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November 23, 2020 54 mins

Bachelor royalty and Mirrorball champion Melissa Rycroft help Ben and Ashley break down Kaitlyn Bristowe’s historic Dancing with the Stars win! She has some inside info on why Kaitlyn didn’t compete on DWTS after her season of The Bachelorette! 


Melissa sticks around to recap this week’s episode of Tayshia’s season. Bennett is such a character on the show, but does he have a shot at becoming a REAL option for Tayshia.


Is Dale CHEATING on Clare?? We go through the facts and try to figure out what’s going on.



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Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous podcast
with our radio. I'm so ready for another week of
the Almost Famous podcast. Ashley Tasia has never disappointed ever.
She truly is bigger is she's She's a bachelor right
that we've had the least amount of bachelor speak with

(00:23):
you know what I mean When I say bachelor speak
like there's like no booths, there's just no fluff talk.
It's real talk and it's so easy and fun to watch.
I didn't want this episode to end. I love this episode.
And when I was thinking about coming on here to
talk to you about it, I was like, I don't
even have much to say, you know why, because there's
nothing to pick apart. It was pretty much drama free

(00:45):
until the very end. And yeah, it's just like I
always want this episode to lie. It's like, just let
it be because it was a perfect episode. Well, there's
definitely gonna be things, some things I pick apart, but
those You have some bachelor headlines actually going through the
list as usual, You're gonna break them down because you're

(01:06):
the expert and I learned from you on all at
all times. Alright, first headline Matt James Bacheler sneak peak
is full of makeout sessions and tears. This according to Cosmo,
Well did you see the sneak peak that aired for
the first time during Ryan Field? But you know my
favorite UM new show based guy last week? Did you

(01:27):
watch it? Did that? Yeah? So it's a great clip.
It came out earlier than we get basically any other
Bachelor preview for the season. He looks great, Harrison saying
that the women are falling for him literally because one
girl trips on her exit outside the limo, and I

(01:48):
mean there's nothing, there's something hugely stand out about it.
Jared's favorite part was that that Chris says, you've never
been in love. Well, we are here to change that.
He thought it was very cinematic. Chris has been on
his game. I mean, the guy's working harder than never.
He's on more TV than he's ever been on before.

(02:09):
The guy is just crushing it with the lines. I
mean he is on fire. We're speaking of on fire
Bachelor at Tasha Adams turns heads, yes, turns heads in
many dress and braids at American Music Awards in l A. This,
according to Full Daily Mail, not much of a story here,
but if you guys, did check out Tasia on the

(02:29):
American Music Awards on Sunday night, or you saw her
posting on Instagram, but leading up to it, you saw
how amazing she looks. She had those long, beautiful braids
and like the cutest dress. So Tastia's killing it as usual,
nothing more. Let's talk about here. Well, this is shocking
but yet not shocking. Uh. It feels like when you're

(02:52):
the Bachelor or Bachelor. Uh, celebrities are sliding into the
ms UM quicker than you ex expect. In fact, it
feels like recently, especially MEMP cast members and former leads
are entering into a celebrity circle. There own bachelortte, Tasha
Adams reveals a laker, Yes, an l a laker slid

(03:13):
into her d M s. This according to The New
York Post. Okay, so Tasia was on you Know What
her podcast this week and she said, well, there's a
laker that slips to my d MS. I talked to
a laker, That's what she says. And then Rachel, who
I think was on her podcast it was a happy

(03:34):
Hour and clickbait crossover podcast. Um, she said, is it
because referencing Winnie Harlowe's main squeeze, you know, supermodel Winnie
Harlow's main squeeze, Kyle Kuzma, and then Tasia said maybe
maybe not, before clarifying that she had spoken to him previously.

(03:56):
She also ruled out that Lebron James is not like her.
In questions, she said, I wish it was Lebron. The
guessing game continued um and then she said, no, believe me,
no one exciting. I wish somewhat. I wish it was
someone really good, but nobody exciting. So I'm assuming that
the Laker that did slam into her d MS is

(04:18):
not a household name. So actually I might be reading
into this too much. Tell me where my thoughts are
going wrong. If Tasia was mentioning that it would be
exciting for one of these guys to slide into the
d m R, does that mean she's potentially single, because
you wouldn't. I mean, maybe, like you know, matters how culture,

(04:38):
but it would feel like a pretty aggressive statement for
somebody who just recently got engaged to be saying pretty interesting. Now,
we haven't listened to the actual interview, the actual cross
of our podcast, so we were we apologize for not
having contacts on this. But I would assume that this
laker slid into her d MS not knowing that she

(04:59):
was taken lady, and she didn't start anything flirtatious or
it was previously before she became the Bachelorette. Okay, fair enough,
I just wanted to I just have the headline, so
it's like, Hey, if I'm putting my clues together, something's
up here, but maybe not. Well. Hey, h fans have
been going crazy the last week with rumors of another

(05:20):
bachelorette in her boo. Uh it's bachelortte couple Claire in Dale.
If you remember right there on this season of The Bachelorette,
they left after a couple of weeks to be happy together. Uh.
And the headlines released this bachelorette couple Claire and Dale
ignore cheating talk spending Thanksgiving Day together. This according to TMZ.

