Each year, many of us tune in to the latest installment of ABC's reality tv show,"The Bachelor." We follow the journey of the many women, chosen to compete against one another for the latest bachelor's affections and maybe, hand in marriage. Handsome men, beautiful women and breathtaking scenery are the norm. It is a visual person's delight to see this fantasy unfold, and eventually the pool of competitors dwindles to one partner for the lucky man.
The differences in women, who range from attorneys to waitresses, makes putting them all together in a house interesting. It's especially entertaining if any of them have major mental problems like narcissism (over-inflated feelings of importance). Flaming egotists are always a hoot, so let the sparks fly. It's inevitable that when fireworks develop, the producers pounce on any cat-fights that happen as we all watch with bated breath to see what happens. This sure does beat being young and competing with other women in real life for the attention of some hunk. It makes me remember the days when other women came up to my ex-boyfriend, crying because he was dating me and not them. Or, the two women I knew who relentlessly pursued the same man until he ended up surprising all of us by marrying someone else, jilting both the other women. By dressing in figure-flattering dresses, being charming and trying to stand out was how we did it years ago. Now, the women seem more even more aggressive, not only in trying to win the affections of the man, but in their disdain for other competitors. In my opinion, nobody is worth fighting for using that much venom, but hey, it's television and fun to watch. The more they verbally (and sometimes physically) slug it out, the better the ratings get. Cha-ching. That is why the show comes back every year, we all like seeing the craziness and back-biting that inevitibly happens when women compete for a hot guy.
Are any of these microscandals-like those who don't take no for an answer-staged? I'm not sure, but I bet this behavior, if natural, is encouraged. Sure, it hurts to be rejected. On national television, that would be even more embarrassing and devastating than for those of us in the real world, who don't have cameras following us everywhere. I feel sorry for the finalists towards the end of each season's series, because the more each woman knows the bachelor, the more attached she may become. And then, it makes the rejection all the harder, later. In front of millions of people who will stop them in the street later and give them condolences. That would be very hard.
Another issue that stands out in my mind is the drunken behavior of some of the girls. A few have a couple too many then do really stupid things. It's funny to watch, but I sure would hate to be that girl waking up the next day, hung over, knowing she made a fool out of herself in front of many millions of people. If that isn't a big, fat, sobering slap in the face, I don't know what is. That'll teach them to get drunk on tv. But then, maybe not. It all depends on the woman's self-respect, if she has any. Some people just don't care.
For the last woman, who gets that last rose and ends up with the Bachelor, it is a fairy tale, if not forever then at least for that moment in time. It's good to see beautiful people fall in love, and if it lasts, even better. Just ask Trista and Ryan. The Bachelor is a nice escape from the reality of our everyday lives. And, it's addictive. At work, people will talk about it, as will your friends and family. This is one "reality" show that hits the mark, a guilty pleasure sure to please.
Carolyn McFann is a scientific and nature illustrator, who owns Two Purring Cats Design Studio, which can be seen at: http://www.cafepress.com/twopurringcats . Educated at the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York, Carolyn is a seasoned, well-traveled artist, writer and photographer. She has lived and worked in Cancun, Mexico, among other interesting professional assignments in other countries. Clients include nature parks, museums, scientists, corporations and private owners. She has been the subject of tv interviews, articles for newspapers and other popular media venues.
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