The Bachelor
This week the cast of the Bachelor took a break from jetting off to glamorous and romantic locations to return home so Ben can meet their families. If I may refresh your memories, the four remaining girls are: Kacie, Nikki, Courtney and Lindsey (I probably spelled several names wrong but the show is over in a few more episodes so is there really any point in learning?) Ben visits Lindsey and her family in Florida first. She introduces him to the world of horses ("She looks really sexy riding a horse" Ben says. A necessary requirement for a girlfriend) and her parents. After meeting Lindsey and her parents I would have to say

"Look no further" It's easy to see where Lindsey gets her sweet disposition. Ben moves on to visit Kacie in Tennessee where he is greeted by a marching band. Unfortunately Kacie's parents aren't too thrilled at having Ben as a potential son-in-law. Kacie's parents are a little too old fashioned for reality TV dating and Ben does not seem to understand why some parents might object to their daughter meeting a potential husband on a reality show. Ben is hesitant to get serious with a girl before he has her parent's permission so the evening ends on a bit of a tense note. Next Ben visited Nikki in Texas. When it came to giving their blessing, Nikki's parents were hesitant at first. The last guy Nikki brought home she ended up marrying (and obviously if she's on the Bachelor it didn't work out). Nikki is confident she has a better shot with Ben. And why shouldn't she be? All that stands in the way are the three other gorgeous girls that Ben has feelings for. Nikki ends up telling Ben she is in love with him and her dad gives them his blessing. In any other world this would be a happy ending. But in the world of reality television three other girls are looking to achieve this same happy ending with Ben. Finally, Ben heads to Arizona to see which side of the family Courtney inherited the manipulative predator gene from. Actually when the show first cut to Courtney and she was talking about how excited she was for Ben to meet her family, I felt a stab of regret for how I judged her so harshly. But then she started talking about how she was so glad that none of the other girls were around and the feeling vanished. Way to alienate probably the only person still watching Season 16 a year later. Besides Courtney's older sister, her family actually seemed down to earth. I was disappointed. I was hoping for a dramatic scene involving flying mashed potatoes. I thought every reality show had at least one scene like that. Everything I know is a lie. Instead the happy couple decides to have a mock wedding complete with vows and everything. Only Courtney would be

brazen enough to try a stunt like that and I can't decide if I am annoyed or impressed. At the final rose ceremony, Ben handed out three roses. If you are good at math you will probably figure out that one girl was sent home. And if you are good at reading people, you probably will not be surprised that Ben ended up sending Kacie home.
Characters: 2.5 I am rooting for Lindsey so much it hurts but I have a feeling I'm going to be disappointed. Reality TV just in a place nice girls come out on top. That's not to say Nikki and Kacie aren't nice but I find them kind of boring and I only started paying attention to them after episode 6. And honestly I am glad Courtney is still around because she definitely knows how to keep things dramatic (but is that really something you want in a future girlfriend?) I still have some serious doubts about Ben's character. He seems like a decent and open guy except for the fact that he is dating four girls which means he is only stringing three girls along. And they have to show him total commitment, cater to all his demands and live on his schedule. But he is free to do pretty much anything he wants. I guess feminism really is dead.
Emotional Intensity: 2.5 This episode actually was kind of intense (well as intense as watching the lives of strangers can be) since meeting someone's parents is a big step in a relationship (once you moved out of the house that is. Otherwise it's just one of the most terrifying experiences) But what was really intense was when Ben decided to tapdance all over Kacie's heart by sending her home after seven weeks of getting to know what a wonderful girl she is. To say Kacie was upset would be an understatement. She was hysterical. Understandable after she has spent seven weeks seeing this guy as a potential husband. For all of you who think you can find true love on TV, please use Kacie as a cautionary tale. No matter what connection you think you may have remember it can be over in a matter of minutes.
Conflict: 1.5 There wasn't quite as much tension as usual in this episode probably because Courtney didn't say anything to the three girls. I sensed a little strain when Ben met Kacie's family but I was surprised there wasn't more.
