The Drama Queens of "The Bachelor"

Almost every season of "The Bachelor" has had a drama queen or some villianous wacko vying for the Bachelor's heart. She cries, become clingy, causes problems or looks a teary mess, and often the Bachelor keeps her around. Why? Is it because drama drives ratings?

Does "The Bachelor" Cast the Crazies on Purpose?

I can't help but wonder if the casting crew for "The Bachelor" looks for a lady or two who are semi-psycho.

Voted least compatible for Bachelor Bob Guiney by the other contestants in Season 4, LeeAnn Calabs exhibited schizophrenic-like behavior, hurled ultimatums at Bob, sobbed her way all around the Mansion and when eliminated told the camera as if it was Bob, ""Yuck, grow up, grow a freakin' backbone and make your own decisions...I'm a great catch."

There was "Trashy Trish" Schneider in Season 5, the season's despised villianess vying for Bachelor Jesse Palmer's love. Remember her? The money-hungry bachelorette who actually wore a t-shirt that said "Good Digger" and counseled another contestant, "you just marry rich, and you order out, you get a nanny, you hire a trainer."

When Bachelor Byron Velvick from Season 6 spent too much time talking to other women, Andrea (having fallen in love with Bryron on day 1) gives her drama queen line, ""He will be mine. Oh yes, he will be mine." She even claims to love him so much she'd make him an almond butter sandwich! In addition to Andrea, Bryon also had to contend with possessively psycho Krysta,who made snarky comments referencing the other women like, "That xxxxx is going down", and "Hi, my ovaries are drying up," and Jayne who freaked out the house by her disappearance after a one-on-one date.

And who can forget Michelle Kujawa from Season 14 of "The Bachelor?" She was only on the show for three episodes, but ranks toward the top of the scariest and most desperate Drama Queens in Bachelor history. She kept threatening to pack her bags to leave if Bachelor Jake Pavelka didn't focus enough attention on her. And oh, those tearful warnings to Jake that she was the only woman truly looking for love. Just as scary was that bold request for a kiss from Jake, to which she scoffed afterward with something to the effect of, "That's it?" Her bizarre behavior earned her a spot on spin off show, "The Bachelor Pad" (guess they had a crazy lady spot open). Carrying her looniness forward into the new show, Michelle cornered Tenley in the bathroom and shut the door, and we all pictured something akin to the movie, "Psycho".) But I digress.

Apparently, some bachelors become intrigued by a villainess or drama queen, proof being that Season 14 Bachelor, Jake Pavelka, proposed to Vienna Giardi, who was a little of both. Nearly every other lady in the house disliked Vienna's spoiled ways, and some of them warned Jake about her. Even though Vienna gave us a few choice drama queen moments before she somehow won Jake's heart, her best performance was during the ABC Reunion special after their split!

Flash Forward to Season 15 Bachelor, Brad Womack

Let's fast-forward to the current drama on Season 15 of "The Bachelor". Brad Womack has returned to try to find love again, and, just like seasons past, there are several bizarre ladies on his dance card.

Straight out of the Limo, Chantal slaps him for "every woman in America", Madison has fangs and might be a vampire, Melissa has wanted to marry Brad for eight years (did she somehow meet him four years before he was on the show last time?), and Raichel, who is a "manscaper", rips off some of Brad's hair from his arm to prove it. Ouch!

Early in episode two, we realize that Melissa will be this season's resident psycho as she begins to obsess about Brad and exhibits a confrontational nature with several of the other girls. Her emotional instability really surfaces during a group date when, during a kissing scene in a skit, she jumps onstage to lock lips with Brad for an unscripted kiss.

All that kissing got under the skin of another drama queen, Michelle, who storms off upset, because Brad isn't paying attention to her on her birthday (like he knew?) It paid off, however, because Brad rewarded Michelle with a rose (which she waved around afterward in a Nah-nah-nah-nah-nah-nah fashion).

After the return to the mansion, Melissa follows Raichel around the house, yap, yap, yapping at her about something silly. She also keeps claiming that "several" girls in the house are targeting her so she'll be sent home (how about ALL of them?) At the cocktail party, Melissa's paranoia continues as she and hair-ripper Raichel take turns tearfully dumping on poor Brad. After a good shoulder drenching, Brad enlists the help of former Bachelorette, Ali, and her honey, Roberto, to get to the bottom of things. Thankfully, with their help, two drama queens exit stage left after the rose ceremony. Goodbye Melissa and Raichel! Now, birthday girl, Michelle, can stir up the drama all by herself!

I have to admit that a little drama on "The Bachelor" makes it interesting, but I was glad to see that Brad Womack didn't choose his ladies based on who might help the show's ratings. It just doesn't make sense to send home a real prospect for true love, and keep a psycho, does it?

It's possible that "The Bachelor" has been tapping the ratings value of a good drama queen, but it's also possible that the varied personalities of the bachelorettes on each season of "The Bachelor" are just a slice of real life. So, come to think of it, maybe crazy love is good reality TV!

Other articles you might enjoy:
Why are ABC's Bachelors Batting Zero?
Why the Ladies Love ABC's "The Bachelorette"

Resources:
The Bachelor Website
Wikipedia.com - "The Bachelor"
TV.com "The Bachelor"
IMDb "The Bachelor"
Reality Wanted.com
RealityTVWorld.com