48 hours after Bachelor Pad 2 has aired and I’m finally starting to return to humanity. The Husband has gotten me hooked on the iPhone application “Words With Friends,” which is basically Scrabble. We play at all hours of the night and it has allowed me to exercise my brain power for intellectual purposes. Still, as I’m trying to form words and get those highly coveted Triple Word points, I have visions of Vienna’s tears, Kasey’s mumbling and Jake’s earnestness in my head. After seeing the previews for the show, I knew that for this particular spin-off series of The Bachelor, I’m going to take a step back for my own sanity. No laptop for taking notes, no schlepping the thing on my way to work at 7 AM to type up lengthy blog posts – I just can’t take this show that seriously. And after seeing the premiere, I believe this was a wise decision. Yes, I’ll still chime in (who can refrain?) each week and want to hear what all of you have to say as well. But I’ll reserve my hard core blogging work and devotion to The Bachelor and Bachelorette.
So that said, I just want to say why this show was absolutely hysterically perfect as Ben would say and why I will still watch each Monday and pretend I don’t care, but really I will love every second.
Top 10 Reasons Why Bachelor Pad 2 Was Amazing:
10. The cast. With few exceptions, the cast has built in drama. Every single person there either a) had a prior issue with someone in the house (Jake vs. Vienna & Kasey, Gia vs. Vienna, Michelle vs. Jackie, Michael vs. Holly), b) was a villain, crazy person or instigator (Rated R, Vienna, Melissa, Tiara Erica), c) was Ames, Blake, William, Kirk or d) just plain smoking hot (Graham, Gia). Of course all of these cast members and their drama would cause immediate fireworks.
9. Vienna. This is a one woman show. The girl is having a panic attack before Jake even arrives. She’s running around the house trying to get people to hate the guy, talking trash about what a monster he is, that he’s going to try and act all sweet but she’s terrified of him. Her facial expressions were absolutely magnificent. The real sad part about all of this is that poor Kasey has seemed to really fall hard for her and she’s going to end up crushing him like a bug. Their relationship seems to be one of those where Vienna can never be happy, but Kasey will never stop trying to please her. Just please don’t let him get another tattoo remotely relating to Vienna to prove his affection.
8. Random hook ups. Whatever on earth motivated Ames and Jackie to start making out on Day 1 was mind boggling, yet fascinating. Jake clearly was not interested in the artsy Jewish check from NYC. And speaking of Ames, how is his USTA President mother watching her son on this show and not cringing? Is she going to be banned from Arthur Ashe stadium?
7. Night camera action. Ok, watching Vienna and Kasey go at it under the covers was completely unnecessary. According to Chris Harrison’s blog, they both knew they were being taped. So now their exhibitionists and I’m sure once the show is over they’ll probably set up a web cam in their home so people can “check in” on their love life. TMI. That’s all I have to say about these two.
6. Hot Ladies. Not that this interests me, but the ladies chosen for this season are all pretty much super models. This is not a coincidence. Throw Michelle Money, Holly Durst and Gia in any room and it’s hard to believe that they are not air brushed. Oh wait, Gia’s occupation is actually “Swimsuit model,” so that’s not even playing fair with the other girls. Of course this is ruined by any time she actually speaks. I’m still baffled by why Wes would cheat on Gia with Vienna, but I’m sure a lot of alcohol was involved.
5. The Strange “In” Crowd. Only in Bachelor Pad land could Kasey and Vienna be considered a “power couple.” These are two of the oddest individuals to ever form a romantic connection and yet they seem to be dominating the house. How can this be? Are people really listening to what these two have to say and voting with them? Why can’t everyone else in the house come to the conclusion that Vienna is crazy out of her mind? BTW, I can’t stand the expression “chopping block,” which Kasey was most certainly on last week. Luckily we eliminated Rated R before we had to hear him plotting ridiculous scenarios.
