The Press Box - 'Bachelorette Party'—Hometowns! With Ashley Iaconetti (Ep. 331)

Episode Date: July 21, 2017

The Ringer's Juliet Litman is joined by former 'Bachelor' contestant Ashley Iaconetti to discuss this week's "hometowns" episode, Ashley's take on 'Bachelor in Paradise,' ideas to spice up the show next season, and their picks for the next Bachelor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Network. I'm Juliet Litman. We had a dynamite episode this week, maybe not in the best way. And here to talk about it with me is Ms. Ashley Icanetti. Welcome. Hi. Thank you. Thanks for having me. Yeah, of course. Last time you were here, you were like still under contract with ABC. Oh my God. I was so careful about everything I was saying. I was like, have me come back. How me come back? Seriously. So now you're back. Now it's going to be just Ashley mixing it up. Saying whatever she wants. I feel like I've gotten really censored lately just because I love this thing. And it's provided me with the greatest life. So I'm so defensive and protective of the franchise. Yeah, that's interesting. I wanted to get into that. And you're referring to all the scandal of paradise and everything.

We'll get into that. Number one, I have a bone to pick with you. Yeah. So you have a new podcast and it's called Almost Famous. Yeah. It's on the IHeart Radio podcast network. Yes. It's on iTunes. Oh, cool. also on the IHeart app. Okay. Who's your co-host? My co-host is Mr. Ben Higgins. Okay, so I have a very open and public love for Ben. Yeah.

The only person who might not know about it is Ben. Wasn't he on here with you? Yes, he's been a few times. He's such a great. He's just always like, yeah, you need me. I'm here. Did you flirt with him just relentlessly? I didn't realize that I was, but the feedback was that yes, I was.

Oh, okay. Well, I'm constantly flirting with my guy friends from the show, and I'm just like, I'm shameless about it now. Yeah. I have the hottest group of guy friends of all time. Ben is just such a winner. Anyway, I'm pissed. I can't believe you got to do a podcast with him and I didn't.

It's such an honor. I texted him the other day. I was just like, I miss your presence in my life because I haven't seen him for like two weeks and he just, everybody needs a Ben. I know.

Like, everybody needs a Jared. I told him this and I said that on Paradise last year. So like I want Jared to own that statement. But like everybody, if I could bless him with a gift, I bless him with the gift of Ben Higgins. He's just a great guy. I'm just jealous. Anyway, I've been wanting to confront you.

But I can't even... Can't even... If you'd like to come on one day, we could probably arrange this. I would love to. You can come into the studio and have a little Ben hang time. Let me know.

I'd be there in a second. Okay, cool. I mean, we need somebody else who knows the show seriously. But yet an outsider perspective. Just a hardcore watcher. I would love to offer that. You're kind of buttering me up.

I can tell you're a host now. You're like making me feel comfortable. I should make you feel comfortable. I was ready to confront you. You've already talked me out of it by offering me a guest spot. Yeah. Well, you could have come on during the scandal because we were looking for a lot of expert opinions.

I really want to talk about the scandal, but we got to talk about the Dean hometown date first. So it was hometowns this week. There's four guys left. We'll go from like least attention grabbing? Yeah. Or I was going to say least controversial to most controversial. And I would say who do you think was least? Eric.

Eric. Eric's in Baltimore. What I liked about the Eric one was that they talked about race very openly. And I was like, this is the conversation I've been, like, waiting for them to have on this show for seven weeks. And it was refreshing to actually see it happen. But if it's that uncontroversial, Eric can't possibly win, right? Oh, I think there's been lots of uncontroversial hometowns and that person is won. Really?

Look at Lauren Bushnell. She had, like, the happiest family ever. Who else? That's a good point, I guess. Drawing blanks on everyone. Okay, well, I guess Jordan's was pretty controversial. Yeah, I mean. And then...

When your brother's in the NFL and he won't show up. Yeah. It's controversial. Yeah. And then Vanessa's dad didn't like Nick. Yeah, okay. Okay. Okay. I sure it's like a storyline. Yeah. But Eric is just like, yeah, this was a good date. They seem

like they like each other, but the facts just kind of it. There's not a lot there. Yeah, they like each other. I think they'd be like so great in real life, but I feel like for something that's so hurried, we're not seeing enough of him. And like, she's just like, oh, great. I'd go on a couple dates of this guy and relax. Yeah. And also, that's a good point. Like, he's almost like too normal.

Like he's not being like, I love you. Let me tell everyone. Yeah. And as a result, he's not like on the accelerated pace that she is. Absolutely. She's really got her head in the game now. Yeah, but then also to make an argument, Peter is also like, okay, I like you, but, you know, we're not, I'm not screaming, I love you either. Peter's the bachelor.

