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The Bachelor 16: Ben Flajnik

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LoveRocked:
Chris Harrison blogs 'The Bachelor' episode 7

I would like to start out by apologizing to the country of Belize for the insane amount of “Belize” puns that were used and abused in this week’s episode. You better Belize things are getting serious on this show right now. (Sorry, just had to slip one more in.) I want to answer a couple burning questions that many of our viewers had over the last couple weeks. First of all, the baseball game in Puerto Rico ended in a tie at the end of regulation. There might have been a mistake in showing an incorrect scoreboard as we went in to extra innings, but I was there and can attest that the game was tied and legitimately went into extra innings. The game was also sanctioned by and followed all the rules of Major League Baseball. The next topic I need to cover is Casey’s shoes. As many of you noticed, she walked up to Ben’s room and then out of the hotel without her shoes on. Her shoes and luggage were mailed to her and she should be receiving those items in six to ten business days. With those great mysteries cleared up, let’s move on to this week’s episode.

All bad puns aside, you better Belize that this country is as stunning and romantic as it looked on TV. Lindzi’s date to the “Blue Hole” is one of those things you just have to see to Belize. In fact, as soon as Ben and Lindzi were out of the water, our local guides were amazed at how fearless they were, considering how many sharks are known to hang out right where they landed. Needless to say, everyone was safe and have a lifetime of memories to take home with them, as well as all of their limbs.

This week is always one of the most pivotal ones of season. It’s that point when all the relationships are either taking a serious step forward or falling so far behind it’s time to say goodbye. Lindzi, as you saw, continues to cruise along at a very comfortable pace. Ben and Lindzi never have any drama and she makes life very easy for him. As they head into hometowns, though, Ben is looking to see if there’s more to their relationship than that. At some point she’s going to have to show that depth that Ben is looking for.

Kacie’s (very happy I can drop the “B”) relationship is a great example of the kind of depth Ben is looking for. Nicki is somewhat in the same boat as Lindzi: Her relationship with Ben is going smoothly and there haven’t been any major roadblocks, but she needs to make a move in the coming weeks to see if they can take things to the next level. Now let’s deal with the last of the final four: Courtney. This week we got a glimpse of a completely different side of Courtney. Up to this point she’s been supremely confident and unflappable, but this week she was emotional and insecure. There is something very interesting I noticed about Courtney this week, and that is just how much she makes everything about her. Most of the girls are worried about how much they are opening up to Ben. Courtney, on the other hand, said several times that Ben needs to step up his game and open up to her.

The other major happening this week was the other women warning Ben about Courtney. If you’re keeping score at home, that makes a total of five different women who have gone out of their way to warn Ben about this woman. It does have him thinking, and he had a half-hearted talk with her before the rose ceremony, but when they are alone she knows exactly what to say to settle his nerves. This week we said goodbye to Rachel and Emily. I’m guessing most of you were stunned that Ben sent Emily home, especially after their incredible date this week. Other than that pesky blond hair, Emily was everything Ben was looking for in a woman. I can’t help but think that despite her rebound in recent weeks, her skirmish with Courtney and subsequent confrontational talks with Ben just put her too far behind.

Emily is somebody I’m very much looking forward to talking with at the Women Tell All special to get her take on everything that went down and figure out what went wrong from her perspective. Next week we return to the States for the all important hometown dates. This will be a huge week, as fortunes will quickly change for some of the women. I can tell you that these are among the most emotional hometowns we’ve ever seen, and the women all take tremendous strides forward. One hometown in particular goes in a direction that you’d never expect, and you’re just going to have to see it to Belize it.

