Page 79 - A Handbook Genre Studies in Mass Media

CHAPTER 3

to be no real redeeming qualities about her. Rarely did Kirsten smile
and her kindness was directed only to Andrew. Only when Kirsten, in
essence, lost the game, did we see any emotion from her. After Andrew
confessed to her that he had fallen in love with Jen, Kirsten cried in the
back of the limo and declared to the camera that her ultimate fear had
come true and the thought of Andrew with Jen made her sick.
Although their actions may not have been as over-the-top or exag-
gerated as the actions in soap operas, there were definitely defined roles
established for Jen and Kirsten. The show made it easy for viewers to
boo Kirsten and to root for Jen and Andrew to live happily ever after. The
act of Jen and Kirsten both vying for the heart of Andrew and Andrew
expressing feelings for both women also takes advantage of another soap
opera essential—the love triangle.
Just as betrayal, lies, and sex are all active ingredients in soap op-
eras, The Bachelor also incorporates these elements within the show’s
storyline. Acts of dishonesty and deception are present when Kirsten’s
status of singlehood is questioned. It is never clearly revealed whether
or not Kirsten has a boyfriend back at home. She tells Andrew that she
and her boyfriend broke up before she left to do the show, but while
living in the mansion she occasionally suggests to others that there may
be more to the story than just a clean and simple break up. The show
gives viewers the impression that Kirsten’s story about her ex-boyfriend
is shady. Even Andrew’s family thinks something is suspicious about
her explanation. At one point during the show, Andrew’s brother, Adam,
takes Andrew to the side and tells him that he needs to confront Kirsten
about her previous relationship. Adam contends that he thinks Kirsten
is still involved with her boyfriend and that the boyfriend has no idea
she is doing this show. During their final date, Andrew questions Kirsten
about the topic, and she explains that she and her boyfriend have bro-
ken up, but remain friends. This explanation seems to placate Andrew
for the moment. However, with Kirsten already designated as the evil
character of the show, it is hard to take her word as truth, leaving the
situation unresolved.
Although sexual encounters between the female contestants and the
bachelor are never clearly aired on the show, insinuations of such trysts
are fed to viewers when each of the final three women agrees to stay the
night with Andrew at the end of their dates. The last scene of each date
shows the door of the hotel room closing, leaving the rest of the night
up to the viewer’s imagination.

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