Welcome to the WABC's "Coming Up Roses: The Bachelorette" blog. This blog is written by WABC employee Jennifer Matarese, a loyal viewer of "The Bachelor," "The Bachelorette," and "Bachelor Pad," who has been a fan since season 1. Bill King will also interview some of the eliminated contestants. Let's hope Desiree can find her true love!

06/18/2013

Photos from the Atlantic City Alliance's 'Bachelorette' Viewing Party

Rachel Truehart and Jamie Otis attended the Atlantic City Alliance's "Bachelorette" Viewing Party last night in Manhattan!  I was lucky enough to interview the two of them about their thoughts on this season and what's new in their life.  WATCH THE INTERVIEW HERE.  Here are some photos from the event!

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You can share your thoughts on Monday night's "The Bachelorette" by clicking on COMMENTS below!

 

Hugs, Kisses & Roses,

Jennifer Matarese

 

 

06/17/2013

Rachel Truehart & Jamie Otis Attend 'Bachelorette' Viewing Party in NYC

Former "Bachelor" and "Bachelor Pad" contestants Rachel Truehart and Jamie Otis attended the big Atlantic City Alliance "Bachelorette" viewing party tonight in New York City!

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Since "The Bachelorette" took place in Atlantic City tonight, DOAC, held a viewing party for the girls and 80 other "Bachelorette" fans!  They took some time before the party to chat about Desiree, who they think the frontrunners are, what they would like to see her do more of on the show, and what's new in their lives since "Bachelor Pad" ended.

 

(Sorry about the dark quality of the video!)

The party was really cool and I wish I could have stayed, but I had to run back to the office to do more work and of course, blog about the episode!  I think Jamie might be a little disappointed with the way her boy Bryden was acting this week, but both ladies seemed convinced that Brooks has caught Desiree's eye!

 

I hope to have more pictures to add to this post from the event tomorrow!

 

Hugs, Kisses & Roses, 

Jennifer Matarese

Desiree and the Guys Look for Love in Atlantic City

Desiree arrived in Atlantic City this week with her 13 remaining Bachelors!   Speaking of Atlantic City DOAC, a company that promotes tourism in Atlantic City held a viewing party with Rachel Truehart from “The Bachelor” and “Bachelor Pad 3”!  Jamie Otis was also there to support her pal Rachel and join in the viewing party fun.  Watch an interview with them and read more about the party HERE.

 

 

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The first date card was for Brad and it read, “Let our love shine true”.  Brad also has a young child that he cares for.  Desiree and Brad hit the boardwalk and visited a chocolate factory!  I wish they would have shown more of that!  They went onto the carousel and the guys back at the hotel watched out the window and said how bummed they all were that he got the date and they didn’t.

 

 

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Later, they got to have a sunset dinner on the beach.  That’s not the amazing part.  The amazing part is that their dinner seats and blanket were built into a sandcastle.  They spent time talking about what they are looking for in a relationship.  They eventually moved inside, and had some real dinner, and the conversation was just lacking!  She really likes him, but it’s just so awkward.  As a last ditch effort, she took him to climb a lighthouse and it was just more awkwardness.  She told him once they got to the top that it just wasn’t going to work out and that something was missing.  She was bummed that there wasn’t a spark.  I felt so bad for him because he really does seem like a sweet guy!  He cried when he left but said that Desiree made the right decision for her and that he was looking forward to getting home to his son.

 

Continue reading "Desiree and the Guys Look for Love in Atlantic City" »

06/13/2013

Conference Call with Eliminated Bachelor Brandon

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Brandon Andreen, who was eliminated by Desiree Hartsock earlier this week on "The Bachelorette," answered questions during a conference call Thursday afternoon (or morning, his time, in California). He discussed his experience on the show, his feelings for and about Des and who he thinks are good and bad fits for her, as well as the outreach from strangers, family and friends to the intense emotions he shared during his time in the house.

Continue reading "Conference Call with Eliminated Bachelor Brandon" »

06/12/2013

"Bachelorette" Viewing Party in New York City!

There's exciting news "Bachelorette" fans!  If you live in the New York City area, you are invited to a viewing party next Monday in the Meatpacking district!  

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Rachel Truehart from "The Bachelor" and "Bachelor Pad 2" will be hosting the party at TOY Restaurant.

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There will be food and prizes, plus Rachel will be dishing on all things to do with the "Bachelor" franchise.  You won't want to miss this.  

 

I'll be stopping by to talk with Rachel and check out the party.  If you want to attend, you'll want to RSVP as soon as possible because I believe the event is going to be limited to about 100 people.  Here's the email for the RSVP: DOACNewYork@gmail.com.  Hope to see you there!

 

Hugs, Kisses & Roses,
Jennifer Matarese 

06/10/2013

The Guys Are Falling Fast For Desiree, While Others are Just Cheating Liars

This week started off with Ben saying he was going to go after Des full force and he doesn’t care what the other guys think.  The first date card was for the group date and it was for Chris, Brian, Drew, Michael, Brooks, Brad, Mikey, Brandon, Zack K and Ben.  It read: “Love is a battlefield”.

