COMMENTARY | This week on ABC’s “The Bachelorette,” it was an emotional week as Philadelphia dental student Ashley Hebert got roasted — then dumped.
It’s the first week that we find out who Ashley’s main guy is: Bentley Williams, the bad boy former “Bachelor” costar Michelle Money warned her about. Ashley gushes, “Bentley literally sweeps me off my feet.” But she has to go through the motions anyway — and that means one on one and group dates with some of the other guys.
One on One date with Ben C.
A private dance date turns into a mob scene when Ashley tries to show Ben some dance moves. Far East Movement is on hand later when a large group of supposed strangers join Ashley and Ben in a flash mob. Because he’s such a good sport, Ashley gives Ben a rose.
The Mask Comes Off
Jeff, who has been wearing a mask for the past two episodes, finally decides to show Ashley his face. Not sure if it’s a good idea or not. Ashley’s reaction? “He’s a lot older than I thought he was.” And she doesn’t say it like that’s a good thing. Even after the mask comes off, for some reason the producers keep playing that ridiculous vampire music whenever they show Jeff.
Group Date
The Comedy Store is the locale and roast master general Jeffrey Ross is the emcee for a 10-man group date. The guys are informed that they have to roast Ashley. They break out into groups to jot down their best material, which they will have to perform in front of a sold out crowd of 200 people.
Guys like Lucas and Ryan P. play it safe, then Jeff throws in a joke about Ashley’s chest, or lack thereof. Soon the theme of the night becomes Ashley’s small chest.
But William — the guy whom Ashley shared a great date with last week — roasts her to a crisp. He refers to her as “So beautiful, so gorgeous, so used” and then says, “I thought I was signing up to be with Emily or Chantal and Ashley’s here.”
This touches on Ashley’s biggest fear (as in she’s a disappointment to guys who were expecting a different “Bachelorette”). She leaves the roast in tears.
Bentley sees her crying and remarks that he’s “not gonna miss an opportunity to mess with her head.” He consoles her with the hopes of landing the group date rose.
Later, Ashley tells the guys that some of their remarks were hurtful. An apologetic William is ready to pack his bags and run away.
It’s more air time for Bentley as Ashley reveals to him that she heard about him before he came on the show and was warned that he may not be there for the right reason. He pegs the rumors as coming from Michelle, who happens to be a friend of his ex-wife. He assures Ashley that the story is not true, although he tells the camera in his interview that he’s not into Ashley and says, “Ashley is not attractive at all.”
Even though she seems to be falling for Bentley’s charm, Ashley gives Ryan P. the group date rose. This sets Bentley off and you can see the wheels turning. No way is he going to give Ashley the chance to dump him. He decides to check out instead.
Ashley Gets Dumped
Under the guise that he really misses his daughter (“I’m gonna make Ashley cry. I hope my hair looks okay”), Bentley shows up at Ashley’s place and says he is leaving. There is an extended goodbye that includes way too much kissing and nuzzling. Ashley doesn’t know if this show will work for her now. Bentley leaves his goodbye with a “dot dot dot,” which he says is better than a period. Nothing like playing a girl a little more. After Bentley leaves, a distraught Ashley curls up in her bed and cries her eyes out.
One-on-One Date with J.P.
Poor J.P. He gets the next one-on-one date after Ashley’s very bad morning with Bentley. But who feels like going out after all this drama this week? Not Ashley. She and J.P. spend a quiet night at her place. J.P. leaves with a rose and some producer’s pajama pants.
Rose Ceremony
Before the rose ceremony (Ashley has decided to put the kibosh on a cocktail party), Ashley tells host Chris Harrison that she is devastated over Bentley leaving and that he was her guy. She feels lost now. Harrison tells her that “a real man would have stayed.” And a real host would have told her all the nasty things this guy has been saying about her!
At a very subdued rose ceremony, the only levity is with some of the guys’ outfits. Ben F. is dressed like Pee Wee Herman and Ames is decked out like Gomer Pyle.
Ashley eliminates Chris and Jeff. Guess that mask idea didn’t work out so well for him after all.
Next week: Looks like another villain might fill Bentley’s shoes.
*****
Source:
“The Bachelorette” Season 7, June 6, 2011, ABC TV
