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The guys fight for Emily’s heart, while Ryan seals up this season’s villain role
By Diane Vadino
Special to MSN TV
It's Episode 4 of "The Bachelorette." And whatever charms of Charlotte, N.C., we've left unexplored will remain ever thus: "You'll be leaving this mansion forever," Chris Harrison tells the guys, not at all dramatically, because we're about to travel to "the first stop on a worldwide trip": Bermuda. The guys collectively whoop and holler until we arrive at their hotel, where we learn that there will be three dates: the group excursion, the one-on-one, and the "dreaded" (it's always "dreaded," in one of Chris Harrison's favorite recurring adjectives) two-on-one. Arie reads the first date card: "Arie, let's explore again." (He's kidding.) It's Doug. The guys razz him: "I think you're building it up too much in your head," one says. Doug is "over the top humble" (as Chris puts it later), but he does not take well to the razz.
Bing: More about Emily Maynard | 'The Bachelorette'
In fact, if Emily arrived for their date a minute or so earlier, she would have seen him in his less-than-happy state. But because she didn't, she's still worried that Doug is Mr. Perfect (better known as: ex-fiancé Brad Womack.) "I never see you getting grumpy or short," she tells him as they sightsee their way across the island. "This guy can't be for real." Emily asks Doug to name his flaws, and he's all, I'm toooo perfect, it's soooo hard. Emily says that those really aren't flaws. "That's really sweet of you," he says. But she's not being sweet, she says. "I could probably come up with better flaws than 'I'm too good of a mom,'" she says. But then he asks her to name them, and she's basically like, I'm toooo perfect, it's soooo hard. So she gives up, conceding that putting people on the spot is not the right thing to do. "I'm not a genius, but I'm not a dummy; I'm not wealthy, but I'm not poor. I'm just Doug," he says. "Maybe Doug just is that perfect of a person," Emily concludes. One thing he is not perfect at is getting the good-night kiss. Never before has a group of bachelors been so totally inept with this. "I don't ever make the first move -- ever," Doug says. At the exact moment that he should have gone for it, he says, "Shall we?" and they leave.
Photos: 'Bachelorette' stars: Where are they now? | This season's contestants
Next we have our group date, which pits the red team against the yellow team. Spoiler: The yellow team wins, so the red team (despite Sean's Division I football-playing competitive spirit) head back to the hotel -- there is some bellyaching about this and, actually, a tiny but noticeable bit of crying. There is some good news in this for Emily. She gets more time with yellow-teamers Arie, with whom she promptly makes out, and Jef. The Utah entrepreneur is afflicted with the same disease as Doug, and at the exact moment he should have gone for his own smooch, he instead says, "Should we go back?" (Is it because she's a mom? Because she's Barbie-doll perfect?)
The real drama, such as it is, is reserved for Ryan, who continues his devolution into total douchebag. He begins by calling Emily his "trophy possible wife." "She's been given great responsibility, and I want to see her do a lot with it," Ryan says. (And yes, he is cribbing from Spider-Man.) Everything he says sounds like it was stolen from the Olympics of annoying guy lines: "I'm not here to impress you but to make an impression on you." "There's a lot of depth here." (He's talking about himself.) Emily reminds him of his previous annoying lines, like the one about how he wouldn't love her if she gained weight: "Would you like [my figure] if it hadn't been to the gym because I was chasing your kids around?" "Some pretty kids..." Ryan muses. "You're trying to get out of answering my question," says Emily, in a record-setting (for this show) level of holding someone accountable for his words. "God designed you to be a beautiful woman. So, be a beautiful woman," Ryan says. He's no Bentley, but he sure is quickly turning into this season's villain. Jef, thank goodness, gets the rose. Ryan, of course, ably reworks this as positive news for himself (it seems that Emily intuited that he'd be mad if she gave it to Arie). "I just feel like [Ryan is] judging me," Emily says.
The two-on-one date goes by mercifully quickly. It really does look like torture. Accountant Nate seems to spend half the night -- at dinner in a room of caves -- talking about the quinoa. "We can get boxes to go if y'all are hungry later," Emily says. Then, to us: "This is going to be the worst date of my life. John (a.k.a. "Wolf") does a much better job of keeping his issues under control -- as seen when Nate breaks down in tears describing how much he loves his family and friends. All John has to do is sit back and watch Nate self-destruct -- which is exactly what happens. "I wouldn't be honest if I said I saw us together forever," Emily says to Nate. He's going home, and John has the rose.
All that's left for the evening is the rose ceremony -- which would have gone without any fireworks if not for Ryan, essentially, setting himself on fire. He does this by revealing that he has not come on "The Bachelorette" for the right reasons, the gravest of all "Bachelorette" sins: "If it doesn't work out I'm involved with the media back home -- let's do "Bachelor Ryan," he says. "Whether I end up with [Emily] or, not this is part of the journey that I'm walking." Here's hoping that he's the guy Emily curses out next week. (I still have a suspicion that that honor goes to Alejandro. I can think of no other reason why we've suddenly seen so much of him.)