There's no question in my mind. Okay. Do you think he'd be a good bachelor? At first, at first I thought, oh my God, yes. Is he so hot? Then I lost my interest in Peter a little bit because I was like. like, oh, he's kind of bland. He doesn't make me laugh. He doesn't, like, make my heart race. He just, I think he's such eye candy. Yeah. But his personality isn't getting me. And I was

like, Dean has both. Um, I just love watching him. He like lights up the TV. Dean. Yeah. Interesting. Well, I think we got the best of Dean we could possibly get this week. But first, Peter, really boring hometown. Like, come up with a good activity. Really boring hometown. Like, you could have done that literally anywhere. Like, like, There was nothing specific to Wisconsin that they did. No. Huge missed opportunity. There was nothing specific to Baltimore that they did.

That's true. But I just feel like even the basketball was like more entertaining than what they did, which was walk around farmers market, go for drinks with his friends and then to his house. Wasn't it a red flag to you though when he pulled his friends over to the side of the bar? And he was like, so guys, how will I know when the time to propose is? He's like, is there a feeling that I'll get? that was a great point. The way that he relates to his friends,

it makes it seem like he was like paying him, paying them to basically be there. They didn't really seem to have a deep connection. They didn't. I wasn't sure they'd really met him before. It just seemed like there might have been people he, like, found or something. And then like on the flip side of the way that, like, they talked about race with Eric, on Peter's date,

it was like, look, I have black friends. I was just like, oh, my God. That was really awkward. Yeah. It was just bizarre. Just watching this whole thing, what has been your take this season as they try to grapple with, having the first black bachelorette um i have you know you mentioned to me before we went you know

hit record that you didn't love this season and at first i was so engrossed in it and as my job i need to watch it multiple times and to this point i i've loved watching peter and dean everybody else they don't grab me i feel like the cast is weak and i don't know he's okay Hold on. I'm going to be inarticulate for a second. It's okay. We'll talk it through. We'll get there.

Okay. So those two plus Rachel are what I've been watching for. Because they're kind of like eye candy plus Rachel is relatable to me. Like I feel like she's a bachelorette like Caitlin was where I was like, okay, this girl's real. She's like actually talking through her. Yeah. She's talking through her feeling. She's being tough.

She's being true to herself. And if she doesn't like someone, it's written all over her face, which I love. When she's bored, it's like she just. like a blank stare. I really feel her. It's like I totally relate to that. Totally. So that's what I've liked. But for me, I don't think it's the actual season that's, quote, boring. I think everybody may be getting bored of the format in general.

Because at this point, yes, there's a new influx of Bachelor watchers every season. Sure. But for a majority, we've all been watching this for years and years. and I think they just need to switch something up because everybody is so into paradise and that's why they created the winter games, or so I'm assuming. And so I think we just need to do something spicy. What's your suggestion?

I haven't brainstormed it. Okay. Because I kind of agree with you. I have a few suggestions. First of all, when they had Caitlin and Britt on, they should have done two for longer. Should have gone two bacheloretts. Oh, totally.

I remember that time and I thought that they would. Yeah, like at least do it for the entire L.A., like the first three weeks, like have it be two. Yeah. And then I did like that they made them, and the guys had to pick, like, who they were there for. But I would tease that out, like, even longer because then there's, because then there's, like, not only rivalry within the guys, there's rivalry within two women. Okay. And I just think there's a lot to mind there, like a lot. While you've been saying this, I just came up with a thought.

What if we didn't extend, like, the top 30 as long as we do? What if I was the Bachelorette, I know I'd look at the producers night one. I'd be like, I give zero, can I come from here? Zero fuckeroo's about all of these dudes. Please keep these four. I probably am only into those two, but I'll give the other two a chance. So I'd be able to narrow it down so fast because I wouldn't want to touch any, I wouldn't want to touch like a good 80% of the guys there.

And like, don't force me to do that. How about we watch a Bachelorette have narrowed down to like six guys she's really attracted to and then really get to know them over the course of eight weeks. That's a good point. They should give more time, more real time with the various people. It should be like actually watching three relationships. Yeah. Also, first of all, one of the reasons Caitlin was so great and people like Paradise because they're sex. Like, that's just

part of it. There's that. And there's a sense of humor to it. So if we did have longer with each guy, we'd be able to get to see more funny, upbeat moments. Like, even when Peter was on the dog sled and they were talking about poop, like everybody loves that stuff. show. Let's talk about poop, nor. It would be interesting if it was more like trying to simulate dating, like, a little bit more seriously. And sort of like she had to, like, manage what it's like to like be in multiple relationships, basically. And also if the guys didn't know each other, like, maybe put them in isolation. So there's like more of like a mind game of like, who am I up

against? That would be great. Yeah, you could, you couldn't, you could mix it up. You could make it more like a soap opera, basically, unless like a reality show. Oh, yeah. Like, I want to clarify, I think I've been entertained by this season. I look forward to every single week. You're just so loyal to the franchise I am but I think that because my two favorite guys got to the top four it's just been fun to watch Yeah okay so Peter was a snooze

I hate Brian I just cannot stand it With Brian either by the way I know Eric and Dean in real life now You do? Yeah and like they're both delightful Because they didn't win That's why you know that's not why I know Well we know Dean doesn't win We know Dean doesn't win Eric we don't know yet

Yeah they both seem like pretty good dudes Yeah Why do you dislike Brian? See, I think that the four guys in the top, the three guys in the top four, quality. Like, she got a great top four. And I usually think, sorry, I'm going to go like, blah, la la la. But if you get a good top four, that's all it really matters. You weed it on all the other guys.

