The Bachelorette: Live Blog

And that's a wrap

That ended well for DeAnna and Jesse - they seem very happy together and I wish them the best of luck.

Thanks everyone for stopping by the Bachelorette Live Blog and adding your comments.  We'll have to do it again for The Bachelor next season.  Until then, come on by and visit me at Live from L.A. here on ABC.com where we chat about just about every single ABC show.   Well, except the soaps.  Hey, I have to sleep some time.

What's the big announcement already?

Jesse and DeAnna have a big announcement - they've set a wedding date, May of 2009.  They're planning a big Greek wedding in the Bahamas, where they fell in love and got engaged.  Does Chris Harrison get to come?  I would kinda hope so - who wouldn't want Chris at the wedding.

OK, here's the real big announcement:  they get a big all-expenses paid honeymoon to Santorini in Greece.  Score!

Jesse and DeAnna's relationship

"He is unlike any other man I've ever had a relationship with," DeAnna says as we watch a little video of the final rose ceremony, when DeAnna and Jesse hooked up.  It's very sweet, DeAnna gets a little misty.

Jesse says he was dying on the day of the ceremony and was incredibly nervous.  He just felt like he was going to get sent home.

"When did you know?" Chris asks him. 

"When she said yes," Jesse says.

DeAnna's fiance

Here is DeAnna's fiance and soul mate, Jesse.  He climbs over the couch - he even dressed up a little.  Chris congratulates the happy couple, who can't keep their hands off each other.

Coming up - a big announcement.  Maybe they bought a hybrid or something.  Or it could be baby related, yes?

DeAnna on the Hot Seat

DeAnna is all psyched about her engagement ring, which she's had to keep under wraps until the final episode.  Now she's happy to wear their ring and say out loud that she is in love.

She says she was guilty of judging Jesse by his looks when he first piled out of the limo in the Loud Jacket and tennis shoes, but once she sat down and spent time with Jesse she realized what a quality guy he is.  "I'm going to be married to him for the rest of my life," she says.

Checking in with Matt and Shayne

Hey, I've been curious about these guys.  Here's Matt and Shayne from this past season's The Bachelor.  I don't know if I'm in love with the new short haircut, but nobody's asking me.

We watch a little retrospective of their relationship.  Watching the final rose ceremony brings tears to Shayne's eyes. 

Since the show ended, they've become engaged and now Matt is living in Los Angeles with Shayne.  They put to rest some rumours - yes, they are still a couple.  No, Matt did not propose to her in order to get a green card.  As Matt points out, there are easier ways to secure a green card.  Good point.

I don't know, they seem pretty happy together.  Chris is right, they do act like an old married couple.

Jason and DeAnna

Here comes DeAnna for what cannot be a fun conversation for either of them.

DeAnna's really nervous - they share a tense hug. 

She never wanted to make anybody feel the way she felt, but sitting backstage she realized that she had.  "I am so sorry," she says.

Jason asks her when she had made her decision.  Did she pick Jesse that morning?  She says yes, that she invested herself fully in each guy and that she woke up that morning knowing that she was already in love with Jesse.

"How did you let me get down on my knee and propose," he asks.  She says she got caught up in the moment and didn't mean to.  Now she feels more empathy for Brad Womack because she has been in that position.

Jason is still crushed by the whole thing, but he has nothing but nice things to say about Jesse.  "I'm happy for you," he manages to say. 

Jason in the Hot Seat

"Tough to watch and relive again?"  Chris asks Jason after watching the heartbreak montage.

Jason was totally in love with DeAnna - everything seemed perfect and his time with DeAnna felt like they were a couple to him.  When he pulled up in the limo on that fateful day, he was so sure that she was going to pick him.  But when he got down on his knee she stopped him.  He wishes that she hadn't let him drop down on his knee, hadn't let him get to that point.

"Do you still have feelings for DeAnna?" Chris asks.

