Arie Luyendyk, Jr. and Sean Lowe are the two finalists for The Bachelor, according to reports, meaning Ryan Lochte won’t be rocking his Speedo on the show. The Olympic swimming champ was actually in the running, however. “We honestly briefly considered him ,” a source who works on the show revealed to E! News. “But we are going elsewhere. It’s really down to Arie and Sean.” You’ll still have a chance to see the athlete on TV this fall, as Lochte booked a gig on 30 Rock as well as 90210. But The Bachelor didn’t say #Jeah to Ryan. Arie Luyendyk, Jr. , Sean Lowe and Jef Holm all became fan favorites during the most recent Bachelorette season, comprising Emily Maynard’s final three. Producers are still finalizing their decision, and a casting announcement is expected “soon.” Roberto Martinez may or may not still be in the mix as well. Assuming it’s down to Arie and Sean, who do you think should be the next Bachelor? Vote for your favorite of the two hunks in THG’s survey below!
Olympic swimming champion Ryan Lochte is still weighing offers from TV networks and producers as his stock continues to rise following the London games. “I’ve been lucky enough to get all these proposals,” the athlete told Celebuzz, adding that there’s one network in particular that he has his eyes on: E! “Yeah, we’re talking to them right now,” Lochte said. For what? His own reality show. “Pretty much, they follow me on my normal day, just training, doing my own fashion line,” the 28-year-old described. And as for why he thinks the show would be a hit against all other reality TV fare, Ryan said, “It’s real. It’s not fake or anything like that.” Not Keeping Up With the Kardashians in other words? Sold! “It’s gonna be me, me being myself,” the hunk continues. “And I’m pretty much going to show the world that and my new fashion line.” With gratuitous shots of Ryan Lochte shirtless , we assume. The 11-time Olympic medalist hasn’t been shy about his aspirations to break into reality TV, and has even been rumored as the next Bachelor . What do you think Ryan’s best option would be, if any? [Photo: WENN.com]
Bachelor Pad. It’s the best/worst. If you thought the people on this program weren’t the sharpest tools in the shed before, the Spelling Bee last night confirmed that and then some. Also confirmed Monday night? Certain people have no self-respect and others get far too emotional about a show based around voting people off. Did Chris Bukowski live to fight another day? Did Blakeley Jones cry about it? Who got the heave-ho? Find out in THG’s Bachelor Pad recap! From now on, they will compete as couples, meaning Rachel had to get over Michael’s elimination and pair up with Nick … who’s still on the show? Plus 10 . Soon it’s time for the spelling bee, in which each duo had to spell their designated word by alternating letters. Can get kind of confusing at times, so Plus 5 . Minus 390 for some of the words these people missed, though, and for the manner in which they did so, omitting entire syllables and such. Almost scary. It came down to Ed and Jaclyn vs. Sarah and Chris, and after an eternity of botched efforts, the latter pair won this war of attrition and the roses. Plus 20 . Blakeley cried that Chris will not be sent home. It was awesome. Plus 10 . The winning couple got an overnight date at a Barn Hoedown, which was 1. really nice, and 2. an appropriately-named venue for Bachelor Pad. Plus 15 . Sarah Newlon actually seems pretty cool. Not clear why she and every other girl are THAT smitten with Chris, but they make a pretty cute duo. Plus 10 . Chris says he still reflects on his time with Emily Maynard and came on the show focused solely on money. We’ll buy it. The breakup is still fresh. Plus 5 . Ed and Jaclyn also got an overnight date (on California’s Channel Islands) and made sure to bring up yet again that he’s not interested in her. Minus 10 . It’s hard to get a read on Ed Swiderski. On the one hand, he was very up front and honest about the woman he’s been pursuing back home, so Plus 20 . On the flip side, it seems like he’s trying to finesse the situation so he can still bone Jaclyn but not have her get too attached, which is seedy. Minus 30 . Minus 240 more since it totally works. Come on Jaclyn. Could you be any more pathetic than trying to force him into declaring you’re a couple? UGH. Back at the house, the alliance was struggling with what to do next. You know, since the alliance was comprised of everybody but Chris/Sarah. Plus 5. Rachel was quick to volunteer herself and Nick for elimination, acting like Michael was dead and that she had no reason to go on living there. Minus 20 . Jaclyn and Ed each had a rose that they were able to give out – they couldn’t save themselves – and presented them to Blakeley and Tony. Plus 10 . Their options narrowed, the gang sent home Lindzi Cox and Kalon McMahon. Fortunately, they have each other, professing love in the limo. Plus 100 . EPISODE TOTAL: -480! SEASON TOTAL: -790!