(05:43):
Now a little background here. I know this story because
it came up on my phone. Last week. There were
rumors that Dale was caught out in New York um
kissing on somebody at a bar. Now, oh, I didn't
hear about the kissing part, but I saw that he
was like out without Claire with a couple of ladies

(06:04):
and I think a guy you saw you saw a
report that he was kissing a woman. Now, I've been
reading like the comments and like some of the like
drag me, like some of the stuff that's like you
would just push out the window, like the throwaway back,
you know. And so I could be wrong. Now tell
me what you know, what you've heard, and tell me,
I mean, has this been proven true? Okay, So he

(06:27):
was photographed last week walking around the city with a
few models after they worked on a Hugo Boss event together.
They got drinks afterward, and that's when the rumor mills
started turning out that he was smooching seen smooching uh
multiple women, But they say it's completely untrue. One of
the women Dale was actually hanging out with is married
and the other one as a boyfriend. I think I

(06:51):
even saw a little footage of this, and it may
have been from Halloween time. He was out with a
couple of women in New York, but I didn't see
anything roman antic. So it just looks like they've been
documenting their trip to sacrament Um. He flew to Sacramento
and they I think they're driving down to San Diego.
Because they've been posting a lot of stories singing in

(07:11):
the car. It looks like a road trip. Yeah, you know,
they seem happy together. Um so so far, you know,
she would be the one to know more than most
and I'm sure she asked him right, So all signs
pointed them being healthy and good together. At least that's
what we know. Um, we have no other rumors otherwise. Well,
Bachelor alum Hannah Brown consults with a matchmaker to find

(07:34):
love again. This according to US Weekly. Okay, so you
guys know that Hannah has a new YouTube channel. So
on her YouTube channel, she had a life coach, her
life coach Nora. I can't not gonna even attend to
the last name, who also is a professional matchmaker. Come on,
and Hannah admitted that she hasn't dated since being on
the Bachelorette, which you know is over a year and

(07:56):
a half ago. And she said, um, if you don't
know yourself completely, or you lose sight of that, it
becomes what do I want? Who do I want to
be with? It got really hard for me. So for
a while I just tried to numb it as much
as possible. She said that now she's in a place
where she feels comfortable getting into a serious relationship. She

(08:16):
says that I think I am truly ready to give
and receive love again, but it definitely has been a journey.
When the relationship coach asked Hannah Um what she looks
forward a partner, she said, a confident energy. She also
said she wants somebody who's open and of course shares
her values of honesty, having already had issues with that
in the past. Yeah. Well, it's interesting because Hannah I

(08:41):
haven't seen a lot of her YouTube channel. I'm sure
it's well followed. Um. You know, I did see some
Instagram where she was like trying to get out there,
trying to put herself out there, putting notes on guys cars.
It will be fun to follow this and see if
it works out. Now, speaking of dating, Tyler, Cameron is
low key dating model Elizabeth Turner. This according to Carmel

(09:02):
So they've apparently gone on a few dates. It's nothing serious.
She's definitely his type. These are all what sources have said.
This source also says that they don't live in the
same place and that Taylor and that Tyler isn't looking
for a relationship at the moment. They've hung out multiple
times in l A and New York. They're having fun together.

(09:24):
That the texting keeping a casual um. Apparently, Tyler and
Elizabeth met through a mutual friend and they started chatting
on Instagram. They of course haven't gone public with a
relationship because they're keeping it casual. Uh. And recently, Tyler
confirmed on the podcast Chicks in the Office he and
Hannah are simply friends. He's implying he's single. He says
he's single despite you know, going out with Elizabeth possibly

(09:48):
a few times. And he's happy to share his dating life.
But first he's got to get a girlfriend. So when
he has a girlfriend, he'll let you guys now Elizabeth
Turner scene with Leonardo DiCaprio at one point, right, that's
how I know that name is she? So Will has
been with that one girl for like over a year
and some before. So let me let me I mean, wow,

(10:11):
Tyler is dipping into Leo territory. Well as your researching, Ashley,
I'm gonna read the next headline. Bachelor's Melissa Ryecroft and
husband Tie have ruled out baby number four. This according
to US Weekly. Well, we should talk to Melissa about
this when she's on our podcast later. Um, she's gonna
be recapping the episode with us and of course talking

(10:33):
about Caitlin's huge win on Dancing with the Stars because
she's also a former Dancing with the Stars winner. Yes,
then Tyler See is now dipping his toes in area. Well,
that sounds dirty. He's dating someone possibly who Leonardo DiCaprio dated. Wow,

(10:53):
pretty cool, good for him. Dean Angler confesses he was
disappointed in girlfriend Kaylin's passed when they started dating, disappointing
to us Weekly, I thought this is super interesting. So, um,
Dean came out about this on the podcast with Jared Help.
I second dating a couple uh week ago, and I
thought this very interesting. He said that their past relationship,

(11:16):
of course, we're a long time ago, but when they
first started dating, there were things that he said that
he felt disappointed about or just upset to hear. He
said that he was like, well, dude, if you're going
to flip it around and put me in the same
position that I'm putting her in, I would look twenty
times worse. So I'm not going to just sit here

(11:36):
and be a hypocrite and be upset about something that
she might or may not have done, while I would
have probably done the same thing, if not worse, ten
times over. He also said that he doesn't think that
you should ever really hold your significant other accountable for
the things that they did before they knew the person
that they're currently dating, and he said, you could spend

(11:57):
time thinking about it and dwelling on it, but it's
just gonna make yourself angry for literally no reason at all,
because it's like, what are you supposed to do about
some someone doing things before you they possibly ever met you.
It's it's interesting. I wonder when he was a little
not up maybe I don't know, what do you think
he was annoyed about. I mean, I think it's like
she just dated around a lot, and like it's hard

(12:19):
to think about your significant other dating around. Yeah, I mean,
if I were to assume here any I think this
is actually really it's a really beautiful statement by Dean,
because I know Dean, and you know Dean, and Dean
doesn't fall easily, and so for him to get at
all jealous care is unique, right, So I think it's

(12:43):
actually showing that, like Dean heard these things that Caitlin
had done what he had done himself and probably girls
that he's dated before have done and for the first
time in a lot his life, he's feeling this. You know.
Oh but that wasn't me and this hurts and it's
not fun. It's not fun to think about that or
here it happens. We all understand that it's part of life.

