'Bachelor' Host Chris Harrison Needs to Relax a Little

By Denise Warner Posted Feb 23rd 2010 04:00PM

Pop-Ed: By now you've all heard of the big scandal on the set of 'The Bachelor.' To recap: contestant Rozlyn Papa may or may not have had a sexual affair with one of the producers of the show, leading to her exit from the contest and his dismissal as an employee. But in the world of reality television, this is ratings gold. And we think host Chris Harrison should be thankful, but he wasn't.

Instead, he decided to get on his high horse after Rozyln defended herself on 'The Bachelor: Women Tell All' reunion.

"It was a desperate attempt by a very desperate woman to create a diversion," he blogged of Papa's insistence he flirted with the fired-producer's wife.

But Chris, isn't that what this show is all about -- desperate women (and men!) looking for love, and willing to do desperate things (give up their careers, forgo seeing their children, live in a house with 25 other people vying for one man's attention, etc.) in the pursuit of someone's heart?

Harrison insists he doesn't want the Rozlyn drama to detract from the important stuff.

"It is my hope that none of this nonsense takes away from what is really important here and that's what's going to take place next Monday night during our finale."

What is happening next Monday? Oh yeah, Jake will decide which girl, either Tenley or Vienna, will become America's next top ex-fiancee.

That's right, we said it.

Mr. Harrison, the drama is what draws viewers and keeps you employed. If it were boring, no one would watch because for a dating show, you have a remarkably poor record. Only one 'Bachelor' or 'Bachelorette' relationship has brought about a wedding -- Trista and Ryan Sutter.

So if the Rozlyns of the world didn't exist to create problems, you'd be left with an unwatchable failure. Who would tune in to see that? At least the drama keeps it entertaining.

Furthermore, you seem more than willing to vilify Rozyln for what she may or may not have done. (And at this point, does it really matter?) But you easily forgave Jason Mesnick for what we all know he did -- dump his 'Bachelor'-fiancee Melissa Rycroft on National TV.

Mesnick originally picked Rycroft. But then backtracked on his decision, switching to runner-up Molly Malaney. He then decided the best thing to do was announce this on the 'After the Final Rose' show. Obviously, this is the preferred method of dumping for reality stars.

"I don't know if it makes it any easier for you to swallow, but they are in love and are fighting like hell under an extreme amount of pressure to make this work. I told him that he must really love Molly to have done this," Harrison wrote of the scandal.

"I wish you all could have hung out with us and just seen that these are real people going through life just like you and I are. It just so happens that what they do is magnified times a thousand because they are on TV," he added.

By Harrison's measure, if it's all out in the open, it's OK, but if it's a secret and you deny it -- it's not? That doesn't add up.

'The Bachelor' and 'The Bachelorette' are two silly shows. Audiences drool as they watch beautiful men and women live and date together, but they stay for the fights, the scandals and all the other ridiculousness. Not because they think two people are actually falling in love.

Tags: Chris Harrison, jake pavelka, jason mesnick, Melissa Rycroft, Molly Malaney, Rozlyn Papa, the bachelor

Comments

(30)

Tuesday 23 February

By MAGOOS

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A very dumb show that expects desperate men and women to "find love" whilst making fools of themselves on TV. The fiasco last evening confirmed how contrived the show is. No doubt Papa will rise to some form of stardom just as Ryecroft did after being dumped on the show.

By re4bsh

How does Chris Harrison feel when someone accuses him of wrong doing?I think the show should keep this kind of thing off the air unless they have some kind of proof to back it up,not a bunch of women who are out for fame.

By fourjwinds

The way ALL the women speak is TOTAL NONSENSE! They make as though they forgot how this GAME works. They begin to form a clique and gang up on one or two of the other contestants. IT IS NONE OF THEIR BUSINESS what this person's personality is like or if "they judge them as false". The man is going to view each of these woman as he would if he met them separately. They are all rivals as in any game. Each person is going to give it what they want - and that is to marry a man they really do not know.

By Joyce

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What makes you such an authority, Denise? Why do you watch the show if it's that bad? Curiosity would get the best of you, wouldn't it?
I have some advice for you......change your profession. What are you good at?

By Bag

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Joyce, did you read the article? The writer is fairly clear; she's criticizing Chris Harrison's comments, not the value of 'The Bachelor' itself or its audience. The show is entertaining for its drama, controversy and attractive cast. You can't possibly think the value of 'The Bachelor' is in its track record at matching couples. One marriage in a long-running franchise is not success. Since you're on a first-name basis with this writer, let me be equally candid with you. She's good at writing. You're good at exhausting question marks, using ellipses incorrectly and defending reality dating shows against imaginary attacks. Does that pay well?

