Thursday, March 05, 2009
ABC Television Network
TRANSCRIPT FROM THE MARCH 4 "THE BACHELOR"
TELECONFERENCE WITH EXECUTIVE PRODUCER MIKE FLEISS
Cathy Rehl: Welcome everybody. I know we have a lot of people on line and our guest today doesn't have a whole lot of time so we're going to get right to it.
I first want to apologize for the last minute scheduling change. Our couple and this was sort of unavoidable. There was no way they were going to be able to do this on their timetable in Los Angeles today so my apologies to you.
But I have another star with us who is the Executive Producer of the series and creator, Mike Fleiss.
And by the way we'll also be sending out a statement from Melissa. She is not going to be doing interviews right now. I think you probably all understand why.
And but we have a statement we'll get to you a little later after the call.
With that I'm going to start to ask for questions and please keep them to like a minimum of two a piece so that everybody who wants to ask can.
Thank you.
Operator: Ladies and gentlemen at this time if you would like to ask a question press star followed by the number 1 on your telephone keypad. Again that's star 1 to ask a question.
Your first question comes from the line of John Bracchitta with Reality TV World.
John Bracchitta: Hey how are you doing?
Mike Fleiss: What's up (John)?
John Bracchitta: Nothing much. I've got some questions.
During some of your interviews yesterday both Jason and Chris made statements that Melissa wasn't blindsided when Jason broke up with her. On camera implied they already had broken up before that.
Could you set the record straight on what the status of Jason and Melissa's relationship was when they came out for that final rose speech?
Mike Fleiss: Well I mean they've been talking and been seeing each other, you know, and I think it was clear to both of them that there was, you know, problems with the relationship at that point.
So, you know, they were, as I understand it they were all broken up prior to the show. I mean I don't think she knew that she was going to give him back the ring.
But I think she knew that, you know, they weren't going to be together.
And, you know, so I mean she definitely wasn't completely blindsided by the situation.
John Bracchitta: Okay. And then and during (his) interviews Jason often stated that he only broke up with Melissa on camera because it was in his contract.
Could you elaborate on what he meant by that and what contractual obligations he was under?
Mike Fleiss: I mean I think he felt an obligation to the show. But there's no contractual obligation there. None.
John Bracchitta: Okay, thank you.
Operator: Your next question comes from the line of Delaina Dixon with OK Magazine.
Delaina Dixon: Hey how are you doing?
Mike Fleiss: Fine.
Delaina Dixon: Well I guess everybody wants to know, you know, putting that breakup on TV, knew that it probably was going to affect how people thought of Jason.
So, you know, why choose to do that? We could have heard that he broke up with her off camera and could have just (woo) (Molly).
What was your decision behind that?
Mike Fleiss: Well first of all it's a TV show and that was really the defining moment of the series.
And to not put that on TV seems strange, you know, really when you consider that we are making a TV show and these people signed up to do a TV show.
But the real difference here was that, you know, the - his decision to break up with Melissa involved the other party in the situation which was Molly.
And so it was all, you know, part of our Bachelor universe. And so it seemed weird to turn the cameras off for that. You know I mean we try to tell a complete story and to have that go on and not let the viewers be part of it I think would have been a mistake.
Delaina Dixon: Okay. And are you going to keep doing the bachelor concept until you finally get a bachelor who actually goes through and picks a girl that he marries?
Mike Fleiss: Sure.
Delaina Dixon: Okay, thanks a lot.
Mike Fleiss: Thanks.
Operator: Your next question comes from the line of Lorilee Craker with Grand Rapids Press.
Lorilee Craker: Hi Mike. It's Lorilee Craker from the Grand Rapids Press.
Mike Fleiss: Hi.
Lorilee Craker: And I am obviously from Molly's hometown.
And we've given the show tons of coverage and that's spoken to Molly's friends, etcetera.
Why do you think - what would you say - a lot of people here are buzzing about the fact that, you know, although they love Molly and they're loyal to Molly, it just seems so shameless to hurt Melissa in the way that you did.
