In total, there have been 21 seasons of The Bachelor, 12 seasons of The Bachelorette, three seasons of Bachelor Pad and three seasons of Bachelor in Paradise. That means we've had a whopping 39 chances to fall in love with The Bachelor franchise and witness some of the most dramatic and hilarious moments in reality television history. The Bachelor franchise, to put it simply, has become an American classic. The show brings the country together every Monday night in the most unexpected and outrageous ways, showing us that we NEED The Bachelor as much as it needs us.
1. The Bachelor reminds us we aren’t crazy.
We need The Bachelor franchise because of it’s crazy contestants. Between the incessant tear shedding, bottle popping and name calling, it feels nice to know that there are people out there in this world a lot crazier than we are. It also makes us feel better to watch a stranger’s train wreck of a life spiral out of control instead of our own.
2. It brings the country together.
Whether you love The Bachelor contestants or hate them, you’re still talking about them until next Monday night. Most of the time, the nation will come together to hate on somebody. When Brad Womack didn’t give out his final rose in season 11 (gasp!), he was known to some as the most hated man in America. Although this isn’t the best way to bring people together, it definitely does the trick.
3. The show reminds us to root for the underdog.
Let’s face it – when it comes to finding the one we love, we play favorites. There’s always a clear winner in mind one way or another, but The Bachelor franchise has shown us that the odds can sometimes be in favor of the underdog. We were all blind-sided in season nine of The Bachelorette when Brooks Forester, the clear front-runner and obvious choice, decided to leave. Fortunately, this made way for underdog Chris Siegfried to come forward and win Desiree’s heart. Today, Des and Chris are married and have one child, proving that the underdogs can surprise us and be the ones to beat all along.
4. We remember love does exist.
Just because these people are finding love on a reality show doesn’t mean the relationship is doomed from the start. The Bachelor reminds us that its okay to put yourself out there and try to find true love, no matter how foolish or impossible it may seem. There are no rules in finding the love of your life, and although it’s not guaranteed to work out, there’s always a chance it might.
The Bachelor franchise is refreshing, brings us to our senses and makes us feel like we can be unstoppable for a little while. We allow the show to carry us through our week on a cloud of emotion and excitement, meanwhile, we carry the show itself by giving it incredible ratings. The show has been around for 15 years and represents an iconic combination of romance, comedy and drama that is hard to find elsewhere. The Bachelor is much more than a guilty pleasure - it’s a part of what makes Americans, both young and old, believe in themselves, believe in each other, and of course, believe in love.
