Bachelor 19 - Chris Soules - ALL Blogs - Discussion

by **GuardianAngel** Tue Jan 06, 2015 6:03 pm

Post and discuss all blogs here. Chris, CH and whoevers blog's you'd like to post. Place a copy in the Media - BLOGS No discussion threads.

Thanks!

by **GuardianAngel** Tue Jan 06, 2015 6:09 pm

nutty1 wrote:Please move if these are in the wrong spots!

Chris has switched from EW to Yahoo! for his blogs.

https://tv.yahoo.com/blogs/tv-news/chris-harrison--bachelor--blog-season-premiere-232745960.html

Chris Harrison Blogs 'The Bachelor' Season Premiere

Chris Harrison

I'm extremely proud to be debuting my wely blogs here at Yahoo TV this season. Yahoo has always done a fantastic job covering our show and they'll produce even more great content for Bachelor Nation this season. I will attempt to continue to entertain, have fun with the show and give you behind-the-scenes tidbits and knowledge you can't get anywhere else. I'll also answer your burning questions, and starting this season I will include personal photos from the shoot right here on my blog.

I was excited when I heard rumors months ago that we were tossing around the idea of doing a live premiere. We've had such great success with the live finale shows we thought, why not kick off the season with the same fanfare? One of the things I wanted to bring to the live premiere was a red carpet. It was great seeing some of my old friends from past seasons, and getting a chance to say hello to so many Bachelor fans that have supported us for many years. It never ceases to amaze me how devoted Bachelor Nation is and how much you love this show.

When I'm doing press to promote a new season I often get asked, "What makes this Bachelor different?" As you know, no two Bachelors are ever alike. I know reporters are desperate to try to stir up more dirt on the Juan Pablo season, but the truth is you can't compare Chris to Juan Pablo any more than you can compare him to Sean, Brad or Jason. Each Bachelor brings his own history, hopes, issues etc. to the show. We get to know these guys and try to tailor each season to who they are. And how I interact with each Bachelor changes, too; the relationship I had with Sean is different than the one I had with Chris. The best way to describe it is to compare it to the way you act around your different friends. Chris is a good man who's been brought up in the heartland, and he has a healthy respect for a hard day's work. As you saw, Chris just doesn't have the opportunity in his small town to be exposed to very many women. He really appreciated and relished the chance to meet so many dynamic women from such diverse backgrounds.

Speaking of the women, after an hour of fun and previews with the live studio audience it was time for the limos to arrive. Compared to some seasons, it was a pretty tame arrival process but here are some moments that stuck out for me:

Britt: She was first out of the limo and first into Chris' heart. They had an immediate connection that led to Britt not only getting the first impression rose she also got the first real kiss of the season.

Reegan: She walked up with a fake heart in a cooler. I can finally, literally say, "Bless her heart."

Tara: She showed up in a cowgirl outfit and quickly ordered a scotch on the rocks. She's also the first girl I can remember who did a wardrobe change and who sneaked back into the limo to make a second arrival. I was happy Chris noticed her. Of course, the arrival was probably the last thing Tara recognized or remembered that night.

Amanda: She was the secret admirer. Sure, it's a callback to Chris' secret admirer days on Andi's season, but I'm not sure the best way to make a first impression is not to make a first impression?

Kaitlyn: "You can plow the f--k out of my field any day." Need I say more?

Nicole: So, she thought it was a good idea to show up with a pig nose on? Note to future Bachelorettes: Don’t. Ever. When a guy calls your arrival gimmick "very brave," trust me — it didn't go well.

Carly: I'm a little on the fence on this one. I defer to Chris who thought the singing machine and her song were cute, so I'm letting her have a pass.

The big note during arrivals is that they didn't stop. Women and limos just kept coming all night. Thirty women finally arrived the first night and that is a lot. It might sound odd because it's only five more than normal but it seemed like there were a hundred women in the house that night. It may have been too many, as we were barely able to fit everything we needed to into one night. You may have noticed at the end of the show the exit interviews were shot in the daylight. It was so late it actually turned into an early morning wrap that first day.

