Mind-Blowing Things That Happen Behind the Scenes of The Bachelorette

A Private Investigator Gets Involved

In an interview with Betches, Season 14 contestant Darius Feaster gave all the deets on what he had to go through during the "final final round" of casting.

"They do the final round at a hotel right outside the airport, where they bring in about 50 guys and take you through psychological tests, blood and urine (STD tests/physicals), all types of stuff. Background check, an actual psychologist, a private investigator — it was crazy," Feaster said. 

But wait till you hear what the private investigator asked about!

"The P.I. was asking me about my friends’ histories based on pictures from social media. She pulled up this picture on Facebook and she was like, 'Tell me about this picture of you and XYZ, what were you guys doing in that photo?' They try to dig up dirt and see who your friends are and if there is any suspicion [of you] having bad relationships with women — things of that sort. They definitely take it very seriously as far as trying to get to know who you are."

The First Night Doesn’t Even Start Until Close to Midnight

In the same interview with Betches, Feaster called the first night of entrances and introductions the "longest night of my life."

"It was aggressive," he says. "It was almost like prom night all over again, it was one of them all-nighters. It was crazy. We come in through the limos at night, it’s around 11 p.m., midnight, something like that.

"Everybody does get tired, and you probably don’t notice it in the rose ceremony because everybody’s heart is racing and everybody’s got a ton of adrenaline, but everybody passes out after that," he continues. "I was so tired after that ceremony, it was ridiculous. I slept until like 3 or 4 in the afternoon. So yeah, it's tough."

There’s a ‘Tear Wrangler’

The tears are real, but it is someone's job to encourage them. There is actually a producer whose job it is to get the girls to cry during those sit-down interviews. I call that person the "tear wrangler" (not their official title), and part of their job is to encourage crying. 

In the first years of the show, a good friend of mine did that job, and they were so good at it, they've gone on to other reality shows to do the same. 

Let's face it: Tears make drama, and drama makes good TV.

The Contestant You Hate Is Chosen During Casting

When I worked on the VH1 show Confessions of a Teen Idol, one of the teen idols confessed to me off-camera that they were brought on to be disagreeable and to start fights, which is a common casting trope for The Bachelorette, too (Bentley Williams, Season 7, anyone?). 

A reality show producer who asked to remain anonymous confirmed to me that without those "hateable characters," no real conflict exists, and "it's the conflict that gets the ratings. Plus, you have to have a villain."

A ‘Crazy’ Contestant Will Be Cast

If you ask anyone at ABC, they will tell you that every contestant has to meet with a therapist and have a psych evaluation. It's required before you can be a contestant on The Bachelorette. So, how do some slip through the cracks? According to the show's psychologist, Dr. Catherine Selden, they screen for how well a contestant will do under the stressful and emotional situations the show creates. But that means they don't screen for those who walk the wacky vs. mentally ill line. That's saved for casting, and they do a great job at it!

You Can’t Eat on the Dates

There is nothing worse for the sound guys than chewing noises, and there is nothing worse for viewers than watching people talk with food in their mouths. So, it's common practice on The Bachelorette to eat before you go on camera, then show up on your date and look as pretty as the fake food.

The Storylines Are Written Weeks Ahead of Time

I worked on two major reality shows, and on both, we storyboarded the show months ahead. That's where we sit and write out each episode, weeks before they air, and decide what will happen. While producers may not know who will be the final four, they have mapped out a scene like the one in Bali where "Chris tells X it's over," where X ended up being (a surprised) Kaitlyn.

A Team of Writers Comes Up With Those Wacky Costume Ideas

We've seen it all: a contestant who strips down to give the bachelorette a lap dance, a contestant in a cupcake car, a contestant dressed up like a chicken. Trust me, that wasn't the contestant's idea.

Fears Are Great TV

If you say during your audition, "I hate snakes," just know that written into your storyline will be a scene where you visit a snake pit.

How Do They Get So Many Hot Girls/Guys on the Show?

They send casting people out in search of those hot guys/girls. Producers go where hot young people are and recruit them. While they do hold auditions and take submitted tapes, they also have a team that goes out to find you. One blogger recounts her audition at a Maryland casino. They can see anywhere from 100 to 150 people a night, just like those first Idol auditions.

You Better Be Rich to Be on the Show

In this economy, who can take months off work with no repercussions? Rich people. In his book For the Right Reasons, season 17 Bachelor Sean Lowe talks about the strict wardrobe requirements when he was a contestant on Emily Maynard's season of The Bachelorette, season eight. He says there was no wardrobe budget, the clothing was all his, and he was expected to have 14 different rose ceremony suits. Also, he needed a great wardrobe since there is a strict dress code.

There’s Way More Kissing Than You Can Imagine

You thought Juan Pablo did a lot of kissing? I'm here to tell you he did even more. This has been confirmed by countless contestants over the years of the show, but I spoke with an editor who told me that a first kiss looks awkward, so the "first kiss" you see may actually be the 10th.