Before I say goodbye I want to thank all those fans that once again opened their doors to us this week, as the “Bachelor Party Van” crashed several viewing parties around the LA area. From the impromptu dance party, the Chris-and-Ben velvet cake, Bachelor fantasy league rules, and Vicki’s homemade hot fudge sundaes, it was a night to remember. (We’ll have a video up this week on our official site www.thebachelor.tv). The Bachelor Nation is a passionate wonderful thing, and I love getting the chance to talk with you here each week, chat via Twitter (@chrisbharrison) and sometimes show up at your house and talk about all things roses. Please Belize me when I say, “Thank you, I love every minute of it.”

http://popwatch.ew.com/2012/02/14/chris-harrison-the-bachelor-episode-7-blog-2/

RealityFreakWill:
ABC press release:

ABC Television Network
PRESS RELEASE - PRESS RELEASE - ENTERTAINMENT -
NEXT WEEK ON THE BACHELOR (2/20)



BEN CROSSES THE COUNTRY TO JOIN THE FOUR REMAINING BACHELORETTES
IN THEIR HOMETOWNS AND FINDS HIMSELF ON THE HOT SEAT WITH
THEIR FAMILIES, ON ABC'S "THE BACHELOR," MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20


"Episode 1608" - The stakes are high as Ben crisscrosses the country on an exciting, emotionally charged trip to visit the final four women's hometowns. Will Lindzi conquer her fear of being vulnerable and share her true feelings with Ben? Will Kacie B.'s cautious, skeptical parents be the downfall of her relationship with the Bachelor? Will Nicki's parents, who are still heartbroken over her divorce, welcome thoughts of a potential future for their daughter with Ben? And finally, will Ben be able to win over Courtney's protective mother? Afterwards, everyone meets in Los Angeles, and Ben must make a gut-wrenching decision to narrow the field to three women - one of whom he believes will be his wife -- on "The Bachelor," MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20 (8:00-10:01 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

Ben's journey starts in Ocala, Florida, where he spends the day with Lindzi and her fun-loving parents on their picturesque horse farm. Up until now, she has been hesitant to open up to Ben, but she finally reveals that her last relationship left her heartbroken and she is afraid to make herself vulnerable. Her parents notice the difference in their once reticent daughter whose heart seems open again, but will they welcome Ben into their family?

When he arrives in Clarksville, Tennessee, Ben is met in grand style by a marching band led by Kacie B., his baton-twirling suitor, who has been one of the front-runners for his heart since their emotional first date. As they picnic on a football field named after her grandfather, Kacie fills in Ben about her rich family history and her grandparents' inspiring love story. But what happens when Ben meets Kacie's father? Will he give Ben his blessing, or will this spell trouble for the couple's future?

Ben travels to Fort Worth, Texas, to visit Nicki, the young divorcee. She treats him to a Texas-sized shopping spree, transforming the Sonoma winemaker into a cowboy. Nicki warns Ben that he most likely will be met with a great deal of skepticism from her father, who is determined to protect his daughter after her devastating divorce. Nicki's mother and brother are warm and welcoming, but her father reserves his opinion until after he has a heart-to-heart talk with his daughter. After a tearful and guilt-filled discussion over the failed marriage, Nicki and her father heal some old wounds, but what does it mean for this pair's prospects?

Finally, Ben heads to Scottsdale, Arizona to join Courtney, the glamorous but strong-willed model who has attempted to capture Ben's heart with her aggressive but playful spirit. However, when Ben meets her mother, he discovers that she is skeptical about whether Courtney is really in love with him. What effect will this meeting have on Ben and Courtney's chances? Courtney is not discouraged and summons her courage to tell Ben how she feels about him in a romantic, over-the-top setting. But will it be enough to secure her a rose?

As everyone heads back to Los Angeles, Ben is stymied by the fact that he can see himself falling in love with all four women, but one must be sent home. At a tense and emotionally wrenching rose ceremony, he sadly says good-bye to one heartbroken bachelorette. However, he can take comfort in the knowledge that that one of the remaining three women may be his future wife. So, they toast to the next exotic stop: Switzerland.

The four women are:
Courtney, 28, model, Santa Monica, CA
Kacie B., 24, administrative assistant, Clarksville, TN
Lindzi C., 27, business development manager, Seattle, WA
Nicki, 26, dental hygienist, Hurst, TX

http://www.abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=021412_01

RealityFreakWill:
Chris Harrison blogs 'The Bachelor' episode 8

You can fake a lot of things but one thing you can never fake is your family. I can’t remember a more pivotal hometown episode. These hometown visits were definitely a game changer for Ben and these women.

