Sean Lowe:

Meet your New Bachelor!

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Sean Lowe fell short in winning Emily Maynard's affections on The Bachelorette.

But he's no longer brokenhearted; he's ready for love on The Bachelor on ABC.

Here are five things to know about the 28-year-old beefy, Dallas-based insurance agent.:

1. He has a close connection to handbags
Lowe knows a thing or two about ladies' accessories. Signing on as a business partner of The Factory Girl website, the reality stud joins pal Clay Silver – the designer of the colorful, one-of-a-kind handbags and custom furniture pieces – and her sister, Jessie, who is the CEO.

2. He's involved with charity work
Through The Factory Girl and his Sean Lowe and Friends organization, the businessman as recently as Sept. 8 helped raise money for the fight against cancer. Charging all guests $20 at local Dallas bar Dyer Street, proceeds benefitted Micaela's Army and 1 Million for Anna. Both are named after childhood friends who died from the disease.

3. He calls his experience on The Bachelorette therapeutic
He didn't end up with Maynard as he originally hoped, but Lowe says he "wouldn't trade [my experience on the show] for anything." In an interview on Vimeo, he says, "It forced me to open up and I learned a lot about myself. It was very cathartic; very therapeutic."

4. Religion is his top priority
In case it wasn't clear by his Twitter bio where he says, "Most importantly, I love Jesus!" Lowe also types out psalms and other religious posts regularly. As recently as Sept. 24, he wrote, "Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can't keep God's love away. Romans 8:38 I'd be lost without it."

5. His sister auditioned him for The Bachelorette behind his back
Lowe embraces the Bachelor franchise now, but he was originally against it after his sister signed him up as a hopeful contestant behind his back. "She gave me no advance warning," Lowe has explained on Kidd Kraddick's Texas-based radio show. "I got a call one day from the casting department at The Bachelorette. It took me by surprise. At first I was totally against it. I was like, 'I'm not going to subject myself to this. I'm not going to be one of those guys.' "

Episode 12: After the Final Rose

Wow! Was that a great season or what?

Think WAY back to the previous cycle. Remember how terrible Ben’s season was?

Naked skiing in San Francisco. 

Questionable morals.

Questionable hair. 

The all-too-predictable triumph of a self-absorbed, self-proclaimed “winning” model.

Media-covered fallout of engagements won and lost and won again as it turned out the model really was too good to be true.

So I say again, I LOVED Emily’s season of The Bachelorette! It was refreshing to see restraint regarding the Fantasy Suites. I remember being shocked – SHOCKED! – as a high schooler watching Alex Michel’s FS “overnight dates” during the inaugural season of The Bachelor and this season redeemed my faith in the franchise...mere moments before it was completely shattered by Bachelor Pad. [Seriously, do NOT watch Bachelor Pad! I think the diseases on exhibit can be contracted through your television.]

The bulk of drama on this very special episode of ATFR centers around Arie. He had a very difficult time moving on and actually flew out to Charlotte to see Emily. When he arrived however, “it didn’t feel right,” so he turned around and flew back to Phoenix. What did feel right was leaving his journal from taping (it's a journal- NOT a diary!) on an engaged woman’s doorstep across the country. Not creepy at all. Apparently Arie was also calling Emily to the point that Jef had to step in and say “Lay off my woman!”

Not really. The ever-classy One F Jef  (half of this season's Arie/Jef BFF bromance, a deviation of the Ben F/Constantine Original Recipe) called Arie to smooth things over and now they talk periodically on the phone and are back to BFFy status. Jef is such a gentleman, no matter how much his hair attempts to upstage all other qualities. And for the record, Arie says he and Emily didn’t just make out all the time…it’s just that all of their deep conversations were edited out. Uh-huh. Yeah. Editing...that was it. 

Perhaps he, Ryan and all other previously inaccurately portrayed Bachelor contestants could form their own version of the Justice League.

After Emily is brought out, Chris Harrison asks the perfunctory prompt:

Arie, are there any questions you have for Emily?

Arie says not really. It is anti-climactic UNTIL…

Emily: I brought something for you. It’s your journal. I told Jef about it. I did not read it out of respect to Jef and our relationship.

Arie [deflated]: Thanks.

Jef and Emily make their first televised appearance as a couple and admit to sneaking around for a few dates in the interim.

Chris Harrison: Well what’s the first thing you’d like to do as a couple?

THIS!

