In 2002 the TV series “The Bachelor” premiered with Alex Michel as the very first “bachelor.”
Ten years, 23 bachelors and bachelorettes later, this reality show is still making millions. It remains the most watched show on Monday nights by Americans. What do Americans find so irresistible about this reality TV show? Is it the idea of a fairytale love story? I decided to take a closer look.
After watching almost every season of “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette,” I have been able to analyze what gives its contestants the justification to think that they are madly in love and ready for marriage after only six to ten weeks of knowing someone.
If you have never seen this show, there is one bachelor or bachelorette accompanied by 25 contestants of the opposite sex in the journey to find love. With a $3,000,000 budget, the show flies the bachelor and his 25 prospects to the most romantic locations around the world and stages extravagant dates that rarely occur outside of television. Going on these ultimate dates is exactly what sets the mood to generate all of this passion that each contestant has towards the bachelor or bachelorette. This feeling of being “in love” or falling for the person is almost immediate. Another contributing factor is the competitive nature of Americans. From the second the contestants meet the bachelor, they are all determined to be the recipient of the last rose. Is it a game or do they truly have feelings for the bachelor?
To accentuate some rules that apply to the show, which are confirmed by Jesse Csincsak, a former contestant on The Bachelorette, use of cell phones and computers are not permitted, thus limiting any connection whatsoever with the outside world. This reality show rule plays an enormous part as to why the girls fall in love so easily. With no communication to anyone outside the mansion, it is most likely that the contestants are dying to spend more time with the bachelor or bachelorette just to get out of the house. This reality show regulation is utter non-sense because of the way we humans are made; to desire intimacy, passion, and love towards another person and we will force ourselves to feel in such ways if at all possible.
Being on a reality show, whether you are the bachelor, bachelorette or even the contestant, is not about finding your true love since both parties, primarily the contestants, are restricting their options to finding “the one”. It is also thought that some contenders are merely on the show to “win” as if it is a game to them. This is exactly why only three couples from the 23 bachelor and bachelorettes that have been on this show are still together.
These three couples were able to make the transformation from life on reality TV to living in the real world. Jesse Csincsak made another statement when asked “Do you have any advice for other Bachelor Nation couples?”- Heidi Suke, Csincsak answered, “If you want your relationship to work, stay out of Hollywood and focus on the relationship.” It is common sense that no successful relationship can be built off of the unrealistic settings of this TV show.