The Bachelor has been on for 22 seasons… and counting.
It"s the rare network show that continues to rise in the ratings every season, despite practically every couple breaking up long before they ever make it down the aisle.
What is the secret to its success? That"s hard to say.
But what are the secrets behind The Bachelor itself?
Reporter Amy Kaufman has penned a book titled "Bachelor Nation: Inside the World of America"s Favorite Guilty Pleasure Hardcover" that aims to answer this question.
Here"s a look at some of the more unexpected tidbits and stories we learned from the memoir…
1. Sharing Her Experience
Kaufman is a journalist for The Los Angeles Times, who was actually once banned by ABC for her coverage because she uncovered one too many secrets from backstage. In this book, she relies on that experience to shape her narrative, while also conducting interviews with countless staff members.
2. Help from… Heidi Fleiss?
Did you know that Bachelor creator Mike Fleiss is cousins with the infamous Hollywood madam, who ran prostituion rings that included clients such as Charlie Sheen? Kaufman writes that Mike learned from his cousin just how hard people would fight for love… or companionship.
3. High on… Ideas
“If you go into his office or you were brought in for a meeting, you were probably going to smoke,” ex-production coordinator Brad Isenberg told Kaufman of Mike Fleiss and his penchant for marijuna. Who says stoners are lazy?!?
4. Hatred for Harrison
“He was the dullest guy I’ve ever seen,” Fleiss famously said years ago about host Chris Harrison, following their first meeting. It took a second meeting for Fleiss to reverse course… and the rest is rose ceremony history.
5. A Real-Life Affair
Kaufman writes about an affair between Fleiss and executive producer Lisa Levenson, with one casting associate saying the flirting between the pair was pretty apparent to everyone on set. (They were both married at the time.)
6. More Real-Life Affairs!
And then there was Elan Gale, the current executive producer. Kaufman alleges that she dated Casey Shteamer after the contestant was eliminated from Ben Flajnik’s season. (Gale is now dating actress Molly Quinn, the author adds.)