Out on this night: Two guys who get more screen time walking out of the hotel than they did the rest of the season -- Charlie and Michael, who is so adorable. Here's hoping that guy is exceptionally boring, or Emily has made a terrible mistake.
Next week: London -- and Emily's F-bombs.
"The Bachelor" airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.
Host offers insight into why NBC series is beating 'Idol,' 'X Factor' in ratings
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"Voice" host Carson Daly has credited the show's blind auditions as the reason for the its success. Unlike rival shows, the coaches on the show can't see the auditioners: Their evaluations are based solely on singing quality. Daly believes the format is the prime reason it has trounced "American Idol" and "The X Factor" in TV ratings.
Daly tells Zap2it.com, "We just liked the pureness of it, hearkening back ... Is there a place for pure? In this day where you have to be beautiful and popular ... Yeah, they can sing, but what do they look like?" Daly also pinpoints another interesting dynamic only present on "The Voice": the judges being rejected. He explains: "It's the power shift. A 24-year-old sandwich maker, and he gets three chairs to turn around. Now they are in it for the right reason, and he, all of a sudden, he gets to interview them. And where else do you get that shift in power? Multimillionaires interviewed by a kid who makes sandwiches for a living."
Plus: 'Dancing With the Stars' finale preview | 'Felicity': Where are they now? | 'The Bachelorette' Season 9
'X Factor' judge says she and ex enjoy a 'great friendship'
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"X Factor" judge Demi Lovato has developed a "great friendship" with Joe Jonas, three years after their breakup. In an interview with ABC's "Nightline," the singer admits to having been "really mad at him" following their decision to call it quits in 2010. But time has healed old wounds, and the two are good friends once again.
Lovato says, "I can fortunately say that him and his brother Nick have always been there for me and are literally family and like brothers ... We have a great friendship. And we may not be as close as we used to be, but that's OK." Jonas, 23, proved the former couple had buried the hatched by tweeting his support for her new album Demi on May 14. He wrote, "Congrats (Demi Lovato) on the new record! So happy for you!"
Plus: 'Dancing With the Stars' finale preview | 'Felicity': Where are they now? | 'The Bachelorette' Season 9
Wanted star says he 'felt like a king,' eager for fans to see how group really lives
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Wanted star Max George hopes the group's new reality TV show is a big hit because he became quite accustomed to life in Hollywood while filming it. "The Wanted Life" debuts June 2, and George, for one, loved the idea of having his own mansion with his band mates for the show. He says, "It was a little bit different than being in Manchester, England. I could definitely get used to it. First of all, it was nice to wake up every morning and see the whole of the city ... That was just insane. But it was the little things to me that meant the most, like having your own bar, your own swimming pool and the run of Los Angeles. I felt like a king."
George will definitely be watching the show because there were a few unexplained mysteries that might be solved on the program -- like which band mate left their underwear hanging from the chandeliers and who trashed the Jacuzzi. He tells Ryan Seacrest, "I think we'll have to watch. I think we'll find out a lot of mysteries when we see it ... I think I'm probably going to learn a few things about myself I didn't know." As for what fans will learn about him from watching the show, he adds, "Definitely the bond I have with my brother ... and the bond I have with my mom ... I'm very, very close with them two. As a group, I think people will realize when we say we get on like brothers actually do. I think a lot of the time bands have to say that or if they didn’t people will think, 'Surely it doesn't work.' But we genuinely do really get on, and we don't just work together. We actually do everything else away from work most of the time with each other, as well. (And) we actually do party as much as we say we do."
Plus: 'Dancing With the Stars' finale preview | 'Felicity': Where are they now? | 'The Bachelorette' Season 9
'Orange County' newcomer wasn't prepared for 'intense' castmates
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"Real Housewives of Orange County" newcomer Lydia McLaughlin got a real shock when she began filming the reality TV show earlier this year because she didn't expect her castmates to be as "intense" as they are. The 32-year-old, who owns her own high-end magazine that chronicles the lavish lifestyles of Southern Californians, admits she was really naive when she first signed up to join the longest-running "Real Housewives" franchise in February. She thought appearing on the show would be a breeze. However, she quickly learned it wasn't going to be an easy ride with outspoken veterans Vicki Gunvalson, Tamra Barney, Gretchen Rossi, Heather Dubrow and Alexis Bellino as her castmates.
