The Bachelor's Matt Grant

I have to admit that the recent gossip about Matt Grant – the single British bloke who’s looking for love on ABC’s The Bachelor: London Calling – has me intrigued. Did the 27-year-old global financier really appear on the show because his lawyer told him the best way to make a permanent move to the U.S. was to marry an American woman? Is love only a positive side effect of his ultimate goal?

I don’t know and frankly, I don’t care – this season’s Bachelor has me hooked solely for the out-of-control antics of the women seeking Grant’s attention. (Getting totally wasted and then putting a pair of lacy white panties into the pocket of a potential suitor is only a good idea if said panties aren’t stained and frayed in the crotch area. Bonus points if you manage to refrain from passing out face-first by the toilet afterwards.) 

Among the remaining bachelorettes is Shayne Lamas, the snotty blonde daughter of Lorenzo Lamas and a working-class actress who apparently didn’t realize the premise of the show when she decided she wanted some free face time. (No, you do not get preferential treatment just because you were in General Hospital.) Also vying for Grant’s attention are Amanda R. from Orlando, an attractive brunette who hiccups (“meeps”) quite charmingly when nervous and who appears to be the current frontrunner; Brooklynite Marshana, an African-American fashion designer with sass and class; singer/songwriter Ashlee, cute but extremely annoying and hailing from San Clemente, Fla.; and Noelle, a redhead Hollywood-based photographer.

The third episode airs on ABC tonight at 9:30 p.m. 

In other reality news, Fox premieres Hell’s Kitchen 4 at 9 p.m. tomorrow, April 1, while Bravo ends its first season of Make Me A Supermodel this Thursday and launches its new reality series, Step it up and Dance, described as a cross between So You Think You Can Dance and Project Runway. No telling whether or not host Elizabeth Berkley will bust out some Showgirls-style dance moves.

This article appears in Mar 26 – Apr 1, 2008.