Class: 2.5 Now that parents were in the picture and the girls were hundreds of miles apart they managed to keep things classy without any backstabbing or gossip. Ben, on the other hand,...I know his intentions are noble but I don't understand how he can think leading on four girls is okay. I mean even though he is making progress on his journey he is causing for those four girls to make a detour on their journey. And love is many things but not selfish.
Overall Rating: 9/20
16 and Pregnant
I'm sure when Hope's mother named her after one of the theological virtues, she did not intend for her

daughter to end up on an MTV reality show. But she probably didn't intend for her daughter to end up pregnant at 16 courtesy of her party boy boyfriend (her first boyfriend by the way and probably her last for a while) Predictably once her fun loving boyfriend Ben found out she was pregnant, he wanted nothing to do with her and the baby. I didn't expect to see him after that but in a surprising twist of events he changes his mind and actually steps up to be a good dad. At first Hope and her mom are skeptical (as usual Hope's dad isn't in the picture) thinking Ben will be scared off again at the first sign of responsibility but to his credit he rises to the occasion better than a lot of the past "dads" I've seen. I use quotations because it takes alot more than sperm to be a dad. Hope was working in a coffee shop but she ends up quitting because her feet become too sore. Thank God Ben has a job as a bartender where he probably spends his time checking out half drunk girls and wondering why he couldn't be buying them drinks instead of just serving them. Alright maybe I'm being a little unfair to Ben but if you are selfish enough to knock up your virgin girlfriend I reserve the right to bash you a few times. However, it does seem that Ben's partying days are gone since he invites her (and his future child) to move into his apartment and supports her as the baby's due date arrives. Hope eventually dies to induce labor to put an end to all her growing pains and ends up having a C section (which we saw way too much of) Hope and Ben return to their apartment and begin caring for baby Tristan. Ben even gets up in the middle of the night to attend to the crying baby. Bonus points! Then Ben goes back to work serving margaritas to underage girls and unhappily married men while Hope is left to take care of Tristan by herself. She eventually takes a job at a restaurant with flexible hours just so she can get out of the house (petty much the same feeling I had when I was homeschooled). Speaking of school, she probably should give online schooling a shot since she definitely isn't going to be going to college anytime soon.
Characters: 3 Alot of the girls that end up on 16 and Pregnant are not the kind of girls I would have pegged for pregnant teenagers (I think one of the points of the show is that pregnancy can happen to anyone. Well not anyone but you know what I mean) Hope (like many of the other girls I've seen on this show) seems way to smart to have gotten pregnant, although personally I think her boyfriend is the real idiot in this episode since he is experienced when it comes to that. Props to Ben for changing his mind and being there for his kid (and I even forgive him for going MIA for the first two months. He had to get all the partying out of his system) Besides Hope's mom Ben and Hope seemed to be on their own. I mean they both have their friends but their friends are more into partying than having a nice quiet evening with a newborn baby so they aren't in the picture much.
Emotional Intensity: 1.5 When Ben left Hope after finding out she was pregnant, I was pissed off. And even once he returned I harbored some resentment. If I was Hope I wouldn't be able to trust Ben for a long time after that. I'd be convinced that one morning I'd wake up to a two year old baby and a note reading "Sorry babe, but being a dad just isn't for me" And fear of abandonment is known to put a kink in a lot of relationships.
Conflict: 2 Hope did not have an easy pregnancy. Sore feet, stretch marks, the general feeling that comes with carrying around a bowling ball wherever you go. And once the baby arrives (Hi Tristan!) she settles into a less than stimulating routine that consists of staying home, looking after her baby and working at a restaurant. Probably not what she planned to do with her college years.
Class: 3.5 I'm not sure why it is necessary for us to see the doctors cut open Hope's stomach. After all this isn't House of Grey's Anatomy- then again it is a reality show so I guess they trying for as much realism as possible. Remind me again why reality shows are so popular. Obviously these people have no concept of TMI.
