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My Final Thoughts On 'The Bachelor' Story
So, this morning on a conference call, "The Bachelor" creator Mike Fleiss was asked by someone if the show is set up to hurt people. I think his response to this question says everything we need to know about this show."It's set up to help people find each other," Fleiss began to explain.
Then the zinger.
"It's a TV show and these people signed up to go on a TV show. It's not like we barged into someone's personal relationship and filmed it and put it on the air without their consent. They came on a reality TV show. And this show's been on for so long, people know what they're getting into and, and that's what it is," he said. "And to me, I don't see the difference between breaking up with Molly [Malaney] on TV in New Zealand and breaking up with Melissa [Rycroft] on TV in Glendale. I don't see the difference."
He doesn't see the difference because he is a reality show producer who has clearly forgotten what its like to treat people like human beings instead of pawns. It's all about the story with this guy. Maybe it's just me, but I found him to be very belligerent with the reporters on the call, if not downright smug. When asked about Jason Mesnick telling People magazine he was contractually obligated to breakup with Molly on television, Fleiss said that was not the case.
"I think he felt an obligation to the show, but there's no contractual obligation there. None," Fleiss said.
So one of them is not telling the truth.
Everyone was asking Fleiss about whether the show is scripted or not and of course, he said it wasn't. My favorite moment was when someone mentioned that clearly the Deanna return had been scripted. Fleiss chuckled and said, "Alright. It seemed scripted to you. That's awesome."
That's like an answer a college kid would give you when their professor accused them of cheating.
This morning in my face-off with Chris Harrison, the show host said he was not upset that I leaked the switcheroo storyline but rather questioned my journalistic integrity because I accused the producers of manipulating the show. I've always maintained that a blog is more like an extended commentary. It's not meant to be fact and I don't believe I presented it as fact. I gave my opinion on the matter.
As I told Chris, after Jason said in People magazine that he swears "on his son's life" that he did not work with the producers to make the switch to Molly always part of the plan, I believe him. But I do still believe the show is manipulated. Everyone still tied to the show, who knows the information can be traced back to them, always says the same thing -- "the emotions and choices are real." That's true. That's why they say it. You can't force someone to have feelings for anyone else. Anyone still tied to the show (producers, PAs, cameramen, former contestants) who doesn't fear the ABC wrath has told me the same thing - the producers prod them along to say certain things. i.e. "don't say it like this, say it like this." I've been told by different contestants through the years that the producers will tell them if they don't do something they will not get alone time with the "Bachelor" or "Bachelorette." Not just one person. Many people have confirmed this.
When I confronted Chris with this information, I didn't get a denial or a confirmation. Not that I would expect that. What he did admit, and I'm very thankful he did, is that if the producers see that someone is leaning towards one person or two people, they will try to get them to open their eyes to other people. At the end of the day, it's a reality television show and they need a story. So, with Jason, when it seemed obvious he was all about Melissa, they tried to get him to be open to other girls, too. That in itself is a manipulation of Jason, which just adds to the bottom line of who he chooses. At least that's how I see it.
I get that the show needs drama and that's fine. I love watching it and I still will watch it but I just wish the people involved with this show would stop all the pretending about how the show is produced and own up to it. If it was all on the up and up, then there would be no need for a lifetime contract that states you can never reveal the secrets of the show. What would be the point?
I also want to clear something up. We did not lift the e-mails between Jason and Melissa off of the Internet from some other site. I knew about the -emails a month ago the same way I knew about the ending. They were sent to me personally yesterday, not copy and pasted. I have been covering this show since Alex Michel was "The Bachelor." You can decide if I need to spend my days scouring Web sites.
And lastly, because I know the Internet sleuths will eventually find the information because I have said it before. I'll just put it out there now. Yes, I auditioned to be "The Bachelorette" many years ago when Jen Shefft was chosen. No, I'm not bitter about not being picked and it is not why I'm bashing the show. I'm grateful. Plus, it was my old, not photogenic nose. I wouldn't have picked me either.
I wish Jillian Harris all the luck in the world on her "Bachelorette" season. Although I think it was really rude that Fleiss said he was "scrounging around" for someone and she was his third pick after Melissa (who said no) and Molly. I will be watching. I've even heard there might be a single dad in the mix of 25 guys. Stil, I hope everyone who does the show has learned a lesson from this going forward. Who knows, maybe after all this we just might get another Trista and Ryan!
He doesn't see the difference because he is a reality show producer who has clearly forgotten what its like to treat people like human beings instead of pawns. It's all about the story with this guy. Maybe it's just me, but I found him to be very belligerent with the reporters on the call, if not downright smug. When asked about Jason Mesnick telling People magazine he was contractually obligated to breakup with Molly on television, Fleiss said that was not the case.
"I think he felt an obligation to the show, but there's no contractual obligation there. None," Fleiss said.
