Tag: reality TV

Let’s talk about sex…and faith on ‘The Bachelorette’

“So let’s talk about sex.” The words that ruined a relationship, and opened up a heated conversation.

Who would’ve thought “The Bachelorette” was the show that could ignite all this?

But first, let’s back up. Hannah B. is this season’s “The Bachelorette,” the 15th season of the ABC reality dating competition.

She wasn’t what most people expected. The ex-beauty queen was more known for not talking in complete sentences than her sweetness.

She’s proven she’s a grown-ass woman with a voice of conviction, but I’m not sure anyone could’ve predicted what happened.

Viewers are always told, “It’s the most dramatic season yet.” It’s a little bit like the boy who cried wolf this far into the franchise’s tenure. This time, it was kind of true.

We were told the villain of the season was a new type. He came in the form of Luke P.

How was he a villain? Let’s allow his words to paint to a picture:

  • Luke S. wanted me to come here and tell you I think he’s here for the right reasons.
  • You are not going to mess this up!
  • I can understand a slip up, but with all of them?
  • Can I just cut you off for a second?

You get the idea.

Obviously, we can all agree that the show’s producers push people to extremes and that everything is highly edited. However, what Luke P. said on this show highlighted some horrible double standards, and brought faith into the conversation like never before.

Luke P. and Hannah B. say they are Christians. Before the season aired, they had Bible verses as part of their Instagram bios. Not that that means anything, per se, but just painting a picture.

Hannah would casually mention wanting to marry a man of faith, but she’s been the first Bachelorette to talk about it on a regular basis, in part because of Luke P.

His cross necklace was visible most of the time. His hometown visit featured a Bible study. He (almost) always claimed he loved Hannah, even saying in episode 2 that he was already falling for her, and said God had brought them together.

On the other side, Luke P. was unliked by all in the house for what was portrayed as manic emotions and lashing-out behavior. Boy, did Hannah get duped.

Cut to fantasy suite week, where yes, many contestants have sex. But not all, especially since it’s the only time they’re away from cameras.

Luke P.’s fantasy suite was aired last, but it’s unclear whether it was actually last or just shown that way.

And that’s when “let’s talk about sex” came in.

Yes, in the Christian faith, it is expected that you wait to be intimate until marriage. But just like many people eat shellfish or swear, not every Christian waits.

And viewers knew Hannah wasn’t a virgin, as she openly talked about sex when she competed on the Bachelor last season. So for Luke to be judgemental about this, after saying he fell in love with Hannah while watching her on TV, doesn’t make sense.

To top it off, he wasn’t a virgin either. So why is it that his come-to-Jesus moment (in the shower, by the way) made his lack of virginity OK and hers not?

Bachelorettes have been slut-shamed before (ex: Kaitlyn Bristowe), but Hannah’s Christian faith brought in another level.

Should we judge Christians at a higher standard? Some say yes, because they choose that faith moniker.

But faith is also about grace. Which Hannah personified in her “Jesus still loves me” catchphrase.

Admittedly, it’s frustrated to see Hannah get slut-shamed just because she also identifies as a Christian. The faith has taken enough hits in today’s society for many reasons, but this, to me, crosses a line.

Women can have sexual desire. It’s part of life. And Hannah was OK with having her desires shown on TV, which is refreshing.

When Hannah got angry at the contestants for fighting and not being honest, it’s because she wanted something real.

She gave grace to Luke P. time and time again, even when his actions weren’t admirable, and to Jed on tonight’s finale after he apologized for his lack of honesty about his past relationships.

Yes, she’s not perfect, a fact she willingly admits. But she wanted to find love, and boy did she try, pushing to have tough conversations even when she struggled to find “clarity.”

What I give producers credit for is at least having these conversations on camera.

My co-workers and I have had long, in-depth conversations about Luke and Hannah. We didn’t always agree, but in general, we believed:

  • Luke’s backpedaling was childish.
  • Luke showed no forgiveness nor learning from his time on the show.
  • Hannah speaks her mind.
  • The whole situation was overdone and irritating.

