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May 25, 2013

Ali's 'Bachelorette' 2010 Suitors: Um, Where's the Man Candy?

by Laura Prudom, posted May 24th 2010 4:09PM
They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but on reality TV, all bets are off. No one cares about "personality" in the world of talent shows and dating games, because, let's face it, most reality contestants don't have one.

It's not that we're shallow (much), but on shows like 'The Bachelor' and 'The Bachelorette,' it's safe to say we're not tuning in for the riveting conversation or sparkling wit -- there's a reason why ABC opted to open last season's 'Bachelor' premiere with all of those generous shots of Jake Pavelka soaping up his washboard abs, after all.

So sue us if we were kind of hoping for some eye candy to nibble on when the newest season of 'The Bachelorette' rolled around (premiere airs tonight at 9PM ET). Twenty-five eligible men vying for one lucky lady? Sounds like any girl's dream come true, right?

Wrong; unless you like your men with an overabundance of forehead, ear or nose, chances are that the bevy of bachelors chosen for Ali Fedotowsky aren't likely to have you running to the florist to invest in roses.

OK, maybe it's mean spirited to pick on a guy (or 10) who's on a quest for true love just because of some unfortunate genetics, but hey, if you don't want to be scrutinized by the cold, harsh light of the media over your superficial flaws, don't sign up for a reality dating show.

Unless you've been living under a rock since the fall and were somehow fortunate enough to miss the scandalicious last season of 'The Bachelor,' you're probably familiar with Ali Fedotowsky, an advertising account manager from San Francisco who was an early favorite to fly off into the sunset with 'Bachelor' Jake (we were totally rooting for her; Vienna was just so screechy).

ABC is now marketing Ali as "America's newest sweetheart," after she won the hearts of the nation following her shocking exit from 'The Bachelor' to return to her job; a job she subsequently quit to become 'The Bachelorette.'

We assume that this total abandonment of real life is Ali's way of safeguarding against the urge to change her mind and walk out in the middle of her own reality show after seeing the lackluster group of guys the producers have assembled for her. Or to "commit to the search for love, blah blah blah soulmates," etc.

But if America and ABC love Ali as much as the advertising materials claim, would it have been so difficult to scrape together a few male models, wannabe actors, suave advertising execs and maybe a pro-wrestler or two? (Well, one out of four ain't bad.) Going from a musclebound Texan pilot with a million-dollar smile to a shiny-skinned weatherman is not our idea of a happy ending for our lovelorn Bachelorette -- were the pickings really that slim?

It doesn't help much that the publicity photos make all of the guys look vaguely psychotic, but having seen a screener of the season premiere, we can attest that movement doesn't improve the bunch that much. But since we at TV Squad are an altruistic group, we've rounded up photos in a nice little gallery below so that you can brace yourself before the show airs tonight. Just don't say we didn't warn you.



Someone ought to tell the 'Bachelorette' producers that airbrushing is supposed to improve things, not make them worse.

And yes, we're sure that all of these guys have great "personalities" (actually, not so much), but after the serious amount of sizzle that Jake got last season, where 95 percent of the contestants looked like they'd just stepped out of the pages of Sports Illustrated, we can't help but feel a little short-changed by the undeniable lack of hunkiness being offered to Ali -- and by association, her loyal audience.

Not that they're all trolls, of course, we're pretty fond of yummy Chris H. (27), a real estate developer from Vancouver (he's got kind of a Superman vibe, doesn't he?), and Justin, the aforementioned wrestler from Toronto, but when the notties outweigh the hotties, there's a serious problem in reality-land.

We're all for a a fairytale ending, but 'Beauty and the Beast' isn't exactly our idea of romance, unless true love's kiss is going to turn one of these frogs into a prince by the season's end. Can't Ali just kick 20 to the curb on the first night? Guess we'll have to tune in tonight to find out.

Do you think Ali deserves a hotter group of bachelors, or are we being too harsh to her brave band of suitors? Sound off below!

[Follow Laura on Twitter @LauinLA.]

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21 Comments

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Sarah

Ali is not that pretty and she's a little chunky. I think the guys they chose are comperable to her - looks wise. Oh, accept for a couple that got kicked off (early on) were better looking than her. I also think Justin, Cape Cod Chris, and ESPECIALLY Roberto are WAY out of her league in the looks department. Roberto is one of the HOTTEST guys to have EVER EVER EVER been on the show. He's dreamy - plain and simple.

June 27 2010 at 10:48 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Bob

I'm so bored with these attractive young faces just wanting to be on television and most not knowing or understanding what love is.The show needs to have people 50 tru 70 yrs. old that have been there and knows what it takes to make a relationship work.It is not beauty.

June 27 2010 at 8:38 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Kim C

I think Ali got robbed. The producers gave her few guys to work with. She is a little overwhelmed by Roberto, who I think is flatterd by her =reaction to him but does not show a great deal of interest in her personally. Chris L treats her like his girlfriend (lady) and is confident, cute and puts her first. I hope she likes him the bsst and that it works out really well for them. Then again, she ended up having only two guys interested in her, that she was attracted to, that she has to choose from, after all.

June 21 2010 at 1:51 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Lydia73

Honestly I think they look as good as she does! Since the day she told her little "lie" that either she had to know she was the one or leave Jake to go back to work, I could not stand Ali. Anyone who did not realize that as manipulative, would have to be ignorant. I felt Jake figured it out too, so I do not watch this years show with Ali. She's a little snot.

June 15 2010 at 3:22 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
eva

I'm so sorry for Ali. She's seems like such a nice person, but, there was not one stand out among the men presented to her. Poor Kasey, he is not prepared to meet a woman like Ali. Justin is a fake! Not one stands out, sorry.

June 15 2010 at 10:38 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Donalyn

Jay, John, Kyle, and Roberto. Those are my favorite four. As ALWAYS - beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Those 2 the "writer" mentioned as being hot?
Not!!!! I wouldn't look twice at either of them! Also, the "writer" of this article was WAY too critical. Are you a beauty queen yourself, to be so judgemental? I doubt it.

May 27 2010 at 2:43 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
deb

I think just theopposite. I would rather have decent looking guys who are interesting than a bunch of moronic publicity-seeking hunks.

May 26 2010 at 10:59 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mike brown

WHAT? Are you really saying that Roberto, Justin and a few of the guys aren't killer good looking? (I am a hetro male so I refuse to refer to them as Hot - :) And, she wants better looking but come on - what chance do us average blokes have? Isnt part of the appeal of the program being able to relate. This is a show about real people not Greek Gods.

May 26 2010 at 2:35 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Donna

I agree. There's not one that I would want to date. She's a beautiful girl, she deserves better !

May 25 2010 at 6:56 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Helene

I agree, the guys are not at all appealing. I see nothing in any of them, not even enough to watch the show. What a mistake she made leaving Jake!! She gave the first rose to Roberto! Ugh

May 25 2010 at 3:47 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Helene's comment
Laura Prudom

I'm glad I'm not the only one who was unnerved by Roberto - he seemed a little too perfect to me! It almost seems as though the producers just rounded up Texans and guys with J names as if they would be good Jake substitutes. Which... not so much.

May 25 2010 at 4:32 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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