And the show almost seems set up to hurt people.
What do you say about that?
Mike Fleiss: Its set up to help people find each other. It's not - that's all it is. And it's a TV show and these people sign up to go on a TV show. I mean it's not like we barge in on 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 that's what it is.
And to me, I don't see the difference between breaking up with Molly on TV in New Zealand and breaking up with Melissa on TV in Glendale. I don't see the difference.
Lorilee Craker: Okay. Well both of them were very difficult to watch of course. And as you say you're trying to tell...
Mike Fleiss: That's the show.
Lorilee Craker: ...a complete story, right.
Mike Fleiss: That's the show.
Lorilee Craker: Another question then about Grand Rapids we've had four contestants now from this area be on your show and including Bob Guiney and (Brad Andrewjeski) and, what was her name, Robin Canfield.
Why do you think the Midwest and specifically Grand Rapids is a drawing card for you? Why do you think that these people have been successful in becoming contestants?
Mike Fleiss: I don't know. I have no idea. My mom is from that area so...
Lorilee Craker: Really?
Mike Fleiss: Yeah. Well close, she's from Michigan, you know.
Lorilee Craker: Yeah.
Mike Fleiss: She's from West Bloomfield, you know...
((Crosstalk))
Lorilee Craker: Okay. Are you looking for, you know, kind of a wholesome Midwestern? Like Molly really typifies the typical Grand Rapids girl. Is that what you're looking for?
Mike Fleiss: We just look for, you know, good people who are there for sincere reasons. That's all we ever look for.
Lorilee Craker: Okay.
Mike Fleiss: We don't care where they come from.
Lorilee Craker: All right. Thank you.
Operator: Your next question comes from the line of Hal Boedeker with Orlando Sentinel.
Hal Boedeker: Hey, Mike.
Mike Fleiss: Hey, Hal, how are you man?
Hal Boedeker: I'm good. I'm good. Listen I've been getting emails from people who were saying, you know, that they're really angry at the show and they'll never watch again. I mean even though Elizabeth Hasselbeck made some sort of comment like that.
I mean what would you say to those people?
Mike Fleiss: Hey, Elizabeth Hasselbeck?
Hal Boedeker: She wants to be weaned off the show.
Mike Fleiss: Oh my God. She needs to be weaned off her political views man. She's a little confused.
Hal Boedeker: But what would you say to those viewers?
Mike Fleiss: I know man, it's like, you know, you really don't want watch, don't watch. You know it's like it's a TV show and it was big this time and the reaction is big.
And, you know, I mean I know a lot of people were saying it was the best TV they've ever seen in their life. I'm getting lots of emails and text like that and so, I'm not really that concerned.
Hal Boedeker: Well and also are you surprised at the fury toward Jason?
Mike Fleiss: Well yes and no. I mean it's - he was so immensely popular that he had the furthest to fall in some ways.
So, you know, when he did something that the audience didn't want him to do, you know, they were disappointed.
But I was with the couple last night that are happy as can be and he kept telling me, you know, what was I going to do, you know, I was in love with this girl. I - what was my choice? To not pursue this woman that I absolutely adore?
Hal Boedeker: Thanks for your time.
Mike Fleiss: Thanks Hal. Good to talk again.
Operator: Your next question comes from the line of Tim Malloy with tvguide.com.
Tim Malloy: Hey, thanks for doing this.
Mike Fleiss: Hey Tim.
Tim Malloy: The thing we're getting from our viewers and 60% of them said on an online poll that they believe Jason is a bastard is that they believe - what they believe was improper was dumping Melissa on air.
And Jason has said of course that he had to do because he couldn't see her beforehand.
Can you sort of walk us through the timeline because it seems like he has to take trips with her and they spent the holiday together?
Mike Fleiss: Yeah, they saw each other. And they were on the phone everyday and, you know, I don't know exactly the specific timeline in terms of when and they were together and whatnot.