I have to give a lot of credit to our crew for being so professional and pulling these nights off-season after season. A lot of coffee good craft service and the adrenaline of night one get us all through the night. I think the same can be said for the cast as well. The excitement of being there and experiencing such an event really pushes them through the long hours. The best way to describe it is it’s like being in Vegas. You walk into the mansion and the next thing you know the sun’s coming up.

We had to give Chris as much of a chance as possible to get to know these women so he could make informed decisions during the rose ceremony. It's a fun night to be a part of, but with so many people and so much to do it's a very long night, this one was especially long. Some of my favorite moments from this (almost) never-ending shoot:

Ashley S. and her onion

You have to remember Chris isn't privy to all the interviews and moments you see, so I hope you didn't throw anything at your TV when he gave Ashley a rose. Trust me there's more gold to come from her. By the way, how many points do you get in a Bachelor fantasy league for picking the woman that picks a pomegranate assuming it's an onion? Has to be a lot!

Alfalfa Doubts: When Mackenzie asked Chris if the alfalfa he grows from the ground is organic, the look on his face was priceless.

Rose Rage: You might have noticed by the time Chris gave Britt the first impression rose, it had been manhandled by the ladies and wasn't looking too good — so we gave her a nice new one for the rose ceremony. Chris and Britt walked arm and arm back into the party after he gave her the first impression rose. That may not have been a good idea; he might as well have painted a massive target on the poor girl's back.

Chris and I had a little chat in the foyer before the rose ceremony. In an attempt to really embrace who Chris is and make the show as organic as the alfalfa he grows we'll be doing more of this kind of stuff in the weeks to come. It’s nothing that Chris asked for it’s really just adjustments we’ve made as producers. We’re always looking for ways to improve the show and embrace who the Bachelor is as a person. This, less formal, style seemed to fit him. We’ve done similar things in the past with guys like Brad and Sean but it didn’t always make the show. This season we’ve found a better way to make it all work. I’ll be interested to hear what all of you think of this approach.

The rose ceremony the first night is always a mix of excitement and nerves. What can you say about our girl Tara? It appears her friends Jameson, Johnny Walker and Jim Beam did not treat her well. Tara had a little too much to drink. It happens every season and even though these people do it to themselves, I always feel a little bad for them. During the night several girls tried to get Tara to dial it back but she kept rolling. Sometimes you can’t be saved from yourself.

Tara wobbles at the rose ceremony

Chris didn't notice just how sauced she was until the rose ceremony where she could barely stand up. He walked out of the room so we could talk. To be honest, he was pretty turned off by it all. He came extremely close to pulling her rose and sending her home. He ended up giving her a first night pass but she clearly has a lot to do to make up for that performance.

As the first night (or really, morning) finally came to and end, it didn't. We were watching the interviews in the control room when we noticed that Kimberly took off. Our producer told us she was walking back in the house to talk to Chris. That's where we left you after a long, wild first night but I can confirm that you'll definitely see more about Kimberly next week.

So we're off on another adventure together and I couldn't be more excited for what's to come this season on The Bachelor. Thank you so much for being here with us each and every season. I love this show and the hundreds of people that give up their lives to make it all happen. I know what's in store in the coming weeks and I can't wait for all of you to experience it! Again I'm happy to be here at Yahoo TV and I'll continue to work with them each week to bring you fun, interesting, behind the scenes information. In the meantime you can always find me via Twitter and instagram @chrisbharrison.

by mtnlvr55 Tue Jan 06, 2015 6:31 pm

Desiree Hartsock ‏[ltr]@DesHartsock[/ltr] 25 minutes ago

Roses are red, Violets are blue, realzakwaddell #TheBachelor recap is on the blog.. just for you!… http://instagram.com/p/xhuVQDiGL6/