So people who say like, oh, poor Rachel, she got a crappy group. It's like, but she like ended up with like the four good ones anyway. I guess so. Okay. So, Brian. There's just like an air about him. What is it to you? Like, is it smug? Is it arrogant? It's just resting face. It's not a bitch face. It's like a resting arrogant face.

Yeah, there's something, like, he's almost like delusional or something. I'm just like, do we live in the same world? I forget exactly what, when he, like, brought her to his home and he was, like, nervous about it, it just seemed like very inauthentic. And basically the way that his mom basically threatened her this week, which was just ridiculous. That's, like, not real. I mean, of course the whole thing's not real. But it just seemed like he's wanted to be famous and he's like making it happen. Well, you heard about the other reality show that he was on called Players. Yes, players. Like if that doesn't define her like worry of him being an actual player.

Yeah. It was bizarre. Also, his outfit, I don't know if he caught it. It was like so not cute. It was like a red rugby shirt, like a red golf shirt that was like a fading red design. It seemed like it was like from 1997, however it looked new. so I don't even know where he could have bought it. I was really not into that outfit.

Me neither. Isn't Dean great with his style? All right, you just want to talk about Dean. No, no, no. Let's do it. No, no, no, no. I do want to talk about Brian. I do want to talk about Brian here for a second.

Because I can't put my finger on why nobody really likes him. And I don't like smooth guys. And I feel like you probably agree with me here. Not one for a guy who says all the right things. No. You give me that much attention. I'm going to be pushing you away. I'm going to think you're gross.

Nothing better than being treated badly. be badly by a guy. Nothing more attractive. Nothing pulls me in more. But is this true? Yes. Yeah. Yeah.

Pretty much. Same. So I don't get it. He also, I think, is just like slobbery. He reminds me of like a dog. Just because of the way he kisses. I can't get it out of my head. Yeah.

I've talked about it every week, but it's just really aggressive. Absolutely. I can't. I just can't deal with it. Me neither. All right. Let's talk about Dean. Okay.

It's finally time. Okay. Let's do it. So Dean last week clearly did not want to do this home. hometown date. He seemed like to me like he was trying to get out of it. And which there's a whole debate there. Should he have been able to get out of it? Yes. Yeah, I think so too. Absolutely. Yeah. It seemed like he didn't want to, didn't, I think he's into Rachel, but I think the specter of having to introduce her to his family has been weighing over him for a while. Absolutely.

He didn't even want a rose last week. Yeah. No, he seemed like he was trying to blow it. He gave the worst possible answers. He was being really aloof. There was some major editing that went on with the tooth fairy comment. Yeah, it was just. Dinosaur stuff. Yeah. It was just. Yeah, and she was just like, I forgot what the question was, but it was something like really generic, like, what are your favorite things to do or like, what do you like? And it was, it was an easy, it was like a slam dunk and he just came up with like an I don't know or like one word answers. It was very weird. It was clearly a bad one-on-one, but still he got to the final four. I think that everyone just agrees Dean's really cute.

So she just attracted to him. Yeah, he's so cute. He's gotten better looking throughout the season. He has gotten better looking throughout the season. Yeah, I don't even know how that happened, but it really, really happened. Well, I've realized a couple things about him this week. First of all, he's very tall, which I didn't. Nice, six, too.

I didn't think he was tall before, but now I was like, oh, okay, I see it. And he also, I think, is, like, a lot more, like, thoughtful and smarter than he had seen. Oh, he's so smart. Yeah, the moment where I was like, oh, your smart guy was when he was telling her about his father. Here's what he said to Rachel. Let's listen to it. You're going to be my father. He's a converted kundalini yogi, like, Sikh.

So he, like, wears a turban, has, like, a beard down his belly button. His name is Parum Rup. Say it again? Parum Rup. What does he want me to call him? Parum Rup. Parum Rup. Yeah.

It means divinely beautiful and it's a self-given name, so that speaks a little bit to his character. Okay, so I was like, oh, okay, you have, like, a lot of, you've done, like, a lot of, like, self-reflection and, like, critical thinking about this situation. And it's not just, like, he's heard or upset by his father, but he's, like, really thought about it and processed it a lot. I thought perhaps he's been to therapy, which I completely support. And I just, it made me, like, respect him in a new way. And, I mean, he started out very poorly with his showing the women tell him all. Men tell all. We would tell all.