Bing: More about Lydia McLaughlin
She tells People.com, "It is more difficult than I thought it would be! I was just like, 'Yeah, what do I have to lose?! What would people not like about me?! I'm just going to be myself, and I'm going to be positive, and have a different type of voice!' When everyone is screaming and yelling, you really can't win in this type of show. It's intense, and those women are intense and they have an opinion, and that's why they've been on the air for so long." McLaughlin insists the drama fans see on-screen is only a small portion of the crazy antics that really take place on set: "I think that the ladies are genuinely who they are on the show, and that there isn't a lot of acting."
Plus: 'Dancing With the Stars' finale preview | 'Felicity': Where are they now? | 'The Bachelorette' Season 9
Season 12 starting to experience the downside of becoming a winner
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"American Idol" winner Candice Glover has spent the days since her TV victory last week blocking haters on Twitter. The singer, who won the TV contest at her third attempt, was a favorite throughout much of the competition. But not everyone watching was a fan. And now she's really experiencing the downside of becoming an "Idol" champ. She tells "Access Hollywood," "I can't even count how many people I've blocked in the past couple of days ... I'd get more negative tweets the further I made it in the competition. They'd talk about how you look, how you sing: 'You suck!' 'You can't sing!' I think it's natural instinct to go past the good tweets. But when you see that bad one, that's the one that sticks with you, and it doesn't feel good to feel that. But I think I've grown a lot over the show ... and I know that, no matter what anybody says on the Internet, that way I can't see them face to face, I know that I'm beautiful."
Bing: More about Candice Glover
Glover has opened up about the feud between "Idol" judges Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj, insisting she had to stay focused on her goal of winning the competition to avoid the distraction in front of her on performance nights. She adds, "Backstage, we were so focused on our performances and not going home the following day ... That really didn't even bother us. We were so determined to do a good job."
Plus: 'Dancing With the Stars' finale preview | 'Felicity': Where are they now? | 'The Bachelorette' Season 9
'Project Runway' host resorts to cash to keep her brood disciplined
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"Project Runway" host Heidi Klum has confessed she bribes her children to start off their days with a healthy breakfast. The German beauty has four kids -- three of them by her ex-husband Seal -- and admits she runs a disciplined household to keep her brood in check. Klum has developed a "points" system to reward the youngsters for good behavior. But when it comes to getting them to drink a healthy smoothie for breakfast each day, she resorts to paying them a dollar a time.
She explains to the Times, "At least I know they've eaten something healthy." And she can only hope the kids keep eating healthy through the day. She says, "Their lunchboxes (containing more healthy food) come back empty, so I don't really know what they've eaten."
Plus: 'Dancing With the Stars' finale preview | 'Felicity': Where are they now? | 'The Bachelorette' Season 9
Newly crowned 'American Idol' champ heaps praise on the judge who backed her
WENN
"American Idol" Season 12 champ Candice Glover is hoping to collaborate with judge Nicki Minaj in the near future. Following her big win, Glover heaped praise on the judge who backed her throughout the competition and revealed that Minaj offered up some top tips on how to survive in show business. Speaking with reporters after the finale, Glover said, "She (Minaj) reminded me to not be a diva. She always tells me to have fun and be myself ... I love Nicki and hope I can collaborate with her."
Bing: More about Candice Glover
Glover's duet dream comes after Minaj told Zap2it.com, "I predicted that she would win, so someone owes me money ... Her voice has always surpassed everyone, every night. And I'm so happy that America got it right and did this based on true talent."
Plus: 'Dancing With the Stars' finale preview | 'Felicity': Where are they now? | 'The Bachelorette' Season 9
Hygiene concerns over stained, unwashed two-piece motivated decision by eBay
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The bikini "Teen Mom" star Farrah Abraham wore for the photo on the cover of her sex tape has been pulled from auction on eBay -- because it was unwashed. On Saturday, bosses at the auction website yanked the listing by porn studio Vivid Entertainment after deciding the pink crystal-encrusted two-piece did not meet the site's hygiene standards. The item had stains from her fake tan among other clear signs of wear and was listed as "used." It had not been washed since the MTV star wore it for a private photo shoot.
Bing: More about Farrah Abraham
TMZ.com obtained a letter sent to Vivid by eBay chiefs that explained why the listing had been removed. It reads: "Due to health and hygiene concerns, our policy does not allow used clothing to be listed on the site unless the item has been washed first." Reportedly, the bikini will be washed and re-posted on the site. The original listing that started at $500 on Wednesday ignited a bidding war that caused the price to reach $14,700 just before it was pulled from auction.
Plus: 'Dancing With the Stars' finale preview | 'Felicity': Where are they now? | 'The Bachelorette' Season 9
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Deanna Barnert | Los Angeles, Calif.
Entertainment journalist Deanna "TVDeeva" Barnert visits sets, interviews industry players and critiques the final product. Buzz's daytime TV queen covers it all for MSN TV, but loves her sitcoms, soaps and any juicy drama that doesn't call itself Reality TV.
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