 

 

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The guys learned that they were going to be playing dodgeball.  This isn’t your gym class dodgeball.  They are serious and they throw the ball HARD.  It was insanity!  Then the guys faced off against each other in two teams, so that half of the guys would go home.

 

 

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So the guys headed outdoors in their little blue and red outfits.  They looked so funny and yet cute at the same time!  The guys went all out and really tried their hardest!  Dan was the last man standing on the red team, and he managed to get it down to just Chris, but Chris won!  So the blue team won the first round.  It’s best of three.  In the second game, the red team won!  The third round would determine it all.  Uh oh, Brooks got hit in his finger and he actually broke it!  He had to go get it reset!  Yikes!  The game resumed and in the end the blue team won!  Zack brought home the win.

Continue reading "The Guys Are Falling Fast For Desiree, While Others are Just Cheating Liars" »

06/06/2013

Conference Call with Bachelor Ben

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Even though we're only at the beginning of Desiree Hartsock's quest for love on this season of "The Bachelorette," one guy is emerging as both a frontrunner and the main source of conflict in the house.

Bachelor Ben participated in a conference call Thursday to address his status on the show and his relationships with Desiree and the other guys. He came across pretty genuine and his intentions seem legit, but even after talking to him, I'm still on the fence about his overall likability.

Continue reading "Conference Call with Bachelor Ben" »

06/03/2013

'The Bachelorette' Who is There for the 'Right Reasons'?

OK, let’s get to know these guys fighting for Desiree’s heart!  I love that we have the first night behind us and we’ll start to see some real dates.  Woo hoo Chris Harrison drops off the first date card and it’s for Brooks and it read, “I’m waiting for a sign”.

 

 

Desiree picked Brooks up in her blue Bentley and they rushed off as the rest of the guys looked on.  He complimented her right off about how pretty she looked and he really seems to be acting like a genuine nice guy.  She took him to a bridal salon where she wanted to share her passion for designing bridal gowns with him.  She had him dressed up in a green tux and she tried on a few wedding gowns.  Brooks thought it was silly and fun but loved getting to know more about her.  Is it just me, or do they look AMAZING together!?  They left in a tux and gown and he lifted her into the car.  They drove off like a couple of newlyweds, picked out a wedding cake which was actually cupcakes from a cupcake truck, and drove off for more surprises.  They ended up at the Hollywood sign!

 

 

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Brooks shared with her that his relationship of a year and a half ended and it was really heartbreaking for him.  He said that it was so exciting to find love that he really wants to find it again and he’s open to it.  The sun set and it was just PERFECT.  That’s when it happened!  The first REAL kiss of the season!  Woo!  That date couldn’t have gone better.  I’m a Brooks fan for sure!  He’s set the bar pretty high for the other guys.

 

Continue reading "'The Bachelorette' Who is There for the 'Right Reasons'?" »

05/27/2013

Desiree Hartsock Lives Her Dream as 'The Bachelorette'

It's finally here!  After much anticipation, we get to see Desiree Hartsock in action as "The Bachelorette".  I really hope that this gamble with love pays off for her in the end, she seems like a really sweet girl.  The show began with her driving up in a car and arriving with a big bag on her shoulder.  I mean, come on, we know she has more clothes than that!  There's like 5 outfit changes per episode/date!

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 She talked a lot about her humble beginnings and how she grew up poor (by the way, she was a super cute little baby and tiny little girl), but I wonder if her parents mind the show playing that "Cinderella" aspect of her upbringing up so much.

 

Continue reading "Desiree Hartsock Lives Her Dream as 'The Bachelorette'" »

05/20/2013

Desiree Talks About Her Journey For Love on 'The Bachelorette'

Desiree Hartsock, the new "Bachelorette", talked to me today about her journey to find love.  I was really excited to get to ask her some questions, especially after we saw the confrontation between Sean and her brother last season on "The Bachelor".

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Desiree said that she thinks the outburst with her brother was "Sean specific" and that she didn't have trouble like that this time around.  She agreed that since Sean ultimately sent her home, maybe he had picked up on something that she didn't see.

 

 

 

 

 

Desiree also said that she visited some amazing places this season for her dates.  She said they start off in Atlantic City, then headed to Germany, Barcelona, and Madeira.  You know there will be some amazing things to see in those locations!  I'm really interested to see the Atlantic City dates because there was so much damage to that area during Superstorm Sandy, although the casinos and hotels were all mostly fine right there.

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I'm going to guess that she does end up with someone, although she said that she's not allowed to give that bit away right now.  She would only say that she's happy and content with the decisions that she made.  Also, we better hope that Sean and Catherine get married on TV because it doesn't sound like Desiree is too into that whole concept.  She wants a small, intimate wedding.  Hopefully ABC can change her mind on that so we can see it, if there will be one!

 

 

"The Bachelorette" is just one week away on ABC!  It begins Monday, May 27th at 8pm!  You won't want to miss it!

 

 

You can check out all of the men vying for Desiree's heart HERE.  Also, you can catch Desiree on "Live with Kelly & Michael" tomorrow morning at 9am!

 

 

Hugs, Kisses & Roses,

Jennifer Matarese

June 2013

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