Monday, February 29, 2016

The 88th Oscars, a Platform for Causes

The 88th Oscars was all about causes last night, whether it was the fight for Black Rights, Climate Change, Rape, Aboriginal Rights, Gay Rights, Women's Rights, or anything else that was mentioned in either the monologue, an acceptance speech, or the form of a nomination.

This broadcast is watched by millions and millions of people all over the world. It's a huge platform. When the Oscars asked Chris Rock to host, they must've known he'd address the elephant in the room, which was the white nominations. Or rather, the lack of black people on the ballots. Rock isn't afraid to be controversial and when the nominations came out this year, and there were no black artists on the list, the Academy probably knew Rock would address this issue. (Who am I to point out that Best Director went to someone who might not be considered a white man. Or by "white" do we mean everyone who is not black? I'm not sure but I think the hashtag (#OscarsSoWhite) that was circulating these past weeks, was poorly thought out.

In the opening monologue, Chris Rock "kidded" about how we have Best Female Actress category separate from Best Male Actor like it was a track and field event and the performance level was somehow different. Then he suggested we have Best Black Actor. I think he was kidding. I hope so.
I'm not about to critique the movies, the choices, the Academy, but we were told that black actors were snubbed many, many times. Idris Elba, Will Smith, Michael B. Jordan to name a few, apparently delivered Oscar worthy performances only to be left off the list.

Black lives do matter and mentioning that at the Oscars is a powerful message. Well done. Racism in Hollywood was brought to the forefront last night.

Rock's monologue made its point even if the point was delivered with a dose of bitterness. In what I thought was a strange effort to balance his message though, Rock threw Jada Pinkett Smith under the bus, saying she wasn't someone who would be invited to the Oscars anyhow and her boycott of the event was like him boycotting Rhianna's panties. He got his laugh then countered with a more somber thought.

Throughout the night, Rock tailored his introductions to drive his message home. The first presenters, a pregnant Emily Blunt and South African actress Charlize Theron,were introduced as two of the whitest women in Hollywood. They ignored the obvious insult, and delivered a classy presentation.
Even Sarah Silverman was insulted and minimized by Rock's introduction. Then, she went on to insult Sam Smith's James Bond song by insisting she hadn't seen the movie. What was wrong with everyone last night?
Rock introduced Cate Blanchett by referencing her Oscar-nominated movie about "girl on girl action" by saying it was the third best movie in that category (think p0rn) after which Cate presented costume design like the pro she is. They must not hear the intro's backstage.
Rock insulted Asian people in a schtick about the Price Waterhouse ballot counters by insinuating Asian's are tone deaf. He used children for that joke. As the mother of an Asian child, I didn't laugh.

Mad Max cleaned up on the podium and Tina Fey and Steve Carrell got big laughs for their banter at the microphone. I wondered if black people laugh at those two, something I never would have wondered before last night. Or at Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe, whose banter was clever and witty.

In another bit, Rock interviewed people coming out of a theater in Compton who light-heartedly agreed that they didn't know most of the movies on this year's list. Fair enough. I didn't either. Whoopie Goldberg did a bit about being an opinionated janitor which was funny, Angela Bassett did a funny bit and Tracy Morgan portrayed The Danish Girl (the funniest moment of the whole night for me--love Morgan in drag!) after which I hoped we could move on.
But no, two children approached the stage, one of them I assumed starred in the all-white Oscar nominated movie ROOM and in the introduction Rock called the black child actor (who I presume was not nominated but should have been,) as "my man." Michael B. Jordan was introduced as "should have been nominated" as well. I've never seen white hosts do this before but I could be wrong.


