The Bachelor premiered in 2002 and has since developed a cult following. We are glued to our TV sets season after season to watch the women competing for the heart of one man and to ensure we don't miss out on any juicy drama and mischief. The show has its critics, perhaps not without reason? It is kinda weird that millions of people tune in to a show where a bunch of women fights over one guy— sometimes humiliating and degrading themselves just for some cheesy "dream date" and 15 minutes of fame.
The show has also faced criticism for how it depicts and treats women, not to mention its glaring lack of diversity among contestants. But today we don't care much about any of that and will only focus on the facts about the bachelor you didn't think you needed to know... until now.
20 The Show Can Be Edited To Make Anyone Look Bad
Ever watch the bachelor and instantly notice how horrible or rude a contestant was? It turns out ABC producers can edit the footage to make contestants appear however they want them to. In short, everything they do and say can be used against them by the producers who can paint them in any light they want.
19 Only The Lead Gets Paid
Oftentimes Bachelor contestants leave well-paying jobs to appear on the show - you'd think they were getting paid millions just to appear on The Bachelor but they are not. Only the lead gets that privilege and can make up to$100,000. For the contestants, it seems like such a huge price to pay for love... cough cough-fame. Anything for a chance at love right?
18 Contestants Can Make Tons Of Cash After Appearing On The Show
For some appearing on the show proves to be a blessing in disguise, the show provides exposure which can prove to profitable post-show. Social-media endorsement deals with brands, shows of their own are some of the most common ways in which the bachelor nation alumni make bank. Contestants get paid anywhere from $250 to $10,000 per Instagram post after the show.
17 There’s A Family Who Lives In The Mansion When Filming Isn’t Taking Place
The famous bachelor mansion as it's affectionately called by fans is owned by Marshall Haraden, the property isn't just a set dedicated to the filming of the show but is Haraden's home when the Bachelor Isn't filming there. To make it look new and fresh, ABC gives the walls a fresh coat of paint.
16 Show Producers Plan The Dates
Have you ever wondered how the Bachelors come up with the elaborate and sometimes daring dates on the show? wonder no more because they don't, the credit goes to the show producers. Remember when Ben Flajnik and Emily scaled the Bay Bridge? The view from the top may have been amazing but our fear of heights kept us on the edge of our seats.
15 The Winner Gets To Keep The Ring, But Only If They're Together For Two Years
If the couple gets engaged at the end of the show, they are gifted Neil Lane sparklers. However, if the couple breaks up before the two-year mark, they cannot sell the ring and must hand it back to production which is a pity because the ring costs upwards of six figures.
14 ABC Will Pay For A Televised Wedding
According to E! Online, having the wedding televised earns the couple a six-figure paycheck, it's like getting paid for finding love and sharing it with the whole world. That's not all, the show and network help pay for the wedding too. It's a win-win unless the couple calls it quits soon after and have to deal with a rather public breakup. That could be nasty.
13 Hometown Dates Aren't Always At The Contestant's Family House
Hometown dates are a great part of the show, at that moment we try to predict the direction the relationship might take. Sometimes the homes and meals featured on the hometown dates are the epitome of perfection and now we know why. According to HuffPost, sometimes production helps set up the meal and other times, the date is moved to a wealthier relative's home or opt for Airbnb.
12 The Bachelor Show Has A Two-Drink Rule
Previously, former bachelor contestants criticized the show over the copious amounts of alcohol available on set, it's a well-known fact that booze can make people more talkative and emotional and obviously producers count on that. However, following the incident between Corinne Olympios and DeMario Jackson on Bachelor In Paradise, a two-drink rule was enforced on all bachelor shows.
11 Need Privacy? Head To The Bathroom
Can you imagine being filmed all day while sharing a house with complete strangers? according to the Daily Beast, former contestant Leslie Hughes said, “They are on you all the time. As soon as you wake up in the morning, your mic is put on you…When you go to bed, it’s taken off.”
10 Contestants Can’t Leave The Premises
The Bachelor contestants seemingly live a glamorous life but that may not be the case, sure they jet-set to exotic locations and go on romantic and sometimes exciting dates but that's the only time they are allowed to leave the mansion. Kinda explains why some contestants seem erratic and unhinged, can you blame them?
9 There Is Someone In Charge Of Crying
Emotions are high on The Bachelor and while it makes for great TV we feel sorry for the contestants at times. According to The New Yorker, former Bachelor producer Sarah Gertrude Shapiro revealed, "They'd often tell us to drive up and down the 405 until the girls cried — and not to come home if we didn't get tears, because we'd be fired."
8 Contestants Can't Date While The Show Airs
Imagine getting booted off the show in the second week but not being able to date until your exit from the show is aired. Also, the Bachelor and the winner cannot be seen together before the final Rose Ceremony airs worst still if the winning couple ends up breaking up before the show has finished airing, they must hide the breakup.
7 There Is Neither A Workout Room Nor Workout Equipment On Set
We can only imagine how the pressure that comes from being filmed 24/7 and wanting to stay in shape can be intensified by neither having a workout room nor workout equipment. To stay fit, the contestants would make do by running around the house or up hills. Talk about making the most out of a rather inconvenient situation.
6 The Rings Cost An Arm And A Leg
There is no denying that the stunning Neil Lane engagement rings on the show are to die for and if you're the Bachelor, you don't get to spend a dime on them. What's not clear is whether ABC pays for sparklers or they are simply donated by Lane for publicity. What we are certain of, is the rings costs a pretty penny.
5 Contestants Have To Deal With Being Filmed 24 Hours A Day
The contestants on The Bachelor are filmed 24/7, their time on the show is under a microscope. They are filmed when simply doing everyday mundane things, obviously, this is a way for producers to catch any juicy drama or meltdowns. Anything to keep the ratings high right? Contestants sign away their privacy by appearing on the show.
4 No Eating Allowed On Dates
As is the case with almost every TV show, eating on camera isn't allowed because those sneaky mics pick up on everything. According to Bon Appetit, former Bachelor Arie Luyendyk Jr revealed, “Nobody eats, and that’s primarily because nobody wants to watch you eat and the mics will pick up the chewing.”
3 There's No Chef In The Bachelor Mansion
There's no chef in the Bachelor mansion and the women have to fend for themselves. Former contestant Ashley Spivey said in part, “Dinner would be prepared by whoever felt like cooking for everyone. On my season, Britt was a classically trained chef, so she would make things like bacon jam or roasted tomato soup. I usually made dessert, like banana pudding.”
2 Contestants Do Not Have A Stylist, They Dress Themselves
The women on The Bachelor always stun in their gorgeous rose ceremony gowns and always dress to impress when out on dates with the object of their affection. What you may not know is that they dress themselves, they don't have a stylist. Some contestants have claimed to have spent huge amounts of cash on clothing alone.
1 There’s No Television Or Internet Allowed While On The Show
There is no TV or internet in the house, former contestant Ashley Hunt told The Ashley Reality Roundup, "We are not allowed to speak to friends or family until we get home. Phones and computers are taken away the day you get there, we [would] sit in the house or by the pool; it gets pretty boring."
Sources: BonAppetit.com, ScreenRant.com, Insider.com