The Bachelor
Gossip (Page 8)

Thanks to the broad appeal of Jason Mesnick, ABC has decided to continue airing its two-hour episodes of The Bachelor for the rest of the show's run this winter.

That means that Samantha Who?, which was set to make its return this week prior to this awesome ratings-driven announcement, is SOL for the time being.

The return of Jason Mesnick, the single dad and final rejectee by DeAnna Pappas on The Bachelorette last summer, was highly hyped by ABC, and it's paying off.

The audience has grown for three straight weeks, from 8.7 million to 9.06 million and then 9.9 million for Monday's episode, winning all female demographics.

The latter figure is even more impressive considering the competition the show faced this week from House, 24, Gossip Girl, How I Met Your Mother and more.

JASON MESNICK SHIRTLESS: ABC's first and last reason for making its two-hour episodes of The Bachelor a permanent Monday fixture. Any complaints?

All we have to say is bring it on. And watch out for Molly Malaney and Melissa Rycroft. Those two heavyweights are on a collision course for the title.

The remedy for a broken engagement for Jesse Csincsak? Hitting the slopes for a ski weekend with his fellow reality TV friends — and Holly Durst!

You may remember Holly Durst from, yes, The Bachelor: London Calling, which starred Matt Grant. He rejected her for that skank ditz Shayne Lamas.

Although Jesse Csincsak, who got dumped by Bachelorette star DeAnna Pappas last November following a whirlwind courtship and engagement, admits he is not really “focused on dating,” he says he's made a connection with his fellow bachelorette:

“I have a great time with Holly,” says Jesse. “We’re both from Ohio, we both have a lot in common, and I think that we both really enjoy hanging out with each other.”

In fact, Csincsak took Holly Durst, along with other women from Season 12’s The Bachelor and pals from The Bachelorette to Breckinridge, Colo., for a ski weekend!

“It was awesome, man,” Csincsak said, “and it was cathartic."

"We all got to catch up and chat about how things have been. It was cool, because we all had the same experience, and there’s nobody else that can understand what we went through except for the guys that were on the show.”

While a long-term relationship with Holly Durst be the last thing on his mind, it was a definite love connection between Csincsak and his fellow “bachelors.”

“It was like we never left,” he says. “I love those guys, no matter whatever we’re doing - be it drinking beer, playing cards, skiing, snowboarding.”

The subject of DeAnna Pappas never popped up.

“Believe it or not, we really didn’t talk about her,” Csincsak says of his former fiancée, “It was just a guys’ weekend, and we spent more time throwing the guys that didn’t show up under the bus then we did talking about her.”

The Hollywood Gossip's weekly recap of The Bachelor is a highly editorialized rundown of some of the highlights and lowlights from last night's episode, with points / scores awarded or deducted as we see fit. Let's get on with it:

Stephanie's daughter Sophia is so cute. Plus 4, because while this is super cheesy and surely edited far too much, she and Jason Mesnick do have some chemistry, and one does get the impression she would love to merge families.

Quote of the Night: "Having a week... of not having people praise God that I'm in their life... has been driving me crazy." - Megan. Minus 15 on principle.

Quote of the Night Runner-Up: "If you don't feel a connection to me, who do you think you are, God?" - Natalie. Holy crap, what an egotistical b!tch. We're gonna miss her a little bit, we admit, so we'll send her off with a Plus 12.

Lauren says if Megan and Erica are Jason's types, then she clearly is not his type. Because Lauren really knows them - or Jason - that well already. Minus 6.

The rationale of Molly Malaney - not freaking out about not getting a one-on-one date because, she rationalizes, it may mean Jason Mesnick already knows he likes her - is downright smart. What is this girl doing on reality TV?!? Plus 20.

Former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader Melissa and down-to-earth Molly are emerging as our favorite aspirants - and seriously contenders to win it all on The Bachelor.

Melissa Rycroft really had a breast reduction? There are women starving in Ethiopia who don't have any boobs at all! Minus 6. But Plus 7 because she's still hot.

Megan says she will stand in the middle of the street and be casted, naked, if it will help someone else. She also says she is a role model. Plus 4.

Best bear story of the evening: Natalie. Plus 8.

$1 million in diamonds in this economy? Come on, ABC! Minus 19.

This show thrives on cat fights, but Shannon getting physically sick from anxiety - then receiving a rose anyway! - was a first, and will be hard to top. Plus 10. And Plus 10 more because even that did not rattle Chris Harrison. Dude keeps it cool.

TOTAL +29! Unbelievable drama last night. If the names and faces still confuse you, see below for the list of who's in and who's out on The Bachelor...

Roses received: Jillian, Stephanie (pre-rose ceremony); Molly, Lauren, Melissa, Naomi, Shannon, Nikki, Megan (rose ceremony).

Sent packing by Jason Mesnick: Erica, Kari, Natalie.

Jason Mesnick has already narrowed the field of candidates to 12 on The Bachelor.

But we have reason to believe we know which of the dozen aspiring trophy wives will receive the final rose at the end of this, the reality show's 13th season.