(13:05):
But I think Dean, I think this point out how
hard and how much he loves I know, it's so cute,
it's so sweet. You're right, Dean's like not the guy
that would really care about other girls dating past from
you know, all the time we knew him before. Kaitlin. Yeah,
so sweet. Well, get us a little jealousy. Actually, that's

(13:26):
all the Bachelor headlines we have now. I do want
to take this time to mention UH that we had
an amazing time this last week doing our friends giving.
It was a really great experience. We had a lot
of people show up for the virtual podcast that we did.
We had some incredible guests. Now, if you weren't able
to watch that, UH, please go back and listen to
the episode. It was. It was a really fun time

(13:49):
for us and it was good to gather together and
UH and show off the recipes and catch up obviously
with some of our favorites who have been on this
show many times before. It was so much fun. Okay, well,
we're gonna take a quick break and then afterward we'll
be talking to Melissa Ryecroft about Caitlin's win and recapping
the episode with her. Staying alright, guys, we have Melissa

(14:19):
Ryecroft on the line. If you guys don't remember her, well,
she is, you know, pretty much a Bouchel royalty and
you have been part of the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders, making
the team. You're contestant on Dancing with the Stars season eight,
and um, Melissa also was competing for bachelor Jason Mesnick's parts. Um,

(14:45):
she you know, we all know the drama that happened there.
He ended up with Molly, But you got to go
on Dancing with the Stars and now you are very
happily married with three children. How you doing, Melissa, I'm
doing all right, know quite the intro um. Yeah, things
are as good as they can be, you know, live
in life and quarantine with a bunch of children and

(15:07):
my husband getting by like everybody else. But yeah, things
are things are pretty good. Okay, well that is good.
Did you did you follow Caitlin's journey on The Bachelor
at I mean, did you follow Caitlin's journey on Dancing
with the Stars? Well? I followed both. I followed her
on Bachelor of course. Yeah, I had to follow her
on Dancing with the Stars too. I mean I owe

(15:28):
that show a lot, and so I'm always supportive every year.
This year was difference. There were a lot of changes
that they made. Um, going in with Tyra being a host,
obviously there's no audience, but um, I think the talent
this year was huge, and I think Caitlin rocked it
the entire time. Now, uh, see what you want, but

(15:49):
obviously use a big change. Like Tom bergeron was beloved
and he was a great host. I don't think anybody's
gonna question his ability to host. How did you feel
as a former contestant having that change happened. I didn't
like it. I mean I have gosh, it's been over
ten years that I've worked with that show, so I
was all Tom that's the only host I knew. But

(16:10):
he was also a friend to everybody. I mean, I
think anybody that watched that show before could see the
relationship that he had with the contestants, with the dancers,
with his co hosts, the judges, and so when we
found out that he wasn't going to be a part
of it, I was like, well, it's not the same
show at all, um, And then you try to go
into an open minding, going okay, so there's a completely
different person. You know, she hosts very differently, she has

(16:33):
a different energy about her. Um. I just I never
got sold on it, to be honest with you, even
watching it, and I almost feel like they should have
just changed the aime of the show that way, we
wouldn't expect what we have seen in the past, what
twentysomething seasons. So yeah, I missed Tom. I I'm really
sad that he's not a part of it anymore. Tom was.
Tom had a following, and I know the people who

(16:55):
have been on the show in the past really loved
him and it and he was great to them as
a host. And I know a lot of hosts out
there would consider Tom maybe one of the most talented
and prepared hosts that's on TV. I mean, you know,
he was talked about in great ways. Well, we did
see a whole different season we did see Caitlin win.
There's an interesting thing that happened this year which is

(17:16):
really cool as a friend of Caitlin and also somebody
just really enjoys her as a person. Bachelor Nation, including
Bachelor contestants, came out and droves like more than any
contestant on Days for the Stars ever to support her. Now,
you won this thing not without support, but the support

(17:36):
looked a lot different, absolutely different social media era. I mean,
I didn't have social media. I'm a O G. Yeah,
I mean, I think a lot of it is. Caitlin
is one of the most beloved people to ever come
out of Bachelor Nation, you know what I mean. I
mean the career that she has created for herself outside
of the franchise is huge and unmatched, and I think

(17:57):
that you have to give extreme credit to that. Uh um.
And I think the fact that most of us knew
the backstory of her not being able to do Dancing
with the Stars back when it was her Bachelor prime,
if you will, And yeah, she's very vocal about that,
and I think a lot of us were like, let's
doesn't seem right. I mean, I know, I know some
of the backstory that can happen with Bachelor and what

(18:20):
you're allowed to do and what you're not allowed to do,
and what they say you can say and what you can't,
And so I felt really bad for her personally. Going
Dancing with the Stars is a huge opportunity and if
she was offered the position and not allowed to take it,
maybe because someone on Bachelor didn't allow her to. Um,
I don't think that's fair. Now that being said, look

(18:41):
at what she did without the Dancing with the Stars platinform,
you know, I mean, she didn't really need it, but
I think everybody knew that backstory, and because of that,
they were rooting for her so much more. One She's
she wanted this really really bad for a while. And
not only is this like a huge dream come true,
And it was so amazing just to see a drid
come true in front of your eyes, especially after a

(19:02):
dance like the Mulan Rouge and coming from the ceiling
on this sing. It was just like such an amazing
fairy tale moment. But she worked so hard for it,
Like and we all knew that, you know, because of
her being maybe a little screwed over in the past,
she was gonna put like even more heart and soul
into this, but this is a demonstration of just dedication, discipline.

(19:24):
She danced through those injuries and she also like didn't
always have perfect scores. You know, she struggled with the
judges at times, but she prevailed and it was an
amazing moment. And watching Jason watching Jason watching from afar
was just at all just as good to see how
incredibly supportive he is. Just adorable. I know, I wish

(19:48):
we could have seen him in the audience, could in
the front row, and that happened. I do think one
of the greatest things about Caitlin this season on Dancing
with the Stars is that, you know, I think we
all know her as she can be snarky and sarcastic
and funny and and she's got that edge to her.
And she was so gracious on Dancing with the Stars,

(20:09):
Like all the critiques that she got, you could tell
like she took it in and I want to make
this better. The way that she her an artem, the
relationship that they had, I mean, you just saw the
side of her of like she really wants it and
she's working hard. She's not just relying on support from
Bachelor Nation. Fans to vote it, and like she genuinely
wants to do better and you know, get better every week.