But he had plenty of access to her and, you know, which is one of the things we really try to do for the couple, but, you know, it just wasn't working out for them, you know, I mean, she knew it, you know.
And she didn't know that it was about Molly. I think that was the thing that caught her off guard.
Tim Malloy: But he definitely had the opportunity to tell her before he was on air, right?
Mike Fleiss: Oh yeah. I mean she didn't come there thinking that they were all good. I mean you can see from the footage. When she comes out and they hug, I mean that's not a couple that's about to get married. That's a couple that, you know, in danger of breaking up.
Tim Malloy: Yeah, but if he wanted to do it, there was no contractual obligation or anything that he had.
Mike Fleiss: No. There's no contractual obligation. You can check the contracts. I mean there's, I mean how would you put that in a contract anyways. Like everything you do with your life must be (unintelligible). It's impossible, you know, there would be no way to legislate that frankly.
Tim Malloy: Yeah, okay. Thanks a lot.
Mike Fleiss: Thank you.
Operator: Your next question comes from the line of Athima Chansanchai with Seattle Post.
Athima Chansanchai: Intelligencer. Thank you.
Mike Fleiss: Oh this is Intelligencer, yes.
Athima Chansanchai: Yeah, that's right.
Mike Fleiss: PI baby.
Athima Chansanchai: The PI that's right. That's right.
So, you know, the couples don't often stay together but have you ever had a couple not be together by the time the finale airs?
Mike Fleiss: Oh yeah, many times.
Athima Chansanchai: So, but was this the first time you chose to film it without the studio audience? I mean there's so much...
((Crosstalk))
Mike Fleiss: Well, we didn't want it getting out there. And we also just felt like that would have been a bizarre scene to have a guy breaking up with a girl and then the audience applauding as we go to a commercial. I mean that didn't really seem right, you know.
Athima Chansanchai: Okay, so did Molly have any indication at that point that Jason had left Melissa and wanted another chance with her?
Mike Fleiss: No, she didn't know.
Athima Chansanchai: And what did you tell her about the whole setup with the after final rose...?
Mike Fleiss: You know just that we're going to get it up there (and) everybody, and see how everybody's doing and, you know, and whatnot.
And, you know, that show was scheduled long before Jason told us that he was having troubles with his relationship with Melissa and that he's in love with Molly that, you know, that's part of the cycle. We always do it after the final rose.
So, you know, she was onboard to do that, you know, from the beginning. And just, you know, two or three weeks out it just it took on a different complexion.
Athima Chansanchai: So when did she tell you that things weren't working out?
Mike Fleiss: I don't remember the date.
Athima Chansanchai: Like in the last month or the last...
Mike Fleiss: It was like - when did we shoot that? Yeah, like maybe ten days before we shot the special.
Athima Chansanchai: Okay.
Mike Fleiss: I don't remember really. I mean I...
Athima Chansanchai: Okay. Okay, thank you.
Mike Fleiss: Thank you.
Operator: Your next question comes from the line of Meredith Garibaldi with In Touch Weekly.
Meredith Garibaldi: Hi.
Mike Fleiss: Hi Meredith.
Meredith Garibaldi: How are you?
Has Melissa asked you to be the next Bachelorette and if she didn't what would you say if she did ask you?
Mike Fleiss: Well I tried to get her to be the next Bachelorette. She didn't want to do it.
Meredith Garibaldi: Okay.
Mike Fleiss: First I went to - I've sort of been scrounging around out there. First I tried to talk Molly into doing it.
And, you know, when Jason was with Melissa I said oh, well I think because Molly is fantastically photogenic and, you know, sweet and she'd make a good Bachelorette and so I was on the phone with her for, you know, maybe two and a half weeks trying to talk her into doing that.
Meredith Garibaldi: Okay.
Mike Fleiss: And she was still a little upset about Jason and she didn't feel like she could commit and really, I mean she was just starting to come around and she had talked to her friends and family about the possibility of being the bachelorette. She had asked me for permission to break up in actuality and told her friends and family that she hadn't been the chosen one at the end.