By sn

I agree, Denise, the writer of the article assumes people only watch to see the controversy. Maybe some of us enjoy watching how people under pressure react in sittuations we wouldnt put ourselves in. I was thrilled that good triumphed over sleezy regarding Rozlyn. Haven't we all felt insecure in the presence of a hoochie every now and then, especially a beautiful hoochie? Because we know no matter how pretty we look, most guys will stray for guaranteed sex, regardless of beauty. When I watch the show I personally wish the two who make it to the end nothing but the best, and learn from the ladies experiences. I applaud them for putting it out for all to see.

By debbie thomas

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you all are lying,i wish i was twenty something again.i would love to be in there shoes.i just wonder what i would do to get all the attention and to be his pick.what would you do?do you know?thats what i am saying........

By Sarah

Jake was asked in a Vcast interview what kind of girl he goes for. He said the blonde type. So he does go for the bleached hair, hair extention, fake tan, boob job girl. This is why Jake is still single at 31. He keeps choosing the same type of woman. Sweet adorable Tenly, the marriage material woman, never had a chance.

By teresa

OMG!!! you are so right on.. I thought that in the beginning Jake was sincere but NOW!!!He did turn all the good ones away..I guess He wants to support a woman with no career. good luck to that.Fake on the outside fake in the inside..It seems that Jake wanted these women to Fall in love with Him as soon as they say I love you Jake boom there gone..I hope that Bachlor next season finds a man that is in his late thirties with life together and really has what He wants in mind and sticks to it on the show!! these younger Men are to bouncy..

By kekeli

Jake is a hypocryte. He let the best ones go during the first two episodes. He's still single, but turned away the women of his caliber and similar situation. The childless, career driven ones were sent home. Early on, he sent away a beautiful pilot, a Captain in the National Guard, PhD candidate, and an Entrepreneur without even getting to know them. And they were cute! WHY? What did he keep? A bunch of models, single moms, divorcees, boob jobs, and more baggage than the airports he flies to. The final two are a divorcee who must mention her ex EVERY episode, and several times per episode, and a woman he was warned about, repeatedly. He warned Jillian about Wes, but ignored and sent home women who warned him about Vienna (who looks exactly like Big Bird with a boob job). He really sees this unemployed, ex-Hooters waitress, divorcee (who claims to now be in love for the FIRST time), 5 car (so far) crashing, daddy's girl who trash-talks the others and dresses up a dog as WIFE material? NO WONDER HE'S SINGLE!

By Mary

TO SARAH: SWEET TENLEY is BORING and inexperienced. She needs to date around. She has only been with her ex hubbby. Jake was the first man she even KISSED after her divorce. Her dance for Jake was totally UNSEXY and LAME. She seems like a little girl not a woman. AND there is nothing wrong with bleach blonde hair and a fake tan. A fake tan is much healthier than a real one!!!

By s706890

The Rozyln thing was stupid its fine if Jake dates 25 women but If someone else does it while on the show its portrayed as a Bad thing. So what she had a little fling it was blown way up for ratings.

By skysee

The Bachelorette made weird excuses for not mentioning her son. Did she think having a son might make her not get chosen to be the Bachelorette? PUBLICITY is what she wanted by getting chosen, but she got negative publicity cause the man she was
playing around with was MARRIED which is why she won't admit to the tryst.
Gotta F somebody AKA TIGER WOODSISH style....
The Bachelor and Bachelorette are fun to watch dramas. WE LOVE THEM. So what is it is half Baloney. We like Survivor too and it is a weird set up too. SO what.
REMEMBER THIS IS FOR OUR ENTERTAINMENT.. we are not getting married this way.

By Deb

Does it really matter whether you like this show, or NFL football, the news, or whatever! My God I would love to say what I happen to think about grown men in crazy outfits slaming into one another but I won't. Why? Because everyone has a preference for the different TV shows, sports, etc, that they watch. Just because one person thinks football or The Bachelor is lame, not everyone else does. What amazes me more is that the person who wrote this has been employed to do so. Remember, folks, it is just one person's opinion. Obviously a whole lot of people disagree. America -- we all get to choose to watch what we want to watch!

Bag:

So now you are the authority. Everyone is entitled to an opinion. You made assumptions. You aren't as bright as you think you are. Bag it.

Wednesday 24 February

Oh no, no assumptions here. You definitely don't know how to use an ellipsis.

Check out the author's picture

Tuesday 02 March

By Linda

I checked out the picture, she is cute enough but with some fake blond hair and a boob job she could be a newscaster instead of a writer :)

By sweetbabi3

I love the show, and enjoy watching the trials and tribulations. As for Rozyln, she is lying through her teeth. It so obvious. She admits the producer is visiting her in Richmond. She is a head case. They should check out these people better before they allow them on the show. Molly and Jason are getting married March 8 for those of you that did not know.

btw "Bag" why are you mad that Joyce called the writer by her name "Denise"? You seem to be mad that she's mad... hmmmm COULD you be Denise? Some people find the article insulting, and feel the need to say so!

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