Overall Rating: 10/20
The Real Housewives of New Jersey
This episode pretty much revolved around Teresa. It was all about Teresa, Teresa's house, Teresa's finances, Teresa's lies, Teresa's tabloid articles. Oh, and there was some mention of Lauren's diet and Jacqueline's wayward daughter, Ashley but other than that Teresa was front and center for almost all of this episode. And we didn't even get to see her kids that much. Spoiled kids are the best part of reality television. So apparently Teresa has filed for bankruptcy. Usually when I think of bankruptcy I picture a large family with several malnourished crying babies sitting on the curb of a sidewalk next to a couple of cardboard boxes. Not Teresa's mansion of a house which is probably the size of half my block. And while she is declaring bankruptcy she is building a garage. I will never understand finances. When Teresa and her husband visit their lawyer, Teresa gives what I think is supposed to be an inspiring speech about how she is trying to stay positive and how she's looking forward to the light at the end of the summer but it seems to me if you are bankrupt and still adding onto your eight bedroom mansion then the tunnel is looking pretty damn
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See what I mean about the finger pointing? |
sunny. However, the charges Teresa and Joe are facing for fraud...not so sunny. Teresa doesn't seem too perturbed though. So long as it scores her a magazine cover, she's all good. Jacqueline on the other hand, stumbled upon a magazine article that says Teresa could be facing jail and becomes really worried. When she goes to Teresa for answers, Teresa is evasive as ever. Tension builds leading up to the inevitable showdown between Teresa and Jacqueline which involved a lot of finger pointing (both figuratively and literally. I half expected someone to get their eye jabbed out) Then Caroline just conveniently stumbles upon the scene which even I could tell had to be staged. She joins in the argument and suddenly everyone is talking at the same time and I had to go take an advil and by the time I returned Jacqueline was saying how she wanted to distance herself from Teresa. Teresa commented that it felt like a "friendship divorce" and I had to agree with her. I was half expecting Jacqueline to pull out a contract and start divvying up the assets. At least I know what to look forward to in the next episode.
Characters: 2.5 Teresa and her problems monopolize the entire episode. I admit that Teresa's life is interesting but only in moderation and usually only when her spoiled children are involved. And Jacqueline's sweet but this episode needed alot more of the sexy, sassy Melissa. The thing Teresa probably most envies about Melissa is her charismatic personality. She's probably seething with resentment that Melissa gets so much attention- without even facing criminal charges or filing for bankruptcy. Every episode could benefit from a little more Melissa.
Emotional Intensity: 1.5 I wish I could have more sympathy for Teresa and her plight but as soon as I begin to feel sorry for her she does something that makes me think she deserves every bit of what's coming to her. I imagine Teresa is probably a very unhappy person. Her husband walks all over her, her kids don't appreciate what she does and (the biggest sign of all) she writes cookbooks. She's published numerous cookbooks but I've never seen her cook or write. All we see is her talking or getting dressed or talking. She never sits down in front of a computer or spends a minute in front of a stove. If I was her I would find life to be incredibly dull.
Conflict: 3.5 As I mentioned earlier there was a lot of conflict in the episode. Basically that's all the episode was. A bunch of yelling, finger jabbing, hand waving, blame throwing conflict. In my opinion too much. The saying "less is more" definitely applies to reality TV. Building up the tension engages the viewer alot more than a big blow out- at least in my opinion. I know many have been waiting a long time for Jacqueline to
stand up to Teresa and...she kind of disappointed me. I was hoping for Jacqueline to just lose it and start hurling insults but she tried to reason with Teresa which did absolutely nothing.Teresa is one of those people who does not respond to logic (that is true of the majority of the people in reality TV) So I'm thinking if Jacqueline really wants to get through to Teresa she needs to stop talking and push her into a pool.
Class: 2 If I hear one more thing about Teresa and how she intends to "stay strong" during her struggles I will stick a pencil in my eyes. Teresa you are not a martyr so stop acting like you are persecuted. Alot of people end up in dire financial straights and even more of them don't have a mansion to live in. Alot of women have husbands who don't treat them the way they should be treated and some women even have husbands who beat them. I'm hoping that Teresa stops obsessing all the things that are wrong with her life and starts looking at how lucky she is. As for the Classiest Cast Member I'm going to go with Lauren whose been struggling to keep to her diet while all around her her brothers wolf down calorie loaded food. They could make things a little easier for Lauren by not tempting her with pizza drowned in grease. But then again when have brothers ever made things easier?
Overall Rating: 9.5/20