"Absolutely," Jason says.  He's having kind of a hard time with it and the audience seems behind him.  It's not going to get any easier, because they're bringing DeAnna out in a minute.

After the Final Rose

Here we go, Chris Harrison is hosting The Bachelorette: After the Final Rose.  We're going to hear from Jason as well as DeAnna and Jesse.

But first - Jason in the hot seat!

Chris sits Jason down for the inside scoop on what went wrong.  But first - Jason is forced to watch a painful montage of his doomed relationship with DeAnna.  That can't be fun to watch for him.

Jesse for the win

"I never thought in a million years it would end this way," DeAnna says.  You're not the only one!  But she seems 100% sure.  "I have found the man of my dreams."

Chris greets Jesse at the limo - he looks like he's going to hyperventilate; he's totally nervous.

Jesse and DeAnna meet.  "I have fallen in love with you," he says. "And the thought of not being with you kills me... I want to spend forever with you."  She doesn't say anything, she just smiles at him.  Jesse drops to one knee:  "DeAnna Marie Pappas, will you spend forever with me?"

She says yes.

"I love you," she says.  "I've waited so long to say that."

OK, I'll admit that I was on Team Jason, but they seem so into each other that it's hard not to be happy for them.  They both said they have found their soul mates, so how can you second guess that?

The limo ride

I wonder how long they drive around in this limo?  Do they take him back to the jeweler?  Do they go to the airport or the hotel?  It wouldn't be much fun getting shoved on a plane after getting rejected like that.

Jason says the only thing he has in his life is his son.  Jeez, I'm feeling for the guy. 

First to arrive: Jason

Oh no!  Jason is the first guy to arrive.  That's the kiss of death on The Bachelorette.

Man, he doesn't even know it.  "Nothing has felt this right before," he says.  He's totally in love with her, but will she let him get down on one knee?

Aaagh!  NO!

He drops down to his knee and she says, "No, I can't."

She's not going to pick him.  DeAnna says that she's falling in love with somebody else.  "I would be the luckiest person in the world to be with you, but I can't because my heart is somewhere else."  They share a tearful hug and then it's time for her to walk him to the limo.

Man, I really feel for the guy.  He's left stunned and devastated in the limousine.  "I was so ready to be in love again," he says. 

Who is getting out of the limo first?

This is it.  Host Chris Harrison guides DeAnna to the windswept beach vista where the final rose ceremony will take place.  She's ready...

But who is getting out of that limo first?

What's she going to do?

DeAnna hangs out in her suite and walks along the beach, trying to figure out what to do.  Ultimately, she has made her decision - she knows who she is going to give the rose to, and she only hopes the guy she picks will feel the same way.  I don't think she's got to worry about that.

Jason and Jesse pick out engagement rings.  Jesse is worried sick, full of anxiety.  He's going to be crushed if she doesn't pick him.  Jason spends some time being contemplative without his shirt on.  DeAnna is ready, but she's not looking forward to sending one of the two guys home.

Whichever guy gets out of the limo first - he's going home.

Date with Jason

OK, that's super cute.  Jason has upped the ante in the whole memento war by creating a board game that revisits their relationship so far.  It's a very romantic and thoughtful gesture. 

Jason is ultra-smitten as well.  He believes in his heart of hearts that he is going to be engaged.

Tomorrow:  the decision.  DeAnna is going to have a sleepless night trying to sort out what she's going to do, since she's in love with both guys. 

Date with Jesse

Now Jeremy has got her all rattled.  "I hope I gave him some clarity on the situation," she says, which means I hope he gets that I don't love him.

DeAnna and Jesse take a float plane to a secluded island, which is very romantic.  Man, Jesse is incredibly smitten.  "She's the one.  She's the girl that has the key to my heart."

Later that night, Jesse shares this thing he calls his Book of Thoughts, which is a little photo album of their relationship that has some mooshy poetry.  I think she likes it.  How could you not like it?

