kazza

Oops! Yes, meant Luke. Fixed in post - thank you for catching it!

I don't remember the last time I laughed as much during an episode of The Bachelorette. Cringed, maybe, but this was full-on glee. Memorable moments: JoJo's "and now I say goodbye to you" to Chad and walks off with Alex. Damn. I thought at least she'd walk him out. The voiceover of JoJo during the group date "even Chad's having fun" - cutover to Chad eating by himself. Derek using his spatula to stab something on the stove while Chad's talking at him. Tiny, plastic shot cups at the pool party, the kind you get at a Costco sample counter. Wells still wearing his football jersey at the house. Were his clothes lost or did he just like the jersey? Other random thoughts: Love, love, love Luke. I think Jordan's F1 (wrapping her legs around him said it all), but I'd take Luke and his maturity and life experience any day. He looks a bit like Willem Dafoe. Chase looks a little like Tanner. Ali looked like such a sweet guy. I wish we saw more of him. Who knew Daniel would be one of the more easy going guys in the house? Granted, Chad shouldn't have threatened the guys, but why didn't they just laugh it off? Or once he told them to not speak to him ... just not speak to him? There were more of them than him. Good call on leaving the house and going into a more natural setting. The scenery was gorgeous. Has JoJo even spoken with Vinny the Barber?

Interesting! I had a coworker in sales who would constantly touch his nose while writing emails. Makes sense now. JoJo is very good at making guys feel comfortable -- interlocking fingers, neck caressing. It's a genuine warmth, and no coincidence that she was also Ben's "go to" person. It'll be interesting to how it plays out over the weeks, though, as the men start getting eliminated. Luke looks like a former boyfriend. Not just mine. Everyone's. Dangerous. Chad is totally a plant. I loved that he chowed down at the buffet. Why don't more people eat? As is Daniel. She couldn't even feign her disgust last week as Daniel gave her a peck on the cheek after getting the last rose. And loved her "up for anything" attitude with Christian and the tub.

Me three. I sense insecurity and a smidge of tying her self-worth with how attractive guys find her. She certainly was much more aware of Ben's needs than the other women were, and while I don't doubt they certainly had a connection, it seems she put way more into creating that connection than he did. While I personally would have preferred the more reserved, elegant Caila, I do think JoJo would be a good bachelorette. She's well-spoken, fun, and clearly beautiful. Hopefully it'll also allow her to understand she doesn't have to please a guy to get him to like her. She can be just her. Ok, off my self-empowerment soapbox now!

Ben reminds me so much of a former co-worker, also in his mid-20s when I knew him. Great first impression, polite, sensitive, and a seemingly nice guy until there was an issue. Then, it was *always* someone else's problem. Zero personal responsibility / empathy for others. I see some of the same behavior with Ben - getting upset at Jubilee's (very real) reactions, pushing Caila to emote. If he's not feeling it with one of the ladies, he should own it. No one's expecting him to fall in love with 26 women. Just don't blame the woman. I wouldn't be surprised if one of the two remaining women did something "wrong" (in his eyes) during their final dates, which will form the basis of elimination. My hunch is JoJo will be the unlucky recipient of blame. Lauren has played this very smoothly.

Just to add to this, and also filed under "things I can't believe I know" ... "Alpha Fee" is the "official" pronunciation for the sorority name. I am not sure of the origin, but it is how they choose to be called. I liked Lace in this episode. We'll see how much her work on herself has stuck, but I'm rooting for her. Honestly, though, if I were her, and serious about self-improvement, I'd stay far away from anything in this franchise. But hey, to each her own, and I hope she gets what she wants.

What's going on back home? I really enjoy Sharna's choreography. She makes the dance fun to watch without making it ALL ABOUT HER. I, too, loved the very real moment when she took charge, looked directly into Nick's eyes, and got him through the dance.

