Normally, I can’t stomach dating shows like The Bachelor, Joe Millionaire, Outback Jack or the awful Who Wants To Marry a Millionaire. All that oohing, ahhing and adoration from supposedly intelligent and accomplished women – over a guy they met an hour ago – turned my stomach. But this time around, the combination of Doctor/Triathlete/Philanthropist/Lieutenant McDreamy Andy Baldwin and the pack of alternately hilarious and relatable women of The Bachelor: Officer and a Gentleman has sucked me right in.
Let’s recap:
At last week’s drunken meet-and-greet, 25 lovely ladies in varying levels of evening gown undress fawned over “Andy! Andy! Andy!” and drank way too much champagne. Blakeney fell down and slurred lots of words, Lindsay tried to instigate a Krystal/Alexis-esque catfight, and Linda freaked me out with her big huge eyes. They all went home … along with seven other girls who never got any screen time.
Heading into week 2, Andy! Andy! Andy!, in his adorably dorky way, tells us, “Operation: Soul Mate is about to begin.” Oh, Andy. You have no idea.
On the first of many group dates to come, Andy takes seven gals to the Sunset Strip’s Saddle Ranch Chop House. I was hoping to see these lil’ cowgirls chow on some wings, but they opt for mechanical bull riding instead. Stephanie from Kansas, who Andy oh-so-male-ly reminds us, is a gymnast, is the only bachelorette to stay on the bull. Foreshadowing, perhaps? At the end of the night, Andy invites Tiffany for some “private time.” One terribly awkward conversation later, we’re all pretty sure it’s so long for poor Tiffany.
The second group date finds the gang at a beach hotel, where Andy leads the girls through a triathlon, Bachelor style. Barbie twins Susan and Erin ditz through the race, unwilling to get their hair wet, and marathoner Amber takes the win. Frolicking on the beach during their alone time, we see the first real chemistry of this season. Game on, Amber!
Back at the mansion, I have to agree with the girls who think Stephanie T. – the recipient of the “first impression rose” last week – needs to get knocked down a couple pegs. During her one-on-one date, Miss First Impression brings up marriage (seriously, Stephanie – it’s episode 2) and prompts the night’s biggest eye roll with her Titanic reenactment on the bow of Andy’s boat.
At the rose ceremony, Andy predictably says goodbye to a clueless Tiffany, conservative Alexis and Barbie twin Erin. The separation of Erin and Susan, “soul mates – or soul sisters … is that what they call it?” marks the show’s first broken heart and proves to viewers (me) that this addicting show has once again found a winning formula in its 10th season. Stay tuned for more from host Chris Harrison, the continued blonde vs. brunette battle (current score: 6-6) and a ready supply of “adorkable” Andyisms.