The Bachelor

On the third episode of The Bachelor, hunky Brad Womack puts the remaining women to their strongest test yet by sending his hunky twin brother, Chad Womack, into a cocktail party to see who can tell the difference.

Not entirely sure what this whole charade is supposed to prove, but we'll go with it.

Most of the women realize the switch right away but a few are in the dark. Not everyone is all that bright on this here show. One group of aspiring wives heads to the circus, while another goes sailing. The drama is building already people.

Chris Harrison, as always our host for the eve, kicks off the show by dropping off a "date box" for Stephy, McCarten, Jenni, Lindsey, Sarah, and DeAnna.

The girls find out they'll be heading to the circus. Brad Womack gets the girls a luxury box and everyone gets to be in the greatest show on Earth.

We're talking about the circus, not Dancing with the Stars here.

At the circus, Jenni gets some valued alone time with Brad. She goes on to ask our man if a long distance relationship is something he'd be willing to try, or at least consider. She is thinking ahead, knowing hse needs to stay in Arizona, to honor her commitment as a heart surgeon. Or Phoenix Suns dancer. We forget.

And at the end of the night, nine roses are dispensed while three women get the heave-ho. How did all of the night's action play out? You won't believe how it all went down. Find out in our sister site's episode guide to The Bachelor.

That's right. The sexiest season of in the history of The Bachelor just got a lot sexier. Twice as sexy, even. Brad Womack has cloned himself!

Well, not really. He's always had a twin brother.

But when Chad Womack visits the women of The Bachelor tonight, there's no telling what kind of drama is gonna go down.

Until tonight, none of the women on the series knew that Brad Womack has an identical twin brother.

They also have no idea that Andy Baldwin has an estranged, gay twin named Randy Baldwin with whom he no longer speaks. Just kidding. That's not true at all. Well, at least we don't think it is. It's highly unlikely.

Brad Womack calls on Chad Womack to test the 12 remaining women.

So, Chad poses as Brad - asking the ladies lots of questions to help his bro decide who is serious and, of course, deserves a rose to continue on the show.

"Brad actually brought it up to see ... if I could meet some of the girls and form my own opinion," says Chad, who, unlike single Brad, is married.

"He wanted to see if I could help him out and have some fun."

"I wanted to know who wasn't only there to win, but who was there to really get to know me," says Brad Womack, a 34-year-old entrepreneur who runs a chain of bars with Chad and another brother, Wesley.

"And who better than my twin brother? I was hoping he could tell [which girls were serious] right away, and I think the episode is very telling.

"Chad knew right off the bat which girls were into me, and which girls I already had doubts about. It helped seal the deal."

The brothers said only a few of the women caught on to the ruse.

"Every single one of them doubled over in laughter [after they were told]," says Brad. "Not a single one of them was offended ... although a couple of the ladies looked like a deer in the headlights."

And how did Chad's wife react to her hubby flirting with other women?

"She said, 'Go for it,'" says Chad. "Have fun ... but come back in one piece."

Tune into The Bachelor tonight on ABC and watch the drama unfold with Brad, Chad and the slew of gold-digging wannabe trophy wives. Or TiVo it if you'd rather watch The Hills. Heroes is at 9, fortunately - no conflicts there!

As Brad Womack searches for love on this year's edition of The Bachelor, he can find solace in this fact:

When If it doesn't work out with any of the pathetic, desperate women on the show, he can still marry someone else.

Former Bachelor Andrew Firestone has proven as much.

The heir to the tire company fortune is set to marry model-actress Ivana Bozilovic. As film buffs know, she made an uncredited appearance as Female Rock Climber in Charlie's Angels.

This isn't the first time a star of The Bachelor has found love with a different woman than the one to whom he gave his final rose on the show. In fact, no Bachelor has ever found love with the woman to whom he gave his final rose on the show.

Andy Baldwin may still be dating Tessa Horst, but we doubt it.

All signs point to this stud betraying his country and getting it on with Ms. Iran Sepideh Haftgoli instead.

Picking up where we left off after last week's drool-inducing premiere, the 15 remaining Bachelorettes move into their Malibu mansion. In bikinis. Holla!

There will be two group dates this week on The Bachelor and there will be a rose handed out at each. The rest of these women will have to take their chances at the ceremony at the end of the night. The tension in the air is thick. Almost as much so as Brad Womack's abs. Guy is frickin' ripped!

What will the dates consist of? Just you wait. The first "date box" has already arrived by the time the cameras roll and inside are lots of wide brimmed hats and toy horses. It's a sign. Jade reads the note:

"Join me for a day at the races. Brad."

Eloquent, Brad Womack. Eloquent. The man keeps it short and sweet.

