Bashing The Bachelor

Ah, there you are!

Well, it's officially the holiday season and as I enjoy the festivities with family, loved ones and friends, I am attempting to conduct business as usual, however in limited capacity (As a show of support to my fellow writers in this time of strike - they are worth EVERY penny in which they are asking in this negotiation - enough talk over pennies - let us get back to work!).

I am optimistically anticipating a return to full operations concluding the strike with my numerous activities such as:

Developing new ideas (I have a generous myriad), continuing with my endless phone calls with managers, agents and lawyers ('My People' - You just can't get anything done in this town without them), reading email (Although I am not able to provide a written response) - why today alone there were over 380 messages in one of my in boxes (Funny how I used to think email was so cool). However my most important task: keeping in touch with you through this Blog.

Blog By Your Request...
So, what is the topic of the day in which I had received the most email? Could it be Dancing with the Stars winners Helio and Julianne? Or, the latest cast-off from Survivor, hunky James Clement? Or, the nuptial nightmare Hogan style? Or, Simon's big 'World Idol' show?

Having said all of the above - it's not even close. It appears the most important event that is causing the most talked about subject this week: The final episode of ABC's The Bachelor.

Quite frankly, I did not view the final episode (Okay, or any other episode - I should fairly disclaim). However, I have been apprised of the events that occurred during said show and it has become glaringly obvious many of you (You, meaning those of who are verbalizing complaint, I mean, who watched) are not pleased with the outcome of the show....For you receive my sympathy....as well as a gentle scolding (Now, now, you know where this is going...).

Love On A Reality Show
For those that may have missed the ending of the 11th season of the show, apparently The Bachelor Du jour, Brad Womack, did not choose either of his two final female choices (Out of 25) - much to the dismay of the remaining participants, the viewing audience and even dancing, chit-chatting Ellen DeGeneres has chimed on the matter (Well, at least she is not blubbering all over national television again).

The Bachelor Brad (Mentioned in previous post) in his interview after the conclusion of the show said, "First of all, I wouldn't say that there were no feelings. In fact, what I want people to understand is that -- I know no one is buying this -- it was just as difficult for me," he said. "There's so many misperceptions surrounding the ending of that show, that I want to scream to the world..."

Really? Also, just what exactly are 'misperceptions' anyway?

No Fairy-Tale Ending
Alright, now we have discussed this topic on previous occasions - I appreciate the fact that you love a 'happy' ending on a reality show (Nonetheless), however you simply cannot always expect one - there is only so much reality producers can provide and we cannot control everything (wink).

Just as many producers, I have received numerous comments and questions about the validity of reality TV from various 'critics'. The farcical side note being, when real life is provided - it is often to the disappointment of many.

The point that I am hoping to present is that we could create shows about the mundane, melancholy, discouragement, rejection and general events one may experience in real life - however, the simple fact of the matter is that no one (Including you) would watch!

Have you noticed that in everything we watch the good guy always wins, the bad guy looses or meets an untimely fate, and in almost every case the guy always gets the girl, the job, or the money or all, by the end of the movie (Notice the next time)...

Yes agreed, we all certainly like fluffy, soft, happy endings concerning everything that we see on the screen because it provides an amicable escape from real life - Just do not call it 'Reality', say the unqualified critics.

Love Reality Style
Wait - again, we return to the question can one really expect to find true love and everlasting happiness on a reality TV show? Further, before your response, may I remind you that previous episodes (All 11 seasons of The Bachelor) have ended with disappointing real life circumstances - the track record for this show is not favorable.

The only success had by the program was The Bachelorette (Trista, Ryan, and new baby). Which leads one to presume that maybe women are better at choosing men within this genre of program? Perhaps.

In defense of Bachelor Brad - quite honestly, as a viewer I would not want to see another 'fake' reality relationship - I would much prefer the real thing.

Furthermore, I would not want to commit to someone in which feelings were not present. For this I say, Bachelor Brad, you deserve a recognized honorary commendation for your bravery...

Bachelor Brad's Final Thoughts:
"I haven't even thought about dating. I'm keeping to myself. I think if I asked a woman out, she might throw a drink in my face right now... I'm trying to make light of a very tough situation. I'm not ready to move on."

My Final Thoughts:
Well, Bachelor Brad not to worry it will all soon be forgotten and the good news is that ABC is already working on The Bachelor 12 and just maybe you will get another chance...


The photo above is a scene from The Bachelor's 11th season starring Brad Womack, and is provided compliments of ABC.

