‘Bachelor’ recap: Roses for both PBC women

Making history with the largest cast ever on night one of “The Bachelor,” 32 women – including two from Palm Beach County and three from Miami – stepped out of limos in an attempt to catch Joey Graziadei’s eye on the premiere episode of Season 28 of ABC’s hit reality dating show.

However, with the exception of one woman from Miami, the Florida contingency didn’t get much airtime, so viewers still have a lot more to learn about them as the season progresses.

Graziadei, who many may recall made it deep into the final rounds of last season’s “The Bachelorette” before being cut, will now have his own roses to give away. But even before we could see Graziadei meet any of his future dates, the episode began more dramatically ... with clips from the finale!

We see a tearful and distraught Graziadei pacing on the platform that appears to be the proposal sight of the season’s final episode. A solo rose – presumably the final rose – is left unclaimed as Graziadei walks off stage. A white SUV, presumably carrying the woman he intended to become engaged to, drives off.

The producers are masters of the tease and, in true “Bachelor” fashion, don’t spoil the actual end result.

Instead, the show then rewinds through two month’s worth of highlights from the upcoming season and a replay of his split from Charity Dawson on last season’s “The Bachelorette.”

Starr Skyler and Marlena Haddad both received roses on the first night and will move on to Week 2.

Skyler, a 25-year-old professional school counselor in the Palm Beach County School District, made her entrance wearing a sequined green gown and holding a box. The Delray Beach resident and Graziadei opened the box together and paper butterflies popped out. Will she send his heart aflutter?

He did say, “I do believe in butterflies. I do believe in getting swept off my feet by someone else.”

Former Trump White House staffer and West Palm Beach resident Marlena Haddad, 26, donned a blue gown and told Graziadei, “If it were anyone else, I wouldn’t be standing here.” That was the extent of her screen time.

Because so little interaction between Skyler or Haddad and Graziadei was shown, it’s too soon to tell if there’s a potential love connection with either. However, both Palm Beach County women are among the 22 to advance to the second week.

One Miami woman advances to second week; two others didn’t

Only one of the three Miami women are moving on.

Kyra Brusch and Samantha Washington’s time on the show was cut short. Jenn Tran, 25, was the Florida resident featured most prominently in the premiere.

Forgoing the limo, she drove herself to the mansion in a go-kart and did doughnuts on the driveway. She told Graziadei, “When I found out you were the bachelor, I had to race over here so quick from Miami. I want to let you know that every day with me will be an adventure, and we’ll always have a good time.”

Later in the episode, Graziadei also got in a go-kart and the two raced around in circles. Their getting-toknow-you conversation inside the mansion also made the broadcast. Referencing her fun introduction, he said, “This whole thing is supposed to be a fun journey where you end with something so important, but through the whole process we should be enjoying it too.”

Tran, who has taken up tennis as a hobby to impress Graziadei, a tennis instructor, emphasized that she is here specifically because he was cast as the leading man. She shared with him that she took a break from physician assistant school to film the show.

“It was really hard to put my life on hold and to come here. I was like, I don’t want to do it unless it’s someone that I could truly see myself with at the end of all this,” Tran said. “When I saw it was you, I was like, I’m in trouble. Hearing how much you really believe in this process, it was definitely reassuring to me.”

Despite the competition, Tran confessed that Graziadei made her feel like the only one and admitted to feeling a spark. He expressed how much he appreciates the sacrifice she made to meet him.

First Impression Rose goes to …

At the “After the Final Rose” taping during last season’s “Bachelorette” finale, Graziadei met his first suitor, Lea Cayanan.

Host Jesse Palmer handed her a mysterious sealed envelope that she was instructed not to open until she arrived at the mansion. She followed orders, and once inside, she and Graziadei opened it together. Joey read the note aloud, which said, “This card gives you the power to steal a one-on-one date from someone else at any time before hometowns.”

Cayanan responded, “I want to give a lot of autonomy to you in our journey and the intentions you set and I also want to give a lot of love and respect to the women that have put their life on hold to come here.”

Graziadei praised her for her character.

Cayanan further explained her thinking, “At the end of the day I can have as many advantages and superficial little one-ups, but if I’m not Joey’s person at the end of this, then I’m not. And if I am, I am. It’s not going to matter whether or not I get a little card.”

Ultimately, she decided to toss her the note card into the fireplace, never to be redeemed, despite admitting that it could have given her a head start.

Graziadei sees qualities in her that he’s looking for in a wife, so he gave her his first impression rose and they shared a smooch.

The ones to watch as ‘Bachelor’ season unfolds

There were several other scenestealers viewers should keep their eyes on.

Though not a “Bachelor” first but a rarity, a pair of sisters are appearing on the show together, adding a layer of sibling rivalry.

(Twins Emily and Haley Ferguson were on Ben Higgins’ season and sisters Ashley and Lauren Iaconetti both appeared on Season two of “Bachelor in Paradise.”)

Philadelphia natives Allison Hollinger, 26, and Lauren Hollinger, 28, planned to keep their relation a secret on the first night, but they decided couldn’t keep their lips zipped and told everyone.

Jealousy then reared when little sister Allison got a kiss from Graziadei and Lauren did not, but the sisters intrigued Graziadei enough for them both to stick around for another week.

Drama is already stirring in the house between the flirtatious Jess Edwards and Taylor Wiens after Edwards, who already had one-on-one time with Graziadei, interrupted Wiens’ time with the bachelor.

Jess also made it known that she received the first kiss of the night, so if anyone has a target on their back, it’s her.

Graziadei also seemed to have an affinity for:

Daisy Kent, who grew up on a Christmas tree farm like Taylor Swift and wears a cochlear implant because of hearing loss.

Autumn Waggoner, whom he connected with over their mutual affection of their grandparents; Erika Cardenas, whose spunk he was attracted to.

Lexi Young, whom he was drawn to for her bright light and captivating maturity.

Kelsey Toussant, who made him visibly blush when she stepped out of the limo.

Maria Georgas, who didn’t want to kiss him on night one but did anyway.

hhhhhHow to watch ‘The Bachelor’

When:

ABC.

Streaming: The show be seen the following day on Hulu.

hhMondays at 8 p.m. ET on

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