So one of them is not telling the truth.
Everyone was asking Fleiss about whether the show is scripted or not and of course, he said it wasn't. My favorite moment was when someone mentioned that clearly the Deanna return had been scripted. Fleiss chuckled and said, "Alright. It seemed scripted to you. That's awesome."
That's like an answer a college kid would give you when their professor accused them of cheating.
This morning in my face-off with Chris Harrison, the show host said he was not upset that I leaked the switcheroo storyline but rather questioned my journalistic integrity because I accused the producers of manipulating the show. I've always maintained that a blog is more like an extended commentary. It's not meant to be fact and I don't believe I presented it as fact. I gave my opinion on the matter.
As I told Chris, after Jason said in People magazine that he swears "on his son's life" that he did not work with the producers to make the switch to Molly always part of the plan, I believe him. But I do still believe the show is manipulated. Everyone still tied to the show, who knows the information can be traced back to them, always says the same thing -- "the emotions and choices are real." That's true. That's why they say it. You can't force someone to have feelings for anyone else. Anyone still tied to the show (producers, PAs, cameramen, former contestants) who doesn't fear the ABC wrath has told me the same thing - the producers prod them along to say certain things. i.e. "don't say it like this, say it like this." I've been told by different contestants through the years that the producers will tell them if they don't do something they will not get alone time with the "Bachelor" or "Bachelorette." Not just one person. Many people have confirmed this.
When I confronted Chris with this information, I didn't get a denial or a confirmation. Not that I would expect that. What he did admit, and I'm very thankful he did, is that if the producers see that someone is leaning towards one person or two people, they will try to get them to open their eyes to other people. At the end of the day, it's a reality television show and they need a story. So, with Jason, when it seemed obvious he was all about Melissa, they tried to get him to be open to other girls, too. That in itself is a manipulation of Jason, which just adds to the bottom line of who he chooses. At least that's how I see it.
I get that the show needs drama and that's fine. I love watching it and I still will watch it but I just wish the people involved with this show would stop all the pretending about how the show is produced and own up to it. If it was all on the up and up, then there would be no need for a lifetime contract that states you can never reveal the secrets of the show. What would be the point?
I also want to clear something up. We did not lift the e-mails between Jason and Melissa off of the Internet from some other site. I knew about the -emails a month ago the same way I knew about the ending. They were sent to me personally yesterday, not copy and pasted. I have been covering this show since Alex Michel was "The Bachelor." You can decide if I need to spend my days scouring Web sites.
And lastly, because I know the Internet sleuths will eventually find the information because I have said it before. I'll just put it out there now. Yes, I auditioned to be "The Bachelorette" many years ago when Jen Shefft was chosen. No, I'm not bitter about not being picked and it is not why I'm bashing the show. I'm grateful. Plus, it was my old, not photogenic nose. I wouldn't have picked me either.
I wish Jillian Harris all the luck in the world on her "Bachelorette" season. Although I think it was really rude that Fleiss said he was "scrounging around" for someone and she was his third pick after Melissa (who said no) and Molly. I will be watching. I've even heard there might be a single dad in the mix of 25 guys. Stil, I hope everyone who does the show has learned a lesson from this going forward. Who knows, maybe after all this we just might get another Trista and Ryan!
Great job Laura! You mentioned a lot of good things. I am so proud of you and Access Hollywood for covering this story. I absoutely love that you (and Access Hollywood) confronted Chris Harrison. Jason, Chris, and Mike Fleiss are all telling different stories and coming up with excuses. They can't even keep track of their lies. The viewers aren't as stupid as they think. Keep up the good work!
How about a single mom as the Bachelorette...with a few rule changes, that is!
Thank you, Laura. I totally appreciate your expose of the slimy underbelly of this overproduced and overrated show. The Bachelor is a sham. Anyone who believes it is pure reality is a fool. When will America wise up and view this for what it is, a vehicle to make money via advertising and merchandising? No one cares about the people or their feelings on this or any other "reality" show. They are a means to an end, a commodity, to be exploited to make a buck. If it were real, it'd be on PBS.
Jason may be able to look Melissa in the face and say he didn't contact Molly during the time right after the show finished taping when he was still engaged to Melissa, but I don't doubt for a moment that people involved with the show contacted her for him and made sure Molly knew what was transpiring with Jason and his doubts. The producers wouldn't want to take the chance that she would move on to someone new and RUIN their storyline. It is manipulated without a doubt. The only way you are going to get a more honest story is if the bachelor is strong and stands up to them. Andy Baldwin gave an interview at the end of this season and said that's what he had to do and that it was a shame Jason didn't have the guts.
