The Bachelor: The Women Told

What exactly, though, did they tell?

It has been widely reported that Season 14 featuring Mr. Jake "Hunky Pilot" Pavelka has garnered ABC its highest ratings ever for the network. Chris Harrison, the show's host, confirmed that "more viewers than ever" have tuned in to this drama.

Which brings me to what I want to say. I do feel a certain self-imposed obligation to mention that in Monday's spectacle, viewers got to see past contestants involved in charitable works. On the flip side, we also were exposed to past contestants getting down and dirty in bikinis, martinis, and trash-talking-bad-boy Wes.

What has irked me and continues to irk me, just a little, is the scandal surrounding beautiful model Rozlyn Papa and an unnamed ex-producer of the show. If an "inappropriate relationship" did indeed happen between Papa and Ex-Producer, then I want to say right here and right now that I'm not judging that. Do I think that she should have asked to leave the show once she realized that she had feelings for Ex-Producer? Yes. Absolutely.

The problem is there is no televised proof. Just he said vs. she said vs. she said. Am I some kind of voyeur? I don't think so. After all, the whole point of the show is a televised quest for love. Yet, somehow, all we have of a series of "I saw this and that" from ex-contestants and Rozlyn swearing that none of it happened.

Canadian Jessie from Oakville, ON swore on her dog's life that such and such happened. Rozlyn counter swore on her son's life that Jessie's stories are false. Who to believe in such a mess? I don't know.

I'll leave Rozlyn's accusation of Chris Harrison hitting on Ex-Producer's Wife in New Zealand and move on to another unsettling matter. Ali Fedotowski. She attempted to pull a Swiderski (Ed Swiderski left Jillian Harris on The Bachelorette only to beg his way back) but in Ali's case, Jake didn't let the pretty blonde return.

Was that look of anguished longing between Jake and Ali on Monday's reunion fake? Were we supposed to notice it and jump to conclusions? I've heard and read rumours that Ali is the next bachelorette and this whole drama has been created to spike interest in her. Nothing against Ali but I'm a Gia Allemand fan. I want Gia to be the next bachelorette. I'm still hoping that Chris' interview with Gia is a good sign, calling her a "fan favourite" and Gia declaring that she'd be more expressive about her love the next time around.

Back to Ali though...despite the rampant net rumours that Vienna Girardi is the winner, I still think Jake won't choose neither Vienna or Tenley Molzahn and somehow end up wth Ali. Let's see.