I hadn't followed the #OscarsSoWhite controversy. Maybe because I'm white or maybe because it didn't drift into my news feed this month. I've been working away from the internet. I am just a viewer who likes to tune in to The Oscars every year to see the stars and enjoy the show. I understand that people were enraged about the nomination snubs and maybe it was justified. I didn't see Straight Out of Compton or Spike Lee's film yet. I didn't see most of the movies nominated because I work full time and write books in my off hours. I like to watch The Oscars as escapism and to see clips from movies I might rent one day. Will Smith might have delivered the best performance this year but is that any reason to minimize Leo DiCaprio's performance and make him feel uncomfortable in the front row? That is Kanye West's style and now, unfortunately it's Chris Rock's style.
Even during the Girl Scout cookie sales in the audience, Rock asked "white folks" to buy his daughters' cookies. When Michael B. Jordan offered, he was turned down and when Lou Gossett held up his money, Rock said he was diabetic and instead turned to Leo to contribute because he's rich.

Customarily at The Oscars, we hear about injustices during the documentary acceptance speeches but the winners were slightly over-shadowed and traction this year was difficult. The Best Documentary Short Subject winner was A Girl in the River, a film about honor killing. The filmmaker announced that the film had had enough impact in Pakistan to change the laws for honor killing, something that has been legal until recently. Killing young girls in a non-white country. "Push women to go to school," the winner said. Wow.
When Lady Gaga sang her Oscar-nominated song about rape--You Don't Know 'til It Happens to You, and survivors appeared onstage it was one of the most powerful moments that night. Then the president of the Academy spoke eloquently, addressing the diversity issue. As the president and as a black woman, I thought her speech was eloquent, but at this point we'd heard so much, which was a shame.

It was a night of causes and I, for one, will be happy when the Oscars comes back next year having learned a lesson. I hope Chris Rock goes down in history (not just Black History) for championing for his cause but I also hope to never see him host the Oscars again. Although there were genuine moments of brilliance in his "comedic" monologue, his opinionated barbs dominated the evening.
Whether it's because this year's nominations were all white (not exactly true) or whether it's because the Academy snubbed some very talented black artists, I hope the Oscars learned something because this was the most uncomfortable, unenjoyable ceremony yet.

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Tears and Orthopedics on The Bachelor

Monday night on The Bachelor, we followed Ben Higgins to Warsaw Indiana, the orthopedic capital. I'd always wondered where that was and now I know!
Warsaw looked postcard pretty and so much more interesting than Chris Soules' town with five buildings, and one of them shut down. I'd move to Warsaw!

Autumn in Indiana looks very picturesque and both my hubby and I wondered if those amazing Bachelor set designers scattered red and gold leaves everywhere to make the town look so pretty.

Ben picked up the few girls left in his family's party boat and drove them around the large lake to their rented house, which was apparently just down the shoreline from the Higgins' family digs.

The first date was a one on one and Ben grabbed Lauren from the group of girls on the couch to tour the town in a quaint old red truck. Unlike my tour of Hubby's hometown 24 years ago where he pointed out all the places he got in trouble, Ben took Lauren to where he volunteers time to an after school kids' program. The kids remembered him even though he now lives in Colorado and has a real job. Very cute. Two Indiana NBA stars joined them for basketball and Lauren fit in like she grew up in the Orthopedic capital.
When the sun set, they ended up in matching jeans and leather jackets at Ben's old apartment, I believe he said. A moment to clear the air about Lauren's commitment to Ben, had them smooching and all was well in Ben/Lauren world.
Back at the house though, tears flowed from the girls left behind. "Why am I here if I don't get a one on one?" This is the type of thinking that can lead a contender straight to the Limo for One, if you're not careful. Sheesh! Lasting relationships take time to grow. Five weeks to be exact.

Ben and Jo Jo had a date the next day and drove to Chicago, (really close to Warsaw) to visit Wrigley Field, home of the Cubs, Ben's favorite sports team. They played a bit of baseball, hung out on the grass, tried to eat a romantic dinner on the mound and we never heard any references to Ben trying to get to third base with Jo Jo.


