I didn't always watch the show the Bachelor because I thought it was ridiculous when it first aired. I could not imagine one person dating 25 people at once, having to keep them straight, who gets along with who, you did what with who....pretty insane. And, I am not one to tolerate infidelity and this feels really close to just that.
I don't know why this season bothered me so much but I think it is because it felt so unkind and awful at the end of the season that I have to address it.
My husband and I started watching the show as pretty much a joke. We couldn't believe some of things that were shown on T.V. I of course have always been a romantic and very much a cynic at the same time. So I wanted it to be real but I also felt that many of these people were on this show to maybe find love but also to establish a career. Many of them have done so!
There are very few that have stayed with the bachelor(ette) they picked over the years but those that have married appear to be happy in the public eye.
What I do know for sure, is that these shows are entertainment and they are produced. To be honest some of them are boring because the stars are conformists and choose to do whatever the producers ask. (Sean)
This season somewhere along the line there was a conflict between the producers and the infamous Juan Pablo. It was very noticeable in one of the commercials at the end of the season when JP and Chris Harrison were suppose to interact. There was no interaction and no love lost.
As I watched, my respect for him dwindled, in the way the show portrayed him. Sometimes things that came out of his mouth shocked me. I even suggested to my Facebook pals that maybe it was cultural. There was no response from my friends and I felt like I was hearing crickets. As the show went on it was very evident the ABC was doing everything that they could to make sure they could show every rotten thing he said and it did not matter what the consequences. (Please believe when I say this, I know he said the words, but some of it just did not need to be aired.)
Several of the past "main characters" of the show expressed their concern for the editing and regard to the situation on the show. They also addressed that they may not have been pleased with JP and what we saw but they felt that he was definitely put "out there" as the bad guy. (1. Jillian Harris: http://www.jillianharris.com/blog/post/my-thoughts-on-juan-pablo-nikki?showAll=1#comments )
We will never know because ABC is choosing to appear as though they did very little wrong. One of my favorite quotes from Chris Harrison was, "He was trying to help him share his feelings." Um no, badgering is not helping.
I guess what bothers me more than anything is how we as a public think we know someone by watching them on TV. I too joined in and watched twitter, commented with my fellow watchers on Facebook and we had fun. But as I watched the twitter feed and I realized that there were two kinds of people, those that were still infatuated with JP and those that did not like him at all. And while I watched and "liked" the feed on twitter and comments I kept saying to myself....."There is something bad that happened behind the scenes that we do not know about out here in T.V land. These unkind comments are not o.k."
In reality, my point is, that there is no reality show. People do these shows for fame and money and as the general public we get sucked in. It is entertainment and some times it just goes too far.
I keep thinking about our society and what this says about us as a whole. How do we tell kids to respect each other, and be kind to each other when this is what is portrayed to be real?
Personally if it is a real example of life I think they should cook together, do laundry together and hang wall paper together. (After 27 years, I do NOT hang wall paper with my husband.) Let's see how that works. Because frankly, that is what life is all about; surviving, along with loving, supporting and caring about each other.
As teachers and family professionals these crazy reality shows should be addressed and talked about with young people. If you asked, I will guarantee there are young people out there (Of course, not all of them) thinking this is real.
Do I think this relationship is going to be lasting? Does my opinion matter? It will be difficult for them to get through this backlash......
What I really care about is what was left on the table, how it was handled and the image that is perceived as real in our society and how we respond to it.
With love from your retired FACS teacher, Jane
Probably somewhat true but He was on the bachelorette so he knew what he was getting into and he knew "gist" of what the show expected and what the public expected. He treated these women horribly and I don't care how they edited it, you can't change some of his reactions or comments. His rebellion means nothing because no one goes on that show expecting the real world dating experience. They want exotic travel, dates and the chance to win all that fame.
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