And so I like him a lot more. We finally saw who he is this week. I wish we'd gotten that sooner. Oh, I felt like I knew who he was. For sure, for sure, the week before when they had that date before the hometowns. I was like, no, this guy. Dean has the personality that I really like. He doesn't present himself, like, some snobby intellectual.

He's just, like, lighthearted and fun. But on the inside, he can really. he could really have a conversation. And he's really thoughtful. He does give a lot of thought to everything he does. Yeah, he does seem really smart. And then just, you know, so basically what has happened between him and his father is, his mother passed away.

And then it just seems like no one really knew what to do after that happened in his family. So they all kind of grew apart. And his father converted to Sikhism. And he has a new wife and just has a totally different lifestyle. And, you know, the way that Dean describes him is, like, eccentric and like, whatever. I don't know a lot about Sikhism at all. so I don't even want to like discuss it. Well, in Dean's Instagram caption, he wanted to say that while I call my dad eccentric,

it wasn't because of his faith. Right. Right. And that's, I don't know. That's also like that's thoughtful as well. Oh my gosh. His entire Instagram caption was like, I was actually together with him. Oh, really?

He did it. Are you dating, Dean? No. But he was, we were in Tahoe. We went to, we went on vacation. Just you and Dean? No, it was me, Dean Luke Pell. And then my podcast manager.

or Amy. Okay. So... Are the four... Is there anyone dating anyone dating in this mix? No. Have you hooked up with Luke or Dean? No. I don't believe you. No. Okay. Okay. So then we always on the boat and then I'm just going through Instagram and like Dean

was at the front of the boat like doing his like contemplation. It's like basically a contemplation scene. And then I'm like going through my Instagram and I was like, you just like put together a masterful piece of writing. He is good. Yeah. He's a lot smarter than I realized. Yeah. Maybe the bar is also kind of low

compared to some other people in the show in general. But actually, I happen to think like I look around at my circle, like my friends from the show, I feel like everybody has maybe in higher than average IQ. We should test it.

It's really weird. But I think about the conversations that I have with my friends in this group versus other people that I interact with, maybe like outside my friend's circle. And I'm like, I'm pretty sure the people that are drawn to The Bachelor are also,

smart. Pretty smart. Do you think you could help me corral everyone to do an IQ test and we could test this? If we could do it online and send it out to people, yeah. That would be hilarious. That would be so funny. Could you imagine it came back with really high scores? We're doing this. We'll figure it out off the podcast. But look for that. I'm going to make it

happen. Back to Dean. The most, the craziest thing about this episode, in my opinion, was that so much time was spent on Dean and not on Rachel. Like I can't think of another case of where you see kind of like a tense conversation between a parent and a prospective winner on this franchise. That is true. But was it not the most compelling, like 20 minutes you've ever seen on the show?

It seemed very real. It really just was like just surprising. I don't know. Do you ever feel like it's like exploitative to capture this? I thought, yeah, when I was like contemplating on the episode, because I have to do like so many recaps afterward. I was like, okay, yeah, maybe that was exploitive. now that I watched like four times and I'm thinking about how his dad's reacting on on screen and saying like you know I'm over this and that's like oh but can I just talk to you for like one more second it's like no like I don't know how I got into having this confrontation on TV I know because they it's interesting like I wonder why they both agreed to do it ultimately because if I were Dean I think I would have just been like no and I would have rejected it

or been like we can do my siblings but not my father yeah that would have been good what's good about the whole thing is that Dean has gotten closer to his siblings because of that. Yeah. Yeah, that is nice how it kind of like brought them back together. Yeah. But it's like just like a new precedent really. Really, really was. Of what hometowns are. They're going to want to have more complicated hometowns in the future considering this one's gotten so much buzz. I know. Well, it was just it was like, it was weird to watch like such a, it seemed like a genuine conversation. I don't know. You could just tell it was a different kind. This was a different dean than we had seen previously. So it was pretty clear to me that it was very authentic. But also, like, very attractive,

right? To see him be able to so maturely be able to handle his emotions and articulate himself like that. Yeah. You could tell he'd, like, been thinking about it and like exactly what he wanted to say. Yeah. I was impressed by his command on the situation. Command. That's a great word for it. And how he wasn't, like, how he was like hurt and mad, but it was not, but it seemed like very, like, reasoned. What has he, what, I don't want to make you speak for him, but like, what has he said about this experience. Like, has, like, do you know what it was like for him to rewatch the show? Just basically that he's talked to his, his siblings a little bit more, and that there's,

like, a little bit that was missing from the cut that he wished would have been in there. And he did wish that the friend part was in there because he also went to go hang out with friends before that. Right. I noticed that Rachel and Dean always drink champagne together. I think she just really like champagne. But they've had, like, three occasions on the season where they, like, it begins with them. I'm like popping a bottle of champagne, including this week.