Are you kidding me? No difference between breaking up with Molly in New Zealand and breaking up with Melissa in Glendale? Both Molly and Melissa knew they might have their heart broken in NZ, as it is always part of the show that someone is dumped at the final ceremony. Never in the history of The Bachelor has anyone been dumped on live television after the final rose. Yes, there is a big difference. Quit trying to hide behind lame excuses oh creator of The Bachelor. It was wrong - plain and simple.
Thanks, Laura!! I think that Fleiss will do anything for ratings, and it angers me they way he hurt 3 nice people along the way. I have followed the show and interviews for years, and can shed some light on the issue of whether Jason was forced to break up with Melissa publicly. The agreement that all the participants sign is posted on the official ABC Bachelor website. Item #21 says they "must agree to cooperate with the producers." No, participants are not forced to break up with each other....but, if they themselves decide to break up within the production period, the producer can (and obviously will) force them to do a televised breakup. Fleiss interview is also posted elsewhere It's interesting how he dances around the questions and gives half-answers to get himself off the hook. I personally liked Jason. Because of the way the producers manipulated (yes!) the footage, Jason and Molly have come out to be the most hated people in America...next to octomom. That is just plain wrong! Jason has admitted to making a mistake, and apologized to both girls. He did the honest and honorable thing by not stringing it along. By Melissa's own admission, the breakup was done privately a week before the taping and it was mutual. But Fleiss decided to throw Jason under the bus. Just plain cruel. It's also possible that Jason did not rush down the hill to propose to Melissa 5 minutes after that hearbreaking dismissal of Molly. Lots of editing (and manipulation) possibilities. I hope your article will encourage people to keep open minds about all these nice people. Thanks for listening.
I suspected from the beginning that Jason Mesnick was a tool, then the finale eliminated all doubt
I feel bad for how Jason is being portrayed in the media. Melissa admitted that they ended their relationship soon after filming the proposal. Yes, Jason was wrong to wait to tell Melissa of his feelings for Molly on the ATFR. However, in his defense he was probably desensitized to delivering heartbreaking news in front of a camera since he had to do it so many times in a matter of six weeks. Jason did make some bad choices as we all do, being the mere humans that we all are. Give the guy a little compassion too. It has to be really hard being demonized in the press when you are just trying to share your honest emotions with everyone.
Laura,
What are your personal feelings on Jason now?
I think Jason needs to get a thicker skin in regards to the media. In retrospect the smart thing to do was not to film it as a confrontation on an ATFR and pretend it was all real. The breakup happened while the show was airing. They should have filmed it in a real setting right after it happened. Let them tell US about the breakup. Then filmed the Molly thing in a similiar way. Then tacked it onto the finale after the proposal. Had the ATFR after all was revealed. Harrison said people would have found out and leaked it. So what. They still would have watched. Would have been less deceitful to everyone involved including the viewers. You are allowed to change your mind and have doubts and im ok with that part of it. Just not how the producers handled it. Jason would be less hated if they had handled more delicately.
I've been hearing about this issue for a few days and just watched the video on CNN of you to see what this is all about. All I could think while watching that video is, "What is up with Jason's hair?". Totally bugging me.
Seriously? Melissa wasn't heartbroken... she never looked Jason in the eye when she told him that she loved him. I never believed that they had a thing going in the first place! I was surprised that he even proposed to her! When she came out to him on the After the Rose show, she didn't look the least bit excited to see her "fiancee" and she most certainly was not a distraught "ex-fiancee" while he was breaking up with her! It was all for the drama of the show to get more viewers and ratings. Most reality TV is a joke and only get watched for what it is...drama! And on another note...who cares about Trista and Ryan...
I Truly believe that the AFTR was more production initiated than Jason's doing. Got the ratings up, didn't it?
I like Jason and Molly and saw the connection from the beginning, what I dont understand is the bashing from a lot of the viewers. It is very cruel!
Doesn't anyone think that Deanna showing up and telling Jason that she made a mistake was totally in bad taste? In my opinion that was more hurtful than anything Jason did.
I hope that Jason and Molly make it, which I think they will if everyone leaves them alone, at least for Ty's sake.
Last but not least I am very disappointed in facebook not removing all those hate groups about Jason. Yea, I know US and Canada prides themselves on free speech but come people. Enough is enough.
I had a chance to interview the star of the first season of The Bachelor and i feel like Alex gave me a better sense of what might have gone into Jason's decisions.
I think this episode of the bachelor proves to so many women that men do not know what they want, on TV or in everyday life. They always want what they don't have. I hope he regrets it! Also I think your "old nose" was just fine. =)
completely off this topic but I just saw your interview with Scott Bakula (on Chuck)and at the end you say "more from the set on out website"
any idea where? I've looked all over (there's a lot of all over to look!) I watched the interview again and got your first name, googled to find your last name and ended up here.
If the "lots more" is not in your blog, could you ask someone where they put it?
thanks
Pamela Ashworth
Bakula fan 16 years
Chuck fan since the premiere (or possibly the promos)