Meredith Garibaldi: Okay.
Mike Fleiss: And that I was now talking to her about being the Bachelorette.
And she talked to them and they were all supportive of it, at least her friends were. I know that.
And she was just starting to come around to the idea of being the new Bachelorette when, you know, this thing happened with Jason.
Meredith Garibaldi: Okay. Cool. How did you explain to Melissa that the breakup had to be public? Did you like apologize to her?
Mike Fleiss: I didn't speak to her.
Meredith Garibaldi: You didn't speak to her. Okay.
Mike Fleiss: My producers did I'm sure, you know.
Meredith Garibaldi: And do you know if - how Jason explained it to Ty?
Mike Fleiss: No, I don't know.
Meredith Garibaldi: No. Okay. Thank you.
Mike Fleiss: Thank you.
Operator: Your next question comes from the line of Laura Saltman with Access Hollywood.
Laura Saltman: Hey Mike. I have a question about the - if Melissa knew that this was coming and that was obvious by how she acted, why did she bring the ring? Why did she have - why was she wearing the ring? Was that you guys telling her hey, give Jason the ring back, it'll make good TV?
Mike Fleiss: I don't know why she had the ring. You'd have to ask her. I don't know.
Laura Saltman: Okay. Have you seen the emails between them after the show because Melissa makes it seem like she kind of knew that Molly was on Jason's mind and that he had talked to her. Do you know anything about that?
Mike Fleiss: No, I have not sent that.
Laura Saltman: Well you were the creator of the show. And I know you've got a million other things on your plate and that you have a show runner that deals with most of it.
So how much interaction do you even have with anybody from this past season that you are - how much are you involved with it?
Mike Fleiss: I don't really have too much direct contact with the cast members truthfully.
Laura Saltman: Okay. That's what I wanted to know. So you're not exactly the type of the guy to talk about all this.
Cathy Rehl: Yes he is. He's the Executive Producer and oversees the entire show Laura.
Laura Saltman: Okay, well I just feel like...
Cathy Rehl: And he's the creator and...
Laura Saltman: But if he's not talking - if he's not discussing with them personally then maybe he's not the one to ask the questions that I'm asking. That's what I'm saying.
So thank you.
Mike Fleiss: That's not true.
Operator: Your next question comes from Rick Porter with Zap2It.com.
Rick Porter: Hi Mike. How are you?
Mike Fleiss: Hey, what's happening?
Rick Porter: Curious, how would you compare this fallout to the other couple times where the fairytale has sort of ended on camera with Brad and going back to Jen Schefft in her bachelorette season?
Mike Fleiss: You know it's similar, you know, I mean it's whatever the show is getting the ratings, you know, the controversy is just as big. And, you know, it's sort of part of the deal.
Rick Porter: Okay. And one of the threads that seems to be coming through in the online stuff is that somehow this was kind of stage managed or even just outright scripted.
What - how would you respond to that?
Mike Fleiss: I mean that's not true. We don't do that. We've never done that and we never will do that.
You know the good thing about unscripted television is that its unpredictable and that's what this was. I mean it caught us off guard; caught the viewers off guard. And, you know, that's why unscripted television works. That's why it's, you know, popular because it doesn't feel (pat), it doesn't feel set up, it doesn't feel contrived like a lot of the script stuff out there.
Rick Porter: Okay, thanks.
Mike Fleiss: Thank you.
Operator: Your next question comes from the line of John Bracchitta with Reality TV World.
John Bracchitta: Hey again. Did Jason ever tell you, any of the other show producers that he didn't want to dump Melissa on camera?
And if so, what was the response?
Mike Fleiss: I never heard that. Never heard that.
John Bracchitta: Okay.
Mike Fleiss: Excuse me.
John Bracchitta: And then it would seem like Jason could have avoided some of the viewer backlash he's dealing with now by spending the last six weeks kind of trying to work out his relationship with Melissa and if it wasn't working, then kind of be like trying to (stark) and just quietly announcing it after the finale had aired.
