Jake Pavelka

The Hollywood Gossip sat through the season premiere of The Bachelor last night to bring you this recap, in which we award and deduct points as we see fit.

Take it away, Jake Pavelka and aspiring trophy wives!

Plus 6, or one per shot of Jake shirtless in the opening three minutes.

Jake: "The most powerful emotion is love. Love is perfect." Minus 3.

The show gives us some background on a bunch of the girls before they meet Jake. Most look at themselves in the mirror a lot. Sounds about right. Plus 2.

Obligatory Minus 10 for the painful On the Wings of Love subtitle and for ABC's the ladies' constant attempts to work Jake's profession into bad puns.

The football game "spontaneously" breaking out and culminating in all 25 women chasing Jake into the house will go down in reality show history. Plus 12.

Minus 3 for Ali's ex-boyfriend. Seriously dude. Put down the damn controller.

Kathryn wears an engagement ring from her fake fiance. Huh? Eh, we'll buy it. Plus 7.

Minus 4 for Jake not choosing Channy. Is he unaware of what a landing strip is?!?

Like Larry Bird asking rivals who's gonna finish second before a three-point contest, Christina brings gifts for the girls being sent home! Cocky b!tch. Plus 5.

Kiptyn award for this season's cutest contestant with oddest name: Tenley! Plus 1.

Nice of Jillian Harris and Ed Swiderski to drop by, but Minus 3 for such obvious filler.

Plus 4 for Chris Harrison's trademark line: "Ladies, the final rose ..." Never gets old.

ABC hypes the $h!t out of the big "cheating scandal" in the premiere, only to reveal it actually happens next week (or the week after for all we know). Minus 13.

Wow, Michelle is bat$h!t insane with her intensity, serial-killer eyes and comically short emotional fuse. Plus 11 for ABC forcing Jake to keep her AND waiting to give her the final rose. Forget TNT. These guys know drama!

TOTAL: +12. SEASON: +12. Rose Recipients: Kathryn, Michelle, Ella, Elizabeth, Ali, Vienna, Christina, Gia, Ashley, Rozlyn, Jessie, Corrie, Valisha, Ashleigh, Tenley.

Things our wives said:

• On Jillian: "Is she dressed like a fembot?"
• On Channy's hope that Jake gets Cambodian fever: "Is that Malaria?"
• On Channy whispering to Jake: "Is she, like, a phone sex operator?"
• "Do they intentionally recruit the dumbest girls in the whole country?"
• "Nice of them to find 2-3 women with real jobs, more than I'd expect."
• "Where do you even FIND a dress like that?" (multiple occasions)
• "Barf." (even more occasions)

He may have been rejected by Jillian Harris, but Jake Pavelka was really angling to be The Bachelor the whole time is ready to soar on his new quest for love.

The Bachelor: On The Wings Of Love premieres tonight, and will feature the commercial pilot as he narrows down his search from 25 women to one final lady.

Below are excerpts from an interview Jake gave with TV Guide previewing the new season, being Mr. Perfect, his rules for dating, and the mile high club ...

TV Guide: What did you bring from The Bachelorette to The Bachelor?

Jake Pavelka: When you're on The Bachelorette, everything slows down to a good pace. You start becoming really aware of how what you say affects people and it makes you a lot better at dating and in relationships.

TV Guide: Are you a bit skeptical of the process?

Jake Pavelka: I didn't go in pushing. The show does have a bit of a rough history, with people breaking up or changing their minds, and that's OK. I tried to be very honest no matter how painful it was and I just remained open-minded.

TV Guide: So then it's safe to assume you were in the moment?

Jake Pavelka: My answer to that is I'm going to go on there to be myself. A lot of the dates and different activities we got to do on The Bachelor were geared around what I would do in my normal life - what dates scream Jake.

[THG NOTE: Does that include girl-on-girl action?]

TV Guide: Last season, some of your fellow contestants (and Jillian Harris herself) thought you were a bit too perfect. How do you respond to that?

Jake Pavelka: I don't know what it is that make Ed and Jillian say that I was too perfect. Something that I see in the dating world these days is a bit of a lack of chivalry. It's gotten so bad that women almost don't expect it anymore.

TV Guide: Do you have dating rules you to like to follow?

Jake Pavelka: After an unbelievable date, if I want to call her the next morning, I'm just going to call. If that turns her off, "he's smothering me, it's too much too quick," then that's OK; we're probably on two different pages.

