The Bachelor 17 - Speculation/Spoilers - Discussion

Kelly Stroda/The Dallas Morning News
Applicants wait at the casting call for "The Bachelor" at WFAA's Victory Park studio Wednesday evening.

By KELLY STRODA

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Published: 13 June 2012 10:23 PM
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This story was originally posted in the Pop Culture Blog.

Sunny Willebrand has been to more of these casting calls for “The Bachelor” than you can imagine. She guesses she’s been to about 60 by now in cities all over the United States. In Detroit, she was part of a casting call that drew 380 hopeful applicants.

But she’s not desperate for love. She’s just trying to help others find it.

Willebrand, a casting producer for the reality dating TV show “The Bachelor,” said this is her sixth casting call in Dallas. Auditions for the 17th (yes, 17th) season were held Wednesday evening downtown, and who knows? Maybe we'll see one of them when the show airs.

“People from these casting calls usually do pretty well,” she said.

In the drama-filled ending to the 13th season, Dallas native Melissa Ryecroft made it to the final rose ceremony and bachelor Jason Mesnik proposed to her. However, Mesnik ended up breaking up with Ryecroft because he said he was in love with another bachelorette from the season.

During the most recent season, two women from the previous casting call in Dallas vied for the heart of bachelor Ben Flajnik. Nicki Sterling, a native of Hurst, was booted after the ninth rose ceremony and Jennifer Fritsch, a native of Cache, Okla., left the show after the fifth rose ceremony.

A few years ago, the Dallas casting call produced 160 hopefully applicants and this year’s casting call also drew a steady stream of men and women -- the casting call was for both, as the bachelor who will star in the show hasn't been named.

Willebrand said the show is considering having a bachelor on the show who has not been on “The Bachelor” or “The Bachelorette” before.

So, what does one wear to audition for "The Bachelor?" A majority of the women wore colorful dresses, high heels and wedges. (Though, one woman did show her Texas spirit and donned cowboy boots.) The men donned slacks or jeans paired with button-up shirts.

Due to confidentiality agreements, the names of applicants cannot be shared. However, here are some of the things that were going through applicants’ minds during the casting call process.

30-year-old woman from Longview, Texas:

“I feel like they choose a lot of Texas women. I don’t know if it’s the state, the south or the drama, but there’s something about Texas women that gets the eye of people.”

23-year-old woman from Allen, Texas:

“I think especially for a guy to go on as a bachelor, I think he’s looking for the right reasons. He’s there for the right reasons. I don’t want to play games. I want to find someone who wants the same things as me. And I’ve seen it work.”

29-year-old man from Dallas:

“It’s kind of funny how nervous everyone is. It’s their one big shot, I guess. As soon as they walk in the door, it looks like they get in character.”

32-year-old woman from Dallas:

“I think I’m a little different than what I’ve seen on TV of the contestants, so I think I could bring an element of exoticness and all of that.”

Willebrand said the show is considering having a bachelor on the show who has not been on “The Bachelor” or “The Bachelorette” before.

tigertiz wrote:

Willebrand said the show is considering having a bachelor on the show who has not been on “The Bachelor” or “The Bachelorette” before.

They are desperate to cast a minority lead because of the lawsuit? Or, neither Roberto or Arie will sign and we're not sure about Sean yet?

Love_Me wrote:

bilolo wrote:maybe they decline too
Arie said he still has feelings for Emily how can he be the next bachelor with that in mind ? i don't know about Sean though