Now, Hannah…she is the Bachelorette. You know she’s going to date, kiss and possibly sleep with multiple guys. And that’s 100% her choice. It’s not just the nature of the show, it’s being a human.

Even as a person of faith, she can make her own decisions. How she works through her faith is HER CHOICE and HER PROCESS. And I appreciate how open she is about her process, struggles and all.

Now does it stink that the one confirmed person she slept with got eliminated after fantasy suites? Yes, because it doesn’t paint the best picture. But it’s still HER CHOICE. And she’s owning up to her decisions, which is more than most can say.

So let’s keep talking about sex. Because we all need grace … and Jesus still loves us.

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.

‘Under the Gunn’ tries to capture ‘Project Runway’ attention, but ultimately fails

This blog originally appeared on elkharttruth.com on April 17, 2014. The latest season of “Project Runway” premieres Aug. 17.

Spinoffs have become a huge part of TV culture, especially in the last year or two.

Whether it’s because it’s a way to capitalize on what’s already good or just a lack of original ideas, we are stuck with spinoffs.

One such spinoff is “Under the Gunn,” a Lifetime reality competition that’s a spinoff of the hit design show, “Project Runway,” hosted by Heidi Klum.

“Under the Gunn,” which aired its season finale April 10, was supposed to center around “Project Runway” mentor Tim Gunn, the beloved fashion instructor and mentor who is a big component of the success of “Project Runway.”

Many people voiced their excitement about the show on social media, mainly because it was all about Gunn.

But ultimately, that was not what “Under the Gunn” turned out to be.

Yes, it was a design competition. It had the usual drama, mess ups and down-to-the-wire moments. But Gunn didn’t mentor that much during the show’s 13-episode run.

Gunn served as a host and a mentor to the three true mentors of the show: Anya Ayoung-Chee, Mondo Guerra and Nick Verreos.

The trio of “Project Runway” alumni were the ones who actually mentored the contestants. They were the ones who walked around asking designing questions and pushing the designers to the next level.

The idea was that once all of one mentor’s contestants were eliminated, the mentor would be eliminated as well. But, predictably, each mentor was represented in the finale. The last four standing were: Asha Daniels (Mondo), Shan Keith Oliver (Anya), Sam Donovan (Mondo) and Oscar Garcia-Lopez (Nick), who was named the winner by judges Jen Rade, Rachel Roy and Zanna Roberts Rassi. Heidi Klum and actor Neil Patrick Harris were guest judges for the finale episode, which saw each designer complete a mini collection.

While viewers got to watch Anya, Mondo and Nick grow as mentors, I wanted to see Gunn mentoring more. That’s what he does on “Project Runway,” and that’s why people love him.

Gunn has a flair for mentoring. It’s his gift. He’s tough, but kind. He makes people question their work, he makes people laugh and he makes designers fulfill their potential.

His signature fashion, critiques and motto, “Make it work,” are what makes “Project Runway” so fun to watch.

And that was missing on “Under the Gunn.”

It’s not that Gunn was a bad host. It’s just this: He’s a better, more entertaining mentor.

With ‘Rising Star,’ TV is saturated with singing reality competitions

This blog was originally published on elkharttruth.com on June 26, 2014.

How many singing reality competitions can there be on TV?

“Rising Star” is the latest singing competition to hit the small screen. It airs Sundays on ABC.

After watching the premiere June 22, “Rising Star” seems to be more about technology than talent, in my opinion. Yes, it’s innovative to use an app to “Raise the Wall,” which allows the experts, studio audience and viewers to vote on which contestants should move on to the next round, but so what?

“American Idol” was groundbreaking in 2002. But let’s be real. Without Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul, the Fox show just is not interesting anymore. And “The X Factor,” Cowell’s follow-up show, bombed in America, despite having high-profile judges such as Britney Spears and Demi Lovato.

