The First Night

Well ladies tonight was the night! After many months of bad TV on Monday nights our show is finally back! And it was a great one!

The show began with a recap of the last season of The Bachelorette when Ben made it to the final 2 and proposed to Ashley Hebert in front of all of America. It reminded me how much I liked Ben and respected him. Ashley had the nerve to let Ben get down on one knee and propose when she knew her heart already belonged to JP. Unlike most previously rejected bachelors, Ben Flajnik didn't let Ashley "sugarcoat" anything and called her out on it.

The beginning of the show was as classic Bachelor as it comes. Ben gave his opening monologue about his new search for love and how his experience with Ashley has changed him for the better. I was very pleased to see The Bachelor producers are still a big fan of the "brooding balcony shot" that played several times during Ben's monologue. It is definitely notable that Ben is looking tan and cuter than ever. We also learn the Ben plays the piano, definitely a plus in an eligible bachelor.

We were greeted by our favorite host/we always hope he's secretly the next bachelor, Chris Harrison. Chris was looking better than ever in a nice black pinstripe suit. Is it just me or does Chris seem to age in reverse? I swear every season he looks more and more handsome. Chris was adorable as always and can never do wrong in our eyes. He's so wise but charming at the same time.

So then we meet the girls. We get to see several bios on some girls. It seems this season has a very eclectic crowd. The first girl, Lindzi C., is a cute girl who rides and loves horses. She seems pretty down to earth and sweet. Then we meet a girl who is tough enough to eat cowballs (Amber T.), a cute southern belle from Tennessee (Kacie B.), a superficial, arrogant model (Courtney), a sweet nurse (Jamie), a daughter of a British diplomat (Lyndsie J.), a Carrie Bradshaw wannabe (Jenna), a mom (Shawn), and a 26 year old divorcee (Nicki). My favorite by far from the bio segment was Jamie. Jamie had no father and a mother who struggled with drug addiction. Jamie worked to gain custody of her younger siblings and lives in a trailer while working hard to support all of them. Jamie seems like a real girl who isn't into all the drama, which is just what Ben needs.

We meet the rest of the girls when they exit the limo to finally meet our bachelor. But before we do, Chris gives one of his great, inspirational pep talks to Ben before he meets the women. (I have a little crush on Chris can't you tell?) Ben says he doesn't regret the experience on The Bachelorette at all because it helped open him up. As we see the introductions some girls immediately stick out as quality and others just annoy us. Intros were filled with cheesy pickup lines ("you're guilty of being sexy" oh come onnn), awkward introductions (Jenna misquoting Ben), a big hat, a pageant sash, and many other interesting ways to catch a man's attention. The most important thing that happened during intros was this season's FIRST KISS. That's right girls. The FIRST KISS happened on the very first night! The lucky girl who got to test our cute Bachelor's lips was Emily, a student studying for her PhD in epidemiology. Emily did it in a totally cute, non-awkward way by using her epidemiology skills to teach Ben how to sanitize properly (including his breath!).

My favorite intro of the night had to be Brittney's. Her sweet grandmother Sheryl emerged from the limo and hobbled on crutches to meet Ben. Our bachelor was a little confused by the age of this bachelorette but he soon found out she was a sweet way to catch his attention. Sheryl introduced her granddaughter Brittney to Ben and hobbled inside to leave them alone. Jennifer, an accountant, gave a list of numbers involved with her life which came off sweet and sincere, and not cheesy in the least. There were many Bachelor firsts tonight and here is one of them: Anna walked straight by Ben inside the door without saying anything to him. A little risky I must say but it worked, she definitely got his attention for at least a minute. Lyndsie J. wrote a poem for Ben and dorkily recited it to him. The showstopper introduction and another Bachelor first belonged to Lyndzi C. Instead of using the usual limousine to make her entrance, Lyndzi C. rode in on a horse. Usually its Prince Charming, not Princess, who rides in on a white horse, but I think in this case it could still apply. Lyndzi C.'s entrance was definitely a winner because later in the night she received the first rose of the season! The ever worshipped first impression rose!

As the cocktail party begins inside, Ben talks with girls individually and begins the "get to know you" conversations. We learned that Rachel, a fashion sales rep from NYC, left her job for the show, adding some pressure on Ben. He seems to have a good conversation and some chemistry with Lindzi C. Other girls do unique things to catch Ben's eye. Shawn plays soccer with him, Casie B. teaches him how to line dance, Emily does a cute rap, Elyse (a personal trainer) makes him do push ups, and Dianna blindfolds Ben making him guess what kind of candy he's eating.

But with every gathering of more than 2 girls, drama is created. Monica admits to our Carrie Bradshaw wannabe Jenna that she doesn't feel anything for Ben, but still wants to stay on the show. Jenna immediately begins have a meltdown because Monica is obviously there for the wrong reasons. Monica is obviously the Wes type, only on the show to become famous and put on a show for the cameras. Monica then adds to the drama by getting drunk and flirting with Blakely. Yes you read that correctly, a possible lesbian among the bachelorettes. This is yet another Bachelor first, but it was bound to happen sometime. Jenna gets even more emotional because of the way Monica is acting. She ends up locking herself in the bathroom and having a full blown sobfest. The first night and we already have a girl weeping in the bathroom. This season is definitely going to be a killer drama filled one to say the least. Jenna proceeds to make Ben uncomfortable by crying to him about the situation. Poor Ben takes it like a champ.

After all the drama and tears, its time for the first rose ceremony! Ben makes some good picks but of course he makes some bad (for the full list see below). He keeps Monica and Jenna, both of the drama instigators. But what fun would The Bachelor be without a little drama? Chris Harrison makes his favorite appearance to remind Ben that "there is only one rose left to give out tonight." Ben knows this, the girls know this, us girls at home know this, so why do they do it? I think The Bachelor producers like to intensify the drama. I also think they like to give us another glimpse of the cutie that runs the show. After Ben makes his picks, he toasts the ladies to the great journey that is ahead of them.

Then comes our FAVORITE part of the entire show. Five words. This season on The Bachelor.

We get a preview of the all the drama in the coming weeks and it makes us so excited we think we're going to die before the next Monday arrives. Tonight's preview was filled with some Bachelor favorites: helicopters, hot tubs, fireworks, private concerts, lots of tears and smeared mascara, and LOTS of kissing. The biggest shock was that a mystery bachelorette will be joining the rest of the girls! We don't know who she is. She could be a girl from Ben's past or a total rando! The question is can they even do that? Bring in another girl later in the game?! Sadly, we'll have to find out the answers to these questions in the coming weeks (ugh I know how will we make it!). They packed so much drama into such a small amount of time. Ben appears to be skinny dipping in the ocean with model Courtney. Another Bachelor first. One girl passes out during a rose ceremony. And it appears that our Bachelor may end this entire journey brokenhearted! It seems that one of the final 2 bachelorettes may change her mind at the final rose ceremony. Unfortunately, that wonderful little preview is all we're going to get for now! Let's hope this week speeds on by!


ROSE CEREMONY
IN:
-Lindzi C. (first impression rose)
-Jamie
-Rachel
-Blakely
-Emily
-Casie B.
-Casey S.
-Brittney
-Erika
-Shawn
-Nicki
-Jennifer
-Elyse
-Samantha
-Courtney
-Jaclyn
-Monica
-Jenna

OUT:
-Amber B.
-Lyndsie J.
-Amber T.
-Dianna
-Anna
-Shira
-Holly