Jef reveals that he wasn’t nervous about proposing and never thought that she would say no. Future plans involve Jef moving to Charlotte (living in a separate house) a wedding in Charleston and humanitarian work building wells in Africa.

Team JEM!

Episode 11: Arie vs. One F Jef

Bye Sean!

Wasn’t the Men Tell All  (or nothing at aaaaallll!!! Any O-Town fans? Just the high-school version of me?) fun? Fine it wasn’t, but at least we established that everyone loves Sean, no one loves Kalon (outside the debaucherous Bachelor Pad anyway) and we got the extra dose of crazy we didn’t know we wanted from returning Gypsy King Alessandro. Continuing the Emily Journey of Love Tour, it appears the tribe has spoken and Sean was whisked away from Fantasy Island leaving the remaining two suitors to fight to the death in mystical Curacao. And by fight to the death, I mean meet Emily’s family.

One F Jef: Meet the Parents

Let’s meet contestant #1! Jef is a hip water company CEO and philanthropist from Utah looking to settle down and share hair products with that special someone.

Jef meets Emily’s parents, her brother Ernie and Ernie’s mute fiancé. Jef brings flowers for Emily’s mother and Mute Fiancé, but none for Emily. I guess he is her flower. 

Jef asks Papa Maynard for his permission to marry Emily because it is very important to him and he would not propose without PM’s blessing. The family is WOWed! And it wasn’t just by the electric blue skinny jeans. I am alarmed at how quickly this episode is progressing- something’s up! Is it bad I thought the family referring to Ricky Hendrick as “Big Ricky” is funny?

 

 

Arie: Meet the Parents

One F is going to be a tough act to follow as Papa Maynard ominously confesses to the camera: “I don’t even know why we’re going through the motions today.” Good luck Arie! Try not to speak only in Dutch! Or RAMBLE. Apparently Arie is a Ramblin' Rose and runs his mouth when he gets nervous- in this case offering dubious fishing advice to Papa Maynard and Ernie, both of whom I suspect are expert fisherman by their barely suppressed eyerolls.

Arie redeems himself- with the womenfolk anyway- by producing a box of all the rose boutonnieres he has been given throughout the season. AW. Ernie is more skeptical in his alone time with Arie, but is won over after Arie reveals he has dated a single mom before. Papa Maynard hesitantly offers his blessing to Arie.

Emily was hoping there would be a more obvious choice, but her family deflects by saying both men are wonderful.

Papa Maynard: You can’t be in love with two people at the same time!

Mama Suzie (ROCKIN’ a one-sleeved red mini): I’d encourage you to wait on any engagement. This will be very confusing for Ricki.

Brother Ernie: If you don’t know who to pick by now, I certainly can’t tell you.

Mute Fiancé: [Crickets chirping]

Jef: Last Chance...for Romance!
 Jef’s M.O. for this date is to meet Ricki. He is gunning to propose and finds it odd that he has not met the most important person in Emily’s life yet.

Jef: I want to meet Ricki. I’ve been preparing my whole life to be a good dad.

Emily: I don’t know. Like, it’s weird. No not weird, but…I introduced her to Brad and felt guilty after it didn’t work out.

Jef: Put yourself in my shoes. She could be my stepdaughter.

Emily:…You’re right. Let’s go meet Ricki.

ADORABLEness ensued as Jef won over Ricki by acting impressed with her pool tricks, complimenting/wearing her cool pink goggles and letting her push him in the pool. The three splashed around and really looked like a cute little family.

Ricki is sent to bed and Emily and One F change for dinner. One F gifts her with a Curacao 360 book, which he has augmented with stick figure drawings of them enjoying different Curacao attractions. The pair looks like a couple in a real relationship, as they peruse the book and joke around- as opposed to Arie, which appears to be a purely physical relationship. This should be interesting.

Debriefing with Chris Harrison

Usually this happens after both Last Chance dates, so something IS up!

Emily: I know I’m going to pick Jef. [BOMB!]

But how do I even start the rejection conversation with Arie??

CH:      If this is the decision you’ve made, you need to be true to yourself…

You’s on your own grrrl! Seacrest out.

Arie: Last Chance…Forever!

Oh evil Bachelor producers, why must you force Arie to concoct a love potion while he waits for Emily’s rejection?? Upon gathering her belongings and safely exiting the Rejection Van of Doom, Arie slathers Emily with the freshly-made love potion and a seductive: “I’m supposed to rub it on your arms and legs.” Before anything gets beyond PG however, our Bachelorette dissolves into a puddle of tears.