TV Guide: We have to ask: Have you joined the mile-high club?

Jake Pavelka: [Laughs] I am not a member of the mile-high club, but I'll leave you with this: I aspire to be ... no I don't aspire to be, I will be.

The new season of The Bachelor, starring Dallas pilot Jake Pavelka, premieres Monday on ABC, and the network has been running a juicy promo to hype it up.

Amid images of Jake shirtless, pumping iron and talking about what a lucky fella he is, a voiceover promises the season will being with a "shocking scandal.”

One of the contestants (presumably) can then be heard saying of someone: “She’s been having this sexual affair with somebody else in The Bachelor house.”

Cut to obligatory shots of two girls under the same blanket and another two girls jumping on each other in what looks like it could be a playful tickle fight.

While some reports have claimed that a contestant hooks up with a crew member, could at be that a contestant cheats on Jake ... with another contestant?

That would be a way to drive up the ratings, for sure ...

The Bachelor Premiere Promo

Jake Pavelka is the "most serious" star The Bachelor has ever had in its 14 seasons, according to the show's venerable host-pimp, Chris Harrison.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Chris talked about the new season kicking off Monday. He said that Jake was totally blown away the first night.

"[Jake] looked at me the first night and said 'my wife is in this room," Chris recalled, noting that Jake Pavelka was "determined" to find someone.

As opposed to most people who star on The Bachelor.

Chris says this season, unlike past seasons, will feature craziness on an emotional and psychological level, rather than a "let's get naked" level.

Zzz. Although the contestant who cheats on Jake with a crew member sounds like it could provide some traditional, not-at-all-staged drama.

Chris Harrison calls The Bachelor an "amazing study in human behavior."

Of his role as the show's MC, his job is to keep the peace, as well as to say "ladies ... the final rose tonight." But Harrison says it runs deeper than that.

"I think I’m exponentially better qualified than Dr. Phil will ever be. And I’m about half as full of $h!t as he is. I could easily host a relationship show."

We would totally watch, who are we kidding? He's already a confidant for strangers: “Because people see me on this show, they tell me things,” he says.

“I’ll be at a bar, and people just open up to me. I know what people’s husbands like in sex, the size of their ... They just tell me anything and everything."

For more from Chris, follow the link to check out EW's interview.

This season of The Bachelor is sub-titled: On the Wings of Love.

Perhaps, however, it should be referred to as The Bachelor: Bumpy Skies Ahead!

A new report indicates that ABC producers have come up with a new scandal is brewing on set: Sources claim a contestant has been sleeping with one of the show's crew members.

"She's been having a sexual affair with somebody else in the Bachelor House," a woman, supposedly referring to one of her rivals, says on a clip from the show that has mysteriously disappeared from ABC's website.

No way the network purposely leaked that quote and then removed the video, is there?!?

ABC reps refuse to comment on the rumors.

Last season, The Bachelor enjoyed record ratings after Jason Mesnick chose Melissa Rycroft on the season finale... only to dump her minutes later on the After the Rose special and ask runner-up Molly Malaney out instead.

That possibly staged controversy has at least resulted in two happy couples: Rycroft is married to Tye Strickland; while Jason and Molly are engaged and adorable.

Will the latest Bachelor scandal deliver the same excitement and popularity for the show? THG will watch it every step of the way, recapping and reviewing developments for our readers, to find out!

We hope you're sitting down, The Bachelor fans. We have shocking news about the season ahead:

On the January 4 premiere of this reality TV lovefest, star Jake Pavelka can't decide which contestants to send home.

It's a startling development, one never before seen on the 14 seasons of the show. How will this hunky pilot ever choose the 15 suitors that will vie for his heart and ABC-sponsored engagement ring?

With help from Jillian Harris and Ed Swiderski, of course. The Bachelorette couple will appear on the season premiere and offer Jake insightful, totally non-cliched pieces of advice, such as: select someone with whom you can see yourself growing old.

How difficult can that be?!?

Watch Jliian and Ed suprise the ladies, and hug it out with Jake, after this article's jump.

Continue Reading...

The 14th season of The Bachelor begins January 4, and when it does, people may find Jake Pavelka to be the most desirable star in the show's history.

We say this because:

1. People say that every season
2. Not only does Jake possess dashing good looks, but if you watched The Bachelorette, you know there's no nicer, sweeter, more genuine fella.

Well, minus the part where he ratted out Wes Hayden - ostensibly to protect Jillian Harris, but likely to extend his tenure another week. But no matter.