I don't know, I'm starting to think she's going to pick Jesse.  I think he represents adventure to her and Jason represents family, and she still wants adventure.

Jeremy returns!

Back in the Bahamas, DeAnna finds out that Jeremy wants to talk to her.  Umm, he did leave the Bahamas, right?  I mean, I'd hate to think about him drinking mai tais in a bar or morosely riding a scooter around Grand Bahama waiting for DeAnna to come back.

Anyway, I'm thinking he flew back.  He lays it out there and tells her how much he loves her.  DeAnna breaks down and says she can't do it - it's not in her heart, she's in love with somebody else.  "If we were meant to be, my feelings would be stronger.  But they're not," she says.  She says that she couldn't accept if he proposed to her, so for both of them it's the best decision.  They hug and then he's gone.

You know, she's got a point.  I mean, if she's not feeling it, she's not feeling it.

Ouzo!

The guys drink ouzo with DeAnna's family and then they say goodbye.  The guys seemed to have had a good time and got along with the Pappas family - each scored points with the family in their own way.

DeAnna asks his sisters what they think of the guys.  Crystal, DeAnna's sister-in-law, really wants her to pick Jesse.  She thinks that hooking up with Jason would "fast forward her life five years" which is a good point.  The general consensus seems to be that DeAnna hasn't settled down and Jesse would be a better fit for where she's at in her life right now.

Now Jesse asks permission

Earlier Jason asked DeAnna's father for permission to ask DeAnna to marry him and now it's Jesse's turn.  DeAnna's dad seemed more enthusiastic when Jason asked him the other day, and there's a loooong pause before he answers him.  However, Mr. Pappas seems impressed with how earnest Jesse is and they end up doing a fist bump as well.

Jesse is psyched that he got to "nug" with Mr. Pappas and they share a hug. 

One of the things I'm trying to keep in mind that Jason is 31 and is a little more polished, whereas Jesse is 26 - DeAnna's age - and comes from a different head space.  I don't know if it's fair to compare Jason and Jesse as apples & apples. 

"Summarize your pros and cons for us"

Jesse and Jason are on the hot seat in front of the entire clan, and they don't really care for it much.  Both of them are uncomfortable but handle it with a sort of good-natured rivalry.

Jesse teaches DeAnna's grandparents how to fist bump, which is awesome.  Jason lays the charm on them and comes across very gentlemanly - smooth.  Lilian gives Jason her total endorsement, but Grandpa reminds her that the choice is DeAnna's.

Meanwhile, Jesse lays some of his down-to-earth mojo on DeAnna's sister and sister-in-law, and he does very well.  Sister-in-law gives Jesse a fist bump, so that's a bonus.

The full on big fat Greek family

Now that Jesse and Jason have escaped the scrutiny of the nuclear family, it's time for the boys to meet the extended family.  Can Jesse recover from his "brutal" encounter yesterday and be less nervous?  Probably not!

Particularly since Jason shows up at the same time to the party.  D'oh!  DeAnna is forced to sit between Jason and Jesse and she just kind of wilts with embarassment. 

It is on - finally!

Sorry, we're experiencing technical difficulties but we're online and up and running now.

So who ya got?  Is Jason or Jesse walking away with the final rose tonight?

A look at Jason and Jesse

Next week, it's coming down to the last two guys:  Jesse the laid-back snowboarder from Colorado, or Jason the sensitive single dad from Seattle?  They're both falling in love with her.

I like how Jesse calls her "Dee."  He's totally up for marrying her.  But so is Jason, he thinks she can complete his family and is ready to go.

Next week - the season finale of The Bachelorette.  Both Jesse and Jason visit DeAnna's parents - but at the same time???  Awkward.  It looks like Jesse gets a haircut as well - but will it be enough? 

Come on back next week and we can find out who makes it together.  See you then!