Emily: Let’s sit down for a minute.

Arie: Sure- are you ok? What is it?? What’s wrong Boo???

Em: Everyone yesterday loved you. I always thought it would be me and you…[trails off]

As realization sets in, Arie pulls an emotional 180 and stomps off through the jungle with Emily in tow: ARIE!!!

Arie [spinning on his heel]: You’re not going to get the goodbye you wanted. I don’t know what to say. Thank you for sparing me from the ceremony tomorrow.

Emily cries it out, but pulls herself together knowing she will be reunited with her Prince Charming tomorrow.

In the Reject Van, Arie vents:

I give more than I get. I deserve a nice person. I was so sure of us- it’s unreal that it’s over. I feel so stupid…so naïve.

HUGE difference between Arie’s terse departure and Sean’s gracious one last week.

The Dress

The Ring

The Proposal

Emily: You are everything I ever wanted. You are my soulmate. I love you SO much!

Jef: After talking to your brother, he said you felt like giving up on love…but I’m so glad you didn’t because I found my everything.

And as Peter Cetera’s tenor soared triumphantly in power ballad Glory of Love, Little Ricki ran out to the proposal stage as if on cue and the three walked hand-in-hand into the superimposed Curacao sunset. *TEARS*

Final Notes

 

I love it when the happy couple has a theme song…but only if it makes sense. For example, if Chris had been the last man standing [shudder] a Luke Bryan song would be appropriate.

And while I adore Glory of Love and many other cheesy songs, I am no One F Jef. For him, they should have chosen something hipper, like We Are Young by Fun:

That being said, it looks like this is the real deal and I hope Emily and Jef defy the Bachelor couple odds. Congratulations!

Episode 10: Ze Men Tell ALL!

Let’s be honest: the best part of this episode is the BLOOPERS!
What made the cut? Or should I say, the cutting room floor…

Emily’s Green Briar dress + wine = bad words

Arie’s twin brothers = Peeping Toms in training. "She’s a beauty!" CREEEEPY.

Chris can NOT dance. Unless it is polka.

Emily, however, does a mean Running Man.

The viewing audience is provided no evidence of this.

Let's rock this middle school style!

Emily’s type looks homeless and has lots of tattoos.

Yo Emily! What's up grrrl?

Emily makes Youtube cat videos. O_O

Cue Chris Harrison’s “We saved you just in time!”

Reaction Shots

The audience LOVES Sean!

Who wouldn't?

How can you upstage Jef’s wardrobe?

With Wolf’s PINK pants! (A deviation of the Ames RED Pant™)

Round III of Young Chris vs. Old Doug

Most Improved

• Ryan turns a hairDON’T into a hairDO. And dials the tan up to Oompa Loompa.

• Skinny Stevie! Perhaps he has been watching the Bachelorette Highland Games Workout DVD ™ featuring everybody’s favorite single dad/arms specialist Doug.

• Emily in this skintight Herve Leger bandage dress. Eat your heart out, boys!

I could feel all of the men’s eyes glued to Emily. You could also tell they were all still completely enamored with her and would come if she so much as snapped her fingers.

Least Improved

• Kalon. Check your baggage comments and keep yo’ tweets to yo’self.

Well I like me. Smirk.

• Single dad Tony bounding onstage to tackle Emily.

• Single dad Tony joining Bachelor Pad. After self-terming on The Bachelorette because he missed his son too much.

• Everyone on Bachelor Pad. This goes without saying.

In The Hot Seat

Ryan:
“I have been blessed with many worldly gifts”…except with a filter.
I am not arrogant…I am confident in me!

Even though I still think LMFAO's Sexy and I Know It plays in his head on a constant loop, I found him to be more charming than intentionally chauvinistic. Maybe he WAS a victim of Villain's Edit to stir up some controversy after Kalon got the boot?

Sean:

Perfect answers (would you expect anything less?)
Thanks Emily for opening his eyes to the possibility of love. AW!
Chris coattails on Sean’s perfect answer.

I'm the king of the world!!!!...or at least London!

Lerone is noticeably absent.

Next Week
Arie vs. Jef. Curacao Corral. High noon.

Who will I choose???

Episode 9: No Fantasy Suite for You!