I can’t recall ever seeing such a strong front-runner like Kacie falling so far, so fast after a hometown date. I’ll give you my thoughts on her at the end, but first let’s talk about the women that will be moving on to exotic dates in Switzerland. The first stop was Lindzi’s house. This was as good as a hometown date could be. The moment Ben sees Lindzi, life is just easy. It’s how all good relationships should be: effortless. That’s not to say relationships don’t take a ton of work and effort, but especially in the beginning they should seem and feel effortless. When I watched Ben interact in this environment, it felt like he was home and they were already family. I do have to give Lindzi a bit of a hard time here. I was surprised at how little Lindzi knew about her parents’ past: It was funny to watch her be pleasantly surprised by finding out where her parents dated and were married. The fact that Lindzi’s parents got married in the same exact building where Ben and Lindzi shared their first dance was one of the more serendipitous moments of the season so far. Other than that, Lindzi’s hometown date was flawless.

Ben later rolled into Fort Worth, Texas to see Nicki. After a day of making Texas look like a big redneck cliché (you’ll remember that I’m a Texas boy), they got down to business and met Nicki’s family. Nicki’s family is incredibly loving. It was amazing to see Nicki’s dad tear up and apologize for letting her down in her prior relationship. Nicki is fortunate to have such an amazing dad, and it’s easy to see why she turned out to be the type of woman she is. It was because of this strength at home that Nicki was able to open up to Ben at the end of their date and let him know that she’s in love with him. Nicki has definitely been the dark horse this season but she has quickly become a front-runner in Ben’s heart.

I’m pretty sure that the majority of you were the extremely curious to meet Courtney’s family. I know many of you wanted to know where this girl came from. I found it interesting to hear that upon reflection, Courtney isn’t happy about the way she acted towards the other women and regrets it. It seems that her demeanor was one big defense mechanism. This doesn’t excuse everything she’s done and she still has some explaining to do, but at the very least, this was a great glimpse into what makes her tick. I found the comment by her dad to be most interesting. He said marriage is life’s greatest gamble; you have a fifty percent chance of winning. I’m not really sure I know what that means, but it sure seems like a sad, depressing view on life and love. I’d like to think that each couple defines their own chances.

Now, onto one of the most awkward things I’ve watched in quite some time, the mock wedding. Beyond how strange it was to hold a faux wedding, it really showed an interesting side of Courtney. She definitely opened up to Ben and expressed her love to him, but it was very hard and uncomfortable for her. She had trouble reading her vows and it seemed like it was really hard for her to spit it out. The most important thing though is her relationship with Ben. Ben gets her and appreciates the way she is. I’m looking forward to hearing all the opinions on Courtney this week. I think not living with the other women anymore gave Courtney some time to reflect on her actions, and I’m curious to see how things change next week.

Now, let’s talk about Kacie. From the moment she started talking about her family to Ben you knew there was going to be a bit of a culture clash. Ben summed it up best himself when he said, “Kacie’s dad doesn’t drink, and I’m thinking to myself, ‘Well that’s great — I’m a wine maker.’” Of course that isn’t the reason this didn’t work, but all joking aside it did point out some of the distance between them. Kacie has a newfound perspective on life and love, and this experience has definitely changed her. She has an amazingly loving family, and while things didn’t go smoothly with Ben she should be grateful for the love and wisdom her parents shared with her. This is a great example of why the hometown dates are so important. Ben comes from a very different world than Kacie does and this wasn’t a good fit for him or her. Kacie’s departure was easily one of the most emotional we’ve seen in a while. We’ve all gotten to know and love her so much, so it was tough to see her so confused and broken-hearted. I’m sure, upon reflection, Kacie can now see the great divide that was between them, but that doesn’t mean it still doesn’t hurt.

I’m glad you got to see Ben’s deliberation with me this week. We have done this each week but you haven’t had the chance to see it yet. There’s been so much good stuff to show you each week, so something has to give. I think it gives you a very good insight into what Ben is thinking — but thankfully, whether you see it or not, it gives Ben a good sounding board while he’s going through the experience.

Next week the three remaining women join Ben in Switzerland. This isn’t going to be easy, as Ben now has three women who are head-over-heels in love with him, and I think it’s safe to say in many ways he’s falling in love with each of them. There are several tough decisions and moments ahead for Ben and these women. I can tell you that the next few weeks are as emotional and intense as we’ve ever seen here in Bachelor Nation. Before I go this week I want to thank Ellen for having me on her show once again. My son, who was with me, would like to thank her for having SI cover girl Kate Upton on the show that same day. In all seriousness, Ellen has been a huge fan and friend of ours for many years and I always enjoy her passion and interviews.

