Bachelor 12 Media Thread

[beachgirl4]

Originally Posted by scoobie

As far as cohesiveness of the article is concerned, I walk away with two major points from her interview. The first point is that she has come to the realization that Matt and she would not have been a good match and agreed that he has made the right call. The second point is her disappointments with the show. Her first disappointment is her perception of an "unleveled playing field" which I interpreted as more of an indictment of the producers than a personal attack on Shayne. The second is her being "broken" by her questioners during the "limo ride from hell." Public composure seems to be a big thing for her, just like a Hilary Clinton or a Margaret Thatcher.

I find her straightforwardness quite suitable in sportcasting in the same mode as Howard Cosell. Glad that she has found her calling instead of what would have been a disastrous relationship.

Scoobie, great post. I agree with your interview takeaways from Chelsea, and I would add that for most women athletes, there is a tremendous amount of socialization not to show 'girlie' emotions - that is what I saw in Chelsea. Some female athletes, like the Williams sisters and Danika Patrick may have made it cool to be feminine and athletic, but generally speaking, girl 'jocks' have had to shed some of their femininity in order to be taken seriously by the guys, at least in some sports. Surfing, especially, has historically been that way - I'm sure it may be starting to change (thanks to Blue Crush, perhaps), but I can assure you it is not a sport for the faint of heart anyway, and there is no chivalry out on the waves.

Originally Posted by jlccaz

The only "camp" to have attempted an orchestrated manipulation of this and many many other boards was the F1's "team" and their penetration of the FORT was blunted by the early (pre Feb 5th) knowledge of Firedrake, Matt's true ambititions, and the special treatment Shayne received during filming.

I don't know whether F1 was a set up from the get go or just the way it turned out. None of us do. But I do know for a certainty that (to paraphrase Billy Joel) she didn't start the fire.

jlccaz, you're right - PM's were flying like crazy. If you said something positive, you got praise, if you said something negative, you got blasted. I've never experienced that before this season.

[Google]

 

[soccermama]

Originally Posted by paborn123

We aren't privy to the prior posts as I do believe they are closed. I wouldn't like to think that the new FORT people would be intimidated to post their opinions. We haven't all been here as long.

All the posts are still there. You may have to go back and read previous threads that have already been locked. But, all the posts from this season are there for everyone to read...if you have the time, lol!

[Merritt Andrews]

Nice try at slander though

I think maybe you are taking this reality show a wee bit too seriously. Is that you, Chelsea's Mom?

I posted my impressions of the situation just the way you have posted yours. I do find it incredible, however, how many people seem to be SURE they KNOW exactly what is in the hearts and minds of people they watched on TV for a few weeks.

I can only form an opinion based on what I know is a highly-edited TV show. As far as previous posts made by "insiders", I always bear in mind that this is a public forum and posters are anonymous. Anybody can post anything they want at any time. Doesn't make it true.

The bottom line is that I enjoyed watching Shayne and Matt's "love story" (it was edited to be a love story, and so I took it at face value and ENJOYED it.) I also have seen Chelsea's parting words and read the interviews that both she and Shayne have given. Based on that, my opinion is that Shayne has taken the high road.

I can't say I understand all the show viewers that seem to wish ill will on Shayne and Matt. Not sure what that says about folks and/or the world in general, but I think it is unfortunate that people can't just wish them happiness. Even if their relationship was "set up", how does that hurt any of us? I love to watch Sami and EJ on Days of Our Lives, but in real life they are in love with other people and I don't care. It's entertainment.

I know The Bachelor is billed as a "reality" show, but I think anybody watching a TV program and expecting to see true reality is setting themselves up for a big let-down.

JMHO

[Merritt Andrews]

Originally Posted by girlsmom

I don't think that many viewers actually wish Shayne ill in the least. We just don't believe there's a true romance and don't feel that Shayne is destined for stardom. She could prove us wrong on both counts and good for her if she does. In the mean time the FORT is not a fan site and is a place to exchange ideas and thoughts about these people-good or bad. I hope I'm not out of line in reminding newbies of this as we go forward into Deanna's season. Any family member, friend, or acquaintenance who cares about the feelings of the people who choose to exhibit themselves on t.v., in the form of Fleiss characters, might choose to avoid the FORT if they are thin-skinned.

Sorry, I thought that FORT stood for Fans Of Reality TV. If you read the posts in the Bachelorette section, I think you'll find alot of DeAnna fans there! (Hope it's OK that I'm a DeAnna fan even though I'm a Shayne fan!)

I've never had an issue with anyone expressing a negative opinion, and I don't think just because I have an opposing position to yours that I should be invited to "avoid the FORT."

As you stated, this is a site to express opinions -- positive or negative. I was simply responding to a suggestion that I was attempting to slander a contestant. My point was that there are quite a few negative opinions posted on these forum, but I hadn't seen any of those posters accused of slander. I thought it was a pretty extreme accusation to make considering we are discussing a TV show, and so I responded with my take on that.

Folks here have a funny way of welcoming newbies! Lucky I'm not "thin-skinned!"

[onlyme]

Originally Posted by Merritt Andrews

I think maybe you are taking this reality show a wee bit too seriously. Is that you, Chelsea's Mom?

I posted my impressions of the situation just the way you have posted yours. I do find it incredible, however, how many people seem to be SURE they KNOW exactly what is in the hearts and minds of people they watched on TV for a few weeks.

I can only form an opinion based on what I know is a highly-edited TV show. As far as previous posts made by "insiders", I always bear in mind that this is a public forum and posters are anonymous. Anybody can post anything they want at any time. Doesn't make it true.