Clueless in Curacao

Dimples

After braving the relentless questioning of the ‘rents (or in Sean’s case, perfect ‘rents), the men are rewarded with fabulous Overnight Dates – wink wink – in romantic Curacao. Dimples’ only flaw so far is that he is the only man left who has not confessed his undying love. Sean and Emily head off for some quality time on their own private island, Klein Curacao. Sean talks about his ex-girlfriend and how he just wasn’t that into her even though marriage was on the table at one point. Sean tiptoes and beats all around the L Word with yummy-but-not-quite-satisfying bon mots like “I’ll be your soccer dad” and a poem to Little Ricki that Hallmark would kill for until finally arriving at the big I. LOVE. YOU. YES!!!

Now Emily feels comfortable asking if Sean sees engagement at the end of their love tunnel: yes, yes of course Genetic Gift Sean does. The Fantasy Suite card is offered and – through careful phrasing – the implications associated with Fantasy Island are politely declined. How refreshing! But still a little making out. I don’t know about you, but I am digging this kinder, gentler season of Bachelorette.

 

 

Hair

Jimmy Neutron and Emily brave the high winds to go boating near Klein Kip Beach. They are compatible in so many ways: they both want to be/love being parents, like jumping off boats and are having hair issues. If only Jef could master the same fashionable yet functional  bang-braid. In between gale-force winds, Jef has some heavy questions for our Bachelorette:

1.   Where do you want to live?

Em: Anywhere you are.

2.   You’re amazing. You attract amazing guys. 
     Why hasn’t it worked out?

Em: They were missing the X factor

3.    Do you think I’m a good fit for Ricki?

Em: A perfect fit!

Both knew going in that they would decline the Fantasy Suite card, but Emily was still a little miffed that Hair turned her down first.

Lips

Emily in voiceover: With Arie, it was immediate attraction…

Me:…Well let’s get to that Fantasy Suite then! Oh wait a minute- they actually need to talk? Hm ok…

Emily: What do you do on a typical Tuesday morning?

Arie: Wake up in the morning feeling like P. Diddy!  But not until 9. Go to the shop. (?) Go out for dinner. Hang with my homies. You

know, totally responsible parent-y stuff.

Emily: How would you approach child-rearin’?

Me: Why is this only coming up NOW?!

Arie: I would befriend them, you know, not try to establish any boundaries or authority.

Emily: What great answers. Let’s make out!

This was basically all of the spoken dialogue on the date. The rest was *ahem* body language.

There were also some dolphins involved, which TERRIFIED Emily. Arie was very “protective” and extended a svelte racecar shoulder for support.

Previews kept teasing a HUGE DRAMA: someone would NOT be offered the Fantasy Suite card. Emily did not trust herself enough – and there’s no way Arie would have objected like our other gentlemen – to even offer him the FS card, so she did not even mention it. Sigh, all of this so-called “drama” this season’s Bachelorette keeps faking me out with does not give me high hopes for “the most dramatic finale ever.”

I had just texted my friend on what great clothes
Emily has worn. And then she does this.

Debriefing with Chris Harrison

Chris is noticeably sans wedding ring.

Hometown dates did not bring the clarity Emily hoped they would.

She has a difficult decision.
Like every week.

Video Messages

SEAN

Cynical about the process but now can confidently say he is in love. Can’t see himself living without Emily and/or Ricki. (One more time, in case you missed it) I LOVE YOU!!! 

JEF

Completely in love with Emily; she’s everything he hoped to find. Can’t wait to be a family and watch a thousand sunsets. What a poet.

ARIE

Lists all of the places they’ve made out. It all began with a carousel kiss, which begot a crush, which begot LOVE. My heart is always racing towards you. You make me more confident. You are beautiful inside and out and I can’t wait to remind you of that every day.

Rose Ceremony

Roses for Hair…and Lips! Aaaahhh!!! Poor Sean! I honestly thought this would be the end of Speed Racer’s journey. Sean is forced to take the walk of shame with Emily and rehash the bomb that was just dropped against a nicely-staged street corner. Sean remains the consummate gentleman and quietly offers, “If this is what’s best for you, then it’s what I want.”

In the words of Gob, I think you've made a HUGE mistake, Emily! Perfect Sean continues to break our hearts in the Reject Limo:

When Emily walked out tonight, I thought there’s my wife. It hurts more than I can describe. I’m feeling so many things: sadness, embarrassment. My thoughts this week were consumed with being a father and husband.

If only the power of positive thinking were enough. I can not stress how surprised I was that Sean was not in the final two.

Next Week

The Men Tell ALL!

Kalon Konfrontation

Ryan still thinks he’s The One

Chris and Sean = heartbroken