And they're just like sitting on the hay in the middle of the field. Yeah. It was, I don't know. That must be her drink. Probably. It's basically my drink, too. I thought it was mine, but then I was drinking some last week and I had it really been hangover from the sugar. Yeah.

It's tough. You can't do it for too long because the sugar just really, really gets you. Yeah. So now Dean's out and he's going to Paradise. Yep. We'll talk more about that in a second, but first. Did you know that you can listen to Channel 33, Bachelor Party, this podcast? and others from the ringer family on Spotify.

Yes, the streaming service that you know and love for music is also fully loaded with podcasts. Find us in the podcast section within the browse tab when you're using Spotify on mobile or just by searching for Channel 33 Bachelor Party. While you're there, click to follow us to have our new episodes delivered right into your Spotify library. Head to Spotify.com slash podcast for more. Okay, and now I'm more with Ashley. Do you think for someone like Dean Paradise is a good idea? Yeah, he's like the girl's savior.

Who else are you going to want in Paradise? Is he there right now? Oh no, you were with him. Yeah. He's not right now. I don't know. He's done. Because, yeah, you're with him in Tahoe. Because they were filming and they stopped and they went back for another like two or three weeks. Yeah. I knew he was going to be on it because I saw pictures in the Daily Mail, like paparazzi shots. And I was like, oh, I think that's Dean.

Yeah. But it was interesting. So you do think it's good for someone like him. Because do you think he could be The Bachelor? Well, if he's going to be The Bachelor, then it would be a Nixon area where it's like, okay, let's give Dean a second chance to prove his maturity. to make sure the audience is totally invested in him. And then if things don't work out in paradise, then he can move on to be the Bachelor.

If, like, say, one of the other options doesn't really grab the audience's attention as much as they expected. Who do you think is best case scenario Bachelor right now? Well, I mean, of the three left. Yeah. I honestly, I would rather see, why am I having some hard time with this question?

I don't know. Because none of them would be good bachelors? No, no, no. I think it would be between Peter and Dean, but I feel like Dean might be more fun to watch, but I also know him as a person now, and I know that he can't get married in the next year. He can't get engaged in the next year. Well, it seems like he's got a lot to work through in his life in general. But also, how many guys are ready for that 26? Yeah, very cute. And he's a relatively fresh 26, too.

Sure. How long has he lived in L.A.? Two years. That's short, I feel like, for a 26-year-old. Yeah. I feel like he's still, like, living his best LA life. Oh, yeah. So that's why I'm saying Peter definitely. I just think Dean may be a little bit more engaging.

Yeah, Peter seems like he'd just be kind of boring. Also, the teeny boppers are all over Dean. They are. They're all over him. Yeah, because he just, he just has, like, he's pretty, you know? Yeah. Peter's more, like, ruggedly handsome. Oh, yeah.

He's so, Peter is for girls, like, 25 and older. Yeah. And Dean's for girls 25 and younger. Dean belongs on the cover. of like Tiger Beat magazine. Absolutely. And in a boy band. He's in my boy band,

in my bachelor boy band. Who else is in it? Nick Bial. Yeah, he might be the Justin Timberlake. Whoa. Jared's in it as like probably the Brian LaTrell. Oh my God.

Then now Dean's totally in it as the Joey McIntyre, the blue-eyed baby of the group. Okay. And... Wow, is a real mashup. Yeah. Who is my...

That's three. That's three. You need a Joey Faton. I know I'm not... Joey Faton. Could be Tanner. I love Tanner. Everyone speaks so highly of Tanner.

Oh my God, he's the greatest person. Everyone just loves Tanner. Yeah. So it could be Tanner. Oh, Ben is obviously in it. So Ben is, who's Ben? Ben H. We're talking about.

My Ben. Your Ben. Yes. Our Ben. Our Ben. Who does he fit as? Kind of like... I think the Kevin.

I think because... Kevin Richardson? Yes. Did you ever watch the Backshut Boys documentary? Yes. So much you guys. or so much you made of. Yeah, he was like very fatherly. And the winner of that documentary is Kevin 100%.

It's such a good documentary. I don't watch it again. He comes across as just like a great. I've talked about the Backshy Boys more on this podcast than like I ever expected to. I just love them. Anyway, Ben is the Kevin. He's respectful. But I could also say he's the Donnie Wahlberg where he can like really guide them and really be the spokesperson for the group. Interesting. What's your favorite boy band?

I can't decide. Oh, mine's clearly the Backshue Boys. But anyway, that's a good, that would be a good. We have one spot open. It may be for Tanner. Okay. But one spot, you know, not one. That's another good idea, though.