While I’m off the Bachelor reservation, let me also tell you it’s Oscar week. If you have nothing better to do I’d love it if you’d join me on the red carpet, as I’ll be hosting once again for TV Guide Network on Sunday before the Academy Awards. Until then you can always find me on twitter @chrisbharrison and for more Bachelor fun, read our exclusive cast blogs and watch never-before-seen clips at our official site, www.thebachelor.tv.


http://popwatch.ew.com/2012/02/21/chris-harrison-the-bachelor-episode-8-blog-2/

RealityFreakWill:
ABC press release:

NEXT WEEK ON THE BACHELOR (2/27)




A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME ADVENTURE BEGINS AS BEN SWEEPS THE FINAL THREE
BACHELORETTES AWAY FOR FANTASY OVERNIGHT DATES IN THE FAIRYTALE LAND OF SWITZERLAND, ON ABC'S "THE BACHELOR," MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27


Which Distraught Bachelorette Returns to Confront Ben,
And Will It Change His Decision About the Final Two Women?


"Episode 1609" - Romantic adventures await Ben and the final three women - Courtney, Lindzi and Nicki - as they travel to spectacular Switzerland. From an exhilarating helicopter ride over the Swiss landscape to a heart-stopping rappel down a 300-foot ravine to a scenic train ride to the enchanting town of Wengen, the dates are filled with passion and excitement, as Ben continues to explore what his future would be like with each of these potential mates. At the end of each evening, Ben will present the bachelorette with an invitation to spend an intimate night together in a "fantasy suite," with the hope that she will accept. But will she? The week finishes with a stunning surprise when one of the devastated bachelorettes returns to look for answers from Ben about why he let her go. It's a wild, romantic ride with each of the women - until this emotional reunion makes Ben's mind and heart go into overdrive and he makes his most painful decision yet -- on "The Bachelor," MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27 (8:00-10:01 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

Ben's alpine adventure in the snow-capped mountains of Interlaken, Switzerland, begins with a spectacular helicopter tour with Nicki, sweeping over the majestic glaciers. Cuddling together, they touch down atop a deserted mountain that makes it appear they are on the edge of the earth. Over a romantic dinner Nicki reveals the lengths to which she will go to capture Ben's heart. But will her full disclosure be music to Ben's ears or will it make him run for the Alps?

A complete adrenaline rush is in store for Lindzi and Ben when they discover that they must rappel down a 300-foot rocky ravine. As they strap on their harnesses, they bond over their shared trepidation. They are even closer by the time they make their descent. Later, during a steamy soak in a hot tub, Lindzi shares how hard it is for her to be vulnerable in a relationship, but also that Ben is worth it. The two reunite for an intimate dinner, but will Lindzi find the courage to tell Ben she's in love with him or will her reticence make her lose the opportunity of a lifetime to find love?

Finally, Ben and Courtney take a scenic train ride to the charming town of Wengen, where they set up a picnic in a lush meadow. But despite the intense attraction between them, Courtney has something else on her mind. That evening, she attempts to get serious with Ben, struggling to explain her behavior with the women in the house. But is it too little too late?

However, in a completely stunning development, a rejected tormented bachelorette makes a surprise return looking to Ben for answers to help mend her broken heart. In one of the most emotionally charged moments in "Bachelor" history, Ben must dig deep to explain why he let her go. However, the woman has a message for Ben as well, offering him one final warning about Courtney who, she feels, is not a good match for him. The moving reunion sets Ben's mind and heart racing. Will he heed the advice he has been dismissing all along?

An intense rose ceremony ends with Ben making an excruciating decision, sending one distraught woman home. Ben and the remaining two ladies toast to their final destination: the snowy village of Zermatt, where the bachelorettes will meet Ben's family. Ben's quest for love is drawing to a close, but the question isn't only whom will he choose, but will she accept?