Ben Flajnik and Courtney Robertson haven’t been heard from for awhile, which is probably a good thing, considering the negative press they got earlier this year. Even before The Bachelor star proposed to the brunette model during the show’s March finale, they were inundated with an avalanche of bad publicity. Now that it’s been five months, it appears the embattled couple is going as strong as ever, and may be finally thinking about their nuptials to boot. Via Twitter on Friday, Courtney Robertson and Ben Flajnik shared pics of their visit to Baker Beach in San Francisco, Calif., where the couple resides. Both of them suggested that it’d make a perfect wedding venue. “Should we get married here? 😉 a picture of Courtney and I observing a wedding,” Ben posted with a pic of himself, Courtney and his dog Scotch. Added his model fiancee: “I love this candid photo of my boys playing at Baker Beach this morning! I am in love with this place, first time here.” “I think this would be a fun place for a wedding @BenFlajnik ;)” Almost as soon as Robertson accepted Flajnik’s proposal, the couple said there was no date set and they were taking it slow for the foreseeable future. That seems to have been a good plan for them, if they’re still happy and talking about weddings. What do you think, Bachelor fans? Will it last?
Despite reports to the contrary, Roberto Martinez may still be in the running to be the next star of The Bachelor, according to the best source there is. Roberto was being courted by the network several months ago, though no agreement was reached, and he was reportedly dating Kara Ramos at the time. Many thought he was out, especially given the emergence of Sean Lowe and Arie Luyendyk, Jr. But Reality Steve says Roberto is very much in the mix. Steve claims Roberto Martinez , who won The Bachelorette in 2010 but broke up with Ali Fedotowsky earlier this year, is now single and ready to mingle. The network is as interested now as it was this spring. Arie Luyendyk Jr. , for his part, is interested in being the star, but perennial Bachelor spoiler Steve says he doesn’t “chance in hell” of landing the gig: ”Yes, they [ABC execs] have met and interviewed both Sean and Arie, but I still haven’t heard anything solid enough that says it won’t be Roberto.” “This is Roberto’s gig to lose, which is why they were after him hard three months ago. If he got greedy, then I bet they give it to Sean.” Olympic champion Ryan Lochte is also rumored to be interested, though that seems like a long shot at best. The next season is set to begin filming September 15, so look for ABC to announce its star soon, probably during Bachelor Pad . Who do you think should be The Bachelor?
This week on Bachelor Pad … a lot of inane things happened. Our recap could end there and be sufficient, but ABC’s guilty pleasure, which premiered in all its glory last week after Emily Maynard picked Jef Holm on The Bachelorette, did offer some memorable moments Monday night. Who got the boot and who got some tail? Find out below! Twins Brittany and Erica T., some of the “fans” cast this season, were at each other’s throats from the onset, and not in a creepy/hot way. Minus 12 . “You’re not a slut, OK? I would never have said that if I was sober,” one of the twins offered as an olive branch in the night’s best quote. Plus 12 . This week’s challenge was to learn and perform a gymnastics routine in front of a panel of judges, in honor of the London Olympics. Ugh. Minus 9 . Judges Ashley Herbert , J.P. Rosenbaum and Olympic gymnast Tasha Schwikert were assigned to score this nonsense. Plus 3 for the Ash sighting. The ladies group gets a collective Minus 40 . Aren’t women supposed to be the gender that can dance? Apparently not this collection of them. The guys earn a Plus 10 . Erica Rose and Ed Swiderski were voted the worst performance from each group, with a point docked against them. Michael Stagliano and Blakeley Shea, both dancers by trade, earn the roses in what was a totally unfair contest, but still, Plus 5 for effort. Mike took Rachel, Lindzi and Donna out for a night of rocking to a band and rocking worlds for the latter. Donna? A little obsessed. Minus 13 . He gave the date rose to Rachel, CRUSHING poor Donna, whose heart was LITERALLY shattered into like a million pieces. Groan. Minus 27 . At the Pad, peeps celebrated Jamie’s birthday. Virgin Ryan wants her, but she has eyes only for Chris, who totally wants to tap that booty but feels he must simultaneously lead Blakeley on as his “game plan.” Ah, Bachelor Pad . Plus 20 . How is Chris such a player? He’s not particularly charming, friendly or attractive. Yet at least two girls are ALL about it. Minus 6 . Chris tells Jamie he had no feelings for Blakeley and then tells Blakeley he had no feelings for Jamie. Ah, Bachelor Pad . Plus 11 . Jamie walks in on Chris and Blakeley in bed. If you want to play two girls, doing one of them in the room they share isn’t typically the stealthiest way of going about your “strategy,” but Plus 7 for entertainment value. Blakeley chose Chris, Ed and super fan Dave for her date, a Bachelor Pad soapbox derby event won by Ed. Plus 8 for his Pickle Car. Chris got the rose. Shocker. Minus 4 . The twins, for no reason at all, begin a high-pitched, long-running, confusing, pointlessly irritating fight that ultimately leads to them both leaving. Thus, no elimination for the girls tonight. Minus 30 . Lindzi Cox and Kalon McMahon? Really? Eh, Plus 5 . Anyone and Ed? Eh, Minus 5 . Ryan gets the boot after getting voted off by his own partner, Jamie, who probably still lusts after Chris for reasons unknown. Minus 20 . EPISODE TOTAL: -77 .
