Recently, JoJo’s season of "The Bachelorette" kicked off with an eventful first night. Following her breakup with Ben on the season finale of "The Bachelor," fans have been rooting for JoJo Fletcher to once again find love. During Monday's season premiere, we watched anxiously as JoJo met the 26 men competing for her heart, and in typical bachelor/bachelorette fashion, drama ensued.
As someone who has followed "The Bachelor" franchise for years, I have come to know the types of guys that viewers can expect to see on the first night of any "Bachelorette" season. And this season is no exception.
1. The Drunken Date
After a combined 31 seasons of "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette," it seems a first night cocktail party is incomplete without a drunken contestant wreaking havoc on the event. Over the years, contestants have started fights, exhibited lascivious behavior, made threats of violence, and spent the night crying on the bathroom floor (I’m sure we all remember Victoria from Juan Pablo’s season). No matter how you spin it, a belligerent guest is an unwelcome guest. This season, the “Drunken Date” was not one contestant, but three. While many of the guys were considerably intoxicated throughout the evening, Vinny, Nick S., and Daniel proved to be the most problematic.
While giving an interview, JoJo was interrupted by the drunken duo of Vinny and Nick S. who were hoping to score some alone time with her. After an uncomfortable exchange, the two left, leaving JoJo in disbelief of what had just occurred. Daniel was problematic in more ways than one, stirring up trouble from the moment he stepped inside. Early on, Daniel began to spiral out of control, poking other contestants and creating tension among the men. His downward spiral ultimately ended with him stripping down to his briefs and taking a dive in the pool. In most cases, drunken contestants are among the first to be sent home, yet in a surprising turn of events, JoJo presented both Vinny and Daniel with roses.
2. The Cocky Courter
In a room full of eligible bachelors, there is bound to be a contestant who believes he’s all that and a bag of chips. This season’s “Cocky Courter” is Chad, a 28-year-old luxury real estate agent who believes his greatest achievement is “being born good looking.” Yuck! Chad waltzed in with his nose in the air, spewing hateful comments about the other contestants,while masquerading as vulnerable and sweet when in the presence of JoJo. Chad even went so far as to compare himself to the bachelorette’s recent ex-boyfriend, Ben Higgins, saying that Ben was not a real man. In several interviews given throughout the night, he boasted that JoJo would never marry any of the other “unworthy” contestants as they didn’t have what he did. However, in my opinion, if they’re lacking a bad personality and deceptive nature, they may be better off.
3. The Awkward Admirer
While first dates are often awkward, some contestants push discomfort to its limit. The title of “Awkward Admirer” goes to Will, a 26-year-old civil engineer. During their one-on-one time, Will brought out a cootie catcher, a paper fortune teller often used in children’s games. Disguised as playful and cute, the cootie catcher was rigged to tell JoJo that a kiss was in her future. The two shared an uncomfortable and obviously unwanted kiss, and JoJo left feeling very uneasy about the encounter.
4. The Entrance Expert
The first night is critical, as it is the contestant’s chance to make a name for themselves and begin to get to know the bachelorette. If you want to stand out amongst 25 other men, first impressions are extremely important. While most men opt for a cheesy opening line, sweet story, or small gift to make an impression, some pull out all the stops to make a memorable entrance. While Luke rode in on a “unicorn” and Nick B. dressed as Santa and came bearing gifts, this season’s “Entrance Expert” is Wells. Wells stepped out of the limo with popular 90s a capella group All-4-One, who serenaded JoJo with their hit song, “I Swear.” Wells headed into the cocktail party leading the pack with a strong first impression.
5. The Fan Favorite
In the Bachelorette biz, fan favorites are established pretty quickly. On night one, Jordan and JoJo instantly connected. Their one-on-one conversation flowed naturally as if they had known one another all their lives. The two parted ways having found an obvious chemistry between them, though Jordan felt he missed the perfect opportunity for a kiss. Later in the evening the two reconnected and shared a romantic first kiss, earning him the title of “Fan Favorite” as well as securing the first impression rose.
6. The Problem Child
You either love them or you love to hate them. Hated contestants are established just as quickly as favorites on "The Bachelorette." Each season comes with a problematic contestant that fans want to see eliminated. This season, “The Problem Child” is Daniel, a 31-year-old male model whose cattiness is unparalleled. Throughout the evening, Daniel could often be found making immature and hateful comments about other contestants and generally behaving like a young child. Unsurprisingly, Daniel was also dubbed the “Drunken Date,” and he was unpleasant in all aspects.
Though Daniel was the obvious “Problem Child” in the first episode, previews hinted that Chad may soon give him a run for his money when his cocky attitude leads to violence down the road.
