Tonight’s final episode of ABC’s Bachelor Pad began with host Chris Harrison informing the three final couples that they will all compete in a ballroom dance contest with only a few hours to prepare and train with professional dancers from Dancing With The Stars who choreographed the dances.
How close were the predictions? Did Tenley’s dance background help put her into the finals? Did karma play out and send Jesse Kovacs packing without the money and Elizabeth without her man?
The finale was full of dramatic and comedic moments–and the laughter and tears that accompany them-appealing to all who have come to know and love– or hate–the players.
Ballroom dance competition
Each of the couples went into the competition with heightened nerves. They had only a couple of hours to rehearse with their trainers.
There were three judges, all from the Bachelor/Bachelorette series: Melissa Rycroft, Jake Pavelka, and Trista Sutter. Each couple was judged on performance, chemistry, and effort; each judge gave a score of up to 10 points.
Though Kiptyn is not a dancer, he, Tenley, and trainer Chelsie Hightower had a sense of fun and frolic about them. Chelsie chose the foxtrot for the couple.
The first couple to dance was Tenley and Kiptyn. Kiptyn looked dashing in tails and Tenley was at the peak of elegance in her gown. They had a good time on the dance floor, even though they fell at the end. They had a combined score of 26 from the judges.
The second to compete by dancing a rumba were Elizabeth and Jesse Kovacs. Elizabeth had insecurities during rehearsal with Edyta, and that may have affected her concentration on learning the moves.
Kovacs and Elizabeth definitely had chemistry on the dance floor, but did not seem to be comfortable. Elizabeth was described as “looking like Bambi on ice.” Their score was a combined 24 points.
Natalie and Dave were last to dance and Louis, their trainer, had chosen the cha-cha for them. He gave them the advice to “dance as if you have sex.” They started out high energy, but somewhere they missed something along the way, and did not finish their routine. They scored 25 points.
Tenley and Kiptyn danced their way into the finals and guaranteed themselves a chance at winning the grand prize. They also were the ones to make the choice of who would stay with them and be part of the final four.
In the elimination ceremony they chose Dave and Natalie because of the loyalties they each had with them, and Elizabeth and Kovacs went home.
The Reunion
Tonight in front of a live studio audience, host Chris Harrison and co-host Melissa Rycroft, showing off her “baby bump,” brought back all 15 contestants who had been voted off during the season to face the final two couples.
We first learned that Elizabeth, who went back to being a brunette, and Kovacs, whom she called “a player,” are no longer a couple. Elizabeth did not want the casual relationship that Kovacs wanted.
Since Gia left the show, she and her boyfriend went their separate ways. The rumor mill has been buzzing about whether or not Wes had won her heart. “Bad boys need love too,” said Wes, as he and Gia announced that they are in a relationship and kissed in front of the audience.
Then the final two couples were brought out to face the others. Each of the remaining contestants were to vote for the couple they believed deserved to be the final two competing for the $250,000.
Kiptyn and Tenley are, indeed, boyfriend and girlfriend. Natalie and Dave have a long distance relationship going on, but will always be friends if they find that the relationship cannot sustain the miles between them.
Confrontations
Each of the others had an opportunity to confront the final four and air their hurts. Michelle jumped on Tenley, who apologized to Michelle. However, the audience booed Michelle for being so terse when she announced to Tenley that she would not vote in her favor.
Several others talked about being lied to, being hurt, and being upset by certain things that happened over the weeks in the mansion. Wes and Dave aired their differences and apologized for the harsh things each said to one another.
A final plea
Each couple had a chance to make a final plea and tell the others why they should be voted for.
Natalie said that she came into it for the money, but ended up having fun. She shared that she would use the money to pay off her debt and start a small charity for the prostate cancer cause in honor of her father who has battled the disease.
Dave faced the group and said that he felt he had been honest and fair throughout the competition. He also said that he and his partner brought comic relief to the mansion.
Next up was Tenley. She shared that she had been true to her character, and at times was uncomfortable with some of the things she did in the game. She also shared that despite her bubbly personality, she was sensitive and emotional, and had lost her home and marriage before Bachelor Pad. She planned on repaying her parents for the money they put down on her home.
Kiptyn was the final one to make the plea and talked about how it was an honor to share the experience with everyone. He had not planned on doing the show, so that he had made the decision to give 20% of the winnings to charities in the names of others, totaling $50,000.
The vote
Each of the 15 contestants voted for the one couple they thought deserved to go on to the final and have the chance at winning the $250,000. The first couple to get 8 votes would move forward in the process.
Only 12 ended up revealing their ballots, voting in this order:
–Craig and Weatherman each voted for Kiptyn and Tenley.
–The next four votes went to Dave and Natalie–Jessie S., Krisily, Peyton, and Jessie B.
–Kiptyn and Tenley received the next two votes from Juan and Gwen, making the vote even 4 to 4.
