"The Bachelor." "The Bachelorette." "Bachelor in paradise." It's the franchise that America loves to hate, yet a huge part of pop culture today.

I remember being 11 years old and watching Ali Fedotowsky's season of "The Bachelorette" with my best friend. I was in love with Ali (I still am) and also in love with Chris Harrison. It instantly became my favorite show, revealing that I was undoubtedly destined to be a hopeless romantic, even at such a young age. Fast-forward seven years later, and I can honestly say I've remained part of the cult following that is "The Bachelor Nation."

The first reason I love watching "The Bachelor" is simple. The show is based on a concept that is universally appealing. Who doesn't love the idea of finding their happily ever after with Prince Charming?

The Bachelor is also incredibly addicting. Raking in a steady nine million views per week, it is one of the nation's most popular TV shows. Over the course of a season, the most viewers (myself included) become dedicated and invested in the Bachelor/Bachelorette's search for true love. The show is relatable, and truthfully, it's fun to live vicariously through the contestants. You find your favorites, and become attached to them as you root for them and cheer them on every week from your living room couch.

Lastly, the most obvious reason to love this show might be the most simple — it's good old-fashioned entertainment. The tears, the heartbreak, and the spontaneous professions of love are what add to the show's allure. Keeping up with the enticing drama the unfolds with every episode is a guilty pleasure of many, and viewers simply cannot get enough. So while society loves to call attention to the fact that the show "is obviously scripted" and "cheesy" and that the underlying message of it all is a little bit "desperate," it doesn't take away from the fact that people all over the country are constantly tuning in every week to get their Bachelor fix. Though I'm not thrilled to admit it, like so many other viewers, I'm sucked in for life. So once the next season begins, it's safe to say you can catch me in front of the TV every Monday night, anxiously awaiting "The Final Rose."