(20:30):
And I you know, I just think that was really
cool to actually see that she Uh. What I realized
this season watching Dance with the Stars, because I haven't
watched every season, it's how important stories behind the dancers
are for their performances, but also for how the fans react.
And I think you're right, I think everything it felt
like even when we, like Caitlin found out she was

(20:50):
gonna be on Dance with the State, it felt like
everything aligned for her to like to win, not not
because it was given to her, but because she she
wanted to work hard, she had a story tell she
fought for this. This was what I mean. She is
a dancer and she is a star, and so you
bring those two things together and you're Dancing with the Stars,
and she is I mean, she is a a great

(21:12):
embodiment of not only the franchise for the Bachelor, but
for Dancing with the Stars in general. And so really
cool to see that, and so um last piece, last
thing about Caitlin here, Melissa, Now she's one, E're a
past winner. What advice would you have for Caitlin is
she now enters into the season of being carrying the Mirrorball.

(21:34):
I mean, I don't think I need to give Caitlin
Bristow any advice. You know, she's got things figured out
and you know, I I would guess that is probably
gonna be a really good year for her. I could
see maybe a ring coming very soon. And it's almost
like this little fairy tale that we all know that
she's wanted for so long is happening. And I think

(21:56):
I think this win is just kind of the start
of some really great things that are going to happen
to her. It's you now make three Bachelorette ish I
mean you were in a Bachelorette but ish contestants that
have won the Mirror Ball. So that's a lot of consistency.
And now we have back to back winners with Hannah
and Caitlin. So I wonder if people are starting, like

(22:17):
I truly think that Caitlyn would have won if there
was no fan vote. I don't know the math on that. Yeah,
Like I think that that probably matches up. Um, do
you think that there's gonna be maybe like a sect
of the Dancing with the Stars fandom that is like,
this isn't fair because the bachelorettes are going to keep
winning because they have such fan support from Bachelor Nation.

(22:41):
Or do you think that they just happened to be
more talented? Well, I mean, I think it's a combination
of talent and like we were talking about the fan vote,
I mean, I love Nellie. I was. I was rooting
for Nellie from day one. The only reason he got
to the final was his fan vote. He didn't get
it based on his dance ability or of scores. So

(23:01):
it it is a large part and what the fans think.
I do worry that they get ABC fatigue, if you will,
you know, I mean I think sometimes you feel like
especially going from Bachelor to Dancing with the Stars, it's
from one season straight into the next. You know, Bachelor
Bacheltte ends Dancing with the Star starts. So with Hannah Brown,
for example, we saw her on our screens for six

(23:24):
months straight and so like exactly exactly I was being
getting it's um But I do I do worry. Now
this has happened twice in a row. If come the
next round, if somebody from Matt James, if Matt James
gets on and people are like, Oh, we've already seen
it too much. I'm not voting just because of what's happened.

(23:45):
So it's gonna be interesting. I tell you one person
that we're gonna get into right now that could definitely
when I think is Tasia. I feel like she's beloved
by many, she's celebrated by all. Right now, she's crushing
it as the Bachelor at But we're gonna take a break.
When we come back, we're gonna catch up with you
in your life, Melissa, and then we're going to break
down Tastia's last episode of the Bachelor. We're back with Melissa.

(24:19):
Melissa now catches up on your life. You are a
mirror ball champion. You have thrived yourself. You have a
long list of accomplishments and things that you've done. What
is life like for you right now? Um? Oddly quiet,
which is really nice. I Mean, one of the blessings
with this whole quarantine that we're in is that I

(24:40):
get to stay home with my kiddos, which at certain
times I'm like, oh my gosh, we gotta get out
of the house. Um. On the other hand, I'm like,
I've never had just this much quality time with my family,
and I'm very thankful we all like each other, you know,
and we're getting through this. But yeah, it's been an
interesting couple of months. But I will have really take

(25:00):
the quiet that has that has come with it, the calmness.
If you will, you are part of this season. You've
been part of any seasons, right, but I think but
you're part of this season again of the Dallas Cowboys
Cheerleaders on c MT. It is the network's most popular
in the longest running series, and you're going to come
back as a judge this year. How did you guys

(25:22):
film this? And was it was it during COVID days
or was this pre tip? Yeah? No, this was completely
So trials usually start in May, which, if everybody knows,
we were we were shut down. Nothing was happening, and
so we were all just told, you're on hold for
a little bit. We don't know. We don't even know
one if there's gonna be a team to make and
too if there's a way to document. I mean, the

(25:42):
show is I mean over ten years old at this point.
I was on the very first season when I tried
out if that says anything? And um, and then we
got word A couple of months later that they've they
had figured out a way to do the whole process virtually,
and so they had so many girls send in tapes
from across the world, and that's how we judged was

(26:03):
from our living room couch. And then the team actually
rented out a hotel here in Dallas for all of
the girls and for production found a way to safely
do it. But they condensed what normally happens in about
three to four months into sixteen days, so it was
really accelerated. But I think I think Bachelor was the
first production to go back with her, and then I

(26:27):
think I think Making the team was right behind them,
and so it was kind of they were all charting
these unnavigated seas together. The you know, you mentioned this
and you obviously have been up to a lot and
you've done a lot of great things, but you mentioned
something that I think everybody listening and actually myself can
relate with. This has been a season of things being