Those women angling for the hearts of The Bachelor and going to the track are Erin, McCarten, Kristy, Mallory, Hillary, Jade and DeAnna.

As they get ready, McCarten tells Hillary that she's going to get the first kiss from Brad. Hillary responds, "You want sloppy seconds? Because I'm kissing him first!"

Oh. No. She. Didn't.

Jade says she thinks she has a good shot at getting the rose because she's one of the more competitive women there and also, "I, personally, think I'm better looking" than the rest of them. If you don't say! Damn, this is gonna be good!

It has only just begun. Continue reading the adventures of Brad Womack in this exclusive episode guide to last night's episode of The Bachelor ...

If you haven't gotten the chance to meet Brad Womack, the 34-year-old bar owner and certified hunk from Austin, Texas, it's high time you did.

As the 11th season premiere of reality TV staple The Bachelor debuts, all eyes are on Brad Womack and whether he can break the curse of 10 straight drama packed seasons that have failed to produce a lasting relationship.

We all saw what happened to Andy Baldwin. One day, Tessa Horst. The next? Miss Iran. Yeah. Odds are 5:1 against Brad Womack marrying anyone.

Nonetheless, the 25 Bachelorettes are literally bouncing off the walls at the hotel in excitement over Brad Womack, whom they know nothing about!

First out of the limo at the beach house where he's set up shop is Sheena, who asks for a hug. She's looking forward to getting to know him. Who isn't!

Next is Jenni, who's wearing a short black dress. Ooooh la la. She's from Kansas, lived in Dallas for three years, and tells Austin native Brad this when she learns he's from the Lone Star State. He says, "We're going to get along already."

Brad says Kim's multicolored dress is "beautiful," and he asks her if he can "steal a hug." She's holding her shoes in her hand because she was worried she might be taller than him. She isn't, but no matter.

Sarah tells Brad Womack she's heard some wonderful things about him, but that she still didn't know his name was Brad. But it's all semantics at this point.

"We were trying to read your lips in the limo," she says, and had guessed his name was "Brian." She then gives him a hug.

Bettina, wearing a short, silver dress, appears more demure than the rest of the Bachelorettes. He tells her he likes her (strange) name.

So much hugging and a whole lot more follows. We have just gotten started on Brad's quest for everlasting love and reality TV quasi-fame. Continue reading what went down in this exclusive episode guide to last night's The Bachelor ...

Two seasons ago, Lorenzo Borghese chose Jennifer Wilson over Sadie Murray, then dumped her for Sadie Murray, who he then broke up with.

Last season, Andy Baldwin chose Tessa Horst over Bevin Powers, then broke off his engagement to Tessa and has been seen with Sepideh Haftgoli.

With this kind of track record, is Brad Womack intimidated as he prepares to begin his turn as the star of ABC's long-running hit, The Bachelor?

"I am very well aware of the success rate of the past Bachelors - some have worked and some haven't," Womack said.

THG NOTE: None have worked. Look it up. Just saying.

"Honestly, I didn't even let that enter my mind. I just thought, 'This is my experience and only my experience.' I wanted to go into it with an open mind, and I did just that."

However, Brad Womack, 34, an Austin, Tex., bar owner, wouldn't give away whether he pops the question to his final bachelorette during the already filmed conclusion of the 11th season of The Bachelor.

"All I can say is ... I'm extremely happy with the turnout of the show. I know that's a generic answer, I wish I could give you more."

Interesting. Brad Womack said he's also "always been a very loyal person," so it should be relatively easy for him to remain faithful to his selected suitor while being away from her over the course of The Bachelor's broadcast run.

"It's a bit different in the aftermath [of filming The Bachelor]," he said. "But I think if a connection was made, then it's easy to keep it, for me anyway."

They may have called off their engagement, but Lt. Andy Baldwin â€" star of The Bachelor â€" and the final-rose recipient, Tessa Horst, were spotted at the Ford Ironman Triathlon in Hawaii.

According to the Honolulu Advertiser, Andy Baldwin completed the 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike and 26.2-mile run an impressive 43rd place overall.

"It was amazing," he said. "Tessa ran down the chute with me and I picked her up and carried her across the finish line and gave her a kiss. My parents were there, and my little sister. They've never seen me do an Ironman before. It was a very special moment."

Andy Baldwin and Tessa Horst. Engaged? No. Kissing? Yes.

This was their first public appearance since their marriage postponement. The couple called off their engagement this month (to the surprise of no one), but saying they're still "very much in love and committed to our relationship."

Guess we'll have to stay tuned... to Brad Womack, Andy Baldwin's successor on The Bachelor. Now this Austin, Texas, bar owner looks like a real catch.