4. Jake’s Attempt to be the “Good Guy.” I’ve got to hand it to Jake. He’s on the show for only one reason: to redeem himself. And boy did he get started with a bang. After losing it on national television while discussing his break up with Vienna, the guy’s reputation had nowhere else to go but up. He’s definitely not looking for love and who willingly goes to live in a house with your ex fiance and her boyfriend?? A guy looking to show the world that he’s not an abusive creep, that’s who. Nice job, Jake. In week one he managed to a) give the “I’m happy for you” speech to Kasey b) apologize to Vienna c) show everyone he’s a force to be reckoned with by winning the challenge d) be a complete gentleman while on a date with Jackie plus allow everyone to hear his side of the story without Vienna sobbing and calling him a liar and e) give the third rose (and immunity) to the one woman who hates his guts.
3. Stupid, Ridiculous and Random Footage. I’m talking about Jeff the Mask Guy. Why they decided to show him come back and stalk the mansion is beyond explanation. Particularly the shot of him in the bathroom, in his mask. Not funny. Way overdone. And yet it makes me wonder what other crazy stuff they’ve got planned. Isn’t Rozlyn supposed to be on this show?
2. The Scheming. I love how Gia basically begs Jake for the rose and then he absolutely rejects her advice. I love how Justin Rated R tried to play both sides and got screwed. I loved that Alli was completely shocked that she was potentially going home. I loved not knowing whether Kasey and Gia were going to betray each other in their agreement not to vote the other off – and I loved that Kasey never told Vienna this because he knows what a complete lunatic she is.
1. Michelle Money and Graham. I’m very excited for this love connection to take off. Graham seems like a great guy and he was a favorite of mine from DeAnna’s season. Michelle is always full of fireworks, so I can’t wait to see what she brings to the table.
And that’s all for now. Hope you enjoyed this week’s antics!
Susie from Philadelphia says
Stacey:
I can't believe how much I agree with what you have written. I also can't believe I am looking forward to next Monday to watch the next train wreck! I usually play cards with friends until 9 p.m. and then come home and then catch up with the show on DVR – and my friends make fun of my watching the show. I am starting to make fun of MYSELF for watching the show! I saw Chris Harrison on Jimmy Kimmel a couple of nights ago. It was fun to watch, especially with Jimmy explaining the interaction of the players – using cut-out heads on sticks (actually tongue depressors). Even Chris Harrison gives the vibe that he knows how ridiculous the show is – at least he says, “It's a show.”
Thank you, Stacey, for your work on this blog. I, too, am very hopeful for Ashley and JP's success as a couple.
Anonymous says
I def. feel for Ames' mother. In fact, I feel for the mothers (and fathers) of all these people. Seriously, this is NOT what I would want to see my kids doing.
Still, I am grateful for Ames. He is smart, kind and gracious, and thus, he relieves some of my cognitive dissonance in watching this whole franchise!
Anonymous says
Couldn't believe it when Jake gave Vienna a rose. What was he thinking? Does the man have jello for brains? Won't surprise me if Jake ends up going home fairly soon.
Anonymous says
Yes to jello!!!!
Janet says
Hi Stacy-
It's great to have you “back”!
Ok, I'll explain myself: This last season of the bach. was a bit “off” and therefore I felt you were “off” too….
Yes! Let's indulge ourselves in our guilty pleasure of the bachelor pad. It is definitely hard to explain to my friends (none of them watch), but clearly it consumes me on some level seeing I'm reading your blog on a Thursday night. So, all I can say to you and your commenters is “thanks for being my trashy friends!”. I do so love you!
Tracy says
I didn't watch the first Bachelor Pad, and I wouldn't insult my intelligence to watch this one if you weren't blogging, so thanks!
But the first episode was worth it to see:
1. Jake and Gia using chess and Trojan War metaphors to discuss their strategy (although Gia thought the Trojan horse was an elephant, and Jake got the Trojans and the Greeks mixed up).
2. Gia being able to call Jake dumb.
3. Rated R's ability to use of the phrase “Bachelor Pad history” (as in Jake giving the rose to Vienna would be the “biggest mistake in Bachelor Pad history”)–an affront to historians everywhere. Bachelor Pad has a “history”?