Bachelorette" Lacks Romance, Ratings

by Sarah Hall
Feb 28, 2005, 2:05 PM PT



It would seem that dramatic rose ceremonies do not a love match make.

According to People magazine, Bachelorette Jen Schefft remains a single girl after splitting with her chosen suitor almost as soon as their made-for-TV relationship began.

Monday night's Bachelorette finale is rumored to include proposals from both of the final two contestants. But whether Schefft chooses Jerry or John Paul on the show, it seems that any sparks of attraction have long since been extinguished.

The same could be said for the public's interest in the franchise. The current season of The Bachelorette has been averaging a dismal six million viewers per week--way down from the 15 million who tuned in to watch Andrew Firestone propose to Schefft in 2003.

An unnamed network source tells People that if ratings for the show do not improve with the upcoming season of The Bachelor, it likely spells the end for the series. Producers are currently contracted for two more installments of The Bachelor, but ABC has ultimate say whether the show lasts that long.

In a ploy to attract more viewers, the next Bachelor is a pseudo-celeb: Charlie O'Connell, brother to Jerry, is the next guy to ask the ladies to accept his roses.

However, following Bachelor law of averages, the former Sliders star is unlikely to find his intended via the show.

Of the nine relationships forged on the show, only two are still going strong. Trista and Ryan Sutter, who met on the first season of The Bachelorette, married in December 2003 in a televised and very pink ceremony financed by ABC.

Byron Velvick and Mary Delgado, who met on last fall's installment of The Bachelor, are also still a couple.

Schefft isn't the only sexy single to appear on the show twice in a failed bid for love--though she is the only woman to (reportedly) receive multiple proposals.

Meredith Phillips, who was burned on The Bachelor by Bob Guiney in November 2003, returned as star of The Bachelorette in January 2004 and wound up engaged to investment banker Ian McKee. However, the twosome recently parted ways before tying the knot.

Meanwhile, though Schefft has not been lucky in love via reality television, her personal life is reportedly heating up in the real world.

According to the rumor mill, the 28-year-old Chicago resident has been romantically linked to her boss, 32-year-old nightclub promoter Billy Dec, and is by her own account "happy."

"I have no regrets," she recently told reporters of her Bachelorette experience. "I am so happy that I did the show, and it was a great experience."

After last night, I think it's done. The ONLY possibility I see is a replacement if ABC really needs to fill a slot or a summer series. What a waste of time the last 2 months was. :rolleyes:

What a waste! She is so insecure! I don't think she is even happy about herself. She won't be happy with any man until she is happy with herself. She didn't make any sense because she said she wasn't sure if Jerry was a player or not. At first I thought she should of picked John Paul. Glad she didn't pick him. She was starting to tell us that it was mutual. DON'T YOU DARE SAY THAT! Jerry was going to purpose to you damnit! He was shocked like the rest of us. What a waste.

Bottom Line: Jen Schefft is an SOB. She only did the Bachelorette to be on TV, she is loving getting attention from Hollywood. She was all over E! last Sunday before the Star Jones arrivals special. Plus she has been at the Golden Globes, SAG's, Superbowl, etc. I believe if I was a nobody and suddenly became famous off a reality show, I would rather take job offers, attention from media outlets, etc., then some boyfriend with a mediocre job from Oklahoma.

What a waste if my life. I wasted hours watching this girl trying to get a husband and she dumps both of them. I felt so bad for Jerry, but how was it mutual? He proposed to her on live TV and he was just as shocked as the rest of us when she dumped him. Jen has some serious problems.

QUINTESSENTIAL BACHELOR CHARLIE O'CONNELL TAKES ON
MANHATTAN AND 25 WOMEN AS "THE BACHELOR," PREMIERING
MONDAY, MARCH 28 ON THE ABC TELEVISION NETWORK

ABC's hit romantic reality series, "The Bachelor," will kick off a new season with Charlie O'Connell in his hometown of New York, New York. The seventh edition of "The Bachelor" will premiere with a two-hour special MONDAY, MARCH 28 (9:00-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

Charlie O'Connell is a financially secure 29-year-old jack of all trades who enjoys a fantastic lifestyle and a love for life that is contagious. Charlie, a self-described fun loving "good guy," has long cherished his carefree bachelor lifestyle. However, amongst 25 beautiful bachelorettes, is there one girl who can stop Charlie in his tracks and inspire him to settle down?

While he grew up in New York City, Charlie currently splits his time between both coasts. For the last eight years Los Angeles has been his main residence, where he lives with his older brother, actor Jerry O'Connell. He also spends much of his time at his family's home in Montauk, Long Island with his parents, whose marriage of over 30 years serves as the model relationship Charlie so desires.

This season will be unlike any other on "The Bachelor," as we strip down some of the formalities and offer viewers a less structured version of the program. On the first day there will be no limos, no gowns and no traditional rose ceremony. This time there are no rules and anything can happen, as we give Charlie the opportunity of a lifetime to discover if love is out there waiting for him.

Hosted by Chris Harrison, "The Bachelor" is produced by Next Entertainment in association with Telepictures Productions. Mike Fleiss ("High School Reunion") is the executive producer. Lisa Levenson and Scott Jeffress are co-executive producers.

Please note: Photos of "The Bachelor" are available at www.abcmedianet.com (http://www.abcmedianet.com/) or by calling (818) 460-6611

Bottom Line: Jen Schefft is an SOB. She only did the Bachelorette to be on TV, she is loving getting attention from Hollywood. She was all over E! last Sunday before the Star Jones arrivals special. Plus she has been at the Golden Globes, SAG's, Superbowl, etc.

I guess Jen is trying to milk the attention for a all its worth. Dumping both guys during the finale sould keep her in the spotlight a little longer.

If she's hoping to get on the show again and try her luck, ABC should tell her to take a flying leap.

I read where Jen wants her own fashion show on E!, she just wants to be in the spotlight.

Factual error in that article- the show is averaging 9 million viewers, not 6 million. I thought that the move to Mondays would spell the death of the series, but ratings really weren't that bad. They were on par with those for "The Bachelor" last fall (it ranks 59th in the ratings, compared to 58th for The Bachelor), and in adults, where "the Bachelorette" ranked 39th versus 42nd for "The Bachelor." Considering that "The Bachelor" had "Lost" for a lead-in (ranked 10th and 16th) and not "Extreme Makeover" (ranked 52nd & 48th), I'd say that the show didn't do too badly at all.

It's still cheap to produce, and ABC has bigger problems to worry about, like Thursdays.

ABC is probably more worried about TGIF, since none of those shows are locks for next fall.