It bummed me out to see Alexa go. She seems like a nice person with real struggles that she is learning to overcome. I would have loved to see her go all the way. Her dancing is strong, and as much as this show *should* be about dancing only, I find her journey just as compelling. Mark seems good for her, too. In past seasons I've found him petulant and self-centered but have been impressed both this season and last (with Willow) by his maturity. I believe him when he said Alexa was a friend for life. Who is voting for Carlos? Serious question. Is his fanbase that large? This probably makes me a small person, but Bindi's "I LOVE YOU!!!!" to everyone around her grates on my nerves. I'm giggling out loud thinking what would happen if I screamed that at everyone in my workplace. (Yes, granted, not the same situation, but ... ) Yet, still I find myself drawn to her routines. Alek is not improving. He may stick around to the finals with the hero vote, which would be disappointing to the better dancers. Tamar needs to rethink her priorities for the next few weeks. This was not some triumphant return after a week of rest and relaxation. Still, loved the vulnerability she showed this week, and it made her appear more human. It's OK not to be superwoman all the time !! Not sure how to take Val's response to learning they were safe. I think he audibly shouted, "WHAT?" Can't help but think perhaps it would be better to bow out now, unless some real changes are made to her schedule. It must be frustrating for Val to see someone with so much potential not spending nearly enough time to focus on the dancing. That may explain some of his comments. I was never a BSB fan so did not really know Nick prior to the show. I enjoy his dancing, though, and his years of performing clearly show. While he may not be the best dancer, he's got polish. He and Sharna are the couple I really enjoy watching. Who should be Top 3: Bindi, Nick, Tamar Who will be Top 3: Bindi, Nick, Alek

I'm ashamed to say that I'm loving the entire evening. It's a pop culture lover's dream night. Schmaltzy 80s nostalgia, check. Ridiculous, cheesy interpretations of Madonna, check. OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN, check. I can't wait for the Saturday Night Fever interpretation. They should just have an entire show of celebrities interpreting dances, kind of like lip-sync battle. And "Paula Deen knows something about splicing the beats". Tom Bergeron is the best.

I did too. It was nice to see the role reversal to comic effect: Vance: "Who's going in first?" Gibbs: (stare) Vance: "YOU, of course...I meant, how do you want to do this?" Like others have mentioned, the plot wasn't exactly tight, but enjoyable enough. Loved the end when the team explained to SecNav what "happened". Also not sure why SecNav is a jerk all the time. These are the good guys. DiNozzo crossover on NCIS:LA - squee! I thought LA wasn't really part of the family anymore, though. What happened to Jimmy Palmer? Have we seen him at all this season?

Nice old-fashioned, stand-alone episode with no ties to anyone's past (I'm not counting the random story about Tony looking for ties to British royalty.) McGee kissing Bishop undercover gave me the icks. I get it's part of the act, but ew. Can't we just let Eliie and Jake be a stable, happy couple? Loved the shout out to "Man from U.N.C.L.E" on the theater marquee behind the coffee shop, where McGee ran into the imposter wife.

Me too. When I first read what song she would be dancing to, I cringed. In her intro package, though, she mentioned dancing to 'a beautiful song called Every Breath You Take', which made me think that she may not be familiar with the song and the intended meaning of the lyrics. Very smart of Sharna and Nick to pull out all the stops for 'Most Memorable Year'. Not sure how jazzy it was, but, boy, was it a fan favorite. I wasn't even a fangirl and couldn't help but love it. Poor Alek. His face said it all. Props to him for staying authentic and not putting on a smile just for tv. Gary, you need to learn to respect others, brain damage or not. If he can learn and remember choreography he can learn and remember to stop talking when the host needs to cut back to something else. Paula's got great legs!! Unsurprisingly she avoided her recent troubles - which she likely prefers to forget. We'll see if her fan base shows up. Alexa and Carlos ... aren't compelling. I'm not drawn to watch them. I don't know if it's their backstory or their performances but they don't interest me like some of the others do.

Another vote for a meh episode. Too much from the past and too heavy. Even the brief moments of levity seemed forced (comparing Gibbs pre/post makeover, Abby's platform-shoe-injured fingers) I'm hoping at least this episode is part of a larger arc. Looking forward to next week's episode, when McGee and Bishop go undercover. I really hope it doesn't lead to an Ellie/Jake breakup, though.

