This week it was widely reported that filming of “The Bachelor” series spin-off, “Bachelor in Paradise,” was canceled after allegations of sexual misconduct involving two cast members. Both of whom were reported to have been drinking heavily during filming. The conduct was reported to occur with cameras rolling and no intervention by Warner Bros. (owned by Time Warner). Bachelor spokesman and Final Rose (no pun intended) chaperone, Chris Harrison, urged patience during the investigation. Warner Bros. said it would take “appropriate responsive action” after the investigation. Yes, Time Warner, the $76 billion dollar company with global hits like the Batman series and Harry Potter that bring in hundreds of millions of dollars per film, also produces shows where normal people get drunk and make out in Mexico. Should they?
The Bachelor series first aired in 2002. It’s a reality television dating game revolving around an eligible bachelor who starts out with 25 romantic interests and eliminates them as the season progresses (after one-on-one and group dates in exotic locations), ultimately selecting a wife. The Bachelor series became extremely popular because of both the mystery on who would end up with the Bachelor, but also the interactions between female contestants vying for the Bachelor’s affections. The brand soon expanded to The Bachelorette, Bachelor Pad, and Bachelor in Paradise. The Bachelorette is basically the flip of the Bachelor (and is currently airing episodes involving a Dallas lawyer). The show has become part of pop culture—SNL has done several parody skits based on it.
