Ben Flajnik is back and spicing up his turn as “The Bachelor,” promising lots of naked romping as he sifts through comely bachelorettes looking for a mate. So why the low road Ben?
Ah… could it be ratings?
“The Bachelor’s” two-hour premiere Monday night stumbled compared with previous seasons. The 16th season opening episode drew 7. 7 million viewers and posted a 2.4 rating/6 share in the 18-to-49 demo, according to the network.
Last year 9 million viewers tuned to watch Brad Womack, and that show, too, was down from previous premieres.
Why the show decided to go with “Bachelorette” reject Flajnik is a mystery. Who would want someone that Bachelorette Ashley Hebert rejected last year?
And now viewers have to see him naked?
The Bachelor: A nude season
“It’s a very nude season,” host Chris Harrison tells People. “Ben is very comfortable in his own skin. He doesn’t have modesty issues.”
Between skinny-dipping sessions, Flajnik will also have to contend with a mystery woman from his past.
On the opening show, he faced 25 stampeding women. The San Francisco-based winemaker, 29, says even he was stunned by some of their stunts to get attention. Would you believe arriving on a horse.
I don’t know if my wife is in this room, but I am going to stay open, and honest to this experience. If they needed any advice, guidance, or comfort, they could come to me at any time,” he said.
And, the ladies wasted no time bearing their claws.
“Obviously with a situation like this, the claws are going to come out,” People’s coverboy says. “And they came out a lot earlier than I would’ve expected.”
After 16 seasons, however, the show is tired, so Flajnik, has his work cut out for him to keep up interest in the show.
So get ready to get naked girls.
