guys on their hometowns? Yes, Josh played baseball... which is more entertaining than seeing him beside a computer or on a phone. Yes, Marcus took Andi to a disco... and in his car. Yes, Nick was downright hilarious at the flea market and brewery that I kept re-watching his hometown and chuckling each time. Yet Chris' had more of that "any question you have about me, I'll show you" vibe about it.

His family interaction was very extensive... including their "fun" side. Mom gave that speech that a woman doesn't have to sacrifice EVERYTHING to adapt to his lifestyle. She can do anything she wants in this modern age (although every relationship involves compromise).

We even saw the INSIDE of his home, not just his parents'... a rarity for this franchise.

10.) Harrison's view of him back in May's "Ones to watch" really was NOT showcased all that much ON SCREEN:

I think people are going to very much fall in love with this guy. He's a small-town farmer from Iowa, fourth-generation land baron. If you say he's just a farmer, you're missing it. He's a millionaire. Very good-looking guy. He really wants to find a wife and live the American dream.

ironcat wrote: I don't think this forum and its members, wonderful and brilliant as we all are, are a very accurate representation of the sentiments of the rest of the country's Bachelor watchers.  This forum has been virulently pro Arie with relation to the next Bachelor speculation (and pro either Josh or Nick during Andi's season before that), so it's no surprise that there has been little discussion about Chris here, other than the lamentations that he isn't Arie.  I imagine that what the producers were thinking when they cast him was the positive reaction from a lot of women in small towns and middle America who don't post on this board, and are eagerly anticipating watching someone they perceive to be a very "wholesome" Bachelor and a real catch.

Some people have used the moniker of "farmer" with affection, some with derision.  And everyone knows how they mean it when they use it, including Arie.

This is a very pro Arie board so I'm not surprised by the reaction here.   Out in SM, it's a different story.  I'd bet there would be much more universal outcry there IF Arie had been selected instead of Chris.   IMHO, if Arie had been selected there would be lots of complaining and lots of ex-conquests coming out of the woodwork to sell their possibly honest, more likely made up stories in the rag mags.  We know how the mags love to drag the contestants/leads thru the muck.  I would think having this possible scenario with Arie, because let's face it...he's viewed as a racecar driving playboy, would be enough reason for his fans to NOT want him going the Bachelor route....unless is aim is more about getting publicity than finding a woman to settle down with.

I'm looking forward to Chris as the Bachelor.