It’s become all but certain that a memorable star from a previous season is chosen for the upcoming season of ABC’s The Bachelor or The Bachelorette. This year gave us two very popular candidates in Arie Luyendyk, Jr., and Sean Lowe, both of whom lost to Jef Holm in the Emily Maynard sweepstakes. Arie and Sean would both be slam-dunk picks for the network, while Roberto Martinez – The Bachelorette winner in 2010 – is said to be out of the mix. That leaves Arie Luyendyk, Jr. , and Sean Lowe as co-frontrunners. Which of the two would you prefer to see this winter? Vote below!
Emily Maynard and Jef Holm continued their media blitz today, appearing on Ryan Seacrest’s KIIS-FM morning radio show and making a couple announcements. First, Maynard will soon be Emily Holm. “Even though I went on The Bachelor and The Bachelorette , I’m pretty traditional, believe it or not, so yeah – sure [I’ll change my name],” the beautiful single mother said. Holm then reiterated his plans to relocate to North Carolina and could not have sounded more excited over the couple’s future. “Every chance I get to see her and hang out with her, I take advantage of that,” he gushed to Seacrest. “She’s seriously the sweetest girl ever.” Finally, what about the rumor that Emily and Jef will pull a Molly and Jason Mesnick and get married on TV? “People keep asking us that, and we don’t even know what we’re going to eat for lunch tomorrow,” Maynard said. “I never thought I was going to be the Bachelorette, so I’ve learned to never say never. But it’s something we’ll have to talk about as a family.” In other words: if the money is right…
Ali Fedotowsky, you can calm down now . With rumors circulating over Roberto Martinez being cast as the next Bachelor, and with a $500,000 paycheck reportedly sitting on the table if he were to accept, sources tell Star Magazine the reality star has turned down ABC’s generous offer. And he did it for love. Martinez is dating a 26-year old model named Kara Ramos and insiders tell the tabloid the two “really like each other.” Ramos has even confirmed the dalliance to Star and added that she told Roberto he had to make a choice: The Bachelor or their relationship. Martinez then “decided that even a half million dollars wasn’t enough incentive to go back in the spotlight to find love on TV, especially with the promise of his new romance with a wonderful girl like Kara,” a friend tells the publication, adding: “Roberto already knows what it takes to have a love relationship played out on national television, and he’d rather have his privacy now with a girl he’s really crazy about.” Awww, that’s very sweet. So everyone wins in the end. Except Ali. The Bachelorette season finale airs on Sunday, meanwhile. Who do you think Emily will choose: Ari or Jef?
Chris Bukowski was sent packing by Emily Maynard on The Bachelorette last night, leaving Arie Luyendyk, Jr., Jef Holm and Sean Lowe to vie for her heart. The Bachelorette spoilers we posted earlier today reveal who (allegedly) wins if you’re curious. In any case, Chris will be moving on … to Bachelor Pad! Bukowski, a 25-year-old Chicagoan, decided to join Bachelor Pad 3 and the quest for $250,000/15 more minutes of fame after Emily rejected him. Of that decision, Emily Maynard recently wrote in a blog for People: “I had a hard time sending him home, but wanted to stay true to the promise I made to his sister that I wouldn’t keep him away from his family if I didn’t see him at the end.” Chris will be joining 19 other Bachelor and Bachelorette veterans – as well as five “super fans” of the franchise – on the Monday, July 23 premiere. A month after revealing the majority of the Bachelor Pad 3 cast , ABC finally announced the name of the summer show’s final contestant in Bukowski. Kalon McMahon and Tony Pieper from this season are also in. The Bachelorette season finale and first-ever live After the Final Rose show air on a special night: Sunday, July 22, starting at 8 p.m.