I can't believe Abby's comment about Gibbs having his own Ducky completely went over my head!! My 80s self is so upset at me right now. Overall thought it was a decent episode and, like others have said, happy that they closed the book on Daniel. I was surprised at the abrupt transition from Gibbs on the operating table to Gibbs walking into the bullpen. I kept waiting for them to blur the screen and explain it as another dream during surgery. I like the character of Taft, the quirky, brilliant surgeon, but am having a hard time with Jon Cryer in the role. I keep seeing Alan Harper and expect some quip about being cheap. Or perhaps because of his youthful face I can't see him as a celebrated surgeon. He's supposed to be on for 3 episodes, so hopefully that perception will change as I am looking forward to what looks like a growing relationship between him and Gibbs. While complete opposites externally, it appears they share similar pain. Did anyone catch what Taft said when he mentioned the age gap between him and the others in the operating room? He made some cultural reference to the 70s or 80s and looked around the room for anyone who knew what he was talking about. I laughed out loud and then promptly forgot it, which probably says something about _my_ age.

OK, I am finally caught up on all the episodes from last week. I was a little surprised at how bitter Carly was on AP. Yes, I get she was blindsided, but after some time away from 'Paradise', I'd think she would get some perspective at how extreme the situation was. Kirk absolutely messed up in his delivery, but he owned up to it on the show which is much bigger than many guys would have done. As others have mentioned, it's likely her anger was driven by her own embarrassment. I really hope she finds peace if even for her own benefit. I like Jane and Tanner. Wouldn't have picked the 2 of them at the start, but they look great together. Tenley is so sweet. I find it hard to believe she doesn't have her pick of great guys in the real world. It sounded like even Justin couldn't be mad at her.

Pardon my ignorance, but is the middle seat always head judge? From my untrained eye, it felt like Bruno was much more like Len in his techinical comments. Like the wide range of skills and background and hoping we get someone who improves every week and enjoys the journey. Bindi was so cute. Can't help but like her. Paula Deen, you do not need to be crass all the time. I don't care if it's just your style or if it was calculated, but it's not necessary. You are in a beautiful gown with a respected dance partner. The husband/wife team needs to tone it down a notch. When Meryl and Charlie competed (and granted not the same relationship but still a very tight partnership) it was very fun and light.

I can see that. She tends to romanticize situations so it wouldn't be a stretch to imagine that she wants her first time to be absolutely perfect. Whereas for Becca, it really wasn't a big deal, for Ashley I, it *is* a big deal. That's the impression I had too. Nick seemed to be in a hurry to tell her he wanted to go on a date with Chelsie. If they really were up until 6am filming and drinking, it's reasonable to think she probably wasn't feeling her best and wanted just 10 minutes to get herself mentally together. When she finally did sit down with Nick, she didn't have makeup on. I actually kind of liked this real glimpse into a human reaction to having cameras around all the time, and I really liked that Ashley S took her time.

Wasn't Chelsie the one with the fear of heights? It seems to have gone away as she jumped off the yacht without any issues. I also recall her to be fairly normal but seems much ditzier here. Ashley S looks better hungover than most people do on a good day. Shut up Carly. Don't be catty about Ashley S and then pretend to be her friend. Shut up Nick. There is never a reason to tell a girl she smells like a brewery. Dan has gone from obscure guy from past season to 'how did we miss this great guy' to 'was this guy always that self-righteous'. For all of Ashley I's drama, she does really seem well-liked by the others. Even Joe seems relaxed around her. She actually seems like a sweet (albeit silly) girl, unlike Carly. Justin looks like he could be a Jolie-Pitt. I know lots of folks can't stand Tenley's saccharine sweetness, but I like that she genuinely seems like a glass half full person. Who was Amber again? I actually really enjoy the parts where the girls (or guys) from the same season hang out. It gives us a glimpse into what must be a lot of time just spending time with one another, when TB is out on a date. This is neither here nor there, but I cannot watch the disastrous pyramid in the series intro without laughing out loud. Every time. And I do like that Jared was trying to help up (I think) Jonathan after he'd presumably fell off the pyramid. He seems like a nice guy.