Craziness

Here's a video retrospective of some of the lighter moments.  We get a look at DeAnna's mangled grammar, Greg's infamous shirt-shredding, moon-howling exit interview, and the Socratic wisdom of Ron the Barber. 

And even Chris Harrison dogpiles on Karate Sean's mullet.  "Do you think he was in the Cobra Kai dojo in Karate Kid?"

More DeAnna in the Hot Seat

We look back at the day that DeAnna kind of freaked out at the barbecue.  She says that she wanted the guys to pay more attention to her and be more emotionally invested in the whole thing.

Ryan takes issue with DeAnna's take on the whole thing and gets a little huffy.

Who snuck into DeAnna's room?

An audience member asks if DeAnna ever hooked up with any of the guys staying in Bachelorette Manor. 

Apparently Jeremy snuck into her room one night for a kiss, and Paul the Canadian had a bubble bath in her suite while she was gone.  That's a little creepy.  At least he stayed out of her underwear drawer... one hopes.

DeAnna's turn in the Hot Seat

Jeez, I'd be nervous if I were her.  She gets a standing O.

DeAnna says that she hopes the guys still respect her and she knows how hard it was because she's been there.

Jeremy asks, "When did you know that I was not the one for you?"  She says that she made the decision on Grand Bahama Island when she realized she was falling in love with Jesse and Jason.

DeAnna says that releasing Graham was the hardest thing she's done.  She kind of butts head with Graham a little - she didn't buy his explanation about what happened.  He's coming off as a little flippant and defensive, and DeAnna kind of bristles.

"You are pissed," Chris observes.  Very true, Chris.

What was in the letter?

An audience member asks Graham what was in that letter he gave DeAnna when he was sent home.  He's kind of evasive and just says that he wrote down his true feelings and that DeAnna was probably touched by what he said. 

Graham in the Hot Seat

Here's Graham, who is clearly a crowd favorite, judging by the catcalls.  "It's like a construction site in here," Chris Harrison says.

Here's a video retrospective of the steamy and contentious relationship between DeAnna and Graham.  There's bonus Limo Ride of Shame interview footage of Graham as well.

Chris grills Graham about why he couldn't open up more.  The psychic, Ellen DeGeneres, and even Graham's mom said that he was scared of or unable to commit or open up.  Graham feels like he didn't get enough credit for the opening up that he did, and that he's more of an actions-not-words kind of guy, unlike the other guys.

More Jeremy in the Hot Seat

Now we're focusing on Jeremy's chemistry with DeAnna, which started off great but totally did a crash and burn on Grand Bahama Island.  I'm still tripping out that she picked Jesse over Jeremy.  I mean, I think it was a good choice, but I really thought he was going to be in the final two.

We review footage of the relationship and its demise.  Jeremy says he was shocked by what happened in the Bahamas and is still dwelling on it.  He says getting in the limo was the hardest thing he's had to do in his life.  He had to have the driver stop the limo because "I didn't want to go away."  I thought for a moment that he was pulling the car over to throw up, but no.

Jeremy was totally in love with her and still gets that kick in the gut feeling when he thinks of the whole thing. 

Next up, Graham on the Hot Seat. 

Jeremy on the Hot Seat

Chris puts the group outcast Jeremy on the Hot Seat and asks him about his somewhat - OK, really antagonistic relationship with just about everybody except Luke the oyster farmer.  Everybody seems to think that Jeremy should have been more friendly and less competetive and condescending. 

Ron thought Jeremy lacked some social skill about group dynamics.  The crowd thinks Ron was just jealous.  Oh, snap.

The Men Tell All

Here we go, now we're going to get some dirt on what the scorned guys.

Chris throws some questions at the guys.  They all admit to being nervous and tongue tied. 

We get a look at some of the er, cattiness between the guys.  Everybody hated Jeremy, apparently.  Ron thought he lacked integrity, Robert gave him the nickname "Captain D-Bag" and thought he was like the yuppie killer in American Psycho, Ryan thought he was a **** and even Twilley didn't like him.   

