The Bachelor – About the show

The series revolves around a single bachelor (deemed eligible) and a pool of romantic interests (typically 25), which possibly includes a potential wife for the bachelor. The conflicts in the series, both internal and external, stem from the elimination-style format of the show. Early in the season, the bachelor goes on large group dates with the women, with the majority of women eliminated during rose ceremonies. As the season progresses, women are also eliminated on one-on-one dates and on elimination two-on-one dates. The process culminates with hometown visits to the families of the final four women, overnight dates at exotic locations with the final three women, and interaction with the bachelor’s family and the final two women. In many cases, the bachelor proposes to his final selection.

The show is known for its twists, both structurally and contextually. In some cases, the bachelor may or may not follow the show’s standard rose ceremony guidelines. Numerous bachelors, for instance, have conferred fewer roses than allotted as per standard rose ceremony procedure; others have eliminated both women on a two-on-one date. One bachelor, Brad Womack selected neither of his final two women. Another, Jason Mesnick proposed to one woman, and then changed his mind during the “After the Final Rose” show to the other finalist; Mesnick is now married to her. Other twists include a woman leaving the show for work-related reasons and the dismissal of one candidate for an alleged affair with an ex-producer of the show.

The show’s success has led Producer Mike Fleiss to create multiple spin-offs, including The Bachelorette, in which the format is gender-reversed, and Bachelor Pad, where previous contestants compete in dating-themed eliminations for $250,000. Many bachelorettes are runner-ups or eliminated contestants from the Bachelor, including Trista Rehn, whose wedding to Ryan, the show’s winner, was televised on ABC. The first season of Bachelor Pad airs in August of 2010, with the show including a number of Bachelor and Bachelorette cast-offs.

The elimination process

According to the summary on ABC.com, each new Bachelor episode contains a rose ceremony during which one or more contestants is eliminated. Eliminations are based upon date performance (i.e., how the women relate to the bachelor on the dates). The bachelor must follow a process of elimination wherein his pool of bachelorettes is narrowed down week by week by presenting a rose to each of the women he wishes to keep.

At any point during the process, if a woman decides she is no longer interested in the bachelor, she may leave. A few have actually done so over the course of the show.

In the end, the bachelor may select only one woman for the final rose. Several of the bachelors have proposed, and one bachelor selected no one.

As of the end of season 14, none of the bachelors has married the woman to whom he presented the final rose. The season 13 bachelor (Jason) ended up marrying his season’s runner-up in February 2010; to this point, it is the only Bachelor season to result directly in marriage.

Seasons

Season
Year
BachelorProfileWinnerRunner-UpProposalAftermath
1
2002
Alex MichelManagement consultantAmanda MarshTrista RehnNoMichel did not propose to Marsh, but instead they took a chance at a relationship. Marsh and Michel broke up after several months, and Rehn was featured on the first season of The Bachelorette.
2
2002
Aaron BuergeVice President of a chain of family-owned banksHelene EksterowiczBrooke SmithYesThey broke up after several months.[2] Buerge became engaged to Angye McIntosh and married in 2009.[3] . Finalist Gwen Gioia became a contestant on the first season of Bachelor Pad.
3
2003
Andrew FirestoneSales manager of Firestone Family estatesJen SchefftKristen BaschbucherYesSchefft and Firestone broke up after several months but remained friends.[4] He is now married to actress Ivana Bozilovic.[5] Schefft was featured on the third season of The Bachelorette.
4
2003
Bob GuineyCreator of a mortgage company and former suitor on The BacheloretteEstella GardinierKelly Jo KuharskiNoGuiney did not propose to Gardinier but she accepted a promise ring indicating that they would still date. They broke up shortly after the show aired.[6] Guiney later married soap opera star Rebecca Budig, but they split after five years of marriage.[7] Meredith Phillips, who came fourth, was featured on the second season of The Bachelorette.
5
2004
Jesse PalmerCanadian American college football playerJessica BowlinTara Huckeby[8]NoPalmer did not propose to Bowlin. They continued to date but broke up several months later.[9]
6
2004
Byron VelvickPro bass fisherman and divorced fatherMary DelgadoTanya MichelYesVelvick and Delgado split after five years.[10]
7
2005
Charlie O’ConnellActorSarah BriceKrisily KennedyNoO’Connell chose Sarah Brice to be the winner but he did not propose to her. Instead they took a chance at a relationship. They broke up in September 2007,[11] but got back together in 2008.[12] However, they called it quits again in 2010.[13]. Runner-up Kennedy became a contestant on the first season of Bachelor Pad.
Paris
2006
Travis Lane StorkMedical doctorSarah StoneMoana DixonNoStork did not propose to Stone. They decided to take a chance at just a relationship. They broke up shortly after the show aired.[14] Stork is now featured on The Doctors.
Rome
2006
Prince Lorenzo BorgheseCosmetics entrepreneurJennifer WilsonSadie MurrayNoBorghese did not propose to Wilson. They took a chance at a relationship, and they broke up in January 2007.[15]
Officer and a Gentleman
2007
Andrew BaldwinUS Naval OfficerTessa HorstBevin Nicole PowersYesHorst and Baldwin called off their engagement one month after the finale,[16] but continued their relationship. They broke off the relationship in September 2007.[17] Finalist Peyton Wright became a contestant on the first season of Bachelor Pad.
11
2007
Brad WomackBar ownerNoneDeanna Pappas and Jenni CroftNoWomack chose Jenni Croft and DeAnna Pappas as the two finalists, but they were both rejected in the season’s finale.[18] Pappas was featured on the fourth season of The Bachelorette.
London Calling
2008
Matt GrantGlobal financierShayne LamasChelsea WanstrathYesGrant and Lamas broke up in July 2008.[19]
13
2009
Jason MesnickAccount executive, single father, and former suitor on The BacheloretteMelissa RycroftMolly MalaneyYesOn the season’s finale, Mesnick had called off the engagement with Rycroft, and resumed a relationship with runner-up Malaney. Rycroft later appeared on Dancing with the Stars and is now married to Tye Strickland. They are expecting their first child in February 2011.[20][21] On October 20, 2009, Mesnick proposed to Malaney in New Zealand, which she accepted. They were married on February 27, 2010, in California.[22] Mesnick and Malaney’s wedding aired on national television on March 8, 2010.[23] Third-place finalist Jillian Harris was featured on the fifth season of The Bachelorette. Finalists Nikki Kaapke and Natalie Getz became contestants on the first season of Bachelor Pad.
On the Wings of Love
2010
Jake PavelkaCommercial pilot and former suitor on The BacheloretteVienna GirardiTenley MolzahnYesThey ended their relationship in June 2010.[24] Pavelka appeared as a celebrity contestant on the tenth season of Dancing With the Stars. Fourth-place Finalist Ali Fedotowsky was featured on the sixth season of The Bachelorette. Runner-up Molzahn, along with finalists Elizabeth Kitt, Gia Allemand, Michelle Kujawa, Jessie Sulidis and Ashley Elmore, became contestants on the first season of Bachelor Pad.