Brilliant. I was just coming to post this. Hated Jade and Carly snarking on Ashley S, and I'm usually Team Carly. Calling someone crazy is mean. I'm not even convinced they really believe it. It's just an easy stance to take, because that's what herd mentality does. I find it interesting that we have yet to hear any real snark from Ashley S. It could be that she's getting a nice edit (ahem, Chris Harrison) or perhaps she has more interesting aspects of her personality to showcase than the ability to make shallow, petty comments or - gasp! - could she be just a decent human being? I find her genuining refreshing. What if all of the contestants were just as nice and quirky and beautiful? That would be a different show. No, we wouldn't have the tears of Ashley I or the embarrassing idiocy of Megan but do we really need more of that?

Agree. I'm guessing Ashley S is doing her own hair and makeup, because even in the shots where she's hanging out in obvious humidity she still looks relatively fresh. She's really the only one who looks consistently good. And yes, Ashley S can do way better than Dan. I still think Chris Harrison has a thing for her. He even joked on the last After Paradise about not wanting to do any more shows without Ashley S. This season's conflicts makes me feel mildly uncomfortable rather than intrigued. The Juelia/Samantha dynamic. Joe/everyone. Jared/Ashley I/Clare. It's bad drama.

This seems par for the course for Clare. IIRC, she's the baby of the family and probably connects being taken care off with love. During Juan Pablo's season, I believe she made a huge fuss about trying squid and getting attention for it from JP. It's cute for a little while, but I'd guess around the early 30s it starts getting old. Just my guess. It makes sense to me that Jared would opt for Ashley I. She's immature and a drama queen and a bit spoiled, but she's basically harmless because she's shallow. And from what we can see, she does have strong family connections and appears to be liked (or at least not disliked) by the other women. Ashley I is a fun and silly fling. Clare has deeper issues. I still hope Clare finds love. Just not sure BiP has the right guys for her.

Finding it hard to muster any sympathy for Nick. He absolutely knew what he was getting into, and (again) is upset because the outcome wasn't what he wanted. There must be more to him than we've seen. A former co-worker of mine had a similar sensitive/shy charm that covered a brilliantly passive-aggressive manipulative personality. He was relentless in his pursuit of the best project, office, resources ..etc. and had a near-perfect MO to bait people into lashing out at him. After a couple of interactions, most people ended up avoiding him or just giving him whatever he wanted. I wouldn't be surprised if Nick had a similar effect on the other guys, though, unfortunately in this situation it wasn't possible to avoid him nor give him what he wanted.

It really just seems to me that she's bought into the complete fantasy world of hot! guys! wanting! you! all the time! Add alcohol 24/7, and I'm not surprised we're seeing what we're seeing. In past seasons, when a Bachelor/ette was having a hard time, they would bring in a friend or a trusted advisor to act as a sounding board. Heck, even Chris Harrison has been MIA. I agree it seems something is up. Either she picked her F1 way early and they're editing the story to the nines or else they've decided to go completely rogue.

Girl, if a guy is not sure he can go through with a show premise that he consciously signed up for, the answer is "don't let the door hit you on the way out" Not "you're freeeeeeeaaking me out"

If this was the Bachelor, and one of the women acted like Shawn, she would be sent home (under the guise of leaving on her own). Oh, wait, that was Britt. Thankful we had relatively little of Nick this week. Though it still cracks me up how his eyes bugged out when Kaitlyn suggested they go back to her hotel room. I can't get on the Jared bandwagon. Perfectly fun guy, but I don't buy for a minute he's into Kaitlyn. JJ. Think it must stand for Justa Jerk. Cheated on his wife (who was either pregnant or just had a baby if their child is now 3) and feels the need to come clean about it on national TV. Joe. The new holder of the "why am I still here" baton, ceremoniously handed over by Tanner. Tanner. How little we knew of you, but it was all good. Don't be a stranger. Ben H. If he isn't F1, just give him The Bachelor now. Chris. Oh, Chris. Didn't see the cliff-crying coming at all. And why is it when guys cry they always refer to themselves by name? Ben Z. 1st runner up for next season of The Bachelor, should Ben H not be able to fulfill his duties. Kaitlyn. Wow. From all jokes and bawdy humor to crying, crying, crying. In her defense, this cannot be an easy situation for even the strongest characters. Still, I could have done without the "you're freeeeeaking me out" whining. All in all, a meh episode.