They should take, like, five, like a real friend group that's come out of Bachelor Nation and do, like, a real world kind of thing with them. That's my idea for a spinoff is just called, like, Bachelor the After Show, and it's just all of us hanging out. Because I hang out with at least one Bachelor family member each week and just tape it in our conversations. Oh, my God, you have the next great Vanderpump Rules, the Hills, whatever. Seriously.

Who do you hang out with the most? Well, probably Jared. Even though he lives in Boston? Yeah, I see him at least once a month. Where? Like appearances? We always, there's always something. Okay. And so I guess it's a toss-up between Jade.

I see her all the time, even though she lives in Kansas City. So that's going to change when she has a kid. She can't travel as much. I'm so not, I mean, like, I'm so excited for the Supreme Being to enter the world. But it's going to be weird because I don't have any friends who have kids. She's my first friend who has a kid. It's cool. It is?

Yeah, I have a bunch of friends with kids. It's pretty cool. I mean, the kid's going to be amazing. Yeah, and so you'll just hang out with Jade and the kid. Okay. It'll be fun. Okay, so my best friends are Jade, Jared, and then I hang out with Ben, obviously a lot and Becca. So I'd say those are my four.

And then Nick and I used to hang out a lot more before, you know, he was engaged. Do you guys watch The Bachelor together? No. Do you talk about the current season together? Not like the actual episode, but we'll talk about the people on it. Got it. So it's more about like the expanding family rather than the show itself. Yeah.

In general, do you know if your fellow Bachelor Nation Denz has liked the season? You mean my fellow Bachelor Nation family members? Yeah. Just kind of curious, like what the insiders say. You know, it's interesting because I would say Jared probably doesn't love it. He hasn't been following it very closely. Uh-huh. And I haven't talked about it with Jade.

Okay. I've talked about it with Becca a little bit, but Becca and I mainly just as like, like, basically, like, how hot is Dean and Peter? Right. That's the conversations we have. How integrated is Dean now? And, like... He's totally integrated in my friend circle. He's just in.

Everyone likes him. It's an L.A. thing, too, is because, like, the more people you can converse with on a regular basis, the more you're going to, like, infiltrate faster. But, like, Dean, I've, like, got a text from him, like, for at least, like, one thing. a day for the past week. Wow. You guys are tight. Yeah.

Is there a future for you and Dean? I don't think so. I don't know. I'm not saying. I don't think so. I'm just saying everything is fresh and let him have his fun days. Okay. Yeah.

Well, as long as you don't try to wipe him up in the next year, maybe there could be a future for you guys. That's impossible. Were you sad to see him go this week? I mean, I guess you knew it was coming. I did know it was coming. Did he, in your friendship with him, did he reveal to you when he got kicked off? I didn't meet him until a week ago. Oh.

But I know. That's how fast it happens when you, like, stay over in Tahoe with somebody for three days. So were you there for a bachelor function? Sort of, kind of. We just did a couple sponsored things while we were there. I see. I also love Luke. Luke is the greatest.

He's got such a bad rap sometimes. Yeah, because of everything that happened with him not getting him to be the bachelor. Yeah. He's got a really bad reputation. But it's ridiculous. So you think he's a nice guy? He's so nice. Should he be a bachelor?

And yeah, I think he'd be a great backup. Okay. I think he'd be such a good backup. Okay. Yeah. Well, I don't think there's a clear choice right now, so maybe it could be Luke. Although I don't, it doesn't seem like he's in good graces with Bachelor Nation and with the Bachelor producers. I would say that would be the reason he wouldn't become one. Yeah. And it seems like it was an acrimonious split when they ended up going with Nick over him, which I was happy about.

I was obviously happy in the moment because Nick and I are far closer. Right. And I had been like with Nick for a year and a half, you know, leading up to that. And with Luke, I see him like every couple months, but I always enjoy when we're hanging out. Wow, that's a big endorsement for Luke. He's so studly. Luke? Yeah. I have a feeling that many of the people on this show are more attractive in person than they are on TV.

Or like one way or the other. Either way more attractive in person or way more attractive on TV and nothing's like really accurate. Everybody always says they're better looking in person. But I also think everybody looks pretty beautiful on TV. I mean, it's usually good lighting. That's true. The lighting is unbelievable. Do you know that they put a filter on the ground? girls faces and not on the guys. They do. And in our ITMs are in the moment interviews. The girls have a little bit of a soft filter on them and the guys are just straight rugged. Fascinating. That's very nice actually. When people come up to me and they're like, oh my God, you're prettier in real life. And I'm like, really? Because I feel way better about myself on TV. I think you look about the same.

