The Bachelor Selects His Top Nine

This year, ABC's hit television show The Bachelor has matched an Englishman with his choice of American beauties. The Englishman - - Matt Grant - - is a high stakes banker that does business all around the world. However, although he is only 27 years of age, he believes he is ready to settle down and start a family.

He certainly seems sincere in his search for his future wife, but the audience has been fooled many times before and many will likely remain skeptical until the final show. Oddly enough, the one successful marriage that has grown out of this ABC reality show was the result of a bachelorette and not a bachelor.

Last year, it seemed that the once highly popular show might be on its final legs, especially after bachelor Brad Womack walked away from both of his final two ladies. He has yet to give a reasonable answer for his callous treatment of the two women in question.

ABC was smart to go outside of the U.S. for the 2008 bachelor. I think if they had chosen yet another American playboy, their ratings would have suffered significantly. However, Grant's genuine attitude and "good guy" demeanor seems to be winning the audience more and more each week.

But what about this years' crop of beauties? There are, of course, the requisite crop of gold diggers; a couple of possible psychologically impeded young women; and a few that are simply interested in winning "the game" as they call it. However, there are also a handful of women who seem to be actually searching for the love of their lives. Whether that can actually be found on TV, not withstanding, you have to give them credit for remaining true to themselves.

Last week, Matt had to narrow the girls down from 15 to 12. In order to do that, he took several of the girls to a fashion show. But instead of watching the models on the runway, the ladies had the opportunity to be the model for Matt, in hopes of catching both his eye and his attention. It worked for Ashlee who received a rose as a result of the date.

Another group went to a casino to gamble. Shayne, the daughter of actor Lorenzo Lamas, pulled the bachelor aside to let him know that she didn't like all of the affection that the other girls were showing him. He responded to her by saying that everyone was in the same situation and that, as an actress herself, she should be better equipped to handle it.

Marshanna, the only African American beauty in the bunch, also pulled Matt aside to bridge the whole inter-racial issue. He assured her that race had no bearing on his decisions; that he was enchanted with her spirit. However, it was Chelsea who took home the date rose.

At the rose ceremony Erin H. Carri, and Michelle were sent packing. That left Robin, Holly, Erin S., Amanda, Kelly, Amy, Kristine, Marshanna, Noelle and Shayne to round out the final twelve.

This week (March 31), Matt challenged Robin, Erin S., Amanda, Kelly, Amy, Kristine, and Marshanna to a game of rugby. Marshanna suffered a busted lip, which won her a little extra attention from the bachelor. However, many of the girls got alone time with Matt back at his flat after the game. Robin was awarded the rose for the date.

Holly and Shayne were chosen for one on one dates. Holly and Matt went to a premiere of Patrick Dempsey's newest movie "Made of Honor." They walked the red carpet and were interviewed. They even got to place their handprints and names in a block of cement, just like the stars.

Holly was sweet, sensitive, and demure; not trying to impress the bachelor with something she was not. Matt noticed and seemed very comfortable with her, which is why he gave her a rose.

Shayne's date with Matt was different. He seemed focused on getting to the bottom on who she really was as a human being; apart from her famous family and her acting occupation. The couple went wine tasting and spent time in front of a roaring fire. There, Shayne let Matt know that she doesn't open up easily but that she is genuinely interested in him. She also received a date rose.

At the final rose ceremony, several of the girls took exception to the fact that Robin, who was already safe from elimination, seemed intent on stealing time away from the girls that had not had much one-on-one time with Matt. In fact three of them grouped together to free Matt so that he could go and talk to some of the other ladies.

In the end, Amanda, Ashlee, Kelly, Chelsea, Noelle, and Marshanna received roses to round out the top nine. Amy, Erin, and Kristine were sent home.

All details of this article are the result of my own viewing of the show and do not come from other sources.