(26:49):
early quiet in a lot of ways, right for everybody,
if that's an entertainment, if that's in business, if that's
you know, teachers going back to school, how have you
navigated this season of quiet? You said it's been great,
but I'm sure there's been moments it has been difficult.
Oh absolutely, yeah, No, it's it's not. I wouldn't wish
life to be like this, you know. And um, the

(27:12):
position that I'm in having three small children, two of
which are in school, when everything got shut down, and
I'm now the one responsible for trying to teach them
and entertain them all day. I mean, those first two
months were really hard, and I found myself with a
lot of other people. I don't know what to do,
you know, I mean, I we can't even go to
the park or I mean, it was it was definitely

(27:33):
a struggle. I had to change my mindset, though, and go,
my kids are going to remember this. They're old enough
to remember what we're going through right now. So I
need to make sure that this is an experience that
they don't look back on and hate and and you know, despise.
But let's start making memories together, you know. I went
online and bought a bunch of card games and board games,

(27:55):
and um, we just kind of started changing our attitudes
about it. And that's when I started to realize, this
is kind of nice. You know. I don't have to travel,
I don't have to do anything, and um, I can
be with them now. Of course we're allowed to go
out and do some stuff. But I think it was
just the mindset of saying, I'm gonna make this an
experience that they remember rather than one that they wished
that they could forget. You know, yeah, that's fair. Well,

(28:18):
one thing that's taken her mind off of everything right
now is having a Bachelor on You mentioned it. They
are one of the first, if not the first. I
think they are officially the first production to go back
and they blessed our screens co left amazing television. Uh,
let's break down this week's episode, Ashley take it away. Alright,

(28:39):
let's start with the first sort of kind of a
group date. So it's a small group date to compete
for a one on one. The guys have to write
and perform a song. We've seen this. I feel like
they've used this date idea. Actually they do to say

(29:00):
it idea like every other season. But maybe it's because
it is always quite entertaining. Anything that you thought was
mentionable from this, I thought that it came but down
between Damar and Ivan to me, definitely worked to stand out.
I think that's who came down to. I mean, it's
hard now that I've seen the episode because I'm so

(29:21):
into Ivan and so it's almost like I don't remember
how he even did. I just I'm such a fan
of him now and I think he's so cute. I
just the singing things are so cringe e And I
guess I take myself back to and I had to
do it, and we're just standing there, and Nantasia was
a really good sport about it, you know, and she's like,
I'm not going to grow them too hard because this
is not easy. But I mean, I feel like it's

(29:43):
different for girls for us to have to get up
and write any sing a song, as opposed to guys
having to get up and and sing a song. I
don't know how different really, see. I feel like guys
can get away with it like, oh this is silly,
like I'm gonna sound bad, like I can make fun
of ourselves. I think it's far more traumatizing for the
girls to have to sing and show off of that boy,

(30:05):
because it feels like you're you should like as a female,
you should like carry a tune. Like it's like it's
it's just more appealing if you can. But it was
the guy I think you have tion, Ben, did you
have to sing? Uh? No, I didn't um luckily. But
there's a small little move here that I think change

(30:26):
the game. I think it changes a huge there's a
huge season switch in my eyes with this one move.
It's even having her come up and sit beside him.
What what a move that? That shows those little things. Now,
if I'm in this situation, you can't take this too seriously,
Like even if you're a good singer, it's embarrassing to

(30:46):
get up there and starts like belting something out, So
like take this lightly, do it and and like, honestly,
it's those little moves like that to say that shows Hey,
I'm thinking about Tasia first, my song, second, third, whatever,
and I and I really at that moment ago Ivan,
You've got something special here, hey, And it worked. So yeah. Yeah. Now,

(31:09):
at the top of the episode, Melissa I told Ben,
I was like, there is some perfection in this episode
that I just don't even want to touch, Like, let's
just let it breathe. It was. It was great. It
was some of the best, the best Bachelor stuff I
can remember seeing. And that was her one on one
with Ivan from everything about it, from her first saying

(31:31):
like except the Flora's lava in that game, and that
was cute, and then the ordering of the room service
in the pillow fight, to the extremely vulnerable and culturally
timely conversation that they had and how emotional it was
and how it felt like we were just watching this
intimate moment that it just didn't feel like they were

(31:53):
on camera at all. I don't even know what else
to say about it, but like it was just it
was so good to see and it felt so real,
and I'm really glad that they let that conversation breathe
and they just like they didn't cut it short at all,
you know, they let it be a standout moment. And
then it wasn't even done because after that they they

(32:16):
went inside, they looked at old pictures of Tatia as
a kid. It was just like the most complete day.
I loved it. I think it was great because when
you think about it, it's a date they would actually have.
You know, it's not the extravagance and the surface level
conversation because you're surrounded by all of this beauty and
a higher balloon kind of a thing. It was. This

(32:36):
is what we'd really be doing. We'd be sitting at
one of our houses, maybe trying to break the ice
by having a silly game. But then you're talking. I mean,
the conversation that Ivan and Tasia had I think was
the most in depth conversation we've ever seen on Bachelor,
if I can say that, I mean, they don't usually
like to go that deep or at least show the

(32:56):
audience that with with kalin Um and Bolton, we saw
a similar ish conversation but different here you're right, You're right,
I had to go back, but different here where there
was like a beautiful back and forth now like it
was both of them mutually saying, this is my story.
I want you to get to know me, and I

(33:17):
want to get to know you. And it wasn't one
person talking another person shaking their head yes or no,
like just this was I would agree with listen, this
is one of the most beautiful and timely and intimate
conversations between two people that we've ever seen. Right, and
the bread and naturally evolved from them talking about, you know,

(33:40):
his childhood, to his to his younger brother in prison,
and then to George Floyd and everything that's gone hadn't
gone on since then, and it just great. Yeah. I mean,
I'll be honest, I didn't know who Evan was before
this episode, and he's now like he's my top guy.
Seeing them together, I was like, I just there's an