Bachelor Recap – Episode 1

By: Zak Waddell, ‘The Bachelorette’ contestant on Season 9 // Follow him on Instagram at@RealZakWaddell

If you missed last night’s episode of The Bachelor, it’s easy to find out what happened. Ask around at work, start your thumbs digging through Social Media… heck, Siri might be able to answer it. But let me save you the time (and sadly, maybe even the joy of the pursuit), what “happened” is easy:
30 girls instead of 25
He falls for Britt night one
A crazy girl relates people to onions
A girl gets tired and irritated as she comes down from a buzz.
ohh…and my little sister makes me proud with her Karaoke machine
We will talk about those soon enough (spoiler alert…though indirectly).
Let’s focus instead on what “is happening”. Even though Chris is The Bachelor, is he really a bachelor as we know it? Something about the essence of the word Bachelor as we know it seems to imply a freedom of choice. If being single is enough to be a “bachelor” then we can move along. But when you put it in that context, it just doesn’t seem to be enough. What is a “bachelor” beyond being single. We have bachelor parties to remember our bachelor days, as if to celebrate all the best of those days in one single night. We celebrate the freedom to act as we wish, with no one else to answer to. We play golf all day with our friends, go on fishing trips, spend the weekend drinking in Vegas, dress up the groom to maximize embarrassment and attention.
It seems to say, “This man, at this moment is a bachelor. A man who is desired because he lives in a state of freedom. He is giving up all this, for a life of marriage. After considering all the women in his past, the temptations of this night included, he chooses one woman from all the others on earth. He is sacrificing a life of individual freedom for the mystery of marriage.”
Bachelor 19 - Chris Soules - ALL Blogs - Discussion Chris-soules-abc-the-bachelor-2015-ragbrai-665x385-629x364

Bachelor 19 - Chris Soules - ALL Blogs - Discussion Chris-soules-abc-the-bachelor-2015-ragbrai-665x385-629x364

A farmer from Iowa is the antithesis of a Bachelor, mainly because he lacks choices. His family and a responsibility for the family’s farming empire have taken him out of the dating scene. Sure, he can venture into the city at night, try online dating or rekindle connections from college. The hard truth of the matter is relationships hinge on proximity. Anyone he meets is required to sacrifice their way of life for a farm and a farmer in Iowa.
This is important because for the first time, the Bachelor is the victim. The viewer expects with Bachelor’s past a man who has dated and encountered all varieties of girls. With Sean and Juan Pablo, living in Dallas and Miami, we assume they have acquired discernable preferences from being bombarded with options and having a multitude of experiences. How many women would a single man encounter living in a town of 400? If novelty is the spice of life, Chris has certainly dulled down his taste buds.

Bachelor 19 - Chris Soules - ALL Blogs - Discussion 800x533-629x419

In this recap, we will focus on Chris as the victim of certain archetypal characters (though not named specifically); archetypes that exist in the city, not capable of surviving on the farm. I won’t name names. I’ll let you fill in those gaps. I am team Bachelor, team Chris, team Sustainable Love. I am also team Train Wreck, team Over the Top, team Drunk. The two are not mutually exclusive, but overlap in the quadrant of Reality TV…after all Chris this is what you signed up for.
Some people may be asking, “but what if he decided to give up farming…what if they seek compromise”? These things might happen, but it’s not relevant to the story being told. We must take “farmer looking for a wife” at face value to find Chris a woman that fits into this framework. I also must say that Chris may not be as “lucky” as he thinks he is. Juan Pablo was not presented with any girl that fit his natural preference or cultural similarities. He made an honest attempt to find a love that would integrate into his family and unique cultural traditions. Unfortunately, he was unlucky in his pursuit.
Bachelor 19 - Chris Soules - ALL Blogs - Discussion 16703277-mmmain