Man, if Twilley didn't like him he must have been doing something wrong.

Jeremy is going home

That was the longest pause in TV history.  I was dying.

Jason is getting the second rose!  Woo!  I'm a Jason fan.

DeAnna is crying as she walks a stoic Jeremy out to say goodbye.  "I was all about you from the beginning from the first second I saw you," he says.

DeAnna tells him that he's perfect and that she feels stupid for sending him home, but she feels on some level that she's confusing the bond they shared as love.

He is utterly crushed.  "Today could potentially be one of the worst days I've ever had," he says.  "It just sucks that this will be the last time I hold your hand."   Ouch.  I feel bad for the guy - he wasn't my favorite for her but I think he's a decent guy.

They hug at the limo door and then he's gone.

Man, he has the limo pulled over so he can get out and walk it off.

The Rose Ceremony

DeAnna rolls up in her white limo, about to break somebody's heart.  She's falling in love with all three guys, so she's not exactly looking forward to this.

"I want you to know that my heart is breaking right now," she tells Jason, Jeremy, and Jesse who are assembled on the firing line.

WOAH.  Jesse gets the first rose! 

The suspense is killing me...

Fantasy Suite... or not?

At dinner, Jesse has a couple of questions for DeAnna.  When does she want to have kids and stuff?  Where does she want to live?

I've always kinda wondered about this - where is she going to live?  Is it a give that she's going to move to Breckenridge, Dallas, or Seattle?  I mean, she's got a career and life of her own - what about them moving to join her?  At least Jesse is bringing it up.

Jesse gets the invitation to go to the Fantasy Suite.  "I don't know if I can until I meet your Dad," he says with a completely straight face.  Psych!  He was kidding.  OK, they got me.  I thought he was going to get all strange on her.

Off they go to the Fantasy Suite  - she's impressed by the romantic side of him that she didn't know he had.

DeAnna and Jesse

"I need Jesse to be like my boyfriend today," DeAnna says.  He's super psyched to see her, so that's good.  They're going horseback riding along the beach.  Neither of them are master equestrians, but they do manage to kiss on horseback in the surf.

They have a picnic and frolic about in the water.  Yes, they literally frolic.  I don't know, maybe they ARE meant to be together.  Now I'm confused.  They look like they're on a romance novel cover or something - very picturesque and romantic.

Is he going to totally blow it, though by being all weird about the Fantasy Suite?

Dinner and a Fantasy Suite

DeAnna says she's comfortable and says she's always had feelings for Jason - but will they translate into full-on passionate romance?  It seems likely.  I was worried that they'd have a more platonic vibe to their relationship, but it looks like I was wrong. 

He, too is totally down with the Fantasy Suite and doesn't even have to read the entire invitation.  Off they go.

He's pretty smooth, isn't he?  The guy can lay the romance on big time.  She's falling for him now, too.

DeAnna and Jason

"I'm making this day all about Jason,"  DeAnna says.

Jason and DeAnna go off-roading in a Jeep to an "Amazon jungle type place."  They cross a river or inlet on a raft-ferry that you pull across with a rope.  They're very comfortable with each other and it feels very boyfriend/girlfriend.

Cloud 9

Jeremy has no ambiguity about going to the Fantasy Suite.  "Do you want to go now?" he says as soon as he gets the invitation.

Nice - they have a shot of Jeremy closing the door on the Fantasy Suite.  "I'm on Cloud 9 right now," DeAnna says.  You go, girl.

DeAnna and Jeremy

Things are starting to heat up between Jeremy and DeAnna on a jet ski/beach trip to an isolated island.

Jeremy wants to tell DeAnna how he feels, but his hesitancy is perceived as "holding back" by DeAnna, who is confused.  She got rid of Graham because he couldn't open up to her, and now Jeremy is pulling back.

