Bachelor Pad 2: Vienna Girardi

I've been notoriously critical of The Bachelor franchise, but we all know it is my own fault for even watching the manipulative, scripted (UPDATED:  One of my Bachelor pals corrected me and she would know, there is no scripting whatsoever on The Bachelor franchise.) reality show.  After spending another Monday night wasted on the couch watching Bachelor Pad 2 with the immature shenanigans of Kasey and Vienna, I was reminded of an interview I did with Vienna Girardi in September 2010 during Emmys Week.  I spoke a bit about my interview in a post I did after the event.  Hmmm, after last night's episode, I am not sure my 2010 assessment was correct.  If she hated the manipulation of The Bachelor franchise so much, why is she appearing on Bachelor Pad 2?  If it was so bad, wouldn't you stay far away from ever participating in a reality show again?  Money talks and when Mike Fleiss calls, most former Bachelor contestants say "yes".  Watch my interview with Vienna Girardi and let me know what you think:

Suffering Through an Insufferable Bachelorette

I'm sorry.  This season of The Bachelorette was insufferable. It had everything to do with the person they cast to be The Bachelorette and it's my fault that I watched every second.  I gave Executive Producer, Mike Fleiss, exactly what he wanted:  viewers.  I know enough about this show from following Reality Steve, the former constants I have worked with, and from people who have worked on this show.  Mike Fleiss tactics are anything but honorable, so if you believe that Bentley story line happened organically, think again.

By choosing an emotionally immature woman (girl?) like Ashley who couldn't handle everything that got thrown at her this season, they got drama and the water cooler talk any show runner wants for his series. We watched her cry, whine, and pout her way through the season.  We watched more men voluntarily excuse themselves from the show.  We watched a girl have meltdown after meltdown when clearly all she needed to do was read the book, He's Just Not That Into You.  It drove me insane and it made me dislike her even more.  I wasn't rooting for her one bit, but I sure was tuning in each Monday night.  The icing on the cake happened last evening when she let the "runner-up", Ben, get down on one knee and propose even though she knew she was picking JP.  I found her last act to be cruel and unnecessary and Ben reacted accordingly with some curt and pointed words, "What I don't need you to do is sugarcoat it.  You can't leave something like this on good terms. It's impossible."

That quote summed up my entire season as a viewer watching The Bachelorette.  Sorry, Ashley, I am on Team Ben.  Will I be back next season to watch the latest train wreck concocted by Mike Fleiss and his team?  Oh, probably.  So in the end, Mike Fleiss always wins.

Tell me your thoughts on this season of The Bachelorette.  Do you agree or disagree with my take on this season?