Emily Belsey

Writer Extraordinaire

Today a new sun rises for me; everything lives, everything is animated, everything seems to speak to me of my passion, everything invites me to cherish it.

- Anne de Lenclos

The Batchelorette

Published: January 22, 2003

ABC’S “THE BATCHELORETTE” REDEFINES SHALLOWNES

As if “The Batchelor” wasn’t bad enough, ABC had to create another show where competition for true love looks something like an Animal Planet special about mating rituals where the winner is the best dancer.

Now there is another show to add to the line-up of primetime must-see TV, “The Batchelorette.”

Trista, the runner-up of the original “Batchelor,” who decided at age 29 that she needed to find her Mr. Right, began with a herd of 25 males, hand-picked by the show’s producers. And as of Wednesday night, she had narrowed it down to eight.

Ha! Ladies, wouldn’t it be great to have eight dates to choose from?

But what I wonder is what kind of woman would want to put herself in that kind of a situation? Think about it. There she is, the object of affection for 25 men who, while attempting to outdo the others, are trying to win her heart or at least catch her eye. It’s not a pretty pickle.

It all just seems too good to be true. Can a person really find who is right for them in less than six episodes or less? Probably not.

Call me a cynic, but I think a woman would have to be pretty shallow to make up her mind whom to bestow a rose upon after only a few minutes with each man.

But hey, maybe shallow is the way to go.

I’m of the opinion that there’s more to choosing a mate than good looks and charm, but then, I’m the one who’s still single.

The good news is, there are only three episodes left. I’m sure Trista will do just fine hand-picking her potential husband. We should all be so lucky.

But if I were in Trista’s situation, I’d choose Rob. He looks a bit like Brad Pitt.