It's time for a clean slate, y'all! ABC's The Bachelorette season 10 premiered on Monday with Andi Dorfman at the helm, along with 25 new men, one familiar gate-crasher and a whole lot of cookies. We hope you're as stoked as we are.
Host Chris Harrison begins the show on a somber note, paying tribute to contestant Eric Hill, who died tragically at the age of 30 following a paragliding accident last month. “He will be greatly missed, and we dedicate this season to him,” Chris says.
We get a glimpse at 27-year-old Andi's life as an assistant district attorney in Atlanta, and she could not sound more thrilled to be on the show. She also says “y'all” a lot (drinking game alert!). After Andi's parents wish her well, she has a tearful sit-down with her sister and vows to kiss plenty of guys on the show. Nothing wrong with that.
Conspicuously absent is any mention whatsoever of Juan Pablo Galavis, last season's Bachelor and clearly a polarizing figure. Andi was one of his final three ladies but left him behind in a huff after their disastrous Fantasy Suite date. And after Juan Pablo declared himself “done” with the show in last season's finale, ABC is apparently proving that the feeling is mutual.
STORY: 'Bachelorette' Contestant Dies After Paragliding Accident
We get a Pretty Women-style trying-on-clothes montage -- including Andi donning a tank top with a rose on it, natch -- and then it's time for those limos full of eligible hunks. Here are some of the most memorable entrances, for better or worse:
The first out of the limo is 25-year-old Marcus, who works in sports medicine. They have instant chemistry, with Andi telling us as he walks away, “Okay, he is hot.”
It takes a while for the first gimmicky introduction to arrive, but then they come fast and furious. First to use a visual aid is Tasos, a wedding event coordinator who pulls a lock and key out of his pocket to attach to a garden fixture. Another prop arrives when Brett pulls a hotel lamp out of the limo to give Andi. Brick from Anchorman may have loved lamp, but Andi appears indifferent to lamp.
There's personal trainer Cody, who pushes the limo up the driveway, followed by pro golfer Nick S., who arrives via golf cart. Then, Patrick kicks a soccer ball to Andi. “Again, we got another soccer player?” she quips in a rare allusion to He Who Must Not Be Named. And Steven cracks her up by saying how “stoked” he is to meet her. Things aren't looking good for Steven.
Once everyone is in the mansion, Andi gets more time to chat. Josh M., a 29-year-old former basketball player who lives in Atlanta, is the first to pull her aside, and Andi is smitten. Also making a strong impression is Marquel, who offers Andi a cookie taste-test. Multilingual Marcus is clearly a front-runner, as is farmer Chris. Much less of a front-runner is Bradley, an opera singer who shows off his pipes to the guys, apparently without solicitation. (Between Sharleen Joynt on last season's Bachelor and now Bradley, where is ABC finding all these opera singers?)
STORY: 'Bachelor' Juan Pablo Galavis Selling Appliances in Upstate New York
Andi gets one-on-one time with Eric Hill, who talks to her about his love for adventure and his mission to visit every country in the world. But she decides to give the coveted first-impression rose to Nick V., who impressed Andi with his polka-dotted tie and his stories about being a father figure for his ten siblings.
And yes, there is one more guy. Chris Bukowski, who vied for Emily Maynard's love in season 8 and competed for cash on Bachelor Pad's third season, is back at the mansion yet again, this time without an invite. He explains to Chris Harrison that he is smitten with Andi and wants to meet her and give her a bouquet of roses. But when Harrison lets Andi know about the situation, she isn't having it. We're not really sure why Kacie Boguskie and Shawntel Newton got second tries on previous seasons and yet Chris doesn't, but alas for Chris, Andi has spoken.
Here are the lucky guys who received roses tonight: JJ, the “pantsapreneur” (uh, okay); Eric; Marquel, the cookie aficionado; Craig; Tasos; Josh M.; Brian; Bradley, the opera singer; Marcus; Andrew; Carl; Chris; Dylan; Brett, a.k.a. “Lamp Guy”; Patrick; Cody; and Nick S.
What did you think of Andi's premiere episode? Do you think she'll find love in this group -- and are you happy with her cuts? Plus, are you suddenly yearning for cookies, like we are? Sound off in the comments!
Twitter: @_RyanGajewski