Love, Reality Style

Just when you thought you could not find a date on your own - leave it to your friendly reality show to 'hook-you-up'.

Last week, I was notified that ABC had made a final selection for next season's The Bachelor (Gorgeous Austinite, Brad Womack). The on-going dating show phenom, now currently in it's 11th season, continues the quest to match the love-lorn.

Which once again proves a point - PEOPLE LOVE DATING SHOWS! Although my business partners believe there is not an interest in dating shows, I continue to maintain a strong interest in dating game shows and millions of faithful viewers are in agreement.

A Date With a Dating Show
Quite frankly, the interest in dating shows began way back when I was in grade school. Each day after school, I would watch Love Connection (Eric Lieber Productions).

Each day I would get out of school at 3:35 and the show aired at 3:30 (very inconvenient) and with such a tight schedule, there was no time for hanging-out after school lollygagging, I had an important show to watch so time was of the essence (yeah, even back then).

With departure, travel time, and traffic I would be lucky to catch the last 5 minutes of the show and when my after school schedule became too demanding, I began programming the VCR (All by myself -remember those things? TIVO did not exist back in the 80's!).

Never Out of Style
I would like to believe that I am always in touch, on time, on subject, and in-step with the pulse of the popular community 'in the know'. For the most part, I have been able to visualize and profit on social trends before they become well known (Starbucks, Monster.com, Amazon and Netflix to name a few), largely due to my diversified interests in everyone and everything.

Even though clothes, hairstyles, social behavior and trends may change with each generation, one thing for certain is that dating will never go out of style.

The shows of "Love"

If you look at the history of television (over the past 40 years), you will notice there have always been dating game shows on the air featuring bachelors and bachelorettes looking to find love.

The Newlywed Game, Dating Game, Love Connection, Change of Heart...In fact, there have been so many dating game shows on the air that this blog would need to be several pages and posts too long.

Remarkably, dating game shows continue to evolve with the culture as a social re-invention and you will always see the current style and social attitude reflected on a dating show.

Welcome to Reality Dating
In modern dating, it's all about finding your love on a nationally televised reality show (?!). In other words, what you could not accomplish in real life, you can accomplish on a TV show (insert sarcasm here) - that's the pitch.

By today's standard of human matchmaking we have reality shows to thank (or blame, depending on whom you ask) for such a superficial and robust interest in the competitive style of 'elimination' dating.

Rather than have everything all wrapped up neatly in 30 minutes with the happy couple off to Copenhagen (or some other out of the mainstream destination), current TV dating fare more commonly involves one choosing from a group of opposites.

What would normally take the average person, a single date to determine the 'likability' of someone, reality dating takes us through sometimes a suspenseful and seemingly endless process of one-by-one elimination over the course of 13 weeks.

Of course, all of the suspense and drama is for your benefit and you will begin to recognize the same format through most recent shows:

• Who Wants To Marry a Multi-Millionaire? (FOX), Joe Millionaire (FOX), Mr. Personality (FOX), Age of Love (ABC), The Bachelor (ABC), The Bachelorette (ABC), Average Joe (NBC), For Love or Money (NBC), Temptation Island (CBS), Boy Meets Boy (BRAVO), Flavor of Love (1,2,3) (VH1), I Love New York (1,2) (VH1), Rock of Love (VH1)
  
  Related: Blind Date (Syndication), 5th Wheel (Syndication), Next (MTV), Can't Get A Date (VH1), Confessions of a Matchmaker (A&E)
  

You Too Can Become Famous
Did you know that back in the early days of TV dating show history a few now well known celebrities (Tom Selleck, Brad Pitt, Harrison Ford, Goldie Hawn, Kurt Russell) had once appeared as dating show contestants?

A-ha, but how many contestants from today's style of 13 -week dating game elimination and skulduggery competitions are going to continue on into a successful career? For this remains to be seen...

What Love?
Does anyone really expect to find true genuine love on a reality dating show? More importantly, does anyone expect the reality relationship to last?

Alas, the sum of the equation has been revealed...In today's reality dating, it's all about 'persona' and the chance to be on TV - not so much about the end result as dating shows of the past.

Perhaps these contestants realize that it's nothing more than a glorified talent competition and they are in full cognition of the twistful possibility: The last person not chosen, is in a good position to receive the spin-off show and the chance to choose their own suitor.

So win or lose, it does not matter and at the very least, just appearing on a reality dating show can launch one into an additional 15 minutes of fame...