Bachelor 19 - Chris Soules - ALL Blogs - Discussion 16703277-mmmain

I don’t think Chris is unlucky based on the selection of women last night. There seem to be afew girls that could make a natural transition to a farm, and many who could deceive him into thinking they could. As shrewd and capable of making good business decisions as Chris might be on the farm, he has entered into the realm of the heart…a place where these women might have the upper hand.
I also must say Chris is not “lucky” to be The Bachelor. Sure, he was given the opportunity because of the good story it makes for TV. Sure, any woman might be enticed by the prospect of a millionaire farmer and landowner that could make all her problems go away. Sure, he took the middle ground on The Bachelorette, staying out of drama and coming out a true gentleman. Luck, however, is not something left arbitrarily to the cosmos. It is something made by one’s own hands. When paired with humility a man of integrity like Chris comes across lucky. But don’t let him fool you… he has tilled his own soil.
Bachelor 19 - Chris Soules - ALL Blogs - Discussion Chris-soules-bachelor-629x419

Bachelor 19 - Chris Soules - ALL Blogs - Discussion Chris-soules-bachelor-629x419

Solemn and sincere are my first impressions of Chris. It is interesting to see him away from the guys on The Bachelorette. In this context and at times he seemed to me cocky and despondent. I can admit this was confused with raw, no-apology needed, confidence. The cockiness: being one of the only successful, career driven men in the house, he offered Andi something desirable. The despondency: the realization she would have to choose his farm lifestyle in order to choose him. Both of these don’t require an apology.
Bachelor 19 - Chris Soules - ALL Blogs - Discussion The-bachelor-premiere-still-31-629x323

Bachelor 19 - Chris Soules - ALL Blogs - Discussion The-bachelor-premiere-still-31-629x323

So let’s get to the task at hand. Let’s see who our villains are:

The LA Actress: She is more concerned with her characterization than with Chris. She overly dramatizes her interactions for the cameras: if she makes it far enough, she might win over America and become The Bachelorette; if she doesn’t make it far at all, she might kick start a career on-screen. She is dangerous because of her good looks, charm and ability to express fabricated emotion. She is the front runner early on making the best first impression. First impressions will be hard to Chris to shake. She will certainly reveal her true colors amongst the girls. The girls will expose her. She can’t survive in Iowa because she requires too much attention and needs constant validation.

The Sexually Progressive: She takes huge risks to break from the pack. She is free with her sexuality. She can speak like one-of-the-guys. She is very touchy and affectionate. She makes men feel comfortable quickly when things can be awkward. She does all of this in order to make statements on morality. She believes strongly in moral relativism and believes ones experiences are the only things that define them. This will not fly in Iowa where religious and cultural traditions are rigid. She will always be an outcast causing Chris to choose between her and her family.

The Jock: They lead with their body, hoping to intrigue you into searching for more. She might be more, but she has decided to identify herself with her body first. In order to maintain this intrigue, she will need to focus her time and energy toward body maintenance. This may prove difficult in an environment where people are more sedentary and less health conscious.

The Bleeding Heart: She is truly empathetic towards others. She has given her life to others through service. She is the perfect representation of a mother and head of household. She tells her story quickly in order that he might see this. She may not be the most attractive or seductive but she is patient knowing he sees her beautiful heart. How would this not work in Iowa? Because she needs constant service in order to fuel her heart. My fear is that there may not be enough people to serve in a town of 400.

The Creative: She is creative and fun, insightful, challenges him to be more, to ask more questions, to dig deeper, to create. She needs constant stimulus and thrives on people and ideas. Iowa would squelch her dreams and shake her concept of life and living. She would be miserable.

Bachelor 19 - Chris Soules - ALL Blogs - Discussion Bachelor-629x421

One might be asking, who does this leave. And here lies the question. We no longer live in an age where a woman is subordinate to a man. The female identity as it applies to relationships has progressed so greatly in the last 50 years; I would argue man has regressed. But that’s conversation is for another time and place. Let’s just agree that this season of The Bachelor is asking us to squeeze all we have learned about modern relationships in a town in rural Iowa.