The group date next day was a fun/morose jaunt to a picturesque farm where Becca, Amanda and Caila coupled up and tried to row boats on the farm's pond. Becca and Caila were too distracted with Ben in the other boat to figure out how to row. Then, they went in the barn where the set designers had made a barn look prettier than it had a right to and I was sure Becca had a terrible flashback of another Bachelor barn where her heart was broken by Chris Soules. She looked a bit traumatized, especially when the rose went to Amanda.

Off went Ben and Caila on the second half of the date that included a town carnival where the mayor declared Ben a town treasure and Amanda declared Ben a french frie stealer. (Another McDonald's ad!)

Emily got the last one on one date and was thrilled to get her alone time with the tall hunk. They took off in the party boat and docked at Ben's family home where Emily proceeded to dig herself deeper and deeper into the "I'm too young to get married" hole. She actually said that she'd always wanted to be an NFL cheerleader to Ben's parents like there was still plenty of time to chase her dream. Which there is, but not with Ben and he had to cut her loose after the date. I happen to think Emily is a sweet kid but she's a kid, still. She had to ask if the birds on the lake were swans. Endearing, but not wife material for Ben.
More tears ensued when she packed, left and got in the Limo for One.

 The girls proceeded to get ready for a chilly rose ceremony amongst the red and gold maple leaves on the county courthouse lawn in Warsaw.
Coats were in order, probably something most of the girls didn't foresee needing to wear over a sexy cocktail dress. Becca did not make the cut and was a bit snarky over him "blindsiding" her. Hey, Becca. Blindsiding is when you don't see it coming and you spent most of this episode talking about how you'd probably get cut.



Next week is hometowns and it looks like the mean brother syndrome rears its ugly head at JoJo's. Oh Oh!





Monday, February 15, 2016

Bachelor at 20 and a Wedding!

THE BACHELOR celebrated its 20th season with a Sunday night special edition/look back at twenty shows and it was actually pretty good!
I'm going to make this short and just give a quick overview of the show seeing I did not take notes while watching. Hey, I'd just finished an 8-hour shift at Macy's and simply wanted to sit on the couch, eat something with melted cheese on top and drink a Coors Lite.
The show paid tribute to Bachelor Nation, the fan base that keeps the show on the air. Yes, you. We watched clips from earlier Bachelor shows, including the first one with Alex Michel and a bevy of ladies who looked a whole lot more real and less Hollywoodized than the ladies have in recent shows. Nowadays one must visit the nail salon, the tanning salon, the hair salon, the gym, the dentist, the MAC makeup counter and then get some hot shot designer to sponsor your clothes on the show.
It was fun to see loads of former Bachelors in one room with their wives (Andrew Firestone has three kids!), fiancees (Bob Guinney and Jessica, my neighbors), girlfriends (?), or lack thereof (Chris Soules is still alone, apparently). It seems the Bachelorettes have fared better at finding love. At the party we saw Kaitlyn and Shawn, Trista and Ryan, Deanna and hubby, Ashley and J.P. and Andy Dorfman and no one. There were also many pregnant, (engaged!) alumni like Ashley Salter, Ali Feditowski, and the tiara-wearing Diva who is one of Chris Harrison's favorite Bachelor people. (What?) Other alumni who attended were Sarah Herron, Chris Bukowski, Ashley the crier, Juelia, Jared, and more.
They showed outtakes, had funny little segments like "Worst Villain" clips and the show was thoroughly entertaining to this Bachelor groupie.
Then, we switched to another gathering, one that happened recently, to celebrate Jade and Tanner's wedding. I know these two events took place separately because Jason Mesnick and Molly couldn't come to the 20th party but Jason was at the wedding. Molly was home with the baby in rainy Seattle.

Chris Harrison interviewed alumni with the empty wedding scene as the backdrop, and for once, he did a pretty good job with ad lib. CH is becoming the king of Schmaltz and said "Never before in Bachelor history," so many times over the two hours, I forgot to count.



