Tag: Bachelorette

Bachelor franchise falls to new lows with contestants, ‘The Proposal’

The Bachelor franchise has stooped to a new low, and it’s making everyone uncomfortable.

It’s one thing to hear about contestants who say or like questionable things, it’s another thing to watch a new series that is borderline-shameful in its concept, and it’s another thing, an awful thing, to have to watch a contestant who has an assault case attached to his name date the Bachelorette.

And it’s time for a re-evaluation.

With social media tracking our every move, it’s no wonder almost every season of the Bachelor/Bachelorette dirt comes out for at least one contestant.

With a pool of 20-30 people, one is bound to have liked a post they shouldn’t have on Instagram.

It takes 0.2 seconds to like a post, and it’ll last forever because that’s how the Internet works. And some contestants have learned that lesson the hard way.

Some, of course, don’t care. Last Bachelorette season, Lee wrote some racist Tweets, but he didn’t show much remorse when confronted. But this season, Garrett seems to care a little bit about his past actions of liking offensive Instagram posts, issuing an apology before the finale airs (where he’s predicted to be a frontrunner).

Social media actions are semi-forgivable. We all grow, we all change, and it’s a tiny thing, right? And liking something seems more forgiveable than writing by a hair.

It’s uncomfortable, for sure, but not unredeemable. But a contestant who was charged with assault is not.

When the news came out about Lincoln, a current contestant on the Bachelorette, it was shocking. And truly uncomfortable.

How are we supposed to watch this guy woo Becca when we know we was convicted in an indecent assault case, especially in the #MeToo era?

I couldn’t even think this guy was genuine from the beginning He cried over a broken picture in the second episode and he thinks the earth is flat. But now I’m really over it.

But what really bothers me is how this could’ve happened? These contestants are supposed to go through some extreme background and psychological checks, but somehow this case never made it to the team?

Seems impossible.

The Bachelor needs to start vetting people better, including an extensive historical social media check, just to be prepared for what may come out and give contestants a chance to defend themselves.

And also, no more stupid spinoffs. “Bachelor in Paradise” is bad enough (though it has an interesting set of proposals and weddings), but “The Proposal” truly hit a new low.

I watched the premiere Monday, and it was probably the worst hour of watching TV ever.

 

I don’t know where they picked these people, but it was cringey. The budget clearly on the low-end, though they someone found room to be able to CGI the suitor during his intro package.

The concept of going from never meeting to proposal in one hour TV time is insane. A proposal should never be competed for, but at least on the Bachelor/Bachelorette, you get to see some relationship growth. On “The Proposal” it’s like watching a poor-man’s Miss USA that ends in a proposal, with Bachelor-franchise ring designer Neil Lane, of course.

Now that they’ve pulled the second episode of the new show because of a sexual assualt accusation, can we really trust this team anymore?

The Bachelor franchise has always been a guilty pleasure, but now I feel just guilty watching it.

Couch potato sometimes: How I workout while watching TV

Having a laugh during our TV workouts

Raise your hand if you hate working out.

Now raise your hand if you love watching TV.

Of course, I can’t actually see you, but I’m guessing many people would raise their hand on both accounts. I know I would.

Yes, working out is good for you, but I don’t get a runner’s high. I don’t even get a runner’s medium. I just know to stay in shape and to lose weight, I need to exercise.

But I also have little to no motivation, and no one to work out with. But last summer I discovered a “Bachelorette” workout, and I was in.

No, I don’t love the show, but it can be addicting to watch people try to fall in love…knowing they’ll probably break up within a year of the finale.

When I first tried the “Bachelorette” workout, it was tough. I was not prepared to do 100+ squats, 10 for every rose given out (it was early in the season). But by the end of the two hours, I was sweating…without feeling frustrated.

I did something I love (watch TV for an extended period of time) while doing something I need to do (exercise). And it worked.

After one or two weeks of this, I got two friends to join in with me. We’d meet after I got off work, set the workout list by the TV, and made sure to hold each other accountable for doing the exercises (and also questioned whether something counted or not…I mentioned it was tough, right?).

The “Bachelorette” workout we used

It was quite effective. One of the girls had no problems fitting into her wedding dress, and I lost some weight and gained some muscle. All around a win-win.

My TV workout buddies at the wedding

I started looking up other TV workouts, as I call them. BuzzFeed has a huge list, but I alter them to fit what I need or add to them for a more intense workout.

Alternatively, most shows (or even movies) have a drinking game associated with it. I altered a “Friday Night Lights” drinking game into a workout for watching the show. (Crunches for every time you saw a jersey did wonders for my abs.)

I will say the most effective TV workouts are for reality competition shows, like “Bachelorette,” “Dancing with the Stars,” or “Project Runway.” There’s more regularity to these shows because of their format, so you’ll get a more well-rounded workout.

On the flip side, you can always add to the workouts. I altered one for “Gilmore Girls,” and well effective some episodes, I wasn’t doing many exercises for other episodes. But my aforementioned group of friends has done one for “Drop Dead Diva,” and we’ve added a couple extra exercises as we’ve progressed in the show.

They say it’s not good to watch TV for hours on end. But if you workout for at least part of it, you’ve earned some quality couch potato time. At least in my book.

Summer TV: We need to talk about ABC’s Summer Fun and Games

Summer: the time when shorts and flip-flops are everywhere, sangria is a drink of choice and TV hits a lull.

But ABC is hitting advertising hard with it’s Summer Fun & Games lineup. And it’s out of control.

Another networks are airing new reality competition shows (See Fox‘s “Beat Shazam” and NBC‘s “World of Dance“), too, but ABC has a plethora of them.

Returning this season are “Celebrity Family Feud,” “The $100,000 Pyramid” and “To Tell the Truth.” Additionally, new shows “The Gong Show,” “Boy Band,” “Steve Harvey’s FUNDERDOME” and “Battle of the Network Stars” will also premiere in June.

That’s seven reality competition shows. In theory, that’s one for every day of the week, but only Sunday and Thursday evening programming will center around these shows.

Is this really necessary?

All types of shows premiere almost year-round these days. Typically new summer shows are lighter, more soap-opera-style or a competition show.

Admittedly yes, this lineup includes all lighter shows. But they’re probably not interesting.

Maybe ABC is going for nostalgia. After all, “100,000 Pyramid” and “To Tell the Truth” are re-launches, as is new show “The Gong Show.” And “Boy Band” seems like a rip off of “Making the Band” made to fill the void One Direction’s hiatus made.

But substance is lacking immensely in these shows. It’s all about catching attention, especially with all the celebrities that’ll be on the shows, but not really keeping it. Yes, you get celebrities acting silly, but who really cares?

I’m always surprised when competition shows last more than a season. Something about “American Idol” worked for a time, but these shows usually don’t have it.

“The Search for Elle Woods,” a competition focused on finding Broadway’s next “Legally Blonde” star, was one season. “The Glee Project” lasted for only two seasons. One Directioners may watch the new show “Boy Band,” but they’ll probably lose interest too.

I’ll stick to “Hollywood Game Night.” And the “Bachelorette”…for the workouts (another blog for another time)