RESPECT THE ROSE
With two unpopular bachelors remaining, some fans hope JoJo will just walk away,
There was outrage among reality TV fans when Brad Womack failed to choose either of two potential fiancées on the 2007 season finale of The Bachelor.
When the current season of The Bachelorette ends on Monday, it’s a safe bet there would be as many cheers as jeers — if not more — if JoJo Fletcher picked no one.
The season has been a bit of a dud on the true romance front. And yes, I know we’re talking about a TV show, one that follows a predictable formula, is heavily edited to create plot lines and features more misses than hits when it comes to spawning love and marriage.
And yet . . . among the reasons we fans watch — laughs, schadenfreude and eye candy being others — is the possibility of seeing two people form a genuine connection.
Romance sells. Just ask the Hollywood producers who keep pitching rom-coms.
Sadly, Fletcher sent the one true romantic in the bunch home on last Monday’s episode. That would be Luke Pell, the small-town Texan and Iraq War vet who’s a fan favourite to become the next Bachelor.
Pell’s departure isn’t the only one that had fans slapping their foreheads. In the same episode, Fletcher dispatched medical sales rep Chase McNary — and she did it while they were in a so-called “fantasy suite” about to spend the night together.
“Chase, I love you. I am so disappointed in JoJo,” tweeted Ellen DeGeneres.
“How are we supposed to take the rest of this episode seriously when we are so seriously questioning JoJo’s judgment?” tweeted previous Bachelor contestant Ashley Iaconetti.
ATwitter user known as @kTc0rvinO had this take: “Jordan wants to be Aaron. Robby still talked to his ex. Chase has never said ily (I love you). Luke is God’s gift to the world.”
Jordan is Californian Jordan Rodgers, 27, a former pro football quarterback and brother of Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers. Robby is Robby Hayes, a 27-year-old Floridian whose occupation is described as “former competitive swimmer.”
The tabloids and gossip websites have been having a field day with both.
Us Weekly has published multiple stories about Rodgers, alleging he’s a cheater who only came on the show to get famous.
Hayes has been accused of dumping his long-time girlfriend to get on the air and having designs on being the next Bachelor.
Tabloid rumours are par for the course during Bachelor/Bachelorette seasons. What makes these ones harder to shake off for fans is the sense that Hayes and Rodgers are just going through the motions.
Heck, when Fletcher asked Rodgers to picture the next year in his life if they got together, he called it “a tough question to answer.” The words, “We’ll be engaged” did not pass his lips.
Hayes, trying to reassure Fletcher about the speed with which he used the L-word, actually pulled out a note from his father. Gosh, if Robby’s dad says he’s in love with JoJo it must be true.
Fletcher’s insecurities arise in part from her experience on The Bachelor. Ben Higgins told her he loved her but chose her rival, whom he also said he loved (and to whom he is still engaged), over Fletcher.
That rejection has been brought up so much by Fletcher this season that it raises another question: Was she really over Higgins when she started filming this show? Does she love Hayes and Rodgers, as she claims, or is she on the rebound?
She’ll likely end up engaged on Monday’s finale, but fans are skeptical the happily will last ever after. The finale airs Monday at 8 p.m. on City. Read the recap Tuesday at thestar.com/ television.