I really like Jade and Tanner's story and was very happy to see them fall in love on Bachelor in Paradise. I was hoping they'd make it past the afterlife when the show ended and was worried their relationship wouldn't survive. Last night they looked absolutely radiant and thrilled as they vowed to love each other forever in one of the nicest wedding ceremonies in Bachelor History. The vows were heartfelt, Jade looked absolutely gorgeous, and the flowers! Did anyone notice that flower wall Jade passed as she came off the staircase? The audience was filled with alumni, most crying after the vows and it was a beautiful ceremony with CH officiating.
The reception was a staged filming of more Bach alumni including Jillian Harris, Deanna, Andi, Michelle Money, Ben, Chris Soules, and Seal. Yes, Seal sang at the reception and did a wonderful job. The guy who sang at the ceremony Matt Nathanson was a little loud and it was a welcome change when Carly from Bachelor in Paradise sang a pretty song she wrote for the happy couple.
All in all, last night's show was fun to watch and I'm sure more than a few hookups occurred at the Dana Point La Di Da Hotel. And isn't that what The Bachelor is all about?
No, not hooking up! Love.



Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Pigs and Rats on The Bachelor!

Last night on The Bachelor things got off to a great start with Ben stupidly asking Olivia if she is the villain in the house. Of course she said no and tears followed. Apparently she likes to talk about "smart things" and she likes "thinking" and the other girls just do not. Oh an don't forget, Olivia, to add "the other girls aren't extremely competitive backstabbers."

Ben did not snatch Olivia's rose away, much to the chagrin of the other ladies, and when the camera cut to a shot of Olivia saying "Come at me, Bro," I almost did one of those surprise wine spits across the room.
Jennifer, someone we didn't get to hear from much, did not get a rose, went home, and also missed a great opportunity to warn Ben of Olivia.
The happy group toasted to going next to the Bahamas like it was an all-expense paid vacation to a tropical island (which it was!) and off they went. We cut to a commercial of Ben selling Disneyland and a special honoring 60 years of fun over there. At least is wasn't Mickey D's again. Talk about the Hawking Higgins!
At the Grand Isle Villas (product placement again) the gals cracked open the champs and settled in to the couch to hear Chris H wish them a wonderful week and hand out a date card for Caila, a girl who has already had a one on one with Ben if you don't count plugging Ice Cube and his sidekick's movie a few weeks ago. This made Leah, a seldom heard from girl in the harem, mad/disappointed. She's hardly ever even talked to the Bachelor so why is he keeping her around? It's called filler,
Leah and just be glad you got to hang around. The Chicken Enthusiast had to go home after 3 days in Los Angeles!!!!
Ben and Caila take off on a big boat to go deep sea fishing, every woman's dream date. Ahem. While Caila was reeling in a tuna, Leah was crying her eyes out back at the villa about how she hasn't had time with Ben. Then the happy couple took a leap off the tuna tower! Weeeee.
 It was funny editing, comparing the fun fish-killing date to drama back in the girls' villa. Once they washed the fishy smell off, Ben and Caila try to talk heart-to-heart but Caila is one confusing gal! She loves Ben but worries she'll break his heart, but she has real feelings for him but she doesn't. And why is it when we cut to Lauren B, her eyes are always red? Is she allergic to salt air?
The next day was a date that every woman has dreamed about all her life--sharing your boyfriend with 6 other women to go swim with ravenous pigs off a rocky island. Yes, you read that right. The women were given a plastic pail filled with hot dogs and apparently the resident pigs don't care who they trample to get the tasty confection.

Forget sharks. Did we know pigs swam that well? I didn't. Or had such bad manners? Well, I did know that because I often tell my children at the dinner table to stop eating like pigs.
Lauren H holds a piglet that looks like it would've latched on if given the chance. Ben thought it was all great fun but not only were the women upset about how much time he devoted to Lauren B. but the pigs have ruined the fun by showing their dangerous side. Leah had a perfect chance to grab Ben to talk but instead, complained about never getting time to talk with him while a pig squeals in the background.