(34:00):
ease there that you just don't see with anybody. And
the depths that they've been able to take the relationship
on one date I think is huge. Can we can
we just pousitive for a second and talk about the
one thing that gave me anxiety on the state? Yeah,
the feathers that gave me a little anxiety. No, it's

(34:23):
a bowl of ice cream that big like that, and
I am not good on a date like you gotta
see you gotta see me do like that? Is you
want to really break the eyes, you have me eat
a bull of ice cream and you're like, yeah, this
guy ain't that great, but freaking like mound gallon. It

(34:43):
was like, look like five gallons. It was definitely a
waste of ice cream. Cute for the visual effect, but
then I can't lie. I was thinking very similar things.
I was like, I could maybe have two spoonfuls of that.
I have to cut it off. Yeah, it's not good news.
Like credited kudos to it then, but you if that
bull of ice cream came out, I would be stressed

(35:05):
out right away, going, I don't know how I'm gonna
manage this because I'm either gonna look a like a
prude and I don't eat ice cream, or well, Casee
and I are gonna get really close. Um well, you
know I thought, and we said it every week Melissa,
and it's just I think it just continues to highlight
this how amazing the date producers have been during this

(35:28):
season to make this so interesting for all of us
to watch when they are stuck in one location, Like, yes,
this date was simple, Yes, this date looked like something
you do on a Friday night. However, not only did
ivan intation make it really interesting for all of us,
not on purpose just because of their chemistry, but the
date produces this episode with just above and beyond, I think,

(35:49):
once again to keep these dates interesting. These dates are better.
I mean they're more real. I feel like people are trying.
They're trying to Oh my gosh, they were writing horses
around the resort. I mean they're they're almost looking for
reasons to um say that it's silly that they're at
one resort. But like you said, if you actually know
the process and you know what goes into it, they're

(36:11):
really being creative to have one location to film all
of this stuff and make it feel different. It doesn't
feel like we're just staying in one place and that
they're kind of recycling dates. Um. Yeah, I think they
made their pay this season, for sure they have. But
like Ben was saying, just like less you and add

(36:33):
dates and more intimacy on the dates because there's nothing
to distract and should we go into another very fun
truth or dare dates? It really was like really true
there dare because there was no like choice here. There
was just all a ton of dares and then there
was like some truth in the end. But it was
so funny. We see the guys drinking the most disc smoothies.

(36:57):
Fear factor level, you know, we have like testicles and
intestines and crickets and all that stuff. I think I've
actually eat a cricket before. I don't think it's that bad,
but that smoothie. Can't believe those guys kept it down. Um,
then they had to make orgasm sounds and broadcast it
to like the whole resort. Awful I was to do

(37:21):
it having to do it so cringe e. But for
whatever reason it hit my like funny bone because not
because they were doing it, but because the very first
time the guy's reactions that weren't on the dates. So
can you imagine sitting there and all of a sudden
some dudes moaning over the intercom and you're having to

(37:43):
hear it, and at first you don't know what's going on,
Like you don't know if I Mike got put into
a bad place and it's a mistake, and then you
realize that this is up something. I don't know why
I found it hilarious. Yeah, one of those guys was like,
somebody has demons that man, That's what I was gonna say.
If I just heard those noises, my first thought would

(38:05):
not be orgasm. That's what that is. I mean, these
were It sounded demonic, It sounded painful. I mean that
that you need to go to church. Yeah, that was brutal.
Now here's the here's the funny part. Like having Becca
and Sydney there with Tatia made it really fun to

(38:26):
watch because they were just I mean, think about how
fun it would be to have your too, Like two
of your closest friends sitting beside you as this was
going on, and you're watching it knowing they're doing it
for you, Like that just made it I think awesome
for Tasia, right, and I think it was all in
good fun. You know. It wasn't one of those dates
that was you've got to take yourself too seriously. Um

(38:49):
And yeah, I I as a female, watched it going.
I would love to have my girlfriends and have put
my husband now tied through something like that because how
I mean, it's just it's funny, it's so good. Well
again the date preaces did it, and they did it well,
and then we enter into a weird part of the episode.

(39:11):
Well that part was that was not on time. But
it's like I feel like that part disappointed a little bit,
Like I wanted to see a little more spice out
of those guys, like they that they took the spice
way too well. I wanted to see them like cry
and grease outside like foam. I wanted to seem to
get up they you know like that. It had to

(39:32):
be uncomfortable, but they kind of like ran with it
and they did a good job at you know, Habanair
in the middle of the desert. Well you Ben did,
I mean, Bennett did such a good job with that proposal. Yeah. Yeah. Anyways, Uh,
well now that's probably a good time. Let's take a break.
When we come back and break down the second part

(39:52):
of the episode, which includes some things that really really
frustrated me as a former lead, we'll be back with
most of this podcast, so let's continue with a nighttime

(40:13):
portion of that group date. She again didn't have any
bachelor speak type conversations with these guys. I felt like
she really made progress getting to know them. She talks
about Blake letting his walls down. Um, she had that
moment with Zack, which I actually expected more from the
moment with Zack because I know that there is so

(40:33):
something there. He does get the rose. Uh. You could
feel the energy between them, but like there wasn't a
lot of like words exchanged during that like hot tub
scene together. But I just know this guy is gonna
get far. Melissa, what do you think about Zach? I agree,
I mean you can feel the build up between them.
It almost is like, and it's not gonna come out

(40:56):
right what I'm saying, It almost it's they're both kind
of a little uncomfortable because they both are really into
each other and it's like I don't quite know how
to act and you don't quite know how to act,
and we're navigating it. Um. It does look like there's
really something there, Like he's one of my top favorites
um right now. But it's going to be interesting because
I do feel like we're watching this journey that's going

(41:17):
to peak. I completely agree. I also love the way
Tomorrow vocalized his worst fear about getting divorced and how
he's watched his mom and how to be a child
of that twice. And then I thought Bennett talking about
how he was for you know, formally engaged and he
broke off an engagement and didn't want to get married
for though wrong reasons. That was It's surprisingly very vulnerable

(41:42):
of Bennett. He but he shut down, he did because
he he changed the subject very quickly to be what
did he change it to? Well, right when he goes,
this is really hard for me to talk about until
my show. I get that it's hard, and you don't
have to go into that stuff if you don't want to.