Do you know if he ever considered that option?
Mike Fleiss: You know, I think he tried to make the relationship work, you know, but I mean if you could tell another man how long they should try to make a relationship work, I mean that's certainly not my position.
John Bracchitta: Okay. And Chris had already spent the last week being pretty outspoken responding to the allegations that you or someone else on the show's production staff, well actually you already answered that one.
That's all I got. Thanks.
Mike Fleiss: Thanks.
Operator: Your next question comes from the line of Mari Cartel with Radar Online.
Mari Cartel: Hey there. A couple questions, first of all, have you guys taken some sort of tally as to who's angrier about this, women or men?
Mike Fleiss: No. No. No we haven't tallied it up. But that's pretty funny.
Mari Cartel: Well, you know, I'm just curious. And I guess the other question that I would have is about Melissa and her not participating.
I realize you're sparing her feelings today. But really her feelings were kind of not spared in the least at the finale so why spare them now?
Cathy Rehl: I have to say, I'm going to jump in here, this was her decision. She did not want to do much press.
Mari Cartel: I understand that. But don't you have some sort of contractual obligation with your - with the people that appear on your show?
Mike Fleiss: To force them to do press?
Mari Cartel: Well yeah, I mean afterwards you know...
Mike Fleiss: No.
Mari Cartel: ...there's going to be a list of - I'm not trying to be belligerent. But you know there's going to be an element of press that they have to take part in and...
Mike Fleiss: We can't force anyone to talk to the press. That's - how would you do that?
Mari Cartel: By putting it in their contract I would guess.
Mike Fleiss: That you have to answer X number of questions from X number of reporters. No, no, no, no, that's ridiculous.
Mari Cartel: Okay.
Cathy Rehl: She was talked to and this is what she wanted, okay. She did a couple of things and that's the way she's leaving it for the moment.
Now she may come back and totally decide to talk to people but right now she wanted her space and we're respecting that.
Mari Cartel: Okay, thank you.
Operator: Your next question comes from the line Erin Carlson with Associated Press.
Erin Carlson: Hi, Mike.
Mike Fleiss: Hi, Erin. How are you?
Erin Carlson: Good. How are you?
Mike Fleiss: Good.
Erin Carlson: How much influence do producers have in selecting the winner?
Mike Fleiss: You mean the one that he chooses?
Erin Carlson: Yes.
Mike Fleiss: Zero. Zero point zero.
Erin Carlson: Zero, so nobody's, you know, outside in a trailer, you know, giving Jason notes?
Mike Fleiss: No. No.
Erin Carlson: And why Jillian as the new bachelorette?
Mike Fleiss: Well Melissa didn't want to do it. Molly became the one he chose and Jillian is the next biggest fan favorite.
Erin Carlson: What makes her such a favorite?
Mike Fleiss: Well she's, you know, she's got - she's relatable. She's got that girl next door thing. And I think she's sort of has a Jennifer Aniston quality. I mean she's just she's sweet and she's smart and she's the right age to do this I think, you know, she's 28 or 29, you know, which is better than having one of the really young girls do it.
Erin Carlson: Okay, great. Thank you.
Mike Fleiss: Thank you.
Operator: Your next question comes from the line of Julie Gordon with AM New York.
Julie Gordon: Hi, how are you?
Mike Fleiss: Good.
Julie Gordon: So I know that Melissa doesn't want to do any press now but will you maybe try in a couple of months to do, you know, an update, some kind of after (show) special?
Mike Fleiss: Yeah, I'm sure that at some point we'll invite Melissa to be part of an update (pattern) because we do those all the time, you know...
((Crosstalk))
Julie Gordon: Okay.
((Crosstalk))
Mike Fleiss: If she doesn't do any press she'll be, you know, an obvious person to talk to but, you know, we just hope that she gets over this and gets - you know, finds the right guy out there. She's a terrific girl. I mean she's not going - I would venture to say that she's probably the most popular girl in the country right now.
