The Bachelor 20 - Ben Higgins - MTP -LCD - FRC - *Sleuthing - Spoilers*

Emily said in her book (paraphrasing) something about the show "not being ALL scripted" hinting that it is, in fact, very scripted. Also, it has been mentioned that Whitney seemed like the scripted F1 which in retrospect seems obvious (to me anyway). I tend to agree that JoJo seems scripted and physical chemistry took over.

I totally think that the feelings between Ben and Jojo were real, just that there was so much more between Ben and Lauren. I don't think Jojo was a plant or anything, I just think that there is a possibility that as it became clear to TPTB that Ben was totally into Lauren, they decided to that they may a well play up the chemistry with Ben and Jojo to keep things interesting. Maybe Ben agreed so that he could let other girls go that he wasn't feeling as strongly for and Jojo agreed so that she could be the next lead. Maybe everyone, but Lauren was in on it. That would make what Ben said about "we put her through he##" true. I do think that Ben and Jojo were very attracted to each other from the start and TPTB capitalized on that as much as possible. I don't know, to me, it just seemed like Jojo has kind of been "acting" the last few episodes.

viola-b wrote:Ben did say that Jojo "gets it" more than anyone else.

But ... exactly what is Ben referring to that JoJo "gets" more than anyone else? I know - rhetorical question in a way because we can probably never know - but IMO it's possible that what JoJo "get's is how the show, with all it's scripting and storylines and contrived drama works and because she does (and with all the reality TV heritage with her fmaily and her own experiences being on Ready For Love with Ben Patton) she could play along with the storyline.

Kashathediva wrote:
snip ...
So much of what I saw in the interactions between JoJo and Ben reminded me of Matt Grant and Shayne Lamas. Very scripted with physical chemistry mixed in. 
Each season there is a very good likelihood the lead will not fall in love at least not for very long after the bubble. I don't think it's outside the realm of good business that TPTB often have a default person, just in case. 1) Travis Stork's --Sarah. 2) Matt Grant's --Shayne 3) Ben Higgins--JoJo.

IMO TPTB feel that each season should end in an engagement - else viewers would feel cheated. You watch for several months, get invested in the storyline and the characters and the illusion of love being found and it's anti-climatic and a real let down to have it end with "I like you a lot. Let's date and see what happens" and I suspect this is why they were so pissed at JPG. IMO if every season ended that way - even though that's probably a more realistic ending most of the time - the show would never have lasted as long as it has and we'd have nothing to post about.

So IMO yes - there's some sort of an escape plan - a default F1 who either stands something to gain (like Shayne) or is at least willing to roll the dice and go with the flow - and knows what that entails - just in case nothing else happens. You've cited some good examples of this and for me - the last one is as valid as the first two. As above - these two thoughts connect for me and this is very likely what Ben meant when he said that JoJo "gets it".

One question, do they edit the whole season before the season begins or do they continue to edit as it plays out and decides to show cuts based on what connects with the viewers? It's been filmed so they know directionally what will happen in the end but they won't know what will connect with the viewers. They have to show the love story of the lead and F1 but they havento also show a story of the F2/3/4 so they can perpetuate this show.  They didn't know if the viewers will connect with Caila or Jojo so it would seem they'll edit based on that.

At the start of the season, Ben's first date was Caila. She was spunky and had a great first date IMO.  Jojo was not even in Ben's radar from the start. It wasn't a slow burn. She just wasn't in his top 2, she wasn't even mentioned in his first blog for the M&G (not sure when Jojo started to appear there). Caila's  2nd date was a disaster. One of the comments I read that was hysterical was that whatever Caila was telling Ben was like "Pinterest quotes gone wrong."  At that point though, I still didn't see the deep connection between BenJo that others saw.  Even that Wrigley field date, Ben didn't share anything with her except that he's a Cubs fan and loves watching the games with his dad.  Jojo still talked about her ex that caused her to become guarded.  I felt like Caila and Jojo were toe to toe.  Then, after that, it was already HTDs, which was a disaster for Jojo. Yet Ben got to the point he was able to say ILY to Jojo during the FD. So I felt like they immedidiately put the BenJo train on steroids after the HTD that made me question he authenticity of the ILY.  

I felt like TPTB started ramping up the edit of Jojo as the viewers actually connected with her leading up to the "manufactured" double ILY during the FD.

Lucas15 wrote:

viola-b wrote:Ben did say that Jojo "gets it" more than anyone else.

But ... exactly what is Ben referring to that JoJo "gets" more than anyone else? I know - rhetorical question in a way because we can probably never know - but IMO it's possible that what JoJo "get's is how the show, with all it's scripting and storylines and contrived drama works and because she does (and with all the reality TV heritage with her fmaily and her own experiences being on Ready For Love with Ben Patton) she could play along with the storyline.

