After the whole Andrew Firestone and Jen Schefft fiasco (“The Bachelor” season 3) I vowed never to watch the ABC dating/mock-engagement show ever again. That promise lasted seven whole seasons until… Hawaii.
When my home state became the backdrop for last season’s episodes starring Lt. Andy Baldwin (a Navy doctor stationed on Oahu) I dropped my guard and allowed myself to get sucked in. After all, my brother and sister-in-law had seen Baldwin around town and since I’m now living 5,000 miles away from my homeland I rationalized that being able to see local haunts on TV was reason enough for me to tune in.
So I watched… and watched… and watched. In the end, Baldwin chose the woman I figured he would—social worker Tessa Horst and in a surprise move (NOT) he dropped on one knee and proposed to her on the final episode. It’s happened before (see Firestone/Schefft); actually several times (but who’s counting) and save for the legal union between Ryan and Trista Sutter, none of the engagements spawned from “The Bachelor” has lasted more than a few weeks. (By the way, the Sutter’s technically met on “The Bachelorette.”)
Until Andy and Tessa… or so it appeared. Turns out the handsome and athletic couple’s “magic” was no more magical than any of the other “Bachelor” couples. According to several entertainment publications, Andy and Tessa have broken their engagement, BUT they are still dating. (Are you rolling your eyes? Yeah, me too.)
“We are very much in love and committed to our relationship,” the couple announced in a statement. “With the possibility of reassignment to a new location, we decided it was not the ideal time for Tessa to uproot herself and move out [to Hawaii] right now. Our relationship continues to deepen, and we’re very hopeful about our future together.”
In regards to his current stationing in Hawaii, Andy told reporters: “I know that I have a year left and I may have the option of a three-year tour. There is also the option of a position in California. There is also a chance of me going back to finish my residency training. I am a firm believer that everything happened for a reason, and I am a firm believer that this happened in my life for a reason. Tessa came onto the show for a reason, and it is like a dream come true.”
Be that as it may, a few weeks ago Andy appeared on a local TV station in Honolulu and told viewers that his San Francisco-based love muffin was due to move to Hawaii in August. Now, it seems the couple will either try to make a long distance relationship work or hope that no one believes they are really “still dating” and allow them to quietly fade into reality TV oblivion.
By the way, the next season of “The Bachelor” will begin on ABC September 24th. Will you be watching? I won’t.