Luckily, when they cleaned up for cocktails, they'd left Pig Island and were back at the Villa. Leah tried another tactic and threw Lauren B under the Ben bus by saying Lauren B is two-faced (excuse me, do you mean Olivia?) and then denied it with the girls. Lauren cried and was really upset when Ben told her, understandably so, but Amanda gets the rose.
Later, Leah saw an opportunity and put on her shortest shorts, teased her hair and went to Ben's bachelor pad to essentially rat out Lauren some more. He sent her packing and out she goes, on the next flight home. Geez, Leah. Rule #47 - Don't use your precious time to talk trash about the other girls to the Bachelor.
The next date was a two on one, the worst type of date in the history of The Bachelor, not just because 50% of the girls on the date go home at the end but it's just plain stupid. Does anyone else think that the Bachelor is asked "Okay, who do you want to cut loose and we'll put them on a two on one with someone you want to stay?"
The thing with this date with Emily and Olivia is that the producers made a big deal about Emily hating Olivia, then got The Mouth to trash talk Emily on camera and off they went on a terrible date in a hurricane-force wind. The speed boat deposited them on a sandy island (no pigs?) and wine was poured while Emily's hair hid her whole face in the raging wind and Olivia had the sense to scrunchie hers. Ben took Olivia on a walk with the rose and she thought she had this in the bag but when he broke the news that he couldn't reciprocate her feelings, it was the sweetest revenge!!! I'm sorry but if you talk stink about everyone else on national TV, you have to accept the fact that they are going to let you stand on a tiny island by yourself crying
while your boyfriend takes off for home with your enemy and then have the helicopter circle your lonely body on the beach for effect. My sources tell me that Olivia is really upset at how the show is portraying her but come on! No one put those words in her mouth when she said that Emily was immature and the date would be more like she and Ben were taking a child along.
Bye Bye, Olivia.
A commercial came on for Stella Artois (a fine beer!) that apparently gives money to a clean water project with every sale. Well done, beer company. #BuyaLadyaDrink
At the rose ceremony, we have JoJo, Becca, Emily, the Laurens, Amanda and Caila. They didn't leave us hanging and we said goodbye to Lauren H, the kindergarten teacher who modeled last week in Mexico.
Next week, it looks like everyone has buckets of tears, including Ben, so if you like watching people who are miserable, you'll love the show! Oh and The Bachelor has a big party on Sunday night celebrating 20 years of manipulating a dating situation to sell products on TV. Can't wait.

Kim Hornsby is a Bestselling, Award-Winning Suspense Author who can be found on Amazon here. She uses this blog to exercise her funny muscle and because she loves to hear herself talk.

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Bachelor Producers Give Olivia her Own Show!

This week on the Bachelor the star of the show was Olivia, the News Anchor from Austin Texas who likes to hold her mouth open for long periods of time to show surprise. We saw Olivia in blue, Olivia in red, also plaid, Olivia with curled hair, straight hair, no makeup, fully made up, etc. You get the idea. It was like The Olivia Show. Sixteen times, we cut to a private interview to hear what Olivia thought. SIXTEEN TIMES!

The episode began with the flight to Mexico City! "Viva La Mexico" Ben yells for the camera. It's interesting to note that the Bachelor person always flies separately from the girls. I believe this is purposefully done to keep these women chomping at the bit to see their "boyfriend"... reminds me of the Stockholm Syndrome.
The ladies check in to the opulent Four Seasons Hotel in Mexico City and we begin the Olivia Show with a cut to her head and neck telling us that she and Ben have a special love, unlike all the others. She feels it. She's special.

Amanda, the petite mom with the small voice gets the one on one date and then we cut to Olivia to hear her comments on this. Not happy.

