The Bachelor: Ben Flajnik, Episode 4

The gang heads to Park City, Utah for the next round of dates. The ladies are staying at the Canyons resort. Chris Harrison hands out the first date card. It goes to Rachel. Kacie B. is suffering from a major case of "Awesome First Date Syndrome." Anyone who has the first 1-1 date suffers from major anxiety and insecurities if the date goes really well (see also: Ashley Hebert, Brad Womack pt.2 & Ali Fedotowsky, Jake Pavelka).

Date: 1-1
Bacherlorette: Rachel
Highlights: Ben picks Rachel up in a helicopter. They get dropped off by a lake and hop into the next mode of transportation, a canoe. After some canoe chit chat and a quick make-out session, they have a picnic. And a lot of awkward small talk/awkward silences. Oh look, a beaver dam! Next up is dinner in the woods. I think I saw these exact woods in Once Upon a Time, which airs on Sunday nights, also on ABC (and no, I didn't get paid to plug that show...I just love it). Ben says this is the first 1-1 date where he's been confused. He notes that Rachel says that she's interested, but her actions don't reflect that. Rachel reveals that she has trouble communication and opening up with people. She must have opened up enough because Ben gives Rachel the date rose. Now they enjoy smores. Yay smores!
Status: Rose

Date: Group
Bachelorettes: Jamie, Casey S., Blakely, Lindzi, Samantha, Kacie B., Courtney, Nicki
Highlights: Ok, even I admit that it's kind of hot to see Ben ride the horse. I love horseback riding. Lindzi loves a man in the saddle. Um, who doesn't? Kacie B. continues to lament about not having Ben to herself. Snap out of it sister friend! Courtney says that it's easier to catch a man than it is to catch a fish. She would know. She's also determined to make the group date into a 1-1 for herself, which in words will "be awesome." Lindzi is all "oh no you didn't" and decides to squeeze herself into their space. And then...Courtney catches a fish. She would. After Ben and the girls wash the smell of fish off them, they have an after party. We see Casey S. for about 2.5 seconds. Nicki and Ben both lost loved ones a couple of days before the show started filming. Samantha wants a 1-1 date because all she's been on are group dates and doesn't know what that means. Is she drunk? Ben says he doesn't think Samantha takes this seriously and decides to send Samantha home. This pleases Courtney. I'm beginning to think she feeds off of sorrow and tears. Courtney tells Ben she's having a rough time. I call BS. Ben, of course, falls for it and gives her the date rose. Oh, and I've had enough of her saying "winning." Seriously, it wasn't even cute or funny the first time Charlie Sheen said it.
Status: Courtney gets the date rose

Date: 1-1
Bachelorette: Jennifer
Highlights: Do you think that red is Jennifer's natural hair color? Ben makes Jennifer trespass onto private property. Before them stands a rusty cage covering a crater. Ben informs Jennifer that they are going to go into the crater. Um, is that safe? Why are there no safety professionals assisting them? So now that they've detached themselves from the ropes, how do they get back up the crater...to the outside world? Somehow they get out of the crater and make it to dinner. It rains, they go inside, Jennifer gets the date rose. Ben takes Jennifer to a Clay Walker concert. Confession time: I used to be kind of in love with Clay Walker, circa 1993. I had his poster on my wall and everything, granted I was 8 at the time, but still.
Status: Rose

No dates this week: Elyse, Emily, Monica

Pre-Rose Ceremony Party
Emily decides to say something to Ben about Courtney without saying Courtney's name. Ben tells Emily that she will be her own demise if she focuses on Courtney and doesn't focus on what she and Ben have. Casey S. thinks Courtney is one of the most genuine people. Casey, that makes you guilty by association. Casey runs and tells Courtney everything Emily said about her. Courtney thinks that Emily "sweats her." Um, 2001 called, it wants it's stupid catch phrase back. Courtney and Emily finally blow up at each other. I would love to see Ben's reaction as he watches stuff that Courtney does each week. I wonder what he thinks about it.

Rose Ceremony
Rose-d: Rachel, Courtney, Jennifer, Lindzi, Jamie, Nicki, Kacie B., Elyse, Blakely, Casey S., Emily
Sent Home: Samantha (eliminated on the group date), Monica

Next week...
We're off to Puerto Rico. Emily and Courtney continue to hate each other. Courtney and Ben skinny-dip. COurtney cackles. Same ol', same ol'.

And now for a segment I like to call, "The Many Mouths of Courtney...did you know she's a model?" I figured out what bothers me so much about Courtney, aside from the obvious. It's her mouth and how half of the time she appears to have no upper lip. I don't know why she contorts her mouth the way she does, but it's kind of annoying. I mean, does she have horrendously bad breath or a snaggle-tooth she's trying to hide? Courtney, stop. It's distracting.



I rest my case.