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The Tufts Daily
Where you read it first | Thursday, March 28, 2024

Though formulaic, 'The Bachelor' still manages to entertain

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Host of ABC's "The Bachelor" Chris Harrison at the live premiere event of last season's show.

"The Bachelor" (2002 - present) is hard to like. It turns love into a six-week competition and sells the idea that it is okay for a man to date 25 women at one time. And while it is not a scripted show, “The Bachelor” is so edited and producer-manipulated that it can be hard to tell what’s real and what’s not (spoiler alert: most of it’s not). Society would probably be a little healthier if this show did not exist. But it does. And it’s entertaining. This season, in which “it’s raining Ben,” is no exception.

Bachelor Ben Higgins is the ultimate boy next door. A software salesman living in Denver, CO., but originally from Warsaw, IN., 26-year-old Ben loves his parents, speaks fondly of his church group, was the quarterback of his high school football team (but with a pass completion of only 42.9 percent, it appears football was not his true calling) and has an Instagram filled with pictures of him and smiling children from his service trips to Honduras. Also, he is handsome in the kind of way that makes you think his high school superlative was “best to bring home to meet the parents.” But truthfully, as nice and well-rounded as Ben is, he is kind of boring. Luckily, the producers had a great batch of women this season to keep the entertainment levels up.

After 20 seasons, the producers have this show almost down to a science. It’s not dissimilar to a scripted television show, with producers casting women for different parts and then molding whatever the women say into a story arc. It is not really okay that they have this much control over a woman’s image on TV, but the drama that they’re able to generate makes it almost worth it. Almost.

One of the show's tropes, the so-called "crazy girl," was especially successful this season. Lace, a 25-year-old real estate agent, started the season off strong when she got too drunk at the first cocktail party and even after receiving a rose, accused Ben of not making enough eye contact with her during the rose ceremony. Lace’s portrayal of a car accident from which you can't look away only lasted three episodes, but she still managed to drunkenly assure Ben, “I’m not crazy,” several times.

Olivia, however, was the number-one talked about woman this season, as the mean 23-year-old news anchor who was prone to crossing the line. The recipient of the First Impression Rose, Olivia began her downward spiral almost immediately after, referring to herself as Mrs. Higgins and declaring to Ben that she likes thinking. The majority of the drama this season has centered on the other women’s dislike of Olivia. A few girls even went so far as to make fun of her “ugly toes” and claim she had bad breath. While these comments were immature, they made for great television. Overall, most of Olivia’s actions and the things she said seemed more misguided than anything. Watching her “in the moments” (moments where contestants are shown seated alone, talking to the camera) made it clear she was at least partially a victim of producer manipulation and deserving of some sympathy. Regardless, she ended up self-destructing, and it was ultimately a relief when Ben sent her home on the infamous two-on-one date. His choice to give the rose to a woman whose occupation was “Twin” instead mercilessly left Olivia on a deserted island during a storm.

Other highlights from the season include a date where the women had to work out and then Ben had to smell their armpits to test their compatibility, a date in the Bahamas where swimming pigs chased the women around while Ben pretended everyone was having a great time and a voiceover where Ben called Las Vegas “a place where people do find love.” As always, there have been plenty of hot tubs, helicopter rides and tears.

It’s now down to the final three, so that means next week are the notorious overnight dates in the fantasy suite. The lucky, remaining women are 24-year-old software sales rep Caila, 24-year-old real estate developer JoJo and probable winner 25-year-old flight attendant Lauren B. (There were three other Laurens and a Laura this season.)

“The Bachelor” is not about love; it’s about a formula. And it has its problems, both in content and society. But watching other people crash and burn on TV is not only entertaining -- it’s a self-esteem booster as well. Also, show promos imply Ben regrets sending a woman home at the final rose ceremony and calls her, so it’s probably worth it to tune into ABC on Mondays at 8 p.m. to see if Ben pulls a Jason Mesnick-like switch or actually just calls his mom.

Summary 'The Bachelor' is as problematic as ever, but nevertheless manages to be entertaining. A guilty pleasure if ever there was one.
3 Stars