JoJo Fletcher, last season's contestant on ABC's The Bachelor, the one who got her heart broken after Ben told her that he loved her, only to tell her on the finale that he loved someone else more, now has a chance at breaking hearts of her own. Last night's premiere brought in 26 new guys and sent six of them packing after she got a chance to meet them.
The episode opens first with her talking about her experience with Ben on the last season, and then Ali, Des, and Kaitlyn- Bachelorettes from previous seasons come and meet with JoJo and give her advice, telling her to go with what feels natural when she asked them if she should kiss on the first night. Ali gives her advice to ignore the guy that she likes on the first night for a week since she focused her mind too much on Roberto. JoJo is excited about the possibility of finding love but is afraid that she might not. Well, the odds haven't been very favorable in the show's run, but maybe...
The usual introduction of the guys in their natural environments plays out before we see them step out of the limo. We see Grant, a firefighter from San Francisco. Have to get a shot of the Golden Gate Bridge in there, of course. Jordan, the former NFL football player who has been living with his brother, Aaron Rodgers,' shadow. There is Evan, who runs a clinic for erectile dysfunction, and will probably be giving a lot of genitalia jokes while he's around. There's the surfing and skateboarding Ali from Santa Monica, and various other guys.
Since JoJo made such an entrance to introduce herself to Ben with the unicorn head, you know that guys will have to do their best to make a first impression. Jordan, the first out of the limo, didn't have to do anything extravagant. His looks seemed to drag her in right away. James Taylor brought his guitar and sang a song he made up for JoJo. There was St. Nick- or Nick B., who irritated all with his Santa Clause costume, and his "JoJoJo" laugh. Well, I guess JoJo liked him, anyway. Wells Adams brought in the 90s Acapella group, All-4-One, who sang their hit song, "I Swear." Luke came in on a horse with a unicorn horn strapped to its head. Homage to JoJo's unicorn head, there.
JoJo is concerned that the guys seem to all be nervous, and she hasn't found any yet that bring that instant connection. Jordan comes to talk to her after that, and he seems to have the confidence she is looking for. Jordan says he wanted to kiss her but missed his chance.
Later, Will comes in with an Origami fortune teller(everyone remembers making those as a kid, right?). The fortune that she gets says she has to kiss him. She gives him a peck on the lips, and it was a little awkward. Jordan comes back, and he has to go for that missed opportunity. This one was not awkward. JoJo seems to be head over heels for him.
We meet Chad, who seems to be this season's villain. On camera in his ITM, he is all bold and aggressive and puffs himself up. He puts on a different act for JoJo. She says in her ITM, "Chad is surprisingly vulnerable. I saw a soft side to him. He's very mysterious. I can't pinpoint it."
After that, we see him confessing, "I'm content. If I wanted her, I could have her. I'm a manlier version of Ben."
Daniel the Canadian is completely drunk and rambles on to JoJo. Outside, he strips down to his underwear and jumps in the pool. She assures the audience that she doesn't care if they are drinking and having fun, but she doesn't care for them being hammered. There are other guys who are pretty tipsy, too.
The first impression rose comes around, and of course, it goes to Jordan. There was no mistaking that he is the favorite of the night.
Just before JoJo goes to give her first rose at the rose ceremony, the "mystery person" gets out of the limo and walks into the mansion. The teasers have all been trying to lead people to think that this person is going to try competing for JoJo's heart. It's Jake Pavelka. Apparently, the two of them are close family friends, and Jake is just there to give her a pep talk.
Jon Hamilton, Sal DeJulio, Peter Medina, Coley Knust, and Nick Sharp, oh, and Jake, are eliminated. She kept the drunk Vinny and Daniel around, even though Daniel could barely walk straight. The other guys left are
Alex Woytkiw
Ali Zahiri
Brandon Howell
Chad Johnson
Chase McNary
Christian Bishop
Derek Peth
Evan Bass
Grant Kemp
James Fuertas
James Spadafore
James Taylor
Jordan Rodgers
Luke Pell
Nick Benvenutti
Robby Hayes
Wells Adams
Will Haduch
Previews for the rest of the season show the main characters who will probably be around for a while. Of course, Jordan, and also Alex, Luke, Grant, Robby and Chad. It is said that Robby dumped a girlfriend to come on the show. James T. gets physically hurt. Chad gets a talking to by Chris Harrison. There is a lot of crying to come, but eventually there will be someone she gives her heart to.
Tune in for next week's episode Monday at 8 on ABC. You can watch this episode and others here if you have a participating cable provider. If not, you can watch it a week after it airs. Let us know what you think of the season so far.