The bottom line is that I enjoyed watching Shayne and Matt's "love story" (it was edited to be a love story, and so I took it at face value and ENJOYED it.) I also have seen Chelsea's parting words and read the interviews that both she and Shayne have given. Based on that, my opinion is that Shayne has taken the high road.

I can't say I understand all the show viewers that seem to wish ill will on Shayne and Matt. Not sure what that says about folks and/or the world in general, but I think it is unfortunate that people can't just wish them happiness. Even if their relationship was "set up", how does that hurt any of us? I love to watch Sami and EJ on Days of Our Lives, but in real life they are in love with other people and I don't care. It's entertainment.
I know The Bachelor is billed as a "reality" show, but I think anybody watching a TV program and expecting to see true reality is setting themselves up for a big let-down.
JMHO

I suppose this is where I have a bit of a problem and maybe I and The Bachelor need to part ways. I don't want to watch a soap opera, I know it's not "true reality" but still would like to see some non manipulated situations. Of the seasons I watched, I held out hope that the couple may find love. I guess it boils down to the fact that had I known more about what Matt was looking for I wouldn't have watched this show. I could definately see the 'non reality' in this season.

As far as Chelsea's comments, it makes me realize how much these girls are maniuplated and kept 'out of the loop'. She couldn't see that Matt was not for her until she watched the show. I believe those were 'in the moment' feelings expressed in the limo (we don't know what questions they were asking to get the answers they wanted), I don't think she was lying. Through out the show she expressed what she felt, she could be kind of rough around the edges though.

I don't wish any ill toward Shayne and Matt, I guess whatever they have going on right now is working for both of them. I am truly happy he didn't pick Amanda, Chelsea or Noelle. It is obvious to me, they were not his type. This season had too much Hollywood for me.

I am not setting myself up for a 'let down' when Shayne and Matt break up.

[Merritt Andrews]

I know it's not "true reality" but still would like to see some non manipulated situations.

The problem here is that -- unless we actually worked on the show -- we will never know what situations are manipulated and which aren't. We now know from past participants how the producers attempt to provoke the rejected contestants to cry, however we may never know everything that goes on behind the scenes. So many people are sure that the Shayne and Matt "romance" was staged -- but has it occurred to anyone that perhaps one of the (many) reasons that the past couples have not made it is because parts of THEIR relationships were manipulated by production? For example, who is to say that field producers (who are people, too) don't take a dislike to certain contestants and use their access to the bachelor to influence him negatively against the girls they don't like? Maybe Andrew Firestone really wanted to pick Kristen, but perhaps she was snotty to the field producers and Jen was very nice to them -- and so they influenced Andrew to pick Jen (even though maybe Kristen was really the one for him!)

Haven't we all, at one time or another, convinced a friend to see a potential boyfriend/girlfriend in another light? I have to admit I've been guilty in the past of influencing my brother about his girlfriends based on my own opinion of them!

In addition, the editors have a stake in manipulating the Bachelor's choices based on the "storyline" they think will bring the highest ratings. We've known this all along. This kind of thing happens all the time, on ALL seasons -- it is nothing knew in the Matt and Shayne season. We'll never know exactly what goes on -- because even "insiders" posting their views may have an axe to grind!

It's impossible to try and unravel it unless you actually work on the show and see what goes on FIRSTHAND. So, that's why I just sit back and try to enjoy the show. It works for me.

[BachNoFoolMe]

Originally Posted by scoobie

This thought has entered my consciousness as I find it odd that so little vetting has been or could be done on him. As I have been told, most previous bachelors had returned to their “normal life” pretty much right after the show, including the much blessed Brad Womack. Yet, we find this guy rather vague about his post show activities. Hmm, conspiracy theories…

Very good point as witnessed myself! If you notice though, Matt's background from the get go during the show was vague. The only thing concrete we ever really learned about the character of Matt was his penchant for shomancing the women......

[girlsmom]

Originally Posted by BachNoFoolMe

Very good point as witnessed myself! If you notice though, Matt's background from the get go during the show was vague. The only thing concrete we ever really learned about the character of Matt was his penchant for shomancing the women......

I guess that's why suspect that last season was really more about Shayne and her, imo STARRING role, rather than Matt. People can disagree with me, but in my view Matt was purely a supporting player throughout most of the season. My theory would be that Matt was brought in after Shayne was hired by her family friend to star in the Bachelor, this during the actor's strike. I would assume, perhaps incorrectly, that there was not a bachelor that could truly be the star and when Shayne was signed there was not time to cast 25 bachelors from which she could choose. Just my theory, but to me this time it was all about Shayne and not Matt finding love.

[onlyme]

Originally Posted by girlsmom

I guess that's why suspect that last season was really more about Shayne and her, imo STARRING role, rather than Matt. People can disagree with me, but in my view Matt was purely a supporting player throughout most of the season. My theory would be that Matt was brought in after Shayne was hired by her family friend to star in the Bachelor, this during the actor's strike. I would assume, perhaps incorrectly, that there was not a bachelor that could truly be the star and when Shayne was signed there was not time to cast 25 bachelors from which she could choose. Just my theory, but to me this time it was all about Shayne and not Matt finding love.

I don't totally disagree with you. I wish I knew more about Matt.

[girlsmom]

Originally Posted by onlyme

I don't totally disagree with you. I wish I knew more about Matt.

At one point I would have agreed with you, it MIGHT have given me a better impression of him. I believe that what we were given was a lot of bunk. I don't think he was ready to settle down, nor did I believe that he was a great success in the financial world. I do believe that he wanted to break into show biz and if that side of him had been seriously presented perhaps I'd have like him. There is nothing wrong, imo, with the guy wanting to break into show biz. Everyone goes on this show with some sort of agenda, but it doesn't mean they can't fall in love.