They have an awkward conversation at dinner.  Jeremy is kind of stumbling over his words and acting odd.  He finally busts out with:

"I would tell you that I'm falling in love with you, but that's already happened."

"Graham was a Brad."

Ouch.

Grand Bahama Island

Grand Bahama Island beckons Deanna and her three remaining suitors tonight. 

Will Jeremy find the words?  Will Jason crash their jeep?  Will Jesse accept DeAnna's invitation to her suite?

The Bachelorette Double Feature

We're live once again for tonight's Bachelorette Double Feature.  On the one hand we've got The Men Tell All and on the other hand, we have the Exotic Vacation Phase of the show.  Deanna takes the Three J's - Jason, Jeremy, and Jesse - to La Isla Bonita.  It is on like Chaka Khan!  Or something.

Next week...

It doesn't get easier for DeAnna from here.  Unless you count fun-filled all-expenses paid trips to exotic lands with cute guys who worship you as "easy." 

Wait a second, that doesn't sound so bad.  We'll see y'all next week for more drama, romance, and heartbreak.

Graham is going home

"So this is goodbye, forever," Graham says as she walks him out to the limo.

DeAnna feels like Graham has lead her on.  He's hurt and a little bitter, but surely he must have seen it coming, right?  I mean, their hometown date didn't end on a really good note.

Speaking of notes, Graham wrote her a message which she tearfully reads outside.  Now she's second guessing her decision - this was the one guy that she really was falling in love with, but he wouldn't meet her half way.  What if she just sent away the one guy that she really loved?  What if the feelings she has for the three other guys doesn't develop into full-on love?

Man, sometimes it sucks to be the Bachelorette...

Decision time

One of the four remaining suitors is heading home tonight.  No cocktail party mingling for the guys, just raw stress.

Here we go.  Who's getting the first rose?

Jesse!  He's still in it. 

Jeremy gets the next rose, as we all thought he would.

And the last rose goes to...

Jason!  Good deal; he looked like he was sweating it.

Graham's family

Here we go:  this is the first girl that Graham's brought home in a looong time.  Red flag!  Graham's mom is super sweet, I like her.  DeAnna has a heart-to-heart with her and asks if she thinks Graham is ready for a serious commitment, but doesn't get an answer that sets her at ease.

After the parent time, Graham does his cryptic (or passive agressive?) emotional thing where he sort of checks out.  Dude, you're destroying your chances when you wall yourself off like that. 

Graham - Raleigh, NC

We're heading south to Raleigh to see Graham's 'hood.  She 's super huggy and excited to see him.  They play a game of one-on-one in the high school gym where Graham grew up.

Although this is where he grew up, Graham doesn't live in Raleigh anymore.  His folks are still in town, and Graham assures her that they'll love her.  He's really chatty and at ease with her when he doesn't have a bunch of other guys to stress him out.

Jason's family

Here's Jason's family.  There's a whole mess of them, and they have fixed a big Greek dinner for DeAnna - they even toast with glasses of ouzo.  She feels right at home in a big friendly family, and they seem to like her.

Jason's parents really like her - his dad says she has "joie de vivre."  Jason's mom tells him to lose his proverbial body armor and stick his neck out.  Jason says he doesn't want to get hurt but he's willing to put himself out there.

Yep, he's in love with her, too. 

Jason - Seattle, WA

OK, that's cute.  Jason's bouncing up and down with excitement when he sees her.  I don't know, maybe he's cold.  They get to go up to the very top of the Space Needle, where only BASE jumpers, film crews, and VIPs get to go.  Hey, look!  A ferry.  That's how I commuted to work for years.

DeAnna's nervous about meeting Ty.  They head over to Bellevue where Jason tearfully reunites with his son.  DeAnna's impressed and touched by Jason's bond with Ty.  There's no doubt in her mind that Jason is a good dad -he clearly loves his kid.  They feed the ducks - "Duck party!"

Man, that is a hella cute kid.