Okay. Thank you. I think your makeup actually looks better in real life. I think I've turned it down so much more since season one. It's so funny to watch season one and to like see my crazy eyelashes. and like my heavy contour. I'm just like, oh, you grew up. Yeah, that's great. Yeah. It is good. It's funny, like, when you watch Hometowns,

is it different for you to watch that than the other series of episodes because you didn't make it to hometown? Yeah, that's so funny. It's like when I have to comment on it, like I'd access Hollywood a couple days ago, they're like, so what about this hometown? Like, what can you give us a screw about hometown?

I'm like, this is really like the only thing I really don't have personal experience on. Yeah, yeah, it's interesting. What do you, if you didn't want your, family to be on the show. What would have been your strategy? Oh, well, I definitely wanted my family on the show. I knew that that was going to be like a winning thing. Why Lauren came on. Yeah, totally. Yes. Lauren was the exception to every role. If I didn't want my family on, what would I do? Like, did Dean have any options? I read that apparently in shows past, they haven't

always made them meet the family. And don't quote me on this, but I do believe that Melissa Rycroft, she didn't have a real traditional hometown. I didn't watch back then. I don't remember. That was a good season because of what happened at the end. Well, I remember what... What happened in the end of hers? Oh, that was Jason selected her.

And then after the final rose, he went with Molly. And they're still together, so it worked out. So juicy. Really good. I really like Jason at the time. I actually liked them still. I like him now. I've met him once. It's very, very friendly. They seem like a good...

They seem like very Seattle to me in, like, a good way. That's interesting. I remember, like, Dez's hometown was like a total... a disaster. That's probably the other hometown. Oh my God, that was so bad. Yeah, when Sean Lowe did it kind of fight with her brother. Yeah. Crazy man. I think those are kind of like the two that I'll always remember. Deans is so much sadder. The thing that was tough about watching the Dean episode of the Dean stuff is like at the heart of it is like a sad story of like this family that just couldn't recover from a death. You know what I mean? So sad. And it just sort of like

that kind of for me goes along with what was happening this season in general where it's like it's riveting television, but then you step back and you're just like, well, actually, I didn't find, I did not find a lot of this stuff riveting. But in general, there's like sort of this like surprising things happening on TV, like the race stuff or like the weird fighting with Lee, and then the stuff with Dean. And you're just like, wow, like, I can't believe this is on TV. And then I'm like, but do I feel comfortable watching this? Like, to a certain extent, I'm just like, is this okay? I think the only thing that really has like, is this okay or is this not okay?

It's definitely the Dean thing. The other stuff, I feel like it starts a good conversation. Yeah, that's fair. It's also just like, yeah, it's just been a real roller coaster of like questions this season since the scandal stuff broke. So you were on Paradise twice. Yep. And I recall last time we were here, you told me like you only have like three drinks the entire time.

Yeah, I don't ever, I don't drink very often in general in life. And then when I'm on the show. Any substances? You smoke weed? No, I've never smoked weed in my life. What? Yeah. You're just basically like just walking the line. You know, you don't need any substances is what you're saying. No. Okay.

So on, you know, on the show, I drink a little bit more than usual because I have this rule in my life. If I'm not with a hot guy, what's the point of feeling tipsy? Like, really? I don't need. I can have a glass of wine. Like two nights ago, I had a sangriette dinner, but there's no need for more than two. Sure. Or even two for me. if I'm not going to be, like, flirting with a hot guy. Right.

So you just want it as liquid courage. Right. I need it as a little bit of, like, social lubricant. Right. So this weekend in Tahoe, I went crazy. Right. Because Dean was there. I was same much between Dean and Luke, so I just kept drinking.

So were you, when you heard what happened, were you surprised? Like, was there anything, like, in your experience that you were like, oh, this could shut down production? Well, I was there. No way. That's what I, like, said over and over again. I was like, I've never seen a friend of mine or just even a non-friend of mine because I guess I'm not best friends with everyone drink in a bachelor environment and seem like they were out of control. I also wasn't there for Chad last year. So that may have been the only moment I would have thought otherwise.

But I've really never seen a friend of mine drunk. Uh-huh. So then you must have been surprised when you saw the hit canceled it. Yeah, I mean, I definitely. Because I'm also somebody who's like totally you have to take responsibility for own actions. So I was like, oh, you drank too much and then you made a student mistake. I don't know.

Did you feel away about both of them? I feel like, I don't know. I wasn't there. I feel like I can't really talk. Yeah. Yeah. It's just a tricky situation. Are you excited to watch the season?

Oh, yeah. Very excited. It'll be nice to watch something that I'm not a part of. Did you consider going back for a third time? No, it's not that I would ever cross it out in the very, in the further future. But this season, I was definitely like, I'm not doing. No, not your jam. No, nor was I asked.

Enough. What reality TV show do you want to be on? Nothing. I'm just like really happy with the way like my hosting career is going right now. Yeah, you've got a lot going on. I got a lot going on. You have almost famous. Yes.