When it is all said and done, it won’t be asking us to embrace changing times, but to simply accept it. We live in a post-modern world that is integrated culturally, religiously and spiritually. Our collective consciousness is no longer uniquely American. We are a part of all cultures, even when unwilling. Arlington, Iowa is the closest thing we have to a time warp. I applaud ‘The Bachelor’ franchise for continuing to take risks on individuals that speak to things larger than just love. If you reach deeper you will find much more than entertainment. You might even put your finger on the pulse of love in America. Where is it now? Where is it going?

I’ll be watching.

-Zak

Come back each Tues for a recap on Zak’s thoughts of the episode and get a man’s perspective on what is really going on.

by nutty1 Tue Jan 06, 2015 7:25 pm

My favorite blogger!!! I haven't even read it yet!!

http://jenfblogger.blogspot.com/2015/01/the-bachelor-recap-i-went-to-school-for.html

by Guest Tue Jan 06, 2015 7:45 pm

nutty1 wrote:My favorite blogger!!! I haven't even read it yet!!

http://jenfblogger.blogspot.com/2015/01/the-bachelor-recap-i-went-to-school-for.html

Funny, but I will never get the need to put F*ck every 3 sentences. She doesnt need it

by AllAboutLove Wed Jan 07, 2015 3:43 am

Enjoyed reading Chris's blog. Too sweet he kept mentioning Whitney. He seems really happy which is lovely to see. I love the blogs by the leads. Wish there were blogs by the girls just like they did with BachCan. Would really let one see what the girls were thinking during this time and especially towards the end with the F4.

by **Sprite** Wed Jan 07, 2015 1:45 pm

Where is Chris' own blog?

by **GuardianAngel** Wed Jan 07, 2015 1:47 pm

Sprite wrote:Where is Chris' own blog?

IDK, is it out yet? Sorry I have not searched for it but haven't seen it posted anywhere else on the forum either.

by atem Wed Jan 07, 2015 1:58 pm

I liked Zak's blog. I totally agree that with Juan Pablo's season, they didn't seem to cast with his culture/background in mind.

by Kashathediva Wed Jan 07, 2015 2:10 pm

I don't think tptb cast with the main in mind. I think they cast with Loony in mind. Loony and Drama.
With 30 girls to choose from I would think 2/3 would be those in their late 20's up, from more small towns, less with careers like beauty queens, models etc. A woman who spends her life traveling and exploring their next great adventure like Nikki--is she ready to settle down and live in a town of 450?
Ehh. They are already busy doing the layout for next season's 'Ette. This is history. but for the ratings.

by **Sprite** Wed Jan 07, 2015 2:39 pm

http://www.people.com/article/chris-soules-bachelor-premiere-blog

by Scooby Wed Jan 07, 2015 3:40 pm

Sounds to me like Zak's sister gave him some insider info.

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Bachelor 19 - Chris Soules - ALL Blogs - Discussion

Bachelor 19 - Chris Soules - ALL Blogs - Discussion

Re: Bachelor 19 - Chris Soules - ALL Blogs - Discussion

Re: Bachelor 19 - Chris Soules - ALL Blogs - Discussion

Re: Bachelor 19 - Chris Soules - ALL Blogs - Discussion

Re: Bachelor 19 - Chris Soules - ALL Blogs - Discussion

Re: Bachelor 19 - Chris Soules - ALL Blogs - Discussion

Re: Bachelor 19 - Chris Soules - ALL Blogs - Discussion

Re: Bachelor 19 - Chris Soules - ALL Blogs - Discussion

Re: Bachelor 19 - Chris Soules - ALL Blogs - Discussion

Re: Bachelor 19 - Chris Soules - ALL Blogs - Discussion

Re: Bachelor 19 - Chris Soules - ALL Blogs - Discussion

Re: Bachelor 19 - Chris Soules - ALL Blogs - Discussion

Re: Bachelor 19 - Chris Soules - ALL Blogs - Discussion