–Ashley, Michelle, and Nikki cast the next three votes for Dave and Natalie. Wes cast the winning vote for them, advancing them to the final test.
The twist and the win
The final twist in the competition was unexpected. David and Natalie were escorted to separate rooms and given two choices-to Keep or to Share:
–If both chose Share, they would split the $250,000, each getting $125,000.
–If one chose Share and the other chose Keep, the one who chose Keep would go home with the $250,000.
–If they both chose Keep, neither of them would win any money, but the other 17 contestants would split the prize money equally.
During the reveal, Dave chose Share. Natalie seemed nervous, and played the game to the end, many expecting for her to reveal Keep. In a surprise ending, she also chose to Share and the two of them became co-champions and shared the quarter of a million dollars.
Final thoughts
Though many of the predictions in the sneak peek were wrong, karma did send Kovacs and Elizabeth to the end without money or love, Tenley and Kiptyn found love, and Natalie and Dave won money and have a strong friendship, which may stand the test of time.
And the biggest surprise was that Wes, the most hated villain in Bachelorette history, turned out to be a pretty good guy in the end. At least, Gia thinks so.
DWTS premieres next week
The new season of Dancing With The Stars premieres on Monday, September 20 on ABC at 8 p.m. with the 12 couples performing the cha-cha or the Viennese waltz.
The Bachelor Pad contestants
As reported by UsMagazine.com, The Bachelor Pad‘s contestants are:
David G.: a 28-year old entrepreneur who conceived the “man code” and vied for Jillian Harris’ hand on season 5 of The Bachelorette, but was eliminated for his crassness. -Eliminated Finale after dance competition. -Co-champion winning $125K.
Natalie G.: a 28-year-old bartender from The Bachelor Season 13 who famously told Jason Mesnick, “I like bears.” -Co-champion winning $125K.
Kiptyn L.: a 32-year-old sales and operations manager with famous washboard abs from The Bachelorette Season 5 with Jillian Harris. -Eliminated Finale after Finale vote.
Tenley M.: Jake Pavelka’s second choice on the fourteenth season of The Bachelor. -Eliminated after Finale vote.
Jesse K.: a 28-year-old winemaker who got romantic with Jillan Harris on a glacier on The Bachelorette‘s fifth season. -Eliminated Finale after dance competition.
Elizabeth K: a 30-year-old saleswoman who told Jake Pavelkato kiss her forehead on Season 14 of The Bachelor. -Eliminated Finale after dance competition.Jesse B.: the sexy 25-year-old contractor from The Bachelorette‘s sixth season with Ali Fedotowsky.-Eliminated Episode 5 rose ceremony.
Peyton W.: a sweet, 27-year-old cheerleader apparel saleswoman from The Bachelor’s tenth season.-Eliminated Episode 5 rose ceremony.
Ashley E.: a 30-year-old teacher who tried to seduce Jake Pavelka in a flight attendant costume on The Bachelor Season 14.-Eliminated early Episode 5.
Gwen G.: a project manager from Philadelphia heartbroken by Aaron Burge on The Bachelor’s second season. -Eliminated early in Episode 5.
Nikki K.: a 30-year-old administrative assistant from The Bachelor’s 13th season. -Eliminated early Episode 5.
Krisily K.: a 30-year-old personal assistant who was the runner-up for Charlie O’Connell’s hand on The Bachelor Season 7.-Eliminated episode 4.
Wes H.: a 33-year-old country musician who admitted he joined The Bachelorette‘s fifth season to become famous — not to fall in love with Jillian Harris. Has been labeled as the biggest “villain” in Bachelorette history.-Eliminated episode 4.
Gia A.: the 26-year-old swimsuit model who almost made it to the end with Jake on Season 14 of The Bachelor.-Eliminated episode 3.
Jonathan N: a 31-year-old weatherman whose quirkiness inspired bullying from Craig on The Bachelorette’s sixth season. Jonathan told Ali that Craig was “dangerous.” .-Eliminated episode 3.
Craig M.: a 34-year-old dental salesman and villain known for his hair and his meanness toward the “Weatherman” from The Bachelorette Season 6 with Ali Fedotowsky. .-Eliminated episode 2.
Jessie S.: a 25-year-old cosmetics saleswoman who confronted Rozlyn Papa about her tryst with one of the show’s employees on the Women Tell All special for The Bachelor‘s fourteenth season. .-Eliminated episode 2.
Juan B.: a 37-year-old contractor from the fifth season of The Bachelorette.-Eliminated episode 1.
Michelle K.: the 26-year-old saleswoman was sent home by Jake Pavelka after a disappointing kiss on The Bachelor‘s 14th season. She has been called “crazy” on several occasions based on her bizarre behavior. –Eliminated episode 1.
Sources
ABC–The Bachelor Pad Season Finale, aired Sept. 13, 2010, as seen by article’s author
Associated Content Finale Sneak Peek Article
Associated Content Episode 5 Recap Article
Us Magazine.com