And now anyone can be a judge or expert. On “Rising Star,” the so-called “experts” are Kesha, Ludacris and Brad Paisley. I think hiring Kesha is a publicity stunt after her stint in rehab, but I guess she does have a lot of fame.

“The Voice” is great. But after the auditions, the NBC show is no longer truly about the voice, considering the judges can see them face-to-face. So the best singer doesn’t necessarily win.

It’s such an influx. I get that ABC wants to break into the singing competition mold, but it’s just cliche now.

Yes, seeing and hearing great singers is entertaining, but there just aren’t enough viable twists to make all of these shows worthwhile to watch.

And since so few of them these days make a name for themselves after the show, maybe it’s a sign that others are sick of these shows, too.

ABC’s ‘The Bachelor’: The show I love to hate

This blog was originally published on elkharttruth.com on Jan. 19, 2015.

I hate to admit it, but yes, I do watch ABC’s “The Bachelor.”

I blame it on the fact that there’s not much to watch on Monday nights during the winter.

But it’s one of the silliest, more far-fetched shows I’ve ever watched.

I don’t understand how anyone can truly believe people will actually find true love on this show or its “Bachelorette” counterpart.

Not that I’m an expert on true love or anything, but the premise of the show makes it impossible to find happiness with one person.

No one can whittle down a group of 20-plus people to one soulmate. It just doesn’t make sense. I can barely make a choice when it’s four things.

And then there are all the silly dates. A group date is not six girls and one guy. A group date is a roughly even match of girls and guys. With only one guy, guess where all the focus goes?

Yes, it’s plausible to fall in love quickly. But with one person, not five, which is how these shows play out.

There are “deep” connections made with multiple partners as a season progresses, but how in the world do any of these bachelors truly get to know the women well enough?

There are only about two group dates and one or two one-on-one dates per episode, plus a cocktail party before the rose ceremony. Obviously we don’t see everything that happens, but I doubt it’s enough time to get to know someone well enough to propose to them.

Yes, that’s right, they propose at the end. Which means on the “Bachelorette,” there’s a chance for multiple proposals. And the bachelors who don’t propose at the end are not well-liked among viewers (Except for Juan Pablo, the 2014 bachelor — he was not well-liked for a multitude of reasons, enough so that even producers said they didn’t like him.).

But back to these “dates.” They’re extravagant. I saw an episode where one date included a private Train concert and another was filled with amusement park fun with no one else around.

No wonder all these people “fall in love.” How easy is it to be happy when private jets, travel, concerts and more are involved? But once the cameras stop rolling, it’s back to normal life. Sorry, not sorry, but no more private concerts.

It shouldn’t come as a shock when these couples call off the engagement months after being on the show. Once the dust settles and real life kicks in, it’s hard to face the facts: They don’t know each other that well, and what happened during the show’s taping was just a twisted fairytale.

And just because people are happy on camera doesn’t mean they are really happy. Andi Dorfman, the most recent Bachelorette, and her fiance, Josh Murray, announced they were over days after appearing on the “Bachelor” premiere live event.

Of course they were going to act in love. But in case you didn’t notice, Dorfman repeated the same few phrases over and over, which to me was a sign of hiding something.

I will say it’s fun to watch these people fall for the bachelor or bachelorette. I guess I should say funny, because a lot of times, these people sound so naive and dramatic.

It’s such a trainwreck of a show, with its made-for-TV drama and all the crying and beautiful gowns and suits, that you almost can’t keep yourself from watching.

“The Bachelor” is in its 19th season, while “The Bachelorette” finished season 10 during the summer. But the absurdity keeps going, which leads to lots of quality watercooler moments, if people want to admit they watch.

I appreciate that people believe in love, but “The Bachelor” just isn’t the way to do it.

I should probably just make a drinking game out of watching this show. Any suggestions?