(42:02):
But it feels like there's more there than what we
understood from that conversation because all of a sudden he
stops and he asked her a question about herself. He
deflected a little bit, which again no shame to him.
But I don't feel like we got a lot of
why it is so hard for him, Like what happened there?
Did he break it off? Um? You know? Is he is?

(42:25):
He scared? Now? Like there, there wasn't a lot of
detail following that one statement. I see what you're saying there.
I guess it was just a hopeful moment because Bennett
has been like such a fan favorite in the way
that we find him so entertaining right that I was like, oh, exciting,
there's something more there. There is emotion when he got

(42:45):
choked up. I just kind of like, there's there's somebody
behind the Harvard Gentleman. My thing with Bennett is I
do I do like him, but I like him as
a character. And I think that's what we're doing is
we're watching Bennett the character, and so his interaction with
Tassia to me is I almost don't expect it to

(43:06):
go deeper because I think he knows who his character is,
if you will. He came in very aware of how
he was going to look and how he wanted to
be portrayed. Um, and he just kind of he just
stays on on that line with all his interactions, I
feel like, but Melissa and Ashley, that brings up the
question and that kind of gets to my point before.

(43:26):
If you're been at and you come in going, hey,
I think I've a lot to offer. I mean, in fact,
his bio says like, I've always had women chasing after me.
I now want to chase after somebody. So if you
have this idea of the character, you've kind of put
this character on, you realize that you're playing into it,
and then all of a sudden, not to nowhere, unexpectedly,
you start to develop real feelings for this person, Like

(43:48):
he's really experiencing real feelings for Tassia. Is there an
opportunity now for him to switch from being a character
to actually being a viable partner to Tastia long term?
I guess that's what I'm saying. I was excited seeing
that that was about to happen. But you're right, maybe
he did cut it off too soon, or maybe it's
a preview of what's to come. I don't know. I

(44:11):
I guess it depends on how invested in this quote
unquote character that I've created for him. I mean, let's
be honest, I don't know how he came in or not,
But I feel like some people do come in with
this characterization that they want and they almost don't allow
themselves to get to a certain emotional point with the
lead because you know, they've got this mask on of

(44:32):
the character. So, I mean, I don't know if he
really is super incitation or not. I don't know if
he's going to be able to because he's you know,
then at the Harvard guy, if that makes any sense now,
just doing a little bit of over analyzing previews from
the the rest of the season. I feel like this,
the kiss that we saw between the two of them

(44:54):
is the only Bennett Tatia kiss that we've seen teased.
So I don't know that he's going to be sticking
around much longer. Interesting that would be really intriguing. Well,
following this group date, Uh, We're gonna speed things up
a bit, uh, because the rest of the episode was
was fine. There's a lot of drama between Noah and

(45:14):
the guys, and that guys are not thrilled with, you know,
Noah and I and we Still I don't see a
problem with what he did. He jumped into a date
where a guy backed out. If anybody they should be
mad at ed. However, there is some weird stuff at
the end that will get to that probably wasn't great
for not to do because I just think it was untrue.
But there's a moment in this episode, guys that everybody
listening knows fires me up, and I've got a highlight

(45:37):
because I've never seen it done before. It's the describing
No well, that happens all. I've given up on that
that I've I have preached my sermon on self describing
and it drives me crazy. It's not gonna stop. Nobody's
listening to me at all. I don't know why they
don't listen to me. It would make me watch the
show a little easier. But then decides to go to

(46:01):
Tassia's room. Now here's the problem with this, guys. This
is the second time he's made one mistake. Now I know,
right now, I don't think this was a mistake. But again,
I don't think this is gonna look like a mistake
now I think it's a mistake. Later because last week
on the episode he asked for more time with Taitia
after the date's done. And I've said it before, I've

(46:23):
never seen it done like this. You're exhausted as a lead,
and all these contestants need to recognize and respect the
fact that Elite is tired, like not tired of you
as humans, tired in general. Like it's long hours. You
talk to a lot of people. You drain yourself thin
every night so that you get two hours, one hour,
twenty minutes of a lone time, so that you can

(46:43):
read fuel for the next day. It's important. If not,
you'll never make it. So last week we see him
asking for more time, it's pretty clear that Tastia's just tired.
You wants go home. Fair This week he does the
same thing. Now he didn't have time with her, so
fair that he wanted to make sure he's lines time.
But it's too thirty in the morning. Now, do you

(47:04):
want to be known as somebody that shows up to
your door at to thirty in the morning when somebody's
tired and trying to refuel, or do you want to
be known as somebody that steps up earlier than that
and finds time to finds time that is not only
ideal for you, but ideal for them. This had a
great mix because obviously Ed shows up to Chris Harrison's
room one of the best things I've ever seen him.

(47:27):
I think it's absolutely fantastic. Like Chris answers the door, uh,
pours him a glass of wine. The two of them
are sitting there so awkwardly. Imagine how awkward that moment
felt when you're in that room with him. Chris shnes
once again. But it doesn't take away from the fact
that I think Ben is self sabotaging himself secretly, maybe

(47:49):
not even knowing it right now, because he just continues
to show up at the most non ideal times. I
know what you're saying then, and I understand. And if
I were the lead, I also be probably kind of
tired and annoyed. But if I liked the guy enough,
I'd be pretty excited to see him at my door,
regardless of what time it was, as long as I
had makeup on. I mean, first of all, Taia looked

(48:10):
beautiful at two thirty. That's not what I look like.
If somebody you know that, Um, I think I could
have gone either way. I mean, I I do think
that he could have gone, and most of the time
when we see people sneak out and go find the lead,
it doesn't end super well. I mean, but watching this,
I went I think he made the right move obviously.