The Hollywood Gossip is on its game.

Unlike a certain lazy, yet funny Sports Gal.

When Andy Baldwin chose Tessa Horst on The Bachelor a week ago Monday, we waited around for the Sports Gal's take on it. And waited, and waited. At long last, we got fed up and had to post our own recap.

Three days later, her Bachelor blog apparently goes live, when it was old news and noticed by no one (with the possible exception of Bill Simmons).

Anyway, for you hard core fans, we've got her post up.

Finally.

Below, we present the Sports Gal's long-awaited take on the passionate love affair shared by Andy and Tessa, the demise of poor Bevin Powers and the rest of the drama of The Bachelor season finale.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I wasn't there when Bill watched the Celtics lose the lottery, but he couldn't have been more crushed than Bevin Powers after she got dumped on the final episode of The Bachelor.

I'd describe what happened, but I was too busy covering my face with my hands. It was a big blow to the confidence of tattooed divorcées everywhere.

They may never trust the intentions of an uptight, dorky Naval doctor again.

Earlier in the show, Bevin exchanged I love yous with Andy Baldwin and told the camera, "There's no chance in hell that he'll leave me without a rose in the last ceremony."

By the end, they were whisking her sobbing ass away in a limo as she whined, "This s--t happens to me all the time. This is the story of my life."

Continue reading the Sports Gal's take on The Bachelor ...

He's not a prince, heir to some huge ass tire company's fortune or a mediocre backup quarterback like The Bachelor contestants who came before him.

But Andy Baldwin was nonetheless a knight in shining armor as he knelt down and offered an engagement ring to Tessa Horst Monday night.

Lt. Baldwin - a Naval doctor and undersea diving specialist - and his cute future bride are now public with their love. Finally.

The Sports Gal's favorite subjects recently gave an interview discussing what it's like getting to know each other on reality TV, along with what's on tap for them.

Us Weekly: Congratulations! You both must be so thrilled after having to keep your relationship a secret since the show wrapped in March. What do you have planned now that America knows that you are in love and engaged?
Andy Baldwin: We've been walking around New York and I've been screaming it at the top of my lungs! It's not a secret any longer! We finished the show months ago and to watch it all over again has been hard - especially on Tessa - to have all that drudged up.
Tessa Horst: It's a huge relief to have it over. It's been great moving forward with Andy since the show's been wrapping, but it was hard that everyone around us was watching it as if it was present. We're really excited to move forward from here.

Us Weekly: You no doubt learned quite a bit about each other during the course of the show, but what have you learned about each other since?
Andy Baldwin: We've learned a lot! We've seen each other four times and talked to each other over the phone [while the show was airing]. We've definitely said how much better we know each other now than we did [on the show]. The risk we took getting engaged is getting better and better. There are some things Tessa has found out about me...

Continue reading this interview with Andy Baldwin and Tessa Horst ...

The Sports Gal sure is taking her sweet ass time writing her freaking recap of The Bachelor: Officer and a Gentleman.

While we'd love to wait for her, as no one recaps reality TV like she can, our celebrity gossip readers demand better than her needless delays.

The Hollywood Gossip prides itself on fast, in-depth coverage, whether it's the latest celebrity arrest, dating rumors, trip by Britney Spears to Millennium Dance Studio or episode of your favorite shows.

So good riddance to Bill Simmons and very funny, very lazy wife. We've written our own damn recap. Let's get down to business.

Tessa Horst, a 26-year-old San Francisco social worker, accepted the final rose - and a marriage proposal to boot - from Andy Baldwin in last night's finale of The Bachelor: Officer and a Gentleman.

Andy Baldwin's proposal to Tessa and her acceptance of it marked the first time in four seasons and only the second in its last seven that The Bachelor ended with its bachelor proposing to his final female choice.

Sorry, Lorenzo Borghese.

"I've always imagined this day, and this is beyond my wildest dream... I met a woman who makes me feel so happy and so amazing," Baldwin gushed.

"I want to say to you Tessa... Will you marry me?"

Andy, a 30-year-old undersea medical officer stationed in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, asked Tessa Horst from bended knee at the conclusion of last night's special two-hour finale.

"Yes!" answered Tessa, who put her hand to her mouth and whispered, "Oh my God..." as Andy slipped a diamond ring around her finger. "This moment is perfect," she said.

In choosing Tessa, Andy dispatched of Bevin Powers, a 28-year-old Palo Alto, Calif., native who became the 24th and final bachelorette to be eliminated from Officer and a Gentleman's pool of 25 wives-to-be.

Follow our link to continue reading this comprehensive guide to last night's gripping conclusion of the 10th season of The Bachelor ...