If you had to make a time capsule to preserve the values and traditions of the 21st century, would you want to include all of the seasons of “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette” on DVD? No doubt would people in 3012 — that sounds weird out loud — find it enjoyable, but it also seems like an embarrassing thing that describes our culture.
Entertainment aside, watching a TV show with a bunch of women fighting for a man — or vice versa — sounds downright ridiculous. On the other hand… yes it sounds ridiculous, but that doesn’t stop too many people from watching it.
As the king of all dating shows, “The Bachelor” has a solid 15 seasons under its belt and is currently working on its 16th. Its sister show, “The Bachelorette,” also boasts an impressive seven seasons, with millions tuning in to both shows.
These shows not only represent the declining standards of love, but they represent audiences’ declining standards as well. We watch just about anything to see some drama and maybe even a wedding proposal at the end.
I admit that I watch “The Bachelor.” I know it is a bunch of trash. I know the success rate of relationships it produces — only one couple that met on the show actually married — and I know that it is a waste of my time.
However, I am drawn in, along with the millions of others who call themselves devoted fans. Curiosity gets the best of us when we consistently tune in to see the different types of men and women vying for a shot at love, all while we make predictions of who will stay and who will go.
Logically, why would someone ever sign up to compete against 24 other people for a shot at love? Specifically for “The Bachelor,” the other 24 aren’t just ordinary women either; most of them look like Miss America runners-up. Not to mention when that many women are packed into one mansion in California — and a variety of hotel suites across the globe — the nails are bound to
come out.
I guess if you make it far enough to travel on the show, but leave sans fiancé, your time wasn’t completely wasted — hey you got to rack up some frequent flyer miles!
But honestly, wouldn’t you want the opportunity to travel without needing to remind yourself of the “heartbreak” you experienced in that country? Hypothetically, if I got to experience the best date of my life on the Eiffel Tower and then Mr. Bachelor decided to send me home, I can’t say I would want to run back to Paris anytime soon.
The dates are extravagant, which the audience expects if a popular network foots the bill. However, we can’t expect a relationship built on helicopter rides and trips to Cabo to last. Once the cameras turn off, they are alone in the real world. No mansions in California. No couple’s suite of the week. They go back to their normal lives, just with the happy bonus of a significant other.
For some, this might work if they actually got to know each other in the brief amount of time necessary for filming. For about 95 percent of the rest of the couples, the relationship fails soon after the show airs.
Why? But they seemed so blissfully happy when she said “yes” to him on the cliff in New Zealand, smiling and laughing with the royal blue waters dancing in the distance!
News flash: they barely know each other. Speeding up the dating process — which alone sounds too calculated and scientific — into two months is absurd, as well as being a formula for disaster.
I know it’s entertaining and I know it’s hard to look away when it’s on TV, but this show is taking away a piece of our intelligence, as well as diminishing our sense of morals and standards. True love is not found through a reality show. On that note, let’s wish winemaker Ben from Sonoma the best of luck on his quest for love! Who knows, maybe this one will work out.
Two out of 16 is a good ratio…right?