Techtite's TV Reviews!

"...the finale really shocked me ---as it did everyone, from what I hear. Oddly enough, it's not that Trista didn't choose the perfect guy for a fiancée; it's just that nobody ever thought that anyone on this show would be that smart!"

---from the review

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Sidebar ::

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Can one girl be in love with two boys? Right up to the finale, Trista would say yes. This is debatable. Let's be frank; one person can be hormonally attracted to more than one person; that's an understatement, that applies to men as well as women. However, "love"...? While I may get letters refuting this, I don't see how one woman could "love" two guys with equal intensity, unless she was in love with one emotionally, in love with the other hormonally, and wanted to sell it off as being "in love" with both, equally. How does this apply to Trista, Charlie, and Ryan? Well, let's just say that she chose the one she was emotionally attracted to. Though if she was to tell me she still had feelings for Charlie, I'd say; take a cold shower, then we'll talk. It's one thing for your fiancée to admit having feelings for Brad Pitt; it's another thing entirely to call such feelings "love."

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The Bachelorette

A Review by Techtite

(review posted February 6th, 2003)

(review updated post-finale: February 20th, 2003)

Okay, I admit it: I was no big fan of The Bachelor last year. No sooner do they cast a total goofball as the first "bachelor," then they cast a second bachelor with all the charisma of a stewed carrot. Now, they try to redeem themselves with a reverse gender version of the series, now called The Bachelorette. Is the show any better? Well, let's put it this way: Trista is far easier to look at for nine nights. On the other hand, the show is exactly the same. All this proves is: no matter who's in the title role, this is still a pretty tepid way to find a lifelong partner.

Here's the deal; one year ago, The Bachelor offered its first season finale, with Bachelor Number 1, Alex, choosing buxom party girl Amanda over Trista. Men wrote in to complain; so many, the idea for The Bachelorette was formed, with Trista in the title role. "Tit for tat"...? Yes, that about sums it up.

However, this "tit for tat" show is hardly just trying to be vindictive; there's every possibility Trista could find a suitable groom, here. Said victims --er, contestants-- include a bevy of bachelors who would like to court her, which include: a poetic fireman, a  playboy with a Tiffany's box under his hand, and an always-laughing "nice guy" who to me looked just like an adult Jerry Mathers from Leave it to Beaver. Much like Alex and Aaron, Trista dates the guys, chooses who she'll keep dating, and dumps the rest. In the end, she chooses the guy who'll propose.

Admittedly, this is a much different show with the genders reversed. This is due in no small part to the men, who have shown far more candor and common courtesy than most ladies of prior "seasons." There was always some catty female trying to get said bachelor aside so she could tell him stuff like "this candidate doesn't like you like I do pick me you jerk me me me!" I have yet to see a single man be as back-stabbing on The Bachelorette, and when seeing so many men in business suits calmly waiting to be invited to court said bachelorette, it does give one hope that "gentleman" is not a swear word anymore.

Not that even the nicest of people could keep this show from being the trash TV that it is. Sadly, this includes Trista; an ex-cheerleader, and a college graduate as well, yet not Miss Perfect, either. Many conversations end with Trista resorting to her Minnie-Mouse voice, often when trying to get her point across in a "cuter" way. Perhaps she uses this voice because, as soon as the Minnie Mouse voice disappears, her chances to put her foot in her mouth increase. When booting off the Jerry Mathers look-alike, she comforts him by claiming if she could choose a fifth-last finalist, he'd be #5, without considering how condescending such a "compliment" is. I doubt this guy will go home and cheer, "I'm # 5! I'm # 5!" Come on.

Trista's Achilles' heel is quite obvious by the finale: she has not yet gotten over the shattered ego she faced thanks to the first Bachelor show. Consider the second-last episode, when booted contestants are given the chance to "set the record straight" about the good and bad of being on the show at all. As with prior seasons, this interview session is concluded with the title "star" coming on stage, answering questions personally. Yet in both prior seasons, both of the male bachelors had the confidence to reply to all accusations of "misdeeds" with courtesy and good manners, and not be reduced to saying what can only be summarized as: "AM NOT! AM NOT!" Sadly, Trista does not have such confidence. In the end, a vain attempt to show "who's in charge" only showed how vulnerable she truly is.

However, all that being said, the finale really shocked me ---as it did everyone, from what I hear. Oddly enough, it's not that Trista didn't choose the perfect guy for a fiancée; it's just that nobody ever thought that anyone on this show would be that smart! Tabloids up to this episode insisted she chose Charlie; a guy whose best trait is that he looks good in a muscle shirt, and...no, that's about it. People were insistent that the hunkier guy won over the more romantic, fun-loving guy, as did I, when ready to write a scathing final paragraph to this review. I had thought it impossible that a woman of 2003 would make a fair, impartial choice of who to marry, and not just who would look cute holding her hand at cocktail parties. Trista proved me wrong, and I stand dutifully corrected. It seems that love does conquer all, on at least one occasion. In the process, this season of "The Bachelor" gets a very solid thumbs up. However, can the magic last? I doubt it. Take my advice, ABC, and quit while you're ahead.

---Techtite

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