"He's truly the Southern gentleman, but not in an annoying way," The Bachelor host-pimp Chris Harrison says. "Women see him as husband material."

Jake Pavelka: The hottest Bachelor in history?

Of the 31-year-old commercial airline pilot, Harrison says: "He's not a 'let's get wasted and get in the hot tub' kind of guy. He's very trustworthy."

With typical modesty, Jake Pavelka is quick to dismiss the adulation.

"It's really sweet of everybody - who wouldn't love to hear that?" said Jake, who believes in the process of finding love on the ABC reality show.

"I've got a big smile on my face right now. But I don't think I'm the hottest Bachelor by any means. They've had a lot of great guys in the past."

What do you think? Will Jake make a good Bachelor?

Jake Pavelka was billed as Mr. Perfect last season on The Bachelorette.

Too perfect, in fact, for Jillian Harris, who found no spark with Jake despite the hunky pilot's good looks, sweet demeanor and readiness to settle down.

Now, as the newly-minted star of The Bachelor, Jake is buckled up and will be calling the shots on the 14th installment of ABC's reality dating bonanza.

Below, he gets ready for takeoff in a new Q&A with the N.Y. Post ...

Q: You said you “had your heart broken” by Jillian on The Bachelorette. Was it weird to watch after you finished taping? How do you feel about her now?

Jake Pavelka: When I left the show, I was really very disappointed; I thought there was really a connection there. We spoke the same love language.

I felt like I had been dumped out of a real serious relationship. It was definitely tough watching Jillian on TV. I handed her my heart; it didn’t work out.

Q: You’ve said you "believe in the process" of meeting someone on The Bachelorette or The Bachelor. But a lot of the couples from the show break up.

Jake Pavelka: I don’t understand why more haven’t worked out. They make it possible to completely ignore the camera. They don’t put you in weird situations. They've never said “Can you retake this?” or “Can you say this?” Everything was realistic.

EDITOR'S NOTE: What a liar.

Q: Did you know right away who your favorites would be?

Jake Pavelka: I heard that I’d probably know my final four would be as they were getting out of the limos [on the season premiere episode]. But to be honest, I had absolutely no idea for several episodes who the final four would be.

Q: If you could send Jillian a message now, what would you say?

Jake Pavelka: "Congratulations, that’s unbelievable about your engagement [to Ed Swiderski]. I'm a huge fan. Maybe in the future we can be friends.”

Will Jake be a good Bachelor?

It's time for a (quarterback) sneak peek of The Bachelor season premiere!

With 25 women who will stop at nothing to cause a scene and try to cash in on their 15 minutes pursue the man of their dreams, there's no telling what'll happen.

In a just-released clip from the January 4 opener, the gals vying for Jake Pavelka were told by Chris Harrison to decided to go toe-to-toe in a touch football game.

The teams? Blondes vs. Brunettes.

A football game in formal wear sounds like a disaster waiting to happen, but if it's unintentional comedy ABC is going for, then it's safe to say they scored a TD.

Especially when the women all chase Jake Pavelka. He's gonna be playing two-hand touch (if you know what we mean!) with the brunettes after their big win!

The Bachelor Season Premiere Sneak Peek

We just hope they didn't let Ed Swiderski in on this action. Otherwise, Jillian's going to have to deal with another few weeks of cheating rumors in Us Weekly.

Jillian Harris chose Ed Swiderski on the season finale of The Bachelorette this summer, shunning fan favorites Reid Rosenthal and Kiptyn Locke and sparking much debate over whether she made the right choice, given Ed's alleged cheating.

They've weathered the storm, however, and will be making an appearance on the January 4 season premiere of The Bachelor to "advise" new star Jake Pavelka.

Jake, who was rejected by Jillian Harris last season, will get her take on who to boot among first batch of women. Jillian and Ed also have an "announcement."

"Just as the women think it's time for The Bachelor star to hand out the coveted first impression rose, Chris announces a twist," an ABC press release teases.

"The ladies not only must impress Jake, but also last season's happy couple: Jillian and Ed. The women cheer as the former Bachelorette and her fiancé join Jake to help him with his tough decision, hoping that he will find a love like theirs."

Jake Pavelka will get a little help from his friends.

Could the announcement by Jillian and Ed possibly be that they've set a wedding date? Or that they're helping kill time on what should by no means be a two-hour season premiere? Probably both! And who are we kidding, we can't wait.

Will Jake Pavelka be a good Bachelor?