The Bachelorette

Last night after The Bachelor finale, this season's Ali Fedotowsky was announced as the next star of The Bachelorette on the "After the Final Rose" filler reunion special.

Ali became a fan favorite on The Bachelor and even made Jake's top  four, but left of her own volition following their successful "hometown date" in Williamstown, Mass.

She said she was worried about getting fired from her job and left. Then just a week later, she asked to return but Jake Pavelka wasn't having it. She was heartbroken.

Looks like Ali Fedotowsky got over it, though, as she ultimately quit for an even better reality TV role. Perhaps she coveted or was offered The Bachelorette all along ...

As The Bachelorette, Ali Fedotowsky gets a second chance at staged TV love.

"I'm flattered and I really feel great," she told Chris Harrison. "I am so thrilled and honored and grateful. I can't believe it. I'm not going to let fear dictate my life anymore."

Because it was fear, not ABC producers, who dictated her decision-making. Whatever you say, Ali. Not that we have a problem with the casting, we think she'll be awesome.

After all, the 25-year-old is cute, successful and charming. Tenley Molzahn also would have been a good choice after Jake somehow chose Vienna Girardi last night, but alas.

What do you think? Are you excited for Ali to get her own crack at calling the rose distributing shots? Or do you think the long-running "reality" franchise needs new blood?

We thought we'd heard everything, but apparently ABC has ordered a spinoff of The Bachelor franchise in which former contestants live together, Big Brother style.

Its working title? Bachelor Pad, obviously.

Yes, we're dead serious.

The series will reunite 20 contestants from the previous 13 seasons of The Bachelor and five of The Bachelorette, which have produced a combined one marriage.

Executive producer Martin Hilton said the Pad's concept was inspired by the real-life relationships that have continued among former Bachelor cast members:

"All these people have been friends, enemies, and bring all this great back story. It seemed like there was an opportunity to combine that with a new show."

Will Bachelor Pad feature any of these hotties? Here's hoping!

Contestants will live in a house and compete in challenges, some inspired by incidents from past seasons. Each episode will end with Big Brother style evictions.

ABC has ordered seven episodes, with host Chris Harrison on board of course. Expect ABC to premiere the show in the late summer post-Bachelorette finale.

Names of the Bachelor Pad cast have not been released, but "top" players, including former winners, are on board. Um, hooray, Brad Womack and Andy Baldwin?

The Bachelor returned last week proved it's still going strong, climbing slightly in the ratings for its 14th edition. Click here for a recap of last night's episode.

Last night, The Bachelorette star Jillian Harris had to choose between Ed Swiderski and Kiptyn Locke on the emotional season finale of the ABC reality show.

That was difficult enough, but then Reid Rosenthal, the recently-ousted third-place finisher, returned to Hawaii to ask for her hand in marriage as well!

First, Jillian got rid of Kiptyn. But before she could see Ed, it appeared Reid might shock the world in his dramatic return. But Jillian, however moved, dispatched Reid a second time and accepted the marriage proposal of Ed Swiderski moments later.

Follow the link for a comprenehsive recap of The Bachelorette season finale ...

Proposal accepted, Ed Swiderski is poised to become Mr. Jillian Harris.

Last night on The Bachelorette ...

• One remaining stud could not grant the emotional commitment our girl craves.
• Another of Jillian Harris' final three can't close the deal. We mean physically.
• The field was narrowed to two, but the exiled bachelor may return still.

There are also serious rumors going around regarding the season finale in two weeks.

Namely, that one of the three gents below is going to be the next star of The Bachelor, another proposes to Jillian but has a girlfriend back home, and the third (who got kicked off on Monday night) will be returning to try to woo Jillian one last time.

Which is which? What are the details behind these revelations? Will Jillian Harris choose Reid Rosenthal, Ed Swiderski or Kiptyn Locke (left to right)?

Follow the link for more The Bachelorette spoilers for the finale ...

Snake. Douchebag. Sleaze. Tool. Jackass.

Wes Hayden has been called all of the above during his eight-episode run on The Bachelorette, but the recently-vanquished singer from Austin, Tex., says that's mostly a byproduct of shady editing on the part of ABC and the producers.

Jillian Harris gave Wes the boot on Monday's episode, after startling revelations that the hunk was romancing her while dating Laurel Kagay and was only on the show to promote his music finally crept into the Canadian cutie's mind.

That's not him, Wes insists.

Follow the link to read Wes Hayden's side of the story on The Bachelorette ...

Last night on The Bachelorette, Wes Hayden finally got the boot. To the surprise of no one. After eight long, long weeks of viewers begging Jillian Harris to make it so.

Wes finally showed his true colors - or Jillian finally caught on, or a bit of both. He was as shady as it gets about his girlfriend Laurel (or ex, who knows) and paid for it.

Nothing else really happened, but Ed Swiderski, Reid Rosenthal and Kiptyn Locke are now the final three suitors standing, and are off to Hawaii to vie for Jillian's heart.

Follow the link for a recap of The Bachelorette ...

Wes Hayden's "girlfriend," who has dominated the current season of The Bachelorette - during which he has been romancing star Jillian Harris - has finally been revealed.

And just as the Bachelorette spoilers we posted yesterday hinted, it looks like the story line was largely (if not entirely) fabricated. She says she and Wes are just friends.

Laurel Kagay dated Wes Hayden for three years (and ironically, former Bachelor star Brad Womack prior to that) but says their romantic relationship ended a year ago.

Why does she think ousted competitor Jake tried to out Wes? Do he and Jill make a good pair? Follow the link for an interview and more revelations from Laurel Kagay ...

The Bachelorette may not have the buzz and star wattage of The Bachelor's Jason Mesnick, Molly Malaney and Melissa Rycroft, but with Jillian Harris leading the way and a number of story lines developing around her suitors, it's slowly inching closer.

• Does Wes Hayden actually have a girlfriend, or is he being victimized by ridiculous editing and contrived confrontations courtesy of ABC?
• Did Jesse, Reid or Michael make the cut last night?
• Was Ed planning to return to the series all along?
• Will Kiptyn Locke (pictured) be the next Bachelor?

Follow the link for a full recap of last night's show, plus Bachelorette spoilers ...

Last night, The Bachelorette took a surprising twist when Mr. Perfect, Jake Pavelka, was booted and Mr. Manipulative Snake, Wes Hayden, was given a rose and stuck around.

This, even after the show went to great lengths to make Jake appear to be the ultimate catch, while Wes openly bragged that he was only there to boost his music career.

It's all very sad ... or just a prelude to next week, when Jake apparently stages a dramatic return to call out Wes and his hidden agenda in front of Bachelorette Jillian Harris!

Scripted? Probably. But entertaining, to say the least. Who else got kicked off last night, and who is joining Wes in Jillian's final five for next week's hometown dates?

Follow the link for a full recap of last night's The Bachelorette ...

Fans seem to universally love Jillian Harris on The Bachelorette. But still, some of her decisions so far this season have been criticized as dubious to say the least.

Chief among them, why she keeping the guy with the foot fetish around?

Well, when it comes to Tanner Pope (pictured, below), Jillian Harris had this to say to E!: "I think he's adorable and sweet and so cute, and I think his foot fetish is hilarious. Where other people find it a little creepy, I think it's funny."

There you have it. Jill also spilled that she and some of her guys will be heading to Spain this season - and that she's happy with her choice. Who could it be?

Tanner P. has made Jillian Harris' final eight. Can he advance much longer?