The three women are:
Courtney, 28, model, Santa Monica, CA
Lindzi C., 27, business development manager, Seattle, WA
Nicki, 26, dental hygienist, Hurst, TX

http://www.abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=022112_05

RealityFreakWill:
Chris Harrison blogs 'The Bachelor' episode 9

This week we hopped on a jet plane and headed to Interlaken, Switzerland. A beautiful quaint town that during ski season is alive and bustling but in the off season, which is when we were there, it’s a quiet sleepy little town nestled in the Alps. In case you were wondering the answer is yes, Ben did stare out the window of the plane the entire way over to Switzerland listening to his inner monologue. I’ve sat next to him on many of these flights, and if you listen closely sometimes you can actually hear it. Once Ben finished listening to his own thoughts and wandering aimlessly around the country, it was time to start a huge week of exotic dates. The park where Ben and Nikki met and caught the chopper was right in front of our hotel. This was a bit of a landing zone as parachutists and gliders would launch off the mountains above and lazily float into town all day long. Instead of going over each date which all of you saw, I want to talk about what appears to be three very different relationships.

Nikki and Ben obviously have fun together but their relationship feels young. I’m not sure that that makes any sense to you, but when you compare it to the other relationships with Lindzi and Courtney you can just tell it’s not on the same mature level. This is something Nikki will probably notice as well as she’s watching the show along with all of us. She is an amazing woman with an incredible family. You can tell she is very brave and strong and not afraid to fall in love again, which is a good thing.

I want to hear your thoughts on Lindzi and her relationship with Ben. There was so much talk about Kacie that it seems Lindzi has quietly flown under the radar right into the final two. Once again this week Lindzi and Ben shared effortless conversation and emotions. It seems so easy for them, and you may have noticed that she and Ben never discuss other women, they never get caught up in the drama. The only thing they seem to get caught up in is each other, and this week she told Ben she was in love with him. It seems like the only thing that could possibly slow her down is that darn blonde-ish hair. If you’re just tuning in, Ben has been partial to brunettes all season long, and Lindzi is the lone blonde survivor.

I know the reason Lindzi has really flown under the radar is probably because Courtney has given us so much to talk about. The last two weeks she has appeared to do a 180 and has been contrite and apologetic. By the way, for all those conspiracy theorists who thought Courtney’s apology last week was dubbed in to “save her,” it was very clear this week her thoughts and words were from the date in Switzerland. Now you can get back to debunking that whole fake moon-landing thing. Courtney slightly apologized last week for her actions in the house toward the other women, but this week she took it much further. My question to you is, was this enough?  Obviously it meant a lot to Ben, but did it change the view of her in the court of public opinion?

There is one thing I noticed again this week concerning Courtney and Ben. Courtney continues to turn the situation around, giving her the power position. For example this week while the other two women chose to accept the fantasy suite, Courtney turned the tables and asked Ben to accept. These things are very subtle, but it’s a defense mechanism of hers she’s used several times with him. Ben left that date feeling good about Courtney and their relationship… but then Kacie showed up at his door. Ben was obviously caught completely off-guard. I thought Kacie was incredibly articulate in expressing her thoughts on why she came back. She really wanted to know what went wrong. I also think Ben was equally articulate and concise in letting her know what we all watched last week. The two of them are worlds apart, and as I said last week in this space I’m guessing now that Kacie has also watched her hometown date she’ll realize that as well. It is true that she needs to make her own decisions in life separate from her parents, but the fact that she’s still struggling with this once again points to how young she really is. I very much look forward to talking to her at the Women Tell All special to get her thoughts on all of this.

Ben was a mess when I met him for deliberation. He was upset about having to basically break up with Kacie again, but he was really thrown for a loop about Courtney. Ben had his thoughts and feelings in order about her but Kacie made him question all of that all over again. As you saw, this is something that will continue to play out in the finale. Next week is the Women Tell All, and let me tell you this will be our most exciting one ever. I always enjoy getting everybody together to talk about what went down but this season I’m especially interested to talk to this group of women. There is much to discuss so I look forward to asking all the burning questions and getting the answers you want to hear next week. Until then you can find me on twitter @chrisbharrison, and for more Bachelor fun check out our official site, www.thebachelor.tv.

http://popwatch.ew.com/2012/02/28/chris-harrison-the-bachelor-episode-9-blog-2/

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