Theories that Melissa Rycroft - a former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader - will be asked to be Mrs. Jason Mesnick were surfacing even before this video, created by a Canadian dude with too much free time, surfaced on the Internets.

See what you think of his theory as it relates to Melissa Rycroft:

Hmm. Not bad sleuthing by this self-depricating Canuck.

This "pinky ring theory" certainly has merit, however, making all the women - or at least the final four - pose with Jason Mesnick as he bends down, pretending to propose is not something we would put past The Bachelor.

So don't panic too much yet, Molly Malaney fans.

Melissa Rycroft will be tough to beat, though, regardless of whether the above theory proves correct. Case in point: The bikini photos below! Click to enlarge!

Maybe it's the washboard abs. Or the adorableness of three-year-old son Ty. Or the humble and generally good guy he showed himself to be on The Bachelorette.

Whatever the reason, you'd be hard-pressed to convince us Jason Mesnick is not the hottest star in The Bachelor history. And we don't think we're alone there.

Case in point: Monday's episode of The Bachelor, which provided enough shirtless, slow-motion shots of the 32-year-old to send us into Jason Mesnick overload.

If such a thing existed, that is, and we certainly don't think it does. Click to enlarge these Jason Mesnick photos from the episode and tell us if you agree ...

The Hollywood Gossip's weekly recap of The Bachelor cannot begin without two points: 1. Jason Mesnick shirtless, and in slow motion, needs to be a focal point of every episode, and 2. Can anyone stop Molly Malaney?

The Michigan native emerged as a favorite in our minds last night with a powerful, yet nuanced performance. Below is our official (highly editorialized) recap of some of the highlights and lowlights from last night's episode:

Sorry, Natalie, but the first tears of the season earn you Minus 4.

Plus 5 for Lauren's optimism. Not picked for the first one-on-one date? Good. She wouldn't have had time to do her hair anyway!

Minus 29 for Robin Thicke. As if having the song "Magic" introduced at the 2008 Miss Universe pageant wasn't bad enough.

Plus 11 for ABC. From the slow motion unveiling of a Jason Mesnick naked torso to panning up Nikki's cleavage-revealing dress as he uttered "You've got amazing qualities... and they're obvious," a top notch job by the editing team.

Melissa earns a Minus 3 for lying. You've never seen a blimp before? Really?!? Which Dallas Cowboys team did you cheerlead for?

Minus 5 for Stephanie's eyebrows and forehead. Downright freakish.

Plus 33 for the night's clear MVP, the aforementioned Molly. This midwestern beauty managed to show off her smooching skills in front of other contestants, earn a rose, steal Jason Mesnick away from Megan later that night... and cause two separate cat fights between four competitors as a result of her actions!

Naomi earned a Minus 7 for the least sincere, and least smooth, move of the night. After confusing Jason with her speech about how they'll always be good friends, she followed up a hug with the question, "Can friends kiss?" No, they really can't.

Most accurate quote of the night: "Going to a store and being told 'Go Crazy.' It was like the mother ship calling me home." Plus 5 for Natalie's honesty.

Favorite blimp-related quote of the episode: "We've seen L.A. in a way probably no one has ever seen L.A. before." You're very special, Jason, with that six-pack and that cute three-year old son. But you and Melissa weren't the Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin of blimp-riding. Minus 1.

TOTAL +5! If the names and faces blend together and confuse you, as they do us, see below for the official list of who's in and who's out on The Bachelor...

Roses received: Jillian, Melissa, Molly (pre-rose ceremony); Megan, Nikki, Lauren, Naomi, Stephanie, Kari, Natalie, Shannon, Erica (rose ceremony).

Axed by Jason Mesnick: Raquel, Sharon.

Left for personal reasons: Lisa.

The Hollywood Gossip was thrilled to see The Bachelor return for a 13th season last night - with none other than fan favorite Jason Mesnick the center of attention.

Below is our official (highly editorialized) recap of some of the highlights and lowlights from the season premiere, which was both entertaining and nauseating ...

Plus 10 for obligatory Ty footage, but for not exploiting him too badly.

Note to Renee: Vision boards scare men and not in a good way. Minus 2.

Does anyone have an easier, better job than Chris Harrison? Plus 5.

Minus 13 for Sharon: Quitting your job (in this economy, no less!) for a chance at love with a stranger is one thing; but you were a teacher. Of children. And now you wanna win over a single father? Good luck with that.

Early dark horse to win it all: Molly. The 24-year-old Michigan cutie is smart and sassy - and totally in it for love. You can tell. Plus 11.

Did ABC expect us to believe certain dubbed over segments were being spoken live? Budget cuts in the editing department, guys? Minus 27.

Hey, Raquel: Dancing with the Stars films on a different set. Minus 2.

Jason Mesnick ponders his difficult decisions pre-Rose Ceremony.

Melissa looks like a skanky Mandy Moore. Nice. Plus 4.

An awful President and THREE Bachelor contestants? Minus 9 for the State of Texas.

Quote of the Night: Our slightly-uncomfortable bachelor's mumbled response to Lauren's government quiz: "Are we really talking about this?" Plus 12.