At 4 a.m. the next morning, Ben is let into their suite and with a flashlight, wakes them up, calling their names, looking for Amanda who amazingly sleeps in full makeup, hair done, and wearing a cute outfit.
Don't tell me she didn't know this was happening. The others had their weaves on the nightstand, were wearing retainers, had teddy bears in their arms and had "dragon breath" - Olivia
The date takes Ben and Amanda to board a hot air balloon where they cruise over the pyramids and cuddle and talk and kiss. I thought Amanda looked frightened, either of Ben or the balloon experience but that could just be me. At the picnic spot, they looked perfectly in sync and talked about Amanda's ex husband who is now probably trying to do damage control for being outed as a bad dad on national TV. That night, after suiting up in fancy duds, they sat at a table for two, sipping drinks, talking about how it's hard for Amanda to switch from Mom mode to sexy siren mode. Fair enough.
The group date included everyone but Lauren H who almost spilled red wine on a white couch when she heard her name not being called. It meant that she'd get the last one on one. Again we cut to Olivia for her opinion on this and she made some faces and did some minor trash talk.
The date began with a Spanish Lesson by a teacher who held one of those old fashioned pointers. Ben learns how to say "I love you, will you marry me and will you accept this rose." How about "back off Olivia"? (that's what I was kind of hoping for) Olivia gets more camera time, Emily drops in for her comments on Olivia and we see that the producers are creating a cat fight moment in the works. Jubilee is not happy with Ben having 10 other girlfriends. Not at all.
They walked to a restaurant & market where a scary-looing woman in tight braids and her brother divided them into teams of two and gave them each a shopping list. Olivia and Jubilee grabbed Ben and wouldn't let go. Finally Olivia "claimed him" and they all went downstairs to shop for ingredients. It's a cooking competition and no one in the group but Ben likes to cook, apparently. Olivia got more air time, hung off Ben, fed him food and they drank tequila as they shopped.
Strangely, we cut to a commercial that features Sean and Catherine, Desiree and Chris and Ben, touting McDonald's food. What???? How much did they get paid to do this? I have to think Catherine is thinking "this will buy all the baby nursery furniture" as she pretends to eat Mickey D food.

Back at the restaurant, the girls pretty much failed at cooking. Olivia put dried crickets on her and Ben's food and didn't get the laugh she hoped for. Lauren B and Jubilee won the competition with an edible fish dish but they got absolutely nothing for their effort.
That night at the cocktail party, Olivia grabbed Ben mid-sentence and claimed him once more, making her the most hated girl in the house. Maybe not most hated girl ever because she hasn't faked a panic attack yet. Oh, wait. She did that last week.
Emily got more riled and talked about telling Ben that Olivia is a bully. "I'm not afraid to say that," she says. Jubilee is not good in a group date setting and her insecurities made her bitch material when Ben tried to take her aside for a talk. She's pissed to be sharing Ben and the writing on the wall had Ben asking her to leave the show. She exited tearfully and we are sad to see her go. We liked her but she just couldn't separate her relationship from the other girls' relationships. Crash and burn.
JoJo takes Ben aside for a talk and is real and sweet and truthful and of course, Olivia doesn't like that someone else in talking to her man. I'm kind of sick of hearing from Olivia at this point. I wouldn't mind hearing from Leah or Jennifer please. But Olivia got the rose, flaunted it and we dislike her.

The next one on one date is Lauren H, the blonde kindergarten teacher with the funny faces. It happened to be Fashion Week in Mexico City and they ended up modeling for a designer in his fashion show. Both Ben and Lauren did a stand up job with their soft elbows on the runway. They looked bored as hell (as models do!) while they walked the walk and did a fine job. "Holy Shoot!" Lauren says (in case parents of students are watching) Ben does the sexiest little wink at her as they pass on the runway and it's worth finding that moment on your TV to see. Here's the last 1/4 second of the wink below...