Kashathediva wrote:
snip ...
So much of what I saw in the interactions between JoJo and Ben reminded me of Matt Grant and Shayne Lamas. Very scripted with physical chemistry mixed in. 
Each season there is a very good likelihood the lead will not fall in love at least not for very long after the bubble. I don't think it's outside the realm of good business that TPTB often have a default person, just in case. 1) Travis Stork's --Sarah. 2) Matt Grant's --Shayne 3) Ben Higgins--JoJo.

IMO TPTB feel that each season should end in an engagement - else viewers would feel cheated. You watch for several months, get invested in the storyline and the characters and the illusion of love being found and it's anti-climatic and a real let down to have it end with "I like you a lot. Let's date and see what happens" and I suspect this is why they were so pissed at JPG. IMO if every season ended that way - even though that's probably a more realistic ending most of the time - the show would never have lasted as long as it has and we'd have nothing to post about.

So IMO yes - there's some sort of an escape plan - a default F1 who either stands something to gain (like Shayne) or is at least willing to roll the dice and go with the flow - and knows what that entails - just in case nothing else happens. You've cited some good examples of this and for me - the last one is as valid as the first two. As above - these two thoughts connect for me and this is very likely what Ben meant when he said that JoJo "gets it".

To your bolded Lucas--YES. I mentioned this in the episode thread during the viewing. 
Per your last paragraph: I remember how the audience appeared to be so let down when Jesse Palmer offered his F1 a plane ticket to visit him. Really?  Remember PLO offered a ring on a necklace with promise for a future?  
I know I appear jaded. There is a reason for this. I know someone who is an editor for other reality tv shows.

SarahD wrote:One question, do they edit the whole season before the season begins or do they continue to edit as it plays out and decides to show cuts based on what connects with the viewers?

I don't know what the common practice is, but IMO they certainly can edit what we see on air - probably up until very close to the time the episode airs.

Lucas15 wrote:

SarahD wrote:One question, do they edit the whole season before the season begins or do they continue to edit as it plays out and decides to show cuts based on what connects with the viewers?

I don't know what the common practice is, but IMO they certainly can edit what we see on air - probably up until very close to the time the episode airs.

I believe in Emily's season they were still editing while the first few episodes were being aired.

all i know is that we have less than 48 hours to go!

George1218 wrote:I totally think that the feelings between Ben and Jojo were real, just that there was so much more between Ben and Lauren.  I don't think Jojo was a plant or anything, I just think that there is a possibility that as it became clear to TPTB that Ben was totally into Lauren, they decided to that they may a well play up the chemistry with Ben and Jojo to keep things interesting.  Maybe Ben agreed so that he could let other girls go that he wasn't feeling as strongly for and Jojo agreed so that she could be the next lead.  Maybe everyone, but Lauren was in on it. That would make what Ben said about "we put her through he##" true.  I do think that Ben and Jojo were very attracted to each other from the start and TPTB capitalized on that as much as possible.  I don't know, to me, it just seemed like Jojo has kind of been "acting" the last few episodes.

But why would Ben willingly put his F1 through hell? He didn't need to take it this far just to play a role. How many ILYs is he up to now? I can believe that TPTB write some of their lines for the ITMs, tell them what subject to talk about or even have a back up F2, but this? I really hope that Ben would not intentionally do this to Lauren. I can believe Chris Soules faked it, but unlike Ben, it helped him rather than hurt him. Whitney may have been a back up plan, but I don't think she knew that at the time. She got that spot because she was a sure thing to take to the finale. Olivia Higgins could have done that for Ben. jmo

grace8136 wrote:

George1218 wrote:That would make what Ben said about "we put her through he##" true.

But why would Ben willingly put his F1 through hell?

IIRC Ben did indeed say "we put her through He**" - but who is the "we" and why did he say "we" instead of "I"?

Maybe the "we" was Ben and TPTB - and Ben thought he had control over what he did and said to Lauren and thought it was all OK - but he may well have not known what TPTB were doing to Lauren behind his back. TPTB are perfectly capable, IMO, of lying and telling Ben "Don't worry - Lauren knows what's really going on" and then without Ben's knowledge telling Lauren "Gee - we don't know what's going on here - we thought he loved only you but he's awfully close to JoJo". The result is that Ben didn't do it willingly - he didn't believe he was doing it at all until he actually had private access to Lauren and learned what she had really gone through.
JMHO

I just read that in the TV show unReal (which I haven't seen), the producers make you think they're your bestest friend, they have your back, then the second they get what they need, they totally screw you over. I kind of sense that's what the producers do here. And when you're filming until wee hours in the morning, apparently people are just so tired that hey do what you just want them to do. It's pure manipulation...