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In "The Bachelor" World, The Rejects Win

Sammi Wong |
August 25, 2011 | 12:32 p.m. PDT

Staff Writer

Kasey and Vienna
Kasey and Vienna
Finding love on reality TV might be a waste of time, but apparently in this twisted pseudo Mike Fleiss reality, the rejects win. 

Over the past decade, dozens of seasons of reality dating shows, including “The Bachelor” and its spinoff “The Bachelorette” have premiered on small screens, often with a tagline that claims something along the lines of “Find love in the most unexpected places.” The unexpected place they are talking about is in front of ALL of America. 

Yes, it’s unconventional. Yes, it’s a little trashy (dating 25 men/women at the same time?). And yes, it’s a whole lot of fun. But does it work? 

Well, according to statistics, it rarely does. Out of the twenty-two combined seasons of the Bachelor/Bachelorette, there have been three (possibly four – if Ashley and J.P make it) surviving couples. That’s a 13.64 percent chance of survival. 

However, ABC did get one thing right. Love IS found in the most unexpected places. After a little bit of research, I have compiled a list of previous "Bachelor" and "Bachelorette" contestants who did not find love with the star of their season but instead, with one another. 

(List only include people who are STILL together – if I were to note every "Bachelor" and "Bachelorette" hook up, the list would probably be exponentially longer)

1. Vienna Girardi and Kasey Kahl

If you have been tuning in onto the latest Bachelor franchise disaster, “Bachelor Pad,” then you definitely know about this couple. Girardi, who was the winner of Bachelor 14 with Jake Pavelka, is now dating Kahl, a contestant from Ali Fedotowsky’s season who was infamous for getting a tattoo on his wrist and patenting the phrase “guard and protect.” Seeing them on television definitely makes for a fantastic drinking game – no one will be sober by the end of show if they had to take a shot every time Vienna cries or every time Kasey mumbles his slogan of knightly chivalry.

2. Tara Durr and John Presser

I know what you’re thinking, who the heck are these people? I will refresh your memory in case you’re not a Bachelor/ette fanatic who remembers everyone who has ever passed through the show. Durr, a stunning blonde from St. Augustine, FL, was a first night evictee from Bachelor 9 with Lorenzo Borghese. She found the love of her life in Presser, a guy who was also rejected on the first night as well by Bachelorette 5’s Jillian Harris. The two met at a franchise reunion in Napa Valley three years ago and are currently happily married. 

3. Deanna Pappas and Stephen Stagliano

Yes, I know, it’s cheating, since technically Stephen Stagliano never competed in the Bachelorette. But we still met him on national television because of the show! Stephen graced “The Bachelorette” on his twin brother, the adorable and sexy Michael Stagliano Season 5 hometown date.  The brothers made an impression when they attempted to pull off a national switch-a-roo. Stephen met Deanna, the lead in Bachelorette 4, in 2009 at the wrap party after filming Bachelorette: Men Tell All, and they have been engaged since May of 2010.

4. Jesse Csincsak and Ann Lueders

Csincsak, winner of Bachelorette 4 with Deanna Pappas and founder of RTVZone (a website that broadcast the Bachelor/ette/Pad “beatdown” every week with previous contestants), is happily married. His wife, Ann Lueders, was a contestant from Bachelor 13 with Jason Mesnick. The couple just recently welcomed an addition to their family, baby boy Noah Csincsak. While on the topic of Csincsak, it should be noted that he planned the original Bachelor reunion that got these couples together and started this incestuous “family.”

5. Tenley Molzahn and Kiptyn Locke

Here’s to the couple that just seems to never finish first; although, in my honest opinion, I think they are the true winners of their respective seasons. Molzahn, the bubbly and charismatic runner-up from Bachelor 14 with Jake Pavelka, met Locke, also the runner-up in his season of Bachelorette 5 with Jillian Harris, at a reunion event through mutual friends. The two, however, didn’t begin to pursue their relationship until their appearance on the "Bachelor Pad," which premiered last summer where they once again came in as runner-ups. Right now, the couple is residing in separate but close apartments in San Diego and focusing the majority of their time and effort on local charities. Considering the aftermath of Jake’s season, I think Tenley dodged a bullet by losing that season and gained the world by winning over Kiptyn.

6. Chris Lambton and Peyton Wright

Last but not least, we have my favorite and possibly the most deserving couple to come out of the rejects of the Bachelor franchise. Lambton, who got his heart broken in the season finale of Bachelorette 6 with Ali Fedotowsky, met Wright, a contestant on Bachelor 10 with Andy Baldwin, through mutual friend Jesse Beck (who was also a Bachelorette contestant). The couple dated for about seven months before Lambton proposed. Although they have yet to settle any details for the wedding, one thing is for certain: somewhere, somehow, a rainbow will make its presence and once again make the entire audience cry. 

That, my friends, is six successful (and dysfunctional – Vienna and Kasey) couples, all headed toward a happily ever after. In this twisted reality that is "The Bachelor," you might just have to lose in order to win. The rate of successful relationship is doubled when you’re not the star and have been dumped on nationally television. Plus, it must be an added bonus that the tabloids are not following your every move and strangers who you’ve never met before are not passing judgment on whether or not your relationship was doom from the start. 

Contact Staff Writer Sammi Wong here



 

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