Their twosome dinner/drinks went well and Lauren H got the rose. Because they both sleep with a retainer, they found common ground that bonds them beyond a physical attraction, you see.
At the rose ceremony on a rooftop patio, Olivia is still getting oodles of camera time and when she said hearing Amanda's story of her kids reminds her of an episode of Teen Mom, Olivia buries herself, socially. Ben isn't there to hear but the girls decided that is the final straw. Emily went off to tell Ben about Olivia who is still acting all haughty after her inappropriate comment. Mid-cry Emily saw Olivia coming down the stairs to crash Ben and Emily's moment and Emily runs off like the place is on fire instead of confronting her. This is totally expected from a girl who sleeps with a teddy bear.
Amanda also tells Ben that Olivia is a bully (when he specifically asks her) and he's shocked. Well done, Amanda. That gets the Bachelor thinking maybe Olivia isn't all she pretends to be. He should just ask her outright because of course she will tell him the truth.
Okay, this is the moment on every show where the girls hate one girl, the Bachelor can't see it and he keeps her on in spite of what he's been told. RED FLAG! I have to think the producers insist that the hated girl has to stay for another week and give some excuse that satisfies the Bachelor because this happens every time!!!!
When Ben asks to speak to Olivia privately, we see To Be Continued on the screen but we know. She'll fake ignorance, he'll feel badly for her and she'll stay. After all, she has that rose in her clutches. Next week we'll see this all go down but I don't need to wait on pins and needles. I know.
They didn't give Olivia 16 cut to camera shots this week to let her walk away. And I counted how many times we had to hear from the mouth from the south about her overly competitive attitude.

Note to Olivia: This is what good sportsmanship looks like...

I do not watch the after party live show anymore as it makes me lose all respect for myself by wasting a perfectly good hour.

This is Ben's Charity and probably one of the reasons he did THE BACHELOR -- to raise awareness.
Humanity and Hope


Kim Hornsby is a Bestselling, Award-Winning Suspense Author who can be found on Amazon here. She uses this blog to exercise her funny muscle and because she loves to hear herself talk.

Monday, February 1, 2016

Olivia is the new Gentle Villain on THE BACHELOR

I skipped blogging about the episode on the 18th because I've been traveling but here's last week's installment in quick form:

Olivia has claimed Ben. That's all there is to it. "Ben is my man," was said at the camera many times. Okaaaaaay then, moving on.

Ben left Los Angeles for Las Vegas and the ladies followed excitedly. YOu have to understand that anything gets these ladies screaming and yelling for joy because they have no cell phones, TV, contact with the outside world so the idea of even leaving the house is almost too much to bear.
After checking in to the Aria and pouring drinks, Jo Jo goes on a one on one. First stop, the roof for champs, second stop ducking behind a blown over table when the heli lands. A tour of LV by chopper, kissing and then on to the evening where Jo Jo and Ben kiss some more, talk, watch fireworks. (The ladies see the fireworks from their suite and they are THE MOST AMAZING FIREWORKS EVER!!!!!!!)
The group date is everyone but Becca and they find themselves in a talent competition at the Terry Fator show. Jubilee plays the cello! And the twins do a river dance routine! But who gets all the air time? Olivia who does a lame coming out of a cake routine and embarrasses herself. Yawn. The gal in the chicken suit reminded me of the Chicken Enthusiast who could've killed the competition with her Cirque-like arials but moving on...
At the cocktail party Olivia gets all the on camera air time, fretting about losing her overly zealous optimism about Ben and Lauren B gets the rose. See Olivia, hanging back a bit works too.
Becca gets the one on one and arrives at the Little White Chapel in a wedding dress. Turns out Ben got ordained online and he's going to marry a bunch of people while Becca is the witness. Cute date, I thought. Ben is sweet about it all. After a hard day at the office, they end up at the neon museum where old neon signs go to die. Coolio! Becca gets a rose.
The twins get a surprise last minute date and they go home with Ben to meet the mom who looks just like them. ONe of them is left with Mom and one continues in the competition. Not sure who. Oh Emily.
At the rose ceremony at LIQUID, Olivia gets her groove back and forces herself on Ben, getting the last rose which she interprets to mean he's saving the best for last but we interpret as he's punishing you for being so gall-darned aggressive. Rachel the unemployed gal from Little Rock goes home, Amber too and next week they go to Mexico.
I mean tonight!