And I have my other I don't get a podcast, which is more about like girl problems. So with your sister? Yeah. And my best friend, Nas, who's a former best. producer. Oh, cool. And then I'm, you know, Access Hollywood's beat reporter, basically, for The Bachelor. And then I also work at Clever TV amongst a multitude of other little things that pop up my life every week. Cool. And then you also write recaps. And then I do write my recaps for Cosmopolitan. So much Bachelor news. Seriously. Yeah. What are the other shows that you're really into?

Mostly scripted. I don't watch a whole ton of reality shows besides The Bachelor. You know, it's the Kardashians. It's The Bachelor. Sure. And I, I don't. I, I like, you know, Grays Anatomy and Scandal, and I watch Nashville. They filmed Scandal here on this lot. I know. You told me last time. That's so exciting. I don't think it's in production right now.

I haven't seen it lately. No, it's not. They probably will start up any time, any day. You can come back and visit. Okay. That's so exciting. I see Carrie walking around the lot. So cool.

And the president. Oh, you know, I love fits. Yeah, he's handsome. He seems like really nice, too. He does seem nice. He does seem nice. Very friendly with people as they walk by. It gives you a nice smile.

Oh, that's because he's the president. Yeah. He's got it all. Totally. I believe that he is his character. And then I also, I mean, I'm going to miss girls. Me too. Those are my favorites.

Me too. Let's get back to Who Should Be The Bachelor. Okay. I just, I don't know. It's kind of like the burning question right now. We're going to write about this on the ring around a couple days, too. I would say that if Ben hadn't recently broke up with Lauren, that he could have been an option as like the second Brad Walmack.

Yeah, that's come up a couple times. But I don't think yet. And I don't think Ben would ever do it. I don't think he would either. That's what I was talking about last week on this pod and I was just saying I don't think he would agree to it. No, I don't think so. What about Jared?

Well, let's just not throw Jared's name out there. We all know I couldn't emotionally handle that. Would you go on the show if Jared was The Bachelor? No. But you know what would happen? What if they kind of like try to convince you to like show up like Andy style like she did for next season? If they were like Ashley.

I would definitely do that. Week four, show up to Jared's hotel. Just to give him advice to see how he's been holding up. Yeah. Yeah, I would do that. That'd be funny. And then throw yourself into the mix. But here's the deal.

If Jared were to be The Bachelor, I would have to be The Bachelor at Following. Now, that would be funny TV. That would be good. What if you guys did it at the same time? Oh, my God. There you go. There's the mix-up we've been needing. Yeah, like, it could be both of you.

Then you could, like, consult with each other. Yeah, and in the end, we'd probably just pick each other. I'd say it. And then it would become a romantic comedy. Yeah. And be like, none of these people, we just want to be with each other. Wait a second. Producers.

I'm going to see you tomorrow. I'm definitely throwing this. out there. I actually think that's a good idea to do the guy and the girl concurrently. And they can be like roommates and like talk it out with each other. I think we just hit gold here. I think so too. I think that's actually a good idea.

People would be into that because even if they weren't into me as the bachelorette, they'd still want to see Jared as a bachelor and then kind of vice versa. Yeah, exactly. Because he's like the stable one that he won't be all over with his emotions and then I'll switch it up on the other like hour and be all crazy. Yeah, exactly. Balance. And then the two hours. is a lot. They could cut out a lot of filler and just sort of be like going back and forth between

your dating and Jared's dating. Yeah. It would work really well. We could just have one day each week, no group dates. Yeah, absolutely. Boom. And would you have his girls and your guys know know each other? Because I think yes. Oh my God, you know what would happen is like they'd all end up with each other. And then Jared and I would be, you know, quotes stuck with each other in the end. I think there just needs to be more traps for people to get like distracted or like make mistakes or whatever. That would kind of bring paradise to The Bachelor, too, because there would be more opportunities for hookups. It's a really good idea. This is genius.

I mean, we're going to have to give you a producer credit. Thank you. Yeah. And it happened. Please think of me. Okay. One more time. Tell me your Bachelor pick, and then we're wrapping this up.

Okay. My Bachelor pick is got to be Peter if he doesn't win. Peter. Okay. Mine's Jared. Ashley. You've been a great guest. Thank you for coming.

I will take you up on your offer to appear on your podcast. Okay. Whenever you extend it. Yeah. Thank you to Hotel Tonight. Oh, Hotel Tonight is a great app. It is a great app. I love the fact that I can use my Apple ID wallet and just get the hotel right there just with my thumbprint instead of going on Hotels.com and typing in all my info.

I know. It's just a great app. It's a great app. So thanks to Hotel Tonight. Thanks again to Ashley. She's going to use it for when she and Jared run away together when they're filming their show. And I'll be back next week for the final three. Thank you for listening. And don't forget to check out the other Ringer podcasts. Bye. Remember, things change, the weather changes. Your mood definitely changes. So why lock yourself into plans that might change?

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