The strip dodgeball match on “The Bachelorette” (Tuesdays, 7 p.m., ABC/Ch.4) is proof positive of something other than the fact that the franchise remains riddled with grotesque sexism. It’s another clear sign that the contestants on the show aren’t there to find love — they’re there for their 15 minutes of TV fame.
These guys sacrificed their self-respect (no matter how hunky they are, and with digital blurring of private parts or not) to strip naked in front of the cameras — and the woman whose heart they’re supposedly trying to win — on national TV. But if you want to stay on the show and increase the odds that maybe you’ll further your career, you’ll do it.
If you missed Tuesday’s episode, 10 of the bachelors were divided into two teams to play dodgeball, with the winning team getting more time with Bachelorette Clare Crawley. And, she told them, “I really do want a man who has some balls!”
Classy.
Then Crawley announced she wanted to “up the ante” and make it strip dodgeball, and the game would end when everyone on the losing team was naked. “This is my game. These are my rules,” she said.
Classy.
I don’t, however, for a minute believe it was her idea. I’m completely convinced that host Chris Harrison was feigning surprise. It was sooooo scripted — which comes as no surprise to anyone who’s ever watched this fake “reality” show.
So if you’re upset about it, blame the producers and ABC. Although, obviously, Crawley went along with it.
Yes, it was completely sexist. The men, several of whom appeared uncomfortable, were treated like slabs of beef. As the game was played, Crawley and Harrison provided a running commentary — on the men’s bodies.
If this had happened to the women on a season of “The Bachelor” … well, clearly it would never have happened on the other side of the franchise. And, by the way, excusing the strip dodgeball because it was supposedly no worse than the lingerie pillow fight on the most recent season of “The Bachelor” is bogus — that was completely sexist, too.
(The two Utah bachelors didn’t have to play strip dodgeball. Zach Jackson — who’s from Yakima, Wash., but now lives in St. George — wasn’t part of the game. And Chris Conran— a Brighton High grad and former Salt Lake Community College and Utah Valley University baseball player who lives in Salt Lake City — was eliminated in the first episode.)
“The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette” have always been fake, always will be. Very occasionally, two people fall in love despite the fact that it’s fake.
But people don’t go on network TV to find love. They don’t strip naked on network TV, even with genital-blurring editing, to find love. They do it because they want to be famous.
(Image courtesy of United Feature Syndicate Inc.) The classic animated Halloween-themed Peanuts special, "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown," created by late cartoonist Charles M. Schulz, is moving to Apple TV+.
‘Great Pumpkin’ moves
For the first time since it premiered in 1966, “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” won’t air on broadcast TV this year. Or on cable TV.
Apple TV+ now owns the rights, and it will stream on that service. That’s also true of “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and other Peanuts animated specials.
Before you freak out, “The Great Pumpkin” will stream for free on Apple TV+ from Oct. 30 to Nov. 1, and “A Charlie Brown Christmas” will stream for free from Dec. 11 to 13.
Apple TV+ is hoping to convince you to subscribe, of course. It’s already the home of the “Snoopy in Space” animated series, and “The Snoopy Show” will debut on the streamer on Feb. 5.
And, of course, “Pumpkin,” “Christmas” and a variety of other Peanuts TV specials are available on Blu-ray and DVD.
(Photo courtesy of Monty Brinton/CBS) Phil Keoghan is the host of "The Amazing Race."
Delayed start for ‘The Amazing Race’
In case you were wondering, yes, the 32nd season of “The Amazing Race” that’s currently airing Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on CBS/Ch. 2 was filmed before the pandemic began.
Long before. Way back in November and December 2018, believe it or not. So, by the time the final episode airs, the contestants will have had to keep their mouths shut about the results for more than two years.
The plan was to air the season earlier this year, but CBS delayed it so it would have some new programming this season, since COVID-19 shut down or delayed so much TV production.