Plus 8 for Jason Mesnick putting mustard on his hot dog. Not indicative of a damn thing, but the best condiment. Minus 4, though, because what if we like hot dogs plain? Are we not human?! Way to alienate millions of viewers, Jillian.

Plus 15 for ABC's new twist in which the girls thought they were voting off Megan - the first step in admitting the show isn't really about Jason finding love. But Minus 4 for Megan's response. You wonder why peeps hate you.

Minus 5 for Stephanie's obvious face lift, making her the first 34-year-old in Bachelor history to look 54. Our Nicole Kidman Plastic Surgery Award winner, ladies and gents!

DeAnna Pappas, how did you dump this guy?!? Minus Infinity.

TOTAL: -Infinity (-1)! Not bad for a premiere, which can often be boring. Hopefully things improve in the coming weeks. Leave a comment with your own score!

Jason Mesnick, 32, is a handsome, single dad - the first in the storied history of The Bachelor. Tonight, he begins his reality TV quest for true love and the pursuit of his ultimate soul mate, choosing from among 25 aspiring bachelorettes.

Millions of viewers were stunned when DeAnna Pappas rejected his proposal, as he dropped to one knee to profess his love in the season finale of The Bachelorette.

Jason Mesnick was left brokenhearted, wondering how he could have misjudged DeAnna's intentions, but his fans flocked to support him after the rejection.

Fans rushed to e-mail him in droves, as his story as a single father from Seattle with a three-year-old son, Ty - the apple of his eye - struck a chord with many. Tonight, he will start over - and we know this journey ends with his engagement!

Jason, the middle son in a family of three boys, would like to start a new family this time around. His older brother, Sean, is married with children.

Jason Mesnick currently lives with his younger brother, Larry, and with Ty.

An account executive in estate and legacy planning, Mesnick says he is looking for a woman who has a real curiosity about the world, who loves life to the fullest and with whom he can share the passion in life's smallest moments.

Open and honest (and did we mention good-looking?), the star of The Bachelor loves sports like swimming, golf, basketball and football. In fact, he used to be a golf pro at a local club. In his spare time, he takes guitar and dance lessons.

A native of Cleveland, Ohio, J-Mes moved to Washington State at the age of eight. He has a B.A. in psychology at the University of Washington.

Follow the jump for a slideshow of Jason Mesnick on The Bachelor ...

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Premiering January 5, Season 13 (!) of The Bachelor promises to bring more surprises and emotional moments than ever as Jason Mesnick narrows down his search for love from 25 women to the one that will capture his heart.

The one he recently announced he is engaged to.

Jason Mesnick's search for love includes:

• A whirlwind travel schedule where he brings one woman to the Walt Disney Hall for a private performance by R&B superstar Robin Thicke
• Taking another for a ride over the Los Angeles area in a Goodyear blimp
• Shutting down Legoland California as he treats one lady to a surprise
• Wearing a million dollars worth of jewelry
• Whisking a woman away on a private getaway to Las Vegas for a panoramic helicopter ride over Red Rock Canyon
• A cozy dinner and a performance by pop singer Kate Voegele
• Advice from General Hospital stars Bradford Anderson and Kirsten Storms, who treat Jason and six women to a behind-the-scenes look at the soap opera and coach the women on technique for on-screen kissing

Supposedly, the last item provides the bachelorettes with a chance to "act" out their secret fantasy with Jason Mesnick. Gals at home, try to contain yourselves!

This week, ABC will be releasing the list of 25 women that will compete for the love and affection of Jason Mesnick on ABC's The Bachelor.

In preparation for the widely-anticipated January 5 premiere, Jason Mesnick spoke to the press today. Here's what he had to say about ...

... The decision to become The Bachelor:
"It wasn't an easy decision because my question was, 'How would this impact Tyler?' That was my first question. I talked to a therapist and a pediatrician and they said, 'He's going to be fine'. I just said, 'I'm not gonna go more than a week or so without seeing him.' I can't do that. The show was great and they gave me what I need. He was around when he needed to be and he was with his mom when he needed to."

... Single mothers being on the show this season:
"Honestly, it doesn't make a difference either way. I would hope people would view me as a person, not just as a single dad. It didn't surprise me that there would be single mothers but it didn't make me think one way or the other."

... His son Ty being part of The Bachelor:
"He plays a very small part on the show. You'll see that, early on, if you see him, it's him and I. Just him and I."

... Advice he gets from his son:
"He's 3 so he lives a life day to day and has a great time no matter what he's doing. I don't know about any advice by word, but his advice by living is, 'Let's just live today'. When you're with a little guy, you know it's all about today."

... Revealing his engagement:
"I just remember, in my opinion, how could I hold something like that back, when I'm as happy as I am? There's only certain things I can say with the show not even starting yet, but I just said to myself: 'This is me. I'm so excited right now and I'm so happy and I want everyone to know it.' There's no way I could hold that back."

... Trying to find love on reality TV a second time:
"I just knew it was real. A real love experience for me. It's something you have to experience to really, truly know. If that didn't happen to me the first time, there's no way I would do it [a second time]."

... The possibility of a TV wedding:
"I have not even thought about anything like that. My life is off of tv and I cannot even imagine that happening."