(48:31):
I mean, I think they had great conversation. Even Tasia
at the end was like, this was the best thing
that you could have done. And so I think if
it hadn't gone that well, he'd probably be going home.
I mean, two strikes are out kind of a thing.
But I think he redeemed himself, if you will, and
Tastious seemed to completely appreciate it, and I like him.
I liked it. I liked what he did. He fast

(48:53):
forward than to the big, big moment in this episode
that will continue to play out as we watch. Uh, Noah,
somebody that had a great week last week was kind
of quiet this week. We didn't see a lot of him.
We go to the Rose ceremony and we know that
the house is a little bit uneasy about his tax
tactic and and kind of how he's uh walk through

(49:15):
this experience in his short time there. Now I'm on
Noah's side up until this moment. He sits down with
Tasha and he says something that I've yet to see
any of the guys talk about he not. He doesn't,
he doesn't stop with Hey, these guys are kind of
like upset with me for getting the rose, and he
he didn't even really need to say anything. Instead, I'm

(49:37):
gonna use the word manipulates the situation and says to
Tasia that these guys are questioning her behavior and her intentions.
And if anything, I've seen these guys, even if I
don't I'm not a fan of all of them, I've
seen these guys be nothing but head over heels fro
Tasia and really respectful of her as the bachelor. This
replaced what are your thoughts as we close this episode

(50:01):
on Noah's communication to Tasia. UM, I think that he
put the nail in his coffin with that, um, because
he did have me at the beginning of the episode
when he was talking, he was like, all these guys
are against me, and I have to be honest, it's
really getting to me. I was watching that going, Man,
I appreciate a guy that can say that that you know,

(50:22):
the fact that these guys don't like him is bothering him. Um.
But then when you see the manipulation wheels start turning
in his head. And you see this conversation he as
with Tasta and and maybe he wasn't expecting her to
react the way that she did. You know, maybe he
just thought, I'll put seeds of doubt of these guys
in tatious mind and I'll go about my business. And
when she came in and blew everything up, he was like,

(50:45):
oh crap. You know, I wasn't expecting I wasn't expecting
everybody to find out what I said, because he did.
He waited a minute before he fessed up to it. It
It was almost like he had to do the math.
Are they going to know that I was it? Or
should I just say that it was me? Now call
me Eve? But do we have proof that the guys
are a couple of them didn't say that behind closed doors?

(51:08):
I think the proof is in this. The groups that
are ound and look at each other like have you
heard anybody questioned Tasha? Have you and nobody said anything?
Then they're they're all shocked like, yeah, no, we don't
like you, we don't like what you did, but we've
never questioned Tasia. And I think in that moment, as
Melissa just said, you see him shut her and go, crap,
I didn't I didn't really I didn't. I didn't. I yeah,

(51:33):
I didn't mean to make it this. I thought I
was just gonna get you know, Tasha on my side,
and now I think I have a lot of backtrack
can do. And in the moment that splits it is
when Bennett says, I think, you know, it's not gonna
apologize to the guys. That's never gonna happen in this show.
But he says, you need you own apology to Tasha,
and I actually semi agree, like he needs to go

(51:53):
to Tation and say, hey, these guys actually weren't questioning you,
they were questioning me. Uh, and he needs to own
up to that, which I think could be a really
um controversial moment in his journey on The Bachelorette. Well,
we see this episode finished up here and we lose
this week Jordan's, Joe, Kenny, and Chason. Are any of

(52:14):
you shocked or surprised? Yeah? Well, first off, we all
wanted to see more of Joe. I mean, he's a
n anaceseologist and he's on the Backachelorette and he's very handsome,
has a sweet personality, thirty six, like he would have
been a great batch of material, but I don't think
he got far enough. Um Jason, Wow, yeah, we'll see

(52:34):
We'll see him hopefully again, but but maybe not as elite.
So then we have Chason, who just played such a
major role in last week's episode, to then just have
barely any dialogue in this episode and then be gone.
It was kind of shocking, especially since I thought she
was pretty physically attract to him. Kenny. I think Kenny
and Jordan's are both the two that that I think

(52:57):
we're the most obvious eliminations. Kenny seems to have a
fun personality, but there was no chemistry there. Well, so
you surprised, No really, I mean as much as we
loved Joe being an audience member, I mean he was
a great narrator and he was great to watch. I
didn't particularly see the spark with him and Tasia. I
am hoping that we see him in Paradise or something else,

(53:18):
because I do think that he's he's great for the franchise,
chasing kind of same thing. I think he was big
from what the audience saw book. When I saw him
in Tasia, I didn't see anything particularly special so um No,
I wasn't. I wasn't shocked. This week another great episode
of The Bachelor at tastious crushing. As actually said, you
see very little bachelor talk at Tasha. She is straightforward,

(53:40):
she's honest, she's herself, She's a great personality for the show.
She's doing a terrific job. One of my favorite bachelorettes
to watch. And I've loved watching a lot of these bachelorettes. Um,
since I really tuned into the show. We also really
enjoyed you Melissa. Thank you for coming on the Almost
Famous podcast. Uh, you're great. Wishing the best with you
and your family as you continue to kind of be

(54:01):
in the quiet of uh most of follow our lead here. Uh.
We close every episode in the same way you'll learn quickly. Hey,
this has been another week of the Almost Famous Podcast.
We'll be back next week with another episode of breaking
downtatious season with that I've been Been, I've been, Ashley,
I've been Melissa. Hey, we'll talk to you later, guys.

(54:21):
Thanks a lot. Followed the Benn and Ashley I Almost
Famous podcasts on I Heart Radio or subscribe wherever you
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