Julie Gordon: Yeah.
Mike Fleiss: You know, I hope some of that is a positive for her.
Julie Gordon: Okay. And then I mean did Jason express any reservations, you know, I mean he was with Melissa and then off camera, you know, his relationship was different. Did he express any, you know, reservations that the same thing would happen with Molly?
Mike Fleiss: No.
Julie Gordon: No.
Mike Fleiss: No, I don't know.
Julie Gordon: Okay.
Mike Fleiss: At least not to me, no.
Julie Gordon: Okay. And then one more question. Have you ever thought of increasing the taping period to give people, you know, even more time to get to know each other or is...?
Mike Fleiss: Well we shoot twice as long as any other relationship show on the air.
So, you know, I mean we - I mean some of these shows banging out in two or three weeks.
Julie Gordon: Okay.
Mike Fleiss: Seven and a half weeks and we travel the world. I mean we're - I mean it's those other shows that need to do that. Not ours.
Julie Gordon: Okay, thank you.
Mike Fleiss: Thank you.
Operator: Your next question comes from the line of Rachael Horwitz with Buzzsugar.com.
Rachael Horwitz: Hi Mike.
Mike Fleiss: Hi Rachael.
Rachael Horwitz: You said that you got together with Molly and Jason last night. Did they give you a better sense of Molly's timeline for moving to Seattle?
Mike Fleiss: No, we didn't talk about that.
Rachael Horwitz: And...
Mike Fleiss: I know she's definitely planning to do that. You know but she's got her job and family there.
So, you know, I'm sure they'll do it, you know, when it makes sense.
But she's definitely committed to doing that.
Rachael Horwitz: And one of the (unintelligible) coming through my readers and with even I think some of the women expressed it on last night's special was Jason's fickleness and at this point we see him engaged to a lot of women and or at least proposing marriage. And he's been married.
Do you get a sense of - do you consider him to be a solid guy like do you think you have faith this will work out with Molly or?
Mike Fleiss: Well they seemed great last night. I mean they really - I mean every time I talk to either one of them they're clearly in love, you know, so, you know, fingers crossed.
Rachael Horwitz: And did they talk about any plans about getting married or just one step at a time?
Mike Fleiss: We didn't - I haven't heard anything. I haven't the M word yet at this point.
Rachael Horwitz: Okay, thank you.
Mike Fleiss: Thank you.
Cathy Rehl: I'm going to call for a last question please.
Operator: Your final question comes from the line of Tom Rose with Fancast.com.
Tom Rose: Hey Mike, thanks for talking with us today.
Mike Fleiss: Hey thank you.
Tom Rose: You're claiming that none of this is scripted but that whole DeAnna Pappasstoryline was pretty manipulative and then when she came on at the end it was just a giant snore-fest. I mean you say it's not scripted but that seemed scripted to me.
Mike Fleiss: All right. It seemed scripted to you. That's awesome.
Tom Rose: Okay. So you're saying that just came about because, you know, when...
Mike Fleiss: Well, you know, we had to get her on a plane so we knew that. You know she didn't fly there on her own dime.
Tom Rose: Right. But when you were - you know as we were leading up to that episode it seemed like she was going to throw out a big ball to, you know, to the work staff. But as it turned out she just made her last play and he just blew her off.
So that seemed scripted to me I mean.
Mike Fleiss: Unscripted. What are you talking about, crazy, that's pretty funny though.
Tom Rose: All right, well thank you.
Cathy Rehl: Okay everybody. Thank you so much. Thank you for your time and during the long season. And we will be back to you with The Bachelorette in some months from now. It will premiere May 18th on ABC. There will be a release on that later.
And I will be again sending out a statement from Melissa that you can have, okay.
And we know if she indeed is going to do press sometime in the future. We will get back to you, okay.
Thank you. If you need anything else please give me a call at 212-456-6749.
Operator: This concludes today's conference call.
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